Lore
The Basics
The Regency: For over a millennia the Empress Astralin ruled much of the known galaxy. It was only when a desperate band of rebels managed to destroy her flagship the Relentless did her tyrannical rule come to an end. When Ha'wan Corrall, a former advisor to the Empress, rose to the seat of Regent no one thought it would last long. Instead, they not only managed to broker a peace treaty between the Core Sphere, but also managed to persuade dozens of slave worlds to come into the fold as full citizens. Centuries have passed since then and the Regent is now an elected position, while the Regency tries their best to maintain stability and peace between all worlds.
The current Regent is the first Dratarch to assume the position in over thirty cycles. His species, while morose or emotionless by most standards, are also some of the very best scholars in the galaxy and their ability to retain information is legendary. Cajalk is no exception to this rule and he's proven able at resolving multiple problems at once. All that said, he views Starlancers as too chaotic and destructive when it comes to maintaining peace. To that end he's procured the services of the Redhawk mercenary company when words fail and violence is needed.
What is a Starlancer?: In short, they're the go to adventurers of the galaxy. Multiple problems arose through the establishment of the Regency as conflicts that had been suppressed through imperial rule started to flare up. Though each government had their own sovereignty, they needed a way to interact with one another without setting off intergalactic war. So a two new professions were designed, Keepers and Starlancers. Keepers act as negotiators, lawyers, diplomats, and scholars that work towards maintaining peace between various planets and systems. Starlancers were meant to step in when Keepers fail, acting as mercenaries, scavengers, bounty hunters, and even assassins if necessary.
A Starlancer's primary protection comes in the form of diplomatic immunity. Essentially as agents of the Regency they're only beholden to the laws of the Regency and are able to enforce those laws regardless of the situation. They're also only truly answerable to Keepers and those higher up in the Regency. All that said they're required to succeed in a number of missions per cycle and those that abuse their authority are swiftly dealt with, normally by other Starlancers. Truth be told, one of the biggest reasons they're even still around is simply because Starlancers have saved the entire galaxy at least twice.
Starlancer Academy: Becoming a Starlancer is no simple feat. They're meant to not only represent the Regency, but also fix any conceivable problem under the sun of your choosing. Normally this means threats, violence, and explosions, but could also entail trying to convince a Platon High Praetor to part with a legendary treasure or quickly find a new home for a doomed settlement. So expect to take a huge variety of offered lessons and on the job training. You might be sent to fight an infestation of lifeless, catch a renowned thief, or even help transport a dignitary.
The school has been led by Dean Monsar for over a hundred years. Alongside a variety of other teachers, mostly retired Starlancers, students are expected to attend whatever classes they choose and have full control over their own time. In a job where heroics are just part of the average workday, there's only so much study and training can really prepare you for.
