Fathom Kings

The term **Fathom Kings** refers to a number of individuals, mainly Cystarians, who carved out independent or semi-independent fiefdoms on water-based worlds.

Although sapience was exploring the farthest reaches of space during the Golden Millennium, planets remained the foundation of civilization. Whether for raw resources, cheaper space to build, or simply the desire to not have to worry about life support failures, most celestial pioneers eventually settled down. But for those who came later, what was there left to take once all the conventionally habitable planets had been claimed? Cystarians and particularly daring (or foolhardy) humans looked towards the seas.

While to humans the ocean may seem a barren place, it holds innumerable resources for those dedicated enough to find them. The crust of a world covered in water holds the same bounty as one without, and biological commodities such as fish and seaweed can be easily farmed. Indeed, aside from some added difficulty for humans their productive capacity is similar to more Earth-like planets. There was, however, a key difference that allowed the Fathom Kings to exist in numbers far beyond similarly independent rulers on land: defensiveness.

Humans are a terrestrial species. There are millennia of tactics and stratagems for assaulting foes on both land and sea. The key word, of course, being *on*. Conventional warfare, and indeed many conventional weapons, simply do not function underwater. While submarines exist, they are cumbersome to transport through and require specialized crews. Crews which, for the most part, could be found serving aboard the submarines of Fathom Kings. But before submarines can even be launched, the surface of the water must be taken from vast fleets. There were three strategies that could realistically be employed to get around these defenses. The first, to engage in a prolonged bombing campaign to drive the enemy underwater, followed by deploying submarines and other underwater military assets without regard for cost so as to overwhelm even the sturdiest of defenses. Depth charges could be used to soften up fortifications beforehand, but there were typically significant defensive measures taken against them. The second was to deploy a powerful long-range weapon to defeat the enemy without engaging in underwater combat, such as the Electra. Thirdly and finally, an organization with sufficient funds could hire Cystarian mercenaries or the navies of anoher Fathom King. Such specialized groups knew their value however, and often charged exorbitant fees.

With the realization of their position's security, colonies across the galaxy declared that they answered to no authority but themselves. What they did with that sovereignty varied from planet to planet and King to "King". Some used their unavailability to become feared pirates and raiders. Kuzon of the Cosmos, the second leader of the notorious pirate army Dockson's Degenerates. Others were "kings" only by virtue of their watery home. The Cystarians of the Hadal Repulic did not name their country falsely, and welcomed those fleeing persecution in the stars to the safety of their depths. But a Fathom King is a Fathom King whether there are one or one hundred, and regardless of if they are self-declared or elected.

When the Golden Millennium drew to a close, and the Fragmentation of the Calanthites threw the galaxy in chaos, the brilliant blue orbs shone their brightest. For good, or for ill.

-Manifold Cloth