The Seven Founders

The Seven Founding Sponsors, colloquially known as the “Big Seven,” are the first Seven planetary systems successfully colonized and developed during the initial centuries of the Great Expeditions. These worlds represent the most stable, populous, and technologically advanced pillars of the Unity Accord.

Having overcome the immense challenges of terraforming and establishing self-sufficient civilizations, the Big Seven now form the de facto leadership council of the Accord. Their combined economic output, scientific knowledge, and military strength guide the continued expansion and security of humanity within the Orion Spur. Each sponsor world has developed a unique cultural and industrial specialization, creating a deeply interconnected and interdependent coalition.

Below is a list of the seven founding worlds, each a vital and unique contributor to the Unity Accord. Click on a name to learn more about its unique history, culture, and notable contributions.

• Verilia
• Amari 
• Yrene
• Bonir
• Photheus
• Zybiria
• Aurelia

Verilia, orbiting the G-type star Veri Prime, is the first and most prestigious of the Seven Founding Sponsors. Often referred to as the “Heart of the Accord,” it serves as the central administrative, diplomatic, and military command hub for the entire Unity Accord. Its successful terraforming, completed approximately 500-600 years post-Exodus, stands as a testament to the Grand Design and a symbol of humanity’s potential to create harmony between technology and nature.

Environment and Society

Verilia is renowned for its breathtakingly beautiful and diverse ecosystems, ranging from lush temperate rainforests to serene alpine lakes. The planet’s ethos is one of environmental integration; its cities, like the capital of Harmony’s Haven, are masterpieces of ecological architecture, with structures designed to blend seamlessly into the natural landscape.

Verilian society is a true melting pot, the most diverse and integrated of all the sponsor worlds. It is a culture that values balance, community, and public service above all else. Its citizens are often found in roles of leadership, administration, medicine, and diplomacy across the Accord.

Specialization and Contribution

As the political and structural core of the UA, Verilia’s contributions are foundational:

• Governance: Verilia is home to the Unity Accord Central Command, where the highest-level strategic decisions are made.
• Diplomacy: It is the primary center for interplanetary relations and conflict resolution.
• Medical Science: The Regenesis institutes on Verilia are the galaxy’s foremost centers for advanced prosthetics, genetic therapy, and trauma care.
• Fleet Command: While not a primary shipbuilder like Yrene, Verilia’s Bastion command center is the strategic heart of the Accord Fleet.

Representation on StarShade Station

The Verilian sponsorship on the StarShade is the most extensive, hosting seven distinct biodomes that reflect its balanced societal structure, including The Hub (governance), Regenesis (medical research), and The Bastion (military operations).

Amari, a dazzling world orbiting the yellow dwarf star Aurelian, is the cultural and commercial jewel of the Seven Founding Sponsors. Renowned for its stunning beauty—from the golden sands of its deserts to the gleaming spires of its continent-spanning cities—Amari has cultivated an identity as the premier destination for luxury, art, and high-end commerce within the Unity Accord. The Amantites, their native populace, are characterized by their sun-kissed orange skin and ashen eyes, reflecting a lineage deeply intertwined with their world’s unique environment.

Environment and Society

Amari’s primary geography is one of vast, warm deserts whose sands possess a unique crystalline structure. This natural resource has become the cornerstone of their specialized industry. Amari society values aesthetics, history, and economic acumen. They are the artisans, financiers, and tastemakers of the Accord, with a culture that celebrates both ancient heritage and modern luxury. Their sprawling cities are centers of art, fashion, and entertainment, drawing tourists and dignitaries from across the Orion Spur.

Specialization and Contribution

Amari’s economy is a powerful blend of high-end tourism and specialized, irreplaceable industry.

• Safety Glass Production: The unique latticed sand of Amari is the only known source for the raw materials required to produce the transparent, radiation-resistant viewport and canopy materials used in all high-grade Accord starships. This gives Amari a vital and unshakable monopoly on a critical military and civilian resource.
• Tourism and Commerce: Amari is the luxury destination of the Accord, home to the finest hotels, restaurants, and cultural institutions.
• Finance: The planet serves as a major financial hub, with its banks managing vast amounts of interplanetary trade and investment.

Yrene, a rugged world orbiting the red giant Yrenius, is the industrial forgemaster of the Unity Accord. A planet of immense geological wealth, Yrene is defined by its towering mountain ranges, deep canyons, and vast mineral deposits. While less focused on creature comforts than other worlds, Yrene is the powerhouse that provides the raw materials and heavy industry essential for the Accord’s military strength and continued expansion.

Environment and Society

Life on Yrene is shaped by its harsh, dramatic landscapes. The society is pragmatic, hardworking, and resilient. Its people are miners, engineers, metallurgists, and weaponsmiths who take immense pride in their ability to tame a rugged world and harness its power. The capital, Terra Prime, is less a center of culture and more a hub of geological research and advanced industrial innovation.

Specialization and Contribution

Yrene is the indispensable military-industrial complex of the Accord.

• Resource Extraction: It is the Accord’s primary source of rare earth metals, heavy elements, and strategic minerals required for starship construction, armor plating, and advanced electronics.
• Weapons Development: Yrene’s Forge facilities are the leading research and development centers for Accord military technology, from ship-scale weaponry to ground infantry equipment.
• Terraforming Science: Its scientists are experts in large-scale geological and atmospheric manipulation, developing the foundational technologies that worlds like Bonir then refine.

Bonir, a starkly beautiful desert world orbiting a brown dwarf star, is the primary academic and scientific research center of the Seven Founding Sponsors. Established as the Accord’s “university planet,” Bonir’s entire society is dedicated to the relentless pursuit of knowledge and the practical application of science to solve the great challenges of interstellar life. Its inhabitants, often products of subtle genetic adaptation for arid environments, are renowned for their intellect and discipline.

Environment and Society

Bonir is a world of vast deserts and hidden, life-giving underground oases. Its capital, also named The Oasis, is a marvel of sustainable desert architecture and water conservation. Boniran society is highly intellectual, methodical, and patient. They are the scientists, researchers, and long-term thinkers of the Accord, comfortable with projects that may take generations to bear fruit.

Specialization and Contribution

Bonir provides the intellectual and energy infrastructure for the Accord.

• Terraforming Mastery: While Yrene develops the raw technology, Bonir refines it. It is the premier training ground for the scientists who will lead future terraforming projects.
• Energy Research: The Helios institutes on Bonir are leaders in advanced solar and fusion power technologies, essential for powering the Accord’s growing civilization.
• Xeno-archaeology: With a focus on the past as well as the future, Bonir’s Reliquary leads all efforts in the study of alien ruins and artifacts.

Photheus, a planet of vast, globe-spanning oceans under the light of the binary star Proton, is the great biological sanctuary and aquatic frontier of the Unity Accord. With its landmass consisting of only scattered archipelagos, civilization on Photheus exists primarily in magnificent underwater cities and floating research platforms. It is a world of serene beauty, deep mystery, and vital life-sustaining science.

Environment and Society

Life on Photheus is defined by the ocean. Its society is graceful, patient, and deeply connected to the intricate marine ecosystems that surround them. The capital, Aqua Nexus, is a network of transparent domes and tunnels built amidst vibrant coral reefs, offering a constant, breathtaking view of aquatic life. Phothean people are the biologists, oceanographers, and climate scientists of the Accord.

Specialization and Contribution

Photheus is the primary source of biological science and sustainable food production for the Accord.

• Aquaculture and Hydroponics: The Greenhouse facilities on Photheus are the most advanced in the Accord, perfecting the techniques for sustainable, high-yield food production in closed systems. They supply a significant portion of the specialized foodstuffs for the fleet and other stations.
• Marine Biology and Biochemistry: These experts study the complex aquatic life, leading to numerous medical and industrial breakthroughs derived from marine organisms.
• Climate Science: The Maelstrom institutes are the Accord’s leading centers for oceanography and the study of planetary climate systems, crucial for long-term terraforming success.

Zybiria, a populous world orbiting the intense light of the blue giant Zibyrus, is the strategic and analytical powerhouse of the Seven Founding Sponsors. Positioned as a critical nexus between the territories of Yrene and Trelleska, Zybiria’s primary contribution to the Unity Accord is not in raw materials or culture, but in information, analysis, and the study of the unknown. Its society is highly disciplined, data-driven, and tasked with understanding the most significant threats and opportunities on the frontier.

Environment and Society

Life on Zybiria is shaped by its star. The immense radiation from the blue giant Zibyrus has necessitated the development of a powerful, artificially-enhanced planetary atmosphere and advanced shielding technologies in its cities. This constant, managed struggle against a hostile environment has produced a culture that is pragmatic, resilient, and deeply reliant on science and data. The capital, Aurora, is a city of gleaming towers and covered sky-bridges, designed to be both beautiful and functional, constantly bathed in the mesmerizing light of the planet’s powerful auroras.

Zybirian citizens are often found in roles requiring high-level analysis: intelligence officers, xeno-scientists, strategic planners, and AI coordinators.

Specialization and Contribution

Zybiria is the intelligence and advanced science arm of the Unity Accord, focused on understanding external forces.

• Strategic Analysis: Zybiria is home to the Accord’s primary intelligence-gathering and analysis centers. They process tactical data from the fleet, economic data from the CLC, and cultural data from across the spur to provide the Accord leadership with comprehensive strategic forecasts.

• Xeno-Science Hub (The Esiri Initiative): Zybiria’s most significant contribution is its leadership of the Esiri Initiative. They operate four massive, dedicated biodomes on the StarShade Station, each tasked with studying a different aspect of the anomalous world of Esiri. This makes them the Accord’s foremost experts on the Conquest Pact, Esiri’s unique biology, and the mysterious artifacts found there.

• Atmospheric and Shielding Technology: Born from the necessity of surviving their own star, Zybirian engineers are the leading experts in planetary-scale atmospheric containment and radiation shielding, a technology they export to other developing colonies.

Representation on StarShade Station

The Zybirian presence on the StarShade is a highly focused, scientific endeavor. Their four biodomes—The Menagerie (xenozoology), The Arbor (xenobotany), The Terrarium (ecosystem simulation), and The Anthropos (xeno-anthropology)—function as a self-contained, high-security research campus dedicated to unraveling the secrets of Esiri and the Conquest Pact.

Aurelia, orbiting the yellow dwarf star Aurelian, is the newest planetary system to be integrated into the Unity Accord. Currently classified as a Developing Protectorate, Aurelia is a massive, long-term terraforming project that represents the future of Accord expansion. Its strategic position between the independent world of Trelleska and the StarShade Station makes it the single most important logistical linchpin for all traffic entering or exiting the hazardous Crimson Veil Nebula.

Environment and Current Status

After a century of development, Aurelia remains a world in genesis. Its surface is currently uninhabitable by unprotected human life, with a thin, non-breathable atmosphere and unstable geology. The planet is encased in a network of massive orbital platforms known as the Aurelian Halo.
This ring of interconnected stations serves as the command center for the terraforming initiative. From the Halo, thousands of scientists and engineers from worlds like Bonir and Yrene meticulously manage atmospheric processors, climate regulators, and geological stabilizers. The project’s goal is to transform Aurelia into a balanced, Earth-like world over the next two centuries, making it a testament to the Accord’s mastery of planetary engineering.

Strategic Importance: The Safe Harbor

Aurelia’s primary function in the present era is to serve as a critical waypoint and “safe harbor” on the perilous 37-light-year trade route between Trelleska and the StarShade.
The Crimson Veil Nebula is rife with unpredictable radiation hazards and Conquest Pact pirate activity, making a single, long-range jump through its territory exceptionally risky. Aurelia’s location allows haulers and fleet vessels to perform two shorter, more secure jumps:
A jump from the relative safety of Trelleska to the Accord-controlled space of Aurelia.
A second, shorter jump from Aurelia’s fortified position to the StarShade Station at the nebula’s edge.
This logistical “rest stop” drastically reduces travel risk, bypasses known pirate ambush zones, and ensures the stable flow of resources and personnel. The Aurelian Halo provides docking, refueling, and minor repair services, making it an indispensable part of the interstellar supply chain.

Future Prospects

Aurelia is the living embodiment of the Accord’s long-term vision. Once terraforming is complete, it is projected to become a major population center and commercial hub, fully integrating Trelleska into the Accord’s economic sphere and securing a permanent, stable gateway to the resource-rich sectors beyond the Crimson Veil. It is a symbol of the Unity Accord’s unwavering commitment to progress, order, and the creation of new homes among the stars.

Trelleska, orbiting a stable white dwarf star, is the most culturally unique and politically volatile of the Seven Founding Sponsors. A world of immense natural resources and ancient heritage, Trelleska was founded under the charter of the rival Consortium of Progress before recently gaining its independence after four centuries. Now, it stands at a crossroads, grappling with a complex succession crisis between its powerful noble houses.

Environment and Society

Trelleska is a verdant, resource-rich world that required minimal terraforming, boasting vast oceans and a stable climate. Its society is a dynamic and often tense mixture of ancient tradition and modern ambition. The Trelleskian people are passionate, proud, and deeply connected to the myths and legends of their world’s history. Its vibrant cities are filled with museums and universities, but its political landscape is a dangerous game of intrigue, legacy, and power.

Specialization and Contribution

Trelleska’s primary contribution to the Accord is currently more potential than actual, making it a key strategic prize.

• Cultural Jewel: It possesses a rich, independent artistic and historical heritage that is unique within the Accord.
• Strategic Location: Its position near the HelianFlare Station and its proximity to both UA and former Consortium space make it a vital strategic pivot point.
• Resource Independence: Its natural wealth makes it a powerful potential ally for any faction that can win its loyalty. The ongoing negotiations by Yrene’s diplomats are a testament to Trelleska’s immense strategic value. The outcome of its succession crisis could shift the balance of power in the entire sector.

Every one of the “Big Seven” sponsor worlds is, at its core, completely self-sufficient. This is a non-negotiable requirement born from the hard-learned lessons of the Exodus and the ever-present theoretical threat of “The Great Severance” (the eventual decay of the FTL navigational network). Each core world has:

• Independent Food Production: Robust hydroponics, aquaculture, and/or agriculture capable of feeding its entire population.
• Complete Life Support: Water recycling, atmospheric processing, and power generation to maintain its biosphere indefinitely.
• Local Governance and Defense: Its own security forces for internal policing and a planetary defense grid for basic protection.
• Basic Industrial Capacity: The ability to manufacture essential replacement parts, tools, and construction materials.

They can survive alone. If the rest of the galaxy vanished tomorrow, Verilia would not starve, and Yrene would not suffocate. This foundational independence is what makes them powerful, sovereign entities in their own right. 

So, if they can all survive on their own, why collaborate? Because survival is the minimum requirement. Thriving is the goal. They choose to work together because of the immense benefits of specialization, a principle that echoes advanced economic theory: 

• Unparalleled Efficiency: It would be wildly inefficient for Verilia to also try to replicate Yrene’s massive mining and forging infrastructure. Their resources (both natural and human) are better spent perfecting what they do best: governance and science.
• Unmatched Quality: Any world can train administrators, but Verilia, by dedicating its entire educational and cultural focus to it, produces the galaxy’s best administrators. Any world can make glass, but only Amari, with its unique resources and generations of artisanal focus, can produce the flawless, radiation-proof viewport material needed for capital ships.
• Innovation and Advancement: This system allows for deep, focused R&D. Bonir can dedicate its brightest minds to theoretical physics because it doesn’t need to split its focus on military strategy, which is handled by Verilian and Yrene command schools. 

The Unity Accord isn’t a collection of dependent states; it’s a coalition of sovereign superpowers who have willingly entered into a mutually beneficial trade alliance.

• Verilia trades its unparalleled administrative expertise, diplomatic corps, and advanced medical technology for Yrene’s refined metals and military hardware. 
• Yrene trades that hardware for Photheus’s high-yield food supplements and Amari’s essential viewport components.
• Amari trades those components for Bonir’s energy technology and the security provided by the Accord Fleet.

This creates a dynamic and fragile political landscape. A trade dispute isn’t just an inconvenience; it can cripple an entire industry across the galaxy. A diplomatic snub from Verilia could have real consequences for Yrene’s fleet funding. This interdependence is the source of both the Accord’s greatest strength and its most exploitable weakness, providing fertile ground for the political and logistical conflicts your story will thrive on.