Empress

Ultimate ruler of all Rebin Space the ceremonial home of which is the Grand Imperial Palace on Ande, which apparently was the site the first landing of colonists in the area from the Gigantic Colony ship the U.N.S.S. Rebin. There is a mood afoot amongst nobles and commoners alike to rename the world of 'Ande' as 'Rebin' that is steadily growing in force and popularity.

It is said that when the colony ship was broken up to provide the needed raw materials and habitat sections to house the original colonists, a piece of keel was laid deep within the foundations of the government administrative centre (the present palace) and a plaque erected commemorating the mighty vessel that took the colonists to a new home.

Such sentimentality is the main reason why the palace is considered to be the symbolic and actual seat of all power within the Rebin Empire and in times of crisis and emergency the meeting point of the nobility. Briefings to R.B.S. journalists and proclamations made by the empress are held on the palace steps as a time-honoured tradition. An extensive country estate surrounds the Grand Imperial Palace and its lavish gardens, maintained and supported by a large staff rotated between their homeworlds every 200 (standard Imperial days).

The council of ladies

The council of ladies meet either in the Grand Imperial Palace or more likely and usefully in the government chambers of the 'St Helena Margrave' Grav city, a gigantic structure that floats freely in the atmosphere above the Grand Imperial Palace, as already noted to allow more comfortable breathing of Ande's dense atmosphere. The council is made up of a single Duchess per member world who after consideration of relevant issues and facts advise the Empress who may either accept or reject their suggestions. When decisions are finalised, fleet couriers are sent to the relevant homeworlds of each Duchess carrying dispatches advising their subordinate Countesses of new imperial policies and important strategies or official proclamations along with instructions from the Duchess. The council of ladies is not in permanent session and meets at random (though prearranged times) throughout the local year on Ande or immediately in response to a crisis.

Duchess

As previously noted, a single Duchess who sits upon the council of ladies rules each member world.

Countess

There are generally several per member world, each charged with a different area of responsibility (e.g. the management of a city or geographic region)

Baroness

There can be as many Baronesses as needed to assist their local countess with her duties, and function as aides

Lady

There can be as many ladies as needed to manage specific aspects of Rebin life such as management of a large institution or industrial facility (a complex of factories/power grids/agricultural production etc). Ladies are directly answerable to their ranking Baroness.

Whilst Ladies are clearly the bottom level of the government they are still immensely powerful people, not to be trifled with…

Titles & Hereditary

Noble titles are not passed down from one generation to the next. Nobility is gained by merit and is most often awarded in a deferred way to the most promising females during their education and training (from age 8 upwards), one such promising candidate is then given specialist training and guidance before being named as the natural successor to the local currently ruling lady.

Upon the death of the old noble the successor immediately takes office continuing the duties of the former lady.

Similarly the Empress herself is expected to name a successor (a Duchess from the council of ladies) to assume her duties and responsibilities upon her death or voluntary retirement.

Higher ranking nobles such as countesses and duchesses choose a natural successor from the next lowest rank of nobility that directly serve them, e.g. a Duchess would be expected to choose a Countess as her natural successor, and likewise a Countess would be expected to choose a Baroness, a Baroness would be expected to choose a Lady, whilst a lady's natural successor would be drawn from the common ranks of promising candidates. Hence nobility is open to any sufficiently promising female though exceptions can be made.

Naturally should any noble fail in their duties or are deemed to be negligent or proven to have abused their power and position, the empress may punish this by removal of title and expulsion beyond the Rebin borders or even death. Official sources state that this has never happened. The natural successor of any noble is expected to work as an aid or assistant to their current ranking noble until their demise or relinquishment of their title (retirement which is voluntary and cannot be forced except by the empress). Nobles are charged with the correct and fair government of their territories/institutions or areas of responsibility.

Rebin customs and security arrangements mandate that the ruling noble and her natural successor never travel together in order to prevent local government being paralysed by an unfortunate accident or successful assassination attempt.

Military forces and by definition, Rebin soldiers on law enforcement duties answer directly to local commanders via the chain of command ultimately ending with the local countess who is also responsible for upholding the principles of the local judicial process, the day to day running of which is handled by the local military forces as previously mentioned.

Contact the Web Emperor to request $10/year hosting for your Traveller content on this site. No ads, no banners, no pop-ups, just a great web address!

® Traveller copyright by and trademark of Far Future Enterprises. In addition, any program/article/file on this site cannot be republished or distributed without the consent of the author who contributed it.