The Barons

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I had three blog ideas ready for this month. Instead another driver decided stops were optional and totaled my vehicle, leading to rather acute pain for my wife and I. I hope you can forgive me for not writing sooner. This is a short explanation about the general government structure of the Barons, as found in my science-fiction series Avarice Dynasty.

The Barons are in charge of the Frontier Worlds and since the end of the Second Cartel War nobody will challenge that fact. They use the unstoppable Frez Jankins to destroy anyone who gets too far out of line. However, they have granted the six Alpha Cartels a substantial amount of leeway in the everyday governing of matters

At the top of the Baron “food-chain” are the Vier (four in German), whose identities are a closely guarded secret. Nobody outside of the Vier know who the Vier are, with the exception of Frez Jankins.He answers directly to them and is occasionally used to root out conspirators within the Barons themselves. In direct order of power, the ranks of the Barons are:

The Vier: The four absolute leaders of the entire Frontier Worlds. Their words and whims are law. They have direct control of Frez Jankins and the Mandators, an ultra-secret warrior sect.

The Mardukes: The Mardukes are in charge of Baron military operations and are warlords in everything but name. They are almost as elusive and secretive as the Vier.

The High Resheph: This position is generally held by a single person but occasionally a committee handles it. They have enormous power and act as a buffer between the Mardukes and their subordinates. They can even overrule a Marduke edict if the situation calls for it.

The Molochs: (I’ve been using this name since 1997; much longer than a certain conservative radio/television host) The Molochs are in charge of the financial operations of the Barons, which means pretty much the entire purpose of the Barons. They control vast tracts of commercial territories and are concerned only with the furthering of the Barons control of the economy.

The Militates: These are people just beginning to gain power in the Baron hierarchy. They are almost always assigned to a specific planet or project. They are also the highest Baron rank that ‘outsiders’ usually aspire to meet and deal with personally.

The Acolytes: These are the newcomers and there are six separate levels within their ranks alone. Entry to the Barons is only by selection; the Militates seek out and select people who have shown tremendous loyalty and competence and then induct them as Acolytes. Those who continue to show loyalty and promise are quickly given higher Acolyte ranks. First-Class Acolytes have a very strong chance of being promoted to Militates, while those who never rise above Sixth-Class are often drummed out of the Baron command chain. Sometimes Sixth-Classers are even executed for being too incompetent.

The Treaty of Six, which ended the Second Cartel War, placed specific ranks, privileges and duties upon the Alpha Cartels as well. But that’s another subject for another blog.