Government: Syndicracy. The Brakiri government consists of a Council of 500 corporate appointees known as the Krona. These appointees represent all the different aspects of the economy. Beyond a minimum corporate value, there is no bar to any economic entity having representation on the Krona. The major powers on the Krona and those who set the agenda are the representatives from the Smugglers Guild and Maximum Clash, a computer software and hardware manufacturer. There are no elections of any sort and a member of the Krona is replaced only when they damage their sponsoring corporation. The major concern of the Krona is to see that business gets done and the planet prospers.
Religions: Many. The most popular is Derchalia. Its adherents worship Derchal, a character with divine characteristics out of legend. It is in the form of a mystery cult religion; with believers progressing through the initiations and rituals over the course of their life. There are also several pantheistic, technological and animistic religions. Religion tends to be a tool of government on Brakos.
Social Structure: Brakiri civilization has been around for about 2,000 years and the major direction of this civilization comes from its form of government.
When the Krona took power over Brakos they engineered a system designed to maximize corporate profit and make the planet a business center for the whole galaxy. The system worked partially. Brakos did prosper but the only ones to benefit from it were the Krona and those at the higher echelons of the business world. In time, the corporate structure became so rigid that upward mobility became a virtual impossibility. This left a huge middle and lower class frustrated and in despair. This in turn created a criminal class, organized into Chadis, or brotherhoods. A member of a Chadi stands out because of facial tattooing; the complexity and symbology indicating rank and status. Crime lords rule the world below the corporate level. Violence and corruption lurk in every corner, the dark handmaidens to success. Many Brakiri leave to escape the constant struggle.
Otherwise, Brakiri social structure is very similar to that of Earth about 300 years ago and the similarities are more than coincidental. When the Brakiri first began to explore the possibility of life on other worlds, they managed to catch television and radio signals from Earth. The images they received became a subject of fascination for the Brakiri and whole styles grew up around them. Later when the Brakiri went into space they sought contact with Earth, considering humans cousins to their race.
The main goal of a Brakiri, male or female is to rise to the top in business, whatever business it is. The drive for success colors every facet of life on Brakos. Marriages are made with an eye toward business status, profit is the measure of self-worth and ruthlessness is taken for granted.
Culturally Brakos was a male-dominated society but when the Krona took over, women were given more opportunity to rise to prominent positions and sexism is waning. Brakiri prize success, money, happiness and comfort. They tend to be laconic, often to the point of what appears to the other races as sheer rudeness. They get along quite well with Humans and Centauri, less so with other species.
Technology: Brakiri technology is low, they have had interstellar flight for about 150 years. They are adept at communications, transport, security and audio-visual technology.
Military: The Brakiri often talk tough but their military power is negligible. Their ships are inferior to Earth Alliance ships as is their weaponry. Their ground troops are somewhat better than EarthΓÇÖs but much fewer in number. The Krona sees war as a business move and as yet has not played that particular card.
Colonies. The Brakiri have only one colony, Kara, the second planet in their solar system. It was opened for exploitation only 83 years ago and only a few corporations and organizations have taken advantage of the opportunity to increase their fortunes. Those that have are engaged in fierce warfare for primacy.
