The Star Kingdom of Valhalla

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

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)

Each noble maintains a standing military force within their lunar territory:

Personal guard regiments for internal security and ceremonial duties System defense detachments for orbital patrol and local law enforcement support Auxiliary units that can be mobilized for Kingdom-wide operations

These noble militaries are ultimately subordinate to the Queen and the Valhallan Stellar Guard. In time of war or national emergency, the Queen may assume direct command of any or all noble forces through Sovereign Override or royal decree. Noble commanders swear oaths of obedience to the crown, and all noble troops are subject to the same chain of command and discipline as the regular Stellar Guard.

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:

Direct protection of the Queen, the royal family, and the royal demesne on Arbor and the polar caps of the moons Security of Crownhold (the central palace complex), the primary orbital elevator anchors, the royal neural archive vault, and the main secure facilities Close protection details during travel or public appearances Elite ceremonial duties and rapid-response counter-threat operations within the royal demesne

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 the Stellar Guard command structure, though it coordinates closely with the System Guard for planetary and orbital defense. 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 departments 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 (Department Heads)

Under the Chancellor (or interim acting rulers) are the Deputy Chancellors, one assigned to each major department 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 department. 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.

Current core departments (and example Deputy Chancellor types):

Department of Internal Affairs — Deputy: Tier 3 digital sapient Department of External Relations — Deputy: Tier 3 digital sapient Department of Science and Technology — Deputy: Human citizen-engineer Department of Economy and Resources — Deputy: Tier 2 digital servant (exceptional) Department of Justice and Security — Deputy: Tier 3 digital sapient

Additional departments may be created by royal decree.

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. This structure ensures impartial, superhuman execution by Level 2 digital servants, moral and ethical oversight by sapient beings (Chancellor and Deputies), visible human authority for legitimacy, and absolute control retained by the Queen.

Citizenship and Military Service

Military service is the foundational pillar of Valhallan society. The Kingdom holds that those who defend the realm earn the right to fully participate in it. Citizenship is not inherited or granted by birth; it is earned exclusively through honorable military service in the Valhallan Stellar Guard.

Distinction Between Subjects and Citizens

All inhabitants of the Star Kingdom begin as subjects. Subjects enjoy baseline protections and benefits but lack the full privileges of citizenship. Citizens are those who have completed 20 years of honorable active service in the Valhallan Stellar Guard (or equivalent service recognized by royal decree). Upon honorable discharge, they are granted citizenship for life.

Citizenship is personal and non-transferable. It may be revoked only by royal decree for treason or grave dishonor. Children of citizens are born as subjects and must earn citizenship themselves through service.

Rights Exclusive to Citizens

Citizens receive expanded rights and privileges reflecting their proven loyalty and sacrifice:

Right

DetailsFull civilian right to bear arms-Concealed carry of sidearms-Enhanced Universal Basic Income-Priority replication queue-Voting in limited assemblies} Open Carry for All All subjects and citizens may openly carry sidearms and rifles for self-defense and duty. This right is unrestricted for basic models and is viewed as both a practical necessity and a cultural norm in the Kingdom's frontier environment. Path to Citizenship The only way to become a citizen is through 20 years of honorable active service in one of the branches of the Valhallan Stellar Guard: Stellar Navy Valhallan Marines System Guard Service requirements: Minimum 20 consecutive years of active duty (waivers possible by royal decree for exceptional cases). Honorable discharge (dishonorable discharge permanently bars citizenship). Service must be in good standing—no major disciplinary actions. Upon completion, the individual is automatically granted citizenship unless the Queen intervenes. Digital sapiences (Tier 3) may also earn citizenship through equivalent service in military roles (e.g., as tactical nodes or command-level entities). Cultural and Social Significance Military service is both a duty and an honor. It is seen as the ultimate expression of loyalty to the Queen and the Kingdom. Citizens are accorded deep respect; public ceremonies often celebrate veterans' transitions to citizenship. Non-service is not stigmatized—many subjects live full, productive lives—but citizenship carries a prestige that permeates social, economic, and political life. The requirement reinforces the Kingdom's core value: those who defend the realm earn the right to shape its future. Exceptions and Special Cases Royal family members are born citizens by virtue of their position. Certain high-value specialists (e.g., critical scientists or engineers) may receive honorary citizenship by royal decree. Digital sapiences created for military service may be granted citizenship retroactively upon proven performance. This system ensures that those entrusted with the Kingdom's highest privileges have demonstrated unwavering commitment to its defense. Economy: Energy Credit System Military: Valhallan Stellar Guard The Valhalla System and Royal Demesne Arbor (The Royal Planet) Sylvan (Duchy of Duke Harlan Voss) Verdis (Duchy of Duchess Lira Voss) Grove (Duchy of Duke Torvald Kane) 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. Challenges and Reforms