The Shoehorns

## Overview

The Shoehorns are a growing faction of rebels on Callax who denounce the Stratum and seek its abolition. They are led by Dra'rek Calla, the sister of Brek Calla, and the daughter of the King of Tarn. Emboldened by the arrival of the Mission, the Shoehorns have gained support from many Callaxians and have become a significant force in the ongoing civil unrest on Tarn. The term "Shoehorn" is a nod to the rebels' role in "forcing" change in Callaxian society, the way one forces on a shoe with a shoehorn.

## Background

Led by the Stratist Traditionalists, the ruling Calla family on Callax adheres to the Stratum, a belief system deeply embedded in their religious and cultural heritage. The Traditionalists, headed by Brek Calla, are backed by the Union of Planets, which believes that Callaxians have the right and responsibility to deal with their own issues until they become advanced enough to join the galactic scene.

Dra'rek Calla, Brek Calla's sister and leader of the Shoehorns, has defied her family's values and traditions by rebelling against the Stratum. Despite being considered a traitor by many, her natural leadership skills and tactical competence have earned her a prominent role in the resistance movement.

Dra'rek married a Lax member of the rebellion in an illegal ceremony in Rayz in the early days of the resistance, in the year A4548. They had a female child named Fin'na. Fin'na's father, Kipp, was killed in a fracas a year before the war broke out in earnest, in A4549. Dra'rek is motivated by a desire to honor Kipp's memory and make a better future for her mixed-class daughter.

## The Law of 55

The Law of 55 is a controversial aspect of the Mission's interventionism policy. According to this rule, the Mission only needs to find 55 members of a species willing to join their government to establish an official body within the Mission. This then grants the Mission the "responsibility" of protecting and uplifting the entire species. In practice, this rule enables the Mission to "legally" wage war on factions within a species that resist their intervention, such as the Traditionalists of Callax, even when the majority of the species opposes the Mission's involvement.

Critics argue that the Law of 55 is an exploitative loophole that undermines the sovereignty of "primitive" species, and that intervention should require, at least, the consent of a majority of adult sentients from the species in question, rather than a small minority.

## Shoehorns and the Law of 55

The Law of 55 is particularly important in understanding the Shoehorn faction's position within the Callaxian Civil War. As the Mission gains influence on Callax, the Shoehorns see an opportunity to challenge the Stratum and force change within their society. With the backing of the Mission, the Shoehorns continue to grow in strength and numbers, posing a significant threat to the Traditionalists and the established order on Callax.

As the conflict on Tarn unfolds, the Law of 55 remains a contentious issue, underpinning the ongoing struggles between the Shoehorns, the Traditionalists, and the various galactic scene governments involved in the Callaxian Civil War. The Shoehorns' rise to prominence and their fight against the Stratum has become emblematic of the wider ideological battles and power struggles taking place within the galactic scene.