Transbaal Empire

The Transbaal Empire ("Toransubaaru-koukoku"トランスバール皇国) is a fictional galactic empire in the anime, game and manga series Galaxy Angel by BROCCOLI. Despite there existing different versions of the Galaxy Angel universe, the Transbaal Empire exists in all of them. An alternative romanization of the name is the "Transvaal Empire".

As the games give far more information about the organisation of the Transbaal Empire, the remainder of this article will deal with the game version of the Empire unless stated otherwise.

In the anime

In the slapstick comedic Galaxy Angel anime, the Angels are members of the Transbaal Imperial military under the command of Lt. Col. Huey O. Volcott. While occasionally other members of the military will appear, virtually no information is provided about the Empire itself other than it is apparently huge and it possesses special forces (including the Angel Troupe) whose role is to locate mysterious Lost Technology.

In Galaxy Angelune, the anime based on characters from Galaxy Angel II, the Rune Angels are successors to the original Moon Angels and similarly serve the Transbaal Empire.

In the games

The games provide much more information about the Transbaal Empire and the Galaxy Angel universe as a whole. As a result, it is seen as the canon G.A. universe by many fans.

History

The Transbaal Empire's history begins with Transbaal Calendar Year 1, beginning a period known as "Tenkei Jidai" (天恵の時代) or the Era of Heaven's Blessing. The previous two hundred years were a time of chaos, and known as "Ankoku Jidai" (暗黒時代) meaning the Dark Ages. The Dark Ages were brought about by a devastating event known as the Crono Quake which wrecked the previous star-spanning empire and caused many planets, including the planet of Transbaal, to fall into chaos.

This dark period came to an end when the White Moon appeared over Transbaal. The Holy Mother descended from the White Moon and blessed the people of Transbaal by giving them relics of the old empire, technology long since lost. As a result, these ancient-but-highly advanced machines became known as Lost Technology. With the aid of the White Moon and the Lost Technology, Transbaal began the process of reconstructing the old Chrono Space network that had connected the various planets so long ago. Contact was first reestablished with nearby planets and colonies, people from different worlds speaking to one another for the first time in centuries.

One hundred years later in Transbaal Calendar Year 100, the Transbaal Empire was officially declared and the Transbaal Calendar adopted, beginning from the arrival of the White Moon. Two hundred years later in Transbaal Calendar Year 200, had already made contact with the surviving planets and colonies. Now, the Transbaal Empire began using the Lost Technology to expand further into space. By Transbaal Calendar Year 300, the Empire was stable and strong with 128 planets and innumberable colonies, bases and space stations under its rule.

In Transbaal Calendar Year 402, Emperor Gerald ascended the throne. Five years later in Transbaal Calendar Year 407, Prince Eonia, the twenty-one year old fifth in line to the throne, committed a terrible crime and was banished. Precisely what this crime was is something of a mystery, but as it was referred to as a taboo crime it was suspected to be something truly horrific. Common belief is that Eonia murdered a member of the Royal Family.

Another five years later, in Transbaal Calendar Year 412, Eonia returned and launched a coup d'etat against the Empire. Supported by a fleet of mysterious black ships, he launched a lightning strike that tore through the Empire's defenses and managed to reach Transbaal itself. Eonia coldly had the planet bombarded, killing untold millions (or even billions). Emperor Gerald and the Imperial Royal Family were among the victims. Only the young Prince Shiva Transbaal survived thanks to the Elle Ciel and the escorting Emblem Frames of the White Moon's Moon Angel Troupe. It is at this point that the first Galaxy Angel game begins.

Events of Transbaal Calendar Year 412 (Galaxy Angel, 2004)

General Luft, who commanded the Elle Ciel, ordered the Angel Troupe to locate an ex-student of his named Tact Mayers. They located him in the distant Crieom System along with his best friend and XO Lester Cooldaras (who was also one of Luft's students). Luft made Tact commander of the Elle Ciel, reasoning that Tact's low profile and strategic genius would make him best suited to the role of protecting Prince Shiva. He also believed that Eonia would either pursue him because of his status as Prince Shiva's protector, or pursue Tact and the Elle Ciel because of Prince Shiva's presence. Either way, it would by the Transbaal Imperial Military valuable time to regroup.

It was around this time that Eonia made a declaration, announcing his ascension to the throne of the New Transbaal Empire. The previous ruler, Gerald, was corrupt and weak. The handsome and powerful royal called on those still fighting his forces to cease and aid him in creating a new, stronger Empire.

Luft's faith in Tact's abilities were well-founded. Under his leadership, the Moon Angels inflicted numerous defeats on Eonia's forces. Even when Eonia dispatched an elite group of mercenary pilots known as the Hell-Hounds, the Angels and their commander won battle after battle. Despite close calls (such as when Eonia's forces ambushed and wiped out an allied fleet that was to rendezvous with the Elle Ciel), the Moon Angels and company eventually reached the space station Fargo near the planet Roum.

A huge Eonia Counter-Attack Fleet had assembled there under the command of Sigurd, one of the few remaining commanders. He informed Tact that the Elle Ciel would be used as the fleet's flagship and so he was relieving Tact of command. He also announced a dance, where Tact and a member of the Moon Angels strengthened their relationship.

Tragedy struck when Eonia personally attacked the gathering. Unveiling his secret weapon, the Black Moon, he destroyed both Fargo and Roum with a single shot. He spoke to Tact for the first time, attempting to get the surprisingly skilled officer on his side. Tact rebuffed his offer and led the retreat from Roum.

A second counter-attack fleet was assembled around the White Moon itself, which had escaped the massacre at Transbaal. Prince Shiva and General Luft remained aboard the White Moon along with the Holy Mother Shatyarn, along with a small defense fleet. The remaining ships were put under the command of Tact Mayers, who was personally appointed by Prince Shiva with the support of Holy Mother Shatyarn and General Luft. The Elle Ciel was also equipped with its secret weapon: the awesomely powerful Chrono Break Cannon.

The Counter-Attack Fleet fought its way through Eonia's forces (including a final confrontation with the Hell-Hounds) until they came within sight of the Black Moon. At the height of the battle, the core of the Black Moon, the deceptively cute Noa, unleashed an energy-draining wave that left the fleet dead in space. Even the Elle Ciel and Emblem Frames were drained of energy and all seemed lost. However, with Tact's encouragement and their own determination, the Moon Angels managed to unlock the Emblem Frames' hidden power: shining wings of light they dubbed Angel Feather. Similarly, the fleet's ships came back to life and began battle anew.

Even with this miracle the battle could have still swung either way. At this critical juncture, a number of loyalist warships arrived. These included the powerful Zabb-class battleships and with their assistance the Elle Ciel moved into firing range. Eonia's forces launched a desperate attack on the Lost Technology flagship, but Tact's beloved Angel called on all her power to repel the attackers. With one shot of the Chrono Break Cannon, Eonia and the Black Moon were no more.

Unfortunately, this hard-fought peace would only last about six months before an even larger threat loomed over the horizon.

Organisation

The Transbaal Empire is ruled by a member of the Transbaal Royal Family. The current ruler is Empress Shiva Transbaal, the sole surviving member of the Transbaal Royal line. It is apparently an absolute monarchy, as Shiva appears to have a firm control of the Empire despite her young age (she was only ten when she ascended the throne). She is assisted by a group of advisors, foremost among them veteran general Luft Weizen. Information about the other branches of the Transbaal Imperial government is scarce, as virtually the entire political leadership of the Empire (save Shiva and a handful of governors and military commanders) was wiped out by Eonia's coup.

The Transbaal Empire also reveres the White Moon and the White Moon Goddess Shatyarn. As it was the Moon Goddess who gifted the once-tiny Empire with long-lost technologies that allowed it to grow as large and as fast as it did, this is not surprising. Shatyarn is seen as a holy figure, and also has control of the powerful Emblem Frames used by the Moon Angel Troupe. One of Empress Shiva's most stalwart protectors and advisors (as well as secretly being her mother), she is most likely the reason no one has questioned Shiva's ability to rule. The Elle Ciel is also her personal vessel.

In addition, the Transbaal Empire originally had at its command the legendary Moon Angel Troupe, commanded by the hero Tact Mayers. As of Galaxy Angel II, the Moon Angels have disbanded and it is uncertain if their successors the Rune Angels come under the jurisdiction of the Transbaal Empire or the Celdar Empire of NEUE.

Another notable power in the Transbaal Empire is the powerful Blancmanche Conglomerate. This gigantic company literally spans the Empire and is powerful enough that even during times of chaos such as Eonia's coup, it was still able to organise a supply fleet for the Elle Ciel. The chairman of the Blancmanche Conglomerate is Darno Blancmanche, father of the Moon Angel Troupe's Mint Blancmanche. As of GA II, the Conglomerate has spread into NEUE under Mint's leadership and similarly resupplied the Elle Ciel's successor ship the Luxiole.

Military

The Transbaal Empire made use of the technology granted to it by the White Moon Goddess to develop ships for space travel. As the Empire grew, it was clear that a military force would be needed to patrol its territories. At the beginning of Galaxy Angel, it is made up of over 128 planets, as well as many colonies, bases and space stations. It may have expanded since then, but the Transbaal Empire's condition in Galaxy Angel II remains unknown for now.

The Transbaal Imperial Military appears to be primarily a space force, and uses naval ranks for most of its officers. Examples include Tact, who is ranked "Taisa" (大佐) which in the navy is Captain. Likewise, most of the Angel Troupe are ranked "Shouii" (少尉) or Ensign (in the army, Taisa would be Colonel, while Shouii would be Second Lieutenant). On the other hand, Luft is referred to as "Shogun" (将軍) or General rather than "Gensui" (元帥) meaning Admiral. This suggests that there are also ground forces, but the armed forces are simply lumped together under the umbrella term Imperial Military.

The Transbaal Empire has numerous fleets made up of the Spard-class destroyers, Barmell-class cruisers (one of which Tact commanded in the beginning) and the powerful Zaff-class battleships. It is unknown just how big the Transbaal Military is, but it should be noted that despite the massive losses inflicted by Eonia's forces and Nephilia's super-warship barely six months later, the Transbaal Empire was still able to muster a massive fleet to liberate the semi-legendary world of EDEN from the Val Fasq only scant weeks later.

It is possible that, like Eonia, the Transbaal Empire adopted automated warships. Part of Eonia's initial success came from the fact that he could raise a fleet of ships fairly quickly, and as they were completely automated did not need to spend time training crews. However, automated warships lacked the quick-thinking living captains had and so they were eventually vanquished.

Widespread automation of ships is unlikely as in virtually every interaction players have with Transbaal Imperial forces in the Galaxy Angel game trilogy suggests they are manned vessels.

Trivia

* The Transbaal Empire is one of the few galactic empires in fiction that is wholly benign in nature. Similar empires, such as the ominous Empire from Star Wars or the Imperium of Man from Warhammer 40,000 are often portrayed as oppressive.

References

* http://www.broccoli.co.jp/ga/materials/history/index.html - A history of the Transbaal Empire provided on the Project G.A. Official Website.

External links

* [http://galaxyangel.wikia.com/wiki/Transbaal_Empire Transbaal Empire] on [http://galaxyangel.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page The Galaxy Angel Wiki] at [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] .