Introduction
The Confederacy of AzedThe Confederacy of Azed, the Azedi, or formerly Species 2492, is an advanced spacefaring power local to the Itrin Sector Block. Contrary to initial assumptions, they are not a single species but a coalition of six distinct lifeforms from separate star systems. The Confederacy is unique in its use of advanced wormhole technology for travel, power generation, and weapons.
The Azedi enforce closed borders with most other factions and currently maintain no known external diplomatic contacts. They fiercely defend their space and have clashed with Starfleet and allied powers on numerous occasions. Efforts to make peace with the Confederacy have been generally unsuccessful. The single attempt at a formal peace conference between the Federation and the Confederacy resulted in disaster - and the near-destruction of Deep Space 13.
The Federation and the Confederacy of Azed currently exist in a state of cold war. Both sides generally abide by the long-expired terms of the original cease-fire and respect the established border, however encounters between the Confederate Navy and Starfleet (or any others unfortunate enough to run across them) tend to provoke violent responses.
Please DO NOT feel obligated to read the entirety of this datafile. We know the amount and complexity of the information on the Azedi and their related plotline(s) can be overwhelming, confusing, and sometimes frustrating, even for those of us that have been involved from the beginning. The datafile is intended to be a detailed reference document, available to both players and characters.
Except where noted, all information below may be considered available ICly in 38th Fleet databases, and will be kept as up-to-date as possible as time goes on.
The overall GM for the Azedi is @kermit, so please feel free to direct any questions or concerns his way.
If you want to interact directly with the Azedi, contact the appropriate staff member:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Recent History
- 3. Archive History
- 4. Technology Report
- 5. Current Intelligence Report
- 7. Anti-Azedi Countermeasures
Recent History
Mysterious Threat
The Federationâs earliest encounters with the Confederacy of Azed were shrouded in mystery. In 2414, Starfleet began a series of new exploration initiatives deeper into the Kelterre and Doza sectors. Over the next two years, expeditions into the region received rumors and reports of incidents of total annihilation of ships and even whole convoys traveling through the area. In many cases, local governments blamed each other or even the Federation for these attacks.
Virtually all of the attacks were swift and devastatingly effective, leaving no survivors and very little evidence of who might have been responsible. Responders to distress calls were left with haunting scenes of complete destruction without trace of traditional weapon signatures or warp trails to follow.
While not initially connected to the attacks, other signs of the Azediâs handiwork were uncovered during the same time period. Most notably, at least one entire local civilization was discovered to have been wiped out for daring to oppose them.
Further Reading:
⢠Though this pair of reports pertain mainly to their respective ensuing situations, they are prime examples of presumed Azedi attacks prior to their identification:
⢠The Osprey Situation - Argo responds to a distress call from the Echomet World Guard.
⢠Exploration of POI-K-1599 - USS Endeavour discovers the ruins of a civilization on a heavily irradiated planet. A satellite in orbit was broadcasting a repeating message, warning others to learn from the Diaderi and not oppose the Azedi.
First Contact
As the Federation expanded further into unexplored space reports of the mysterious attacks increased, and Starfleet itself began fielding an ever-increasing number of distress calls. In 2416 a 38th Fleet task force managed to arrive quickly enough after the reported attack to uncover the reason for the lack of warp trails: the remains of a collapsed artificial wormhole were discovered nearby the wreckage. The task force managed to track the aggressors and discovered two Azedi vessels, which promptly attacked. USS Gainsborough, USS Damocles, and USS Caelian were all destroyed in the encounter.
The Azedi were observed to use two distinct tactics - an electronic warfare assault to disable ship systems and defenses, and an overwhelmingly powerful verteron beam weapon. The dreadnought was noted to be capable of generating a short-duration artificial wormhole, which the Azedi use as their primary means of interstellar travel.
Following the loss of Gainsborough and her escorts the Azedi, who were still as-yet unidentified, were designated Starfleet Unidentified Species 2492. Investigation of this new threat was made a priority for the 38th Fleet. A diplomatic task force was formed, and recently explored areas of space were revisited with a renewed focus.
Further Reading:
⢠Denouement - Full report on Azedi first contact and destruction of Caelian, Damocles, and Gainsborough.
⢠Command Guidance Species 2492 Memorandum - Admiral Krvhn issued this memo containing the designation of Species 2492 and directing various initial fleet actions related to the Confederacy of Azed.
⢠A diplomatic task force was organized to think-tank methods of establishing peaceful contact with the Confederacy of Azed. The result was a series of recommendations centered around preparing greetings and gathering historical and cultural information prior to the next attempt at contact.
⢠Extensive search and rescue operations were conducted for survivors of the Gainsborough task force. Several escape pods were discovered to have been caught in the Azedi Dreadnoughtâs transit wormhole during its departure, leaving them scattered over several lightyears. A number of officers were recovered. Part of this mission involved devising and testing tactical maneuvers to be used against the Confederacy.
Urgent Research
Through the end of the year and into 2417, Starfleet and the Romulan Republic conducted extensive research and reconnaissance in an effort to learn more about the Azedi. Though the Azedi were observed to control nearly the entire Itrin Sector, their starships appeared unable to detect cloaked vessels, a failure that allowed for significant intelligence gathering operations. Cloaked recon missions successfully mapped a large portion of Azedi space and it was quickly discovered that the Azedi were not a single species, but a conglomeration of at least six distinct lifeforms. Close observation was thwarted by the ability of the Azedi planetary defenses to penetrate even Romulan cloaking devices.
On the homefront, science and engineering teams poured over recordings and data from the previous Azedi encounters in an effort to develop defenses and deterrences. Significant theoretical advances were made and methods were devised to trace, collapse, and reopen Azedi-generated wormholes. Most notably, the experiments revealed the probably (and later confirmed) inner workings of the Azedi dreadnought - the vessels use a contained wormhole terminus as an internal power source, similar in principle to the Romulan Singularity Core.
While direct diplomatic contact remained inadvisable, Starfleet conducted outreach missions around the Kelterre Sector. A connection was suggested between the Azedi and the hub of the Doza Scavengers at Itrin Station. Following this lead, Argo officers were able to discover several historical references to the Azedi (or related civilizations) in the Doza Sector. See: Historical Data Section.
Finally, some additional insight was gained into the direction of the regionâs technological development with the discovery of the Yuhop Wormhole, a semi-stable natural wormhole with a single fixed endpoint connected to one of several possible terminals across four sectors. It is believed that the presence of this natural phenomena guided the local civilizationsâ development towards wormhole-based technology.
Further Reading:
⢠Infiltration in Sector Alpha-7192 - RRW Iurret conducts the first long-range recon mission into Azedi space.
⢠Project Teleraptor Wormhole Research - Engineering and Science teams conducted analysis, simulation, and experimentation based on data collected from Azedi encounters. Methods were devised for tracking, collapsing, and reopening artificially generated wormholes on a micro-scale. These experiments formed the theoretical basis for all current anti-Azedi technologies.
⢠Comparable Attack - Definitive links were discovered between the wreckage of the Gainsborough and the previously unexplained attacks in the Kelterre and Doza Sectors.
⢠Talking Points 2492 - Argo officers conducted outreach missions around the Kelterre Sector, inquiring with local civilizations about the Azedi. Correlation was made between numerous prior mysterious events, pointing to the Azedi as long-term culprits for disasters and disappearances throughout the sector.
⢠Requiem - Exploration of the Diaderi System confirms that civilization there was destroyed by the Azedi. Evidence points to the inhabitants originally being members of the Confederacy, before being wiped out. The expedition was cut short when a 2492 Dreadnought arrives and destroys surface evidence. Secondary confirmation was discovered in a historical document.
⢠Inquires with the Korlackress Empire and study of the remains of the Kilur Hegemony revealed important historical information about the Confederacyâs precursors and established a long-term timeline for the region.
⢠Kilur Database Research
⢠Second Exploration of Kilur System
⢠Kilur Underwater Level
⢠Itrin Station Recon - Argo officers visited Itrin Station, a hub for trade and salvage operations. The Itrin are a precursor of the Confederacy of Azed and the original architects of the majority of Azedi technology.
⢠Yuhop Wormhole Verification Survey - Argo teams discover and begin to map the Yuhop Wormhole, providing scientific advancement and a greater understanding of the historical perspective of the sector block.
Renewed Aggression & Intelligence Gathering
As the Federation and its allies conducted research, so too did the Confederacy itself â albeit using far more blunt methods. Early in 2417 the Confederacy enacted a raid of Deep Space 13, abducting five civilian vessels from local space and conducting an electronic warfare attack on the station itself. An Azedi dreadnought emerged, but did not attack, reinforcing the idea that this was not an assault but rather an extremely aggressive intelligence gathering operation on their part.
Starfleet, with the help of the Romulan Republic, conducted recon missions and eventually launched a search and rescue operation. The operation resulted in hostilities and only 57 of 209 missing persons were recovered. The survivors were found to be in a catatonic state. Though most eventually made varying degrees of recovery, they were left with few memories of their time in captivity.
In response, Starfleet Command authorized more aggressive intelligence gathering operations in turn. These operations yielded a vast amount of intelligence on the Confederacy, its member worlds and species, its religion, and the political situation. This is the point at which Species 2492 was first officially identified as The Confederacy of Azed.
Classified data available:
Undercover teams were dispatched to Itrin Station and tasked with gathering detailed information on Azedi society. Officers infiltrated a smuggling network on the industrial world of Kacam, a member of the Confederacy. Contact was established with a Confederacy military officer engaging in black market trading. A political dissident attempted to gain passage away from the Confederacy with the undercover crew and was subsequently extricated to Federation space. This now-refugee remains an invaluable source of first-hand intelligence for the Federation.Further Reading:
⢠DS13/Species 2492 Encounter - Five civilian ships were abducted from DS13 local space as the station itself weathered a cyber-attack.
⢠2492 Update - DS13 Engineering determined that the Azedi used a long range electronic attack to gain temporary control of DS13âs particle emitters. This was used for precise targeting of their wormhole openings.
⢠Joint Republic/Federation pre-SAR Recon - A covert recon mission located the missing ships within Azedi space.
⢠Recovery of Abducted Civilians - A joint Starfleet/Republic task force entered Azedi space to recover the abducted civilians.
⢠Classified Starfleet Intelligence operations yield vast amounts of new information about Species 2492, now known as the Confederacy of Azed:
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⢠[Open Access] General Update on Confederacy of Azed (Species 2492)
Diplomatic Overtures
With a wealth of new information about the Azedi political system, preparations were made for an attempt at diplomatic communication. Since direct approaches had all led to hostilities, a plan was devised in which a Federation diplomat would pre-record a message onto a comms probe to be delivered via cloaked Republic warbird directly to a planetâs surface. The message was targeted at the Ralin, believed to be the faction of the Confederacy most likely to be receptive to such an outreach.
As hoped, a reply was received and a meeting was set. In neutral space, Starfleet and Azedi ships met and a conference was held aboard the USS Kassandra. Both sides agreed, in principle, to a desire for peace. A tentative cease-fire was brokered. The Confederacy representative provided starcharts of Azedi-claimed territory and it was agreed that Federation vessels would avoid violating their space.
The single point of contention in this initial meeting was the presence of a Starfleet outpost, Talos Junction, within the Confederacyâs claimed space. Though the Confederacy representatives were not informed of the location of this outpost, they did leave with the mistaken impression that it would be vacated.
Classified data available:
Unwilling to abandon the strategically and scientifically significant location in the Yuhop System, the Talos Junction outpost was converted to operate as a minimal-presence covert listening post. A decoy facility was hastily constructed in the Tower Keep System, to preserve the appearance of the agreed-upon vacated Starfleet outpost.Temporary lines of communication were established, through which each side transmitted reports of their activities in compliance with the cease-fire agreement. Once obligations were met, a formal diplomatic conference was scheduled aboard Deep Space 13 for the negotiation of a permanent treaty.
Further Reading:
⢠Ralin Diplomatic Outreach
⢠Ralin Peace Talks
⢠[Classified] Talos Junction Comms Feed - Talos Junction switched to covert operations.
⢠[Classified] Trick or Treat - Tower Keep was selected as the location for the decoy outpost.
⢠[Classified] Urgent Construction Project - A decoy outpost was constructed in the Tower Keep System.
Peace Conference Disaster
Promising Beginnings
Though Starfleet Command and the Federation Diplomatic Corps were optimistic about the prospect of peace with the Confederacy, many local citizens, civilian and Starfleet alike, were less amenable. The Azedi were responsible for countless unprovoked attacks and thousands of deaths. Protests were held in the days leading up to the peace conference, culminating in the incapacitation of Vice Admiral Perim, Starfleetâs intended lead negotiator and a strong proponent of the peace talks. Despite this setback and ongoing dissent, the conference went ahead and, in November 2417, Azedi vessels carrying a diplomatic delegation arrived at Deep Space 13.
The Azedi diplomatic delegation consisted of Arch Guide Aci of the Frith, Commandant Maâlo Cofreun of the Viggo, and Sage Fern Tsholofelo of the Ikmore. The Federation was represented by Rear Admiral Dmitri Konieczko and Diplomat Lev bim Bozgid, as well as various senior officers present. Talks began positively, with conceptual agreements on a 50,000 kilometer buffer zone around the Confederacyâs documented border, including civilian traffic, a military cease-fire, and an indefinite moratorium on the launch of probes across the buffer zone from either side. Unfortunately, before any formal treaty could be signed, the conference was interrupted by the arrival of a fleet of then-unknown vessels.
Battle of DS13
The arrival of the third party during the peace talks was the catalyst for disaster. Though they were unknown to the Federation at the time, the unknown vessels belonged to the Junayd - a former member-species of the Confederacy, whose remnant remains hostile to them. The Federationâs initial non-hostile stance towards their approaching enemy led the Azedi delegation to believe they had been betrayed - that the peace conference was a trap and that they were in danger.
The Confederacy delegation departed DS13 in a panic as the Junayd ships arrived, and the Azedi dreadnoughts opened fire. The Junayd returned fire and a full-scale firefight began within DS13âs defense perimeter. It was at this time that a major weakness in Azedi weaponry became apparent. They had great difficulty targeting the comparatively smaller and more nimble Junayd craft. Though both combatant groups initially ignored Starfleet and civilian traffic in the area, the Junayd began to deliberately use the starbase as cover from the Azedi beam weapons. The Azedi weapons fire was so inaccurate that station began to suffer damage in the crossfire.
As the battle progressed Starfleet and allied forces in the area joined initially on the side of the Confederacy, though their blatant disregard in targeting and unwillingness to communicate eventually led to both sides being classified as hostile in order to effect a defense of Deep Space 13. Despite the successfully weaponizing the Teleraptor deflector beam to combat the Azedi wormhole technology, the station sustained massive damage and an evacuation was ordered. In the end, both the Azedi and Junayd made withdrawals from the system, but not before the Federation suffered catastrophic losses. All told, over twenty thousand individuals lost their lives, and the event was recorded as one of the single most deadly events in recent Federation history.
Aftermath
The Battle of DS13 left the 38th Fleet and its allies in chaos. Operations were temporarily relocated to Deep Space K-7 as search and rescue operations and investigations began. The remains of a destroyed Azedi dreadnought was discovered among the wreckage of DS13. Investigation of the wreckage provided key information about Azedi technology and weaponry.
The other significant finding was the discovery that a signal was sent from aboard DS13 to the Junayd, resulting in their arrival. This signal was found to have been sent by a Junayd impostor posing as Cadet Rianni Tierno, attempting to prevent a peace treaty between the Federation and the Confederacy of Azed. Contact was made with the Junayd, resulting in the return of the real missing Cadet, however they were unwilling to establish diplomatic contact due to the Federationâs interest in peaceful coexistence with the Azedi.
Further Reading:
⢠Medical Emergency - Vice Admiral Perim was incapacitated prior to the conference by protesters demanding justice for the Azedi's prior victims.
⢠The Federation/Confederacy peace conference is interrupted when a fleet of previously unknown ships arrives and attacks the Azedi ships. The Azedi believe this to be Federation treachery and break off talks. The resulting battle is devastating for all sides. DS13 is crippled and evacuated. The 38th Fleet is forced to relocate to Deep Space K-7.
⢠Several public statements were made after the Battle of DS13:
⢠Argo Fleetwide Address
⢠Counseling Status and Services on K-7
⢠38th Fleet Updates
⢠Major Shifts for the 38th
⢠Search and Rescue operations were conducted around DS13 system space and beyond.
⢠EVA Mission to Deep Space 13
⢠Localized Recovery Operations
⢠Escape of the Yankee Clipper
⢠Dreadnought - Argo personnel boarded and studied the wreckage of an Azedi dreadnought.
⢠Information was uncovered regarding the involvement of the Junayd in the Battle of DS13 and relations with the Confederacy:
⢠Junayd in the Junkyard - A Junayd vessel was recovered, giving Starfleet an opportunity to study their technology.
⢠CDT Tierno Impostor Interview Results - The impostor, designated âObserver 93108â, was interviewed and provided detailed information of her actions leading up to the disaster.
⢠Observer 93103 Emergency Contact Channel - Starfleet attempted to make contact with the Junayd via the impostor Tierno.
⢠Junayd Contact - Observer 93108 was exchanged for the real Cadet Tierno.
⢠Heautoscopy - Negotiations between the Federation and the Junayd resulted in an increased understanding, but failed to establish more permanent relations.
⢠The Federation Council held hearings on the disaster at DS13, providing a critique of command-level decisions made leading up to, and during the ill-fated peace conference. Ultimately, Vice Admiral Perim accepted sole responsibility for the catastrophe and retired from Starfleet.
Open Hostilities
In the days following the evacuation of DS13, the Federation and the Confederacy entered a period of open hostility. Though the Federation Council declined to make a formal declaration of war, Starfleet and the Azedi both engaged in a number of offensive military operations.
As the Azedi resumed their campaign of destroying any ship that strayed near their borders, Starfleet and Republic forces seized the Azedi-controlled Tower Keep System and conducted raids on the Confederacy shipyards at Kacam. Starfleet maintained its occupation of Tower Keep for two months, as tensions mounted along the Confederacy-claimed border.
Encounters between Starfleet and Confederacy patrols during this period typically resulted in conflict and escalation seemed inevitable. However, on one occasion in early 2418, the Confederacy made contact with a Starfleet patrol and a short negotiation followed. An extremely tentative agreement was reached in which the Federation agreed to withdraw from Tower Keep and respect the Confederacyâs stated border, in exchange for the return of a group of prisoners who had survived the attack on DS13.
Captain Timoreev accepted the terms, and the agreement was upheld by the Federation, marking the first step towards de-escalation.
Further Reading:
⢠Cosmozoan Aid Request - The Azedi attack a pod of cosmozoans which had unknowingly violated their borders.
⢠SAR Mission - The USS Camelot was destroyed while on patrol near the Azedi border. Its remains would not be discovered until Starfleetâs occupation of the Tower Keep System.
⢠Prelude - MACO teams infiltrated the Kacam system to obtain data on system defenses and precision targeting information.
⢠Riposte - A task force seized the Tower Keep System, while a strike team destroyed military targets on a Confederacy homeworld.
⢠Duplicity - Tense front-line negotiations result in Starfleetâs withdrawal from Confederacy space and the return of a group of officers held captive by the Azedi since the evacuation of DS13.
⢠Report on Azedi Captivity - A group of officers were held captive, interrogated, and tortured by the Azedi for a period of two months following the evacuation of DS13. Upon their release, they filed these reports detailing the experience.
Cold War
Following the Federation withdrawal from Tower Keep and the return of the remaining officers from Azedi captivity, the two powers de-escalated to a cold war state. While no official treaty or cease-fire was in effect, both sides generally observed the previous arrangement. The Federation and its allies made efforts to ensure that there were no accidental violations of the Azedi border, and the Azedi refrained from any further incursions outside their borders.
Though the atmosphere remained tense and encounters still tended to be violent, the frequency of sightings steadily declined, leaving the strained state of mutual non-interaction as the reigning status quo, with a single notable exception.
The Celdence Project
In 2419 a Starfleet Intelligence asset within the Confederacy reported that the Azedi planned to conduct a large-scale test of a subspace weapon, by attempting to use it against Starfleet forces. Despite initial intelligence that the attack was to be on a Federation target, the actual test sites were the Dartius and New Circini systems, both politically neutral.
The advance warning allowed Starfleet to mount a defense of both systems, as well as organize a strike in the Confederacy system of Ikmore. The Confederacy was thwarted at all three locations, though their use of warp-disrupting subspace weapons presented a significant new concern.
Classified data available:
Starfleet Intelligence's source within the Confederacy was disgraced former Vice Admiral Minari Ashkeph, who was captured by the Azedi during one of their attacks in the Kelterre Sector. She reportedly managed to bargain for a modicum of 'freedom' in exchange for providing the Confederacy with intelligence about Starfleet and the Federation.She used this freedom to contact Starfleet. She planned to use her unique position within the Confederacy to delay and misdirect their research while also providing periodic updates to Starfleet Intelligence on their activities. Her reports proved to be accurate and marginally useful up until this incident.
When she reported the planned weapons test, she claimed to have suggested Dartius (an uninhabited system) to the Azedi as a valuable Federation target, though she failed to report New Circini as a second test site. That information came only by way of the Talos Junction listening post.
Following the weapons test and associated events, Ashkeph missed her scheduled communications with Starfleet Intelligence, and all contact was lost. Efforts towards rescue via covert and diplomatic means were deemed untenable and her status since is unknown.
Politically, the situation deteriorated somewhat, with the Azedi viewing the Federationâs incursion to Ikmore as an unprovoked attack, citing the neutral locations of their weapons testing. They delivered this response via a small wormhole incursion onto DS13, along with the remains of several Republic officers killed in the recent fighting and a sector map containing new territorial claims into the neutral areas of the Kelterre and Doza sectors.
Starfleet issued a travel advisory for the newly-claimed territory, but has otherwise not recognized these claims, instead utilizing the previously agreed-upon border demarcations. This gamble appears to have paid off, as the Azedi have yet to act upon their latest claims.
Further Reading:
⢠[Classified] Hat Trick - Former VADM Ashkeph arrived on DS13 and was apprehended. She detailed her captivity with the Azedi and her intention to act as an informant within the Confederacy.
⢠[Classified] Project 44.PI.3226 - Details and updates regarding Ashkephâs work as an informant.
⢠Priority on Azedi Operation - Starfleet received intelligence on the Azediâs new subspace weapon in development.
⢠[Classified] Kacam Intel Packet, changes to asset access - Ashkeph failed to retrieve additional information about the new weapon.
⢠Kacam Intel Packet, URGENT!! - Starfleet Intelligence received word of the impending weapons test in the Dartius System.
⢠Azedi Subspace Project - Engineering and science teams study the Azedi subspace weapon schematics and attempt to develop countermeasures.
⢠Priority One Report | Talos Junction - Talos Junction reported a possible impending Azedi attack on New Circini.
⢠Operational Update - SD96152.1 - Admiral Konieczko issues orders for the 38th Fleet to defend Dartius and New Circini.
⢠The Celdence Project - The 38th Fleet mounts defenses of Dartius and New Circini, as well as launches a strike on Ikmore.
⢠[Classified] Kacam Intel Packet Update - Ashkeph fails to report in.
⢠Event Horizon Wormhole Incident - A wormhole opened in the Event Horizon Lounge aboard DS13, delivering Romulan corpses and a message of sorts from the Azedi. An analysis was performed of the wormhole.
⢠PAO | Taking a Stand - Starfleet issues a public statement and travel advisory for systems claimed within the new Azedi borders.
Terran Invasion & Collapse
In late 2421, in an effort to eliminate threats to their Emperorâs plans for conquest of the multiverse, the Terran Empire invaded the Confederacy of Azed with the objective of eliminating all wormhole-based technology. Using knowledge they gained from the defeat of the Itrin in their own universe, the Terrans quickly annihilated most of the Azedi military and occupied the Confederacyâs planets. Over the next month Starfleet and its allies liberated the Confederacy and drove the Terrans back to their own universe, but the damage to Azedi society was extensive.
With its government decapitated, its navy virtually eliminated, and its capital world destroyed, the Confederacy of Azed effectively ceased to exist. The Terransâ thorough elimination of the wormhole-based technology that so much of Azedi society relied upon ensured that the Confederacy was unable to enact contingencies or begin a concerted recovery effort.
See Current Intelligence Report for more information on recovery and recent developments.
Further Reading:
⢠Terran Invasion of Itrin Sector - Talos Junction detected a Terran Empire invasion fleet arriving in the Itrin System and proceeding into Azedi space.
⢠FNS: Renewed Threat from Mirror Universe - FNS reports on the Terran Invasion, covering the Itrin Sector and beyond.
Archive History
The Itrin Hierarchy
The precursor to the Confederacy of Azed was the Itrin Hierarchy, once the de-facto authority occupying the same region of space. Itrin civilization is estimated to date as far back as sixty thousand years, though their development was stalled for millennia by their inability to travel faster than light.
Sometime around eight thousand years ago, the Itrin discovered the stable endpoint of the Yuhop Wormhole. Their research and development shifted to focus on this natural resource, and their unique advancements in wormhole-based technology were the result.
Over the next several thousand years, the Itrin laid claim to a vast region of space. The relative ease of transit and comparatively slow population growth led to an almost rural culture, with predominately small colonies, relying almost entirely on trade and commerce for survival. There were very few genuine threats to the Itrin, locally, and those that did exist were seldom able to withstand wormhole-based weaponry. The result was an extremely laissez faire stewardship of Itrin territory. At the height of Itrinâs expansion, the Hierarchy was mostly concerned with regulating trade and settlement authorizations. Without any sort of centralized military to speak of, in the rare event of a crisis or conflict the Hierarchy would simply contract the nearest trade vessels to handle the issue.
With such a large area claimed, inevitably the Itrin eventually encountered other sentient beings. These initial interactions were generally benevolent and peaceful, and the Itrin saw only the potential for new trading partners. These âyoungerâ species were leapfrogged from varying points of development directly into the world of interstellar commerce, by virtue of their locations, becoming implicit protectorates of the Itrin. This status afforded them peace and protection and prosperity, in exchange for virtually nothing save an expected willingness to sell or trade what resources they possessed in abundance, to help supply Itrinâs eternal expansion.
An Unlikely Confederacy
The nine principal protectorates within Itrin territory were the Viggo, Frith, Citali, Kacam, Ikmore, Ralin, Junayd, Diaderi, and Athax. With almost nothing in common, an alliance between these species was highly unlikely. For centuries they knew little of each other, and for centuries more they treated each other with hostility and distrust. The only common thread between them all was the desire to access the advanced technological prowess of the Itrin.
This common goal would serve as a framework for the alliance that would later become the Confederacy of Azed. An unprecedented joint effort between the often-at-odds Viggo and Frith finally united the nine protectorates, around 400 years ago. With their combined strengths, they were able to cripple Itrinâs infrastructure and obtain a wide array of technological knowledge, equipment, and weaponry from the formerly-dominant Itrin.
The success of Itrinâs expansion was based entirely on their ability to traverse vast distances in virtually no time, so the sudden and severe shortage of ships available to deliver vital supplies left countless colonies entirely cut off. Only the Itrin home system proved self-sufficient enough to survive. After consolidating their remaining vessels, the Itrin were able to handily fend off any further attacks on the homeworld and larger colonies, but the betrayal left them defeated and demoralized.
Itrin civilization never truly recovered and in the present day their population is estimated to be only approximately 1.5 billion, concentrated entirely within their home system. The Hierarchy now manages a only handful of system defense vessels and a single trading station.
Growing Pains
The new Confederacy was anything but stable. Within the first few decades of Azedi independence, grave ideological differences emerged. Nine almost totally unconnected local powers had joined together and were left with the monumental task of forming a new unified government.
The members vied for political control, with the more dominant factions exerting significant pressure on the others. The Junayd were quickly singled out by the Frith as the Azedi religion became the Confederacyâs dominant faith, and eliminated. The Athax suffered a similarly grim fate, being chosen for elimination by the Viggo following territorial and jurisdictional disputes.
Eventually, through a combination of force, manipulation, and compromise, the Confederacy of Azed in its modern form was solidified.
Delicate Balance of Power
Though the Confederacy eventually stabilized, the nature of its founding and the number of disparate internal influences made for a very delicate system of governance. Even today, the Azedi are prone to internal squabbles and disagreements that often lead to extended inaction or violent confrontation. The last major disagreement, some two centuries ago, led to the eradication of the Diaderi.
Technology Report
Wormhole Exploitation
Though they did not originally invent the technology, the Azedi have the ability to manipulate (create, destroy, control) wormhole-type spatial anomalies for spacefaring travel, which suggests a high level of scientific development.Applications of this advanced knowledge form the backbone of nearly all modern Azedi technology, including power generation, weaponry, defense, long- and short-range travel. This unusual technological focus has allowed the Azedi to achieve a level of wormhole exploitation that appears to be unrivaled by any civilization encountered by the Federation to date, with the possible exception of the Iconians.
Science
Beyond their obvious advanced understanding of astrophysics, Azedi technology also suggests solid understanding of metallurgy, particle physics, and subspace utilization. Their aided technological ascendancy has resulted in a scientific community that is unusually adept at deciphering foreign/artificial sources of knowledge and applying them to their own understanding of the universe.
The same traits that make them adaptable, however, also leave the Azedi vulnerable to long periods of scientific stagnation when infusions of new ideas and external research paths are not present. Further, the Azedi religion has been observed to be a significant impediment to certain lines of scientific development, such as artificial intelligence.
Medical
The Azedi, and the Ikmore in particular, evidently have a solid grasp on biological medicine. In addition to anecdotal evidence suggesting that they previously possessed cloning technology, modern Azedi have demonstrated an ability to provide advanced medical care not only to their own kind but also to foreign species. This suggests a broad understanding of the field beyond that of a developing power. In addition, Azedi medical personnel have been observed utilizing memory extraction in service of the military, suggesting a significant understanding of brain structures and functionality.
Engineering
The Azedi have adapted their advanced wormhole technology to applications in weaponry, defense, orbital construction, and civilian daily life such as ground-based interplanetary transit stations. Their ease of access to otherwise rare raw materials has allowed them to bypass several more common pathways for engineering advancement, instead developing in more unique directions. The most notable outward example of this is the Azedi starship hull, which is constructed with an extremely high neutronium content, a superdense mineral that they are apparently able to mine from the cores of neutron stars.
In previous encounters, the Azedi have used viral computer assaults to sabotage Starfleet vessels and capture ship intelligence. DS13âs engineering department has developed countermeasures which have proven effective. Paradoxically, Azedi computer systems have been found to be extremely lacking. Artificial intelligence is entirely absent and automation only seems to exist in the most basic sense. Complex tasks, including mathematic calculations, are performed manually. Starships require crews of thousands to operate effectively and occupations eliminated by automation in most modern societies are commonplace throughout the Confederacy.
Current Intelligence Report
Status of Azedi Territory
⨠Originally Recognized Azedi Territoryâ Confederacy of Azed (Viggo/Ikmore)
â Kacam Corporate Authority
â Ralin Commonwealth
â Citali Autonomous Collective
Full Report: Starfleet CIR: Post-Terran Status of Azedi Worlds
Associated Species
Viggo
The Viggo were the most advanced of the Itrin Protectorates when first encountered. They were the only civilization of the group to have independently developed faster-than-light propulsion, and their warp drive technology was the first truly valuable innovation to be shared with the Itrin by an outside party.
By the time of their first contact with the Itrin, the Viggo had already conquered three planets in two neighboring systems, and eliminated their native populations in favor of their own settlements. The Viggo also hold the distinction of being the only protectorate with whom the Itrin did not have a peaceful introduction. Unfortunately for the Viggo, they found themselves at a vast disadvantage and, after an extremely short conflict, acquiesced to the superiority of the Hierarchy.
Despite their agreement to be beholden to the Hierarchyâs vision for a unified, peaceful region, the Viggo never stopped coveting their advanced technology. The Viggo, along with the Frith, were the primary orchestrators of Itrinâs downfall.
Over the centuries, the Viggo have earned a reputation as the most aggressive species within the Confederacy, and are almost single-handedly responsible for the elimination of the Athax and Diaderi. Viggo martial academies are second to none, and most high-ranking Confederacy military officers are Viggo. This, along with their large population base and long history of military conflict make them one of the two most influential factions in the Confederacy.
The Viggo doctrine is built around overwhelming preemptive strike, and they are the perhaps the loudest voice in combating Federation aggression via deep strike tactics.
Physical Attributes
| Field | Selection | Color(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Humanoid | |
| Head Type | Humanoid 1-5 | |
| Skin Type | Skin | I1 - I6 |
| Overall Pattern | Solid Color | |
| Base Complexion | Tendrils | |
| Forehead Detail | Xindi Primate | |
| Nose Detail | Saowin | |
| Tattoo, Scar, Etc. | Cranial Ridges | P24 |
| Eyes | Slit | P13 | P23 |
| Ears | Pointed 01 | |
| Eyebrow | Lissepian 02 | |
| Head Attach Organic | Alienhorns 03 | O22 |
| Hairstyle | (any) | Q1 - Q24 |
| Mouth Accessory | (any hair) | Q1 - Q24 |
Frith
The Frith are a deeply religious people that were pivotal in convincing the other protectorates to collaborate in the overthrow of Itrin. Afterwards, the Frith worked tirelessly to forge the lasting relationships that would become the Confederacy of Azed. Their faith, Azed, has evolved over the centuries and can appear quite convoluted to the outside observer. Mixing state of the art technology with religious traditions thousands of years old, the Frith make for perhaps the most curious species in the Confederacy.
Today, the Frith remain one of the two most influential factions in the Confederacy. While the Viggo are hotheaded and aggressive, the Frith are often calm, at least outwardly. Their faith does not allow them to act on a timescale suitable to the Viggo, which is often a point of contention. They are slow to deliberate, but when the decision has been made they are bound to that path until they succeed or die trying. They serve as a moderating influence on the aggression of the Viggo, but there are exceptions. The Frith convinced the Confederacy to bombard the home world of the Junayd, the first of the founding members to be eliminated. Their motivations for such drastic actions seem to be based on a sort of religious morally - they determined some aspect of Junayd society to be wrong and deserving of eradication.
Physical Attributes
| Field | Selection | Color(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Humanoid | |
| Head Type | Humanoid 1-5 | |
| Skin Type | Skin | O14 - O24 |
| Overall Pattern | Solid Color | |
| Base Complexion | (Aged or Standard) | |
| Forehead Detail | Vaskan | |
| Nose Detail | Crewaded Bridge 02 | |
| Tattoo, Scar, Etc. | None | |
| Eyes | Humanoid | O13 | P13 |
| Ears | Pointed 03 | |
| Eyebrow | (any hair) | F13 - F24 |
| Head Attach Organic | None | |
| Hairstyle | (any) | F13 - F24 |
| Mouth Accessory | (any hair) | F13 - F24 |
Citali
The Citali remain politically neutral, siding with the majority in almost every major decision for centuries. They are driven by the pursuit of technology, regardless of means of acquisition.
Physical Attributes
| Field | Selection | Color(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Flat Nose - Ridged Head | |
| Skin Type | Skin | C2 |
| Overall Pattern | Spots 05 | C16 |
| Base Complexion | Coral | |
| Forehead Detail | Coral | |
| Nose Detail | None | |
| Tattoo, Scar, Etc. | None | |
| Eyes | Humanoid | C2 | C13 |
| Ears | Coral 02 | C2 | C7 | C13 |
| Eyebrow | None | |
| Head Attach Organic | Coral 02 | C2 | C7 | C13 |
| Hairstyle | None | |
| Mouth Accessory | Coral 02 | C2 | C7 | C13 |
Kacam
The Kacam directly benefit from conflict. Politically, they tend to favor the viewpoints of the Viggo. Kacam also make up a large portion of the Confederacyâs ground forces.
Physical Attributes
| Field | Selection | Color(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Flat Nose - Ridged head | |
| Skin Type | Skin | O3 - O5 |
| Overall Pattern | Imhotir | N1 |
| Base Complexion | Tendrils | |
| Forehead Detail | Boslic | |
| Nose Detail | Lissepian | |
| Tattoo, Scar, Etc. | None | |
| Eyes | Reflective | O15 |
| Ears | Kobali 02 | |
| Eyebrow | None | |
| Head Attach Organic | None | |
| Hairstyle | None | |
| Mouth Accessory | None |
Ikmore
The politics of the Ikmore are neutral with a slight bias towards expansion.
Physical Attributes
| Field | Selection | Color(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Humanoid | |
| Head Type | Humanoid 1-5 | |
| Skin Type | Skin | O20 - O24 |
| Overall Pattern | Gradient Vertical | O15 - O19 |
| Base Complexion | Neck Scales | |
| Forehead Detail | Hirogen | |
| Nose Detail | Alsaurian | |
| Tattoo, Scar, Etc. | None | |
| Eyes | Small Iris | G13 | (any color) |
| Ears | Coral 02 | H23 | O22 | O15 |
| Eyebrow | (any hair) | F1 |
| Head Attach Organic | None | |
| Hairstyle | (any hair) | (any color) |
| Mouth Accessory | (any hair) | (any color) |
Ralin
Politics of the Ralin are intricate layers of move and countermove, and those who make it a profession hold high status on the planet. They are often against conflict of any kind.
Physical Attributes
| Field | Selection | Color(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Ridged | |
| Skin Type | Skin | P10 - P12 |
| Overall Pattern | Spots 10 | P20 |
| Base Complexion | (Aged or Standard) | |
| Forehead Detail | Bony Ridges 07 | |
| Nose Detail | Bony Ridges 01 | |
| Tattoo, Scar, Etc. | None | |
| Eyes | Small Iris | P13 | P14 - P24 |
| Ears | Celolaris 01 | O15 |
| Eyebrow | None | |
| Head Attach Organic | None | |
| Hairstyle | None | |
| Mouth Accessory | None |
Junayd
Federation encounters with actual live Junayd number in the single digits, but they have been known to make use of advanced artificial servitors, both sentient and non-sentient. These organic constructs have been seen modeled after not only the Junayd themselves, but also a number of other template species.
Physical Attributes
| Field | Selection | Color(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Flat Nose | |
| Head Type | Smooth Nose | |
| Skin Type | Skin | M10 |
| Overall Pattern | Solid Color | |
| Base Complexion | Benzite | |
| Forehead Detail | Benzite | |
| Nose Detail | Benzite | |
| Tattoo, Scar, Etc. | None | |
| Eyes | Humanoid | P13 | (any color) |
| Ears | N/A | |
| Eyebrow | None | |
| Head Attach Organic | None | |
| Hairstyle | None | |
| Mouth Accessory | Benzite Tendril | |
| Benzite Tendril | Benzite 01 | M10 |
Athax
The Athax were the second Confederacy member to be eliminated, and the first at the urging of the Viggo. Very little information on the Athax remains.
Diaderi
The Diaderi were the most recent member of the Confederacy to be eliminated, only approximately 150 years ago. The Diaderi were also chosen for elimination by the Viggo, though evidence suggests that the Frith also supported their extermination, near the end.
Further Reading: (Diaderi Datafile)
Previous Intelligence Report
The following sections report on the Confederacy of Azed as it was immediately prior to its collapse during the Terran invasion.
Territorial Claims
Currently recognized Confederacy space encompasses approximately 10,500 cubic lightyears, including virtually the entire Itrin Sector (excluding only the Itrin System itself, almost a third of the Alpha-7190 Sector, as well as parts of the Kelterre and Doza sectors.
Azedi space contains the homeworlds of the original 9 founding species: Azed, Viggo, Athax, Citali, Diaderi, Kacam, Ralin, Ikmore, Junayd. Other notable systems within Azedi territory are Tafor, Yuhop, and Tower Keep. A large nebula at the crossroads of the four sectors also lies entirely within Azedi space.
In the Kelterre Sector, the Confederacy border extends to within a few meters of the Potterâs Field Anomaly, further complicating travel and trade in the area.
The Federation has declared the entirety of recognized Confederacy space, and a 40,000 km buffer around it, Azedi Exclusionary Zone. Starfleet and civilian ships are prohibited from entering the zone under most circumstances, and a public travel advisory is in effect, warning that crossing into the zone may provoke a hostile response from the Azedi.
Map of Recognized Borders:
Beyond their established border, the Azedi have also laid aggressive claims to large tracts of space in the Kelterre and Doza sectors, as a direct response to the Federationâs diplomatic standing. Notable systems inside Azedi-claimed space include Federation Protectorate Tau Zeta, the Kingdom of Parin, Legia, and Waydis.
Though the Federation does not recognize these claims, nor consider them to be part of Azedi space or the exclusion zone, a travel advisory has been issued for the affected star systems. Aside from the initial claim and a modest rise in regional tensions, neither the Confederacy nor the Federation have taken any direct actions related to the expanded claims, and the originally recognized borders have remained the status quo.
Unrecognized Claims
Government
The Cabinet
The Confederacy of Azed is, in theory, a relatively weak government form. In principle, each member world contributes one Minister to the Confederate Cabinet, which makes decisions on matters relating to the whole Confederacy. Cabinet decisions must be unanimous to have the force of law, resulting in a situation where the Confederacy as a whole is slow or unable to act on contentious issues.
In practice, the Confederacyâs simplistic government has been overcome by backroom dealing and influence trading. The strongest members of the Confederacy are sometimes able to arrange decision results before the official discussion has even begun. In extreme cases, it is not unheard of for a single member to act alone to resolve an urgent issue of interest to them. Though this is technically grounds for censure or other punishment as decided by the Cabinet, disagreements typically do not result in any punitive action as only a single supporter is necessary to block any Cabinet decision.
The most recent known example of this sort of âask for forgiveness, not permissionâ governmental bypass was the Viggoâs elimination of the Diaderi. The Viggo were unable to sway the other members to such drastic action, but they went ahead with it anyway using their primary control of the military. In the aftermath, the Ralin proposed a censure of the Viggo for acting against the Confederacyâs interests, but the Frith blocked the decision.
Member Governments
Each member world retains its own independent government, with the head of state or other designee representing that government in the Cabinet.
The Viggo have no civilian government, relying instead on a true military dictatorship. When the Confederacy was founded the Viggo military was adapted to serve the entire Confederacy, but it retained direct control of the Viggo member government. Though other Confederacy races are permitted to serve in the military and rise through the common ranks, the three highest military tiers are reserved for ethnic Viggo. The Viggo head of state is the Grand Chancellor, followed by the Vice Chancellor, and 2-3 Commandants. Lower ranks are split between the Confederate Navy and the Confederate Marines.
The Frith are governed by a pure theocracy. Their official head of state is the deity Azed, though in practice they are represented by the Arch-Guide. The Arch-Guide is a religious official who is elected by and from a council of senior Guides, who assist the Arch-Guide in matters of religion and state. Frith religious leaders hold their positions for life, barring extenuating circumstances or promotions following the death of a more senior official. Junior Guides fill virtually all government and local leadership roles in addition to their functioning as priests and missionaries for the Azedi religion. Though there is no technical prohibition on other species being appointed as Guides, the Frith are ubiquitous in the role.
The Citali are governed by a meritocratic oligarchy. The head of state is the Overseer, who is advised by a myriad of top-level scientists and researchers. Intelligence and aptitude for the sciences is the primary metric by which Citali are judged for advancement within society. Most Citali do not aspire to high office, seeing administrative roles as a necessity rather than a privilege. Administrators are chosen for their positions based on thorough assessments to determine which candidates will be of most benefit to society.
The Kacam government is modeled loosely as a megacorporation. The head of state is the Chief Executive, who is the current most senior member of the Board of Directors. Each member of the board is responsible for managing a sub-corporation consisting of an entire industrial sector. For example, mineral extraction is the purview of the Mining Director. Workers are promoted within their fields. Those with leadership aptitude and aspirations may become supervisors and eventually advance into middle- and upper-management. The maintenance and governing of aspects of society are treated no differently than any other traditional industries, with those governmental responsibilities falling under whatever industrial sector they are most closely related to. The Chief Executive is the external representative of the board and has some level of decisionmaking autonomy, but he/she remains answerable to the board and may be replaced or overruled by vote of the remaining Directors.
The Ikmore are ruled by an absolute monarchy with strict hereditary succession rules. The monarch and head of state is the Guru, and his/her direct descendants are titled Sages. Upon the monarchâs death or abdication, rule is passed to the person with the strongest hereditary claim - that is, the closest genetic match to the original monarch, not necessarily the most recent one. This is typically and traditionally one of the Sages, but other claimants are possible. It is widely rumored that in the days before the founding of the Confederacy, the Ikmore Sages were often clones to ensure that the ruling familyâs âheirsâ maintained strong claims and lasting control of the monarchy.
The Ralin government is a Particracy, and by far the most complex member government in the Confederacy. The basic units of Ralin government are Assemblies, essentially political parties. Assemblies may be freely created by any citizen, and there is no limit to the number that may be active. Citizens may also change their Assembly association at will. At present, there are hundreds of individual Assemblies active. When an Assembly reaches a certain threshold of popular support, it is granted a Delegate to the Principal Assembly, Ralinâs overall legislative body. Each Assemblyâs number of Delegates to the Principal Assembly is determined by their relative levels of popular support. Any and all legislation is subject to a lengthy session of compromise before itâs voted on, which translates to an incredibly slow-moving political system. After each distribution of Delegates alliances are made between Assemblies and, when a majority is achieved, the leading Assemblies form a Governing Coalition, which serves as a sort of quasi-executive. The coalition is responsible for distributing Delegates, determining committee assignments, and appointing a Minister to represent the Ralin for each meeting of the Cabinet. The current coalition is heavily biased towards maintaining the status quo across most legislative agendas.
Military
Tactical Data
Etnoziroh-class Dreadnought
Measuring over 1,800 meters in length with an indwelling stabilized wormhole aperture, the Etnoziroh-class dreadnought is an iconic monolith representing the Confederacyâs might. Though design of these gargantuan vessels originates with the Itrin, today the Azedi dreadnoughts are the backbone of the Confederate Navy, serving as the central figure for virtually every deployment of military assets. They ubiquitously fill the role of battleship, carrier, troop transport, explorer, and command ship.
Technical Details:
Structure
Externally, Azedi dreadnoughts appear to be nearly solid. The outer hull is virtually entirely made up of a single shaped alloy sheet. It is minimally segmented with very few panels or edges. The hull is generally rectangular, forming a flat forward-face at the bow which tapers into a spherically bulging midsection and terminates back to a smaller rectangular section at the dorsal aft. The only true breaks in the otherwise uninterrupted armor plate are the pair of hardpoints at the fore and aft faces. Visually the front of the ship houses a weapon emitter and the rear an engine housing, though both are apparently capable serving as weapons, thrusters, and rudimentary deflectors. The dreadnoughts a dark slate gray in color and present no windows, access points, or external components whatsoever.
Defenses
Though the Azedi dreadnought possesses no traditional deflector or shield systems, dreadnought-weight hull plating is a marvel of metallurgical engineering that seems to compensate completely for the lack of energy-based defenses. Though this thick armor plating is not fully understood, compositional analysis has revealed a great deal about its properties:
||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 54% Neutronium
|||||||| 16% Trellium-Z
|||||| 13% Chrondite
||||| 10% Tritanium
||| 7% Nitrium
⢠Neutronium (54%) is a rare superdense mineral found naturally in the cores of neutron stars. Pure neutronium is virtually impenetrable, impervious to sensor scans, and cannot be replicated or otherwise produced artificially. The concentration of neutronium in the Azedi hull alloy is far higher than anything the Federation has been able to achieve using conventional means. The high percentage of neutronium imparts similarly superior neutronium properties to Azedi hulls. Specifically, an extreme resistance to energy, kinetic, and explosive weaponry, and scattering of sensor and transporter beams. Gravitons and other low-mass high-velocity particles are capable of penetrating the alloy plating, but even they are not immune to a partial scattering effect, limiting effectiveness.
Trellium-Z or Trellium-Azedite (16%) is a previously unknown variant of Trellium. While this mineral is relatively weak physically, its unique properties provide the Azedi alloy with a level of innate insulation against certain types of spatial anomalies and radiation. It is believed that this insulation, along with the sheer physical durability of the neutronium component, is what allows the Azedi dreadnoughts to comfortably house and traverse wormholes.
Chrondite & Nitrium (20% combined) are common minerals found naturally in asteroid and planetoid cores. When combined, they create a particularly durable alloy. Though this combination alone would make a hull plating comparable in strength to modern ablative armor, the Azedi alloy appears to utilize chrondite and nitrium as essentially filler material, helping to blend the neutronium and trellium into a homogeneous alloy.
Tritanium (10%) is a very common mineral in use by virtually every major spacefaring civilization in some form or another. Military-grade tritanium is often used as hull plating in its own right, but the Azedi alloy appears to utilize it for its relative flexibility, imparting the hull with a semblance of pliability that would not otherwise be possible with a higher neutronium content. Without this component, the dreadnought hull would be unable to withstand inertial forces in flight.
Power Generation
The Azedi dreadnought's primary form of power generation is the Brink Reactor, a complex mechanism built into the vessel's superstructure. When activated, the reactor is capable of generating one aperture of a micro-wormhole within the ship, and projecting an endpoint to another location - often another dreadnought's reactor. The Brink Reactor is then capable of siphoning zero-point energy from the anomaly and using that energy to expand, regulate, and manipulate the wormhole. In this regard, its basic principles are similar to the Romulan Singularity Harness.
Once the reactor has created and stabilized a wormhole, it is capable of generating more than enough power to provide for the ship's systems and charge batteries for operation when the reactor is offline.
Weaponry
The dreadnought's sole offensive capability is one of the most powerful ship-based weapons encountered by the Federation to date. The main beam is generated directly from the aperture of an active wormhole. Excited verteron particles are harvested, compressed, directed, and released to devastating effect. The beam's firing is preceded by brief surge of neutrino and verteron particles, indicating increased wormhole activity. Visually, it appears as a bright white beam-burst. Despite the verteron's typical faster-than-light nature, when fired in this way the beam is relatively slow-moving and difficult to target accurately. The damage it can inflict, however, more than makes up for this shortcoming in most engagements. Most modern shield systems are unable to withstand more than one or two direct impacts, and a structural impact is virtually guaranteed to breach the hull of all but the most hardened targets.
Though conventional barrier defenses have proven wholly inadequate against this weapon, its primary weakness is in its poor targeting ability. Avoidance is the current recommended defense, and anti-Azedi maneuver patterns are developed around speed and agility. Naturally, ships that present smaller target profiles are likewise more able to evade the beam. For larger vessels and stationary targets, research is ongoing into utilizing silithium to neutralize or negate some of the beam's energy prior to impact. See Project Slethi for more information on this potential countermeasure.
Propulsion
The dreadnought lacks a traditional faster than light drive, instead relying on its ability to generate and traverse wormholes for long distance travel. In order to create a traversable conduit, the dreadnought must first generate an endpoint in local space, and then shift its internal aperture to the distant destination. During the approach, travel, and exit from a transit wormhole, the dreadnought's reactor remains inactive. Accordingly, this typically means that the vessel's weapon is not functional immediately upon arrival and departure from a particular location.
The dreadnought utilizes a relatively simple ion propulsion system for sublight travel. In lieu of a standard array of thrusters, gimbaled attenuators installed at the fore and aft hardpoints direct and ionize exotic particles extracted from the wormhole to create directional thrust. When the wormhole is inactive, propulsion is achieved using reserve fuels.
Crew Support
Due to its nature as host to a wormhole aperture the entire midsection of the dreadnought is essentially hollow, excepting the Brink Reactor and associated equipment. Extensible catwalks and ramps provide direct access to the wormhole, allowing crew and equipment to board and depart the ship without ever compromising the sealed outer hull. Most of the ship's habitable areas are concentrated in the fore and aft compartments and superficial sections surrounding the wormhole chamber. The Azedi dreadnought is an extremely utilitarian vessel. With the exception of control rooms for vital systems almost every compartment is modular, easily adapted to serve as a cargo bay, a barracks, a conference room, a medical suite, or anything in between. They typically carry a crew of around five thousand, though they are capable of operating effectively with half that number. Despite the ship's large size, crew accommodations are extremely limited. Barracks-style living is the norm and facilities for recreation are few.
Despite its advanced premise and underlying sophisticated engineering, the technology used to operate the dreadnought in-flight is comparatively primitive. Almost inexplicably, there is no automation or advanced computing to speak of. Modern principles of spaceflight and combat are achieved using rudimentary (pre-digital) computer systems, manual controls, and physical gauges and media. The inflated crew requirement is therefore necessary in order to staff hundreds of ship stations that should be entirely unnecessary. Entire professions and specialists that would not otherwise exist are necessary for the Azedi to manually match the performance of a 25th century starship. Though unconfirmed, the prevailing assumption is that the low-tech nature of the dreadnought's systems is the result of intentionally zealous precautions and hardening against radiation and exotic particles that may be encountered as a result of their method of power generation. An alternative theory involves religious doctrine prohibiting the integration of more advanced technology into the Confederacy's primary warship.
Rayopa-class Support Cruiser
The support cruiser (formerly misidentified as "Azedi frigate") is a 350-meter triangular vessel and the most traditionally advanced starship in the Confederacy fleet. It runs on near-modern isolinear computer systems, possesses a deflector shield system comparable to Federation standards, and a relatively advanced electronic warfare suite. These ships excel at delivering targeted malware attacks to targets utilizing computer automation, as well as all manner of active communications and sensor jamming. The support cruiser's chief weaknesses are its fragile hull, lack of armor plating, and lack of faster-than-light drive. A thin external coating serves to scatter sensor and transporter beams, but it provides very little in the way of protection against direct attack. These vessels are especially vulnerable when separated from the Dreadnoughts upon which they rely for long-range travel. As expected, Azedi support cruisers are typically found operating alongside dreadnoughts, providing a battlegroup with traditional starship capabilities that would be lacking with dreadnoughts alone.Arenonac-class Destroyer
The Azedi destroyer is the only known Confederacy military vessel possessing a traditional warp drive. Essentially a gunboat, the destroyer traces its lineage to a pre-Confederacy Viggo design. Unlike the dreadnought, the destroyer possesses near-modern conventional technology, running on a system similar to duotronics. They are equipped with deflector shields and pulsed tetryon weaponry, in addition to a thinner variant of the neutronium-based armor plating. Their primary combat role is to provide fire support and point defense for dreadnoughts. The destroyerâs weapons are specialized to provide a high volume of fire rather than a high direct damage output. Outside of dreadnought battle groups, destroyers can typically be found patrolling domestic shipping lanes and undertaking medium-range missions, unsuitable for sublight vessels, that do not require committing a dreadnought. On the whole, the Arenonac is a well-balanced, if slightly dated, combat and patrol craft.
Raligiv-class Starbase
The Azedi starbase is a standardized massive orbital structure present in varying number above every major Confederacy world. These stations are constructed using the same materials as the Azedi dreadnoughts and share certain design principles. Large portions are uniformly geometric, representing the same dreadnought-class nigh-impenetrable hull armor, though a smaller proportion uses a more traditional hull with reinforced viewports, docking bays, external components and so forth. Most notably, the stationâs core on the vertical axis is completely hollow. Large spacedoors allow travel through the entire height of the station, and wormhole generators located in this interior section are capable of providing long-range travel capability to entire fleets of starships, though it is noteworthy that the dreadnoughts themselves are too large to fit through the passage.
Raligiv starbases represent a unique blending of both spectrums of Azedi technology. They are defensive bastions, hardened as well as any dreadnought and armed with multiple hardpoints for firing of wormhole-based weaponry. Unlike their mobile counterparts, however, Azedi starbases also possess their most advanced support systems. A deflector shield array provides the station with a general defense shield as well as localized layered shielding for the unarmored areas. Tachyon-based sensors allow for the detection of most cloaked vessels, allowing even a relatively small network of these stations to provide solid defense against covert entries to a planetâs orbit.
Fleet Composition
Tracking Azedi fleet size and movements has proven to be exceedingly difficult as a result of their instantaneous travel. It is often unclear whether a vessel detected in one location is a newly noted ship or a known one that simply jumped to a new location. Though the Federation has yet to confirm an exact count of active Azedi military assets, most sources agree that the Confederacy fleet is generally much smaller than originally assumed. Through the ongoing Operation Spotlight, Starfleet Intelligence currently believes the Confederacy to be in possession of a maximum of twenty Dreadnoughts, operating typically in pairs. When mobilized, each pair of dreadnoughts forms the backbone of one of ten battlegroups, each consisting of 3-5 support cruisers and 4-6 destroyers. Smaller patrol groups have also been observed operating without dreadnoughts, though it is unclear whether these patrol groups are distinct vessels, or demobilized members of dreadnought battlegroups.
Ground Forces
The Confederate Marines are the primary Azedi ground-based Azedi military force, operating both aboard ships and planetside. Though they are not truly a distinct entity, being a branch of the Viggo-dominated Confederate Navy, the
marines operate with considerable autonomy. In addition to providing offensive and defensive roles against hostile powers, the Confederate Marines also fill domestic roles in the realms of security, customs enforcement, and logistics. A significant proportion of the marines are Kacam in origin, and the branch headquarters are located on that world.
The Confederacyâs ground-based arsenal is not well known, but marines have been seen utilizing both tetryon and plasma-based weaponry for various purposes. Wheeled and hovering vehicles have been observed, as well as marine-operated sublight medium troop transports to supplement transport of troops aboard dreadnoughts.
Religion
The Azedi religion is an extremely important part of their culture and way of life. Worship of a supreme deity, Azed, originates with the Frith. Azed is the name of their homeworld and in their native language is used to represent a number of disparate concepts attributed to purity, goodness, and spirituality. Indeed, these are the traits most commonly associated with their god. The Frith, even after the discovery of space travel and annexation by the Itrin, refused to allow any doubt to be cast upon their faith, instead ascribing aspects of technological ascendancy to aspects of their religion. Some types of technology and paths of research came to be considered holy ventures, while others were declared unholy and deemed off-limits.
In addition to the deft political maneuvering on the part of the theocracy which created the first ties between the protectorates, the Frith tirelessly spread the belief in Azed to the other worlds in the years leading up to the rise of the Confederacy. When the time came to plan and orchestrate their uprising, the Itrin were presented as devils, whose power could only be overcome by those with divine right - by those faithful to Azed. The Confederacyâs seemingly unlikely victory and rise to dominance in the region only served to further the spread of Azed to even the most vocal skeptics.
Despite being practiced by nearly every household in the Confederacy, current information about the actual specific beliefs and practices of the Azedi religion is sparse. Organized religion is commonplace and congregation is essentially mandatory on the Frith homeworld of Azed, though elsewhere in the Confederacy religious practice is typically considered a relatively private and personal affair, with services being held typically by family units and individuals, rather than at the community-level.
Civilian Industry & Commerce
The ability to travel nearly instantaneously from one Confederacy planet to another has had a monumental impact on Azedi industry and commerce. The rapid sharing of resources allows for import and export on a scale not available in other parts of the galaxy. The result is that over time Confederacy planets have become hyperspecialized. Every natural resource can be exploited in-place without concerns about sourcing other necessary resources locally.
Though it varies from planet to planet, the general trend is for a large portion of industry and production to be controlled by the planetary government, particularly on specialized worlds. For example, virtually all food production on Ralin occurs under government contract, while other industries operating in the few non-fertile regions of the world fall under the purview of various independent businesses.
Despite civilian industry and independent trade occupying a relatively small market share, they have flourished under the Confederacyâs unique conditions. While the government provides bare necessities to each planet, there is great demand for commercially available products on the more populous worlds.
Civilian ships are typically sublight vessels that make use of orbital military- or government-operated wormhole stations to traverse the space between Confederacy worlds. Notably, there are a minority of warp capable transports and freighters operated by civilian organizations and traders within Azedi space. These vessels tend to be large and slow by modern warp speed standards, but appear necessary for transporting extremely large, fragile, or goods otherwise unsuitable for wormhole transit.
There is a thriving black market within Azedi space, operating alongside legal commercial trade and transport. Aside from the usual array of contraband, smugglers are known to divert vital resources such as food, medicine, and industrial supplies to areas that are underserved by governmental distributions. Corruption in certain parts of the Confederacy, most notably on Kacam, appears to play a large role in the âneedâ for this type of smuggling. Some of the Confederacyâs disadvantaged and idealists have come to see these ânoble smugglersâ in a positive light, viewing them as heroes fighting excess and providing for the needy.
Foreign Relations
The Azedi do not maintain any known peaceful relations outside the Confederacy. They maintain closed borders and consider any trespass to be a hostile incursion to be met with deadly force. Local minor powers are viewed consistently with disinterest, as non-entities not worth any sort of official contact.
Larger powers, such as the Federation, are at least recognized as legitimate neighbors, though they do not maintain any permanent diplomatic ties or embassies and appear to consider the Federation a rival or external threat. The Confederacy itself does not have a specific foreign affairs branch of government or point of contact, further complicating the possibility of making diplomatic inroads.
The one other notable unique foreign relation is that of the Itrin Hierarchy. The Azedi have gone to great lengths to avoid disturbing, claiming, or entering the Itrin System itself. The Itrin, in turn, are unwilling to discuss the Confederacy with outsiders and unwilling to endorse any travel whatsoever into Azedi space. This mutual non-interaction has led to a small industry of high-risk smuggling being the only consistent movement of goods and people across the Confederacy border.
Anti-Azedi Countermeasures
Project Teleraptor
The Teleraptor Beam is a specially configured phase-conjugate graviton beam, capable of forcibly destabilizing (closing) one terminus of an active or forming wormhole. This beam has been tested successfully against (a) the source/outgoing terminus of an Azedi wormhole, (b) the endpoint/incoming terminus of an Azedi wormhole, and (c) the wormhole core of an Azedi dreadnought-type vessel.
Therefore, as a tactical option, the Teleraptor beam can be used to (a) prevent retreat of a wormhole-driven vessel already in local space, (b) prevent arrival of inbound wormhole-driven vessels, and (c) disable or destroy a vessel using an enclosed wormhole terminus as a power source. Deflector array configuration files have been made available to all Starfleet vessels operating in the area. This is the current first-line defense against Azedi dreadnoughts.
The Teleraptor Pulse is a specially configured directed magneton pulse generated by a M/AM core capable of reopening the local terminus of a closed wormhole, if used while the subspace tensor field remains stable.
In practice, this allows a vessel with a traditional warp drive to âfollowâ a departing wormhole-driven vessel. As the subspace tensor field deteriorates relatively quickly, the window of opportunity for this procedure is limited. Warp Core and Deflector array configuration files have been made available to all Starfleet vessels operating in the area.
Project Slethi
The objective of Project Slethi is to develop a purely defensive measure against the Azedi verteron beam weapon that does not involve directly targeting the dreadnoughtâs wormhole core. A prototype Silithium Chaff Launcher has been developed that, when mounted on a starshipâs hull, is capable of rapidly deploying a cloud of silithium in the path of an incoming verteron attack. This countermeasure has been shown to reduce Azedi weapons effectiveness by 30-50% in simulations.
Unfortunately, Silithium is a rare substance and cannot be replicated, making the chaff launchers relatively cost-prohibitive. As a result, they have not been integrated into starship designs and remain largely untested. They are, however, available in small numbers for field testing or emergency deployment if deemed necessary and given sufficient time for installation.
Project Battlement
Project Battlement is a last-ditch defensive measure, designed to absolutely counter the Azedi ability to open wormholes on and around Deep Space 13 and potentially other stationary targets. Practically, a network of 72 satellites arranged in a spherical formation are used to generate a static defense field, which causes a temporary disruption of local subspace - thereby preventing the formation of stable wormholes within. Unfortunately, the field also disrupts warp fields (catastrophically if a vessel attempts to enter the field while at warp velocity) and subspace communications, severely limiting the practical usefulness of the defense as anything but a measure of last resort. Further development of Project Battlement was halted, but the prototype network remains in storage aboard DS13 and may be deployed at the discretion of starbase command in the event of an emergency.
Integrated Countermeasures
The Kaczmarek Formula is a computational model to trace wormhole remote terminal point. This has been implemented as part of the standard Starbase/Starship sensor package.
Project Udox was implemented to combat the Azediâs comms-transmitted malware that had been used to download intelligence and disable starship computer systems. This upgrade has been fully integrated into LCARS and other operating systems, and procedures and training are in place to detect, identify, and purge matching code embedded in comm transmissions. Examination of Azedi computer technology indicates a high degree of confidence that current antimalware efforts will remain effective.
Operation Spotlight
Operation Spotlight is a long-term covert objective of the Talos Junction outpost in conjunction with Starfleet Intelligence assets. Though the operational details are classified, the general goal is widely known - to âpaintâ Azedi dreadnoughts in such a way as to allow them to be tracked at long range, for the purpose of monitoring fleet movements and determining fleet composition.
The IDKA Stability Initiative
This Starfleet initiative has been designed to ensure the stability of the Itrin, Doza, Kelterre, and Alpha 7190 Sectors. Following the collapse of the former Confederacy, the state of these sectors has been in a state of flux, resulting in huge humanitarian issues and power vacuums. The initiative relies on upholding the sovereignty of the species that were part of the former Confederacy, improving diplomatic relations with the new Confederacy, and supplying humanitarian aid to populations ravaged by war.
Additional details are available: The IDKA Stability Initiative