Imperial Guard

Members of the Imperial Guard are, in short, the guardians of the Empire. They are expected to support Imperial policy, vote for members? political candidates, defend members on their home world and (on request) provide reasonable local military assistance to the Emperor. In return members of the Imperial Guard are under the Emperor's especial protection and guarantee. Minnow houses may become members only in exceptional circumstances. Members may freely leave but are expected to refrain for one year from forming or joining another alliance.

House Ganurath and House Von Bismark were both prior members of the IG. Ganurath left the alliance fairly early, joining the Collaborative Commerce Coalition as soon as the mandatory 1 year had passed. Von Bismark left the IG soon after their tech leader was assassinated by an unknown foe. Von Bismark attested that they felt that since they were the weakest member of the guard, they would naturally be a target for houses against the alliance. With this in mind, they left with no warning, soon joining Caduceus without waiting the obligatory 1 year period.

While Constantine's unrivaled size and economic power make him nearly unmatchable, it is the Imperial Guard that makes him untouchable. The Imperial Guard consists of no less than 4 other top-20 houses, each a zealous supporter of Emperor. Any attack against Constantine will result in a retaliatory strike from every Imperial Guard member in range of the attacker - which is likely to be all of them.