Aeneas
Aeneas
History: Little remains of Aeneas' early history: what can be pieced together from records on the megacorp run planets indicates that Aeneas was another hub of agriculture, manufacturing, and science, much like the planets Diomedes, Odysseus, and Menelaus. However, it also appears that most of the centers of government for the system were on Aeneas, and this may have contributed to the very different course that events took on this planet during the sundering.
Following loss of contact to other systems and the economic collapse that followed, A savage civil war broke out on Aeneas. How factions formed is unclear, but the results were a series of heavily armed, perfectly matched adversaries. In a classic nightmare of diplomatic collapse, the war continued to escalate, until roughly 80% of the population of Aeneas, and huge portions of their planet had been destroyed.
After this, Aeneas was considered by most outsiders as a ruined warzone, and was largely written off. However, the end of the war did see a single, fascist regime come to power, and in a very short while, this new government entirely reorganized Aeneas' infrastructure. In the span of 100 years, Aeneas had rebuilt its space stations and was once again engaged in interstellar trade.
In recent times, the Aeneans used a series of pretenses to engage in a war with Troy, a lawless mining planet in the Pollux system. Although they succeeded in subjugating it, their losses were heavier than anticipated, which appears to have cooled their heads considerably (manifesting itself in a decrease in their normally very aggressive diplomacy). Nevertheless, they remain in control of the planet, which they use as a penal colony and manufacturing center.
Politics: Aeneas is a Fascist dictatorship. Beyond this, it is a highly structured hierarchical society: with party membership, government accolades, military service, and economic and social contributions adding up to a nuanced social rank. Although the government is rigid, laws are strictly enforced, and surveillance is everywhere, corruption is nevertheless rampant: because of the extensive personal power wielded by party members, almost every significant action in Aenean society is accompanied by a bribe or a favor. Nevertheless, crime is low, and there is very little business for smugglers, mercenaries, or even merchants, since interstellar commerce is very heavily regulated. Most illicit or borderline legal dealings with Aeneans goes through their tributaries Ajax and Patroclus, or Troy.
Military: Aeneas is the only major faction to maintain a planet wide, standing military and navy. They have the only fleet in the Gemini: although it is small compared to fleets in the old records, it is undoubtedly the most powerful single interstellar military force in the twin systems, containing the only Cruiser and Battleship class military vessels in known space (one battleship, their flagship, and two cruisers). Their fleet was instrumental in their subjugation of Troy.
Technology: Aeneas is somewhat behind in terms of technology, although they are rapidly catching up to the megacorp planets. Because of their extensive buearaucracy (spell that) and their state control of most industries, they adapt poorly on a technological level. Nevertheless, they have managed to pull themselves up from the bootstraps on a planet whose resources have been essentially been annihilated. The Aeneans make significant use of Eugenics and Gene modification: cybernetics are illegal and carry significant taboos. Although they are linked into the Gemini Web, their restrictions on contact mean that they get essentially nothing useful from it. Aeneas itself has three starports, third after Odysseus and Nestor (with five and four, respectively), one of which is reserved for the use of the fleet, while the other two represent the last stop for non Aenean citizens. Both commercial stations are equipped with Grain Elevators, although these were built and are maintained by Atlascorp of Menelaus.
Citizenry: Aeneans must serve four years in the military following graduation from high school at sixteen. After this, they are expected to spend 2-8 years learning their profession, during which time they are state mandated to marry and have at least one child. "Sexual Deviancy" is cause for deportation to Troy, as is refusal to be treated for infertility. Few citizens are permitted to leave Aeneas, unless it is to work on one of the tributary planets or on Troy. Not surprisingly, there is a very high desertion rate among the merchant marine of Aeneas, although such deserters are aggressively hunted by the Aenean secret service.
