View source for Valcarian Foreign Policy

{{Valcaria}}

=The Imperial Relationship with the [[Par'tha Expanse]]=
The [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]] is vast, and some sectors are more volatile than others. Even with apparent limitless resources, the [[Altharra|Emperor]] can not maintain an iron grip in every single sector. To tighten his grip in troubled sectors, he must loosen it in other sectors that are more secure.

The practice of indirect rule is common in the [[Valcarian Core Worlds|Core]], the hub of the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]]. The local [[Valcarian Core Worlds|Core]] governments are permitted to control their own worlds and systems, with a minimum of [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] interference. Of course, with [[Valcaria]] and the might of the entire [[Valcarian Imperial Navy|Imperial Navy]] a scant few lightyears away, the local governments are all too aware that their freedom has definite limitations.

Because the [[Valcarian Imperial Navy|Imperial star fleet]] is spread much thinner beyond the [[Valcarian Core Worlds|Core]], simply the threat of force is not enough to keep systems from wandering from the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] fold - direct pressure must be applied. Grand governors, governors, and representatives of the military have a lot more authority to step in and take control of a local government. Indirect rule for sectors far removed from the [[Valcarian Core Worlds|Imperial Center]] is very rare.

[[Par'tha Expanse|Par'tha Sector]] has proven itself to be both stable and loyal over time, and it is one of the few sectors beyond the [[Valcarian Core Worlds|Core]] to be so trusted. It is largely left to govern itself in most matters. The [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]] does not police it nearly as heavily as it does some surrounding sectors, and permits it to maintain its own government, social policies, and military.

This is not to say that the [[Altharra|Emperor]] is casual about ruling this sector. A nominal [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] rule is maintained - as in other sectors, order is ultimately maintained by the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] military, and a political system controlled by a sector Grand Governor and governors assigned to each world. The [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire's]] agents are active in the sector, ever-diligent for treason and traces of anti-Imperial sentiment. A more obvious sign is the powerful [[Valcarian Imperial Navy|Imperial navy]] which patrols the spacelanes to protect shipping - and also to remind Par'thinian citizens who is the ultimate master of their fates. However, though the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]] has the final authority, it rarely takes the time or expend the resources to directly involve it in Par'thinian affairs.

=[[Altharra]]'s Designs=
Unlike many sectors outside the center of the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]], the [[Par'tha Expanse]] is not an insignificant cog in the scheme of [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] affairs. It has had a close relation with the [[Valcarian Core Worlds|Core worlds]] for centuries, and is a major supplier of raw materials for the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]].

Ultimately, Emperor [[Altharra]] would like to see the sector firmly under his direct control. However, [[Par'tha Expanse|Par'tha]] is extremely independent and a strong [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] supporter. Invading by force and deposing its current rulers, many of whom have important connections on [[Valcaria]] itself, would create major problems where there are currently only minor ones. That Imperial forces are currently stretched thin is an added complication to the direct approach.

With characteristic subtlety, [[Altharra]] has opted for a long-term plan which will bring the sector under his control within another generation. He has already accomplished his first step, placing a [[Niona, Dunell|grand governor]] over the sector and appointing governors on each world. He did this in the name of representing [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] interests, and allayed fears by appointing men and women who are less powerful in [[Valcarian Core Worlds|Imperial Center]] than some of the more prominent house lords.

Once Par'tha citizens get accustomed to nominal rule by "harmless" [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] representatives, [[Altharra]] plans to gradually replace them with more powerful leaders who will slowly begin to gather to themselves power now held by the sector rulers. Creating the incidents - such as terrorist strikes, corruption among the local leaders, and the like - that will create the excuse for increased [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] intervention is a simple matter. At the same time, he plans to blackmail or remove key political or popular obstructionists, while supporting pro-[[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] politicians and organizations.

This is all in the future, however, reserved for a time when all anti-Imperial groups have been crushed and are no longer a threat. For the time being, [[Altharra]] has contented himself with planting seeds he can harvest in a decade or two - by initiating cultural and social programs in the sector designed to instill in younger Par'tha citizens a greater loyalty to the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]], and a weakening loyalty to Par'tha traditions. These programs are still in their infancy, and have yet to bear real fruit, though anti-alien (non-[[Caraadian]] and non-[[Valcarian]]) sentiments are rising in spots in the [[Par'tha Expanse]]. This is the gist of [[Altharra]]'s plan, one of the thousands of minor plans he keeps in the back of his mind while he attends to more pressing matters.

Though the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]] has allowed Par'tha autonomy for several decades, the relationship is a delicate one. Should some anti-[[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]] organization begin to achieve a foothold there, the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]] would step in immediately to deal with the threat before it spread, possibly by breaking the [[Freeworlds Region|Freeworlds]] and [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]] into two separate sectors.

The relationship, especially with regard to the [[Freeworlds Region|Freeworlds]], is increasingly being undermined by various factions which desire, for their own reasons, to see the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]] play more of an active role in the sector. Other factions want to maintain sector autonomy, and the conflict is bound to break out into the open eventually, and probably sooner than later.

=The Imperial Leadership=
As in other sectors, there is a [[Niona, Dunell|grand governor]] assigned to represent the [[Altharra|Emperor]] in the [[Par'tha Expanse]], and Imperial governors assigned to each inhabited planet. Officicaly, the grand governor and governors have the same power as sector rulers elsewhere in the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]]. But in reality, most are just glorified diplomats with a lower Imperial pecking order back on [[Valcaria]] than some of the Par'tha house lords. The governors with any real power derive it from connections with [[Valcaria]].

Many [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] political officers regard an assignment to the [[Par'tha Expanse]] as a reward from the [[Altharra|Emperor]] for a job well-done elsewhere. This is a safe assumption, and certainly there are a few grand governors and governors who make it to the highest levels of [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] government without learning a thing or two about leadership. However, assuming that the governors and grand governors assigned to the [[Par'tha Expanse]] are of the iron-willed and resourceful breed found ruthlessly enacting the [[Altharra|Emperor's]] edicts in the outlying territories of the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]] might be a mistake.

There are certainly capable men among the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] masters of the [[Par'tha Expanse]]. However, many are buresucrats and the sons of [[Valcarian Imperial Republic#The New Order|New Order]] champions who have obtained rank and position through political connections, and have served their entire lives in safe and secure sectors close to the [[Valcarian Core Worlds|Core]]. Few have been personally exposed to the more unpleasant sides of [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] rule - such as the prospect of assassination, anti-[[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] unrest in their jurisdictions, or being required to order extremely unpleasant things done to people to restore [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] order.

[[Altharra]] knows which of his servants are best suited for the dirty work, and assigns them to the sectors where unrest is a chronic or likely problem. The rest, especially those who have the influence and patrons to gain a plum appointment, but not the backbone and common sense to be entrusted with real power in a less stable environment, he sends to safe little sectors where the battle for the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] way has already been won.

As far as anyone knows, the [[Par'tha Expanse]] is one of those sectors. Only time (and possibly influence from other external factors) will reveal whether he has made a critical error.

[[Category:Valcarian Empire]]