Thoth Institute

The Thoth Institute is an independent nation that was settled in the Shackleton expanse for the express purpose of research and creating technology that is generally banned or frown upon in other parts of  the Milky Way. They were founded a few years ago in the Shackleton Expanse in response to growing regulations on technology in the closing of the Dominion War.     

History

  During the Dominion War, many nations such as the Klingon Empire, the Romulan Empire, and the Federation were advancing technology on all fronts in order to gain an edge on the Dominion. Some former restrictions and taboos were temporally lifted, including genetic modification, Spore Drive technology, and Omega molecule research among others. However, after the war was concluded, all of these black site projects were shuttered. Many scientist from these projects proceeded to quit and renounce their citizenship from their nations in order to form their own separate state where they can continue their research without moral and ethical considerations. Pure Pursuit of Knowledge.   Since then, some unscrupulous actors have hired the Institute in order to pursue and develop technologies that are illegal or heavily regulated in civilized space. There are rumors that independent terrorist, as well as black state actors like Section 31 and the Tal Shiar are frequent clients of the Institute.  

Capital System

  The Thoth Institute is centrally located around a Black Hole in Shackleton Expanse Sector B5-K13. At a range of 1 light-year, the system appears to be a Neutron Star, implying that this system was somehow converted into a Black Hole in the last year. As of now, the mechanism for this transformation is unknown, but theorized to artificial. Within the light envelop is a Class 2 Nebula that obscures sensors and warp speed. Hidden within this nebula, on approach to the central Black Hole are picket ships and small outpost stations that are continuing doing research. Closer to the Black Hole, just outside of the Accretion disk, are several larger instillation approximately scale 10.   While they use a variety of military and civilian vessels, most of the Thoth ships are heavily modified Oberth Classes. Each of these are heavily modified to have modular labs designed for their current project. If provoked, they will often use indirect methods of combat, such as utilizing the Shackleton Expanse, computer hacking, or use of modified probes to create or modify hazards. As they claim to be an Independent Nation, They will threaten Starfleet captains with political ramifications and possibly War.    The Admiralty has instructed Starfleet Captains in the Shackleton to keep their distance, and only engage if they have proof the Thoth Institute is directly interfering with Shackleton personnel, colonies or facilities.   

Government

  The internal government of the Thoth Institute is unique in the galaxy. Citizenship is relatively easy to obtain. Laws regarding intellectual property and damages to infrastructure and materials do exist, but they are far harsher than seen elsewhere. However, there are no laws or policies about environmental protection so long as you do not maliciously ruin someone else's property.  There are also no explicit laws regarding captivity or enslavement of sapient beings. Most slaves are abducted from outside of Thoth Space and brought in, either by citizens themselves or sold to them by third parties, such as the Orion Slavers or the Klingon Empire.   Law and order is handled by a force of paramilitary units that government both internal and external conflicts, but most are directly hired by an individual or a collective of scientist, and are not party to the state. Internal Conflicts between two citizens are brought to the attentions of the Governing Board who will appoint a panel of randomly selected citizens who will serve as Judges and who have no connection to the case. There, the conflicted parties will plead their cases. The Panel then deliberate and make a decision of vedict, damages and punishment to be dealt out. These Judges are then released and can resume their civilian work.    A small bureaucracy of political officials exist within the center of the Thoth Institute called the Logocrats. Logocrats are voluntary, and any citizen that is not working on a project may voluntary to serve in one year terms. They consider and write laws as needed for the smooth operation of the government. They also record the judgements made by any courts and compile a document of suggested sentences and judgements for crimes. From Within the Logocrats, they elect one among them to be Prime Minister, who will become the executive branch of the Government for a term of Two years. The Logocrats, and the executive branch will often ask and appoint expert advisors on many different subjects, often sending a summons to a particular citizen with the valid expertise.    However, 80% of the citizenry of the Institute do not participate in the Government and do not directly vote on who is part of the Logocrats nor the Executive Branch. They are simply too busy with their research in order to be bothered by such things.