Independent Species Forum
Structure
The Independent Species Forum is a collection of over 5000 sapient species in the galaxy that choose to remain independent of other galactic powers, but have formed a loose commercial and diplomatic forum to find efficient means to support one another.
The ISF maintains a roving Capitol in the form of the Custodial Fleet, which moves from system to system in the ISF on various commercial, political and aid missions. As the seat of governance, it also provides a forum for ambassadors and leaders from worlds to petition the collective for needs, wants and to mediate disputes.
The ISF has a loose, democratic structure that maintains a bureaucracy designed to enhance trade and communication across its many species.
The Forum Independent is the voting body of the ISF. It votes on the raising of tithes to maintain the Custodial Fleet and it’s other services, chooses leaders for the bureaus it maintains and votes on escalated disputes from the Disputation Amphitheaters. The body does not have the power to vote for new laws, but can, with a massive majority, vote to place the Forum back into a state of “College” where representatives from each member world must convene on the Custodial Fleet to reform the Articles of Independence, which serves as a loose constitution. Each member species sends a single Ambassador to the Forum Independent.
The ISF maintains bureaus that provide services, investigate threats or interplanetary crimes and gather census, civil and commercial data from Forum worlds. The Bureau of Investigations coordinates law enforcement activities between cooperating worlds. The Bureau of Enlightenment conducts research on everything from resources to census data on Forum worlds to provide other bureaus and member worlds with information they need to make more informed legislative and trade choices. The Bureau of Measures and Ways distributes commercial and navigational information as well as provides insurance for interstellar traders who operate through and outside of Forum worlds.
History
After the formation of The Symbiotry, several species were pressured to join either by their neighbours who had gone over to the massive alliance or by the Symbiotry itself. However, for a plethora of reasons, many sapient species resisted the temptation to join. For some it was that their mortal enemies had taken a place in The Symbiotry and they were not willing to share mutual governance with them. Others feared a loss of their personal identity or sovereignty as part of a chorus of thousands of other species. Some species were specifically not allowed to join as they came from oligarchies or totalitarian states whose systems of law and governance were incompatible with Symbiotry membership.
However, by 2380 it was clear that there were too many threats to the sovereignty of worlds to remain completely alone in the night. The Advanced were beginning to wink independent worlds out of existence. Ambitious space pirate armadas enslaved and pillaged worlds that could not muster adequate defenses. Meanwhile, some worlds had just taken too much of a pounding during the Millennia of Conflict and were now on the verge of total economic, logistical and political collapse.
Guided by the example of The Symbiotry, a Council of Escatarion was called by a number of unaligned species in 2381. While this first council did not manage to find a method of alliance, subsequent efforts continued to try until 2385, when the Custodial Compact was signed by over 155 species. Since then, well over 4100 species have been admitted into the Forum.
Military
The only military force that the ISF maintains is the Custodial Fleet, which is a massive armada of superliners as well as the battleships and frigates that defend it. The fleet is commanded by Primary Admiral who is responsible for coordinating the activities of the fleet based on the requests of the Forum Independent. Primary Admirals are elevated by the Forum Independent for four-year terms and then are forced to step down. These Admirals are allowed to form a staff of their choosing but must select members of other species for at least half the membership of their own staff.
Since there is no official navy of the ISF, each of the military ships are assigned to the Custodial Fleet from their home worlds for cruises for a year. While this can make for some difficulty in coordination, ships designated to service for the Custodial Fleet and their crews are trained specifically for the service before they depart for their year of service, which cuts down on friction in coordinating operations.
N'Gashtilla Verne Diaspola (We Shall Be Free)
Founding Date
12 December, 2440
Capital
Government System
Democracy, Representative
Power Structure
Confederation
Economic System
Post-scarcity economy
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
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