Galactic Commonwealth

A sort of interstellar representative of galactic interests in the Ai no Kusabi universe.

For a time, Planet Amoi fell under the Commonwealth's jurisdiction. Prior to Jupiter's coup, on Amoi the Commonwealth inspections conducted routinely every few years had halted and had not been resumed. (V1 p89)

The Commonwealth is most noted for instigating the creation of Tanagura and Jupiter, their later tentative involvement with the Ceres Independence Movement, and their eventual tensions with Amoi's Tanagura superpowers.

## **Description**

Independent city-states have often established federations to maintain and preserve the mutual quid pro quo of economics and political relationships. But claiming autonomy does not make one independent. Few such cities are truly independent in every respect. Rather, a handful of large municipalities are absorbed into a greater 'umbrella city' under the rubric of a 'commonwealth', which are in truth little more than subordinate autonomous regions functioning largely as de facto colonies. Among them, regardless of the governing commonwealth, regardless of the presence or lack of outside interference, and yielding to no one, was Tanagura. (V1 p88-9)

## **Abis Think Tank**

The Abis Think Tank arrived on the poorly-developed outlying planet Amoi during, looking for a place beyond the reach of the Galactic Commonwealth, where they could explore advances in science and technology while being answerable to no one. On Amoi they built the metropolis Tanagura, and its supercomputer mainframe, Jupiter. However, they did not expect Jupiter to be so knowledgeable and advanced that it turned against its creators Jupiter exerted its dominion over humanity, and created the android Elite to enforce its will.

### **Description**

Determined to think "out of the box," and with the goal of creating a prototypical metropolis unconstrained by political pressures or religious taboos, [the Abis Think Tank] set about constructing Tanagura. A large number of scientists were brought to Tanagura with the aim of furthering human intelligence and prosperity, eventually giving birth to the supercomputer called Jupiter. (V1 p89)

Also spelled **Abyss Think Tank**.

## **NGO**

The Commonwealth human rights NGO's and lobbying groups were intimidated by [Tanagura's] presence, and all too willing to give the problems of Ceres a pass. (V2 p75)

### **Human Rights Commission of the Galactic Commonwealth**

Even they have nothing to say about the non-existence of Ceres. All their genteel thoughts and high-minded philosophies caved before the awesome power of Tanagura. That was the truth of the world. (V6 p21)

### **Support, Mongrels**

The back-channel support from the Commonwealth -- that had continued since the time Ceres declared independence -- had dried up. Doors were shut wherever the [five] clans turned. And then the communiques from Tanagura arrived on their doorsteps, sounding them out behind the scenes. (V4 p108)

The brief so-called 'honeymoon' with the Commonwealth following the independence of Ceres was now dead. (V2 p75)

### **Support, Pets**

Once a year, the spectacular exhibition that was the Midas Pet Auction pulled back the curtain on Tanagura's up and coming industries. However, it was a grim fact that its reputation in the outside world had been extremely poor a mere fifty years before. *"An old-school slave trade,"* it was called. *"A showcase for human rights violations."* (V1 p88)

The whirlwind of criticism blowing in from the Commonwealth capital was scathing and endless. Not only the auction but the existence of Midas itself, a symbol of all that was hedonistic and dissolute, set their nerves on edge. (V1 p88)

## **Religionists**

Raoul Am was one of Tanagura's biotechnology specialists. The hardheaded Commonwealth bureaucrats -- and especially those calling themselves 'religionists' -- referred to him as a mad scientist who didn't even fear God. (V3 p56)

To spare nothing in the pursuit of the secrets of the universe was a matter of fact to the Blondies. It was nothing for the likes of Raoul to descend on a world dying under a viral pandemic and bring the full might of the technology of Tanagura to bear. To the dying, no doubt Raoul was truly divine. That Raoul's motives were entirely devoid of compassion was meaningless to consider Raoul's science rendered religion futile. (V8 p123)

see Keeler Lab

### **Tanagura and Religion**

Every religion has laws governing its conduct, an ideology to its own. Tanagura's refusal to believe in any of that through sheer might of its control of life was undeniable. (V8 p123)

All of humanity received the benefits in some way, but the chasm between religion and science only deepened. (V7 p80)

There was no promise of an afterlife, no reliance on the uncertainties of faith, only unshakable conviction in the might of technology. That was Tanagura. (V8 p123)

## **OVA-Specifics: Federation**

   The 1994 OVA introduced a new character, Mr. Hazall, who arrived at Parthia as the VIP representative of **the Federation**.

No information is given about this Federation's form or function, beyond their successful trade agreement with Iason Mink (presumably having to do with the Black Market syndicate).

However, one can assume that the Comonwealth and the Federation are one and the same, especially when consideration is given to the evident hostile tension and rather obvious connection Hazall had with the assassination attempt on Iason's life after the Trade Convention.