Hello!

  Due to the growing size of these Story Notes and for easy review, you'll find a copy of this batch of updates below.

  And now that even these pages are getting longer, I've added "Spoiler" boxes to contain nearly everything.

  Mainly, I'm focused on updating the Fleet Information page to catch up to at least the current Royal Road chapter. So, I'm searching through all the chapters for those references now.

  Another change is breaking the Fleet Information table into multiple tables. One table for the "Primary Fleet," which is Sol. This table would follow the timeline of events.

  Adding more tables for all the "Other Fleets" so things don't get as confusing as they once were with the growing amount of information.

  The STC (Standard Template Construction) Library has undergone serious editing and expansion with this update as well.

  I hope to finish the void ship pages for all chapters on Royal Road soon.

  I'll continue to add info from newly posted Royal Road chapters as I can.

  - Brian

  Herald of the Stars Table of Contents updates (Showing Marwolv Date if available):

  Aldrich Isengrund page updates:

  Alliances, Contracts, and Trade Deals page updates:

  The five major Trade Goods in the Imperium are: Carbon, Data, Energy, People, and Rare Elements. (c0151)

  With the distances involved, it just isn't practical to trade most manufactured goods," says Eire. "Instead, manufacturing is classified as a service, exactly like what we do. Go to a location and make exactly what they ask for in exchange for raw resources. This is usually capital goods for expanding their own capacity, then move on. Manufactured goods are also treated a bit like a currency, rather than a trade good, as it is the primary way in which most worlds pay their tithes."

  Brigid sips on her drink, then says, "Why carbon and not something vital, like water for reaction mass and its many other uses?"

  "That's to do with tithes," says Eire. "It is a complex and contradictory issue, one driven by the classification of worlds. For example, a Hive world will be required to produce manufactured goods and people for their Tithe. Because the tithes are so heavy due to corruption, errors, accidents, piracy, and other inefficiencies, many worlds have little spare capacity to focus on anything other than what is demanded of them. Investment is rare, and much wealth is squandered.

  "Some worlds even have high tithes that are well beyond what is practical to pay because of whom they sided with during the Horus Heresy, or other rebellions. Tithes are as much a method of control as they are a way to distribute resources around the Imperium."

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  "For a Hive world, this means that most of their carbon goes towards plasteel, fuels, plastics, and other goods. They don't always have enough carbon left to grow the food their population needs. You'd think they'd use the plasteel to build new mining barges and gather the required resources, but not all systems have gas giants, or the remaining resources orbiting their star would cost more to gather than they'd gain. Instead, they must trade what they make with agri worlds, or hope that an agri world tithe will be assigned to them by a vigilant and proactive high administrator."

  Brigid frowns, "So, because of the tithes, their manufacturing is stagnant? They cannot expand or easily replace what is lost? That would mean all worlds rot over time, no matter what they do."

  Eire sighs, "Yes, that's correct. It is why Rogue Traders and the Quest for Knowledge are so important. They bring new wealth and lost knowledge to the Imperium, which it can then use to restore itself. Rogue Traders don't pay tithes or tariffs as that's like syphoning the fuel from your genetorium so you can sell it and use the bytes to pay for your energy ration. Most worlds still have to pay tithes, though. It's also another reason why manufacturing is considered a service; factory ships can go from world to world, injecting capital into stagnant economies."

  Blessings and Castigations page updates:

  Characters and Groups page updates:

  Eire Lobhdain

  First Officer Eire Lobhdain of the Distant Sun (c0057) --- Is the High Factotum, an Imperial Fleet Administrator, Diplomat, and Trade Officer. (c0105)

  She is staying at SR-651 as the High Factotum of the system. (c0187)

  E-SIM page updates:

  Fleet Information page updates:

  Stars, Planets, and Stations page updates:

  STC Library page updates:

  Way too many changes and additions to copy here. Please take a look when you can and point out any other changes you want.

  Void Ships by Name

  Void Ships by Type

  Miscalaneous updates:

  Readers: Is there anything you want added?

  Source Chapter: “(c9999)”

  Please leave a review, share your thoughts in a comment, or send me a note with any suggestions you may have.

  Thank you,

  Brian