Ethos

An Ethos dictates each Power's methods for preparing, expanding. and controlling systems. They determine the amount of expansion or fortification necessary to succeed in systems depending on their government type. They also hint at what kind of action the pledged Commanders will be expected to do in Powerplay.

Effectiveness

Possible Ethos are: Combat, Covert, Finance, and Social.

Being strong means the expansion or fortification trigger is reduced by half. Being weak means the triggers are increased by half.

• Combat Ethos is strong against Feudal and Patronage governments. It is weak against Dictatorship governments.

• Covert Ethos is strong against Feudal, Dictatorship, Communist and Cooperative governments. It is weak against Democracy governments.

• Finance Ethos is strong against Corporate governments. It is weak against Communist, Cooperative, Feudal and Patronage governments.

• Social Ethos is strong against Communist, Cooperative and Confederacy governments. It is weak against Feudal, Prison colony and Theocracy governments.

Curiously enough, no Power makes its expansion in Covert Ethos.

List of Powers

Name	Headquarters	Allegiance	Preparation Ethos	Expansion Ethos	Control Ethos
Aisling Duval	Cubeo	Empire	Social Aisling's media teams use viral propaganda campaigns to capture hearts and minds, showing a new and populist vision of the Empire.	Finance Aisling's backer's interests acquire controlling stakes in newsfeed and media networks throughout the system, ushering a new era of socially engineered Imperial support.	Social A sustained media blitz focusing on Aisling's good deeds helps recover wavering support in systems under her sway.
Archon Delaine	Harma	Independent	Combat Archon Delaine exploits and nurtures the criminal element in the system providing resources and contacts to ensure they pervade every level of society. Blackmail and bribery ensure that everyone answers to the Kumo Crew.	Combat After nurturing the criminal element in a particular system, Archon Delaine then instigates infighting and violent insurrection, forcing any that might resist him to try and clean up the problem.	Social "There is no time for weakness. We rule through fear and will divide and conquer those that are resistant to our presence. They will pay the inevitable price in blood and have their families sold into slavery."
Arissa Lavigny-Duval	Kamadhenu	Empire	Social The Emperor's staff researches intelligence from systems to expose endemic corruption. These damning reports are used to highlight the benefits of Imperial justice.	Combat To save a system from the corruption of their own officials, Emperor Lavigny-Duval despatches contingents of her own fleet and private contractors to root them out.	Combat Emperor Lavigny-Duval upholds law and order by maintaining a military garrison in her controlled systems. They are on constant alert and ready to mete out Imperial justice to wrongdoers.
Denton Patreus	Eotienses	Empire	Finance In order to make systems more susceptible to his will, the Senator offers an extensive line of credit to all parties interested in ordering bulk shipments of Imperial armaments.	Combat As controller of one of the largest private fleets in the Empire, Senator Patreus is able to muster armed forces large enough to overthrow all but the mightiest of interstellar powers.	Combat The Senator protects those under his care by providing funds and supplies to help bolster local security forces. Private contractors working for Senator Patreus have an excellent track record for executing his will.
Edmund Mahon	Gateway	Alliance	Finance The Alliance provides a broad range of trade agreements and other benefits. These favour independent systems.	Finance Mahon encourages systems into the Alliance fold through diplomatic missions and creating legislation which enables easy access.	Finance Prime Minister Mahon galvanises his presence in systems by establishing greater governmental links and trade protectionism, in such a manner as to limit other parties' ability to gain influence.
Felicia Winters	Rhea	Federation	Social Shadow President Felicia Winters' media teams provide education on how liberal values bring a better life to all in the targeted systems.	Finance Shadow President Felicia Winters sets in motion an extensive aid campaign improving welfare and health in the system. It's accomplished by agreements to ensure that Federal values are respected in those systems.	Finance Shadow President Felicia Winters' tactics specialise in building communities, binding systems together through common causes, and utilising Federal courier services to aid continuity and smooth operations.
Li Yong-Rui	Lembava	Independent	Social Li Yong-Rui leverages his connections with Sirius Corp to build an irresistible flood of discounts and media presence, inspiring spending and investment from the population.	Finance Li Yong-Rui uses his access to vast funds in order to buy up huge swathes of both private and government sectors, leading to absolute control of the system.	Finance Li Yong-Rui cements his control of systems by oiling the wheels of industry, distributing much needed technology and resources from its headquarters in Lembava.
Pranav Antal	Polevnic	Independent	Social Utopian forces deliver propaganda on a mammoth scale, promising the chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity.	Social Saving systems from the misguided bureaucrats who resist the truth of Utopia, Pranav Antal recruits Utopian Agitators to exert his will.	Covert Only through vigilance can the followers of Utopia be kept safe from the menace of opposition. This requires extra purity on the part of the enforcers, but they are willing to make that sacrifice.
Yuri Grom	Clayakarma	Independent	Covert Yuri Grom uses secret service agents to support insurgent forces in systems he is preparing.	Combat When system's oppositionists receives[sic] enough support - they launch an uprising turning to Grom for help. Yuri Grom provides support sending his Battlefleet to take control.	Covert Active counterintelligence helps prevent hostile entities from breaking Yuri Grom's influence in systems under his control.
Zachary Hudson	Nanomam	Federation	Combat President Hudson uses intelligence collected by both military and civilian Federal agencies to ensure that he has his finger on the pulse, weighing up where to focus his efforts.	Combat President Hudson believes that human space would thrive under the auspices of Federal rule. He is willing to order the use of force if needed, using the pretence of bolstering security when overrunning Federal aligned systems.	Combat As far as President Hudson is concerned, only a continued show of Federal might is enough to ensure law and order is maintained.
Zemina Torval	Synteini	Empire	Finance Senator Torval forges strong economic bonds with systems by treating them as preferred trading partners.	Finance Using her economic connections and vast wealth, Senator Torval purchases both land and infrastructure. In doing so she acquires a controlling stake in systems.	Covert Hiring private security allows Senator Torval to keep her distance from some of the darker methods of control used to keep systems in line.