The Batiss Combine
The Batiss Combine (batiss is literally translated to clan or important family) is a provincial empire comprised of five Noble Clans (also known as Noble Houses, provinces, or simply clans), a few Minor Noble Clans, and a central power that is meant to maintain adherence. Each House has its own population and territory base, as well as a militia. These militias are used both for defense and to settle disputes between Clans. The faction's 30 billion population is 60% feles- a large, bipedal, mammalian race with a digitigrade leg configuration and semi-mobile external ear; approximately 20% human- a mostly hairless, bipedal mammal; 5% tien, and 5% dolphin.
The Provinces are as follows:
Central: During the formation of the Combine, those nations that were not powerful enough to join the colonization race and were left on the home planet (Mundesh) formed an alliance in order to drive the warring nations that became the Noble Clans off of the world in order to preserve it. They became the nucleus.
Karesh: The largest of the clans, House Karesh is the societal and diplomatic innovator, having more of a social republican structure, and focuses on research and development.
Butik: Butik is the leader in economic product and one of the leaders in manufacturing. Because of its lax tax laws and general discard of strict regulation that borders on federally offensive, it is a center for less-than-honorable business practices and the drug and slave trade. Casting those aside, it rials Merek in appreciation of Militia and honor among the average citizen.
Merek: Militarily, House Merek is the strongest among the Clans and one of the largest contributors to the Central Military. While being relatively small in comparison to Karesh and Butik, Merek has the highest percentage of enlistment in Militia.
Karth: Karth has the second largest production output and the second highest scientific development rate, as well as the second largest militia and the second highest population of the five clans. Tension between Karth and Merek has been broken with physical disputes several times throughout history, dating back to before the Combine was formed. Notably, in the period from 2700-2750, the grudge threatened to draw the Combine into an all-out civil war, with Karesh and Butic already taking sides, but it was diffused by Shi'Karesh (daughter of Karesh'Ni, beloved council speaker, and Shi'Ker, a military hero).
Shi: Throughout history, Shi has taken a creed of reclusiveness. The smallest of the Houses by population, it is the leading developer of stealth and Slip-Merge technology. Its territory extends to the most outer of the spheres.
