The World of the Sentients

The Nation of Aneti

Rising from the ashes of the New Dark Ages, Aneti began as little more than a small band of survivors in the Australian Outback. Now, claiming dominion over much of the Earth and numerous colonized worlds beyond, the imperial nation stands unrivaled. Over the course of seven centuries, this socialist democratic republic has expanded its reach across six continents, a moon, and an entire planet, with its sights set upon colonizing the galaxy.

After the end of the New Dark Ages, in a move that asserted their reign over the planet, Aneti reset the global calendar back to 0, starting a new era which abandoned the Gregorian calendar. Six hundred years later, Aneti maintains its authority and continues to expand, leading the way in technology and militaristic strength.

Its flag embodies the nation’s and humanity’s pursuit of progress and enlightenment, symbolized by the pyramid representing the foundations of civilization and the half-moon and stars symbolizing mankind’s expansion into the cosmos. Fourteen stars signify Aneti’s provinces. The colors provide further depth with blue standing for liberty, perseverance, and strength, and the gold reflecting Aneti’s power and wealth—not only in economic terms, but in its technological and scientific supremacy.

The Political System

Aneti is a democratic republic with a socialist-capitalist economy. Though imperialistic in its dominion over Earth and the territories beyond, it is not ruled by an emperor. Instead, authority is divided among a five-branch checks-and-balances system, composed of the following governing bodies:

• Chancellor
  The executive branch which is led by a single individual who represents the nation. Although their powers are limited, their influence is unbounded, enabling them to expedite policies forward swiftly.
• The Grand Magistrate
  A council of twelve officials that holds the final authority over all decisions and legislation passed by the Senate.
• Senate
  This branch, composed of both senators and congresspersons, drafts and votes on legislation, beginning with Congress and followed by the Senate.
• Judicial (aka The High Court)
  The branch that determines the validity and constitutionality of laws, policies, and actions taken by the Chancellor, whether proposed or already in effect, and may order their suspension or repeal. They also oversee high-level court cases and monitor the conduct of elected officials.
• The People
  Certified Anetian citizens who have earned the privilege to vote by passing an exam and completing four core courses, which are typically taken during secondary education. The courses are: Logic and Critical Reasoning, Politics and Law, Constitutional Studies, and Political Debate.

Though all people are deemed equal under the constitution, an individual cannot attain citizenship status without meeting the following requirements:

• Be a human.
• Be a legally recognized adult (automatically designated at age 18).
• Fulfill at least one of the following conditions:
  • Be employed full-time (minimum 30 hours per week) or part-time if combined with another qualifying condition.
  • Serve as a recruited or active-duty military member.
  • Be enrolled in a nationally recognized educational institution (limited to seven years, unless extended by the institution).
  • Hold elected office.
  • Qualify as an “Artisan”—a broad exemption covering business owners, freelance artists, non-profit leaders, investors, and many others.
  • Receive a special legal exemption (e.g. people with disabilities).

Failure to maintain these requirements may result in demotion to civilian status and/or legal penalties, which can include imprisonment, mandatory labor, or exile to wilderness regions, which are provisioned areas of Aneti beyond formal legal jurisdiction and organized society.

The Economy

Benefits of citizenship under Aneti’s socialized economy include:

• A guaranteed minimum wage, determined by job classification through the Department of Labor Services.
• Access to basic healthcare.
• Basic housing assistance if needed—typically co-ops or dormitories for single individuals, and small apartments for families.
• Provision of basic food and water if required.
• One week of paid time off per year, at the citizen’s discretion.
• Basic retirement income after fifty years of citizenship.

While Aneti’s socioeconomic system guarantees basic provisions for its citizens, it also offers a path for social advancement through a structured class system. Citizens can meet their fundamental needs at the base level, but by rising in rank, they gain access to additional benefits and privileges. There are four more levels of citizenship a person may attain:

• Honored Citizen
  Individuals who stand above the average citizen, including:
  • Company managers
  • Doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, and other elite professionals as designated by the Department of Labor Services
  • Military personnel with a rank above private
  • Wealthy artisans
  • Low-level elected officials, such as mayors and judges
  • Citizens recognized with national awards
• Dignitary
  The elite class comprised of individuals such as:
  • Upper management or corporate executives
  • Military officers
  • Highly wealthy artisans
  • Mid-level elected officials, such as congresspersons and governors
  • Citizens honored with prestigious national awards
• Payan
  This class represents the wealthiest and most influential members of society, including:
  • Company owners, presidents, and chief executives
  • Military personnel holding ranks above Exultanein or serving in the Kometai Elite special forces
  • Individuals with a net worth of ten million dakins or more (adjusted annually by the Department of Commerce)
  • High-level elected officials, such as Senators and High Court justices
  • Citizens granted this honorary rank directly by the Chancellor
• Leader
  Same as the Payan class, except members hold positions within the Grand Magistrate, serve as the Chancellor, or act as the Supreme General of the military.

Aneti’s official currency is the dakin, denoted by the symbol Đ, which precedes the amount. It is an internally regulated currency, maintained and valued solely by the Anetian government, with minimal influence from foreign trade or external economic factors.

Primarily exchanged through non-physical, digital transactions, dakins can also be transferred using physical, plastic-like cards, which are about the length of a credit card but three-quarters as wide. These cards hold only whole values, with any fractional amounts always rounded up. Each dakin card can be quickly identified by its distinct color.

The Judicial Process

Under Aneti’s constitution, any person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty—a right that extends to civilians and non-citizens alike. Even sentients are granted the opportunity to defend themselves in a court of law. However, only citizens are entitled to a free defense attorney and a jury trial. Sentients, civilians, and non-Anetians have no such guarantee and must either represent themselves or hire their own legal counsel. In cases without a jury, a judge alone determines the verdict.

Unlike traditional jury systems, Aneti’s juries are not composed of summoned citizens but rather of professional jurors. These individuals have formally studied the law and trained specifically for the role. During a trial, jurors observe proceedings from a separate room, hidden from everyone involved, including the judge. Only a jury supervisor knows the identities of the jurors and is responsible for ensuring they have no conflicts of interest or biases related to the case.

Law enforcement in Aneti consists of marshals, police officers, and the city guard. Marshals handle low-level crimes and domestic matters within communities. Police address more serious and violent offenses, including homicide investigations and organized crime. The city guard serves as a para-military force, deployed when situations escalate beyond police control, such as riots, hostage crises, or acts of terrorism.

Crimes in Aneti are classified by severity, each carrying distinct consequences:

• Transgression
  Equivalent to an infraction, such as a speeding ticket in today’s world. Punishments involve only a fine or community service.
• Level 1
  Comparable to a misdemeanor. These offenses carry more serious charges and can result in substantial fines and/or up to one year in a labor camp.
• Level 2
  Non-violent felonies. Convictions can lead to up to five years in a minimum-security prison or forced labor.
• Level 3
  Violent offenses and other serious crimes. Convictions can result in up to fifteen years to life in a maximum-security prison (level 3 facility).
• Level 4
  Treason and the most heinous crimes. These charges are reserved for those deemed beyond redemption. Convictions lead to life imprisonment in an isolated level 4 facility or swift execution, which is typically a traditional firing squad. Often, judges grant the convicted a choice between life or death—a tradition that reflects the early days of Aneti, when one of its founders, General Morgan Cadwell, offered prisoners of war a similar choice.

When a person is accused of a crime, the severity of the charge determines how their arrest and detainment are handled. For a level 1 offense, the accused will typically spend up to one night in a police holding cell; law enforcement cannot detain a level 1 suspect for more than 24 hours.

For level 2, 3, or 4 charges, the accused may be held in a detainment facility, which is similar to a jail but designed with greater comfort, security, and privacy in mind. Detainees are provided with a private bedroom, a personal bathroom with basic amenities, and regular meals, but they are not permitted to leave until their trial concludes. In some cases, an accused person may be released if a judge deems them safe to await trial outside detention. However, such restricted freedom is generally denied for level 3 offenses and never granted for level 4 charges.

The concept behind detainment centers is to uphold the presumption of innocence by providing an environment that resembles a home rather than offering a preview of prison life.

Exile is another possible sentence, though it is typically reserved for individuals who refuse to maintain their citizenship status. Within Aneti’s vast borders lie harsh, designated Wilderness regions where civilization does not extend and the law no longer applies. While some select to live in these remote areas to escape Aneti’s reach, others are banished there by judicial order.

The Military

There are 5 branches of the military:

• Army
  The ground force on Earth.
• Navy
  The air and sea forces on Earth.
• Galactic Defense
  The military branch that operates exclusively in space and interstellar regions.
• Marines
  A highly trained combat force responsible for operations across Earth and beyond. The Interplanetary Marines, a specialized branch within the Marines, focus exclusively on off-world missions.
• Military Intelligence (MI)
  The military’s intelligence branch, operating under clandestine conditions and recruiting personnel from both civilian life and all other military branches.

Anetian Military Ranks

All military branches have the same ranking system.

Field Ranks

Recruit	RT	A soldier in training.
Private	PT	Lowest rank.
Preceptor	PR	Assists/Supervises a team (4-5 soldiers).
Corporal	CP	Assists/Supervises troops (6-15 soldiers).
Sergeant	ST-2	Assists/Supervises units (16-23 soldiers).
1st Sergeant	ST-1	Assists/Supervises platoons (24-99 soldiers).
Suverus	SV	The highest-ranking non-officer position. Assists/Supervises up to 500 soldiers.

Officer Ranks

Lieutenant	CT	Commands units.
Signis	SN	Commands platoons.
Grand Signis	GS	Commands brigades (100-500 soldiers).
Captain	CN	Commands battalions (500 – 3,000 soldiers).
Atenaet	AT	Commands several battalions (3000 – 10,000 soldiers).
Commander	SA	Commands large ships and/or a division (10,000 – 50,000 soldiers).
Exultanein	EN	Oversees fleets, armies, and field operations.
Marshal	G-4	Assistant to 3rd Generals. Technically a general.
3rd General	G-3	Oversees assigned military operations are carried out. Acts as advisors to higher ranking generals.
2nd General	G-2	Assistants to grand generals. Ensures orders are carried out. All are direct successors to grand generals.
Grand General	G-1	Oversees a branch of the military.
Supreme General	SG	Single individual who oversees all military operations and all branches.