The Slug Kleptocracy

The Slug Kleptocracy represents the majority of the Slug population. Residing mostly in nebulas, Kleptocracy ships are not too common in Federation space.

## History

### **Founding**

The Slug Kleptocracy was founded by the slugs to unite their people under one banner after a long series of turf wars between different clans and the approaching threat of the Federation. It is governed by a loose set of rules known as the Honorable Thieves Code, which is enforced by the slug king. The code forbids kleptocracy citizens from robbing or killing fellow slugs, but permits doing so to outsiders who visit Kleptocracy space. This has generally put nebulas in an unfavorable light because of the lurking slug threat, but keeps the Kleptocracy from collapsing.

### **Relations with the Shells**

The Shells developed on the same home planet as the Slugs, but unlike their aquatic cousins remained mostly above water for most of their duration on the planet. When the Slugs did eventually journey up to the surface and discovered the Shells, it started a long lasting competition between the two.

However, the Shells generally had a more ethical approach to matters, while the Slugs did whatever suited them. As the two civilizations inevitably reached FTL Travel and colonized the sector, it became clear the two species could no longer coexist in the same territory. The Shells were forced to leave in mass numbers to find a new home for themselves, where they try to stay out of Slug matters.

### **Relations with the Federation**

The Slugs, along with many other races, were originally permitted into the young Federation's territory. However, unlike the brutal Mantis or disdainful Rockmen who were banished for their violence, the Slugs ended up on the Federation's bad list because of their untrustworthy nature. Their banishment from the Federation was of little matter to most Slugs, who usually never left their nebulous homelands. However, as the Federation began to expand and even overtake several nebula sectors, fear grew among the Slug clans that they would lose all of their home. This pressure eventually formed the Kleptocracy. After a few battles over the outskirts of Slug space, the Kleptocracy finally made a pact with the Federation. The slugs would stay within the boundaries of the nebula clusters, and the Federation could do whatever they wanted with the clear space around it.

### **The Slug Expansion Wars and the Coalition**

As the Federation struggled with the Rebellion and its influence shrunk greatly, the Kleptocracy decided to take advantage. At first, they began reclaiming many of the old nebula sectors that had remained abandoned ever since the Federation colonized them and then promptly abandoned them afterwards. However, this wasn't enough to satisfy the Slugs. Knowing that it was too risky to wage war against the other nebulous races, they invaded neighboring Mantis and Rock space instead. The nebulas provided the Slugs with a massive advantage, as any counter attack lead by their enemies would usually end up lost and easily picked off by the Slug fleets.

The Slugs likely could have won the war, had it not been for the intervention of the Shell Geniocracy, who offered to guide the mantis and rock ships through slug space. With their main advantage gone, the Slugs worked up a new tactic. They almost immediately surrendered, despite still having a good chance at winning, and offered a trade aliance, similar to the Federation. Though reluctant at first, the Kleptocracy worked hard to earn the trust of the Hive and Theocracy, and later even the Crystalline Empire as well.

This alliance however was not built to last. Now known as the Coalition, it seeks to bring an end to both the Federation and Rebellion as revenge for the mistreatement their species recieved from the two factions. The slugs however have another secret plan to overthrow the Coalition once their plans are successful, and take full control over the galaxy.

### **The Crown Theft Festival**

The Kleptocracy earns its name from its unique way of electing new kings. After every 4 year term, the slugs hold the Crown Theft Festival, an event where any Kleptocracy citizen may attempt to steal the current king's crown to become the next king. Though extremely inneficient, the slugs forbid the use of lethal methods, bribery, or blackmail against the king or other participants while attempting to take the crown.

List of kings:

* Slocknog
* Captain Nights
* Arsagh
* Terlack
* Orsek
	+ The last 3 of these are never seen in person, but are found written on tombstones in the Slug Burial Planet event.

## Trivia

* The two slug kings the player meets in-game, Slocknog and Nights, are bothed based off of named slugs encountered in the vanilla game.
* AKleptocracy is a real word used to describe a nation's government,
	+ However, the slug government is not accurately decribed by the definition of a true Kleptocracy
* The Slugs have multiple political parties, though their use is unknown. The only one the player ever encounters are the Clairvoyants (lead by Slocknog) who function as the slug elites
	+ Nights also has his own subfaction, the Knights of Nights, but they act more as his inner circle than a political faction.
* The Slugs are one of the few factions who currently has a super-elite subfaction (Knights of Nights), the others being the Rebels (MFK Aces) and Mantis Hive (Bishops)
* The Slug Homeworlds is not actually the location of the Slug Palace. The Slug Palace (and heist questline) is found in the secret Royal Nebula sector.

## Ships

Kleptocracy AbductorKleptocracy AssaultKleptocracy BomberKleptocracy Cealaforming StationKleptocracy DestroyerKleptocracy DropshipKleptocracy EnforcerKleptocracy FighterKleptocracy FrigateKleptocracy GuardKleptocracy InterceptorKleptocracy JailerKleptocracy Light-CruiserKleptocracy MarauderKleptocracy OutriderKleptocracy ProtectorKleptocracy RiggerKleptocracy ScoutKleptocracy StationKleptocracy Transport