Summary

Almuqasa is an empire lying 430 lightyears rimward of Sol. It borders the Monarchrate mostly in the Electorate of Walitaq on the Almuqasa side, and the Duchy of Reserve on the Monarchrate side.

Almuqasa lies entirely within the Bellatrix Clouds, which is a dense and opaque area of human settlement on the coreward side the Taurean wall.

Like the Monarchrate, Almuquasa is ruled by a monarchy, which is a leftover of its former status of breakaway duchy. The recently-coronated Malaka Comte Fatima Al Homeini sits upon the Alabaster throne in Qos. Her youth and charms belie a ruthless and tactical mind. You would want to be well-awake and ready for an audience with the royal presence - she sure didn’t get to sit on the Alabaster Throne through winning a beauty contest. She already has a reputation for having a take-no-prisoners dark-side amongst the leaders of other polities in the area, regarding her as possibly the most dangerous woman alive.

Her Majesty continues the characteristic clear and strong leadership of Almuqasa, which stands in somewhat of a contrast to it being one of the more moderate terragen nations. Despite an ongoing and savage war with the Monarchrate, its usual modus operandi is characterised by soft power and trade, not military conquest.

Within the empire is a large bureaucracy, which is focussed on economics and civics, from which they consider all developmental and military power derives.

Formation

Almaqasa today centres on what was called the Shores Rebellion (referring to the Shores of Orion within which the Taurean Wall and Bellatrix Clouds lay). The Shores Rebellion really took shape around 150 years before the Rift Wars (Circa 2960s), and taking part in the Rift Wars in an alliance with the Lauds of the Peak Sect.

There was a strong islamic stripe through this rebellion, parts of which constituted a proto-Almuqasa. Various clerics acted as a kind of message relay system, coordinating a large number of rather disparate groups. The clergy, though counsel, tactical thinking and relative moderacy, fostered above all else, trust.

The Clergy were one of the two crucial elements for the success of the Shores Rebellion, and became a civilising force following the Rift Wars. The other crucial element were rogue members of the Shipwight’s Guild, forming an alliance with the Lauds Lyreemus and Cyborgs of Krea on the Xanji side, which established an industry in strikers.

Albahriat Almalakia

Her (His) Majesty’s Navy or the Royal Navy is often said to be The Tip of the Spear. Despite Almuqasa being an Empire of Trade, as it is often called, its formation lay in that industry of strikers, which was militarised by the rebellion itelf. This has always meant that Albahriat Almalakia was the bureaucracy that commissioned, designed and built strikers. It is also the academy that trains navigators.

Today Albahriat Almalakia primariy builds industrial and commercial strikers because of the demands of commerce and trade. However, the ongoing war with the Monarchrate has ensured that its prowess in military strikers has not been lost. In fact, the most important advances in the miniaturisation of strikers came from this industrial arm (the Shipwright’s Guild only achieving it themselves through espionage).

The Monarchy

At the centre of government, and aside from The Almufakir, Almuqasa is a monarchy. This monarchy is not hereditary, rather the monarch is the one that accepts their nomination, and upon the death or incapacitation of the previous monarch, agrees to succeed. Throughout the reign of a monarch, the clergy nominates a few individuals that they deem exemplify the ability, humility, service to others, faith and patriotism required for the ulimate service to Almuqasa. Just as the monarch is king or queen, the nominees become entitled princes and princesses, upon acceptance.

Members of the clergy cannot nominate themselves, or any other clergy. In fact, service to the clergy, even ex-service to the clergy, automatically and irrevocably disqualifies a person from nomination. If a nominee were to enter the clergy, they would be, simultaneously, abdicating or reversing their acceptance.

Although all monarchs, so far, have been muslim, there is in fact, no statute that requires this to be so. A nominee of any recognised faith (i.e., not a leader or practitioner of a cult) could be nominated, and ascend to the throne. Queries have also been made to the clergy as to whether a monarch has to be human, given that all monarchs, so far have been, and they have answered that that also need not be so. In both cases, they maintain that it is statistical, in that 85% of Almuqasa citizens identify as muslim and 92% identify as human.

Succession

The current monarch has the privilege of declaring one of the nominees as being the first amongst nominees (the crown prince or princess). They make this choice, based on the reputation of the nominee, because it is forbidden for the monarch to meet, or correspond with, any nominee. This may seem odd in a monarchic government, where a king or queen never meets any princes or princesses. However, they are (always, so far) not blood relations.

Both restrictions: the clergy never being a monarch, and the monarch not associating with any nominee; are considered to be instruments of the separation of powers. As an aside, the judiciary is a completely separate arm of government.

Upon the death or incapacitation of the current monarch, the clergy will formally request the first amongst nominees to succeed. The first amongst nominees usually accepts the succession, and becomes the new monarch following coronation. However, not every first nominee has accepted. At the time of succession, it all becomes incredibly real. While a monarch rules, a crown prince or princess enjoys their elevation in station and generally feel prepared to succeed, but none really know, until the time comes, whether they really are prepared.

The job of the monarch is a very tough one. Although there is much deference, with people bowing to you, serving you, assisting and advising you, it is in recognition that Almuqasa is now your responsibility, and this responsibility is for life. You cannot resign. The simple compact is that you become Almuqasa, its people, its lands, its Royal Navy, whom will have sworn allegiance to you, just as they have to Empire. Its enough to suddenly lose your feet from under you.

If the crown prince or princess does not agree to succeed, then they cease to be a nominee, and the clergy must choose from the remaining nominees, which can take some time.

Coronation

When Fatima Al Homeini accepted the request to succeed five years ago. Preparations began on a ceremony that does not happen in Almuqasa very often. Fatima herself was prepared by advisors, schooled in all the additional protocols needed, brought up to speed on the current state of the Empire, including the highest classifications. The clergy and Royal Navy began their preparations, hundreds of strikers were called into Qos.

News spread rapidly that the coronation was imminent. As this news would no doubt reach the Monarchrate, the Royal Navy was put on high alert. Leaders and delegates from many other nations, large and small, began arriving to meet the Crown Princess and future Queen of the Empire of Almuqasa.

According to tradition, at dusk, Fatima Al Homeini walked the three kilometers from the Crown Princess Residence to Jeddah Palace. She was without adornment, dressed in simple white robes, and, as this is a great spectacle: in front of crowds of people. Although she was not meant to be assisted, this is always symbolic, and the secret service had checked out every centimetre of the entire route and surrounds. She was also accompanied by close friends, and soldiers of the Royal Navy, in regalia, marched behind her. As she rounded each corner vast crowds on-lookers cheered.

By nightfall, she ascended the steps of the palace to the waiting clergy, with the crown clearly visible. In the night air, with roughly a million on-lookers, and trillions watching broadcasts, she dropped to her knees, in front of the imam that was to bless her and lead her into taking her vows. Once she has promised to be Almuqasa now and for all time, to give herself to its people, the imam placed the Crown of Empire on her head. He then took her hand, so that she could rise, and as she did, the entire clergy, the judiciary, the Royal Navy and a good proportion of the millions in attendance dropped to their knees. They were led to a declaration of “God Bless our Queen” after which, she stated: “Almuqasa wishes you to rise”, symbolising her new compact with country.

At that moment, the sky lit up with the flashes of 780 departing strikers, which in a way, was the signal for fireworks, celebration, and some relief. The coronation was done, and the interregnum was over: Almuqasa had her Queen.

The Prefectures

Although there is considerable power, ceremony, and a lot of work, concentrated in the Monarchy, this is mostly outward looking, defending the empire, encouraging the strongest minds. The main operating power lay in Almuqasa's 232 prefectures.

While the prefectures are diverse, with many labels for their governer, all are democracies in a model of responsible government, as is required for membership in the Empire. In this sense, the word empire has come to mean federation or union. This is also where the term "Commonwealth" finds is practical effect.