Often considered the antithesis of the Feder’feld Empire, the Immortal Kingdom of Atlas, or the Atlas Strand, is considered the second most powerful within the DUSC. The identity of Atlas is rooted primarily in education, innovation and invention. Like the Isle of Atlas millennia ago, the Kingdom of Atlas pours funds into their education programs, home to the most prestigious educational institutions in the Galactic Webbing. Those who hail from Category One Atlesian planets are usually highly educated and intelligent people, with strong drive and will. Academics who received tertiary education in an Atlesian University have more inherent credibility than alumni from institutions in other Strands, not the least of which due to being extremely selective despite a capacity for billions of students. Atlas is considered the ideal Strand, where many aspire to move to for a new start, eager to raise their kids on one of their planets to provide them the best possible future.
The biggest measurable export of Atlas, not including the technological advancements they develop, are sun-cores. Atlas, and Atlas alone, have classified technology to mass produce and enclose synthesised stars. The best the other Strand’s can do is harvest the star-fire of actual stars for sun-cells, which they tend to leave to Atlas anyway. Rumour has it that Atlas has technology pertaining to black holes, though what and why is a mystery.
When the empire laid claim to an already inhabited Category 2 Atlesian planet, it had been after a decade of R&D on the part of the Feder’feld empire in order to make infrastructure that allowed them to harvest sun-fire, even if it was significantly less efficient than Atlas’ sun-cores. This, in combination with leaked military documents scouting potential Atlesian planets to usurp, made it clear that the empire had premeditated the war, in order to shut out their largest political opposition from the DUSC, with plans to one day destroy them and claim whatever technology it is that Atlas possesses in order to create sun-cores.
However, six months into [the Chorus Crisis], Atlas was invited back to the DUSC and their planet was returned to them. While hesitant, Atlas accepted. Their strong emphasis on research, development and technology meant that they were the best chance the DUSC had in order to combat The Chorus. Even without that, the DUSC would never win without access to new sun-cores, and even the empire relented to that fact.
Due to the need for Atlas’ resources, and following what the DUSC admitted was ‘unneighbourly behaviour’ on the part of the empire, the other Strand’s have made a great effort to offer penance to Atlas in order to re-earn their favour. Because of this, Atlas now has elevated pull within the DUSC, and though no one is brave enough to say it aloud, it even rivals the empire’s political power.
The Immortal Kingdom of Atlas doesn't claim quite as many planets as some of the other Strands, mostly due to the fact that their kings have believed in quality over quantity. Because of this, they boast the most Category One and Category Two planets in the Galactic Webbing, and the least Category Five planets.
Having rejected the use of slaves that the empire has employed across their planets, Atlas gladly houses the few réoux who escape from the empire on their Category One planets with special programs to benefit and support réoux families and citizens financially and educationally.