Human beings have an innate need to seek out the unknown and find answers to the unanswerable. Jenquai Explorers, known as the Sha'ha'dem, take this characteristic human trait to the apex of philosophical idealism and acute awareness. Ancestors of the Jenquai were people from Earth, selected to participate in the first manned space mission to travel beyond Mars. Jenquai do not often discuss their terrestrial origins, but if it were not for their ancestors' explorations into the deep recesses of space, the Jenquai would not exist today. The roots of the Sha'ha'dem philosophy come from Dr. Elias ben Joseph, philosopher-physicist and commander of the Ganymede Project Starship, the Jin-Qui Maru. It was during this expedition that ben Joseph wrote the Four Inspirations, which became the basis for Jenquai society. Arriving at Jupiter after a five-year transit, ben Joseph and his colonists struggled to build a makeshift base and home, but ben Joseph himself dreamed of something greater. He envisioned an orbital metropolis, populated by those who embraced life amongst the stars. Ben Joseph's vision would find form, but not in his lifetime. Shortly after the death of the great Jenquai patriarch, construction began on the orbital Jove City, which would serve as a capital for the increasingly independent-minded colonists. By 2149, the descendants of the original Jin-Qui Maru colonists had taken to calling themselves the "Jenquai Autonomous Region." Eleven years later, following the War of Secession, they became the Jenquai Hierate. Those scientist-mystics who adhered to the teachings of Elias ben Joseph, and named themselves Sha'ha'dem, took their place as leaders of a fiercely independent people.
The Jenquai strive to maintain their autonomy to this day. Jenquai are the most reclusive people of all the races and also the most xenophobic (fearful of others not of their race and background). Some sects within the Sha'ha'dem take this concept to the extreme. One such extremist group, the Mordana, believe the 'Cultural Experiment' known as the Jenquai must keep completely isolated from all other races. More moderate Jenquai understand the necessity for relying on others at times, but keeping their distance when possible. The Sha'ha'dem live in a world of technology, mysticism and balance through knowledge and exploration. Their beliefs are based on centuries-old Eastern Philosophy. At the time of the Jin-Qui Maru's departure from Earth, a great cultural divide - a cultural Cold War - had arisen between the two great terrestrial powers, the East Asian Alliance and the North American Bloc. Reacting against the pervasive influence of North American culture, the East Asian Alliance attempted to reclaim the history and traditions of Eastern civilization, to modernize and export them, and to end the dominance of Western culture. The Ganymede Project was founded as a joint venture between the Stanford and Beijing Universities, so it was heavily influenced by the Asian resurgence. Most of its members were steeped in the ideas of a new and vibrant Eastern philosophy. Thus, although the Terrans eventually came to reconcile and unite the cultures of East and West, Jenquai ideology has evolved from a traditional Eastern view of the universe.For the Sha'ha'dem, discovery is the beginning to finding the answers, but understanding takes eons. A philosophical mix of the mystical and the scientific is reflected in everything they do and it is especially evident in Jenquai technology. Even their technological advancements are elusive in nature. Skills such as cloaking and folding space are methods to move long distances quickly and unnoticed. The Sha'ha'dem's heightened sense of awareness - some call this psionics - stems from both technological advancements and philosophical undertakings. The Jenquai were the first to develop warp technology, but they claim that the Terrans stole the technology from them. The Sha'ha'dem were also the first to discover an Ancient Gate and to pass through it to the unknown space beyond.
The current leader of the Sha'ha'dem is Merjan Kathrada. Merjan was born in Jove City in 2258 and, at nearly 100 years of age, maintains an extremely active political and social lifestyle, thanks in part to Jenquai anti-aging technologies. Early in her career Merjan was part of the Jenquai Expeditionary Force under Varen Aragotha, serving on the first Jenquai ship to pass through an Ancient Gate into what is now known as the Aragoth system. Later she led the expedition responsible for finding the first Ancient Codex. Merjan also oversaw the research and investigations into the nature of the Ancient Codex, eventually leading to the knowledge of Gate technology. Kathrada was selected to lead the Jenquarum as the First Emissary of the Jenquai, head of the Jenquai Hierate. The sociopolitical tensions in the galaxy have only encouraged the Sha'ha'dem's reclusive tendencies. Although some members are more accepting and open, others are secretive even amongst members of their faction. This makes a study of the Sha'ha'dem an intriguing, yet difficult task.
J'nai, D'nai, U'nai,
Lai' shao, Dai' shao, Ten' shao, Ken' shao Jenquai Warrior Faction: The
Shinwa
|
|---|
  The Ruins of Jove City |
The Shinwa Faction was formed in response to the horrors of the Gate War and the destruction of Jove City, in 2289, which decimated the Jenquai Jovian population. The Shinwa Order functions as a defense against the ravages caused by the Progen and Terrans, and exists to protect and serve the great cultural experiment that is Jenquai Society.
Just prior to the Gate War, Mordane Kathrada (nephew of Merjan Kathrada) and Shigehiro Yasuragi presented the need for an organized Jenquai Warrior group to the Jenquarum. However, the two men had vastly different views on the structure and implementation of this order and neither was able to convince the Jenquarum members. Mordane later died during the war and the leadership of the Shinwa fell to Yasuragi by default when the necessity for such a group proved true. To this day, conflicting opinions concerning the true purpose of the Shinwa remain.Du'Shao Shigehiro Yasuragi led this new group of Jenquai warriors on a dangerous mission, in an attempt to establish the Sirius System as a base of Jenquai Operations. Previous attempts to populate Sirius ended in failure when the original exploration mission sent crews spiraling towards the inner reaches of the sector, only to find insanity and death. Realizing these new Jenquai warriors were unsurpassed in mental discipline, Yasuragi successfully established headquarters on the planet of Swooping Eagle (named for the Kyogan Dragons swooping after prey in the ravines of the planet) in the Sirius System. Consequently, other bases were colonized on the planets and in the sectors of this imposing area of space.
 Du'Shao Silva, Leader of the Shinwa |
Presently, young Du'Shao Silva, a prodigious warrior born on the harsh Xipe Totec planet, leads the Shinwa. Prior to his appointment as the Shinwa leader, Silva was an elite warrior spy noted for accessing crucial information concerning Progens and Terrans inside their territories and unbeknownst to them. The Shinwa remain small in number, but strong in their discipline.
Several sects have splintered from
the Shinwa Order, each following the Shinwa way but with different methods
for application. Two of the larger sects are the Sev Tushnim and the Kaojin.Sev
Tushnim
The Sev Tushnim (We Who Serve in Silence) follow Du'Shao Yasuragi's
doctrine of service and selflessness to a religious fervor. Members of this
sect are entirely devoted to the well being of others with little or no
racial discrepancy. Members of the Sev Tushnim consider others' safety above
their own to the point of sacrificing themselves in order to save another,
if the need arises. In non-Jenquai space, the Sev Tushnim will still follow
this devotion but are extremely careful to maintain a covert cover so others
will not know whom they received assistance from. The Sev Tushnim are
masters of concealment and cloaking skills.
All Shinwa are expected to serve for a time with the Sev Tushnim but only a few choose to devote their lives to this sect.
Kaojin
The Kaojin (Destroyers) are strange, unpredictable and growing to a
sizable number of Jenquai Warriors within this sect of the Shinwa. They are
similar to other Jenquai in their philosophical beliefs concerning the lack
of desire for material goods. However, they differ from other Shinwa (and
Jenquai in general) by their longing for destruction of such things. The
Kaojin are fascinated with the concept of destruction and long for the
"glorious dance of annihilation". The nihilistic Kaojin embrace both chaos
and randomness and the Kaojin believe everything happens without purpose or
reason. In fact, their destructive tendencies are explained by their
philosophy that stresses, "nothing in the galaxy is real and therefore,
destruction has no real consequences."
Jenquai History / Jenquai Government / Jenquai Professions / Home
by
The Jenquai Organization ™