Vanda Khal

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Imperial Planet
Planet Name: Vanda Khal
Function: Capital of the Empire
Leadership: Vandan Official Council, Emperor of Allech-Atreus
Region: Kolthurnia/Core Worlds
IPCS Designation: Core World

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Vanda Khal is a planet in the Great Star Empire of Allech-Atreus that serves as one of two capitals for the interstellar empire.

History

During the reign of the Keltan Emperor Hashal Kumra XV, it was decided that Imperia Prime had outlasted it's usefullness as a capital and the decision was made to turn a planet into a new hub. Vanda Khal, a minor planet is the outskirts of Kolthurnia, was chosen for its proximity to both Imperia Prime and Kolthurnia, as well as its pristine nature and size. The construction projects lasted 20 years before the government moved there, and the new capital was more organized and efficient than the old. However, during the reign of the Valten Emperor Itanda XX, the capital was moved back to Imperia. Vanda Khal was maintained as an Imperial retreat, and furnished with great palaces.

Vanda Khal, however, became the capital once more in the reign of Valten Emperor Walanda XXV, who issued the edict which created two capitals, rotating every ten years. This was to prevent the government from stagnating and becoming complacent. Some Emperors have preferred Vanda Khal to the older capital, but others, including Allech-Atreus XVI, have publicly stated their love for Imperia Prime.

Vanda Khal

Largely undeveloped for years, the planet had no sizeable population or large cities. However, when Emperor Hashal Kumra XV was on a grand vacation tour of some of the most beautiful spots in the Empire, he made a stopover on Vanda Khal. Immediatly, he loved the planet and had a palace built. Later in his reign, when he became dissatisfied with the growing decadence and sloth that surrounded Imperia Prime, he ordered a new capital to be built on Vanda Khal.

The new capital was laid out on a large plateau overlooking the Virigan Sea, and near to the small fishing village of Umthan Vhal. The Emperor appointed the famous landscaper/architect John Uira Makrish as the main designer. Makrish's design placed the Imperial Grand Palace at the far end of the plateau, overlooking the deep bay of Birkit, and the Chamber of Regents building about 9 miles away in a direct line from the palace. His designs were a mixture of the style on Imperia Prime with that of the ancient Gishan style, incorporating elements from modern movements. The Imperial City on Vanda Khal was lush and vegacious, as well as extremely open and airy. Official buildings are broken by well-maintained gardens, and below the stone walkways a swift underground system operates.

Side gardens in the Imperia Sector, Imperial City

Makrish also laid out a gridwork for the city that would crop up when the capital moved. His city was spacious with wide streets and tall buildings, and the gridwork fanned out from a central point in a move calculated to project the image of the Imperial flag to space. At the center of the Imperial city is the Central Plaza, a massive, stone-tiled square with a gigantic statue of Askar Sivarik in the center.

Modern Day

Makrish's design has remained more or less intact over the years. The city has expanded beyond his grid design, and the planet's population has boomed, but the serene, spacious beauty of Imperial City has remained intact. The Imperial government occupies the administrative sections every ten years for ten years before returning to Imperia Prime.