Corp
The Corp is an order of warrior monks whose members are known as Corpers. They maintain training monasteries on hidden planets or moons possibly more than one. Orphans of galactic wars are taken there and raised to become new Corpers.
Knowledge and Mission
The Corpers have inherited exceptional scientific knowledge from an unknown source and preserve it across generations. They visit and observe countless planets of different technological and social levels ranging from societies that resemble ancient Earth such as Greece Rome China and India to medieval worlds with castles and dukes modern worlds similar to Earth and highly advanced interstellar cultures.
Often disguised the Corpers gradually introduce knowledge especially to underdeveloped societies water mills roads bridges paper glass metal extraction and herbal medicine. For less advanced communities they write manuscripts in the form of epic stories that combine moral inspiration with practical knowledge such as shipbuilding medicine architecture sanitation and metallurgy. They also promote the idea of self governance the belief that societies must approve their own laws and that leadership is a service to the community rather than an act of domination.
Methods
In societies marked by violence or tyranny the Corpers confront rulers in secret pressuring them to behave more justly. Their threats including torture or death for rulers or their families have at times been carried out.
Technology
Corper craft are controlled by collective AI. Each vessel carries an AI representative and all communicate directly through a network of space relays. These relays are embedded in the beacons deployed by the explorers but only the Corpers and the explorers know this.
If a vessel travels too far communication is lost. On uninhabited planets they maintain vast automated facilities for the construction of ships war machines and vehicles.
When facing advanced but imperialistic civilizations they subdue them militarily using robot soldiers and impose peace later maintaining blockades to prevent renewed aggression.
Leadership
At the top stands the First Corper the supreme leader. He lives for many years and after his death the AI selects his successor according to its own criteria and the successor may come from any world. The new First undergoes harsh training. His role is to supervise and refine the AI code but never to choose his own successor.
The First Corper holds a mythical status on the worlds under their oversight especially among the young. One First founded the Honor Guard of the First a group of young men and women who serve for one or two years in remote outposts trained by Corpers and robots in martial arts swordsmanship flight craft handling and civic organization.
Keepers
On certain planets the Corp has revealed itself to a few families. These are the Keepers living vessels of memory. Sometimes they are hosted aboard Corper ships where they witness their power. They preserve the knowledge across generations even centuries without direct contact safeguarding the traditions of self governance.
Dual Faces of the Corpers
Fear and Coercion
- They appear silently often at night
- They pressure rulers for more just governance
- Their presence inspires fear and awe
- They threaten with violence and at times carry it out
- Their sword and their gaze are enough to collapse regimes
- They are legends that become nightmares for the powerful
Saviors and Civilizers
- They appear openly in times of need
- They help societies solve essential problems of water food and knowledge
- Their presence brings hope and admiration
- They spread wisdom and inspiration rather than fear alone
- Their sword becomes a symbol of protection rather than threat
- They are legends that inspire tales of gods who came to teach
Known Corpers
Category: Organization