Zemina Torval - A Misunderstood Power
Who is Zemina Torval, really?
The propagandists of the Federation would have you believe that Zemina Torval is the evilest witch of the evil Empire; the sort who bakes children in pies and walks on a ramp of slaves to avoid having to wear shoes. Even Aisling Duval, as noble as her intentions are, doesn't fully grasp the importance of the tried and tested traditions of Imperial Slavery that Torval so consistently champions, and labels her nothing more than a dirty slaver.
The truth, as with all things, is more nuanced. But to properly understand Torval, first you must understand the Empire.
The Empire does not operate on the same principles as the Alliance or the Federation. Both of them might more accurately be described as Corporatocracies than Democracies. In the Federation, it's well documented that, despite the fact automation is used in the majority of factories, producing more than enough wealth to provide food and shelter for all, the average citizen is far more likely to be a wage slave in the service of one of the corpos, completely reliant on them for everything, from food, to shelter, to healthcare. And, lacking a strong form of centralized welfare, millions die in the streets every year.
The Alliance is more variable by nature, but little better overall. While it has enclaves of wealthy and protected Old Worlds, it also imposes little in the way of limits on its member states, so long as they pay their dues. As such, they are able to offload much of their undesirable work to these second-class systems, where slavery and other massive human rights abuses run amok; even moreso than in the Federation, in some places.
Meanwhile, what of the Empire? If you really want an impartial review of the Empire, ask a third party. It's often said in the Alliance that, while the Imps are doubtless arrogant, with them, what you see is exactly what you get. Meanwhile, the Feds are far more likely to act nice - but also far more likely to try to rip you off.
And that's because of what lies at the core of Imperial tradition.
Honor.
In the Empire, there are far less hard regulations and rules, compared to what you might find in the Federation or in the more civilized parts of the Alliance. Despite this, the Empire remains remarkably lean on corruption and inefficiency.
Why?
Because of their Honor system. In the Empire, it's not a matter of following the letter of the law, but being allowed to skirt its spirit. Instead, if you're seen as attempting to thwart the law, that's considered dishonorable, a far greater blow than any fine or other legal punishment. To an Imperial, it's literally better to be a slave than to face dishonor.
And that's where the ancient tradition of Imperial Slavery stems from. Or, to be more accurate, Imperial Indentured Servitude.
Yes, that's right. What most people don't realize is that Imperial Slaves are not a life-long contract. When an Imperial Citizen falls into debt, rather than face the dishonor that accompanies it, they willingly sell themselves into a slavery contract. They will work whatever jobs their owner dictates until they pay back their debt, and then be free and unattached citizens again, ready to rejoin society.
And more than that, their contract contains a number of honor-based protections which make their lives not just bearable, but better than many full citizens of other Superpowers! They are granted a Stipend, which can be spent on personal luxuries or used to pay off their debt more rapidly, and on completing their contract they are given career training and temporary financial assistance to help them get back on their feet!
What is Imperial Slavery, really? It's a honor-based social safety net, maximizing economic growth and personal protection. There are no homeless in the Empire. Nobody starves, like in the Alliance and the Federation.
Are there flaws? Absolutely. This system is still one made by people, and any system made by people will have some slip through the cracks, and the Marlinists are a compelling example that no system can be perfect. But on the whole, it has consistently stood the test of time. The Marlinists were small enough and unpopular enough they ultimately decided it was better to leave the Empire entirely, rather than attempt to change it from within. And that should tell you something about the nature of this system. Many who have been Imperial Slaves have continued to support the system, even when they could freely leave after buying out their contracts.
Zemina Torval
Who is, she, really?
To put it shortly, she's a true believer in the Imperial System.
It is essential to the stability of any state that its members know their place, and that all roles are understood to be equally worthy. To condemn a slave for being merely a slave is the height of stupidity. If your hand were to condemn your foot for being a foot, clumsy and graceless, pressed repeatedly into the filth, you would do well to hack it off at the wrist! Worse, imagine if your eyeballs demanded that every other part of you should be an eyeball too, in the name of equality. What an abomination you would be then. But the truth is that the Federation and the Alliance think in exactly this way. You will notice that I wear a beautiful stone upon my finger. There is no other like it, which means that only one person can wear it. 'But that is unfair!' cries the Federation. 'Why should you be the only one to enjoy it?' They would have me smash it to bits and give everyone a tiny piece. But then the beautiful stone would be gone, and nobody could ever wear it again.
To someone from the Federation this would be almost incomprehensible. The idea that someone could be in a 'lesser' job and not be exploited, a wage slave, or be some sort of lesser being to be infantilized? Unfathomable.
But that is, at its essence, what Zemina Torval is about. She is enormously wealthy, yes - but doesn't believe this to be a flaw, but rather a position of great honor and responsibility. She expects much of her followers, but no less than she expects of herself.
The lives of the lowest in our society should be the concern of the highest.
Those who treat their slaves badly should receive the same. After all, how can they work properly if they are not cared for correctly?
She's a pragmatist, a stark realist.
We should honour our traditions, but not blindly. Just because we keep doing a thing doesn't make it the right thing to do.
As such, she uses this enormous wealth to offer her people zero taxes, allowing each person to make the most of themselves as they see fit, resulting in a massive 20% increase in trade profits and 65% increase in mining revenue! More than that, she actively works to protect Imperial Slaves in her territory, making the process far more appealing; supply and demand for imperial slaves is doubled in her regions.
She truly believes in the Imperial System. Not just because it benefits her personally, but because across the galaxy, it is the system that offers the greatest benefits to its people!
Is that really villainous?
I say no! Torval is a patriot, a steadfast bulwark against those who critique without understanding, who stand on a pedestal they don't realize is there and attempt to pull it out from beneath themselves.
And that can clearly be seen in the quality of her followers. Despite having a mere fraction of the populations of other Powers, the median effort is far above average. They fight, not for money, status, or in the forlorn hope that their Power will notice them and send them a vial of bathwater - but because they believe.
Are you like that? Are you looking for a purpose? Do you love mining and making obscene amounts of credits?
Join Torval, and help make the best possible world; not just for yourself, but for the ENTIRE Empire!