Archanis Sector
The Archanis Sector is a region lying on the border between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. While historically ownership of the sector has been contested, it has been largely in Federation hands since the mid-23rd century. With proximity to the Orion Colonies, it is a diverse border region that has been left to largely independent governance with minimal Federation oversight in recent decades.
In mid-2399, Federation space experienced an unprecedented wave of raids orchestrated by the Klingon dissidents, the Hunters of D'Ghor. In response, Starfleet dispatched the Fourth Fleet to protect the region and drive out the Hunters. Based on the challenges encountered during the conflict, the decision was made to reinvest in the region to address decades of neglect and rebuild local faith in the Federation.
History
The Archanis Sector has never been fully held by either the Federation or the Klingon Empire. It was one of the first locations where the border of the two powers met, and the most coreward of its Federation colonies date back to the earliest years of the Federation's founding. The sector was largely divided between them for the next century, until the outbreak of the Klingon-Federation War of the 2250s. During this period, the Empire overran and annexed the sector. Those seized territories were relinquished at the war's end, and over the next decades of unsteady peace between both powers, the more and more territory was ceded in negotiations to the Federation. During this time, Starfleet established and maintained a significant defensive front in the sector.
The next century, however, was largely peaceful between the Federation and the Empire. Colonies prospered, Starfleet's defensive holdings received fewer resources, and trade flourished. But the Empire's historic claim on the region was invoked in 2372 by Chancellor Gowron, demanding the Federation cede all worlds. The Federation's refusal, and the Empire's subsequent invasion and rapid annexation of the whole sector, triggered the Federation-Klingon War of the 2370s. The Klingons were eventually repelled, and any remaining opposition withdrew upon the re-establishment of the Khitomer Accords and the outbreak of the Dominion War.
Since then, the region has returned to peace. With the Federation and Empire enjoying unprecedented closeness in their relations, commerce and diplomacy bring significant bounties to the region. While the Federation and Starfleet's withdrawal of resources from their borders to protect and support the Core Worlds affected Archanis, the self-sufficient of the colonists left them standing strong. It has, however, allowed an independent streak to thrive, many colonies finding the Federation irrelevant, or even an impediment, to their everyday lives.
The assault of the Hunters of D'Ghor has brought fresh chaos to Archanis. The indiscriminate raiding and attacks on colonies and the region's inhabitants has threatened to lay waste to the sector. While Starfleet will likely prevail in driving the D'Ghor off, the rebuilding work will doubtless prove extensive. A new Canopus-class station, Archanis Station, was commissioned to replace the aging Starfleet outpost, serving since June 2401 as headquarters for a wave of diplomatic, security and engineering initiatives across the region that includes, among others, a Corps of Engineers detachment and a Diplomatic Corps mission.
Notable Locations
Archanis System
Archanis is an inhabited system, with most settlements on Archanis IV. One of the earliest Federation settlements in the region, it has been one of the most hotly-contested worlds in conflicts with the Klingon Empire.
Meronia Cluster
This cluster of star systems is one of the most densely inhabited regions of the Archanis Sector, with a closely-interknit economic and social infrastructure. In early 2399, a fungal disease afflicted local crops and spread rapidly, threatening agricultural enterprise and the cluster's ability to sustain itself. This calamity left the ensuing D'Ghor raids on the cluster particularly devastating.
Archanis Station (Starbase 27)
Starbase 27, codenamed Archanis Station, is a Canopus-class space station that serves as the primary base of operations for Starfleet activities within the Archanis Sector and adjacent territories. Located over Gorion VII in the Meronia Cluster, Archanis Station represents Starfleet’s renewed investment in the area, offering support, stability and security to a borderlands region that has received little attention from the Federation in recent decades.
Haydorian System
Haydorian Prime is one of the largest and oldest colonies in the Archanis Sector, settled primarily by Andorians. With multiple dry-docks in orbit and a significant planetary defence grid, is is one of the most cosmopolitan and secure hubs in the Archanis Sector.
Ayer's Rock
Ayer's Rock is a dry but habitable little rock on the Federation/Klingon border. Colonist here prefer to eschew the use of modern technology, sticking with more muscle power for the most part, with the occasional bit of wind and water. More advanced technology does exist, such as a shuttle for the single real hospital on the planet, and a few transmitters here and there, but most people avoid them. Ayer's Rock is also home to a passive only subspace listening array put together by the orion privateer Sidda and a local for listening to comms traffic in the sector while being well hidden. The largest town is Landing.
Kyban
A prosperous colony, Kyban sports multiple large cities and settlements. The largest city, Banksy City, boasts a population of three million Federation citizens and features a multitude of cultural highlights. The world does maintain a self-defence force and orbital defensive systems.
Kemron IV
Former wildcat mining operations turned attempted legitimate colony, this marginally habitable class L world has suffered at the hands of the House of D'Ghor. There were no survivors when the colony was hit.
Elgatis Belt
Home to one of the largest sources of uridium in the region, the Elgatis Asteroid Belt is home to the Elgatis Refinery, an extensive mining and refining operation, and a significant hub of local trade.
In Play
- The Archanis Sector is the setting of Bravo Fleet's first Campaign, depicting the region's invasion by the Hunters of D'Ghor. Further information can be found on the Bravo Fleet forums.
- The sector is a highly typical region for Federation border colonies. Its worlds tend towards self-sufficiency and independence, having received little attention or support from the Federation in recent decades.
- Local attitudes towards the Klingon Empire are often mixed. A quarter-century of peace, and nearly a full century of at least non-aggression before that, has led to major relationships in Archanis that stretch across the border. But some locals may be slower to forgive wrongs in living memory, or let go of ancestral grievances.