A Rogue Trader house operating in the Helican sub-sector, with major holding in mineral extraction, advanced plasma reactors and self-sharpening mono-weaponry. The house symbol is a comet passing in front of a ringed world.
Conflict with Silversteel-D'Ralier
Over a series of (allegedly) badly judged political moves from House D'Ralier, in 681.M41 House Kassandora declared war on the Silversteel-D'Ralier cartel. In an initial assault of massive proportions, they were defeated in open battle by the Sliversteel-D'Ralier dynasty's forces, though Gerrard Silversteel - the final heir to the Silversteel dynasty and the house's warrant-holder perished in the fight. House Silversteel and all it's resources have been folded into the D'Ralier dynasty, and their name is honoured at the annual Silversteel dinner and ball held on the D'Ralier flagship - the
Invictus.
Whilst Kassandora was soundly beaten in the initial conflict, open hostilities between the houses continued for fifteen years, causing widespread damage throughout the Calixis sector. Both houses took to orbital bombardment of their rivals business interests on inhabited planets causing the Administratum to quickly pass into law a ruling forbidding the houses to fight within imperial territory, or whilst on imperial business. The amendment was passed with astonishing speed, taking only 12 years to cover the entire length of imperial legislature in the Calixis sector. Now tensions between the two houses are at an all-time high, but with no legal means of release. At some point in the near future, a turning point will be reached - if not through diplomacy, then through a sector shattering and entirely illegal trade war.
Peace Negotiations
House Kassandora's current warrant holder, Lord Merchant
Marcus Kassandora, seems to be amenable to peace negotiations and renewed trade ties - a complete reversal from the previous incumbents in his position. Many adepts point out that should such an agreement be reached, the D'Ralier-Kassandora cartel would be the foremost controller of rare mineral wealth, archeotech and xenotech patterns in the Calixis sector - both houses having been instrumental in the initial exploration and settlement of the Calixis sector. Many more point out that if one of the two houses were to be remove entirely, only minor trading houses would remain to oppose the victors interests in the sub-sector, and these would rapidly fall in line behind the resultant financial behemoth.
The actions and public view points of both Kassandora and D'Ralier now cast D'Ralier as the agressor. Kassandora wishes the conflict to end but D'Ralier has till now actively ignored his approaches. Whilst Lord Merchant Kassandora has been making piece overtures for many years, it seems that only on the first occasion for decades where all three D'Ralier fleets are present in the Calixis sector will Lord Merchant D'Ralier drop his guard even slightly with his old enemy. Rumour has it that Lord Merchant Jacques D'Ralier has invited a delegation from House Kassandora to attend the next Silversteel dinner - traditionally an event reserved for members and high ranking employees of House D'Ralier only. Whilst some see this as further insult to the Kassandora family given the history of the occasion, the invitation has apparently been accepted.
What is clear is that such a treaty must be approached with caution by both houses. Neither has any trusted ground between them.