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They had a glorious view of the planet Karis from the transit station. The station was the place-between, where they were poked and prodded by med-servos and received a sort of orientation to the local ecosystem, with the promise that the Academy orientation would tell them more.
After the first two weeks, Jehen and Yasmin and Ferenc were joined by cadets drafted from the Outer Colonies.
With a great deal of laughter and pantomime, they settled in to exchanging stories about their home places; most of the new arrivals hailed from terraforming projects, with a preponderance of people who had Iskra somewhere in their name–the terraforming great-clan.
One of the Outer Colonies cadets explained that they weren’t really members of any of the Karis clan-branches, even those of Iskra. Their lineage had diverged too far back.
Jehen found that greatly unsatisfactory as an explanation. If you were related, you were related, no matter how far back.
***
Jehen, Yasmin, and Ferenc arrive in Karis orbit en route to the Academy. From work in progress, Ship’s Heart (NaNo 2015).
E. P. Beaumont 
Terrific world building, as ever!
I always love the glimpses into the details of this world, like the terraforming clan. Another excellent excerpt!
If you’re related too far back, though, you’re related to everyone, really. I can’t agree with Jehen. History matters, but after a certain point, you’re a different culture and people.
Yes, these questions are at the heart of the entire story cycle of which this novel is a part. 🙂
The fact that these clan branches matter so much says a lot about this culture. It’s very different from, say, modern-day North America where only very recent immigrants tend to know much about their old-world roots. If I had to guess I’d imagine the clan roots are a way of binding together disparate worlds.
I love all the detail you put into your world building. Truly fantastic. 🙂