Founded in Wy330 by colonists escaping the siege of [[Whistler|Demeter]], The Holy People’s Republic of Jericho is the only human colony in [[Whistler's Reach|The Reach]] that [[The Whistler Colonial Corporate Council|The Council]] recognizes as a sovereign nation – occupying a handful of systems on the other side of a 30-light-year gulf from [[Whistler]]. The colony was able to get a foothold rapidly on the terrestrial planet Jericho for decades before the people of [[Whistler]] ever became aware the colony was there. The Republic of Jericho is ruled by a democratically-elected Senate and chaired by a Prime Minister, who also acts as the head of the Church of Jericho, a state-sponsored polytheistic faith that fervently preaches [[Whistler's Reach|The Reach]] was, at least in part, created and populated by ancient aliens. Much like the people of [[Whistler|Demeter]], Jericho enjoys a technological advantage over [[Whistler]] in nearly every respect – though in the age of the jump drive, espionage is leveling the playing field. ## Demeter Summit The Demeter Summit is the small council of intelligentsia who manage the affairs of the moon [[Whistler|Demeter]].  It is no secret that Demeter is essentially a state of the Republic of Jericho, but the illusion of independence is maintained for the legal détente with [[The Whistler Colonial Corporate Council|The Council]].  The moon is orbited by a [[Whistler Defense Force|WDF]] Naval anchorage and extremely strict controls are placed on the movements of people and goods in and out of the moon.  Strictly speaking, trade between [[Whistler|Demeter]] and the worlds of Jericho is forbidden, but the flow seems to overcome the blockade at levels that shouldn’t be possible.