- Question 98: What events surrounded the end of the Firekkans' Confederation membership in the late 2660's?

- Bonus 49: What events surrounded the end of the Kindred as it was known through the late 2790's?

HTL continues with the Part One of "Fate's Edge", which is written by Kevin "Leeloo" Tan. This chapter follows the Tanfen merchant fleet which was strong armed by the Border Worlds government into helping evacuate the civilian population of Tyr, and taking them to safety in the Masa system. In the process though, the Tanfenners lost many of their own. Please send any and all comments to Kevin at leeloo8@hotmail.com

For those unfamiliar with the Tanfen Corp, it's a large and powerful mega-corporation that deals in everything from fighter and warship construction to raw minerals to consumer goods and foodstuffs. While it draws people from every part of human society, the predominant culture both socially and in the business arena is that of the Orient, especially Chinese. It has chosen to base itself in the Border Worlds Union because Union rules and regulations tend to be more flexible than those in Confed, and is the single biggest contributor to the Union's economy. In fact, Tanfen is probably one of the top three reasons for the rapid progress the Union has undergone in the years since its independence.

Tanfen's founding families, their employees and dependants, several thousand people in all, have colonised two worlds that are part of the Union. Because of this, Tanfen enjoys a large degree of autonomy in how it operates. The colonies can set their own local laws just like other Union worlds can, subject only to the central Border Worlds government and the common law of the Union. They can also raise and maintain their own militia forces to defend themselves and their interests, subject to the jurisdiction of the Border Worlds military.

Overall, the relationship between Tanfen and the Union Government is a symbiotic one. Tanfen has more freedom than it would enjoy anywhere else, and the Union benefits immensely from the billions of Credits that Tanfen pumps into the economy in the form of taxes and wages. However, in times of trouble, Tanfen's focus on profit and looking after its own people first and foremost can put it into conflict with the Government. It remains to be seen whether the two can co-operate to their mutual advantage during the Nephilim invasion, or if the differences will prove disastrous for both.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about Tanfen can do so via Kevin's website, which is at:

http://.../3286/index.htm

Best, Raptor