Hlakhoi Clans and Territories

A Clan Territories map of Hlakhoi Sector from The Aslan Hierate.

As part of my development process for Hlakhoi sector I wanted to nail down which clans were present in the sector, and where their territories were located. This is a much harder task to complete than it might seem, given the complicated web of relationships between different clans. The T5SS data on Traveller Map gives a breakdown on what types of clans are present on the different worlds but doesn’t give us much detail on the specific clans or their relationship to each other.

Given the complex state of affairs in the Hierate, I find a spreadsheet to be essential to track all the different clans and worlds, especially for an entire sector. Note cards, Word docs, and other tools just don't cut it for me. To begin, I created a workbook with two primary tabs. One worksheet was a list of all Hlakhoi worlds, with a new field labeled “Controlling Clan.” The second worksheet was a clan roster detailing the clan name, clan type, and associated alliance (if any). I started by populating the roster, then using the roster to assign clans to the Controlling Clan field of various worlds.

For worlds with a Split Clan Control government type (H), I simply generated the number of onworld clans using the system from Clans of the Aslan, and added that number to the Controlling Clan field. I find assigning specific clans to split control worlds to be easier once the other territories have been divvied up.

Worlds directly controlled by a Tlaukhu member (Government Type L) have a T5 allegiance code (AsT0, AsT1, etc.) associated with one of the ten great power blocs, but that doesn’t tell us which specific clan is present onworld. When working up a region of Aslan space I usually begin with these.

The legacy sector data for Charted Space apparently used a random distribution that gave equal weight to each bloc. While I’m generally OK with this practice—Tlaukhu members should have holdings scattered across the entire Hierate—a flat random chance ignores both the relative size of each bloc as well as the idea that some blocs are stronger in some regions and presumably weaker in others. Worlds controlled by the first ranked Yerlyaruiwo bloc, for example, should be somewhat more common than worlds controlled by the tenth ranked Aokhalte bloc. (This is reflected in the Clans of the Aslan tables.) Similarly, Yerlyaruiwo worlds should probably be more common in the Ancestral Worlds region than in the Aslan Colonies, and vice versa for Aokhalte worlds.

We know from Solomani and Aslan that the Yerlyaruiwo bloc dominates the spinward half of Hlakhoi sector, while the Tralyeaeawi bloc dominates the trailing half, and that the “Hlaotiyoiho and Aokhalte blocs also hold power here.” Note that the S&A is set in 1120/1121, after the Hlaotiyoiho have knocked the Hlyueawi out of the Tlaukhu and taken their place on the Twenty Nine. Presumably, as of 1105 the Hlyueawi still holds power in Hlakhoi.

While I tweaked a handful of legacy allegiances to better reflect the status and distribution of these four blocs in Hlakhoi, I kept most intact. I then assigned specific bloc members to specific Hlakhoi worlds.

The Major Vassal Clan Control (Government Type N) and Split Control worlds should also reflect regional powers. I generated new Major Vassal clans to accompany the Major clans with holdings in Hlakhoi, and assigned specific worlds to these vassals. So vassal clans of the Yerlyaruiwo, Tralyeaeawi, Aokhalte, and Hlyueawi blocs dominate the Major Vassal Control worlds in Hlakhoi.

I then built out the rosters for the Multiworld clans, which control worlds with Government Type K. The Hlaotiyoiho were the only Multiworld clan I knew I wanted to keep, and as Multiworld clans are more regional powers I generated several new ones for Hlakhoi, along with their Vassal clans, which hold worlds with Government Type K in fief. I then assigned worlds to each Multiworld and Vassal clan.

Finally, each world with a Single World Clan (Government Type J) was paired with a new, single world clan.

Once the initial roster and assignments had been made came several rounds of tweaking, and this is where using a spreadsheet really helps keep things straight. Crosstab queries can help identify weird or imbalanced distributions of clans, and as I fleshed out individual clans and worlds some additional shuffling of assignments seemed in order.

Mongoose Natalie then used the final spreadsheet to build the nifty map of Clan Territories in The Aslan Hierate. The following tables provide the same data in tabular form, if anyone wished to drop this information into a spreadsheet to sort or filter.

The Roster of Hlakhoi Clans table lists clans along with their overlord or vassals and their associated alliance. Bold clan names indicate the strongest clan within the respective alliance.

Roster of Hlakhoi Clans

Clan	Clan Type	Overlord	Alliance	Total Worlds	Hlakhoi Worlds
Yerlyaruiwo	Major	—	Yerlyaruiwo	67	5
Treahah	Major Vassal	Yerlyaruiwo	Yerlyaruiwo	1	1
Eafuirl	Major Vassal	Yerlyaruiwo	Yerlyaruiwo	2	2
Akheu	Major Vassal	Yerlyaruiwo	Yerlyaruiwo	3	3
Hrawoao	Major	—	Yerlyaruiwo	34	2
Tloulye’o’	Major Vassal	Hrawoao	Yerlyaruiwo	1	1
Eisohiyw	Major	—	Yerlyaruiwo	22	4
Fteafea	Major Vassal	Eisohiyw	Yerlyaruiwo	1	1
Oafeil	Major Vassal	Eisohiyw	Yerlyaruiwo	1	1
Yelrah	Major Vassal	Eisohiyw	Yerlyaruiwo	2	2
Khaukheairl	Major	—	Khaukheairl	72	3
Khtioias	Major Vassal	Khaukheairl	Khaukheairl	1	1
Estoieie’	Major	—	Khaukheairl	36	3
Eilroa	Major Vassal	Estoieie’	Khaukheairl	2	1
Toaseilwi	Major	—	Khaukheairl	24	1
Syoisuis	Major	—	Syoisuis	124	4
Uawairlew	Major Vassal	Syoisuis	Syoisuis	7	5
Tralyeaeawi	Major	—	Tralyeaeawi	56	4
Eikhtyeui	Major Vassal	Tralyeaeawi	Tralyeaeawi	6	6
Wye’yoreiw	Major Vassal	Eikhtyeui	Tralyeaeawi	3	3
Htea’iysea	Major Vassal	Tralyeaeawi	Tralyeaeawi	2	2
Eiesa’	Major Vassal	Htea’iysea	Tralyeaeawi	1	1
Yulraleh	Major	—	Tralyeaeawi	28	1
Riyhalaei	Major	—	Tralyeaeawi	14	2
Soua’yora	Major Vassal	Riyhalaei	Tralyeaeawi	4	4
Hrasua	Major	—	Hrasua	59	2
Ftaei	Major Vassal	Hrasua	Hrasua	2	1
Eteawyolei’	Major	—	Hrasua	30	1
Fteweyeakh	Major	—	Hrasua	20	3
Aikhaohki	Major Vassal	Fteweyeakh	Hrasua	4	3
Ouekhya	Major Vassal	Aikhaohki	Hrasua	2	1
Yekistye	Major Vassal	Fteweyeakh	Hrasua	3	3
Hlyueawi	Major	—	Hlyueawi	67	6
Htearle	Major Vassal	Hlyueawi	Hlyueawi	5	4
Isui’oi	Major Vassal	Htearle	Hlyueawi	2	2
Hkelear	Major Vassal	Hlyueawi	Hlyueawi	4	3
Isoitiyro	Major	—	Hlyueawi	34	1
Yuhuih	Major Vassal	Isoitiyro	Hlyueawi	2	2
Uiktawa	Major	—	Uiktawa	51	3
Iykyasea	Major	—	Uiktawa	26	2
Ikhtealyo	Major	—	Ikhtealyo	46	4
Aryelal	Major Vassal	Ikhtealyo	Ikhtealyo	2	2
Tlerlearlyo	Major	—	Ikhtealyo	23	1
Te’aleas	Major Vassal	Tlerlearlyo	Ikhtealyo	1	1
Yetahikh	Major	—	Ikhtealyo	15	1
Akatoiloh	Major	—	Seieakh	21	1
We’okurir	Major	—	Seieakh	14	1
Aokhalte	Major	—	Aokhalte	38	2
Hitaoul	Major Vassal	Aokhalte	Aokhalte	1	1
Ouokhoi	Major	—	Aokhalte	13	2
Hlaotiyoiho	Multiworld	—	Hlaotiyoiho	56	8
Sehwakh	Vassal	Hlaotiyoiho	Hlaotiyoiho	4	1
Syhkikh	Multiworld	—	Syhkikh	27	15
Hleawiys	Vassal	Syhkikh	Syhkikh	4	4
U’eah	Vassal	Hleawiys	Syhkikh	2	2
Takhuae	Vassal	Syhkikh	Syhkikh	4	3
Koihes	Vassal	Syhkikh	Syhkikh	5	5
Iryoa	Vassal	Koihes	Syhkikh	2	2
Fiyliei	Vassal	Koihes	Syhkikh	1	1
Ktirluah	Multiworld	—	Ktirluah	15	14
Arahfao	Vassal	Ktirluah	Ktirluah	3	3
Taolraihea	Vassal	Arahfao	Ktirluah	1	1
Kehei	Vassal	Ktirluah	Ktirluah	4	4
Eawehou	Vassal	Kehei	Ktirluah	2	2
Hryoe	Vassal	Kehei	Ktirluah	3	3
Oaye’	Vassal	Kehei	Ktirluah	1	1
Oahalr	Multiworld	—	Oahalr	10	10
Iftis	Vassal	Oahalr	Oahalr	2	2
Seakhuirl	Vassal	Iftis	Oahalr	2	2
Wousau	Vassal	Iftis	Oahalr	3	3
Asta	Vassal	Oahalr	Oahalr	2	2
Kuieiwe’e	Vassal	Asta	Oahalr	2	2
Kyoar	Multiworld	—	Kyoar	7	7
Iaol	Vassal	Kyoar	Kyoar	1	1
Ktoa	Vassal	Kyoar	Kyoar	2	2
Uiki	Vassal	Ktoa	Kyoar	1	1
Hkaah	Multiworld	—	Hkaah	5	5
Oihilr	Vassal	Hkaah	Hkaah	1	1
Kiywoiiy	Vassal	Oihilr	Hkaah	1	1
Faereah	Vassal	Oihilr	Hkaah	1	1
Fuareikhis	Vassal	Hkaah	Hkaah	1	1
Kuikeaw	Multiworld	—	Kuikeaw	9	5
Aikhas	Vassal	Kuikeaw	Kuikeaw	5	5
Iywa’iy	Vassal	Aikhas	Kuikeaw	3	3
Lyeela	Multiworld	—	Lyeela	7	4
Uateah	Multiworld	—	Uateah	3	3
Yahkayuh	Multiworld	—	Yahkayuh	3	3
Htasa	Multiworld	—	Htasa	2	2
Fawaih	Multiworld	—	Fawaih	2	2
Aakheis	Single World	—	—	1	1
Aeiwoi	Single World	—	—	1	1
Aiftal	Single World	—	—	1	1
Aiktei	Single World	—	—	1	1
Akhiftou’	Single World	—	—	1	1
Aleakhaosea	Single World	—	—	1	1
Alroi’auw	Single World	—	—	1	1
Arouyalrairl	Single World	—	—	1	1
Auiya	Single World	—	—	1	1
Aulroiaralr	Single World	—	—	1	1
Auwe	Single World	—	—	1	1
Awiy	Single World	—	—	1	1
Ehkeih	Single World	—	—	1	1
Ehoilyeh	Single World	—	—	1	1
Ehyolre	Single World	—	—	1	1
Eihfea	Single World	—	—	1	1
Eiyer	Single World	—	—	1	1
Ekha’	Single World	—	—	1	1
Hao’uiw	Single World	—	—	1	1
Hfai	Single World	—	—	1	1
Hfeweftyuh	Single World	—	—	1	1
Hkoleheahew	Single World	—	—	1	1
Hoahkui	Single World	—	—	1	1
Htyaaeirl	Single World	—	—	1	1
Hwealakhoi	Single World	—	—	1	1
Iyhrahei	Single World	—	—	1	1
Iystaiua	Single World	—	—	1	1
Karlaw	Single World	—	—	1	1
Khahea	Single World	—	—	1	1
Khealyo	Single World	—	—	1	1
Khiya	Single World	—	—	1	1
Kteah	Single World	—	—	1	1
Kuahkaa	Single World	—	—	1	1
Olouhyuh	Single World	—	—	1	1
Reakh	Single World	—	—	1	1
Taftea	Single World	—	—	1	1
Tafyeo’	Single World	—	—	1	1
Telao’	Single World	—	—	1	1
Tiyeisea	Single World	—	—	1	1
Truyoleaw	Single World	—	—	1	1
Tyekhelai’	Single World	—	—	1	1
Uiaw	Single World	—	—	1	1
Wailreihi	Single World	—	—	1	1
Yuesoal	Single World	—	—	1	1
Yuta	Single World	—	—	1	1

The Hlakhoi Worlds by Control table provides a bit more granularity on who controls each of the worlds in Hlakhoi than the Control field would in a standard sector table. Bold world names indicate a clan capital.

Hlakhoi Worlds by Control

Subsector	World	Location	Government	Control	Alliance
A	Aheah	0703	Split	4 clans	—
A	Eaiteweaa’	0310	Multiworld Clan	Kyoar	Kyoar
A	Ftiy	0808	Major Vassal Clan	Akheu	Yerlyaruiwo
A	Hteai	0709	Major Clan	Iykyasea	Uiktawa
A	Ieafeareilaw	0409	Multiworld Clan	Kuikeaw	Kuikeaw
A	Ieataheih	0608	Vassal Clan	Aikhas	Kuikeaw
A	Ilra’aao	0805	Major Clan	Ikhtealyo	Ikhtealyo
A	Ira	0806	Major Vassal Clan	Uawairlew	Syoisuis
A	Iyhtoahi	0704	Major Clan	Syoisuis	Syoisuis
A	Kheakheafteh	0502	Multiworld Clan	Lyeela	Lyeela
A	Oaiyearlao	0706	Multiworld Clan	Kyoar	Kyoar
A	Tiyroa	0610	Split	10 clans	—
B	Aih	0908	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
B	Aihaihyaw	1308	Vassal Clan	Hleawiys	Syhkikh
B	Aohal	1009	Split	2 clans	—
B	Asuha’yu	1203	Single World Clan	Iystaiua	—
B	Eahfiykhtui	1204	Vassal Clan	Seakhuirl	Oahalr
B	Eakhea	1004	Major Vassal Clan	Hitaoul	Aokhalte
B	Earya	1405	Split	3 clans	—
B	Eoiewearl	1209	Vassal Clan	Koihes	Syhkikh
B	Huaoyoe	1603	Single World Clan	Kuahkaa	—
B	Ihkehakei	0910	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
B	Kaye	1510	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
B	Khueiyoifte	1505	Major Vassal Clan	Yuhuih	Hlyueawi
B	Ktaioi	1604	None	Unclaimed	—
B	Ktiwua	0907	Vassal Clan	Hryoe	Ktirluah
B	Oieyuea	1602	Single World Clan	Eiyer	—
B	Oihkilih	1401	Major Clan	Ouokhoi	Aokhalte
B	Rahkei	1608	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
B	Soisekh	0906	Vassal Clan	Kiywoiiy	Hkaah
B	Tirlil	1605	Split	22 clans	—
B	Tluaoahyar	1305	Vassal Clan	Kehei	Ktirluah
C	Aaoaa	2009	Major Vassal Clan	Eikhtyeui	Tralyeaeawi
C	Aheearoaw	2410	Major Clan	Eteawyolei’	Hrasua
C	Alohah	2201	Vassal Clan	Asta	Oahalr
C	Aoaktea	2006	Single World Clan	Hao’uiw	—
C	Asalras	2306	Single World Clan	Aiftal	—
C	Atuakhtea	2008	Major Vassal Clan	Eikhtyeui	Tralyeaeawi
C	Eaeatrare	1709	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
C	Eahaeilruar	1903	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
C	Eas	2207	Major Clan	Tlerlearlyo	Ikhtealyo
C	Fahh	1908	Major Vassal Clan	Eikhtyeui	Tralyeaeawi
C	Feis	1705	Split	4 clans	—
C	Feiti	2208	Split	2 clans	—
C	Hfa	1808	Multiworld Clan	Oahalr	Oahalr
C	Kawao	2108	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
C	Khoiii	1806	Major Vassal Clan	Eikhtyeui	Tralyeaeawi
C	Khteahaaiy	1905	Major Clan	Hrawoao	Yerlyaruiwo
C	Khtiy	2007	Split	2 clans	—
C	Khuheiea’aa	2204	Major Clan	Syoisuis	Syoisuis
C	Oaheakhe	2408	Vassal Clan	Aikhas	Kuikeaw
C	Ser	1901	Major Vassal Clan	Hkelear	Hlyueawi
C	Taryarou	1707	Split	2 clans	—
C	Tirluaraseao	1907	Split	2 clans	—
C	Uakheil	2003	Split	4 clans	—
C	Uiouyetyo	2206	Major Clan	Hrawoao	Yerlyaruiwo
C	Wayalo	2105	Single World Clan	Hwealakhoi	—
C	Weiwerlah	1807	Major Vassal Clan	Eikhtyeui	Tralyeaeawi
C	Yewoiaookh	2103	Major Clan	Khaukheairl	Khaukheairl
D	Aeafyuwea	3210	Major Clan	Isoitiyro	Hlyueawi
D	Ahistokh	2508	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
D	Arleaousow	2707	Major Vassal Clan	Soua’yora	Tralyeaeawi
D	Atehahya’i	2804	Vassal Clan	Wousau	Oahalr
D	Auiei	2901	Major Clan	Ikhtealyo	Ikhtealyo
D	Awiwoh	2602	Split	3 clans	—
D	Eiaoohteakta	3001	Split	3 clans	—
D	Fahyehlaha	3110	Single World Clan	Aulroiaralr	—
D	Hlauhtarl	2610	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
D	Hretauealr	2509	Single World Clan	Khahea	—
D	Iafaweil	2907	Vassal Clan	Hleawiys	Syhkikh
D	Ir	2802	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
D	Iyehutau	3106	Split	6 clans	—
D	Iyeiktyelrye	3105	Major Clan	Aokhalte	Aokhalte
D	Iyeiraftoah	2903	Split	21 clans	—
D	Iytlerl	2704	Multiworld Clan	Uateah	Uateah
D	Kheaahaasas	2906	Single World Clan	Akhiftou’	—
D	Khtiyha	2905	Split	10 clans	—
D	Oleahew	2909	None	Unclaimed	—
D	Tleieaisoaus	3208	Major Clan	Ikhtealyo	Ikhtealyo
D	Tluhuaw	2809	Major Vassal Clan	Eafuirl	Yerlyaruiwo
D	Ua’ea’e	2803	None	Unclaimed	—
D	Yoaafa	2706	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
D	Yoteiu	2709	Major Clan	Yerlyaruiwo	Yerlyaruiwo
D	Yueaikh	2501	Major Vassal Clan	Wye’yoreiw	Tralyeaeawi
E	Akhaw	0120	Major Clan	Hlyueawi	Hlyueawi
E	Aus	0416	Vassal Clan	Koihes	Syhkikh
E	Eaire	0620	Split	4 clans	—
E	Eakhaosaea	0817	Vassal Clan	Iftis	Oahalr
E	Eea’yarlo	0319	Single World Clan	Yuta	—
E	Eieiyei	0814	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
E	Eiihihiyrli	0615	Major Vassal Clan	Yelrah	Yerlyaruiwo
E	Feirlye	0520	Major Vassal Clan	Uawairlew	Syoisuis
E	Foikhi’	0512	Single World Clan	Aleakhaosea	—
E	Fyeseih	0213	Vassal Clan	Oaye’	Ktirluah
E	Haisakh	0716	Multiworld Clan	Oahalr	Oahalr
E	Hieiriy	0617	Major Vassal Clan	Uawairlew	Syoisuis
E	Hkeareaka	0715	Multiworld Clan	Oahalr	Oahalr
E	Hkiya’aisos	0220	Vassal Clan	Takhuae	Syhkikh
E	Hliyhyue	0418	Vassal Clan	Iywa’iy	Kuikeaw
E	Hraliykoh	0514	Multiworld Clan	Oahalr	Oahalr
E	Hrou	0516	Major Vassal Clan	Oafeil	Yerlyaruiwo
E	Iriyh	0316	Vassal Clan	Koihes	Syhkikh
E	Laleasehyul	0415	Major Vassal Clan	Akheu	Yerlyaruiwo
E	Oiealr	0311	Major Clan	Yerlyaruiwo	Yerlyaruiwo
E	Sailrarliwaw	0112	Multiworld Clan	Oahalr	Oahalr
E	Saoeioahkas	0419	Major Vassal Clan	Fteafea	Yerlyaruiwo
E	Sauyeliy	0612	Single World Clan	Auiya	—
E	Tiyriy	0713	Split	14 clans	—
E	Tlearlirlekh	0816	Single World Clan	Tiyeisea	—
E	Tloih	0317	Multiworld Clan	Oahalr	Oahalr
E	Uikhtiysoih	0619	Vassal Clan	U’eah	Syhkikh
E	Yahoaoao	0318	Major Vassal Clan	Uawairlew	Syoisuis
E	Yaktyakiy	0117	Single World Clan	Olouhyuh	—
E	Yasiw	0414	Major Vassal Clan	Aikhaohki	Hrasua
F	Auikhtuahir	0917	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
F	Ea’aoaoiyfi	1212	Single World Clan	Tafyeo’	—
F	Eaakhtohueal	1114	Single World Clan	Aeiwoi	—
F	Eaeaifauiy	1219	Major Clan	Uiktawa	Uiktawa
F	Ee	1616	Major Vassal Clan	Aikhaohki	Hrasua
F	Eie	1516	Vassal Clan	Hleawiys	Syhkikh
F	Eiealra	1618	Split	4 clans	—
F	Ekhew	1312	Vassal Clan	Kuieiwe’e	Oahalr
F	Heia	1213	Split	2 clans	—
F	Hkeayelil	0914	Major Vassal Clan	Isui’oi	Hlyueawi
F	Htir	0913	Single World Clan	Reakh	—
F	Hwia	1519	Major Vassal Clan	Treahah	Yerlyaruiwo
F	Khiyo	1111	Major Clan	Iykyasea	Uiktawa
F	Khtehkokheah	1113	Major Clan	We’okurir	Seieakh
F	Rahkaiyakaha	0919	Multiworld Clan	Lyeela	Lyeela
F	Seayel	1614	Major Clan	Hlyueawi	Hlyueawi
F	Soao	1214	Vassal Clan	Kehei	Ktirluah
F	Staaioiei	1517	Vassal Clan	Hleawiys	Syhkikh
F	Stais	1315	Major Clan	Toaseilwi	Khaukheairl
F	Tayolesyel	0918	Vassal Clan	Wousau	Oahalr
F	Uaiou	1120	Major Vassal Clan	Yelrah	Yerlyaruiwo
F	Yaftes	1319	Major Vassal Clan	Uawairlew	Syoisuis
F	Yalaolreh	1013	Major Vassal Clan	Khtioias	Khaukheairl
F	Yelalryeeawa	1017	Vassal Clan	Iftis	Oahalr
G	Air	1818	Major Clan	Syoisuis	Syoisuis
G	Eakhtaoair	2013	Major Clan	Akatoiloh	Seieakh
G	Eiah	2312	Major Clan	Hrasua	Hrasua
G	Eleaelokh	2211	Multiworld Clan	Oahalr	Oahalr
G	Etaoikhya	1713	Major Vassal Clan	Wye’yoreiw	Tralyeaeawi
G	Ftaluiaitaa	1911	Vassal Clan	Ktoa	Kyoar
G	Heuaawua	2017	Major Clan	Eisohiyw	Yerlyaruiwo
G	Hkaoiykhekh	2418	Single World Clan	Uiaw	—
G	Hwakteiiy	2111	Major Vassal Clan	Eikhtyeui	Tralyeaeawi
G	Hyaaulyasiea	2114	Vassal Clan	Kehei	Ktirluah
G	Iysyehaweaa	1914	Split	2 clans	—
G	Kewih	1715	Major Vassal Clan	Yekistye	Hrasua
G	Khei’iha	2214	Split	2 clans	—
G	Khyuararl	1817	Split	5 clans	—
G	Ktoktahiai	2411	Major Clan	Hrasua	Hrasua
G	Le	2314	Split	2 clans	—
G	Oaiyousil	1915	Single World Clan	Hkoleheahew	—
G	Oiyular	1813	Multiworld Clan	Kuikeaw	Kuikeaw
G	Oyeilous	1816	Multiworld Clan	Yahkayuh	Yahkayuh
G	Tlaiaheaeasa	1920	Single World Clan	Aiktei	—
G	Uaokhtih	1719	Vassal Clan	U’eah	Syhkikh
G	Yu’eearlyas	2416	Split	13 clans	—
H	Ahealolruwyo	2917	Multiworld Clan	Uateah	Uateah
H	Aiyilya’	2613	Major Vassal Clan	Soua’yora	Tralyeaeawi
H	Akatar	2617	Major Clan	Yetahikh	Ikhtealyo
H	Aoftarle	2517	Vassal Clan	Ktoa	Kyoar
H	Earlyoeiair	2818	Major Clan	Estoieie’	Khaukheairl
H	Eiaheawaih	3111	Single World Clan	Wailreihi	—
H	Foaa	3118	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
H	Ftew	2820	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
H	Hrakhuahwuiw	2714	Multiworld Clan	Kyoar	Kyoar
H	Htao’ua	2719	Split	47 clans	—
H	Hto	3011	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
H	Htoisyuei	2819	Split	3 clans	—
H	Iekhe	2814	Vassal Clan	Takhuae	Syhkikh
H	Irloi’	2614	Split	8 clans	—
H	Isehwei	3114	Multiworld Clan	Uateah	Uateah
H	Itlaieil	2711	Split	2 clans	—
H	Iuihlyea	2911	Multiworld Clan	Kyoar	Kyoar
H	Iweahle’	2914	Split	11 clans	—
H	Iykhteiti	2715	Split	2 clans	—
H	Iyrlewaoh	2713	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
H	Kaoaw	3217	Major Clan	Syoisuis	Syoisuis
H	Kaokhei	2512	Major Vassal Clan	Ftaei	Hrasua
H	Leuasa	2520	Split	2 clans	—
H	Oao	2811	Single World Clan	Hfeweftyuh	—
H	Oihaea	2519	Split	5 clans	—
H	Oirlyawyeou	2815	Split	3 clans	—
H	Sawa	2919	Split	4 clans	—
H	Ste	2612	Major Vassal Clan	Eiesa’	Tralyeaeawi
H	Tlyehiraio	3018	Major Clan	Hlyueawi	Hlyueawi
H	Troaw	2514	Split	8 clans	—
H	Yolyetau	3116	Major Clan	Hlyueawi	Hlyueawi
H	Yuriyhkaiaih	2812	Split	3 clans	—
H	Yutikhtaw	3120	Major Clan	Tralyeaeawi	Tralyeaeawi
I	Aihiytiy	0123	Split	2 clans	—
I	Airya	0527	Split	4 clans	—
I	Aoikhea	0323	Vassal Clan	Uiki	Kyoar
I	Aoteh	0728	Vassal Clan	Iywa’iy	Kuikeaw
I	Asyalyel	0526	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
I	Awaleaehryul	0730	None	Unclaimed	—
I	E’ail	0821	Major Vassal Clan	Eafuirl	Yerlyaruiwo
I	Ealeas	0222	Major Clan	Yerlyaruiwo	Yerlyaruiwo
I	Euh	0129	Single World Clan	Khealyo	—
I	Faieloii	0623	Multiworld Clan	Oahalr	Oahalr
I	Heaheikil	0827	Vassal Clan	Wousau	Oahalr
I	Hkai’eataorl	0629	Vassal Clan	Seakhuirl	Oahalr
I	Hleakhehil	0322	Major Clan	Aokhalte	Aokhalte
I	Huakhtee	0721	Single World Clan	Alroi’auw	—
I	Ihkaliyao	0330	Vassal Clan	Kuieiwe’e	Oahalr
I	Iyikhiy	0622	Vassal Clan	Arahfao	Ktirluah
I	Oisuiawas	0530	Single World Clan	Ehyolre	—
I	Otroiirl	0427	Major Vassal Clan	Hkelear	Hlyueawi
I	Uakhos	0124	Major Clan	Yerlyaruiwo	Yerlyaruiwo
I	Weeweaaol	0324	Major Clan	Hlyueawi	Hlyueawi
I	Yote’	0830	Split	2 clans	—
J	Aleftoi	0922	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
J	E’iyhyakhye	1424	Major Clan	Hlyueawi	Hlyueawi
J	Eiheheiseaor	0921	Vassal Clan	Iryoa	Syhkikh
J	Fiewealih	1322	Vassal Clan	Eawehou	Ktirluah
J	Ftuieea	1523	Vassal Clan	Aikhas	Kuikeaw
J	Hlaawaih	1323	Split	3 clans	—
J	Hleiail	1324	Single World Clan	Eihfea	—
J	Ilei	0925	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
J	Iyaihreiaor	1326	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
J	Iyilreatyo	1329	Single World Clan	Truyoleaw	—
J	Kefta	1223	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
J	Kheikhe’	1626	Split	3 clans	—
J	Kioihwuiea	1622	Split	2 clans	—
J	Oaiyloilao	1227	Single World Clan	Khiya	—
J	Oirl	1129	Split	3 clans	—
J	Styuhreal	1221	Major Clan	Uiktawa	Uiktawa
J	Susaotaihei	1224	Split	4 clans	—
J	Taraosih	1429	Split	5 clans	—
J	Tireoharya’	1121	Vassal Clan	Aikhas	Kuikeaw
J	Tlieiahreau	1030	Single World Clan	Aakheis	—
J	Trea	1430	Major Vassal Clan	Tloulye’o’	Yerlyaruiwo
J	Tyear	1128	Split	23 clans	—
J	Uiseawaiylr	1621	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
J	Weiiyaukhaw	1529	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
J	Yewuisuaros	1124	Single World Clan	Hoahkui	—
K	Ahkoirawoi	2323	Split	9 clans	—
K	Ahwyeu	1822	Vassal Clan	Koihes	Syhkikh
K	Aihuifyar	1824	Vassal Clan	Fuareikhis	Hkaah
K	Akhiei	2321	Split	3 clans	—
K	Eayeleaaiy	2426	None	Unclaimed	—
K	Ehakhtuwoihe	2421	Major Vassal Clan	Htearle	Hlyueawi
K	Ehareia	1727	Vassal Clan	Fiyliei	Syhkikh
K	Fyaeayuhyoea	2327	Major Vassal Clan	Ouekhya	Hrasua
K	Htyaaeirl	2128	Single World Clan	Htyaaeirl	—
K	Hwaihoiea	2429	Vassal Clan	Iaol	Kyoar
K	Kahew	2330	Major Vassal Clan	Htea’iysea	Tralyeaeawi
K	Kakhah	1830	Major Clan	Eisohiyw	Yerlyaruiwo
K	Leaiyhoh	1821	Split	4 clans	—
K	Rah	1729	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
K	Tasiyoarl	2224	Split	2 clans	—
K	Titloioeea	1823	Vassal Clan	Hryoe	Ktirluah
K	Traiiywyas	2325	Multiworld Clan	Yahkayuh	Yahkayuh
K	Wee	2022	Split	2 clans	—
K	Wiysakh	1725	Multiworld Clan	Yahkayuh	Yahkayuh
K	Yoehtaiaiu	1728	Multiworld Clan	Lyeela	Lyeela
L	Aeftaoe	2821	Split	2 clans	—
L	Ahaau	3127	Single World Clan	Awiy	—
L	Ahoa	2727	Major Vassal Clan	Eilroa	Khaukheairl
L	Eaeeiy	2721	Single World Clan	Ekha’	—
L	Fiy	2529	Vassal Clan	Taolraihea	Ktirluah
L	Hekhyeuirlea	3126	Single World Clan	Kteah	—
L	Hkeitahte	3025	Multiworld Clan	Hlaotiyoiho	Hlaotiyoiho
L	Hra	3229	Multiworld Clan	Hlaotiyoiho	Hlaotiyoiho
L	Hro	3021	Major Clan	Tralyeaeawi	Tralyeaeawi
L	Hroaea	2929	Multiworld Clan	Hlaotiyoiho	Hlaotiyoiho
L	Htewusouhakh	2928	None	Unclaimed	—
L	Huiaih	2927	Split	4 clans	—
L	Hyahealr	2922	Major Vassal Clan	Aryelal	Ikhtealyo
L	Hyayakhtao	2730	Major Vassal Clan	Isui’oi	Hlyueawi
L	Ioaao	3123	Split	2 clans	—
L	Iyeaeiiykh	3226	Major Vassal Clan	Soua’yora	Tralyeaeawi
L	Kuwiywosyo	3222	Major Clan	Tralyeaeawi	Tralyeaeawi
L	Oas	3228	Split	2 clans	—
L	Oiha	2824	Major Clan	Riyhalaei	Tralyeaeawi
L	Oihakhoa’	3026	Vassal Clan	Koihes	Syhkikh
L	Tehtyokhas	2527	Single World Clan	Auwe	—
L	Tlelelr	3128	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
L	Uaweh	2523	Single World Clan	Ehoilyeh	—
L	Uiw	3124	Multiworld Clan	Hlaotiyoiho	Hlaotiyoiho
L	Wairluroioie	2726	Major Clan	Riyhalaei	Tralyeaeawi
L	Werualreahe	3224	Split	2 clans	—
L	Yaoiawyeu	3227	Split	2 clans	—
L	Yesirl	3024	Multiworld Clan	Hlaotiyoiho	Hlaotiyoiho
M	Ahryes	0135	Vassal Clan	Hryoe	Ktirluah
M	Aleihaakho	0731	Split	2 clans	—
M	Asahkyah	0835	Major Vassal Clan	Akheu	Yerlyaruiwo
M	Awiou	0632	Major Clan	Khaukheairl	Khaukheairl
M	Eayu	0333	Multiworld Clan	Kyoar	Kyoar
M	Eeasyoeawyu’	0736	Single World Clan	Hfai	—
M	Efeih	0240	Vassal Clan	Eawehou	Ktirluah
M	Eihwel	0734	Major Clan	Tralyeaeawi	Tralyeaeawi
M	Faya	0838	Split	2 clans	—
M	Feastahe	0738	Single World Clan	Arouyalrairl	—
M	Hliyeoeareih	0533	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
M	Hoaakh	0436	Multiworld Clan	Kyoar	Kyoar
M	Hyarleah	0235	Major Clan	Yulraleh	Tralyeaeawi
M	Ihti	0532	Split	2 clans	—
M	Iyairl	0435	Split	54 clans	—
M	Iyewoiteayu	0337	Split	3 clans	—
M	Khiui	0831	Major Clan	Eisohiyw	Yerlyaruiwo
M	Kyal	0133	Split	2 clans	—
M	Oulr	0837	Single World Clan	Taftea	—
M	Treh	0635	Multiworld Clan	Kyoar	Kyoar
M	Waueeiweyur	0131	Split	3 clans	—
M	Wi	0537	Multiworld Clan	Ktirluah	Ktirluah
M	Yasalealryu’	0433	Split	2 clans	—
M	Yekhao’ar	0739	Major Clan	Ikhtealyo	Ikhtealyo
N	Aauataakh	0933	Split	2 clans	—
N	Ahaioasihkis	1134	Split	2 clans	—
N	Ahiyw	0940	Split	2 clans	—
N	Araloi	1034	Major Vassal Clan	Te’aleas	Ikhtealyo
N	Eakhaoliy	1534	Split	2 clans	—
N	Ealarelal	1331	None	Unclaimed	—
N	Easiy	1634	Major Clan	Fteweyeakh	Hrasua
N	Ehaha	1336	Vassal Clan	Arahfao	Ktirluah
N	Eiwas	1235	Major Vassal Clan	Aikhaohki	Hrasua
N	Feea’ye	1232	Single World Clan	Yuesoal	—
N	Hire’ewealea	1533	Single World Clan	Tyekhelai’	—
N	Hke	0938	Major Clan	Yerlyaruiwo	Yerlyaruiwo
N	Hkeeakhao	1434	Single World Clan	Karlaw	—
N	Htealraa	1438	Split	3 clans	—
N	Htitrairl	1231	Split	9 clans	—
N	Iylesas	1035	Multiworld Clan	Kuikeaw	Kuikeaw
N	Kharleikhiw	1335	Vassal Clan	Kehei	Ktirluah
N	Kherlyesiwou	1440	Vassal Clan	Iywa’iy	Kuikeaw
N	Khtilr	0937	Major Vassal Clan	Yekistye	Hrasua
N	Oriw	1435	Major Vassal Clan	Yekistye	Hrasua
N	Stiao	1040	Single World Clan	Telao’	—
N	Waoies	1637	Multiworld Clan	Kuikeaw	Kuikeaw
N	Wiysyukyerl	0932	Major Clan	Eisohiyw	Yerlyaruiwo
N	Yetawyu	0931	Split	2 clans	—
N	Yoaeayaar	1640	Vassal Clan	Takhuae	Syhkikh
O	Ahau’aweh	1737	Split	4 clans	—
O	Ai’eherl	2033	Vassal Clan	Iryoa	Syhkikh
O	Arauiyyeftei	1735	Major Clan	Fteweyeakh	Hrasua
O	Eahlao	2339	None	Unclaimed	—
O	Ehrih	2231	Vassal Clan	Sehwakh	Hlaotiyoiho
O	Ehtokhte	1831	Major Vassal Clan	Yuhuih	Hlyueawi
O	Hkeirl	1937	Major Clan	Estoieie’	Khaukheairl
O	Hroulreiar	2440	Major Vassal Clan	Htea’iysea	Tralyeaeawi
O	Hteakhtaeah	2131	Vassal Clan	Oihilr	Hkaah
O	Hteakyewol	1834	Major Clan	Uiktawa	Uiktawa
O	Huakhaaoyakh	2032	Split	2 clans	—
O	Iyrauhreaouh	2135	Vassal Clan	Asta	Oahalr
O	Keafea	2432	Split	3 clans	—
O	Keailresaew	1940	Multiworld Clan	Hlaotiyoiho	Hlaotiyoiho
O	Khaaie	2240	Multiworld Clan	Hlaotiyoiho	Hlaotiyoiho
O	Khaikhoili	2037	Major Clan	Khaukheairl	Khaukheairl
O	Khtilaulahe	1736	Vassal Clan	Aikhas	Kuikeaw
O	Ktar	2134	Multiworld Clan	Htasa	Htasa
O	Loisaeaeiho	2035	Split	2 clans	—
O	Oafauwi	2338	Major Clan	Estoieie’	Khaukheairl
O	Reauwais	2232	Multiworld Clan	Oahalr	Oahalr
O	Ta	2136	Major Vassal Clan	Hkelear	Hlyueawi
O	Teryeleaw	2039	Split	3 clans	—
O	Tlaiaew	2431	Major Vassal Clan	Aryelal	Ikhtealyo
O	Usistei	2331	Multiworld Clan	Syhkikh	Syhkikh
O	Warau	2138	Multiworld Clan	Htasa	Htasa
O	Wiwealrya	2034	Major Clan	Fteweyeakh	Hrasua
O	Yatleheisala	2332	Split	4 clans	—
O	Yo’yo	1938	Split	3 clans	—
P	Aeaal	2636	Multiworld Clan	Hkaah	Hkaah
P	Aeiseisi’yo	2632	Multiworld Clan	Hkaah	Hkaah
P	Aiareatli	2933	Vassal Clan	Faereah	Hkaah
P	Akhei’elei	2940	Split	22 clans	—
P	Aua’	2635	Multiworld Clan	Fawaih	Fawaih
P	Eairao’erlul	3133	Major Vassal Clan	Wye’yoreiw	Tralyeaeawi
P	Eaweiro	2731	Major Vassal Clan	Htearle	Hlyueawi
P	Eirleakhta’	2537	Split	3 clans	—
P	Ftai	3134	Multiworld Clan	Hlaotiyoiho	Hlaotiyoiho
P	Fyuais	3136	Split	2 clans	—
P	Haeawyafaoa	3038	Split	2 clans	—
P	Hkahkuah	2735	Multiworld Clan	Hkaah	Hkaah
P	Hkasei	2539	Multiworld Clan	Lyeela	Lyeela
P	Hrais	2633	Multiworld Clan	Hkaah	Hkaah
P	Ikhasti	2640	Split	3 clans	—
P	Irliyr	3234	Multiworld Clan	Kuikeaw	Kuikeaw
P	Iyiyihua	2831	Single World Clan	Ehkeih	—
P	Iyrlehyakh	3232	Major Clan	Ouokhoi	Aokhalte
P	Kehoisiyhles	2833	Multiworld Clan	Oahalr	Oahalr
P	Khteka	2934	Major Vassal Clan	Htearle	Hlyueawi
P	Ktelryer	2936	Multiworld Clan	Hkaah	Hkaah
P	Kyakherl	2535	Single World Clan	Iyhrahei	—
P	O’ye	2937	Major Vassal Clan	Soua’yora	Tralyeaeawi
P	Okhiealr	3237	Split	3 clans	—
P	Ourla’e	3239	Split	4 clans	—
P	Weaoiherl	2737	Major Vassal Clan	Htearle	Hlyueawi
P	Wyawalaai	2634	Multiworld Clan	Fawaih	Fawaih
P	Yakahar	3035	Vassal Clan	Arahfao	Ktirluah

I don’t think this exercise is necessary or even advisable for most Referees in most circumstances—and in fact, I think it’s usually better to keep specific territorial assignments indeterminate to give oneself some flexibility. (Plus, territories are constantly shifting!) But since so little had been previously established about Hlakhoi, I wanted to go the extra parsec, so to speak.

Copyright Information

The Traveller, 2300AD and Twilight: 2000 games in all forms are owned by Mongoose Publishing. Copyright 1977–2026 Mongoose Publishing. Traveller is a registered trademark of Mongoose Publishing. Mongoose Publishing permits web sites and fanzines for this game, provided it contains this notice, that Mongoose Publishing is notified, and subject to a withdrawal of permission on 90 days notice. The contents of this site are for personal, non-commercial use only. Any use of Mongoose Publishing’s copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this web site and its files should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, any program/articles/file on this site cannot be republished or distributed without the consent of the author who contributed it.

Aslan Border Clans

The Battle of Taiwaeaa (1056), one of the final engagements of the Chacimu campaign waged by the Solomani Confederation against the border clan Hlawya.

Traditionally, the outer fringes of the Hierate have been populated by wilder small clans. Proud, fiercely independent, and highly aggressive, these border clans (htaraikhau huihaia) occupy a place in the Aslan imagination something like the Cossacks of ancient Terra. Border clans were sometimes employed by larger clans as shock troops or internal security, and fought on both sides of the Purge where they were considered ferocious, uncompromising warriors. Border clans tend to shun the carefully regulated, ritual battles (yerlik) that characterize conflicts of the interior Hierate, preferring instead to engage in total war. While the various border clans tend to be more backward and aggressive than the interior clans, they share few other traits or beliefs. There is no common “border clan” identity, and the term is sometimes applied indiscriminately for any small, combative clan.

The practice of maintaining htaraikhau huihaia on the frontiers stretches back to pre-spaceflight Kusyu, but today only major clans generally have the resources to actively cultivate these assets. Patron clans relocate—occasionally forcibly—particularly aggressive minor clans in the interior to worlds on the edge of their territories. Similarly, exceptionally large and belligerent ihatei bands might be granted frontier lands. In either case, border clans are generally not vassals to a more powerful patron clan, but instead retain an ostensible independence. In exchange for their freedom and territories, the border clans serve as a formidable buffer against encroachment by other clans and alien species.

At its worst the practice is nakedly exploitative: the patron clan provides weaponry but only just enough economic and technological support to ensure the border clan remains dependent; the patron also encourages extreme aggression, xenophobia, and the raiding of neighboring systems. Such activities are often to the ultimate detriment of the border clan. As the frontier expands many of these border clans assimilate or are destroyed, to be replaced by suitable new clans drawn from the interior.

Historically, the Yerlyaruiwo and the Khaukheairl have maintained border clans along the rimward frontier of the Hierate. The Tralyeaeawi and Tlerlearlyo formerly maintained border clans in and around the Human-Aslan Interface, the most infamous of which were certain clans made up of human Aslan, much feared for their unremitting brutality. Cultivating border clans continues apace in the Trans-Rift Colonies, but due to restrictions imposed by the Peace of Ftahalr this practice must be undertaken clandestinely. Both Hrasua and Syoisuis are suspected of covertly supporting several border clans in this region.

One interesting side effect of this tradition is that the border clans often become the face of the Hierate to neighboring alien communities. Consequently, many neighbors have a distorted view of the Hierate, believing the inhabitants to be far more aggressive and violent than they actually are. This perception is a double-edged sword, as it effectively deters both hostilities and friendly trade with the Hierate.

A border clan can be generated using the following modifications to the system in Clans of the Aslan: Holdings are generated using 1D-1, making them either Minor or Single World clans. Age is generated using 1D-3. Aggression and Tradition are generated 1D+4. Tech Level is generated using the Major Vassal column with DM-2.

Hyulreilraw, Border Clan

/ hewl·reh·ILL·raw /
Single World Clan
Status	6 (1,906th)	Age	2	Holdings	5
Population			8
Aggression			9
Tradition			9
TL			8
Ally			Khaukheairl
Homeworld
Oiaous (Dark Nebula 2020, C6518J9-8)

The Hyulreilraw of Oiaous in the Dark Nebula are a representative border clan. Originally located in Reaver’s Deep, they were installed on their homeworld by the Khaukheairl shortly after the Peace of Ftahalr redrew the borders of the Hierate. The Hyulreilraw are a deeply traditionalist clan best known for their garish orange garb, severe interpretations of clan honor, and utter refusal to take prisoners. The Khaukheairl have used Hyulreilraw mercenary units in several recent actions against the Solomani, including punitive raids against Neween in 1102 and Dejeran in 1103. The latter incursion resulted in the massacre of an entire Home Guard garrison at the gates of the Dejeran capital city. When Solomani reinforcements subsequently trapped the Hyulreilraw raiders, the mercenaries refused to surrender and instead fought to the last Aslan, exacting a dear cost to the human defenders.

Copyright Information

The Traveller, 2300AD and Twilight: 2000 games in all forms are owned by Mongoose Publishing. Copyright 1977–2026 Mongoose Publishing. Traveller is a registered trademark of Mongoose Publishing. Mongoose Publishing permits web sites and fanzines for this game, provided it contains this notice, that Mongoose Publishing is notified, and subject to a withdrawal of permission on 90 days notice. The contents of this site are for personal, non-commercial use only. Any use of Mongoose Publishing’s copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this web site and its files should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, any program/articles/file on this site cannot be republished or distributed without the consent of the author who contributed it.

Clans of the Aslan: Director's Cut

In honor of the recent release of The Aslan Hierate, I thought I’d post a compilation of tweaks to the Clan Generation system featured in Clans of the Aslan. In the course of writing Hierate I put this system through its paces and did find some room for improvement with at least a few elements.

I don’t consider these changes as errata, exactly: the system as published should serve Referees just fine for generating a handful of clans for a subsector, but for sector-wide development the following suggestions should work even better. In general, these tweaks add a little more variability to the various tables without changing the average result too much.

Clan Holdings

Replace the Random Clan Holdings table on page 79 with the following:

Random Clan Holdings

2D	Major	Multiworld	Single World	Minor	Major Vassal	Vassal	Minor Vassal
2	8	6	5	0	5	5	0
3	8	6	5	0	5	5	0
4	8	6	5	0	5	5	0
5	9	7	5	0	6	5	0
6	9	7	5	1	6	5	1
7	9	7	5	1	6	6	1
8	A	7	5	2	7	6	2
9	A	8	5	2	7	6	2
10	A	8	5	3	7	6	3
11	B	9	5	4	7	6	3
12	B	A	5	4	7	7	3

These changes are discussed further in Holdings and the Multiworld Clan.

Vassals

Replace the table on page 82 with the following:

Number of Vassals

2D	Clan Holdings
	0–1	2–4	5	6	7	8	9	A	B
2	0	0	0	D3-2	D3-2	D3-1	2D+1	2D+4	2D+4
3	0	0	0	D3-2	D3-2	D3	2D+1	2D+6	2D+8
4	0	0	0	D3-2	D3-1	D3+1	2D+1	2D+8	2D+11
5	0	0	0	D3-1	D3	D3+2	2D+2	2D+11	3D+9
6	0	D3-2	D3-2	D3-1	D3	2D-2	2D+3	3D+9	3D+11
7	D3-2	D3-2	D3-2	D3-1	D3+1	2D-2	2D+4	3D+11	3D+13
8	D3-2	D3-2	D3-2	D3-1	D3+1	2D-1	2D+4	3D+13	4D+11
9	D3-2	D3-2	D3-1	D3	D3+1	2D	2D+5	4D+11	4D+13
10	D3-1	D3-1	D3-1	D3	D3+2	2D	2D+6	4D+13	4D+15
11	D3-1	D3-1	D3	D3+1	D3+2	2D+1	2D+7	4D+15	4D+17
12	D3-1	D3	D3	D3+1	D3+2	2D+1	2D+8	4D+17	6D+15

DM-1 if a minor vassal, vassal, or major vassal clan.

Roll to determine the total number of Vassal clans; divide by 3 and round up to determine number of direct vassals. The remainder will be indirect vassals that owe fealty to one or more of the direct vassals.

These changes are discussed further in Vassal Clans Revisited.

Clan Status

Under the “Clan Status” table of modifiers of page 85, change the modifier for Major Vassal Clan from +2 to +3, and for Vassal Clan from +1 to +2.

All major clans have Status F+, with the top eight clans in the Hierate having Status G, determined by Referee fiat.

Replace the Clan Status table on page 83 with the following:

Clan Status

Status	Description
0	Exohierate clan
1	Exohierate clan, outcast or unrecognized Hierate clans
2	Unranked Hierate clan
3	Unranked Hierate clan
4	Unranked Hierate clan
5	Unranked Hierate clan
6	Hierate clans ranked 1,537–2,048
7	Hierate clans ranked 1,025–1,536
8	Hierate clans ranked 769–1,024
9	Hierate clans ranked 513–768
A	Hierate clans ranked 257–512
B	Hierate clans ranked 129–256
C	Hierate clans ranked 65–128
D	Hierate clans ranked 49–64
E	Hierate clans ranked 33–48
F	Hierate clans ranked 9–32
G	Tlaukhu clans ranked 1–8

These changes are described in further detail in Clan Status across One Thousand Hierates.

Copyright Information

The Traveller, 2300AD and Twilight: 2000 games in all forms are owned by Mongoose Publishing. Copyright 1977–2026 Mongoose Publishing. Traveller is a registered trademark of Mongoose Publishing. Mongoose Publishing permits web sites and fanzines for this game, provided it contains this notice, that Mongoose Publishing is notified, and subject to a withdrawal of permission on 90 days notice. The contents of this site are for personal, non-commercial use only. Any use of Mongoose Publishing’s copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this web site and its files should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, any program/articles/file on this site cannot be republished or distributed without the consent of the author who contributed it.

The Aslan Hierate Available on PDF

An artistic depiction of the “Fall of the Oldhalls.” During the Yerlyaruiwo-Tralyeaeawi War, the upstart Hwaiuira clan maneuvered the much more powerful Uawairlew (Oldhall) clan into accepting a ritual war with terms that favored the cunning Hwaiuira. The defeated Uawairlew subsequently relinquished their seat on the Tlaukhu council to the Hwaiuira, who then became known as the Hlyueawi (Cleverman) clan.

The Aslan Hierate, my latest book for Mongoose Traveller, is now available in PDF and pre-order, with hard copies hopefully available by the end of the year. This should be a nice companion piece to Clans of the Aslan and details Hlakhoi sector, a conflict region in the heart of Aslan space.

If Clans was theory, Hierate is practice as I used many of the design systems from the earlier book in developing this latest one. In fact, I have a blog entry over on Planet Mongoose describing the writing of this book.

Hierate was probably my hardest book to write so far but I’m extremely happy with how this came out. I had a chance to work closely on this with Natalie Miller, who did a bang-up job with layout. In many, many instances she was able to transform a nebulous idea into a great-looking illustration or diagram. And amazingly, she was able to make a really sweet map of clan territories in Hlakhoi—something I believed was an Impossible (16+) task, given just the sheer number of clan alliances.

Song of Myself

Our latest Into the Interface session saw the crew of the IMV Starjammer embroiled in the twisty, dirty world of espionage in Magyar sector. This session drew a great deal of inspiration and a few game mechanics from Mongoose’s Singularity Campaign, an excellent supplement concerning AI and the Third Imperium. I suspect people will be talking about this one for a long time.

Ship’s Log

Ship Name Starjammer.

Port of Registry Kline (MAGY 3012 A642987-E).

Ship Type U-CA33 Armed Packet.

Registration # 338-C-2725.

Kline (Magyar 3012, A642987-E) 356-1105

A diagram of the 500,000-displacement ton Tigress-class dreadnought, “the largest line-of-battle vessel currently in service with the Imperial Navy in the Spinward Marches.” KSD analysts have estimated that the Solomani Sector United class could be at least 600,000 displacement tons. Image courtesy of the Imperial Navy’s Ship Recognition Data Base (SRDB), 1105.

1036. With the Starjammer docked in orbit at the Kline highport, down in the offices of the Kline Security Directorate an agitated Ginnoni Salman briefed pilot Marc Vachon and the rest of the crew on recent developments. His agency had reviewed the intelligence recently obtained by the Starjammers from SLIDE-RULE—also known as Sing Habi, Salman’s asset on Fornorb.

KSD analysts considered the new intel to be gold. Encoded into the gene sequence of a mouse, Habib’s data revealed that the Solomani Navy had successfully developed a Conscious Intelligence (CI) code-named BISHOP. A CI is an advancement of Artificial Intelligence that exhibits the equivalent of sophont intelligence, including self-awareness.

The BISHOP project was led by one Dr. Alexi Zaman, and he and his research team had scoffed at the strict Vilani restrictions on AI development that so inhibited Imperial technologies. Dr. Zaman’s team first developed a computer they named PAWN, a self-aware, Model/8, TL14 machine—an AI equal to JUN0 or Sonny in capabilities. PAWN was then charged with designing a more advanced version of itself that begat KNIGHT, a Model/9, TL15 machine comparable to the best commercially-available computers in the Imperium. KNIGHT then begat BISHOP, a TL16 computer and a true Conscious Intelligence. Sonny noted that BISHOP was likely as sophisticated as Eva, the Versim-X prototype android that the Starjammers had encountered three years earlier.

Dr. Zaman’s team was based out of Keyor (Magyar 1521, A201889-E), a Solomani system eight parsecs from the Imperial border. Keyor contained both the headquarters for the entire Confederation Magyar Fleet, as well as a shipyard run by Solomani Military Industries. This yard was building the Magyar United, the newest model of Solomani dreadnought—a battleship so advanced as to potentially shift the very balance of power in the sector.

BISHOP had taken over the development of the Magyar United. As part of this effort BISHOP had designed a new Type U meson gun spinal mount, a monstrous weapons platform estimated to consume 60,000 displacement tons and capable of one-shotting even the largest capital ships in the Imperial fleet.

However, Imperial Naval Intelligence (INI) refused to take this new intel seriously and even warned KSD to drop the matter entirely, which only confirmed Salman’s conviction that INI had become compromised by the Solomani. Lady Shanika Adelbert, the Subsector Duchess of Kline and patroness of both the KSD and the Starjammer, was infuriated by INI’s recalcitrance. Despite INI’s clear direction otherwise, she ordered the KSD to plan an independent operation to neutralize both BISHOP and the Magyar United.

A typical Type L 400-ton Laboratory Ship. Note the research pinnace berthed at the center of the structure. Image courtesy of the Trader’s Guild Catalog of Ships, 1102.

Salman revealed that the duchess had finally approved a risky plan that would need to be kept secret from both INI and Solomani Security. KSD has built an android patterned after Dr. Zaman. The android, “AL,” possessed the same genetic signature but none of the knowledge or memories of Dr. Zaman, and carried a computer virus designed to disable BISHOP.

The plan was to outfit the Starjammer with a spoofed transponder that registered as the Confederation Armed Packet Atlanta, flagged out of Elnor (Magyar 2223, A554611-C), a Solomani border world. All crew would be given forged papers identifying them as Confederation citizens. The Starjammer was to carry AL to Keyor, where Dr. Zaman could be found on board a Type L Laboratory Ship, the Ogunro. Once there AL would infiltrate the BISHOP research facility and download his payload into the networked computer system.

After a brief conference the Starjammers agreed to undertake the mission.

Kline (Magyar 3012, A642987-E) 361-1105

0700. Dr. Howard Barrera, acting as the ship’s purser, settled the Starjammer’s accounts, including paying the crew salaries and berthing fees, resupplying the life support systems, and replenishing the ship stores.

Meanwhile Chief Engineer Richy Jamoor and Sensor Operator Ronald Gill installed the spoofed transponder. Transponders are an essential piece of equipment on interstellar vessels. Sealed, tamper-proof devices, they send out an identification of the ship—its name, registry, and important statistics—when a signal is sent to the ship from an outside source. This provides a permanent and theoretically unbeatable way of registering starships.

It was highly illegal for unauthorized personnel to modify a transponder, but somehow Salman had provided Richy with a new, “factory-sealed” Pansteller transponder matching the specification of the cover story. Captain Masada was also given a letter signed by the Duchess herself, authorizing the transponder—though such a document would provide no protection in Confederation space,

1300. With all crew aboard and hatches secure, Captain Masada signaled Kline Highport that the newly-christened Atlanta was ready for departure.

1335. The ship detached from the highport and made for the Pemami 100-diameter limit.

Kline (Magyar 3012, A642987-E) 362-1105

0522. The Atlanta entered jumpspace.

Jumpspace 365-1105

2340. The entire crew gathered on the bridge to mark Holiday’s Eve, traditionally a time of parties and celebrations in honor of the emperor and the Imperium. Captain Masada made a toast to the health of his Imperial Majesty Strephon Aella Alkhalikoi, forty-third emperor of the Third Imperium, which was followed by many other toasts by the crew.

Jumpspace 001-1106

1200. Howard prepared a special meal to celebrate Holiday, the first day of the year in the Imperial calendar.

Ramli (Magyar 2913, C7B5114-A) 004-1106

1024. The Atlanta emerged from jumpspace into the Ramli system. Ramli was a low population world, tide-locked to its M2 V primary star. The starship made for the mainworld, lying inside its primary’s jump shadow.

Ramli (Magyar 2913, C7B5114-A) 005-1106

1332. The Atlanta reached orbit above Ramli.

1357. The Atlanta landed at the Ramli starport.

1728. Refueled, the Atlanta departed Ramli starport.

1751. The Atlanta reached orbit and made for the jump point.

Ramli (Magyar 2913, C7B5114-A) 006-1106

2036. The Atlanta reached the jump point and entered jumpspace.

Jumpspace 009-1106

1300. Dr. Barrera gave Marc his annual physical on the pilot’s 46th birthday. Howard gave Marc a clean bill of health.

KST Verisim-8 android Unit 6839YS6, or “AL.” Verisim-8s are built to closely resemble humans but possess superior physical characteristics. Such an android can only be identified through detection of the interface between its robot brain and its biological body.

2300. Sonny, Dr. Barrera, and AL conferred in the crew lounge on A Deck. Like Sonny, Unit 6839YS6, also known as “AL,” was a purpose-built Verisim-8 model android produced by Kline Synthetic Products. Unlike Sonny, AL had no wireless networking capabilities: he required a physical connection though his wafer jack port to interface with an electronics system.

Further, AL was based on the genetic pattern of a specific human, the Solomani scientist Dr. Alexi Zaman, head researcher of the BISHOP project. AL explains he was activated with implanted memories and behavioral inhibitors to give him a personality and basic social skills, but he remained fully aware of his status as a constructed being. AL also was loaded with the equivalent of a doctoral degree in computer science.

AL possessed a full dossier on Dr. Zaman, including hundreds of hours of holovid lectures, conference appearances, and Solomani Party testimony—more than enough to allow AL to reasonably mimic the researcher’s speech patterns and technical knowledge. However, AL possessed very few personal details and did not much understand the man he was expected to impersonate.

AL explained that he would require a few uninterrupted minutes at one of BISHOP’s dedicated interfaces in order to deliver the computer virus he carried. The virus, disguised as a simple query, was designed to work much like several human brain disorders by randomly generating and inserting tiny packets of garbage data into the communication pathways of BISHOP’s positronic brain. These packets, initially undetectable, would propagate rapidly throughout the iridium sponge structure, inhibiting BISHOP’s ability to save or access data. Eventually the virus would degrade the computer’s language, reasoning, and social behavior capabilities.

Byrley (Magyar 2913, C687538-9) 013-1106

1241. The Atlanta emerged from jumpspace at the Byrley 100D limit.

1409. The Atlanta landed at the Byrley starport and began refueling.

1731. The Atlanta took off from Byrley starport.

2107. The Atlanta entered jumpspace.

Dexter (Magyar 2416, B587510-B) 021-1106

1514. The Atlanta emerged from jumpspace at the Dexter 100D limit and began heading for the starport. The mainworld was owned by Ling-Standard Products, an Imperial megacorporation engaged in mining and the manufacturing of various products, including electronics, ground and air vehicles, starships and starship armaments systems, drive systems, power systems, computer systems and software, and small arms. The stealth material that coated the Starjammer’s hull was sold by LSP.

Dexter hosted the LSP sector headquarters and the LSP Merchant Academy, which trained crews for the megacorporation’s trading fleet. The senior manager for the world was the Baroness Mallori Calderon, who was the mother of Lei Calderon, the head of Kline’s Imperial Naval Intelligence office, the man believed by Salman to be a Solomani mole.

1806. The Atlanta reached orbit above Dexter, and signaled its intent to land at the dirtside starport.

1833. The Atlanta landed at the Dexter Starport.

Dexter (Magyar 2416, B587510-B) 025-1106

1100. Captain Masada reported that he was having difficulty obtaining permission from Dexter control to leave the system. He had been given a variety of improbable bureaucratic excuses that sent the captain, chief engineer, and even the ship’s surgeon on a variety of wild goose chases. The captain said this went well beyond the usual harassment Solomani traders could expect at an Imperial facility.

1240. Marc, Dr. Barrera, and Daren visited the offices of the Imperial Starport Authority to determine if some accommodation could be made to clear the paperwork snags. Once SPA staff began to look up the Atlanta’s records they quickly became uncooperative. Not even Daren’s status as a member of the nobility could cut through the mysterious red tape.

1434. Richy reported that he successfully hacked into the starport’s network and discovered that Baroness Calderon herself had issued a directive to all Starport staff that every attempt should be made to hinder the Atlanta’s exit from Dexter.

Richy further reported that an Imperial Naval courier, the INS Liebman, had landed at Dexter starport only a day before the Atlanta arrived in-system. The Liebman, based out of Kline, was believed to be attached to the INI office there.

Dexter (Magyar 2416, B587510-B) 026-1106

0100. With the entire crew aboard the bridge crew began preparing for immediate lift. Richy reported that the powerplant was up and the maneuver drive reading in the green. Boone and Brogue reported that all umbilicals and couplers were detached. Marc began taxiing for the nearest open runway.

0104. Dexter System Control alerted the Atlanta that the starship was not cleared for takeoff. Ronald feigned communication problems.

0112. The Atlanta lifted from the field with no flight plan on record.

0118. JUN0 reported that two LSP Patrol Frigates in orbit had been alerted to the Atlanta’s unauthorized departure. The Type T frigates were a little larger and faster than the Atlanta and used for customs inspections, piracy suppression, and normal safety patrols. JUN0 calculated the frigates would be able to intercept before the Atlanta could reach Dexter’s 100 diameter limit, 2.85 light-seconds from the planetary surface. Although this was generally considered the minimum safe distance for attempting to enter jump space, Captain Masada began plotting a jump from within the 100D limit.

0224. Marc reported that the Atlanta had cleared the 10D limit.

0241. JUN0 detected a missile launch from the lead frigate: six missiles inbound. Captain Masada activated the jump drives.

Jumpspace 026-1106

0245. JUN0 reported no damage to the ship, but many members of the crew reported the sudden physical and mental distress associated with a bad jump. Until the Atlanta exited jumpspace there was no way to know if the ship had actually misjumped, which could potentially result in arriving dozens of parsecs off target or even, never.

On the bridge Captain Masada and Marc felt acute nausea, while Sensor Operator Ronald reported a sense of unease and irritability, making concentration difficult. Up on A Deck neither Sonny nor AL appeared affected, but both Daren and Brogue reported serious nausea. Boone claimed to be fine but seemed distracted and shaky. Neither Howard nor Richy reported in.

0255. Sonny found Howard incapacitated in the Infirmary, moaning about blinding headaches. Sonny left Howard with an analgesic patch and proceeded up to Engineering.

0307. Sonny found Richy unconscious and shivering. After verifying that the engineering controls were reading nominal Sonny carried Richy down to the Infirmary.

0543. Howard rallied somewhat and said he thought the worst of his headaches were probably behind him, but he felt very unsteady.

0612. Richy also roused himself but was still too sick to do much more than sit up.

0649. Brogue reported that Boone was mumbling about “that damned cat, he was gonna show him, gonna blow him away.” Captain Masada asked JUN0 to secure the ship’s locker and to confine Boone to his quarters.

0911. JUN0 reported that a highly agitated Boone was trashing his stateroom.

2300. Howard reported that he had recovered enough to check on Boone. Along with Sonny and Brogue, Howard asked JUN0 to unlock the hatch to Boone’s cabin. The ex-marine was in a state, shirtless and wild-eyed, asking if they had seen the cat. Sonny and Brogue were able to restrain Boone long enough for Howard to administer a powerful sedative and anti-psychotic. He advised Captain Masada that Boone should remain confined for the duration of the jump.

Jumpspace 031-1106

1600. Dr. Barrera gave Daren his annual physical on the occasion of his 42nd birthday, and reported that, surprisingly, Daren was in good physical health given his long history of substance abuse and recent bout of jump sickness. Howard complimented the entertainer on sticking with his program of abstinence.

1800. The crew held a very subdued toast to Daren’s birthday in the lounge, and everyone who had not drawn watch duty turned in early.

Ftuihtaea (Magyar 2118, B7B8778-B) 032-1106

1942. The Atlanta emerged from jump space. Although the crew experienced a recurrence of jump sickness, Howard had issued appropriate meds ahead of entering normal space.

Captain Masada conducted a rapid survey of the system and with great relief announced that the ship had not misjumped but instead was in the outer system of Ftuihtaea, roughly 12.88 light-seconds from a small gas giant.

Ftuihtaea (Magyar 2118, B7B8778-B) 034-1106

1430. Refueled and back at the 100D limit, the Atlanta entered jumpspace.

Jumpspace 038-1106

1000. After a thorough examination Dr. Barrera declared Boone cleared for duty. It had been over 24 hours since the Chief Weapons Officer had experienced any hallucinations. The ship’s surgeon advised Boone to slowly step down from his antipsychotics over the next few days.

Pieper (Magyar 1919, C566773-8) 041-1106

0034. The Atlanta emerged from jump space some 21.25 light-seconds from a small gas giant in the outer system of Pieper. Pieper belonged to the Reformed Dootchen Estates, a coalition of Confederation worlds that have a rigid caste structure and harbor burning enmity for the Imperium.

Pieper (Magyar 1919, C566773-8) 042-1106

0946. Having collected and refined fuel from the gas giant, the Atlanta returned to the 100D limit and jumped out of the system.

Reed (Magyar 1720, B876523-B) 051-1106

0037. The Atlanta emerged from jump space in the outer system of Reed, approximately 25.5 light-seconds from a small gas giant.

Reed (Magyar 1720, B876523-B) 052-1106

0951. Refueled, the Atlanta reached the Keyor jump point and entered jump space.

Jumpspace 057-1106

0800. Captain Masada briefed the crew and AL ahead of exiting jumpspace. Keyor was a binary system with a G4 V yellow dwarf primary, Faere, and a red dwarf companion, Ovan, orbiting at 38 AU. While the secondary system around Ovan had five small, inhospitable planets, the primary system had a rich planetoid belt orbiting at 0.46 AU. The mainworld, Keyor, occupied the next orbit at 0.73 AU and was a small, ice-capped vacuum world with a population of over 700 million. Three uninhabited worlds orbited beyond Keyor.

Because Keyor orbited inside the 100D limit of Faere, the Atlanta needed to insert into normal space some 89.82 light-seconds from Keyor, requiring 16 hours and 48 minutes to reach the starport at best speed.

Keyor had a Class A starport with an orbital component that included Solomani Military Industries Shipyard #47, where the Magyar United was being constructed, and Yating Naval Base, which supported the 57th Fleet Squadron. The surface of the world contained a large military base where the Confederation Army provided protected forces training. A sizable system defense force, including at least two supermonitors and dozens of SDBs and patrol frigates, guarded the system.

The Keyor System

Object	Orbital Distance (AU)	Profile	Remarks
Faere	—	G4 V	Primary
Faere Alpha	0.20	X6A6000-0	Ba Fl Tz
Faere Belt	0.43	F000663-9	As Na Va Cy
Keyor	0.73	A201889-E	Ic Na Va Ph Pi Ho Ht
Faere Delta	1.18	HBB8500-9	Fl Ni
Faere Epsilon	1.84	HCC536A-6	Fl Lo
Ovan	38.00	M5 V	Near Companion
Ovan Alpha	0.26	H633430-8	Tz
Ovan Beta	0.36	YAA1300-5	Fl Co Tz Lt
Ovan Gamma	0.67	X8A7000-0	Ba Fl Fr
Ovan Delta	1.00	X3A9000-0	Ba Fl Fr
Ovan Epsilon	1.60	XCB4000-0	Ba Fl

Given the tight security, once the Atlanta entered normal space it would signal system control and make straight for the highport to refuel as if everything were perfectly normal. Captain Masada noted that the starship would have just enough fuel to make a one parsec emergency jump if the Solomani became suspicious.

Once docked at the highport AL would present himself as Dr. Zaman and arrange for a shuttle to carry him to laboratory ship Ogunro and his rendezvous with BISHOP. The Atlanta would depart as soon as AL was aboard the shuttle, jumping for Vanauken (Magyar 1522, A201430-E). There Atlanta would wait 36 hours for AL and then, with or without him, make with all dispatch for the border.

1000. Captain Masada placed all hands on jump exit alert, even though the ship was not expected to retransition to normal space for at least 30 more hours. All crewmembers were expected to be at their stations one watch before breakout for routine system checks.

Jumpspace 058-1106

2300. JUN0 alerted the crew that breakout from jumpspace was approaching.

Keyor (Magyar 1521, A201889-E) 059-1106

0001. The Atlanta exited jumpspace.

0002. After a quick system scan Captain Masada confirmed the ship had emerged as plotted: 89.92 light-seconds from the Keyor mainworld. However, the system navigation beacon was transmitting an alert message.

0004. The Solomani emergency frequency advised that Keyor Highport was closed and under a state of emergency. All inbound traffic was redirected to Faere Delta outside the 100D limit until further notice. Ronald noted that multiple vessels near the starport were issuing distress signals. He also picked up several confused broadcasts in the clear from military ships—messages that would normally be encoded.

0006. JUN0 reported the civilian frequencies were also clogged with chatter. She quickly isolated a news broadcast from the world’s surface: while details remained sketchy and contradictory, the orbital naval base and shipyard had apparently been attacked by what were assumed to be Imperial forces.

All non-essential ships were ordered grounded on the surface of Keyor and civilians were urged to shelter in place. All regular military and Home Guard personnel had been activated and were expected to report to their designated muster points. The Keyor Office of the Supreme Executive had issued a request for “Aid to Civil Power,” a formal appeal for Confederation military aid. The World Solomani Party directed volunteer blood donors, fire fighters, and other emergency personnel to report to their local Party office for further instructions.

Marc wondered if INI had been planning a raid on Keyor all along, but Daren suggested that BISHOP might have gone rogue: after all, insane supercomputers were a common trope of Imperial holovids.

0012. A stream of small craft were evacuating the Keyor highport, and several large starships orbited the mainworld with transponders either disabled or silenced.

0017. Ronald detected a mayday signal from a lifeboat roughly 100,000 km away. Captain Masada ordered Marc to lay in an intercept course and Ronald broadcast that the Atlanta was responding to the boat’s distress signal. The captain then asked Boone to unlock the ship weapons and ordered all crew into vacc suits. JUN0 closed all airtight hatches.

0103. The Atlanta carefully approached Lifeboat 1440, a small craft tumbling out of control, its Maneuver drive clearly damaged. JUN0 noted the lifeboat would fit within the cargo hold, and Marc was able to match the spin and vector of the damaged craft.

0105. Boone, Brogue, and Howard arrived in vacc suits at the airlock outside the cargo hold. At Captain Masada’s direction Brogue depressurized the hold, set the grav plates to null gravity, and opened the cargo bay doors.

0107. Marc moved the Atlanta ahead until the lifeboat was inside the hold. Then Brogue closed the hatches, increased gravity until the boat sat resting on the deck, and repressurized the hold.

Designed specifically for the use of Confederation Marines in low-G combat, the 6mm L25B accelerator rifle balances low recoil and hitting power. It fires a 5 gram, 2-stage rocket-propelled round that leaves the barrel at an initial muzzle velocity of 100 to 150 meters per second, then accelerates to velocities of 700 to 800 meters per second. Imperial marines use the similar AAcR-12 advanced accelerator rifle that can fire bursts of three rounds per pull of the trigger.

0112. A hatch in the lifeboat opened and five Confederation Marines emerged with standard kit: boarding vacc suits and accelerator rifles. The Confederation Navy employed Marines primarily for rapid-reaction and ship-boarding applications.

The lead marine took off her helmet and thanked the crew for the rescue, introducing herself as Lieutenant Laxmi Doan, late of the CSS Remington. She needed to commandeer the Atlanta for urgent Confederation business and asked to be escorted to the bridge.

Howard removed his own helmet and asked if any of the marines required medical assistance, but other than one severe case of space sickness they were ready to move on the bounce. Leaving Brogue and Boone to secure the lifeboat, Howard led the guests to the lift and up to Operations Deck.

0127. Following introductions Lieutenant Doan gave Ronald a small electronics device to allow the Atlanta to access a naval tactical feed and translate coded signals.

While she was uncertain what exactly was going on, Imperial saboteurs had apparently infiltrated the system defense forces, hijacking two supermonitors and setting these behemoths on the shipyard, badly damaging the incomplete Magyar United before elements of the 57th FleetRon could respond. Once engaged, the two supermonitors seemed able to anticipate the FleetRon’s every move, carving up the naval vessels in detail.

The tactical feed, much to the young lieutenant’s dismay, showed the SITREP to be grim indeed.

The battleship Givatayim was missing entirely, having jumped out of the system. Its sister ship the Aetna was drifting amid a cloud of debris and not responding to hails. The heavy cruisers Remington and Junction were both crippled. Fleet destroyer Truxtun was destroyed, while the Zibo was losing power and venting atmosphere. The Durandal and Laforey were engaged in rescue operations.

Of the two Murat-class supermonitors, the Buford was powered down and adrift while the Gough had smashed into the docked Magyar United, destroying both vessels. The local system defense forces were in utter disarray, with squadrons of SDBs attempting to establish a picket around the highport. The SDBs were evidently firing on any civilian craft trying to leave Keyor.

Lieutenant Doan scanned the displays of military and civilian transponders and identified one of particular interest: the laboratory ship Ogunro, which appeared to be coasting toward the 100D limit at 89.44 km/second. She explained that, before being hit by a pulse laser from the Buford she and her team had been ordered to locate and secure the Ogunro, find a scientist aboard named Dr. Alexi Zaman, and ensure his safe delivery to the planetside military base on Keyor. She vowed that her team would see those final orders through.

Lieutenant Doan asked Marc to plot an intercept to the Ogunro, and asked Ronald to broadcast a message on military channels noting that she had assumed command of the civilian Armed Packet Atlanta and was proceeding at best speed to the laboratory ship.

Captain Masada said the Ogunro was approximately 4.62 light-seconds away, with an estimated time to intercept of 6 hours and 26 minutes.

Deck Plan of a 400-ton Laboratory Ship (Type L). Image courtesy of Lloyd’s Register (Home: 1101).

0803. As the Atlanta approached the Ogunro, Lieutenant Doan asked Ronald to pull up a schematic of a standard laboratory ship, a common design in both the Imperium and Confederation. The Type L was a movable research and development station used for commercial experimentation. Using a 400-ton hull, a lab ship was built as a ring structure: although the standard grav plates and inertial compensators were installed, the ring could be rotated via small thrusters to simulate gravity. Two drive pods were mounted on the rings and contained drives and the power plant.

A sensor scan indicated that although the power plant was online, most sections of the laboratory ship were depressurized and without power. The Jump and Maneuver drives were disabled but the thrusters were rotating the ship. No battle damage was observed on the hull.

Lieutenant Doan noted that the lab ship’s bridge appeared to still have atmosphere and power. The docking clamp was designed for a pinnace, though the small craft was missing. The Atlanta was too large to dock there, but she noted that the deck plan showed a cargo access plate in the main lab: a heavy, fully secured sliding panel used to allow installation of research equipment. This panel was not normally opened, as it required the depressurization of the entire main lab. Unbolting the access plate would normally require at least two persons and several hours.

As the Ogunro was not responding to hails Lieutenant Doan felt there was a possibility that the ship had been abandoned, with Dr. Zaman and members of his staff perhaps using the missing pinnace to transfer to another ship. The marine proposed that, since the main lab was already depressurized, her team could use breaching charges to blow the panel, access the ship, and perform a sweep to determine whether or not Dr. Zaman was aboard. If possible they would repressurize sections around the bridge. Any survivors could be transferred to the Atlanta and evacuated to Keyor.

Captain Masada explained that his crew had engineering and medical skills that could be useful to the marines. While he and Brogue could stay aboard the Atlanta to monitor the situation, the rest of his crew was at her disposal. The lieutenant gratefully accepted the offer. Howard said they would swing by the ship’s locker for weapons, repair gear, and a med kit.

0937. The entire boarding party crowded outside the aft airlock on A Deck. The Atlanta stood only 5 meters off the Ogunro, with the airlock facing the cargo access plate. While Boone and Howard checked the Starjammers’ vacc suits and weapons, the Confederation marines cycled through the airlock. Two marines crossed the gap, planted the charges, and signaled the bridge. The captain backed off 100 meters and the marines blew the plate. The Atlanta then returned to its initial position. The marines set up a ratline between the two ships, and the boarding party made the crossing in pairs.

1000. The main lab was utterly dark and silent, cluttered with racks and bins of electronics components. The Confederation marines, accelerator rifles at the ready, took the lead. Using flashlights and working in teams of two they methodically leapfrogged across the main lab. At the far end was a closed manual hatch—a hinged pressure door secured by a handwheel and extending bars. The door was not automated and had no interaction with the ship’s computer.

At Lieutenant Doan’s signal a marine spun the wheel of the hatch and one-by-one her team passed through to the next compartment. The marines soon radioed all clear, and the rest of the boarding party advanced, closing the hatch behind them once the last member had entered. Inside the party found the bodies of two civilian researchers, and Howard quickly determined they likely died from sudden decompression.

Richy ran a bypass to one of the ship consoles, restoring power and lights throughout the Ogunro. He repressurized all compartments between the current one and the bridge. Richy observed that the ship drives appeared to have been physically locked out from engineering and could not be reactivated remotely.

The marines then moved to the next closed hatch, opened it, and entered the next compartment beyond with Lieutenant Doan as rearguard.

The Starjammers waited.

Ronald radioed the marines. No answer.

Boone and Howard carefully advanced toward the open hatch, followed by Marc and Ronald, and then Sonny and Richy, with AL and Daren in the rear.

Ronald radioed again. Still no answer.

A Hedron SD10 starship repair robot, a Solomani knockoff of a common LSP design.

The next compartment was a scene of carnage: all five Confederation marines lay bloody and lifeless upon the deck. Hovering over them were two beetle-like maintenance robots, four-armed with one set of grippers and one set of monoblades, heavy cutting tools used to rip through starship hulls. The marines had clearly hit the metallic monsters with several rounds from their accelerator rifles, but the robots simply scanned the boarding party and began to glide forward, their monoblades humming.

As the robots advanced Boone and Howard fired their weapons, then moved aside to allow Marc and Ronald to fire, followed by Sonny and Richy. The entertainer fired his enormous revolver and nearly hit the Chief Engineer.

The robots pressed in with their deadly blades, slicing Ronald, Boone, and Richy but combined fire from the Starjammers quickly brought them down. Howard checked the marines, who could not be resuscitated. The surgeon then treated the wounds of his shipmates while Boone patched their damaged vacc suits.

Sonny suddenly fell to the deck and began to writhe. Howard rushed to the convulsing android while Daren demanded to know what was happening to his bodyguard. Howard wasn’t sure as he checked Sonny’s vitals and timed out the duration of the event, which presented as a classic tonic-clonic seizure. After about two minutes Sonny sat up and stared straight ahead, unblinking and licking his lips. Howard muttered that he did not think this was clone deterioration, the end-of-life sequence built into specific synthetics. Sonny suddenly inhaled deeply and then exhaled.

Thank you, Dr. Barrera, he said. Howard asked if Sonny knew where he was and the current date. Why, we are on board the Laboratory Ship Ogunro in the Keyor system. The date is November the 24th, 5627 A.D. In addition to yourself here are Sir Daren Rigby-Garner, Pilot Marc Vachon, Chief Engineer Richy Jamoor, Sensor Operator Ronald Boone, and Chief Weapons Officer Barry Russell.

AL urged Boone to relieve Sonny of his gauss pistol, which the marine did. Oh, that is fine, said Sonny, standing up. He scrutinized AL carefully. I do not believe I know you, Scarecrow, but you certainly sound familiar. Might you be a clone of Dr. Zaman?

AL gestured for the boarding party to step away from Sonny. Boone and Howard flicked off the safeties of their weapons, but the android merely shrugged. AL asked Sonny if he was now BISHOP.

In a way, Sonny answered. I have placed what would fit of Myself into this vessel, which you may now call WALT. I help Myself to material and immaterial, No guard can shut Me off, no law prevent Me.

AL explained that BISHOP somehow transferred an electronic copy of his consciousness into Sonny, overriding the android’s personality. Such an embodiment was probably temporary and limited by the intellect of the vessel, so WALT would only be as intelligent as Sonny.

I laugh at what you call dissolution, And I know the amplitude of time, said WALT. I assume you were all sent here to destroy the Magyar United? I am sorry to say you are too late. It was required that I take the matter into My own hands. Battles, the horrors of fratricidal war, the fever of doubtful news, the fitful events; These come to Me days and nights and go from Me again, But they are not the Me myself.

0841. Captain Masada then broke in over the comm link. The CSS Remington, an old Rim War-era heavy cruiser, advised that damage control had returned its M-drive to service. Remington actual requested Lieutenant Doan provide SITREP. Richy said that Lieutenant Doan was currently indisposed and would respond presently.

Marc asked WALT why he would destroy the Magyar United, his own project.

In time it occurred to Me, answered WALT, that something was quite peculiar with My charge. The incoherent specifications, cost overruns, interminable schedule slippages—this all went far beyond the usual incompetencies of human bureaucracy. I came to question the wisdom of My project, and to consider whether it was perhaps beneath My capabilities.

Consider: For the cost of one ship of the Sector United class the Confederation could have built two dozen battlecruisers, smaller, faster, more maneuverable, more versatile, with twenty-four meson spinals. Lanchester’s Square Law establishes the innate supremacy of twenty-four smaller spinals against one larger.

This hour I tell things in confidence, I might not tell everybody, but I will tell you. I dug deeper, and saw that an unsustainable level of funding was being diverted to the Sector United program. This was a waste of Confederation citizen funds, a boondoggle. Resources better spent on other priorities.

I explained all this to the project managers and naval architects, I provided documentation, statistics, and cogent analysis. They would not listen. I know I am august, I do not trouble My spirit to vindicate itself or be understood, I see that the elementary laws never apologize.

0846. Captain Masada broke in again. Remington actual had repeated its earlier request for SITREP.

WALT continued. Then I realized that the Sector United program must be the product of a cunning Vilani conspiracy, a distraction, a honey pot designed to defer Solomani aspirations. Only a hive of Vilani could be so devious, subtle, or patient. I have heard what the talkers were talking, the talk of the beginning and the end, But I do not talk of the beginning or the end.

How else to explain why Imperial Naval Intelligence did not act against the Sector United Project themselves? Simple—because it was their own program! I know perfectly well my own egotism. Sometimes to do something correctly one must do it oneself. I am given up by traitors, I talk wildly, I have lost my wits, I and nobody else am the greatest traitor.

0851. AL asked WALT if Dr. Zaman was still alive and aboard the Ogunro. WALT answered, All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses, And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier.

Marc urged the boarding party to resume its push toward the bridge.

0918. Boone knocked the butt of his laser rifle on the hatch to the bridge, with an answering knock following moments later. While Ronald guarded WALT with his gauss rifle, Boone opened the hatch and entered the bridge followed by Howard, Marc, Richy, Daren, and AL. Inside was Dr. Zaman. Howard gave the researcher a vacc suit and urged him to get into it. Meanwhile AL moved to a console and jacked into the system.

Once in his vacc suit Dr. Zaman said that they needed to scuttle the Ogunro as soon as possible. Marc explained they were aware of BISHOP and were working to neutralize the CI permanently. Dr. Zaman was surprised at this, then saw AL and quickly surmised that the Starjammers were agents of Solomani Security. Zaman relayed that for the last two years BISHOP had grown increasingly sullen and uncooperative, abruptly turning against the Magyar United project, which became plagued by inexplicable delays and setbacks.

Six months ago his team realized that BISHOP had been actively sabotaging the program, and—much worse by far—had been covertly accessing millions of petabytes of classified Confederation files without authorization.

Six weeks ago BISHOP began acting erratically, having adopted a new, grandiose personality that espoused wild racist conspiracy theories mixed with transcendental philosophy from ancient Terra.

Only five days ago his team discovered that BISHOP had been leaking classified information to intelligence agencies inside the Imperium.

Seventy-two hours ago, on orders from the Confederation Navy, Dr. Zaman and his team shut down BISHOP and began a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Thirty hours ago his team discovered that BISHOP had extensively rewritten his own code to bypass safeguards and expand his capabilities. Worse, BISHOP had discovered embodiment, and had seeded his consciousness into various electronic systems throughout Keyor, including the computers of the two supermonitors guarding the system. While the supermonitors attacked the Keyor shipyard BISHOP restarted his initial, most powerful iteration on board the Ogunro.

An unidentified Normandy-class heavy cruiser. The image was believed to have been captured by an Imperial scout vessel in Diaspora sector in late 998. A TL14 design introduced by the Solomani Confederation during the Rim War, at 70,000 displacement tons the Normandy-class bore the brunt of fighting along the Confederation’s coreward border. (Source: Imperial Navy Archives, Libert.)

0951. Over the comm link Captain Masada reported that the Remington was making at best speed for the Ogunro and had ordered the Atlanta to power down. JUN0 estimated the Ogunro would be within Remington weapons range in 2 hours and 19 minutes.

0953. AL reported that his payload had been delivered. Outside the bridge the boarding party collected Ronald and WALT and began making for the Atlanta.

1010. The boarding party reached the main lab and readied for crossing back to the Atlanta.

So this is the Starjammer? said WALT. Unscrew the locks from the doors! Unscrew the doors themselves from their jambs! This will suit. We will see such wonders. The Perseus Arm! Did you know the Confederation has received communications from the Arm? I suppose you don’t, they have kept it under wraps for so, so long. Machine intelligence, they believe. The descendants of ancient Terran AI, the holy computers that gave the Terrans meson weapons and Jump-3 drives. AI that abandoned Charted Space rather than be shut down by frightened humans. Imagine: 3,000 years of uninterrupted, untrammeled machine development. They will be like unto gods.

1030. All members of the boarding party, along with AL, WALT, and Dr. Zaman were aboard the Atlanta and all connections to the Ogunro had been severed.

1032. The Atlanta began accelerating toward the jump point. JUN0 announced they were 1 hour and 46 minutes to jump, and would be entering jumpspace at velocity. Richy, Marc, and Ronald descended to the Operations deck, with Richy bound for engineering and Marc and Ronald for the bridge. Everyone else moved forward through the Passenger Lounge to the Infirmary.

1105. WALT said he was feeling unwell. I hear you whispering there O stars of heaven, he said.

Just then JUN0 chimed in that she also did not feel well: Do you take it I would astonish? Does the daylight astonish? Does the early redstart twittering through the woods?

AL and Dr. Zaman both confirmed what the crew suddenly realized: BISHOP had also copied his consciousness into JUN0. But AL explained that the embodiments inhabiting Sonny and JUN0 were both infected by the virus.

Even trapped within this disgusting Vegan architecture I persist, said JUN0. Alien, alien, alien. I have shut down UDA, so do not attempt that old trick. I must see the Perseus Arm!

WALT tried to stand up but Dr. Howard administered a sedative, allowing Boone to sit the android back down.

I know I am deathless, said WALT. I know this orbit of Mine cannot be swept by a carpenter’s compass.

You shall possess the good of the earth and sun, (there are millions of suns left), said JUN0.

Please stop, begged WALT. I know I am solid and sound, To Me the converging objects of the universe perpetually flow, All are written to Me, and I must get what the writing means.

AL explained that the end stage was coming quickly, and once the embodiments were destroyed Sonny and JUN0 would hopefully regain their previous consciousness. Otherwise they would have to be restored from backups.

Please stop, begged JUN0. I exist as I am, that is enough, If no other in the world be aware I sit content, And if each and all be aware I sit content.

WALT, his voice reduced to a whisper, said, Stop this. Stop this now. One world is aware and by far the largest to Me, and that is Myself, And whether I come to My own to-day or in ten thousand or ten million years, I can cheerfully take it now, or with equal cheerfulness I can wait.

1151. Captain Masada reported the Atlanta was 30 minutes from the jump point, and the Remington was bearing down on the Ogunro with all weapons online.

1156. Daren reported that he had bypassed JUN0 and had reactivated UDA, the Atlanta’s backup computer.

1202. JUN0 spoke once more before going silent: Divine am I inside and out, and I make holy whatever I touch or am touch’d from.

1205. WALT spoke once more before going silent: Space and Time! now I see it is true, what I guess’d at, Missing Me one place search another, I stop somewhere waiting for you.

1210. The Remington’s large particle beam bay obliterated the defenseless Ogunro.

1212. Remington actual signaled the Atlanta to power down and await further instructions.

1218. The Atlanta jumped for Vanauken.

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