Burani
The term “Burani” refers to a loosely aligned group of interstellar human realms that are differentiated by their intolerance of other human cultures, and distintive practices of cybernetic enslavement and genetic engineering. Their culture was formed specifically in reaction against the legacy of Thann and they are therefore as a rule not adherents to the Galactic Church of Humankind. Burani do not believe in undertaking altruistic efforts to assist human societies, whether their own or others. The worlds that comprise their extended culture have demonstrated a great ruthlessness and survivability over the centuries. Roughly translated, Burani means “People of the Storm”. The term was first adopted as the title of a political party tracing their roots to the NUSA culture that came to dominate North America, Eurasia, and eventually all of Old Earth near the end of the Solar Darkening, and later was applied to the culture that this political party exported to the stars during the Second Exodus beginning in 1500 GE.
Although this exodus was essentially an extended military campaign to conquer nearby star systems such as Zeta Reticuli and colonies of the Annuvinian Empire like Artorius, the Burani did succeed in establishing themselves as a major interstellar culture throughout the High Central Core. The Burani were among the first to grasp the long term economic importance of shadow matter mines and fields, and systematically sought out bright stars that were initially perceived as undesirable because they lacked environments for worlds that could easily be terraformed. By the time of the Third Exodus, the Burani had assumed control of many star systems of strategic importance, notably the systems of the Canopian Current, including Spica, Achernar, and Canopus itself. Despite centuries of unsuccessful warfare with the Annuvinian Empire, the Burani managed to endure when the Empire did not. Burani value power, rules, wealth, aesthetic style, and cunning above all else. Their civilizations are members of the League of Worlds, although reluctant ones.
Burani have at times expressed earnest intents to leave the League, although any such move would plunge Human Space into civil war. The Burani have explored and conquered many star systems throughout the Frontier and Periphery, and have even settled major systems such as Antares outside Human Space in direct defiance of League edicts. The Burani remain a destabilizing force in League politics, although a powerful force of order in their own realms.