Caldari
Home planet: New Caldari Prime in the New Caldari system. This is not the ancestral home of the Caldari; that honour belongs to Caldari Prime, which is controlled by the Gallente Federation.
Contents
History
A state built on corporate capitalism, the Caldari State is run by a few mega-corporations which divide the state between them, controlling every aspect of society. Each corporation is made up of thousands of smaller companies, ranging from industrial companies to law firms. All land and real estate is owned by a company which leases it out to the citizens, and government and policing are also handled by independent companies. Although this gives the corporations dictatorial powers, they are just as bound by Caldari customs and laws as the individual, and the fierce, continual competition between the corporations ensures a healthy, consumer-based social environment, which benefits everyone.
The Caldari State thrives on capitalism in every shape and form. It is based around several mega-corporations that own and rule most of the State. Every Caldari citizen is bound to the state-wheel from birth, by a complex web spun of duty and custom. While this sort of hyper-capitalistic society does not (yet?) exist in our own world, the closest comparisons would be some of the smaller Asian nations such as Singapore.
While the Caldari State may not be nearly as big as that of the Gallenteans (let alone the Amarrians), they are still universally feared and admired. Their economy is strong, and their military might easily parallels that of the larger empires. Given that they are more unscrupulous than the Gallenteans and more combative than the Amarrians, they are in many ways the most difficult of all the empires to deal with.
The Caldari are warlike and belligerent, a legacy of their hard-won independence from the Gallente Federation. For them, every societal dealing is a war, to be fought tooth and nail. Education and economical activity is greatly affected by this, encouraging competition and strife. While family values are strong, most Caldari identify first and foremost with belonging to the State as a whole, with being one of the cogs in a State machine that collectively makes them the strongest nation in the universe. Being the least numerous of the major empires goes a long way towards explaining their emphasis on working as a united front for the greater good of the nation.
Caldari society is steeped in military tradition. As a people, its members had to fight a long and bloody war to gain their independence, and even had to surrender their home planet to their hated enemies, the Gallenteans. It was at this time that the corporations established themselves as the driving force behind creating and maintaining the new Caldari State. Even if they have not engaged in war for many decades, they still strive to be at the cutting edge of military technology.
To curb their aggressive tendencies, the Caldari actively pursue and sponsor a range of sporting activities. Many of these are bloody gladiatorial competitions, while others are more like races. Whatever the sport, the Caldari love betting on the outcome; gambling is a massive industry in the State. The Caldari are generally wary of foreigners, fearing alien influences might spoil their beloved social stability. They are thus regarded as rather xenophobic by the other empires. Their economic and technological achievements, however, also make them the envy of others.
Yet this collective identity is the State's greatest strength, allowing it to focus totally on the problems at hand, solving them efficiently and quickly. Much stock is put in technological innovations to gain edge over other empires, making the State the most hi-tech of all the empires save for the enigmatic Jovians. Their pragmatic approach, while often seeming vaguely inhuman to outsiders, has time and again proven its worth to the Caldari. While the individual is generally viewed only in light of the community’s needs, every Caldari aims to achieve personal perfection, to be the best cog he can possibly be. Advancing up the rigid social ladder can only be accomplished by outperforming those around you. Thus, within the State, ambitions can be fulfilled only through physical and mental perfection, not through connections or wealth alone.
The Caldari State offers its citizens both the best and the worst in living conditions. As long as you keep in line, do your job, uphold the laws and so forth, life can be fairly pleasant and productive. For those not cut out for this strict, disciplined regime, however, life quickly becomes intolerable. They lose their respect, family and status, and the only options left to them are suicide or exile
Bloodlines
Deteis:
Deteis symbolize Caldari in every way; they're efficient, hard-working and dutiful. Deteis can commonly be found in positions of authority, both within administration and military spheres, things that suit their temperament very well. Their firm belief that the good of the whole must come before the needs of the individual has greatly influenced the shaping of the Caldari State since its foundation. From an individual's standpoint this may sound cold and inhumane, but the Deteis put great stock in the welfare of the family and the community as a whole.
Civire:
Civire represent the Caldari State’s backbone. Their diligent and unselfish efforts have built it from the ground up. The Civire are cool, level-headed and relentless in their approach to either trading or fighting. They believe actions speak louder than words, and are never happier than when embroiled in the midst of frenetic activity. They can handle pressure extremely well, which is an invaluable aid in combat and other stressful situations. Many of the best bounty hunters around are Civire.
Achura:
Achura has been part of the Caldari State for a couple of centuries; they joined and left the Federation at the same time as the State. Through this time, the Achur have always remained something of a mystery. Hailing from the inhospitable Saisio system in The Forge, the Achur are as reclusive and introvert as a people can be while still maintaining participation in galactic affairs. Intensely spiritual, the average Achur has little interest in the material world. Achur pilots have been few and far between in the past, but a recent massive industrial accident on their home world, an accident which left large swathes of the planet dangerously polluted and inhospitable to life, has prompted them to take to the skies in greater numbers.
Notable Individuals
State of the Caldari State, 110.06.11
The State is riding high on a wave of jubilation today: It has finally proved its undeniable superiority over the Gallente Federation, and the ancient homeland of Caldari Prime is once again sovereign Caldari territory.
Citizens
Despite the declared holiday, the majority of State workers are already back at work and toiling harder than ever. Heth's exemplary leadership has given new meaning to their individual contributions, and they're eager to ensure that the State does not fail to capitalize upon its recent successes through lack of effort on the part of its people. Productivity is up, morale is up, and there's a new feeling of camaraderie between workers of all stripes. Where before they were working simply to keep their jobs (and to line the pockets of executives), today they are working for the glory of the State.
Most don't expect to understand the political maneuvering they know must occur at the highest levels of the State; while some murmur about the exact mode of Heth's rise to power, the fact that he now appears to be a true Caldari leader is enough for the vast majority of workers. When it comes to the Gallente, they're enthused by the State's demonstration that it truly is militarily, politically, and economically superior to the Federal model, and now that they've claimed their rightful place as the dominant power in this part of the cluster, they're keen to use the opportunity to correct other perceived inequities.
Military
The State militaries (i.e., both the Navy and the paramilitary bodies of the various megacorps) still have a lot of work to do in the wake of yesterday's surgical strike, but on the whole they're comfortable with the situation. Opinion is divided, though, over the merits of pre-emptive strikes in general and of this operation in particular: Some feel that the primary goal should be simply to ensure the defense of the State and that taking major risks to secure non-military targets is foolish; others counter that a demonstration of superiority is often the strongest deterrent, and that the consequences of retaking [Caldari Prime] thus make it a worthy target.
These concerns aside, there's very little dissent over the execution and outcome of the invasion. Even those arguing that it was an ill-advised plan admit to feeling a renewed sense of worth and purpose, and they certainly wouldn't go so far as to criticize the civil administration for doing what it did, at least publically. The State military defines itself by its professionalism, and every man and woman, from the lowest recruit to the highest-ranking admiral, knows that it is not the military's place to second-guess its political leadership. Thus, their opinion regarding Heth is often that it's not their place to have an opinion―at least, not while they're in uniform.
Leadership
Where the rest of the State is uncharacteristically united and calm, the upper levels of the megacorps are still divided and disoriented. Heth's combination of popular support and seemingly limitless financial backing has made him almost unassailable, but his victories have come at the expense of many of the most powerful individuals and cartels in the State. His recent reforms have fragmented the field of play, sending everyone else scrambling to secure political territory. While there are a few executives who wholeheartedly support Heth and his ideals, the majority see him as a threat and a menace to be controlled or removed as soon as the opportunity presents itself. While ideological positions still place many of the big players at odds with one another, shady alliances that would have been inconceivable a year ago are coming into being.
Players at this level, while they may be ideologically motivated, do not survive without the ability to be extremely pragmatic and realistic when required; they know they can't make a move right now, but they know they need to be absolutely ready when an opportunity presents itself. If military conflict provides that opportunity, they're all for it, but right now all it seems to be achieving is to strengthen Heth's position.
Political Groups
For the most part, what passes for political affiliation in the State is achieved at the corporate scale, with the majority of employees being indoctrinated into their corporation's prevailing philosophy. There are exceptions, particularly where employees have transferred between corporations, but these are few and far between. Although each individual corp is also a unique study in and of itself, containing within it many different positions and dogmas, the political mindsets of the Caldari can still roughly be grouped into three main factions.
Practicals
The Sukuuvestaa, CBD, and Nugoeihuvi Corporations between them make up the Practical faction, which cares little for limiting concepts like ethics. Generally the most pro-Heth of the three political groups, the Practicals appreciate the new opportunities he's delivered, and while being forced to cede political control to his Providence Directorate is not a slight that they will easily forgive or forget, they're generally prepared to play along with him for as long as his actions remain productive. They're fully aware, though, that this state of affairs won't last forever, and they're quietly assembling plans to ensure that when he is brought down, the Practicals won't find themselves hamstrung by the other corporations. If in the end they have to topple Heth themselves, then that's what they'll do. In the meantime, they're content to beat the war-drums and use the fighting as a cover for their other activities.
Liberals
Comprised of the Hyasoda and Ishukone Corporations, the Liberals find themselves in a severely weakened position following the death of Otro Gariushi and the undermining of CONCORD authority by the Minmatar Elders. Espousing fair treatment for all, both within the State and without, they're somewhat ambivalent about recent events; though disquieted by the sneak attack against the Gallente and the atrocities that surround it, they recognize that it would be unwise to criticize Heth's actions publicly—and though they prefer not to admit it, they too have been invigorated by the State's recent military victories.
Overall, then, the Liberals are ambivalent when it comes to the Heth question. While they disapprove of his methods, many of his stated ideals resonate strongly with the faction. They're waiting to see what happens before deciding which side to come down on, but regardless, they are prepared to take decisive action to prevent their own goals from being subverted.
Patriots
Generally regarded as the most powerful faction, the Patriots are an alliance of Lai Dai, Wiyrkomi, and the mighty Kaalakiota, who between them and their subsidiaries possess capabilities rivaling those of the other two Caldari political factions combined. They are genuinely patriotic and extremely proud.
However, that rather jingoistic pride has been mortally injured by Heth's politically vicious rise. As a result, they generally refuse to admit, even to each other, that many of the things Heth has done are exactly what they themselves have wanted to do all along. While the wounds are still too fresh for them to feel anything but hatred for him, they realize that to defy him openly would harm the State (and their dominant position within it) immeasurably, so for now they play along with him and pretend (as much to themselves as to anyone else) that they're not immensely enjoying giving the Gallente a black eye.
Disassociated
Standing outside the traditional power structures are two distinct groups of Caldari who together make up the "disassociated." The first group is composed of those who've fallen off the bottom rung of the megacorp ladder. While they retain their citizenship, in practice these few people simply fall through the cracks between the megacorps and have essentially disappeared from the system, usually permanently. The second group includes those who've found themselves moving between two or three different corporations—usually upper-middle management transferred between corporations in a giant game of pass-the-personnel—and who have in the process realized quite how thoroughly indoctrinated the average employee is.
Those from the first group tend to take part on some level in the criminal underworld, while those from the second often end up doing very well in non-standard careers or in unlikely places within the corporate structure, united solely by their lack of adherence to any franchised corporate ideology. Their opinions as a result are incredibly diverse, and as long as this discreteness remains the case (and their membership stays as small as it traditionally is), they'll continue to exert little significant pressure on State affairs.