Kitanai
A fiercely independent people and a turbulent history
Overview
The Kitanai Empire is a humanoid alien civilization rooted in the Rimward Reaches, known for its resilient, fiercely independent people and a turbulent history of wars, occupations, secessions, and shifting alliances. Originally part of the Fenstran Union (established in 678 alongside Denica and Gamalat), the Kitanai seceded in 847, forging their own imperial path. Throughout their history, they have endured invasions and occupations by the Rutak and Audrian empires, fought multiple independence wars, and leveraged a tradition of stubborn resistance to maintain cultural cohesion amid vast political pressures.
Major conflicts like the Rutak-Kitanai Northwest War (1244–1281) tested the empire’s military against superior industrial powers. Later centuries saw repeated Audrian occupations and puppet governments until the Kitanai reclaimed independence. In modern times, the Kitanai navigated entanglements with the Naplian and Rutak empires, resulting in forced alliances, territorial partitions, and episodes of occupation during the Emperor’s War era. Despite devastating defeats and foreign incursions, the Kitanai maintained a powerful sense of national identity, even when reduced to exiled kings and rebel refuges in the Great Desert Rift.
Audro Dresch
After being forced out of Dulte and Languan Worlds territories, the Twin kingdoms (Audro-Dresch Empire) turned to the Kitanai, which were in tumult as nationalistic efforts were trying to end the rule of the Rutak. Both Denica and Audria-Dresch saw an opportunity to expand in this region. Denica in particular took on the role of protector of the Kitanai and the orthodox Alovar humans. Audria envisioned a multi-alien, religiously diverse empire under Wassh's control. Count Gvera Jossamire, a Dreschian who was Alien Minister (2471 to 2479), made the centerpiece of his policy one of opposition to Denic expansion in the Kitanai frontier and blocking Qomiti ambitions to dominate a new South Proq-Qomiti federation. He wanted Naplia to ally with Audria, not Denica.
Great Desert Rift
The Rift was infamous as the refuge of Rutak dissidents and Kitanai rebels along the southwestern frontier.
By the early fourth millennium, the Kitanai Council signed major treaties like the United Naplian Empire Treaty, but by 3604 all contact was lost. Their fate is uncertain, but they are likely to have fallen to cybernetic forces. The Rimward Reaches still echo with legends of Kitanai rebels and lost starfleets.
Status: As of 3604, the Kitanai Empire’s status is unknown. Persistent tales of rebel flotillas and hidden starstream fortresses suggest that, true to their nature, the Kitanai may yet endure—hidden in the rimward dark, waiting for a chance to reclaim their legacy.
Civil Structure
Government
The Kitanai historically shifted between monarchy, council rule, and military dictatorship. After seceding from the Fenstran Union, they were led by emperors until multiple foreign occupations installed puppet rulers or religious figureheads. In 2049, the Kitanai Council was formed, attempting a more collective governance model. However, during crises such as the Naplian invasions, power centralized under military figures like Marshal Liphera Terpan (2753), who dissolved the republic and governed as a de facto strongman.
Social Structure
Culturally, the Kitanai were known for their fierce nationalism, honor-based warrior traditions, and capacity for guerilla warfare and insurrections against occupying powers. They maintained a distinct non-human cultural identity, emphasizing clan loyalty and a warrior aristocracy balanced by merchant guilds and shipyard syndicates. In the Rimward Reaches, they were both respected and feared as unpredictable neighbors and rugged survivors.
Military
Ground Forces
The Kitanai maintained a large standing army traditionally based on conscription, influenced by Rutak reforms during early wars. Ground doctrines emphasized defensive lines like the Bingren Line, deep-space marine units, and ice-moon fortifications, as exemplified by the Felat Ice Mines repulse (2668). When pushed to the brink, Kitanai forces often resort to strategic withdrawals and counterattacks, turning stalemates into costly victories against superior invaders.
Air Forces
Atmospheric forces are less emphasized than deep-space marines and orbital defense troops, but planetary air wings do exist for local defense and planetary siege operations. These units usually supplement ground fortifications and provide air cover during major defensive campaigns.
Stellar Navy
The Kitanai build some of their own military vessels—especially escorts, destroyers, and cruisers—while relying on Rutak and Qomiti contractors for battleships and capital ships. Their navy favors flexible task forces for local defense and deep-space raiding. Kitanai fleets also benefit from access to the foldgate infrastructure via the Umb Starsystem, providing strategic mobility across the Rimward Reaches.
Special Technologies
Umb Foldgate: The Kitanai possessed just one operational foldgate, located in the Umb Starsystem, giving them limited yet vital strategic mobility.
Starstreaming Routes: Most Kitanai trade and military transport relied on ancient and carefully maintained starstream routes rather than foldgate networks, making them masters of navigating these long, risky corridors.
Stellar Shipyards: Shipyards in orbit around Nommat remained critical for local shipbuilding, although occupied by Naplian forces during periods of conflict.
Deep-Space Marine Units: Specialized for sabotage, boarding actions, and defending remote ice worlds and mining operations.
Rimward Refuge Networks: Secret rebel bases in the Great Desert Rift and scattered starstream outposts keep the spirit of resistance alive during occupation periods.
Interstellar Commerce: While not purely technological, the Kitanai maintain extensive trade connections through freight partnerships like Denica State Starfreight Lines (DSF) and controlled corridors, ensuring economic resilience even during occupations.
DSF Startrains:
Denic State Starfreight lines
DSF, an abbreviation of Denica Statsfreyter (Denic State Starfreight lines), is the largest Denic star train operating company, and the largest in the Pressak Regions. While DSF is responsible for passenger star train operation on most of the Denic Starfreight lines, goods transport and starship route maintenance are outside its scope. DSF ran a commuter starliner system, called S-ship, in the area around the Denic capital, Slitta starsystems, that connects the different areas and in the greater Slitta star cluster. DSF also operates some commercial star trains in Kitanai and Ffawe Naplia.
Rimward Refugee Networks: The Great Desert Rift remains infamous as a haven for Kitanai rebels and dissidents, supported by hidden outposts and smuggling rings that keep the flame of independence alive during exile periods.
Status: As of the last known records, the Kitanai Empire’s status is ambiguous. Contact was lost in 3604, leaving historians to wonder whether this resilient people once again slipped into the mists of the Rimward Reaches to fight another day.
Kitanai
Roundel & Flag
Kitanai Regional Map
Capital system Umb Starsystem
Trade Hub Umb Starsystem
Official
languages
Kitai, Audric, Common Tradespeak, High Terran
Ethnic groups
Kitanai, Audrian, Onwey Naplian, Rutak, Denic, Radnian Human
Religion
Deism, Shava (Onwey Naplian Sect), Sov (Ffawe Naplian Sect),
Alovar
Government
Monarchy
Legislature
Kitanai Council
Number of
Starsystems
1,234,567
Currency
Credit, Dena, Alent, Laba, Librat, Minat, Paprita, Oku
