However, I like the shield of plausible deniability that "Real
Power is Local Power"
implies. Instead of the Emperor being responsible for the bun-buns, it's Count von Nimh, Supreme Field Marshal of the Coreward Defense Forces, obviously somebody high-up in the establishment, but low enough to give even the Archduke plausible deniability if/when
the whole thing goes public.
Naaah, it’s Count von NiMH, head of the Genetics Research Division of a spinoff of a spinoff of the Imperially Chartered megacorp Weyland-Utani Industries, working on a secret IN contract that is the *cover* for his evil Bun Bun experiments.
Remember; the Vilani Empire was, in essence, a Corporate Cartel Oligarchy tenderly wrapped in the trappings of a Hereditary Monarchy.
The 3I took that as a starting point, and made it a slightly more flexible Mercantile Empire tenderly wrapped in the trappings, etc. etc.
Time and Custom (as well as Wealth and Power) then hardened the expediency of Cleon 1 crowning himself Emperor to consolidate power in the Confederacy to the 3I as it is “today”.
The Imperial Armed Forces stand separate as the Shining Example Of Incorruptibility (insert fanfare); it’s the myriad obscurely named contractor and sub-contractor shell companies linked to shadowy LLC’s doing the dirty work for them.
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