#1
&19
House Colos (Violet)\n
\nThe Colosians have one of the longest and dirtiest histories in all of
humanity, and what's more, they're exceedingly proud of it. They were one
of the founding houses in the Empire. At that time, they were the preeminent
military power in Terran space, but they lacked the political wherewithal
to set up the throne for themselves. Soon after the Empire began, the first
Emperor, Macedon Gaius Triptolemus I, made the then-head of House Colos the
general of his armed forces, and the Colosians enjoyed prominence in the
Imperial armed forces throughout the Imperial rule.\n
\nThe Colosians are a warm and friendly people to those that they call allies,
but they treat their foes with nothing less than all-out spite. They have
few friends, being naturally suspicious of all. They believe in looking out
for number one, and they expect everyone they meet to be doing the exact same
thing.\n
\nOn the surface, it seems that they often are incapable of grasping the
political subtleties of a situation, but in reality, it's usually that they
simply don't care. When they need to, though, they can be the craftiest of
foes, particularly in war, one method of handling a situation in which they
are extremely skilled.

#2
&23
House Red Star (Red)\n
\nThe settlement that eventually became House Red Star was founded a millennia
ago by a group of Native Americans that formed an extremely successful colony
on Mars. Named for how its new home looks from the plains of Old Earth where
its people once lived, House Red Star was a leader in the lucrative business
of terraforming, and it is upon this that their incredible fortune is based.
It was mostly due to their skills that Mars (the first terraformed planet)
ever became habitable at all.\n
\nThe people of Red Star didn't confine themselves to the red planet or even
the Solar System for very long. No sooner was the hyperspace drive developed
than they were heading for the stars. Their typical modus operandi involved
finding a suitable planet and laying claim to it. Then they would terraform
it and sell the property rights to some other group or provincial house. In
this way, they became nomads wandering among the stars.\n
\nRed Stars decry open displays of wealth. They do not seem to care much for
money, preferring to live simply so that all of their fellows may prosper in
happiness. Under their domain, all are fed, clothed, housed, trained, educated
and appreciated for who they are.\n
\nThis is not a peaceful society. Although it may seem that they live in a
utopia, the Red Stars can be as warlike as need requires them to be.
Sometimes, too, there are differences of opinion as to how the House should
proceed in a given matter. From time to time, talk fails the Red Stars, and
the people fight amongst themselves.\n

#3
&14
House Tokugawa (Yellow)\n
\nHouse Tokugawa, along with Houses Colos and Red Star, is one of the three
former provincial powerhouses to retain or reclaim its stature after the
Empire's fall. It was founded long ago by a group of Asian people. They
wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, so they hired
an ancient ark to take them to a recently terraformed planet out toward the
frontier.\n
\nThe Tokugawans are now as disciplined in war as they are in their dedication
to ecology. Due to their refusal to despoil lands, they have only skeletal
ground forces, preferring to concentrate most of their effort on ensuring that
the attackers never reach the planet. They place great stock in their
starfighter forces, and their pilots are among the most devoted in Terran
space. They know that if they fail, all that their people have worked for
down the years is in danger of being obliterated.\n

#4
&19
Hibernia Freehold (Green)\n
\nThe Hibernia Freehold was founded long ago by a large number of Irish people
trying to return to the traditional values that had been a part of their
history. The Freehold's first planet (and now its capital) was the temperate,
green world named Eire. Although the Freehold now encompasses several planets,
Eire remains the heart of it all.\n
\nThe main doctrine of the Hibernians is that of freedom and tolerance.
Within the Freehold's domain, all are free to do whatever they please, as long
as they don't infringe upon the rights of others. While the Irish originally
founded the Freehold, it soon became a home to like-minded individuals from
all across the Terran section of the Milky Way.\n
\nNowadays, the Hibernians are a little more active in pursuing their
message of universal freedom. Some factions within the Freehold are even
willing to use military force to liberate those that they see as oppressed
by political or military forces. Of course, these poor people need to ask
them for assistance before they intervene, but wherever injustice rears
its ugly head, you can be sure there will be a Hibernian there offering a
helping hand.\n

