Thespis

Thespis is a planet within the Periphery of the Outer Reach. The Anthor Belt asteroids are central to the religion of the Thespins, and they have a enmity towards, their neighboring planet, Anacreon. A rogue asteroid from the Anthor Belt was discovered by the Thespins and mined for palladium, leading the Anacreons to believe that Thespis acted in bad faith and broke the Anthor Belt Agreement. The Galactic Empire took no official position on the matter, but did take ten percent of the palladium mined as a tithe. The dispute turned into bloodshed when Imperial appraisers were killed in a crossfire between the two worlds. A delegation was sent, led by Ambassador Shae Un Shae, to Trantor in an effort to maintain the peace. As a gift, the Thespins presented a Book of Ablution to Brother Day, filigreed in palladium as a subtle sign that they were willing to increase their tithe to the Empire if their claim was supported. Following the involvement of an Anacreon Bomber in the destruction of the Star Bridge on Trantor, Emperor Cleon XII ordered Imperial forces to bombard Anacreon in retaliation.