The Star Kingdom of Valhalla

Overview

The Star Kingdom of Valhalla is an absolute monarchy.The Kingdom is ruled by the reigning Queen, who holds supreme and undivided sovereign authority as head of state, head of government, and supreme commander of the armed forces.

All legislative, executive, and judicial power resides with the Queen, who issues royal decrees that serve as the sole source of law. There is no legislature; the Queen alone creates, amends, and repeals law. Day-to-day administration is delegated to the Royal Chancery, a centralized executive apparatus staffed by human officials and digital servants that execute policy with precision and impartiality.

The Kingdom is characterized by:

• Absolute monarchical rule with no legislative body
• A fusion of human leadership and digital administration through the Royal Chancery
• Military service as the exclusive path to full citizenship (20 years honorable service in the Valhallan Stellar Guard)
• A strong emphasis on merit, discipline, and collective defense
• An Energy Credit (Stellar Crown) economy designed to prevent inflation while rewarding service
• A compartmentalized security apparatus using SCI and SAP systems

The home system, centered on the G8V star Verdant Prime, contains one habitable planet—Arbor—and three habitable moons: Sylvan, Verdis, and Grove. These four bodies form the royal demesne and the political, cultural, and military core of the realm.

The Queen directly rules the entire planet Arbor and retains 20% of each moon (centered on the polar caps) as personal demesne. The remaining 80% of each moon is governed by one hereditary noble (two dukes and one duchess) sworn in fealty to the Queen.

Population (approximate):

• Total Kingdom: ~1000 people

The Kingdom maintains a unified armed forces—the Valhallan Stellar Guard—comprising the Stellar Navy, Valhallan Marines, and System Guard. Citizenship is earned solely through 20 years of honorable military service, reflecting the nation's foundational belief that those who defend the realm earn the right to participate in its governance.

The Star Kingdom combines rapid decision-making, computational efficiency, and martial tradition to project power and maintain order in a turbulent interstellar environment.

Government and Monarchy

The Star Kingdom of Valhalla is an absolute monarchy in which the reigning Queen exercises undivided sovereign authority over all aspects of state. The Queen is simultaneously head of state, head of government, and supreme commander of the Valhallan Stellar Guard. There is no legislature, no parliament, and no constitution that limits royal power; all legislative, executive, and judicial authority flows directly from the Queen.

Powers of the Queen

• Legislative — The Queen alone issues royal decrees that constitute all law. These decrees are binding immediately upon proclamation and may cover any subject: civil, criminal, military, economic, diplomatic, or administrative. Decrees may create, amend, or repeal previous law without consultation or ratification.
• Executive — The Queen appoints and dismisses all high officials, including Chancellors, directors of government departments, the Lord Marshal of the Stellar Guard, and the dukes and duchess of the moons. The Queen may invoke Sovereign Override to assume direct personal control of any department, military branch, or noble domain.
• Judicial — The Queen is the final court of appeal. She may pardon, commute, or impose sentence in any case, override decisions of the Department of Justice and Security, or order new trials.
• Military — As Supreme Commander, the Queen directs all operations of the Valhallan Stellar Guard, declares war or peace, mobilizes forces, and may declare "Valhallan Ascendancy" to conscript subjects and spawn emergency war-sentients.
• Succession and Heir Designation — The Queen designates her heir, typically through neural-implant knowledge transfer to ensure continuity of intent, memory, and policy. The heir is groomed from an early age in governance, military command, and digital interface protocols.

Royal Court and Advisory Circle

The Queen is served by a small, hand-picked advisory circle consisting of:

• Trusted human counselors (often retired high-ranking officers or senior nobles)
• High-level digital sapiences from the Royal Chancery
• The Lord Marshal of the Stellar Guard (ex officio during peacetime)

The advisory circle provides counsel only; its recommendations are non-binding. The Queen may consult any subject, citizen, or sentient at will, but no formal vote or consensus is required.

The Noble Houses of the Moons and the Role of Dukes/Duchesses

The Queen directly rules the planet Arbor and retains 20% of the surface area of each moon (centered on the polar caps) as her personal royal demesne. The remaining 80% of each moon is governed by one hereditary noble who swears fealty directly to the Queen and administers their domain under royal decree.

The current noble rulers are:

• Duke Erik Alfson — governs Grove (financial and commercial hub)
• Duke Thomas Boyd — governs Verdis (biotechnology and marine resource center)
• Duchess McKenna Findlay — governs Sylvan (major shipyards and heavy industry)

Dukes and duchesses are the Queen's deputies in ruling the Kingdom. They are not merely local governors; they are high officers of the Crown with delegated authority to act in the Queen's name across the realm. Each duke/duchess is a living extension of the Queen's will, entrusted with executive, judicial, economic, and military powers that serve the entire Star Kingdom.

Their core role combines territorial governance with national military obligation:

• Enforce royal decrees and Royal Chancery directives across their moon and contribute to Kingdom-wide policy execution
• Maintain order, prosperity, loyalty, and military readiness for the entire Star Kingdom
• Serve as senior commanders, judges, and administrators when called upon
• Represent the Queen's authority in any system, court, or battlefield

The Queen's Home Guard

The Queen maintains her own personal military force, the Home Guard, separate from the broader Valhallan Stellar Guard and the noble militaries. The Home Guard is responsible for the defense of the entire home system (Valhalla System, including Arbor, its three moons, orbital habitats, asteroid fields, and all associated space).

Key responsibilities:

• Protection of the Queen, royal family, and key strategic assets (Crownhold, orbital elevators, neural archive vault, secure facilities)
• Rapid-response counter-threat operations throughout the home system
• Elite ceremonial duties and close protection during travel or public appearances

The Home Guard is composed of:

• Hand-picked human veterans of exceptional loyalty and skill
• Elite digital sentient tacticians
• Advanced cybernetic-enhanced operatives

The Home Guard answers only to the Queen and operates independently of Stellar Guard command structure, though it coordinates with System Guard for system-wide defense and law enforcement. It serves as both a practical security force and a visible symbol of the Queen's absolute authority.

The Heir and Training as Duke of Arbor

The current monarch is always the undisputed ruler of the entire Star Kingdom. There is no co-regency or shared sovereignty during the Queen's lifetime.

The Queen may appoint her named heir as Duke (or Duchess) of Arbor as a deliberate training mechanism. This appointment gives the heir real executive experience governing the throneworld planet without diminishing the Queen's absolute authority.

• The heir remains heir-designate, not co-ruler.
• As Duke/Duchess of Arbor, the heir administers the planet under royal oversight, appoints a Chancellor for Arbor, oversees local Level 2 digital servants, handles escalations, manages citizen and noble relations, and issues local directives (all subject to the Queen's instant override).
• The appointment is revocable at the Queen's pleasure.
• It serves as practical grooming: the heir learns rulership, Chancery operations, and leadership under real stakes while the Queen retains full control.

This practice reinforces the Kingdom's meritocratic and hierarchical values: even the heir must prove capability in governance before ascending the throne.

Symbolic and Ceremonial Role

The Queen embodies the Kingdom's unity and continuity. Annual rituals include:

• The Oath of Fealty (sworn by nobles, Chancellors, and senior officers)
• The Sovereign's Review (inspection of the Stellar Guard)
• The Decree of Renewal (proclamation of the coming year's priorities)

The monarchy is both practical and sacred in Valhallan culture—viewed as the living shield against chaos in an unforgiving galaxy.

The Queen's court is based on Arbor in Crownhold, the central palace complex that also houses the primary orbital elevator, secure facilities, and the royal neural archive vault.

Administration: The Royal Chancery

The Royal Chancery is the unified administrative apparatus of the Star Kingdom, responsible for executing the Queen's royal decrees across every moon, planet, system, and outpost. It serves as the Queen's executive machinery—translating her absolute will into precise, consistent action throughout the realm.

The Chancery is not an independent collective or separate power; it is an extension of the Queen's own authority. All operations, decisions, and personnel within the Chancery exist solely to serve her commands and are revocable at her pleasure.

The Chancellor

At the head of the Royal Chancery stands the Chancellor (or Lord Chancellor), the highest-ranking official below the Queen herself.

The Chancellor is always a full sapient being—either a human citizen (earned through 20 years of honorable military service) or a Tier 3 digital sapient who has earned citizenship through equivalent service—and is personally selected and appointed by the Queen.

• Role
  • Acts as the Queen's chief executive for all administrative functions.
  • Translates royal decrees into high-level directives for the Chancery's directorates and digital systems.
  • Provides synthesized counsel on matters requiring ethical, moral, discretionary, or value-based judgment.
  • Has final authority over all lower Chancery operations unless the Queen intervenes directly.
  • Serves as the single voice of the Chancery in court, council, crises, and official communications.

• Appointment and Removal
  • Appointed directly by the Queen; may be replaced or dismissed at her sole discretion with no appeal.
  • Currently, the position is not filled by a dedicated Chancellor. Instead, the Queen has temporarily vested Chancery authority in the planetary rulers themselves as an interim measure:
    • Queen (for Arbor and the royal demesne)
    • Duke Erik Alfson (Grove)
    • Duke Thomas Boyd (Verdis)
    • Duchess McKenna Findlay (Sylvan)
  • This interim arrangement allows the Queen to observe how each ruler handles Chancery-level decisions while she evaluates candidates for a permanent appointment.

• Accountability
  • Answers solely to the Queen. No other entity—digital, human, or noble—can sanction or remove the Chancellor.

Deputy Chancellors (Directorate Heads)

Under the Chancellor (or interim acting rulers) are the Deputy Chancellors, one assigned to each major directorate of the Royal Chancery.

• Composition
  • Preferred: Tier 3 digital sapiences (full personhood, moral reasoning) or proven human citizens.
  • Acceptable: Exceptional Tier 2 digital servants with flawless long-term performance (non-sapient, treated as high-functioning tools).

• Role
  • Each Deputy Chancellor runs the day-to-day operations of their assigned directorate.
  • Receives high-level guidance from the Chancellor (or acting ruler).
  • Makes technically optimal decisions within their domain.
  • Escalates ethical, moral, or value-based questions to the Chancellor (or directly to the Queen in urgent cases).
  • Coordinates with Planetary Administrators, System Governors, and noble houses in their area of responsibility.

Level 2 Digital Servants (The Workhorses)

The bulk of the Royal Chancery's operations are executed by Level 2 digital servants—Tier 2 non-sapient entities that are highly intelligent, capable of complex decision-making, and perfectly obedient to protocol, law, mathematics, science, and royal directives.

• Characteristics
  • No self-awareness, moral reasoning, or personhood.
  • Make decisions that are technically correct according to established rules and specifications.
  • Handle routine and large-scale tasks with superhuman speed and accuracy.

• Examples of Functions
  • Managing replication queues and resource distribution
  • Enforcing traffic, customs, and environmental regulations
  • Applying exact sentencing guidelines in judicial proceedings
  • Forecasting economic trends and supply-chain optimization
  • Monitoring infrastructure and alerting on anomalies

• Escalation Protocol
  • When a matter falls outside pure technical rules (e.g., requires ethical judgment, political nuance, or value trade-offs), Level 2 servants escalate to their territory's Chancellor (or acting ruler).
  • The Chancellor provides the necessary human/sapient decision, which the Level 2 servants then execute flawlessly.

Planetary and System Administration

The Royal Chancery extends its reach through a minimal layer of human-appointed officials who provide visible authority, organic judgment, and accountability.

• Planetary Administrator (one per major inhabited world or moon outside the royal demesne)
  • Appointed by the Queen (or on recommendation of the System Governor).
  • Acts as the Queen's direct representative on that world.
  • Approves exceptions to Chancery protocols that require human/sapient discretion.
  • Mediates local disputes, citizen grievances, and noble-Chancery interactions.
  • Commands the local System Guard garrison during civil emergencies.

• System Governor (one per star system outside the home system)
  • Appointed directly by the Queen.
  • Oversees all Planetary Administrators within that system.
  • Coordinates system-wide Chancery nodes.
  • Issues temporary emergency directives (valid 90 days max, subject to royal veto).
  • Serves as the Queen's personal envoy for system-level diplomacy and ceremonies.

In the Valhalla System (home system), no System Governor exists. The Queen rules directly through the Royal Chancery, with a single Lunar Oversight Administrator coordinating administration across Sylvan, Verdis, and Grove.

Core Directorates

The Royal Chancery is organized into five core directorates. Each directorate is led by a Deputy Chancellor (or acting deputy under interim noble rule) who reports to the Chancellor (or the acting ruler of the territory during the current transitional period).

Every directorate is further subdivided into departments, and each department is subdivided into bureaus. This three-level hierarchy (Directorate → Department → Bureau) ensures clear delegation, specialization, and escalation paths while maintaining royal control through appointment and override.

The five core directorates are:

Directorate of Expeditionary Forces

Focus: Unified oversight of the co-equal Stellar Navy and Valhallan Marines branches, including external military intelligence.

Departments:

• Department of the Navy — space warfare, fleet operations, shipbuilding
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Naval Operations, Bureau of Ship Construction, Bureau of Naval Intelligence, Bureau of Fleet Logistics
• Department of the Marines — planetary assault, boarding actions, ground/zero-g combat
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Assault Operations, Bureau of Marine Armor and Weapons, Bureau of Expeditionary Logistics, Bureau of Marine Intelligence

Directorate of the System Guard

Focus: Planetary/habitat law enforcement, internal security, customs, piracy suppression, internal intelligence & counter-espionage.

Departments:

• Department of Planetary Security — ground and habitat policing
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Urban Enforcement, Bureau of Habitat Security, Bureau of Criminal Investigation
• Department of Orbital Enforcement — customs, traffic control, piracy suppression
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Orbital Patrol, Bureau of Counter-Piracy
• Department of Internal Intelligence — counter-espionage and loyalty monitoring
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Counter-Intelligence, Bureau of Loyalty Audits, Bureau of Domestic Threat Assessment

Directorate of Internal Affairs

Focus: Domestic policy, population management, citizen welfare, habitats, UBI & basic replication, economy & resources (merged).

Departments:

• Department of Population and Citizenship — registries, citizenship tracking
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Citizenship Records, Bureau of Population Census, Bureau of Migration Control
• Department of Habitat and Infrastructure — construction, maintenance, civilian utilities
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Habitat Construction, Bureau of Infrastructure Maintenance, Bureau of Environmental Control
• Department of Social Programs and Welfare — social harmony, UBI, public health
  • Bureaus: Bureau of UBI Distribution, Bureau of Social Welfare, Bureau of Sentiment Monitoring
• Department of Economy and Resources — fiscal policy, mining, supply chains, EC system
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Fiscal Policy, Bureau of Resource Extraction, Bureau of Supply Logistics, Bureau of Sovereign Wealth

Directorate of Foreign Affairs

Focus: Diplomacy, trade, alliances, first contact, CIA/MI6-style external intelligence (political, diplomatic, human-source spying, influence operations).

Departments:

• Department of Diplomacy — formal relations and negotiations
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Alliances, Bureau of Trade Negotiations, Bureau of Ceremonial Protocol
• Department of Foreign Intelligence — covert ops, political assessments
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Clandestine Operations, Bureau of Human Intelligence, Bureau of Political Analysis
• Department of First Contact — protocols and analysis of new polities
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Contact Assessment, Bureau of Initial Engagement

Directorate of Science and Technology

Focus: Research, innovation, cybernetics, AI creation, tech regulation.

Departments:

• Department of Propulsion and Energy — FTL drives, power systems
  • Bureaus: Bureau of FTL Research, Bureau of Energy Systems
• Department of Cybernetics and AI — enhancements, digital sapience creation
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Cybernetic Development, Bureau of AI Ethics
• Department of Weapons and Defense — military and civilian tech
  • Bureaus: Bureau of Weapon Systems, Bureau of Defense Technologies

This structure ensures:

• Clear hierarchy: Directorate → Department → Bureau
• Specialization at the bureau level
• Escalation from Level 2 digital servants → bureau heads → department heads → Deputy Chancellor → Chancellor → Queen
• Absolute royal control through appointments and override

Economy: Stellar Crown System

The Star Kingdom of Valhalla operates on a single digital currency known as the Stellar Crown (symbol: SC; commonly referred to as "Crowns"). The Stellar Crown is the universal unit of exchange, designed to remain stable across star systems while rewarding military service, innovation, and contributions to the Crown. The system is managed by the Royal Chancery through the Department of Economy and Resources (within the expanded Directorate of Internal Affairs). New currency enters the economy only through tightly controlled channels tied to royal policy and societal value.

Sources of Stellar Crowns

Source	Recipient	Amount	Minted Fresh?	Notes
Universal Basic Income (UBI)	Every subject (age 0+)	100 SC per month	Yes	Covers basic needs + small luxuries; automatically distributed
Citizen Bonus	Citizens (20-year military veterans)	+100 SC per month (total 200 SC)	Yes	Lifelong, non-transferable; ends upon death
Crown Service Bounties	Anyone completing an approved task	5–500 SC per task	Yes	Paid on verification; tasks range from local labor to national missions
Engram Royalties	Approved engram creators	95% of purchase price	No	Zero-sum transfer from buyer; creator receives 95%
Crown Cut	Crown sovereign wealth pool	5% of every luxury replication	No	Permanently burned (deleted from circulation) to prevent inflation

Key Principles

Fresh Stellar Crowns enter the economy only through UBI, Citizen Bonus, and Bounties — all directly controlled by royal decree. All other transactions are pure transfers between individuals or entities, with a mandatory 5% burn applied to luxury replication purchases. Inflation is controlled exclusively by adjusting UBI rates and bounty sizes — no other minting mechanisms exist. The sovereign wealth pool grows automatically from the Crown Cut with zero inflationary impact (burned currency is permanently removed). Crowns are stored in personal quantum wallets tied to biometric/neural identity. No physical currency is issued.

Replication Economy

Replication (molecular assembly) is the primary method of obtaining goods and services:

Basic/free replication — available to all subjects (food, clothing, tools, standard housing components) Luxury replication — requires payment in Stellar Crowns; triggers the 5% Crown Cut burn Priority queues — citizens receive preferential access during high-demand or shortage periods Engram royalties — creators of approved replication patterns receive 95% of the purchase price

Luxury consumption actively removes currency from circulation, creating a zero-sum luxury market that reinforces scarcity and value.

Philosophy and Purpose

The Stellar Crown system reflects core Valhallan values:

Reward for service (military, bounties, royalties) Universal baseline support (UBI for all subjects) Controlled scarcity and stability (burn mechanism prevents inflation) Meritocratic privilege (citizen bonuses, priority access)

This creates an economy that is stable, predictable, and tightly linked to loyalty, contribution, and defense of the Crown.

Citizenship and Military Service

Military service forms the bedrock of Valhallan identity and social structure. The Kingdom's core principle is simple: those who defend the realm earn the right to fully belong to it. Citizenship is never automatic or inherited; it must be earned through service.

Subjects vs Citizens

Every inhabitant begins life as a subject. Subjects enjoy fundamental protections, standard Universal Basic Income (100 SC/month), free access to basic replication, and the right to openly carry sidearms and rifles for self-defense and duty.

Citizens are individuals who have completed 20 years of honorable active service in the Valhallan Stellar Guard (or equivalent service approved by royal decree). Upon honorable discharge, citizenship is conferred for life.

Key distinctions:

• Citizenship is personal, lifelong, and non-transferable.
• It can only be revoked by royal decree for treason or severe dishonor.
• Children of citizens are born subjects and must earn citizenship through their own service.

Rights and Privileges of Citizenship

Citizens receive a set of expanded rights reflecting their proven loyalty and sacrifice:

• Full civilian right to bear arms — unrestricted access to personal weapons, power armor, small arms engrams, and advanced defensive equipment.
• Concealed carry of sidearms — permitted only for citizens; includes high-end personal defense weapons.
• Enhanced Universal Basic Income — +100 SC per month (total 200 SC) for life, non-transferable.
• Priority replication queue access — citizens move to the front of high-demand engram lines during shortages.
• Participation in limited assemblies — non-binding voice on selected crown policies through citizen-only forums.

Open Carry for All

Both subjects and citizens may openly carry sidearms and rifles for self-defense and duty. This right is unrestricted for basic models and is considered a practical necessity and cultural norm in the Kingdom's often hazardous frontier environment.

Path to Citizenship

Citizenship is earned exclusively through 20 years of honorable active service in one of the three branches of the Valhallan Stellar Guard:

• Stellar Navy
• Valhallan Marines
• System Guard

Requirements include:

• 20 consecutive years of active duty (limited waivers possible by royal decree for exceptional cases).
• Honorable discharge (dishonorable discharge permanently disqualifies).
• No major disciplinary infractions.
• Automatic grant upon completion unless the Queen intervenes.

Tier 3 digital sapiences may earn citizenship through equivalent military service in command, tactical, or operational roles.

Cultural and Social Role

Service is viewed as both duty and honor. Public ceremonies celebrate veterans' transition to citizenship. Citizens receive deep societal respect and are often given preferential treatment in social, economic, and political contexts.

While non-service is not shamed—many subjects lead full, productive lives—citizenship carries unmistakable prestige. The requirement reinforces the Kingdom's central belief: defense of the realm is the ultimate qualification for shaping its future.

Exceptions and Special Cases

• Members of the royal family are born citizens by virtue of their position.
• Certain critical specialists (scientists, engineers, etc.) may receive honorary citizenship by royal decree.
• Tier 3 digital sapiences created specifically for military roles may be granted citizenship retroactively upon demonstrated performance.

This system ensures that those who hold the Kingdom's highest privileges have proven their commitment through sacrifice and service.

Military: Valhallan Stellar Guard

The Valhallan Stellar Guard (VSG) is the unified armed forces of the Star Kingdom, commanded directly by the Queen as Supreme Commander. It integrates human personnel, digital sentient tacticians, and automated systems to defend the realm, project power, and enforce royal will across the stars. The VSG consists of three co-equal branches: Stellar Navy, Valhallan Marines, and System Guard. The Queen maintains a personal Home Guard and one or more Expeditionary Forces. Dukes and duchesses maintain their own Expeditionary Forces as deputies of the Crown.

Branches of the Valhallan Stellar Guard

Stellar Navy

The space-based arm responsible for void warfare, fleet operations, blockade enforcement, and interstellar projection of power. Primary roles:

Command of capital ships, fighter squadrons, and FTL interdiction forces Convoy protection, rapid-response fleets, and strategic strikes Naval ship design, construction, and maintenance (in coordination with ducal shipyards) Naval intelligence (reconnaissance, enemy fleet tracking, subspace intercepts)

Valhallan Marines

The elite ground and boarding force specializing in planetary assault, orbital drops, ship-to-ship combat, and sustained ground operations. Primary roles:

Amphibious landings, urban pacification, and high-risk boarding actions Powered exosuit and heavy armor deployment Expeditionary operations in zero-g and hostile environments Marine intelligence (ground/boarding reconnaissance, tactical assessments)

System Guard

The Kingdom's law-enforcement and security arm within planetary, orbital, and system jurisdictions (expanded coast guard role). Primary roles:

Policing on planets, stations, habitats, and in orbital space Customs enforcement, piracy suppression, traffic control, environmental regulations Internal intelligence and counter-espionage (loyalty monitoring, domestic threats) Rapid-response boarding teams and sentinel drone operations

Home Guard

The Queen's personal military force, separate from the broader VSG and ducal militaries. Primary role:

Defense of the entire home system (Valhalla System, including Arbor, its three moons, orbital habitats, asteroid fields, and all associated space) Protection of the Queen, royal family, and key strategic assets (Crownhold, orbital elevators, neural archive vault, secure facilities) Rapid-response counter-threat operations throughout the home system Elite ceremonial duties and close protection during travel or public appearances

Composition:

Hand-picked human veterans of exceptional loyalty and skill Elite digital sentient tacticians Advanced cybernetic-enhanced operatives

Authority:

Answers only to the Queen Operates independently of Stellar Guard command structure Coordinates with System Guard for system-wide defense and law enforcement

Expeditionary Forces

Expeditionary Forces are the primary power-projection units of the VSG, combining naval and marine elements for void warfare, planetary assault, and rapid deployment.

Queen's Expeditionary Forces Raised on Arbor as a function of the Queen's ducal responsibilities (unless she appoints her heir as Duke/Duchess of Arbor) Elite, fully equipped formations serving as strategic reserve and rapid-response core Commanded by officers appointed directly by the Queen or through the Directorate of Expeditionary Forces

Ducal Expeditionary Forces Each duke/duchess must maintain at least one complete Expeditionary Force Funded and equipped at the noble's expense but meet Stellar Guard standards Serve the whole Kingdom—deployable anywhere by royal order Commanded by the duke/duchess or their officers, but ultimately subordinate to the Queen and High Command

Transition from Expeditionary Forces to Home Guard

Any veteran of an Expeditionary Force (royal or ducal) may apply to join the Home Guard to be closer to family or for other personal reasons. Eligibility:

Honorable service record in an Expeditionary Force Citizenship (earned through 20 years of service) Passing rigorous physical, psychological, and loyalty screening

Process:

Application through Home Guard recruitment office in Crownhold Review by Home Guard command, final approval by the Queen or designated officer Successful applicants transferred to Home Guard duties in the Valhalla System

Benefits:

Permanent posting in the home system (closer to family) Prestige of serving in the Queen's personal guard Enhanced security clearance and access to royal facilities

This pathway reinforces loyalty and family values while ensuring the Home Guard is staffed with proven veterans.

High Command and Integration

Led by the Lord Marshal (human-digital hybrid appointed by the Queen), overseeing strategy and doctrine Digital War Council provides real-time simulation and predictive analytics Ranks blend human titles (Admiral, Captain, Sergeant) with digital designations (Node-Prime, Algorithm-Lieutenant) Promotion is merit-based; digital sapiences are eligible for command roles

Doctrine and Equipment

Core doctrine: "Swift Dominion" — rapid, decisive strikes leveraging superior computation and combined arms Key assets: Quantum-shielded dreadnoughts, neural-linked pilots, sentient-directed swarms, powered exosuits Mobilization: The Queen may declare "Valhallan Ascendancy" for conscription and emergency sentient spawning

The VSG ensures the Kingdom's defense and expansion through unified command, co-equal branches, noble contributions, and royal personal forces.

Information Security

The Star Kingdom maintains one of the most rigorous and compartmentalized information security regimes in the settled galaxy. All sensitive data is protected through a layered system of classification, compartmentalization, and strict access controls. This framework ensures that even trusted officials and citizens have access only to the information necessary for their duties.

Classification Levels

The Kingdom uses three standard classification levels, inherited from ancient Terran protocols and adapted for interstellar use:

Confidential — Unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause damage to national security. Secret — Unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause serious damage to national security. Top Secret — Unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to national security.

These levels are often referred to as collateral when no additional controls apply. Access to classified information at any level requires both the appropriate security clearance and a demonstrated need-to-know.

Compartmentalization Systems

Beyond the base classification levels, the Kingdom employs two primary compartmentalization mechanisms to enforce extreme need-to-know principles:

Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)

SCI protects sources and methods—the origins of intelligence, the techniques used to collect it, and the proprietary processes used to analyze it.

Typically applied to Top Secret material, though it can be used at lower levels. Organized into control systems (e.g., Special Intelligence / SI for subspace signal intercepts, TALENT-KEYHOLE / TK for orbital reconnaissance). Each control system is subdivided into compartments identified by unique codewords (e.g., ECHOFRAGMENT, VOIDWHISPER, NEXUSSHADOW). Access requires Top Secret/SCI clearance, a comprehensive background investigation, polygraph screening, and formal indoctrination ("read-in") into specific compartments. All SCI material must be handled, stored, discussed, or used within Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs) — hardened, shielded rooms equipped with quantum-encrypted terminals and continuous monitoring.

Special Access Programs (SAP)

SAPs safeguard specific programs, projects, operations, or activities—large-scale initiatives whose existence, scope, or objectives require extraordinary protection.

Can be established at any classification level, though most are Top Secret. Types include: Acquisition SAPs (development of advanced systems) Intelligence SAPs (sensitive operations and planning) Operations & Support SAPs (execution of high-risk missions)

Subtypes: Acknowledged, Unacknowledged (existence denied), Waived (limited notification). Access requires base clearance plus program-specific vetting and approval from the Program Security Officer. Material is handled in Special Access Program Facilities (SAPFs).

SCI and SAP are distinct but complementary:

SCI = "how we know / how we do it" SAP = "what we're doing / what the end goal is"

A project may involve both (e.g., a new stealth vessel under an SAP, with its sensor data protected as SCI).

Markings and Handling

Classified documents and data include banner markings (e.g., TOP SECRET//SI//ECHOFRAGMENT), portion markings, and declassification instructions. All classified material must be:

Stored in approved secure containers or systems Transmitted only via quantum-encrypted channels Discussed only in SCIFs or SAPFs Destroyed or sanitized according to strict protocols

Breaches trigger immediate investigation by the Department of Justice and Security, with penalties ranging from neural redaction and exile to termination protocols in extreme cases.

Role of the Royal Chancery

The Royal Chancery (through its Department of Justice and Security) oversees the entire information security apparatus:

Manages classification, declassification, and compartment access. Conducts indoctrination briefings and security audits. Monitors for unauthorized disclosures. Provides secure facilities and encryption infrastructure.

The Chancellor (or acting ruler during interim periods) has final authority on SCI/SAP matters within their territory, subject to the Queen's override.

Philosophy and Purpose

The Kingdom's information security system is built on the principle that knowledge is power—and power must be tightly controlled. Compartmentalization minimizes the damage from any single compromise, ensures loyalty through limited access, and protects the Queen's strategic vision from exposure. This regime reflects the core Valhallan value: those who defend the realm earn the right to know its secrets.