Federal Republic of Zeta Tucanae
The Federal Republic of Zeta Tucanae is a representative democracy neighbouring The United Leagues of Earth. It is the largest state in the Outer Systems region, both in terms of population and controlled star systems, as well as GDP. Each star system operates semi-independently in a federal structure that is less centralised than that of the ULE, but still ultimately answerable to the federal government on Podlaskie.
It is believed that the Cetians terraformed and colonised many planets in the Outer Systems some 5,000 years ago, including the FRZT's three habitable worlds of Podlaskie, Indravati, and Cappadocia, due to the similar biospheres of each planet. The territories now controlled by the FRZT were colonised by humans beginning in the late 24th Century under the United Leagues. the FRZT gained autonomy during The Antimatter Crisis of 2509-2520, and since then has rapidly become the foremost military and economic power in the region.
Zeta Tucanae is known for its close cultural and diplomatic ties to Earth, and for its relatively egalitarian society for a Star State. Its diplomatic ties and political structure have put it at odds with the Congressional Republic of Orizont, the second largest state in the region, and the two have been locked in a cold war ever since the end of The Tavastian War in 2589.
Table of Contents
Government
The Federal Republic of Zeta Tucanae is a federal parliamentary republic. Its president is elected by popular vote and serves as head of state and chief executive, while its chancellor is elected by its bicameral parliament and serves as head of government. The High Court of Zeta Tucanae acts as the nation's legislative branch. The FRZT is one of the few states of the Outer Systems to retain a strong division of powers between its three branches of government. Members of federal and system parliaments are granted seats based on the percentage of votes received by their party in popular elections. Preferential voting means that a wide variety of parties compete with one another in Tucanite politics, with no single party having gained a majority on its own for decades. Instead, broad coalitions are often necessary for governments to form at the federal level, and in systems with habitable worlds. Systems lacking habitable planets, owing to their lower populations, tend to be more ideologically unified, and see smaller numbers of larger parties gaining seats in system parliaments.Society
Zeta Tucanae is known for its individualistic, egalitarian, and materialistic culture, which it inherited from early colonists of Podlaskie. This culture is most pronounced in Zeta Tucanae itself, with other systems in the republic diverging to varying degrees. Zeta Tucanae's experiences in the Antimatter Crisis and Tavastian War have also resulted in a degree of xenophobia seeping into Tucanite society, with many viewing the rest of the Outer Systems' peoples as backwards barbarians in need of enlightenment. While Zeta Tucanae has historically been rather irreligious, Neo-Spiritualism has experienced rapid growth over the last century, with membership going from under a tenth of the population in 2499, to almost a quarter in 2607, making it the second largest religious group, after irreligion. Zeta Tucanae also hosts sizeable minorities of Entropists and Celestialists, both of which face informal discrimination due to the events of the Tavastian War and Antimatter Crisis respectively.Economy
Zeta Tucanae has a diverse, mixed-market economy, with a significantly larger service sector than other states in the Outer Systems. Its highly advanced and automated economy facilitates this, as does its production of antimatter, which it was permitted to produce by the ULE in 2552. The FRZT places less emphasis on self-sufficiency than many other star states, and has strong trade relations with Earth Space and many smaller states in the Outer Systems.History
League Period
Zeta Tucanae has been one of the most important star systems in the Outer Systems since shortly after its initial colonisation in the 23rd Century, which began even before gateway connections to the Outer Systems were established. Initial exploration and colonisation of Zeta Tucanae and Podlaskie was conducted by the European Union - the oldest of Earth's Leagues - and organisations based within it. Following the League War and the establishment of the ULE, colonists from other regions of Earth began settling on Podlaskie in large numbers, but the colonial administration continued to be based on the principles of liberal democracy. The Federal Republic of Zeta Tucanae, established during the early reforms of the ULE's extrasolar colonial governments in the 24th Century, was founded on democratic principles like most star states. Unlike many of the other star states of the Outer Systems League, however, Zeta Tucanae has maintained these democratic institutions largely unchanged for its entire history. Prior to the Antimatter Crisis, Zeta Tucanae was second only in prestige and economic importance to Luax, and possessed one of only three wormhole gateways connecting the Outer Systems to the rest of human space (the other two being in Luax and Sanctuary). Zeta Tucanae's habitable world of Podlaskie has also historically been one of the most populous and prosperous in the region, due to its early colonisation, suitability for human life, and relative proximity to the inner systems of Earth Space.The Antimatter Crisis
Zeta Tucanae was one of the last systems to lose connection to Earth Space during the Antimatter Crisis, but was also among the most severely affected by the disruption to trade. Podlaskie's large population relied on imports of food and other goods, and so famine and supply shortages plagued the population from 2511 onwards. Military vessels and impressed jump-capable merchant ships were able to alleviate the worst of the crisis for several years, but as nomad incursions intensified, it became increasingly harder to both supply Zeta Tucanae's population with food, and fend off constant nomad attacks. The situation worsened further in 2521, when the nomad admiral Ardager Serikov's armada began its campaign of conquest across the Outer Systems, cutting off many already limited trade routes. The crisis reached its worst point in 2523, when Serikov's forces conquered Luax, which contained the only gateway still periodically connected to Earth Space. However, this event also provided an opportunity for the FRZT. The remnants of the ULE fleet in Luax fled to Zeta Tucanae, and assisted in the defence of the system, driving out several small nomad fleets from the outer planets. When Serikov was defeated and killed in Mutenia in 2524, the combined forces of the FRZT Navy and ULE fleet embarked on a campaign to liberate neighbouring systems from nomad occupation. As the governments of these systems had been largely destroyed, they were annexed directly by Zeta Tucanae, but granted a high degree of autonomy in keeping with the FRZT's federal structure.The First Cold War
By 2530, the Antimatter Crisis had ended in the Outer Systems, with Zeta Tucanae emerging as one of three rival powers in the region, along with the Congressional Republic of Orizont and the State of Tavastia. These three states competed for influence over the smaller star states between them for several decades. Notably, in 2552, war nearly broke out between them over control of the antimatter production facilities in Luax, and was only averted with ULE mediation. As part of the settlement, the FRZT was granted permission to produce its own antimatter, which has given it a major economic and strategic edge ever since. 2576 saw the occurance of the Tavastian Emergency, where the ULE deployed an expeditionary force to Tavastia following allegations of atrocities by the dictatorial regime, quickly overthrowing the government and replacing it with a democratic one. However, the ULE abruptly withdrew from Tavastia in 2577 following the election of a new government, resulting in the collapse of the new Tavastian administration. The civil war that followed saw the rise of a new regime of militant Entropy Cultists in 2580, who gained control of Tavastia's still formidable military.The Tavastian War
Tavastia began a campaign of conquest across the Outer Systems in 2585, known as the Tavastian War. The FRZT intervened in November of that year, but its early expeditions against Tavastia were decisively defeated. In 2587, Tavastia invaded Orizonter territory, drawing the Congressional Republic into the war alongside their Tucanite rivals. Tavastia saw their first major defeat in January of 2588, when once of their fleets was defeated in orbit of Orizont itself. In the following months, Zeta Tucanae and the Outer Systems Alliance were also able to win several decisive battles, putting Tavastia on the back foot. By 2589, the coalition had reached Tavastia itself, and a coup d'etat overthrew the Tavastian government later that year, bringing an end to the conflict.The Second Cold War
Following the defeat and occupation of Tavastia, the FRZT and Orizont emerged as the two major powers in the Outer Systems. Despite attempts at reconciliation following the war, the two have returned to their old rivalry, each seeking to sway the star states between them to their side. The ongoing cold war, combined with the Tavastian War, first cold war, and the Antimatter Crisis, have slowly altered Zeta Tucanae's culture. While Zetans still prize equality and freedom, Zeta Tucanae has become increasingly xenophobic, domineering toward other states, and authoritarian. Despite the nation's secularism, forms of worship other than Neo-Spiritualism (or irreligion) have become increasingly discriminated against in recent years. These factors have caused concern for many both within and outside Zeta Tucanae, and religious tolerance and the nation's relationship with its neighbours have become two of the foremost issues in contemporary Tucanite politics.
Founding Date
2355
Capital
Alternative Names
FRZT
Demonym
Tucanite, Zetan
Government System
Democracy, Representative
Power Structure
Federation
Economic System
Mixed economy
Controlled Territories
Federalist
Genetic Manipulation
Regulated
Cybernetics
Regulated
Inter-Sapience Relations
Human-Alien Equality
Friendly Relations
The FRZT seeks to emulate the ULE's culture and political structure.
Reluctant Support
Zeta Tucanae protects Avastus for pragmatic reasons, despite ideological differences.
Cordial Relations
The FRZT has helped Koyuk recover from a devastating siege in the Tavastian War.
Corporate Influence
The GTC has considerable influence in the FRZT, much to the chagrin of most Tucanites.
Ideological Differences
Morobe and Zeta Tucanae have conflicting political systems.
Cold War
Orizont and Zeta Tucanae vie for control over the star states between them.
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