Fiction:Volbel Empire

The Volbel Empire was a rich and strong empire that was eventually broken apart by an ongoing civil war.

People of the Volbel Empire
The Volbel Empire was home not only to the Volbel, but many other species as well. The people of the Volbel Empire were also seperated by a class system, but anyone could rise in rank or lose status.

Volbel
The Volbel race made up a large percent of the Volbel Empire and were also the dominant species of it. They came from the mountainous world of Volbel and it was their first king during the space age, King Hein von Ichliend, that started the first dynasty of the Volbel Empire and encouraged many Volbel to become the first colonists of the empire. The Volbel were known through out much of the galaxy for their advances in cloning technology, which triggered a boom in the use of clones in the military by the Volbel Empire and any empire that could afford it.

Gedrukt Volbel
The Gedrukt Volbel were an offshoot of the Volbel race, the main difference being azure-tinged fur instead of the usual dark brown fur of the Volbel. The Gedrukt were thought to have evolved alongside the Volbel race and eventually migrated west, and since then the only information about them came from the mouths of travelers, who told stories of "Tall, blue people". The Gedrukt were rediscovered in 1A.E.(After Exile) by Cor Tehn, the future leader of the Western Confedercy. They eventually became a common sight on Volbel and were able to survive the ethnic cleansings of the First and Second Global Conflicts.

Other species
Along with the Volbel and the Gedrukt Volbel, there were various other species from different worlds that made up a very small percentage of the Volbel Empire's population. These species included refugees, natives from other colonies, or pilgrims looking for freedom and work.

Royalty
The Royal family and any nobles below them made up the top of the food chain of the Volbel Empire. The King, along with his advisors, was incharge of overseeing and fixing any military, economic, and diplomatic problems that arose and also had to ensure the happiness of the empire's citizens. The nobles were also incharge of leading soldiers into battle and, if the need arose, sacrifice themselves for the good of the people.

Engineers and Scholars
The Engineers and Scholars were incharge of the scientific and educational aspects of life. Engineers were charged with the task of producing and developing technologies and incorporating them into military uses or daily uses by citizens. The Scholars were charged with educating the public, recording knowledge, and thinking of new technologies. In times of war, the engineers and scholars would be responsible for training soldiers, building weapons, or coming up with military strategies.

Soldiers
The Soldiers, or the Imperial Warriors of the Crown(WarCrows), were responsible for the military and security aspects of life. Soldiers were charged with protecting citizens, keeping the peace, and fighting wars. Soldiers could be divided between the military forces and the security forces. The WarCrows were the main military force along with a few drafted armies used as reserve forces and were incharge of fighting wars and military operations. The security forces were known as the Bureau of Security Enforcement, or the BSE, and its members were called BSE Officers by the general public and were incharge of the safety of citizens and keeping the peace. After 7 years of service, a soldier can accept decomissioning or continue service.

Workers
The Worker class had the job of producing agricultural, technological, and military products and made up the majority of the Volbel population. Workers had jobs in agriculture, economics, production lines, and most jobs that required labor. With a good education, they could become Engineers or Scholars or if the had military promise they could get jobs in the WarCrow or BSE Corps. Most alien species who wish to become citzens of the empire will start out as workers or soldiers and have the opportunity to rise in status.

Technology
Volbel technology was used mainly for military purposes but was also incorporated into the daily lives of citizens.

Cloning
Research on cloning technology began on Volbel during the late Civilization Stage and was finally perfected by the time the first few Volbel colonies appeared. Its use rose in popularity when King Hein von Ichliend won war after war with a special, entirely cloned legion of WarCrows, known as the 12th Legion or "Ichliend's hounds". Both the WarCrows and the BSE began using armies made up of both cloned and non-cloned soldiers. Cloning was also used to produce workers for production facilities and dangerous worlds.

Vehicles

 * S-0001 Drone


 * Zuipen 012


 * Duikboot


 * T-4 Luchtship


 * Volbel Battleship


 * M3 Kessel.

RBISD Armor
The Ruun-Bein Industries Self Defense Armor, or RBISD Armor, was the armor worn by WarCrow and BSE members and was the precursor of the Ruun-Bein Industries Unit Protection Armor(RBIUP Armor) worn Volbel Council soldiers. It was a device created by scientists Sun Ruun and Han Bein in 323A.E. to increase protection of soldiers on the battlefield. Ruun and Bein themselves were former soldiers of the Bug War and used their experience helped create a resistant yet flexible body armor, which they named the RBISD G1 armor. They also usd pure Vobelite in its creation, making it very durable. The armor saw its first use during the Felugian war and the Neeta Conflict on the snow-world of Neeta with great sucess. The armor was then upgraded and was called the RBISD G2 armor. Its use spread quickly through out the military, with regular soldiers using both the G1 and G2 armors while elite units were given special commando versions of the G2 armor, called the RBISD Co/G2 armor. The RBISD armor saw use through the history of the Volbel Empire, with 3 more upgraded versions being made: the G3, G4, and G5. After the fragmenting of the empire, the RBISD armor was made obsolete with the Volbel Council's new RBIUP armor.

Time of Ichliend I
The Volbel Empire was founded in 295A.E.(After Exile) by 24 year-old King Hein von Ichliend I with launch of the first Volbel starship, the S-0001 Drone. Volbel colonists began leaving by the hundreds to colonize Volbel's moon and the rest of the planets in the Lavado system. In 305A.E., the Volbel Empire began colonizing outside of the system and made contact with the Leku Empire of the fungi-world of San yu. The Volbel allied with the Leku in 306A.E., due to the fact they shared the same ideals and philosophy. By this time, the Volbel Empire had been quickly progressing across the stars, having already established 10 colonies in an 11 year timespan. In 313A.E., the Volbel made contact with a large Zealot empire, whose people were unofficially called "the Bugs" by the Volbel as the real name was never given. After failed attempts a negotiation, differences in beliefs, and an attack made by the Bugs on Volbel's first colony, Anbruch, the Volbel Empire declared Holy War on the Bugs. The war came to be known as the Blasphemous Crusade because of the genocide that occured between the two species. The war lasted from 314A.E to 317A.E., ending after the collapse of the ecosystems of many Bug colonies from the use of nuclear weapons and the total annihilation of the Bug race. While many Volbel had feelings of good riddance, some citizens, including King Ichliend, felt guilty for the crimes against another species and set up memorials on all of the ruined Bug colonies. As a result, a law was passed by the Volbel High Council to outlaw violent discrimination and another law to prevent the total annihilation of other species during war.

Post-Neeta Era
After the Volbel Empire had established its self as neutral territory due to the Blasphemous Crusade, Volbel was on the verge of war once again. In 336A.E., the Volbel Empire made contact with the Orias Kingdom, a small, unindustrialized empire spanning only 5 systems. The Orias were a relatively peaceful people that were quick to share their knowledge and Buddhist-like philosophy with total strangers, including the Volbel. The Volbel Empire traded and lived in peace with the Orias for 15 years, the Volbel even giving the Orias a spot on the Colonial Council. This ended when a radical, pro-Zealot dictator by the name of Rao Khan seized power on the Orias homeworld of Neeta in 351A.E. Khan then isolated the Orias Kingdom off from the rest of the galaxy, and after seeing the harsh conditions the Orias people were living under Rao Khans regime, King Ichliend ordered a police action to be taken and had three legions of WarCrows dispatched to Neeta to overthrow Kahn, including a newly formed, all-clone 12th legion. Ichliend, now 80 years old, personally oversaw and fought along with his soldiers during the war, much to the dismay of his family and the Volbel High Council at his old age. This is an account made by a soldier who witnessed Ichliend's battle skills:

"We had been entrenched for 4 days while fighting Orias soldiers. Me, Crig, Gaut, Foller, and an old man who called himself "Ikki" had been ordered to set up explosives behind enemy lines. It was a real suicide mission. But, with some luck and the underestimated sniping abilities of the old man, we made behind enemy lines by the 3rd day. We found the ammunition storage and set up the explosives. Unfotunately, the time detonation for the bomb had armed early and it meant that whoever took the bomb to the ammo depot probably woudn't make it back. But, then the old man took the bomb from me, and with a blaster in one hand and a sword in the another, fought his way to the depot. He was still about 20 feet from the entrance of the depot and, with only 10 seconds left on the bomb, he threw the bomb into the depot and jumped to safety. He blew that place sky-high. The rest of us gave him assistance as he was fighting off enemy soldiers. When it was all over, he introduced himself to us as King Hein von Ichliend. We stood there for 2 hours with a stupid look on our faces. I never looked at my grandpa the same way after that."

The Neeta Conflict lasted from 351A.E. to 356A.E., and was a relatively quiet war, as no weapons of mass destruction were used by either side. In 356A.E., the final battle between Orias and Volbel forces took place as the Volbel attacked Rao Khan's mountain palace. King Ichliend and 33 year-old First Prince Kuhn ran Ichliend snuck into the palace to personally eliminate Khan. They found Khan, but before they could mke their move, Khan shot King Ichliend in the chest, mortally wounding him. Before Khan could finish him off, First Prince Kuhn stabbed Rao Khan, killing him. Rao Khun's death officially ended the Neeta Conflict and King Hein von Ichliend was given a hero's funeral on Volbel. First Prince Kuhn became the new king, changing his name to King Hein von Ichliend II, as it is tradition for a new king to take on a new name.

Age of Deceit and Exploration
As King Hein von Ichliend II was suffering from a virus he contracted on Neeta, an advisor was needed to carry out the kings wishes. Amdoff Kitfer was chosen for the position of Grand Advisor of the Imperial Court, in 363A.E. Kitfer was the Volbel Empire's first democratically elected Grand Advisor and was well liked among the worker and soldier classes. Those in the Royal and Philosopher classes had little trust in him though, as he tried to use force once before to try to become the Grand Advisor and was imprisoned for one year. Many of the high-class citizens called him "a sweet-talking Draco Rex". He beleived that all other species were inferior to the Volbel, and was especially against the Gedrukt Volbel. He "uncovered a joint-terror network of Gedrukts and Non-Volbels" and ordered that all alien species to be sent back to their home empires. He also ordered that all Gedrukts be deported off of Volbel and be kept in small camps on wild colonies. Kitfer had turned the Volbel Empire into a police state. While this was happening, a young adventurer named Golam don Halor was exploring the galaxy.

Explorer Golam don Halor
Born on 250, 342A.E.( the Volbel didn't use months) on the agricultural colony of Teteia-7. Golam was the third child of farmers Galem Halor and Solara Halor. When he was 18, he joined the WarCrows and left for the Dom Amos Spaceport o the desert world of Caantun. After 7 years of service, he was decomissioned and took up a job as an explorer for the Volbel High council in 367A.E. He discovered dozens of new worlds including Xentradia Alpha and Vexia-12, but his most important discovery would be the fungi world of Felugia. He discovered Felugia in 369A.E. and, after large amounts of Vobelite deposits were found, the planet was made into a mining colony. After seeing how much damage the mining was causing the ecosystem of Felugia and the poor treatment of the natives by the armed forces, Halor made a request to Amdoff Kitfer to end all mining operations on the planet. Kitfer, now the dictator of the Volbel Empire, rejected the request and made war with the Felugian people. He then charged Halor with treason and made him a wanted man across the empire and its allies, leaving few places for him to hide. Halor was ultimately forced to leave the Oorlog Sector in 371A.E. and left for the nearby Vezda Sector, where he hid on Chernik, a spaceport known for its hostile environment. He stayed there for 20 years, building up an army with the help of 4th Prince Raizel ran Kaiser ( born 77, 354A.E.), and made the first strike of the Great Revolution in 391A.E.

The Great Revolution
The Great Revolution was an uprising started by 4th Prince Raizel ran Kaiser and Golam von Halor to overthrow the Kitfer dictatorship. The tensions that lead to the Revolution began when Grand Advisor Amdoff Kitfer and 4th Prince Raizel ran Kaiser had a disagreement about Kitfer's actions in isolating the empire and displacing ethnic Gedrukts. Kitfer, deciding that the people may support Raizel, exiled him to work in the mines of Felugia in 370A.E. when he was only 16. After working there for a year and gathering a small band of Felugian warriors, Raizel organized an escape plan to steal a small, but heavily armed cargo vessel on 142, 371 A.E. The plan was a sucess until, as Raizel and his band of warriors were leaving orbit, three Imperial-class Volbel Battleships arrived and surrounded the cargo vessel. Fortunately, explorer Golam don Halor and his ship, the VSS Heimattung, were passing through and open fired on the battleships and destroyed them. They escorted Raizel's ship back to the Heimattung and met Halor. Raizel told Halor who he was and what had happend in the past year. Halor told Raizel about his own exile and offered Raizel a chance to strike back at Kifter, which Raizel immediately agreed. They set up their base on Chernik and layed low for 20 years, building and training a revolutionary army.

The Great Revolution began on 15, 391A.E. with the Battle of Teteia-7. After finding out that his home planet of Teteia-7 had been put under Martial Law and his hometown had been bombed, Halor became outraged and frustrated. Halor desperatly wanted to attack immediately and Raizel agreed, but not with out a plan. With 6 weeks of careful planning and preparing, the newly founded Peace Army was ready to make the attack on Teteia-7. Personally lead by Halor, the Peace Army easily broke through the planet's defenses and were able to capture it within 7 hours. The suprise attack caught the WarCrow Corps off-guard and the entire empire was thrown into an uproar as 12 other colonies were simultaneously attacked. The WarCrows scrambled to set up defenses across the rest of the empire and were able to stop any more colonies from being taken. This was the first battle of the war that divide the empire for 12 years.

Neetanese Crisis
While many colonies wished to ally themselves with Raizel and Halor's Peace Army, very few colonies openly joined them. One of these few exceptions was the ice world of Neeta who joined in 394A.E., still scarred from the war 37 years ago. When the news about the Peace Army's victories on 13 colonies reached Neeta, protests made by both the native Orias and Volbel colonists began erupting. To stop these protests, Amdoff Kitfer sent in a legion of WarCrows to assist BSE Officers there in keeping the peace. The soldiers were ordered to perform searches of houses for smuggled goods and were allowed to stop civilians in the streets and could arrest them if they did not proper identification. The originally non-violent protesters soon became mobs that would attack an officer without a moment's notice. When his spies reported the situation on Neeta to him, 4th Prince Raizel saw this as an opportunity to rally the Neetanese into rebelling. He sent one of his best generals, General Thoran von Stovenberg, with a legion of 900 and 5 motherships to launch an all out attack on the largest millitary base on Neeta: Festung Vernichtung.