Official Name: The isca'Rheinland House of Sirius
Clan Tag: [iR] followed by [Wing Squadron]
Clan Alignment: House Navy; "lawful"
NPC Alignment: Rheinland House Military
Homesystem: Hamburg
Greater isca'Rhein Empire: Frankfurt, Dresden, Stuttgart, Omega-11, Omega-7, Hudson, Bering, Sigma-13, Sigma-17["Unofficial" Rheinland Border Systems]
isca'Rheinland Autonomy: New Berlin (Dominion of the Sabre Council)

Squadrons:
[iR][JG] - Jaeger Division - H/VH Fighter division; the backbone of the [iR] military.
[iR][SR] - Schlachtkreuzer Division - Battleship division; mainly used for support and/or defense of currently held Rhineland territory.
[iR][FE] - Fregatte Division - Gunboat and Destroyer division; serves purpose of support squadron on large scale invasionary tactics.
[iR][LS] - Lastenschiff Division - Freighter division; mainly used to expand and increase trade in Rhineland systems or abroad.
[iR][AR] - Aufklaerer Division - LF/MF Division; this squadron is used for scouting or hit and run tactical manuevers.

Ranks:
Supreme Chancellor - Leader of Rhineland
Großadmiral - Commander of the Fleet
Admiral - Commander of a Squadron (specific)
Vizeadmiral - Vice Admiral of a Squadron (specific)
Kapitän-zur-See - Captain; distinguished leader during battle
Fregattenkapitän - Commander; officer rank in the [iR]
Leutnant-zur-See - Ensign; trial member

Ranking Members:

Herrmann Metzger; Supreme Chancellor [IC] of the isca'Rheinlanders, Metzger was born incredibly frail. Confined to private quarters for most of his life, Metzger had ambitious dreams of ruling the Rheinland people and restoring glory to the Empire. As a result, he devoted himself to the studies of humanities and politics. In doing so, he became a skilled manipulator. Rising to the rank of "Chief Representative of Hamburg", Metzger was able to use the political system to further his own goals. Following the death of Navonod Iscar, Metzger moved quickly to take over during the power vacuum.

Friedrich Fleischer; Grossadmiral [2IC] of the military, Fleischer is a very talented fighter and renouned strategist. Known for his valiant exploits during the Red Hessian War, Fleischer rose through the commanding ranks quickly. He earned favor with Metzger after leading key victories in the Outer Provinces against the Unioners. He was credited as the man soley responsible for destroying Unioner operations in the Rheinland border provinces. As a result, Fleischer was given command over the Imperial Fleet immediatley following Metzger's coup d' etat.

Niklas Fritz; General Admiral [3IC] of the Secondary Fleet, Fritz is a skilled tactician. Having served under the former Rhineland government as leader of the Panther Squadron, he won decisive victories in the battles for Dresden and Omega-7. Once Metzger assumed power, Fritz was immediatley appointed to commander of the Secondary Fleet, or homeland defense. Fritz is known for keeping an almost superhuman calm during battle, and he is often looked to for leadership during the struggles of war.

Albert Eberstark; Admiral of the Schlachtkreuzer Division, Eberstark is the son of "Knight", former leader of the Iscariot Nephilim. Raised on his father's battleship, Eberstark learned much about battleship tactics and strategy. At the age of 17, Eberstark was given command over his first battlegroup after graduating from the prestigious Stuttgart Military Academy. Soon after, he helped the Empire in several victories against Hessian outposts. He was promoted to the rank of admiral and heads the Empire's offensive operations. *Retired as of 10/8/07*

Robert Ostermann; Fregattenkapitän of the Aufklaerer division, Ostermann's background is shady at best. Originally a mercenary employed by the Bounty Hunters, he had fallen out of favor with them after a credit scandal. With no home to go to, Ostermann drafted himself into the isca'Rhein navy. He showed great prowess with fast attack fighters and eventually gained command over his own division, nicknamed the "Leopards."
Max Stotz; None at the moment
CelticFrost; None at the moment
Twistedmind; None at the moment
Cajun; None at the moment

War:
War is vital to the economy and expansion of the Rhineland government. Wars will occur directly within Rheinland held territory or a 3-4 system radius outside a greater Rheinland province. An individual may be pursued outside the system radius if he or she is attempting to flee custody.

War w/ other Navies:
War with other Houses will occasionally occur. Non-agresssion pacts are highly reccomended once a desired territory has been captured. As compensation for the treaty, the loosing house will usually recieve some sort of monatary compensation.

Religion:
The state of isca'Rhein combines the religions of both native Rheinlanders and Iscariots. Typically speaking, the Monkey God is the most worshipped diety in the empire by approximatley 179:1. Ultimatley, freedom of religion is important in that individuals can decide what path to follow. Those who provide offerings can be seen as Monkey God followers (important for MPs to say who exactly is donating what).

In general, religion plays a minor role in Rhineland politik.

Nomads:
Nomads are considered prime targets for [iR] officers. If a nomad is spotted, it is first priority.

If officers are in the middle of a battle with a non-nomad enemy, they may proceed to kill the enemy then move onto the Nomad (if agreed on by both parties). However, if the nomad enters the same system as the officer and his combatant, then both parties must pursue the nomad.

Nomad Equipment:
Nomad equipment is highly advanced over that of the Houses and all other human technologies. Until the government can replicate weaponry of equal standing, Nomad equipment will be issued to officers.

Contraband:
Viking Weaponry; stolen artifacts from the treasury. Punishable by death.
Cardamine; addictive psycho-physical drug. Punishable by death.
Heavy Weaponry; considered extremly dangerous when not in proper hands. Punishable by death.
Slaves; human/monkey enslavement is illegal. Punishable by death.

Hostility:
Benefactors: None.
Neutrals: All not mentioned.
Enemies of the State: [SSG] + [TBH]

Extenuating Situations:
The Sabre Wing's retrieval of Gunter von Baldsen has been well noted and they have been given residency in New Berlin by the Rheinland House Government.

Homesystem details:
Open to all wishing to do buisness with the government. If asked to leave, however, one must vacate the area or be destroyed.

A random tax may be incurred at any time. Tax depends on level, lowest amount to be paid is 1.5 million; highest up to 25 million.

Knock List:
The Knock List includes all those who have commited crimes against the Rheinland state, including smuggling and piracy. Killing an officer will also put someone on the knock list. Once someone on the list has been killed, he or she will be taken off.

Due Process:
isca'Rheinland does not recognize due process during war time. A captured enemy pilot will be subjugated to one of two forms of punishment. The first includes jettisoning an enemy after having captured them. The enemy's life pod is then promptly destroyed in-space. The second includes a form of punishment called the "ordeal". It is a three part test. First, the enemy pilot must survive a trip back to Hamburg in a de-pressurized cabin. Second, the enemy pilot is jettisoned into planet Hamburg. He or she must survive re-entry with the planet's atmosphere. Third, the enemy pilot must find a way to survive and escape wherever he or she ends up on the planet.

To this day, no one passed round 1 of the "ordeal".

Government:
The Grossadmiral acts as the military representative to the Supreme Chancellor. The Chancellor has authority over the actions of the grossadmiral and his or her sub-admirals. Also, the Chancellor is given near-absolute authority over "war duties". His decisions may be overturned by grossadmiral and a majority of admirals if so becomes the case.

Officers are given a special role in [iR]. They serve as direct representatives of their independant squadrons to the chancellor and grossadmiral. Officers are given complete control during battle unless one of higher rank joins in battle.

Ensigns are newly inducted members in the [iR]. They serve a trial period to see whether or not they can make it Sirius's finest military. Ensigns are expected to serve at least a week before graduating to an officer class.

Economy:
The isca'Rhein economy is fueled by three things. The first is diamonds. The omega and dresden regions provide the empire with a rich supply of diamonds that are for sold for high prices across sirius. The second is hydrogen. The formerly Iscariot held territories of Sigma-13 and Sigma-17 supply the empire with the fuel to survive, and in-turn leave enough surplus to export to other houses. Finally, war against piracy and occasionally other houses, suppliments the war-driven economy through war bonds and military industrial regulation.

History:
Rheinland emerged from the first Nomad War destitute. Their ongoing conflicts with the GMG, Liberty Corporations, and pirates took a devastating toll on the national treasury. Additionally, the Rheinland military was in shambles. The outer systems, while officially named Rheinland terrritory, became noneother than grand pirate safehavens for Red Hessians and Unioners. Perhaps most menacing of all was the newly found theocracy to the north, the Iscariots.

Attempting to solve the Iscariot problem, the Rheinland Chancellor sent what warships he could to intercept the new threat. The entire Rheinland armada, or whatever was left of it, was destroyed in a cataclysmic battle for Sigma-13. The Chancellor wept bitterly that night.

The next morning, news came that Iscariot's battleship division, the infamous "Nephilim d' Knights", were planning a counterattack. With no military to fend off the threat, the peoples of Rheinland feared subjugation and annhiliation. When a squadron of Nephilim finally arrived out of the Sigma-13 jumphole to New Berlin, it was said that all Rheinland stood still.

As these battleships slowly lumbered across New Berlin's airspace, there seemed to be more awe than fear. These "barbarians", men with different religions and customs, seemed to have more wealth than the national treasury (as apparent by the size and granduer of each battleship). As the Nephilim stopped one by one in front of Planet New Berlin, a single ship emerged from one of the vessels. Emblazoned on the side of the ship were the words, "Spiritu Sancti" -- Navonod Iscar's vessel.

Iscar landed on the Rheinland homeworld and met with the Chancellor. He was taken to a secret location in private with Rheinland's highest officials. While the details of the meeting are still uncertain, one thing was clear. Rheinland and Iscariot would become one. Whether it was simply a divine miracle or Navonod's skillful diplomatic manuevers, there would be peace at last (more or less, Rhineland would be unable to defend itself against another Iscariot onslaught and so both sides settled on annexation instead). Ultimatley, the wealth and territory of "Iscariland" would merge into the Rheinland Republik, ushering in a new golden age for both peoples.

However, there was still a matter of "Chancellorship". In what some would say was a machivalian move by Navonod, the chancellor in-power suddenly died when his "hyperdrive exploded" just outside planet Baden Baden. Normally, the "then" vice chancellor, Albert Eisenberg, would take power in such a situation. However, Navonod managed to sieze the Rheinland political system for himself by forcing a vote of no-confidence and expulsion on Eisenberg. With no other leaders willing to take the reigns, Navonod easily ascended the Chancellorship.

He ruled for twenty years and helped to rebuild the fragmented Rheinland empire. His death, of sudden sickness, was a great shock to all. As such, a new Chancellor had to be appointed because Navonod had ruled his term without a vice chancellor. This new man's name was Herrmann Metzger and to say he was amibitious is an understatement. Formerly Grossadmiral of the Imperial Rheinland Fleet, Metzger siezed the new Chancellorship with haste via coup d' etat. With no challenge to his throne, his first act as Supreme Chancellor was to reclaim all of the formerly held Rheinland territory, including Omega-11, Omega-7, Bering, and Hudson. In a lightning quick war, later known as the "3 Days War", Metzger managed to destroy piracy in the surrounding systems and crush the Red Hessian threat.

While it is one thing to keep war within one's own borders, Metzger had greater plans for Rheinland. His newly appointed military staff was among the finest in Sirius. In Operation Rheinland Governance Expansion, later to be affectionatley called "Hell's Wrath", Metzger and his highest generals began plans for expansion into Liberty and Bretonian systems.

This new age of Sirius, whose blood mixes with that of the rivers Iscar and Rhein, has just dawned. The "Great Purge" is over. Rheinland is over. Iscariot is over. isca'Rheinland has risen from its ashes.