Aslan Client-States?

[MasterGwydion]

I was just doing some more reading through the Clans of the Aslan, and I came across the part of Aslan "Client-States".

The books use the term "client-states" but they are not allied or beholden to the Aslan Heirate. So, how are they client states? Also, aren't client-states usually a single world? One of these so-called client-states is a 37-world polity made up of something like 8 clans. Not all of the clans are allied or vassalized, so how is this considered one polity and not just a group of clans who inhabit the same area, just like the entire rest of the Heirate?

The whole term "client-state" seems at odds with the Aslan mindset. Territory is either your's or someone else's. In Aslan society, there seems to be no middle ground on this. If someone else rules it, you can vassalize them or take over their land by "force". Where in Aslan culture is the concept of that land is Mine, but it isn't Mine? I doubt the average Aslan male would even understand the concept of "client-state"

Any thoughts on this from anyone?

 

[Condottiere]

A client state in the context of international relations is a state that is economically, politically, and militarily subordinated to a more powerful controlling state.[1] Alternative terms[2] for a client state are satellite state, associated state, and dominion, condominium, self-governing colony, and neo-colony, protectorate, vassal state, puppet state, and tributary state.

As the hegemon, you have some say in it's governance.

 

[Terry Mixon]

I was just doing some more reading through the Clans of the Aslan, and I came across the part of Aslan "Client-States".

The books use the term "client-states" but they are not allied or beholden to the Aslan Heirate. So, how are they client states? Also, aren't client-states usually a single world? One of these so-called client-states is a 37-world polity made up of something like 8 clans. Not all of the clans are allied or vassalized, so how is this considered one polity and not just a group of clans who inhabit the same area, just like the entire rest of the Heirate?

The whole term "client-state" seems at odds with the Aslan mindset. Territory is either your's or someone else's. In Aslan society, there seems to be no middle ground on this. If someone else rules it, you can vassalize them or take over their land by "force". Where in Aslan culture is the concept of that land is Mine, but it isn't Mine? I doubt the average Aslan male would even understand the concept of "client-state"

Any thoughts on this from anyone?

The cluster as a whole is a client of the Heirate as a whole. They share the same values, I believe. Colony might have been better.

 

[MasterGwydion]

The cluster as a whole is a client of the Heirate as a whole. They share the same values, I believe. Colony might have been better.

Actually, according to Clans of the Aslan, they never were affected by the Cultural Purge either.

Also, you can't be a client of the Heirate as a whole, because there is no such thing. The Heirate isn't like the Third Imperium. There is no government above the Clan level. There is no Heirate. There is a group of like 1,000 clans all in competition with each other. No unified government for which to be a client-state of.

They could be vassals of other clans or independent clans, but nothing in Aslan culture allows for the idea of a client-state.

A client state in the context of international relations is a state that is economically, politically, and militarily subordinated to a more powerful controlling state.[1] Alternative terms[2] for a client state are satellite state, associated state, and dominion, condominium, self-governing colony, and neo-colony, protectorate, vassal state, puppet state, and tributary state.

As the hegemon, you have some say in it's governance.

They could be vassal states. Aslan culture is full of those. Is this just a case of the writer using the wrong term or did the writer actually not understand the Aslan concept of Territory?

 

[G'Naakbusters]

I'll have to look over what's written in the book again, but I assume this is just an example of Imperial/IISS terminology being applied. Much like describing any alien system of government or relationship between political entities using English terms.

I mean, this is the Fteirle of the Htoifteirlakht, but we know them as the Aslan of the Hierate.

I guess what I'm saying is, I imagine "client state" is just shorthand for "they take their ultimate flavour as a political entity from the wider mass of Aslan, being a throwback to more traditional/fundamental Fteirle social norms, and they're not as powerful or influential so are somewhat in its shadow."

That is, "label them as "Aslan Client States" and move on to the next bunch of second-tier polities."

 

[Terry Mixon]

Actually, according to Clans of the Aslan, they never were affected by the Cultural Purge either.

Also, you can't be a client of the Heirate as a whole, because there is no such thing. The Heirate isn't like the Third Imperium. There is no government above the Clan level. There is no Heirate. There is a group of like 1,000 clans all in competition with each other. No unified government for which to be a client-state of.

They could be vassals of other clans or independent clans, but nothing in Aslan culture allows for the idea of a client-state.

They could be vassal states. Aslan culture is full of those. Is this just a case of the writer using the wrong term or did the writer actually not understand the Aslan concept of Territory?

As I’m out eating breakfast, you’ll have to forgive me for not knowing the minutiae.

Call it whatever you like. They don’t care.

 

[MasterGwydion]

I'll have to look over what's written in the book again, but I assume this is just an example of Imperial/IISS terminology being applied. Much like describing any alien system of government or relationship between political entities using English terms.

They explained it just fine when they had Aslan Government types instead of using human government types for non-humans. Clent-States are discussed many times and in many locations in the books. So, the definition of client-states is pretty well defined in Traveller, as long as they are human client-states.

I mean, this is the Fteirle of the Htoifteirlakht, but we know them as the Aslan of the Hierate.

I guess what I'm saying is, I imagine "client state" is just shorthand for "they take their ultimate flavour as a political entity from the wider mass of Aslan, being a throwback to more traditional/fundamental Fteirle social norms, and they're not as powerful or influential so are somewhat in its shadow."

Just imagine that Apple is shorthand for Orange. If they had said Aslan Vassal States, then it would have made sense. Aslan have tons of vassals and tons of examples of Aslan vassals. If I have to "imagine" new definitions for words who meanings have already been established in the game, then that is just poor writing or a lack of understanding the lore, both are pretty big sins for a writer. This means that every human world is a Client-State because they all "they take their ultimate flavour as a political entity from the wider mass of Human, being a throwback to more traditional/fundamental Human social norms, and they're not as powerful or influential so are somewhat in its shadow."

See how ridiculous that is?

That is, "label them as "Aslan Client States" and move on to the next bunch of second-tier polities."

This is one of My largest problems with Charted Space. If the Clans of the Aslan is an in-game publication, then that is fine. Do not sell it as a sourcebook. In sourcebooks I am looking for real information, not Imperial Propaganda. I can't worldbuild from propaganda!!!!!!!

That is why I loved when all Aslan worlds had their own Government Codes. I want to see it from the Aslan side, not from the Imperial side. Quit writing material for the other races from the Imperial Viewpoint! I want to know how the other races see themselves, not how the Imperium sees them. The Imperium can tell Us how they see other races in sourcebooks about the Imperium, not in books about the other races and just giving Referees misinformation.

Why? Because, simply put, unless you know the lore beforehand, you will make the assumption that a client-state is a client-state and that the client-states of all races are the same.

 

[G'Naakbusters]

Just imagine that Apple is shorthand for Orange. If they had said Aslan Vassal States, then it would have made sense. Aslan have tons of vassals and tons of examples of Aslan vassals.

But as you say, "vassal" is a well-established term when discussing Aslan politics. We know what it means. And as you point out, there is no vassal relationship between these clans and anyone in the Hierate. The term wouldn't be appropriate. Whatever they are, they're not vassal states, and so another label has to be applied.

This means that every human world is a Client-State because they all "they take their ultimate flavour as a political entity from the wider mass of Human, being a throwback to more traditional/fundamental Human social norms, and they're not as powerful or influential so are somewhat in its shadow."

See how ridiculous that is?

Except that would be unnecessary, because the intricacies of Human government and culture are much better understood, so much more precision can be used. But I imagine the other Major Races definitely lump various small Human polities under something similar.

Like you say, there is no such thing as the Aslan Hierate. There's no such thing as Aslan either. There are Fteirle of the Htoifteirlakht, and understanding of them is filtered through Human terms, which are sometimes going to be imprecise. Which is not only the seed of speculation, reinterpretation and flexible depiction, but also becomes arguably necessary if we want to avoid misuse of terms better established in context, like "vassal".

In terms of broad astrography, the term "Client States" does seem to be used in Charted Space differently than when applied precisely to a given polity. Between the Zhodani and the Rift is the "Human Client States", the trailing region between the Imperium and the Hivers/K'kree is the "Mixed Client States" and "Scattered Client States", and rimward of the Hierate is the "Aslan Client States".

As for the annoyance of different use of the same term in different contexts, that sort of confusion and inconvenience seems realistic to me, honestly!

 

[MasterGwydion]

But as you say, "vassal" is a well-established term when discussing Aslan politics. We know what it means. And as you point out, there is no vassal relationship between these clans and anyone in the Hierate. The term wouldn't be appropriate. Whatever they are, they're not vassal states, and so another label has to be applied.

No label needs to be applied at all. They are Aslan Clans living on the border of Aslan space. Why are they differentiated from the rest of what the Travellermap considers the Heirate. By your logic, as far as humans are concerned they are no different than any other Aslan. They are just other Aslan Clans. As far as the Aslan are concerned, it is the same with a bit of cultural dislike left over from the Cultural Purge that these clans mainly escaped. It even mentions that if the earlier mentioned "client-state" was ruled by 1 clan instead of a mixture of 8 different clans, then that clan would be powerful enough to have a seat on the Tlaukhu.

Except that would be unnecessary, because the intricacies of Human government and culture are much better understood, so much more precision can be used. But I imagine the other Major Races definitely lump various small Human polities under something similar.

Like you say, there is no such thing as the Aslan Hierate.

I say this because there is no ruling body in Aslan space, not because there is nothing in Charted Space that people in universe call the Heirate. Aslan have their own term for it, but they mean the same thing. A client-state is a vassal-state. Vassals are something that Aslan understand very well, and it is almost exactly what humans mean when they use the word vassal. Since they are not vassals, they should not be called client-states, as they are no ones' "clients".

There's no such thing as Aslan either. There are Fteirle of the Htoifteirlakht, and understanding of them is filtered through Human terms, which are sometimes going to be imprecise. Which is not only the seed of speculation, reinterpretation and flexible depiction, but also becomes arguably necessary if we want to avoid misuse of terms better established in context, like "vassal".

In terms of broad astrography, the term "Client States" does seem to be used in Charted Space differently than when applied precisely to a given polity. Between the Zhodani and the Rift is the "Human Client States", the trailing region between the Imperium and the Hivers/K'kree is the "Mixed Client States" and "Scattered Client States", and rimward of the Hierate is the "Aslan Client States".

I would love to have a real map of Charted Space, instead of the one written by the IISS. I want to see what other cultures call themselves. I want to see how other cultures divide their government types, their laws, their Trade Codes, how they classify their starports, etc. I don't want to run an Aslan game and have to translate everything from Imperial Maps because none of the Social UWPs are accurate on worlds of other races. Every single Aslan would have the exact same government type, if We only use the IISS UWPs. That is boring as hell.

As for the annoyance of different use of the same term in different contexts, that sort of confusion and inconvenience seems realistic to me, honestly!

In reality it is realistic. You are correct. This isn't reality. This is game design where terms have definite definitions. In the Third Imperium, Duke has a very specific definition. It even has sub-categories.

 

[G'Naakbusters]

No label needs to be applied at all. They are Aslan Clans living on the border of Aslan space. Why are they differentiated from the rest of what the Travellermap considers the Heirate.

I imagine there are some in-universe maps that don't differentiate. For our purposes, they're evidently distinct in some way; Clans of the Aslan comes up with a reason.

By your logic, as far as humans are concerned they are no different than any other Aslan.

To most Humans they probably are no different. Just groups of Aslan in Aslan space that aren't part of the Hierate, whatever that means. Probably it means "they're touchier than usual and we don't have the same understanding with them, so be extra careful".

I mean, in fairness it was about four pages in an extended "sidebar" talking about these states, so I wouldn't say they've even really been touched on yet. We've only got the very basics so far, justifying some of those intriguing names on the old Megatraveller maps.

Aslan have their own term for it, but they mean the same thing.

Hmm, I have to disagree there. There is never going to be a complete equivalence.

The Vilani can frown disapprovingly all they like, but the various races are never going to fit into Vilani-standard notions or categorizations.

Which is why I agree entirely with your point that it would be nice to see in future works how the aliens define themselves and categorise!

And honestly, these arguments probably occur in universe.

"Well, actually, I'm a political analyst and your maps calling these "Aslan Client States" are ludicrous. There's nothing there that matches any definition of client status under our or anyone else's reckoning".

"Well, actually, I'm an expert in Fteirle studies and calling these 'client states' is ludicrous. The Fteirle have no cultural equivalent to Imperial client status."

"Actually be it known I am proud son of He-Who-Claims-Seven-Sunsets-Of-These-Realms and this is disparaging all honour, thus I make challenge on you to first blood for retraction"

A client-state is a vassal-state. Vassals are something that Aslan understand very well, and it is almost exactly what humans mean when they use the word vassal. Since they are not vassals, they should not be called client-states, as they are no ones' "clients".

Not in any official, technical sense, no. In terms of the general region of Charted Space they fall within, they're the "Aslan Client States".

But they're not client states? No, and Vegans aren't from Vega.

I get what you're saying, of course. But if players are asking "why are they called the client states when they're not clients?", the question itself might raise all sorts of interesting implications about the setting and how the universe does or doesn't fit the conveniences of in-universe attempts to categorise it.

Of course, the two of us are just dancing along the blurring line of "how much of the source material should be definitive for ease of game use and how much should be flexible for complex worldbuilding/individual extrapolation". Long have we all navigated perilously 'twixt the whirlpool of Crunch and the many-headed monster of Fluff, I imagine.

I want to see how other cultures divide their government types, their laws, their Trade Codes, how they classify their starports, etc.

Agreed! I do think we should see more alien-specific coding systems introduced. Maybe we could even have a sourcebook dedicated to it -- a run-down of how the other Major Races list things. Thinking about it, I like that idea a lot. "Here's how to present the familiar information you've seen in previous sourcebooks from an explicitly Aslan, Hiver, Zhodani viewpoint".

(My favourite of those older codes that fell out of use was -- if I interpret it correctly -- that the Hiver equivalent to an Imperial Amber Zone or a Zhodani Unabsorbed rating was "Fascinating". I love the idea that while the Human labels say "tread carefully", the Hiver version says "good opportunity to prod things with a stick and see what happens".)

The K'kree rating system would be funny, I think. Every Aslan and Vargr world would probably be lumped in the same category under a word that meant "very bad".

I don't want to run an Aslan game and have to translate everything from Imperial Maps because none of the Social UWPs are accurate on worlds of other races. Every single Aslan would have the exact same government type, if We only use the IISS UWPs. That is boring as hell.

Agreed.

In reality it is realistic. You are correct. This isn't reality. This is game design where terms have definite definitions.

Well, I suppose it depends on where you draw the line at immersion. If you did want to run a game that feels genuine to the setting then I'd say any detailed setting is inevitably going to become ever more like reality, where all the labels and categories don't actually work. But I do get where you're coming from.

 

[MasterGwydion]

I imagine there are some in-universe maps that don't differentiate. For our purposes, they're evidently distinct in some way; Clans of the Aslan comes up with a reason.

To most Humans they probably are no different. Just groups of Aslan in Aslan space that aren't part of the Hierate, whatever that means. Probably it means "they're touchier than usual and we don't have the same understanding with them, so be extra careful".

I mean, in fairness it was about four pages in an extended "sidebar" talking about these states, so I wouldn't say they've even really been touched on yet. We've only got the very basics so far, justifying some of those intriguing names on the old Megatraveller maps.


Hmm, I have to disagree there. There is never going to be a complete equivalence.

The Vilani can frown disapprovingly all they like, but the various races are never going to fit into Vilani-standard notions or categorizations.

Which is why I agree entirely with your point that it would be nice to see in future works how the aliens define themselves and categorise!

And honestly, these arguments probably occur in universe.

"Well, actually, I'm a political analyst and your maps calling these "Aslan Client States" are ludicrous. There's nothing there that matches any definition of client status under our or anyone else's reckoning".

"Well, actually, I'm an expert in Fteirle studies and calling these 'client states' is ludicrous. The Fteirle have no cultural equivalent to Imperial client status."

"Actually be it known I am proud son of He-Who-Claims-Seven-Sunsets-Of-These-Realms and this is disparaging all honour, thus I make challenge on you to first blood for retraction"


Not in any official, technical sense, no. In terms of the general region of Charted Space they fall within, they're the "Aslan Client States".

But they're not client states? No, and Vegans aren't from Vega.

I get what you're saying, of course. But if players are asking "why are they called the client states when they're not clients?", the question itself might raise all sorts of interesting implications about the setting and how the universe does or doesn't fit the conveniences of in-universe attempts to categorise it.

Of course, the two of us are just dancing along the blurring line of "how much of the source material should be definitive for ease of game use and how much should be flexible for complex worldbuilding/individual extrapolation". Long have we all navigated perilously 'twixt the whirlpool of Crunch and the many-headed monster of Fluff, I imagine.


Agreed! I do think we should see more alien-specific coding systems introduced. Maybe we could even have a sourcebook dedicated to it -- a run-down of how the other Major Races list things. Thinking about it, I like that idea a lot. "Here's how to present the familiar information you've seen in previous sourcebooks from an explicitly Aslan, Hiver, Zhodani viewpoint".

(My favourite of those older codes that fell out of use was -- if I interpret it correctly -- that the Hiver equivalent to an Imperial Amber Zone or a Zhodani Unabsorbed rating was "Fascinating". I love the idea that while the Human labels say "tread carefully", the Hiver version says "good opportunity to prod things with a stick and see what happens".)

The K'kree rating system would be funny, I think. Every Aslan and Vargr world would probably be lumped in the same category under a word that meant "very bad".


Agreed.

Well, I suppose it depends on where you draw the line at immersion. If you did want to run a game that feels genuine to the setting then I'd say any detailed setting is inevitably going to become ever more like reality, where all the labels and categories don't actually work. But I do get where you're coming from.

Yeah. I am still trying to figure out, "When a world is a Red Zone, but not in Imperial Space, is that Red Zone red-zoned by the 3I? An Aslan Clan? Grandfather? How are We supposed to know?" The IISS made the map, so all Red Zones are only Imperial Quarantines, regardless of if it is in another race's space?

 

[Garnfellow]

So a little metagame background on the Aslan Client States. I believe the only reference to them in all of Classic Traveller comes from the poster map of the Third Imperium, which applies this label to three largish polities just rimward of the Hierate border in Uistilrao and Ustral Quadrant sectors.

That’s it. No mention of these things in the CT Alien module, though the three polities are shown in the “Sectors of the Aslan Hierate and Environs” map. Atlas of the Imperium doesn’t cover those two sectors either.

At this point, it’s not really clear what “Aslan Client States” even means. Are these client states to the Aslan, or are they client states composed of Aslan populations? Both? Neither?

The next reference appears in MT Solomani and Aslan, which mentions in a couple of places that Ustral Quadrant is “a sector among the Aslan Client States.” The map key for the Hierate Map names the three polities as Tealou Arlaoh, Iyeaao'fte, and Oleaiy'fte. And that’s about it.

Mike Mikesh, in his unpublished “Grand Explorations” manuscript for DGP, holds that the Aslan Client States were Imperial client states composed of Aslan. They became client states during the Aslan Mission, which occurred after the Peace of Ftahalr. Mike’s idea was that Imperial aid was sufficient to make these three polities beholden to the Third Imperium. You see this idea pop up occasionally in subsequent HIWG discussion.

Douglas G. Snyder, who did the initial design of Ustral Quadrant, certainly followed this idea: “The three client-states of the Imperium [emphasis added] are Iyeaao'fte, Oleaiy'fte, and Tealou Arlaoh.”

But that was just about everything written about the Aslan Client States in canon and semi-canon.

Initially, I honestly wasn’t a huge fan of making the three polities client states of the Imperium, as they were all well outside of Imperial space. It seemed like a real stretch of logic and logistics, and potentially offensive to Hierate clans.

Given that the origin of this idea was an unpublished DGP manuscript, I certainly didn't feel like I was beholden to Mike’s idea. But what was the alternative? The polities were client states of the Aslan Hierate? How would that work, since the Hierate isn’t really a distinct entity? Client states of specific Aslan clans? At least one of these polities is easily as strong as any Tlaukhu clan. Why aren’t these polities just part of the Hierate, like all the other Hierate islands in the rimward sectors.

The more I thought about it, making the Aslan Client States Imperial client states seemed like a less plausible but also much more interesting choice. It also created a compelling reason for the Imperium to send ships back and forth through the Hierate, and created a rimward toehold for the Imperium and Imperial Travellers.

 

[MasterGwydion]

So a little metagame background on the Aslan Client States. I believe the only reference to them in all of Classic Traveller comes from the poster map of the Third Imperium, which applies this label to three largish polities just rimward of the Hierate border in Uistilrao and Ustral Quadrant sectors.

That’s it. No mention of these things in the CT Alien module, though the three polities are shown in the “Sectors of the Aslan Hierate and Environs” map. Atlas of the Imperium doesn’t cover those two sectors either.

At this point, it’s not really clear what “Aslan Client States” even means. Are these client states to the Aslan, or are they client states composed of Aslan populations? Both? Neither?

The next reference appears in MT Solomani and Aslan, which mentions in a couple of places that Ustral Quadrant is “a sector among the Aslan Client States.” The map key for the Hierate Map names the three polities as Tealou Arlaoh, Iyeaao'fte, and Oleaiy'fte. And that’s about it.

Mike Mikesh, in his unpublished “Grand Explorations” manuscript for DGP, holds that the Aslan Client States were Imperial client states composed of Aslan. They became client states during the Aslan Mission, which occurred after the Peace of Ftahalr. Mike’s idea was that Imperial aid was sufficient to make these three polities beholden to the Third Imperium. You see this idea pop up occasionally in subsequent HIWG discussion.

Douglas G. Snyder, who did the initial design of Ustral Quadrant, certainly followed this idea: “The three client-states of the Imperium [emphasis added] are Iyeaao'fte, Oleaiy'fte, and Tealou Arlaoh.”

But that was just about everything written about the Aslan Client States in canon and semi-canon.

Initially, I honestly wasn’t a huge fan of making the three polities client states of the Imperium, as they were all well outside of Imperial space. It seemed like a real stretch of logic and logistics, and potentially offensive to Hierate clans.

Given that the origin of this idea was an unpublished DGP manuscript, I certainly didn't feel like I was beholden to Mike’s idea. But what was the alternative? The polities were client states of the Aslan Hierate? How would that work, since the Hierate isn’t really a distinct entity? Client states of specific Aslan clans? At least one of these polities is easily as strong as any Tlaukhu clan. Why aren’t these polities just part of the Hierate, like all the other Hierate islands in the rimward sectors.

The more I thought about it, making the Aslan Client States Imperial client states seemed like a less plausible but also much more interesting choice. It also created a compelling reason for the Imperium to send ships back and forth through the Hierate, and created a rimward toehold for the Imperium and Imperial Travellers.

Nice answer! Now at least I know how it happened. Thank you for that little history lesson. It is very much appreciated. I agree that them being Imperial Client-States makes no sense within the setting, but you are right, I also agree it is a more interesting choice. Three polities of what are basically Imperial Aslan that far from Imperial Space would make for some very, very interesting politics. This part of space just got a lot more interesting.

 

[rinku]

The designated "Aslan Client States" dates back to the original map that was in CT Supplement 8. Possibly the idea was to distinguish these rimward entities from the ones across the Great Rift that were labelled "Aslan Colonies".

In real life, it was done VERY early in the process of fleshing out the Aslan and later writing has made them not actually client states in the usual sense. In-game you can just chalk it up to persistent Imperial terminology, like Dark Nebula or Aslan.

 

[Garnfellow]

I was just doing some more reading through the Clans of the Aslan, and I came across the part of Aslan "Client-States".

The books use the term "client-states" but they are not allied or beholden to the Aslan Heirate. So, how are they client states? Also, aren't client-states usually a single world? One of these so-called client-states is a 37-world polity made up of something like 8 clans. Not all of the clans are allied or vassalized, so how is this considered one polity and not just a group of clans who inhabit the same area, just like the entire rest of the Heirate?

They are client states of the Third Imperium.

Client states do not necessarily need to be limited to one world. Going back to old CT map of the Imperium, three big blobs rimward of the Hierate are labeled "Aslan Client States." Several small blobs spinward of the Marches and rimward of the Consulate are labeled "Human Client States," and several large blobs in the neutral space between the Imperium and the Two Thousand Worlds and Hive Federation are labeled "Mixed Client States." The blobs are all presumably multiworld states or coalitions.

Further, the CT Spinward Marches Campaign explains that following the Fifth Frontier War "The occupied Sword Worlds, at lmperial urging, established themselves as the independent Border Worlds Confederation, a client-state of the Imperium" (11).

 

[Garnfellow]

The whole term "client-state" seems at odds with the Aslan mindset. Territory is either your's or someone else's. In Aslan society, there seems to be no middle ground on this. If someone else rules it, you can vassalize them or take over their land by "force". Where in Aslan culture is the concept of that land is Mine, but it isn't Mine? I doubt the average Aslan male would even understand the concept of "client-state"

You're right that the average male Aslan might not understand a client state, but a female Aslan almost certainly would get the importance of using "soft power projection" alongside "hard power projection".

I think there are several worlds inside the Buffer that could probably be called Aslan client states, such as Htalrea (Reaver's Deep 1226). Hierate clans aren't supposed to own territory inside the Buffer, but they can project power there through aid or influence. (The Imperials play their own games to skirt the Peace.)

 

[MasterGwydion]

They are client states of the Third Imperium.

Client states do not necessarily need to be limited to one world. Going back to old CT map of the Imperium, three big blobs rimward of the Hierate are labeled "Aslan Client States." Several small blobs spinward of the Marches and rimward of the Consulate are labeled "Human Client States," and several large blobs in the neutral space between the Imperium and the Two Thousand Worlds and Hive Federation are labeled "Mixed Client States." The blobs are all presumably multiworld states or coalitions.

Further, the CT Spinward Marches Campaign explains that following the Fifth Frontier War "The occupied Sword Worlds, at lmperial urging, established themselves as the independent Border Worlds Confederation, a client-state of the Imperium" (11).

Wait a minute! You mean that The Scattered Client States and the Mixed Client States are Client States of the 3I? If that is true, then My whole idea of Charted Space has been wrong. I thought those were client states of the Hivers and the K'kree. Oops!

 

[Condottiere]

I could say feudalism, once removed.

Maybe twice.

The real implication is that there is some form of hegemonic relationship between two parties.

What might differ is how much one has to listen to the other, what they are obliged to do in furtherance of it, and how it originated.

 

[Garnfellow]

Also, a

Wait a minute! You mean that The Scattered Client States and the Mixed Client States are Client States of the 3I? If that is true, then My whole idea of Charted Space has been wrong. I thought those were client states of the Hivers and the K'kree. Oops!

Oh, I don't know that they are not Hiver or K'kree client states. Like the "Aslan Client States" the label is ambiguous. It could mean "Hiver worlds that are client states of the Imperium" (seems unlikely) or "human worlds that are client states of the one of the three great powers." I think it's probably the latter.

 

[Garnfellow]

The power dynamic between patron and client can vary widely. In some cases, a client state is essentially an adjunct of the patron or a vassal state. In other cases, they share a free trade agreement and that's it. In yet others, it might be trade plus a mutual defense agreement. In the case of the Aslan Client States, I envisioned it was a non-binding statement of friendship, a framework for cultural exchange, and some trade agreements. I imagine the Imperial Ministry of State was very careful not to enter into any military alliances for fear of angering large Hierate clans.