Synopsis & History
Stellarmere, or Saytisjin (pronounced Sey-tish-yin) in the local language, is an odd little planet.
Located on the fringe of the Federation's border with what used to be known as the Demilitarized Zone between the former Cardassian Empire (pre-Dominion War) and the Federation in the southern edge of the Minos Korva sector. The planet is the fourth in the Halcjor (Hal-zyor) system. Atypically for a fourth planet, it is tidally locked to the star, this is due to it being in a tight habitable zone around a Class A subgiant, with the three closer planets being extremely close and hot. As a result of this the sun facing side is a scorching desert of constant sunlight, with the other side a frozen tundra of darkness. The Terminator of the world is a ring of stable climate, with the poles being especially safe due to crater formations allowing safe living environments.
Despite the safe area, the world does not have indigenous lifeforms. The predominate civilization there colonized it centuries ago, or rather... it was colonized for them. Records are spotty about the details, and the locals unwilling to share too much information, but the ancient now-extinct race of aliens named the Saytisj Nomya Tal, known more colloquially in Federation Standard as the Stellarians, took possession of the planet and used it to create a sort of bio-engineered hybrid race with elements of their DNA and several cherry picked humanoid races from across the quadrant. It is unclear if the members of the seed races were taken willingly or not, but it was done without any clear knowledge, likely when most species were far less advanced than now. This includes humans apparently as well. This hybrid species went on to become known as the Sjendari aka Stellarmerians, who today run the gamut of various physical characteristics common with several known species but are so hybridized now you'd have trouble finding specific matches in them by just looking. They are distinct from most due to their range of blue hued skin tones (a trait they get from their Saytisj ancestors), which like any species has several levels of variation.
Most Sjendari live along the Terminator or the polar cities (North is the Capital, South is the industrial center) in diffuse towns and settlements in between the major cities. One section of the strip is the former Saytisj township of Svorjden which was where Saytisj lived in the early days of the planet's settlement until their species died out for unclear reasons. While the impact and any known civilization of the Saytisj Nomya Tal broke down and vanished more than 2000 years ago, physical members of the species survived on Stellarmere at least until the 2350s.
For a time between the 2330s and 2374 the world was a protectorate of the Federation after the latter discovered it and realized the civilization was not pre-warp as they originally believed. The relationship with the Federation and the Sjendari was consistently one of burgeoning animosity as many of the locals had trouble adjusting to the Federation's way of doing things and their local outposts contaminating their culture (ironic as that might sound). Over time political strife, especially when it came to dealing with Starfleet, resulted in a He said, She said situation where the Federation was exposed to rather curious claims and accusations from Saytisjin about the level of their involvement, none which were ever proven but many of which the local populace believed. At it's worst was during the Dominion War when the system was used as a low key shelter and staging area for Starfleet forces close to enemy lines and the Sjendari finally had enough as they had no stake in the war (seeming uninterested in considering what might happen if the Dominion moved in instead). They eventually started a military campaign to remove Starfleet and the Federation from their home by force. Starfleet, at the time, didn't have the time or resources to deal with this and instead of engaging the locals, who were surprisingly capable, they moved out in a treaty signing and relocated their forces to DS9, which had at that time had just been retaken from the Dominion.
The world today still stands as independent and although keeps a dialogue with the Federation, they mostly go unnoticed by the latter to this day.
System
Star:
Halcjor (A3IV, White Subgiant star)
Planets:
Kayja (Class H)
Forvalke (Class D)
Jugunden (Class R)
Saytisjin (Class M)
Nolde (Class J)
Lantere (Class T)
General Information
Government: New Unity Constellate (Decentralized Interstellar Parliament), Chancellor: Fahv Reskila, Kesjierin: Seliya Akaela, Lead Ambassador: Molikai Korifahn
Military: Sjendari Astral Forces, Astral Knights of Saytisjin, Supreme Astral Commander: Jalian Magnus
Population: 347 million (on Saytisjin), 750 million (greater Constellate)
Major Exports: Produce, High-Energy Power Generators and Impulse-Class Engines, Subspace Compression design data, Verterium Cortenide aka "Subspace Carbon", weapon and defense system trading
Primary Occupations: Hydroponics, Subspace Reaction Engine development and maintenance, Spacecraft Operators/Flight Controllers (pilots), Star Drive Engineers, Weapons Development
Climate: Tidally locked planet with frozen tundra on sun-opposing side, searing desert on sun-facing side, and varying temperatures on Terminator
Diplomatic Relations
| Faction | Relation |
| UFP | Friendly |
| KDF | Cautiously Neutral |
| Romulan Star Empire | No Relations |
| Romulan Republic | No Relations |
| Cardassian Union | Neutral |
| Talarian Republic | Trade Partner |
Sjendari Astral Forces
Known collectively as the Unity Constellate Astral Forces, the military can be divided primarily into the Astra Space Fleet and the Aster Combat Brigade. Compared to most interstellar governments, Saytisjin is tiny, barely having any territories past their neighboring stars. As such they are not often in need of a heavy military. They have a rather large one despite this however. In truth most of them are part of the decentralized Constellate and posted to the various space colonies and move back and forth between that and the two planets in the Unity.
Unlike most space faring militaries, Saytisjin does not have massive fleets of large vessels. There are a number of large spacecraft but instead of being multi-purpose vessels they are rigidly single purpose and often exist as compound ships or carrier craft. Most of the defensive capability of Saytisjin comes from smaller single-person, or autonomous, craft carrying shockingly overpowered weaponry as well heavily effective defensive technology. Likely much of this is developed from what has been called the Great Unity War that ended in bringing the species together for the first time in history. There is also some possibility they unlocked elements of Ancient Saytisj technology to create some advancements but it is hard to confirm what is theirs and what is notâŚ
What the Astra does have is Frigate scale ships, 2 or 3 designs battlecruisers, and a large assortment of carrier craft shepherding squadrons of orbital fighter craft optimized for use in both air and space (thus avoiding the unfortunate truth that small scale combat spacecraft are not tactically or economically feasible since they are multi-capable). These craft contain abilities such as Energy Supplemented Armor (analogues to Structural Integrity Fields and Polarized hull plating), point defense barriers (unique energy shields that are not strong enough to envelop whole ships, but can provide spot defense), Inertial Force Converters (Inertial Dampers, though they compensate differently), Subspace Compression assisted Thermonuclear Reaction Engines (A unique form of Impulse Engines, as well as primary power sources for spacecraft), and subspace compression assisted reaction weapons (often in the form of heavy beam weapons or missiles with photon torpedo levels of power). Research in the latter had opened up a means to create subspace weaponry which was something that unnerved the Federation (as subspace weapons are illegal across the quadrant) and was something they wouldn't let the Sjendari research for a time. It is unknown if they have continued researching any such things⌠but Starfleet keeps a careful eye on the region for signs of such weapons being used or tested.
While not a galactially relevant military power, the capability of this force when properly applied should not be underestimated. While Starfleet's pull out of the system was largely due to the Dominion War, they admitted at the time the local military was scarily efficient.
A specialized segment not under command of the Unity Government but whom work directly for the Kesjierad is the Astral Knights. These individuals form an elite organization of individuals with varying specializations that can be dispatched and utilized on a case by case basis. They are beloved by the populace at large and viewed as modern day icons. This said, in public they come off as stringently stoic and focused, most know not to bother them.
Notable Locations
((Note: Visual representations are examples of existing fictional concepts to give an idea of the appearance of locations, but are not necessarily an exact depiction.))
The Capital city is known as Sesjvet (New Dawn) and is the home of the government and Kesjierad. It is likely this isn't where the first Sjendari were settled on the planet, and in fact evidence suggests the city is newer than most. Through historical conflicts either Sesjvet was founded as the first fully United Constellate built city or was built on top of a Saytisj compound to hide it from enemies. This leads to theories it has Saytisj vaults underneath it but the government will not comment. In the modern day it is the most heavily built up city outside of Saytisjek and despite the latter being the home of technological innovation, Sesjvet benefits from this the most and is considered far more stable of a location.
The city resides in the northern latitudes nestled into a crater area giving it a topological ability to channel the western-fixed sun's light through floating mirrors and mechanical clock-based channels to provide variable lighting levels across the many districts. This makes the city one of the most visually impressive sights any of it's people have seen.
The center of the city is marked by the Sky Reach Tower Compound which holds the offices of the Chancellor, the Sun Band Council chambers, Astral Military Academy, and the central node for the Cross Dimensional Transmission System, which enables a form of subspace communication to link all of Saytisjin and it's off world colonies via a comm system that is somehow distinct from Federation subspace communications standards. Just outside of the city borders is the now defunct Starfleet Garrison from Protectorate age.
The residents of the city are often of the higher tiers of society, which is at times an artificial status as Saytisjin is nominally post-scarcity. Though not everyone in Sesjvet lives in luxury, finding a place in the city implies a comfortable life. Most locals are tied into the government centers and are more supportive of their actions, which rubs some other cities the wrong way at times.
The city of Saytisjek (Starbirth) is the lead industrial area and contains the most advanced technology, as well as access to the Saytisj archives. Unlike the contested origins of Sesjvet, there is no doubt that Saytisjek started as a Saytisj compound due to the library which serves as the basis for the technological innovation.
Originally the city started as a commune for researchers of the archive, but a township sprung up, followed by a need for a defense system, then exceedingly more energy was needed. Before the age of subspace catalyzed fusion reactors Saytisjek used it's southern location to built a shorter tunnel connecting the hot and cold sides of the planet on either side to form a heat transfer channel that became a cheap method of generating power. The heat channel still functions despite obsolescence and even has branching sub-channels as without it the city was besieged with snowstorms and frequent hard freezes due to being on the edge of the pole despite it's terminator longitude.
In the modern day all of the technology is developed here, including new space platforms, power systems, weapons, and even mining infrastructure for both on planet and off planet mining of the valuable minerals used in their technology (notably all dilithium-free which has kept them off most Galactic power's radars). Unfortunately this makes the city and its residents the beta testers for a lot of things that are not quite ready for 'sunrise' applications (an inside joke that if Sesjvet won't adopt it full yet, it's still needs work). The outskirts of the city are thusly pockmarked with small scars and craters as signs of things that have⌠not worked out perfectly.
Perfected technologies usually see their first applications in Sesjvet, as Saytisjek gradually updates beta variations to functional levels. Locals view this as a better application and claim things look better in the capital, but work better down south. This point is debatable, but it has sparked a mild rivalry between the two locations, and in some cases animosity with the idea that Sesjvet reaps the hard work of Saytisjek while not repaying the effort fully. Saytisjek born people tend to exude a harsher attitude and are more critical of the government, though this also goes in line with the cities history as where the founding of the anti-unification alliance of nations known as the Liberty States began. Today Saytisjek is notable an autonomously governed city-state, as part of a centuries old agreement to end a Great War.
The last Saytisj Nomya Tal township known as Svorjden (closest translation is The last place of final shading) exists in the high mountains north of Sesjvet and is uninhabited but is a location many visit to honor their deceased ancestors.
This is believed to be one of the oldest civilization centers on the planet, and widely believed to be where Saytisj first settled when they colonized the planet. Evidence of it being more of a city exist, but it seems to have been intentionally simplified in design over the centuries. That said the old looking buildings are so sturdy that they are likely able to survive for centuries more.
Historically, Sjendari never lived here, and according to legends none ever saw the town until late in the age of Saytisj civilization on the planet. It's widely accepted Saytisjin was founded after the interstellar civilization had already collapsed. A form of permanent star shading that began killing them off eventually reduced them to this town, until they became unable to fully operate it without their created descendants help. By the time the Federation found the planet, there was only one Saytisj known to be alive, and she was rigorously cared for and guarded. No Federation representatives were able to meet her in person, though videos and images exist suggesting she suffered from a series of late age maladies that made her less than coherent. She passed away in the 2350s, ending the species as far as anyone alive currently knows.
The town exists today as a monument for people to travel to (on ground, no air travel is allowed near it) and pay respects. It is not a tourist location though, and it heavily guarded by a security group overseen by the Astral Knights, who themselves report to the Kesjierad.
Their only off world planetary colony is named Saytisjnal (Stardust). It is largely mining and agrarian based for the time being, but plans to extend it further are in place as it has more livable land area than Saytisjin itself. The world exists only 6 light years from Saytisjin and is easily accessible by a single subspace fold. The planet is unlisted on Federation databases but would show up in the Alpha-7190 sector just south of the border with Minos Korva sector in line with the more southern Nelara. Part of the reason it is not known to the galactic community is due to existing tensions with Starfleet when it was first founded in the 2360s, but as local Starfleet has become aware, some light years south exists Azedi space, who have proven to be particularly hostile and someone from whom the Sjendari would rather not receive attention.
For now only one major city exists on the planet and has been built up in the decades since. Given time, the hope is it will blossom to incorporate more civilization centers than Saytisjin due to having a traditional rotational cycle. Though anyone who lives here admits it took a long time to get used to that.
Excerpt from UFP Databank, Planet archives, last updated [94835.7]
