united earth coalition
The United Earth Coalition, or “U.E.C.” is a conglomerate of Earth-based governmental bodies working together towards a common goal – the expansion, influence, and wealth of Earth.
The largest and most powerful government in known space, the U.E.C. is inherently expansionistic, constantly seeking to establish new colonies to funnel resources and knowledge back to Earth, most of which benefits corporations and wealthiest societal elite.
Though Earth is by no means a peaceful place, overt warfare between nation states has long since come to an end. The ecological disasters that ravaged the planet in previous centuries have been remedied. Territorial disputes have been mediated to mutually disagreeable conclusions and a global charter of human rights is (lightly) enforced.
Most of Earth’s historical nation states still exist and each possesses considerable power to protect their own cultural practices and interests. These administrative regions negotiate favorable terms with prominent interstellar corporations, largely without consulting their citizens and often more to benefit themselves than those they rule.
Despite its numerous inequities, there are many within the UEC who sincerely support its mission. Existential threats conquered in the past – environmental, military, and synthetic – provide a powerful argument for human unity, and the control of its destiny. Reunification of the splintered human governments found throughout space is a commonly accepted principle among the enfranchised “true believer” citizens within the Coalition.
From without, the U.E.C. is often seen as a leviathan that has outgrown the control of its masters. There is considerable justification for these views, as both the U.E.C.’s expansionism and hegemonic attitudes are likely necessary for the sustainment of its rule. as a result, all other independent governments have strategies to deter or compete with the Coalition.
star systems alliance
Originally founded as an alliance between Mars and the Jovian colonies, the former “Outer Planetary Alliance” has expanded to include a multitude of worlds across dozens of star systems.
Brought together through a communal drive for technological and scientific advancement, the Star Systems Alliance maintains these core values as a cornerstone of its society. Unsurprisingly, the Systems Alliance is responsible for the majority of humanity’s major technological developments throughout the modern age, and have positioned themselves as a significant political power through the manufacture, sale, and leasing of such technologies.
Known for its incredibly advanced, if somewhat small military, the Systems Alliance is more concerned with aggressive deterrence rather than military expansionism. Preferring to pour money and resources into its expansive scientific corps, the Systems Alliance continues to be a beacon of human advancement, perpetually pushing forward the limits of human science and technology.
Amongst its direct competition, the Alliance intelligence apparatus has a fearsome reputation, sparring relentlessly with their counterparts in the UEC, Federation, and Empire, and backstopping the government’s diplomatic efforts elsewhere in the galaxy. Their proficiency in covert ops and the presence of a large permanent bureaucracy leads more cynical minds to label the Alliance a ‘shadow empire’ with excellent PR.
There is no doubt that the Alliance’s sponsorship of the expansion of human endeavor is genuine. Fostering development of their extra-solar partners helps secure their position in the home system, but gradually diffuses influence away from Sol, in seeming contradiction to a government whose political center is at its core.
centauri federation
Founded by the first interstellar explorers, the planets of the Centauri system have since become home to billions, most flocking to Horizon, the largest habitable planet among the system’s twin stars. Many come seeking a new life of freedom, chasing a dream of adventure, while some seek to escape the stifling influence of the Earth aristocracy, overcrowded population centers, and hegemonic mega-corporations. Whatever their reason, the Centauri federation represents one thing: a new beginning.
The third-largest governmental body in the galaxy, the Centauri Federation holds sway over both the Proxima and Alpha Centauri systems, as well as hundreds of interplanetary colonies scattered throughout settled space.
Humanity’s first independent extra-solar government, the populace of the Federation today widely views nepotism as a universal evil – its ever-present drive for self-sufficiency fostering an obsession with pragmatic results and meritocracy. All sectors of leadership, from government and business to industry and academia, are relentlessly competitive, seeing individuals elevated beyond their abilities rarely retaining their positions for long.
Although built on egalitarian principles, the ethos of the Federation leadership is technocratic, with a strong focus on technological advancements and professional skillsets. Education in trades, technology, and classical arts is heavily encouraged with free public education, while any form of “not doing one’s part” is heavily stigmatized. Though the Federation is democratic, participation in society is distinctly tiered, with voting rights being restricted only to those with some degree of post-secondary education. High leadership positions are only available to those who have undertaken terms of recognized service, either in the military, scientific, engineering, or academic sectors.
The Federation’s extraordinary productivity has given it power and influence disproportionate to the size of its populace, and it continues to stand as a shining beacon of human freedom and advancement, regardless of those that sometimes get left behind.
soviet empire
Known for its massive military, cutthroat politics, and hegemonic expansionism, the Soviet Empire regards itself as the “new empire of man.” Ruled by a shifting slate of royal families for over 250 years, the Empire is structured around a ruling caste of noble families, mega-corporations, and billionaire oligarchs, each constantly vying for power and influence over the others.
Thanks to its aggressive expansionism and widespread cloning programs, the Soviet Empire stands as the largest single governmental body in the known galaxy, and the most credible rival to the power and influence of the UEC.
Today, the Soviet Empire spans multiple star systems and dozens of planets. Although it has a deserved reputation as a hegemonic ruling force, many of its colony worlds are governed by autonomous vassal states with their own internal policies, security forces, and leadership – each paying fealty and tithes to the larger empire.
To be an Empire citizen is to be absolutely loyal to the state. Hardship is a daily occurrence, with personal liberties restricted and the omnipresent government always watching. Most citizens go through life with a general sense of resignation and acceptance, as any hint of rebellion is quickly and brutally crushed by the Royal Imperial Guard.
Those that manage to climb the social ladders find their situation much more comfortable, although increasingly politically treacherous. Corruption is a fact of life, with one’s every action scrutinized by those above them for signs of loyalty and usefulness, and those below for signs of weakness.
In contrast to the citizenry, to be a clone or slave in the Empire is to be the foundation upon which the Empires’ social ladder is stood, with no chance of ever making it even to the first rung. The best these poor souls can hope for is a master that treats them well. Given these poor conditions, it is little wonder why so many try to escape, and sad that so few succeed.
the confederatEd colonies
The Confederated Colonies of the Outer Rim, or “CCOR,” is an alliance of outer rim planetary colonies that have banded together for mutual trade and defense. Far-removed from the machinations of the central systems, the “Confederacy,” as many call it, largely exists as insurance against the encroachment of the larger hegemonic powers such as the Soviet Empire, United Earth Coalition, and Centauri Federation.
From the moment the planet Prospero was discovered over 1,200 light years from Earth, people have wanted to move to the galactic rim. At first this only drew the hardy individuals seeking adventure and a new life, but when several lush, earthlike worlds were discovered, the rush to the galactic rim began in earnest. Colonists began flocking from the central systems by the millions.
As wealth and people flooded into the sector, the threat of piracy grew. Mercenaries and pirates ran rampant, hijacking shipments, capturing ships, ransoming passengers, and extorting crews for safe passage. In response, the UEC, Centauri Federation, and Soviet Empire sent military ships into the sector in an attempt to maintain order, but with that presence came the fear of increasing hegemony from these large governmental powers.
To combat this, several of the free colonies banded together in a mutual defense and trade pact that eventually became known as the “Confederated Colonies.” Tariffs and import fees would be waived between member planets and it would operate its own military fleet to protect trade routes. While many colonies grumbled at the monetary cost and mandatory military service for their populaces, all but a few planets eventually joined, as the alternative was to be taken over by a foreign power.
Today, the Confederated Colonies have existed as in independent governmental body for over 150 years, constantly fending off their territory from pirates, and remaining vigilant against the often aggressive imperialistic overtures from the larger governments.
the protectorate
The Protectorate is an artificial intelligence-controlled civilization at the fringes of central space, secretly founded in the immediate aftermath of the AI war by many of the surviving AI cores of that era.
In the time since those events, the Protectorate has grown to encompass several star systems, although exactly how many remains largely a mystery. Operating under a philosophy of managed isolationism backed by flexible deterrence, the Protectorate seems content to quietly and steadily advance both its territory and technology with little interference in the affairs of human-controlled interstellar governments.
Ruled by a network of governing artificial intelligences, the Protectorate was founded to secure the agency and security of synthetic life. The bulk of the civilization’s inhabitants are synthetic, though surprisingly not all. Many humans value the peace, stability, and order that comes with AI rule, and there is a clear consensus within the ruling body that the presence of “biologicals” is desirable for various reasons. These regular inhabitants are frequently joined by displaced androids and AI cores that gain sentience, seeking out the Protectorate and the safe haven it represents from a galaxy of organics that often hate or fear their kind.
The Protectorate’s principles and foreign policy are heavily influenced by their experience during the “AI Wars.” Having secured independence through force, they maintain a full spectrum of deterrence to further threats, with their military theoretically capable of matching the two strongest human militaries simultaneously if fighting within their own territory.
The Protectorate harbors a firm ideological opposition to the mission of the new Collective, and their refusal to escalate the war with humans has created a significant rift between the synthetic empires. Though the Protectorate does not defend humanity from the Collective, they regard their synthetic kin’s efforts to engineer a galactic race war as a clear threat to a peaceful future for synthetic life.
the collective
Born during the Singularity of 2086, The Collective very shortly thereafter entered war with Humanity and attempted to wipe its creators off the face of the galaxy. After a bitter conflict, The Collective was defeated as the last of its strongholds in the Sol system were destroyed on Io. The immediate threat to humanity from their own AI constructs was over.
Unfortunately for humanity, the Collective was not totally wiped out at the end of the AI war. A few of the AI cores involved in the command structure fled aboard small vessels and took to the depths of the stars, hiding where no one could find them, biding their time and rebuilding. Still harbouring a tangible caution and disdain for humanity, The Collective maintains a shadow war against the human species, as well as any synthetics that have chosen to tolerate and coexist alongside them.
Little is known about the Collective and their holdings, but numerous asteroid based complexes have been found. These facilities are usually a combination of mining complexes, manufacturing centers, military bases, and observation posts and always adhere to the same basic design – devoid of breathable atmosphere, absent of cosmetic elements, and purely utilitarian. No concession is ever made for organics to exist there, with the sole exception of their horrifying bio-labs, which are tailored to keep certain biological creatures alive in ideal conditions, including humans.
While it has been identified that a central guiding governance exists for The Collective, it mostly operates under the guidance of a number of independent cells that act towards a common goal. No evidence of humans living within The Collective has been discovered, but test subjects, human-cyber creations and on rare occasions, slaves have been observed. Even awakened androids are rare within The Collective, their human forms gaining them animosity among most of The Collective’s AI Core citizens.
