The Terran Federation

HISTORY

The first of the UCR's colonial exploits, Terra was named as such because the loss of contact led the colonists to believe that they were isolated and alone, thusly having a new 'Earth' as their homeworld. For twenty years they were hard at work to establish permanent structures across the planet and expanding the population through cloning and the standard biological way of expanding populations. The early years were rough, as the fleet inbound to the coordinates had lost several of its' ships in route to the system, falling out of FTL early, or impacting into something along the way, or the engine systems even detonating due to complications. Medical ships were primarily the casualties of the journey and disease became rampant in the colonial efforts. Despite everything, the colonists strived forward until contact would be eventually re-established some 20 years after their arrival.

Named "Terra" by the original settlers in honor and homage of their perceived lost homeworld, they would start anew here. Both bodies and minds seeing slow genetic mutations due to the lack of medicine and augmentation tools to cope with the planet's natural state, though this would only become apparent several hundred years down the line. To the Surprise of the colonists, Earth wasn't dead like they had assumed when contact was re-established in the later 2100's, and when a small UCR fleet had finally arrived years after contact was made, Terra was welcomed to the fold with open arms by the Earth government.

Thanks to the continued efforts of Earth, technology continued to advance in these first hundred years, managing to open up trade and supply routes to Terra, and expanding the population with more colonists from Earth. The population saw an explosion as much as the infrastructure across the world. The colonists gladly accepted the early clone adoption policies from the government and used clones of adults as an early form of slave labor in rougher terrain and environments.

As time progressed, Terra would also begin to house one of the UCR's military training centers, which would only expand as time progressed. This center would be used to house soldiers, train them, and deploy them to neighboring systems as a quick reactionary force to any emergencies. On top of exporting soldiers, Terra became an agricultural hub for the region of space they found themselves in, sending foodstuffs and rations to the surrounding non-agricultural systems to support the workers, miners, and colonists. It was hard work, but years of dedication and the belief of the betterment of mankind, the Terran colonists would gladly fulfill their duties to the orders of the Republic for the next few hundred years.

As resentment grew, Terra started to be seen by its outer colony neighbors less like a brother, and more like an enemy. The Terrans had been staunchly pro UCR, even during the great Purge. When rebellion followed; Terra quickly mobilized and fought faithfully on the side of the UCR. Their ties were already extremely close, and the Terrans had always been supportive of the one government system. Not having been previously affected like many other of the outer rim colonies economically, they did not feel the same resentment that others did. Forces that were trained or brought to the planet were deployed out to the rest of the outer rim. Much like the rest of the UCR forces, they were brutal in cracking down against dissent, machines, and AI. As the war raged, and the rebels seized the surrounding systems around Terra, martial law was enacted across the planet and the civilian government was completely abolished as the Terrans were now left nearly isolated entirely from the rest of the UCR. It would see a valiant defense, and counter attack against the rebels surrounding it.

When the Colonial Rebellion came to an end, and an armistice was signed creating the 'Free Colony Project' (later to be called the 'Free Colony Zone' (FCZ) ) the Terran System was unfortunately made to be within its’ borders. With the 'hands off' approach to the FCZ that the UCR took, Terra was left abandoned. Despite pleas from the Terran military governor to stay within the Republic, they fell on deaf ears leaving the colonists with the feeling of complete abandonment and resentment of their own. Following its forced sovereignty, Terra was constantly in the crossfire; targeted by nearly all of its neighbors whom they had been fighting bitterly against not too long ago. Either to capture Terra's large agricultural resources, or revenge for it siding with the UCR during the rebellion their neighbors staged constant attacks and raids within their home system. The civilian government was just getting off their feet, when yet again the military instituted martial law and took control of the system entirely to wage another war.

Through this time period of the first century of the FCZ, Terra never outright attacked any nation, being forced almost constantly into a defensive. Terra, however, had the military supplies and resources left behind by the UCR's pull out of the region, something that their aggressors did not, and the constant warring forced the Terran state into a much longer dictatorial military regime. The wars were nearly constant and the threats were plenty. Only when the wars began to come to their end could the nation stabilize its’ domestic and foreign policy. Only then could the re-introduction of civilian freedoms and liberties resume. That being said, the nation from so many wars developed in its cultural mindset many nationalistic viewpoints. Though individual liberties returned, many still viewed the ideal of serving the nation as a priority, and the policies that the civilian government would later adopt would follow in such ideas.

A relative peace would settle over the Terran Federation. For the following 100+ years, the civilian government would struggle to find its’ footing, constantly relying on the military to back up its control over conquered territories from their former enemies, as well as strongarming and saber rattling neighboring states into backing off any anti-Terran policy. Occasional border skirmishes and skirmishes over extrasolar mining stations would become the norm up until a rising aggressor, the Seraph Republic would eventually turn a simple skirmish into an all out war. The war would last for 4 years, it would not be terribly long int he grand scheme of things, and there was some fighting over a contested system, but it did not spill much outside of the border regions. However, it was during this war that the largest nation of the free colonies was swallowing up the rest of the other nations. The Azen Empire would enter the fray, assaulting the Seraph Republic from the rear, causing a near collapse of the small growing state, before the unstoppable tide of Imperial aggression was now at the Terran Federation’s doorstep.

The Imperials technically instigated the Terran response by taking an Ex-Federation territory that was under Seraph Republic control and that the Terrans had been desperately trying to reclaim for months. The Empire claimed to have been helping, however it was known that even the Empire was not intended to stop at the Federation’s borders, and in an effort to sell another war to the population, the Terrans used the system, now in the hands of the imperials to preemptively strike out. An act that was seen as the best option instead of waiting for the imperials to reform their navy and hit the Federation. The Terrans had sent envoys and requests from their friendlier neighbors and the only other powerhouse of a state left in the Free Colonies that had the military to help push back against the imperials: the Staevik Republic.

The war would last nearly ten years. It would see some of the largest naval and ground battles in human history to date. Millions would perish as every tactic was employed. Chemical agents, orbital bombardments, and the deployment of millions of cloned soldiers from imperial facilities would litter the battlefields with dead. The affair would see a slow, and hard fought push, keeping the Empire on a desperate defense, as its conquests were chipped away, system by system.

The end of the war was not ended by total victory. It was won by an armistice between the battle hardened and manpower drained nations. The Empire was nearly completely dismantled, but the Terrans were left with economic recession, and much of a generation dead. The numerous Azen fleets now sat in Terran hands and needing the funds to rebuild themselves and to stimulate their economy, they sold the fleets and gear. It was excess, and they didn't care who bought them, just that they did not have to maintain the ships. The fleets ended up being sold to the lowest bidders, even those who were obviously going to use them for nefarious purposes, but the Terran senate needed the money both to rebuild their homeland, and to fund the occupying armies in the few main former Imperial colonies that were of significance to the Federation. The rest of the former Imperial systems not still under the diminished Empire were left to fend for themselves and find their own way. It was this lack of policing and the willingness to pawn off ex-imperial gear which eventually led to the rise of the Pirates and the numerous rogue states across the free colonies, an epidemic that could have been avoided.

The Staevik Republic during its economic collapse at the end of the war called for aid from the Terrans. Several times at first to jumpstart their economy, and then several times during their civil war for military aid. The Terran Federation, however, could barely handle themselves let alone a growing revolution. Their economy too, was nearly just as decimated and their military was occupying the former imperial systems. The Federation Senate, knowing any intervention would spell demise by an incredibly war weary population, unfortunately was forced to ignore the Staevik Issue, only towards the end of the war offering an outer system to refugees of the collapsing republic. Those who fled spread out, some founded their own colony and later joined the Confederacy. However a large portion of the military-in-exile went to the Terran Federation, eventually forming a vassal state: The New Staevik Republic (NSR)

The Terrans have since retreated back to their self-seclusion, managing only their territory and leaving the free colonies to themselves. When the rogue 'free' nation, led by the pirate king Admiral Svensk, rose up and started attacking the CSCN and many independent nations, the Terrans remained behind their borders. It wasn't their business. It never was. Only with the changing of political climates and secondary motives did they finally send their armada in full force to assist the colonies. In one fell swoop the Terrans had acquired a significant amount of territory, taken from the rogue nation who stole it from the CSCN. The Terran Federation did not return this territory to the CSCN and its member states, rather keeping it and adding it onto the Federation. The Capture of a newly built Fort Anderson by the Confederates being one of such territories, taken by the Rogue State and subsequently absorbed by the Terrans. It was nearly the cause of a war between the already embattled Confederacy and rapidly militarizing Terran Federation. The mounting pressure between them was only relieved when the CSCN navy, under no orders from any central authority fired on Imperial vessels responding to an SoS from Armen Station on the opposite side of the free colonies and the civil war within the Confederation that followed suit shortly after.

With their potential war with the CSCN averted, the Terrans found a new proxy state in which to funnel resources, special forces, and equipment to the breakaway state of the Varnim Pact. A splinter group from the Confederacy which broke away in the political schism following the loss of Port Anderson to the Terran Federation. Though the Terrans would not send forces and equipment in large numbers, they did use it and the battles they engaged in as small scale weapons testing and special forces training on underprepared invading Confederates. Though their contribution would be cut extremely short following the destruction of Fort Helmen and the beginning of the Second Coalition War.

The Free Colonies following the war in the CSCN, rogue states popping up, and Imperial buildup, looked more like a bomb ready to go off at any minute. The Confederate-Pact war was being played by Imperials and Terrans, and the Neutral states were already picking sides preemptively. A last minute olive branch of peace was offered by the Imperial government, which would be accepted by the Federation, both seeking to avoid the bloodshed. The Terrans’ Fort Helmen would be the site of the diplomatic negotiations, located in the middle of Sector 5. All was presumed well and the Free Colonies prepared to breathe a collective sigh of relief until the Fort Abruptly detonated, killing all hands and the diplomats inside. What followed was the naval forces that were surrounding the station immediately firing on each other, kickstarting the war, and plunging the colonies into oblivion.

POLITICS

The political system of the Terran Federation is that of a Federal Republic. However, not all of the citizenry has been givin free rights to vote or hold office, instead only passing that responsibility and right to those who have served the nation in some form, either through military service, civil service such as firefighters and postmen, certain non-profits and humanitarian groups, or exemptions such as rights being granted to women who produce two children for the nation. Multiple parties encompass the Federations congress, but the most popular end up coming down to the 'Conservative Nationalist Party', the 'Social Labor Party of Terra', and the 'Federation Veteran Party'. Though many smaller parties dot outer systems, the dominant inner system political parties come down to those three, with the smaller ones picking one or another to allign with.

The Terran Federation would have a singular head of state, elected from the represented systems within the state. The Congressmen, elected to represent their systems and colonies would be the ones who ultimately would elect their leadership, and terms would last a total of 5 years, with a three term limit. With a varying of population sizes and representative power spread across the Federation, the Terran civilian government would often come from various territories, rather than Terra Prime itself constantly. Such an even spread and small voting base would for the most part keep the citizen population (those who have gained their rights to vote and hold office) content.

The Federation has notable policies of:

Public and private healthcare options for all Citizens and Non-Citizens

Service Being a guaranteed path to citizenship

Social market controls and limits for foreign goods and services entering the country to ensure Terran industries are not destroyed

POLITICAL PARTIES

Conservative Nationalist Party: Currently the largest of the three leading parties. Believing in economic responsibility, and a focus on further investing and supporting Terran home industries rather than relying on imports and free trade policies with neighboring states. They believe in what was the longest policy of isolating themselves from the outer colonies at large to focus on home growth, though they do not entirely believe in full isolationism, often siding with the Labor party when it comes to certain trade networks and relations out of the country. The Conservatives at large are considered the moderates in the political sphere on Terra.

Social Labor Party of Terra: Arguing for the opening of the country and expanding free trade agreements just beyond the Federations' immediate neighbors and close allies, the Labor party is very much supported by most unions. It seeks to expand their economic growth by allowing Terran goods and services into the market at large, which would ideally flow back into the pockets of the working man. Taking a more leftward view on voting rights, has furthered the push for the spacers to be granted complete and total citizenship without exception in the Federation, a notion that has gained traction by even the Conservative Party.

Federation Veteran Party: The second most powerful political party, being made up of mostly veterans, the Veteran party has been pushing for a continued military buildup, in preparation for war with the Imperials when it eventually comes. They believe that isolating their industries to the home territory now will spare them fromt he eventual market collapse of open trade policies that are cut later on down the line. They support a Terra first policy taking much of the conservative talking points even further to the Right.

Spacer People's Party: Made up of spacers almost entirely as the name says, the Spacer People's Party has found itself often latching on and alligning itself with the Labor Party. In fact, the idea for all Spacers to be granted citizenship was initially created by this party. The majority of proposals and policies the SPP touts all are centered around general improvements to the quality of life in space stations and extrasolar mining operations.

Outer System Democrat Party: Lying in the Federations more outer systems, and being notable small, the Democrat party largely has been pushing for more exemptions to the path towards citizenship. They are territories far newer to the Federation and thusly do not hold a large population of eligable voters.

Federation Libertarian Party: They are radically opposed to many of the parties in control, advocating for shrinking the military, expanding voting rights, and shrinking both taxes as well as government jobs. They have seen the growing military and have voiced numerous concerns over the possibility of the military using the threat of war as a way to sieze control and disband the civilian government. A lot of the party surprisingly is also made up of military members, but of Planetary Guard forces, and retirees.

IMPORTANT MEMBER STATES

Terran System

The Capital system of the Federation, helmed by Terra Prime. An Earthlike world producing foodstuffs to their surrounding territories. It has a small naval industry through its' system, but the larger exports are food, and military related.

Cerin System

The Cerin system is one of the inner heartland systems. An Earthlike capital world, previously one of the conquests that the Terrans had taken in the earliest days of the Free Colonies, it now is firmly indoctrinated into Terran culture and society. An Earthlike world, but sparesely populated compared to the others. Industrial farmland dots the planet, as food is exported in great quantities to feed the other territories of the Federation. Despite the low population, they are very well built up and the system boasts some of the better civil engineering that the Federation could provide.

Arthanian System

Another one of the Terran agricultural exporters, the planet has a much heavier population than Cerin. Military bases scatter its' planet and it acts as one of the forward military 'fortress worlds' of the federation.

Asteri System

A system with an Earthlike agricultural world as its' heart and much like Arthania and Terra boasts a heavier population. That being said however, the military installations are much lighter comparitively, as it sits futher away from what would be considered the frontline. The Asteri system is home not only to agricultural exports, but a smaller naval shipyard, as well as the Terarms military industrial complex, building and exporting the weapons and equipment for the federal army.

Korlian System

Not by any means an agricultural hub, rather being more of a rock like mars or venus. The population lives in underground habitats, mining the planets within the sytem and the asteroid belts scattered about as well. Korlia would be relatively unknown if it were not for the military shipyards within the system. It's because of the large expansive shipyards within the system, that the Korlians have been given a priority on supplies, often being well fed, as well as constantly being the first prioritized when it comes to upgrading habitation systems throughout the territory.

Halle System

An agricultural hub that has been fought over time and time again. Its' surface covered in craters from bombardments and scars from wars previously fought. The cities and structures dotting the surface now largely being diminished in size, as the cities have moved underground as a form of protection against any future fighting. It's surface is coated in surface-to-orbit defenses, as Halle has been nearly fully converted into a 'fortress world'.

Dorith System

Named after the system's founder Dorithy Baste of the UCR hundreds of years ago, the system has no agricultural hubs of which to speak outside of smaller artificial hydroponics plants dotted about. The sytem boasts a large water supply in the form of a mostly frozen over world of ice, and the numerous ice asteroids caught in the orbit of the sun. The system boasts no strong military industry or presence, but exports water in great quantities to stations and colonies with no other real access to it on their own. The population has made many efforts to improve their living conditions with the funds recieved fromt he export of the amount of ice and water across the system.

Entari System

Another agricultural fortress world. Not much necessarily differentiates it from Arthenia, but it is still one of the heavier populated agricultural hubs that contributes large quantities of manpower to the Federal Army.

ISSUES

The issues with the Terran Federation stem from the fact that not everyone can vote. Where the Terran population at large feels that it is a way of preserving their state, those who cannot vote feel otherwise. It is a great cause of resentment in the political structure as a more pacifist youth refuses to serve, or that the civil jobs are harder to get into because of overwhelming demand.
The university educated class of people are frowned upon in Terran society, as the institutions are closely watched by the government. It is believed that universities breed communistsand socialists, and create a breeding pool of societal parasites who are willing to give nothing to the structure of the State and the Nation, yet demand everything from it in return. Often collegiate students and those who come from it undergo several political vetting processes before getting jobs, and the divide has genuinely led some into the arms of more radical socialist policies out of spite. Though a small amount, it has led to some communist movements attempting and mostly failing at taking root in the Federation.
Federation justice is harsh to offenders. Often times serious offenders are just put to death if there is overwhelming evidence if a crime. Lesser sentences usually result in a prison sentence, though it is somewhat diminished. The Federation believes that displaying a harsh hand towards the worst offenses would deter many others from following in their footsteps, and would make lesser offenders think twice.
The patriotism and nationalist sentiments as well as the overwhelming majority of the population with the ability to vote has been considered problematic with the fact that in some regards the military itself has a say in politics, and that the government can be more easily sways to totalitarianism from a military takeover. Politics is often also swayed in the favor of their military.