Chiss Ascendancy

The **Chiss Ascendancy** was a government of the Chiss people located in Chiss Space in the Unknown Regions (Called "The Chaos" by the Chiss). The Ascendancy was governed by many complicated systems of bureaucracy including a mostly democratic parliament. There were nine ruling families which held further responsibilities within the Ascendancy. The Ascendancy Military was based on Naporar where it was led by the Defense Hierarchy Council. The military was divided into three branches, the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet (CEDF), Chiss Defense Force (CDF), and Chiss Expansionary Defense Army (CEDA).

## **Overview**

The Chiss Ascendancy was based on the planet Csilla, homeworld of the Chiss species. The Ascendancy is also responsible for twenty-eight Chiss colonies.

## **History**

Early in the history of the Chiss Ascendancy, the Chiss homeworld of Csilla experienced a devastating climate catastrophe which led to the planet's surface being frozen over and made uninhabitable. Many Chiss fled off-world to the nearby colony worlds while others were moved into vast underground cities. By 18 BBY, however, Csilla's cities were nearly vacant, the only inhabitants being government officials and the leaders of the Nine Ruling families. However, to all but the more executive citizens of the Ascendancy, the lie that Csilla was home to billions of inhabitants was maintained. In part, this was a strategic decision to mislead adversaries, but it was also a matter of pride for the Chiss people.

Armed conflict between the Chiss families was a common occurrence until approximately 300 BBY when the Modern Syndicure was created. For much of the history of the Ascendancy, government was controlled by the Syndicure, a legislative body comprised of Syndics, Chiss appointed to represent the interests of the Nine Ruling Families. The Modern Syndicure was given more extensive powers and became a body where the families could debate their issues with one another in a peaceful setting. In 1 BBY, however, this ancient order would be upended following due to the Vagaari Invasion.

The Vagaari, long embittered with the Chiss, organized a coalition of nations within the Chaos to invade the Ascendancy. The widespread nature of the action overwhelmed the CEDF and resulted in the subjugation, massacre, and enslavement of many Chiss. After the Vagaari were defeated in battle over Csilla, much of the blame for the disaster was placed at the feet of the Syndicure, the members of which had prioritized family safety over the well-being of the Ascendancy as a whole. In particular, the actions of the Clarr, Boadil, and Plikh families were considered grounds for expulsion from the Nine Ruling Families. The Inrokini, Sabosen, and Thriv families were raised from the Forty Great families to take their places. In addition, the responsibilities of the Ruling Families was changed significantly. No longer would the Syndicure serve as the primary Legislative and Executive Branch of the Ascendancy. A second Legislative body, the Parliament (which was elected by the people rather than appointed by families), was established to balance out the Syndicure. Additionally, each of the Nine Ruling Families were given a particular department to manage in the government, narrowing their tasks and preventing the families from gaining too much power. Lastly, gubernatorial elections were held on the colonies which theoretically limited the influence of the families on those worlds. Though while all these measures sought to lessen the impact of family politics, each of the families remained strong and influential.

By 15 ABY, the Rank of Aristocra saw a dramatic change. For much of Chiss history, Aristocra was a middling rank within the families. However, the title eventually became used to describe the head of departmental affairs within one of the Nine Ruling families. It quickly became apparent that these Aristocra held vast amounts of power and their importance began to eclipse that of the Patriarch, the senior member of a Chiss family. The Nine Aristocra began convening their own council on Csilla.

With Thriv'aes'hrallae's ascension to power in 29 ABY, the Thriv Aristocra created an unofficial alliance with three of the others of his rank. Eventually, this quadrumvirate was codified as "The Four."

## **Government**

The government of the Chiss Ascendancy consists of three distinct branches responsible for conducting various administrative functions, and ensuring the peace and safety of the Ascendancy and its colonies.

The branches are the Executive branch, the Legislative branch, and the Military.

## **Executive Branch**

The executive branch is the highest tier of Chiss politics. This branch is further broken down into several subunits, each with distinct responsibilities.

### **The Four**

The Four were a small council of Aristocra who acted as heads of state for the Chiss Ascendancy. They were elected from and by the Aristocra of the Nine Ruling Families and were tasked with the most important duties of the Aristocra, and decided how to delegate major responsibilities to their peers.

### **The Nine Ruling Aristocra**

This group consisted of all Nine Aristocra of the Ascendancy, and elected The Four from within their ranks. Each Aristocra had a household specific roles, and had entire divisions and staff to aid them. All Nine rarely met together, unless called to a meeting by The Four, but rather carried out their duties separately.

#### **Aristocra and their Roles**

* Ufsa (from Cioral), colonial affairs
* Irizi (from Naporar), military communication
* Inrokini (from Csaus), non-military industry, non-military science, and communications
* Sabosen (from Sposia), law and order, health, education
* Mitth (from Copero), military-contracted industry, shipyards
* Chaf (from Sarvchi), foreign policy, diplomacy
* Dasklo (from Avidich), agriculture
* Obbic (from Shihon), fuel and energy
* Thriv (from Rentor), transportation

### **Judiciary**

The Judicial branch of the Chiss Ascendancy is absorbed by the executive, and consists of members of House Sabosen. The Aristocra is known as the Grand Judge in the courts on Sposia.

### **Cabinet**

Another aspect of the Executive branch were the colonial governors. These were twenty-eight individuals elected from the populace of each of the twenty-eight Chiss colonies. They held administrative powers over their individual colonies, and were responsible for communicating with the Aristocra of House Ufsa who was in charge of colonial affairs. If the Aristocra of House Ufsa called for it, the twenty-eight Governors would meet in what was called the Cabinet on either Csilla or Cioral. The cabinet was the final step in the legislative process, and was responsible for passing legislation to be signed. In theory, the Cabinet was a body unaffected by family politics, but the colonial governors were usually of whatever family controlled the majority of the colony.

## **Legislative Branch**

The legislative branch were in charge of writing and changing laws in the Ascendancy. They were a bicameral legislature, consisting of upper and lower chambers. The upper chamber was called the Syndicure, and the lower chamber was referred to as Parliament.

### **Sydicure**

The Syndicure was comprised of two members of each of the Nine Ruling Families, elected or appointed by the household itself. Legislation could not be introduced in the upper chamber, but members of the Syndicure could suggest and introduce legislation in the lower chamber, the Parliament. Legislation had to pass both chambers, and be signed by the Cabinet before being assumed as law.

### **Parliament**

The Chiss Parliament was comprised of 213 Chiss individuals elected from the 28 colonies. The number per colony varied based on population. Members of Parliament did not run for office using names, but rather wore insignia specific to their colony as a means of identification. This way, the parliament was assumed to be impartial towards house and family. All legislation was introduced in the Parliament.

## **Military**

The military of the Chiss Ascendancy was considered its own independent entity. It consisted of three branches, the Chiss Defense Force (CDF), responsible for dealing with matters within the borders of the Ascendancy, the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet (CEDF), responsible for patrolling the chaos beyond Chiss space, and the Chiss Expansionary Defense Army (CEDA). The three branches were led by the Defense Hierarchy Council which consisted of five CDF admirals, five CEDF admirals, and the ten CEDA generals. The council was headquartered on the planet Naporar. The military operated important bases on Cormit and Kinoss, among others.

### **Phalanxes**

Phalanxes were paramilitary groups loyal directly to a ruling family. There were two types of Phalanxes, Colonial Phalanxes and Household Phalanxes, though they served similar roles. Colonial Phalanxes served as a police and defense force on individual colonies. Household Phalanxes followed the leaders of the ruling families around as a bodyguard force. Both types of Phalanxes were under the authority of Family Patriarch, Aristocra, and Syndics. Members of the Phalanx, however, did not need to be a member of a ruling family.

Phalanxes of the Ruling families could operate small fleets of their own.

Some Phalanxes commissioned and built their own warships, such as the *Chaf*-class Destroyer manufactured by House Chaf.