United Federation
---Space, The Final Frontier....---
"...For what reason have we chosen to fight? To protect something? What are we protecting? Our ideals? Ourselves? Our futures? What kind of future do we gain with bloodstained hands? Those who have died obtained no future and those who did the killing, are they happy with the future they obtained in their deep red hands? Was it worth it? I am not proud of what caused the war in the first place. I am not proud of how the war was fought. What I am proud of are the brave young men and women who stood up against their respective governments and said 'enough' and fought for peace. Yes, they called for peace with guns in their hands. Guns that served to further the endless hateful conflict. Yet we all stand here today on the grounds where the Bloody Valentine Civil War began, united as one and as the leading world of a new union because of them. It is because of them I am able to stand here. On this day, the four-year anniversary of those bloody two years, let us go forth back into the unknown this day not as enemies but as a united people. On this day, let us join our fellow space faring allies, look to the stars in wonder, and spread the dream of peace and knowledge as we explore the final frontier." -President Scylla Clyne, 2555.
The United Federation is a young alliance of planets that have agreed to exist semi-autonomously under a single central hybrid government, sharing the ideals of liberty, equality, and rights for all. It is one of the larger known interstellar powers in known space, having encompassed over 3000 light years and having 50 member worlds that have willingly joined the union. The number of member worlds is currently rising with allies of the Federation working to improve relations in order to join her numbers.
Her exploratory, scientific, diplomatic, and defense functions are carried out by her Star Fleet with emphasis on exploration.
The Capital of the United Federation is located on the founding member planet of Gaia in the castle city of Bonta.
History
Initial Founding
The United Federation was initially just called the Federation of Gaia and was founded in 2489 when the last few nations of Gaia joined the international governing body in the Osean Federation known locally as the United Nations of Gaia (Similar to the United Nations of Earth). Looking to the stars for expansion, The newly formed Federation of Gaia begun their star fleet projects, creating pre-warp vessels that slowly helped expand the borders of the planet in its star system. When the first Gaian Warp-Capable ship was created in 2520, a nearby Vulcan ship made first contact with the scientist that created the ship, revealing to the people of Gaia the existence of extra terrestrial life. With the help of their newfound allies, Gaia was soon pushing advances in technology, medicine, agriculture, and other scientific fields. The genetics field, however, would test the world's cultural ideals, morals, and beliefs.
Genetic Revolution
In 2535, a Gaian Human named Doctor Ramo Tephye revealed a genetics engineering project to the people of the Federation which radically changed the political atmosphere of Gaia. The revelation created a boom of genetically engineered people whose talents exceeded that of a naturally born Gaian. This rapid increase of genetically enhanced Gaians created major social unrest throughout the Federation and attitudes seen in racially tense situations began to emerge, creating radical Naturalist movements such as Green Gaia which viewed genetically altered Gaians as impure and subhuman. In the 2540s, as social tensions grew to an eventual flatline, the genetically altered Gaians, now known as Coordinators, started migrating from naturalist countries/colonies to major Coordinator countries/colonies and neutral countries/colonies that do not tolerate any sort of radical views. Tensions flatlined in the mid-2540s and even started to go down as tolerance for Coordinators begun to spread due to the example of the neutral nations that contained both Natural and genetically altered Gaians. However, by 2550 the radical movement Green Gaia had people seeded throughout the governing body of the Federation and in Coordinator controlled colonies a political party strong in both security and politics started to demand more autonomy from the Federation.
Alien Ambassador Relocations
Ambassadors from extraterrestrial species and their staff were encouraged by neutral leaders to withdraw from the Federation amid concerns that the Naturalists were not only aiming for Coordinators, but also species alien to the Gaian sector. The Ambassadors instead moved their embassies into neutral territories such as Bonta and Etria and assigned delegates to the each political bloc of the Federation in order to maintain relations with all sides of the Federation.
Civil War
The Federation Civil War, also known as the Bloody Valentine War, is a conflict that started in 2550 and ended in 2551.
The Start
In 2550, negotiations involving the autonomy of a satellite-based Coordinator colony had begun on the Gaian Moon, Luna. Leaders from all but a few Coordinator colonies including the leader of the autonomy movement were present at a conference to discuss the issue when a terrorist attack wipes out the base where the conference was being held. Using the opportunity, Green Gaia seized control of the Federation leadership and blamed the Coordinator Autonomy Movement for the attack, fueling the anger from Naturalist nations who demanded swift action against the Coordinators. Fearing an attack from the Naturalist movement was imminent, Coordinator colonies and nations turned to the Autonomous Movement who by 2550 had built up a strong military presence, called the Zodiac Military, whose initial intent was to police the vastness of space. However, before the Zodiac Military was mobilized the Naturalist-controlled Federation Alliance launched an unprovoked attack on a satellite-colony, using a nuclear weapon to turn the colony into a grave. Angered by this turn of events, neutral nations withdrew from the Federation and Coordinator nations joined the Autonomous Movement and supported the Zodiac Military. Soon after the withdraw, open warfare began.
Open Warfare
On Farast 13th, 2550, The Federation Civil War heated up. The first official engagement between Zodiac and Federation Alliance forces was over the neutral Yggdrasil colony. The engagement lasted a month and reduced the colony to ashes. The battle ended in a minor victory for Zodiac Forces, which would have been a stalemate had Zodiac not deployed new military equipment. Civilian casualties were luckily minimal thanks to the efforts of Bontan counterintelligence and military forces but this would unfortunately not be a trend in other colonies on all sides.
In Mars 2nd, 2550, the Satellite-based Helios colony was attacked by Zodiac forces due to the presence of Federation Forces overseeing the development of a secret military weapon. The result of the battle was the destruction of the colony and Zodiac major victory in the sector. Despite their overall control of the home planet, the last two major battles and a few minor skirmishes revealed the Federation was lacking in military technology and strategic maneuvering. However, the Federation stubbornly continued the war, clinging to their short term solutions, nuclear weapons.
After the battle of Helios, Zodiac Forces bypasses the Luna Base and drops jammers on Mars 16th, designed to disrupt power throughout Naturalist nations, resulting in a chaotic week in an outraged civilian population who were dependent of nuclear energy. In response to the crisis, the Federation annexes the Coordinator friendly but ultimately neutral nation of Ustio, receiving condemnation for the act by neutral nations led by Bonta and Etria. Zodiac Forces then began Operation Earthquake, a coordinated landing operation into Zodiac aligned nations like Belka, Emmeria, and the Eurasian Alliance in order to strengthen their position on Gaia before pushing outward into Naturalist territories including Northern Osea, Western Yuktobania, and Delarus. Resistance in occupied territories on both sides eventually forced a trench warfare type situation, drawing out the surface war.
Operation Brass Lion
On Julianis 2nd, 2550, Zodiac Forces seizes an opportunity to capture the Osean's mountain Headquarters designated SCOMM-A (Strategic Command-Alpha). Utilizing their counterintelligence operations, Zodiac was able to create a ruse which led the Federation to believe the next Zodiac operation was going to be to seize the Basset Mass Driver in Eastern Aurelia. The Federation response was to move a bulk of their forces to defend the Mass Driver in order to protect one of their primary mode of transporting supplies (as teleportation technology did not get far due to the war). However, on the eve of the attack a rogue commander named Joshua Bristow managed to leak information of the ruse to the radical Green Gaia who in turn transformed SCOMM-A into a deathtrap. Green Gaia then evacuated Osean personnel, leaving the defense of SCOMM-A to their USEA counterparts without informing them of the trap that was set. This action would later reveal that Green Gaia was comprised mostly of radical Osean patriots.
Zodiac Forces then begun their amphibious and air assault without realizing the events Green Gaia set into motion. During the attack, USEA forces were easily overwhelmed without the assistance of Osean forces, forcing them to retreat deep into SCOMM-A which in turn lured Zodiac Forces into the base. Once enough Zodiac troop and armored units were inside the base, an Osean Green Gaia commander detonated a device inside the base's experimental warp-core tech based power generator, which yielded an explosion large enough to cover 10 km. This wiped out more than half of the Zodiac assault force and the remaining USEA defenders.
The major loss of USEA forces tipped the political favor into Osea's favor who were in Green Gaia's pocket. USEA was the voice of reason in the Federation, only wanting to defeat the Coordinators in the battlefield and bring them back under control. Green Gaia, who was now in control, now directed the Federation towards their genocidal goals of wiping out Coordinators.
Operation Basset Hound
Two weeks after the SCOMM-A disaster, an angry Zodiac military launches another overwhelming assault on the Basset Mass Driver. Despite the Federation Alliance having a new mech-type on the field, Zodiac was able to deploy EMP weaponry which rendered Federation Alliance equipment useless and resulting in an overwhelming victory for Zodiac forces. The Basset Mass Driver was then destroyed, cutting off the Federation Star Fleet from homeworld support indefinitely. After the battle, ignoring wartime conventions and rules of engagement, Zodiac soldiers executed every Federation soldier they could find in revenge for the SCOMM-A disaster.
Battle of Bonta
Having lost their Mass Driver and Space Center at Basset, The Federation Alliance turned their eyes towards the Neutral Nation of Bonta, who controlled the Stonehenge Driver. After USEA lost all political control over the Federation Alliance, Green Gaia was free to pressure neutral nations on Gaia into joining the alliance and the war against Coordinators. However, they were hindered by the Nation of Bonta, who was a political monument and model of peace and strength without force. Green Gaia delivered an unfair ultimatum and soon after launched a military attack on the Stonehenge base when Bonta refused the terms. The battle lasted two days, on Juniper 15-16. While Bonta had superior technology like mechs and combat fighters, The Federation was able to overwhelm them using a large number of their slightly inferior but easy to produce mechs. Cutting their losses, Bonta focused on only defending the mass driver long enough to launch two battle star ships, one Bontan and one stolen Federation Alliance, into space before activating a self-destruct mechanism which destroyed the base entirely, leaving the Federation without the ability to support its Star Fleet yet again.
Battle of San Loma
On Agrest 22nd, after failing to capture Stonehenge in now occupied Bonta, The Federation launches Operation Backhand in an attempt to capture the Emmerian Mass Driver in San Loma. Using the same tactics during the Bontan campaign, The Federation used overwhelming force and rush tactics, resulting in a major victory.
This battle had recordings later discovered after the war which soldiers Federation soldiers murdering wounded and surrendering Zodiac pilots and soldiers. The footage was used by neutral leaders to reveal that the war had turned from conquest to extermination and would later be used as evidence in trials against military leaders and soldiers both Federation and Zodiac.
Operation Fantasia and the Battle of Mendel
On Star Date 227527.74, a peace faction within the Zodiac Military known as the C faction begins Operation Fantasia in an attempt to capture the Starship Eternal, a powerful Zodiac command ship meant to turn the war in Zodiac's favor. As soon as the ship's construction was completed, Commander Lacus C, her subcommander Amy Pitt, and an entire division of C faction soldiers overrun the ship's security personnel and takes the ship out of port. By the time the betrayal reached Zodiac HQ, C Faction soldiers all throughout the Zodiac Military were long gone. The Eternal and her crew eventually meets up with the Bontan Star Ship Lancelot and the stolen Federation Starship Arkbird at the Mendel Colony. This meeting two days later on Star Date 227533.22 would come to form the Three Ships Union whose beliefs followed the ideology of their spiritual founders, Lady Mandy Risu of Bonta and Former Autonomy Movement Leader Vero Zapal Clyne. This union was from then on sponsored in secret by the Neutral Nations of Gaia.
The next day, The Federation Alliance Star Fleet and the Zodiac Military ironically find the TSU ships at the same time, leading to a three way conflict. Using their wits and their newfound belief in their cause, TSU forces surprises both hostile factions by beating them back, destroying the Zodiac command ship in the process while losing only one mech and 2 fighters. This victory and the creation of the TSU becomes on of the turning points in the war.
The Battle of Gracemeria
On Star Date 227596.23, the Emmerian Joint Chiefs contacts the Neutral Nations of Gaia, offering both resignations of leadership and pleas for the TSU to assist in protecting the civilian population trapped in the historical capital of Gracemeria from both Federation and Zodiac forces poised to battle in the city. The NNG wrestled with the request until the Queen of Nordennavic makes a passionate speech citing their own cowardice and inability to stop both Green Gaia and the Zodiac Military from ripping the Federation of Gaia in two. When the NNG begins the vote to assist Emmeria, an ambassador representing other space faring species stood up and put forth an addition to the vote; Rename the Neutral Nations of Gaia into The United Federation.
Star Date 227605.82, with the help of volunteer civilian navel fleets under the guise of humanitarian aid, The United Federation was able to sneak their combined military forces into Gracemeria and evacuate nearly half the civilian population. Whoever they could not evacuate, they moved underground with defensive units and engineering teams for protection. The next day, Alliance and Zodiac Forces converged on the city only to be met with fierce resistance from United Federation Forces who took up defensive ambush positions throughout the city and at the mouth of the Gracemeria Bay. This took both sides by surprise, resulting in United Federation Major Victory without having to use TSU forces. The same day, Alliance and Zodiac troops caught behind United Federation lines surrendered.
This revelation sparked outrage especially in the Alliance, with the Green Gaia leadership attempting to destabilize the United Federation by declaring them traitors. However, The United Federation, using hijacked satellites, launched a media blitz and revealed that they not only evacuated the civilian population of Gracemeria but are also treating their prisoners humanely unlike the two sides who are insisting on destroying civilization. This rattles the Civilian population in The Alliance and in Coordinator Nations, who up to this point believed the war was simply to stop or establish Coordinator independence. The United Federation opted to hold back the more egregious atrocities committed by the two belligerent powers like murdering wounded and killing refugees for when they really needed it.
Operation Green Leaf
After The United Federation revealed itself, its council offers the TSU, whom they already sponsor, a mission to retake Bonta from Green Gaia's clutches. After deliberating and consulting with each other, the commanders of the TSU agree to the mission. The United Federation and the TSU launch a two pronged assault on Star Date 227773.74 by sea and air with the Eternal leading the attack. TSU Rapid Deployment Forces (RDF) landing within the capital city disrupted Alliance command in Bonta while the main task force pushed into Bontan territory with armored mechs and tanks. The RDF opened an entry point into Bonta City from the south with the assistance of a Bontan resistance movement, allowing the main task force to pierce into the Alliance's side and bleed them out. The Eternal and the Arkbird provided air support and superiority while the Lancelot directly harassed Alliance navel ships with assistance from The United Federation 2nd Fleet.
While the main objective was to take Bonta back, the directive from UF Command was to do it with as little civilian casualties as possible, forcing the Task Force to take it slow enough to not mindlessly burn down the population but fast enough that the Alliance did not try to hold the civilians hostage. The Lancelot eventually retasked itself to search and rescue operations designed to evacuate civilians to safety. The United Federation also created a medical task force designed with the same operational parameters to assist The Lancelot.
After a week of fighting with no sign that the UF Task Force was going to stop, the Alliance eventually surrendered due to low supplies. The United Federation Task Force in Emmeria also retakes the San Loma Mass Driver, allowing the TSU to resume space operations.
Operation Peacemaker
On Star Date 227957.02, The United Federation Council sends word to the TSU that Zodiac completed a massive beam array weapon that was going to be used to rain fire on the Luna Base and on Gaia itself. At the same time, NNG counterintelligence also receives information that Green Gaia supplied Nukes to Luna Base while the Second Battle for Bonta was being fought. The TSU decides to launch back out into space with assistance from the Emmerians and go straight for Excalibur, the designation for the Zodiac Super Weapon. Insistent on destroying each other, Alliance and Zodiac forces began to gather near the original satellite colony cluster that started the Autonomy Movement. Alliance forces brought along a carrier star ship containing bombers that can deliver a nuclear payload and the Zodiac forces had Excalibur.
The battle began on 228025.51, with forward fleets engaging first in a jagged battle line. TSU receives the directive from their commanders that they are to thwart any hostile action on the civilian population of either side. The Eternal and Lancelot, backed by six star ships seized by UF Forces breaks off to engage Zodiac Forces at Excalibur while Arkbird and her own compliment of star ships engages her sister ship, the Endeavor, which was protecting the Alliance carrier ship. In the battle that ensued, Alliance bombers manage to bypass Zodiac forces and attempt a run at one of the satellites in the colony cluster. However, before the nukes made contact they were intercepted by the Arkbird tactical fighter wing, Galm Flight. At the same time, Excalibur would fire a single shot at Alliance forces, wiping out half the attack force and vaporizing the Luna Base. Before Excalibur could recharge and aim its sights at Gaia, a pilot, callsign Mobius 1, makes a run into the super structure and fires off two missiles into the core powering the weapon before making their escape. The attack run was successful in at least disabling the weapon and exposing the weapon long enough for UF forces to aim their cannons and fire everything they have, resulting in the destruction of Excalibur. The Arkbird also manages to disable and board The Endeavor, capturing her crew and captain, former Arkbird XO Sola Tane.
The battle ended in a UF and TSU Major Victory.
End Game on Gaia
With the crippling of the Alliance fleets and the destruction of the Zodiac super weapon, United Federation forces were quickly able to form a buffer between both sides and force them down. This did not stop hostilities, however. While the two sides were separated in space, there was still a ground battle being fought back home on Gaia. Green Gaia, the radical group bent on genocide, tried to continue its campaign on the ground but now it has a problem dealing with a new enemy, The United Federation.
The United Federation was hell bent on finding Green Gaia's leadership, utilizing everything they had including Media Blitzes and Intelligence Agents. The last straw was when Green Gaia blatantly conducted a terror operation in a major coordinator city, resulting in major civilian casualties. The United Federation ordered agents in Osea to seize control of Osean airwaves and open a hole in air defenses for a possible invasion. In 228187.84, on the advice of the TSU commanders, The UF opted for a media blitz on all Alliance carrier waves revealing the more horrific atrocities of the war. They did not attempt to keep anything out aside from regular soldier names in order to protect families and they did not stop bombarding the Alliance civilian population until they could not take it any more. On Star Date 228277.45, a month after the United Federation hijacked the airwaves and locked out Osean intelligence, waving off as many attempts as they could, the civilians had enough and took to the streets to drag any Green Gaian sympathizers out into the open. Law Enforcement officials eventually gave up trying to stop the unrest fearing the population would turn on them as well, forcing the extremely nervous Alliance Military to step in. The unrest continued for another month until a shooting incident turned it into a fullblown riot all over Osea, especially in the capital. Rioters broke into government buildings with stolen weapons and dragged officials out to be shot and the proud city of Oured was burning. Eventually, information from a few more moderate anarchists was able to pass into UF Intelligence hands. The information revealed the location of Green Gaia's Leader.
Without hesitation, The United Federation deployed a special forces unit to kill the shadowy leader but by the time they reached him the civilians got him first. There was not enough of him to make a facial ID. DNA would later confirm it was him.
Later, The chair head for the United Federation would resign, his letter of resignation admitting responsibility for the Media Blitz. While he did not believe he was wrong in accepting the vote, he recognized the loss of Gaian life required to find a despicable man was not worth it.
The United Federation then voted for a new chair and passed a vote for the invasion of Osea. The UF forces were met with little resistance and they eventually restored order in the streets of Osea.
In 228293.89, which was Apralis 18, 2551, Gaia's original Federation Alliance interim leadership surrenders to the United Federation.
End Game in Space
Similarly, Zodiac was facing an internal crisis of their own. When Excalibur was revealed, they were met with more resistance than they initially thought. Civilian Council members of the Zodiac quickly realized what they have done and conceded power of the military to Vi Zahra, a moderate General who was sympathetic to the C Faction and eventually the TSU. Before she could arrest the former Zodiac military leaders, Vi Zahra found out that two had taken their lives and the remaining one, the former commander in chief of the Zodiac Military was holed up at Zodiac Command trying desperately to keep the approaching United Federation fleet away. When confronted, he attempts to shoot General Zahra but dies by a gunshot wound before he is able to fire his weapon.
It was too late for a remedy, as civilians were already restless. With little choice, Vi Zahra had to force the Zodiac council to step down and opened elections for new leadership. She also had the military stand down and allow the United Federation to take control.
The United Federation decided to grant the satellite colonies semi-autonomy after negotiations with the new leadership with some strings attached. The Zodiac military would dissolve and all its personnel would join the United Federation, a concession that the Alliance itself had to make.
On Juniper 17th, 2551, Star Date 228540.46, the Federation Civil War officially ends.
Rebuilding
The United Federation, having secured the sector and removed the belligerents of the Federation Civil War, immediately began the rebuilding process. The first step was the Treaty of Julianis, the document that would officially bring the Federation Civil War to a close. Delegations from the United Federation and representatives from the belligerent powers stood in the conference hall of the Celestial Lady with the ruins of the satellite colony Julianis as the backdrop to the signing. It was the first step to rebuilding Gaia into The United Federation. These talks established a large demilitarization of both the Osean Federation and Zodiac as they were the main belligerents of the war as well as monetary penalties for the loss of life created during the war. While not too harsh, the penalties along with sustained inspections would eventually force both sides to reduce/cease funding on defense as it was too costly to maintain and focus on other fields, including public healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The treaty also laid the foundation for the eventual reunification of Gaia.
Establishing the United Federation Government
While there was already a centralized governing body for the United Federation, it was not exactly united at first. Countries were more like members of an alliance with varying interests and no real obligations aside from defense. It was expected that a reunited Gaia would not truly come to be until later in the 2550s due to unrest. This includes the space faring aliens who were observing the conflict with interest, hoping for an impressive and good outcome in the moral sense. Countries (and by extension, planets and colonies) would not consider themselves states of a unified government until 2555 at the signing of the Federation Charter. Leading up to the signing, Countries would have been talking about transitioning into member states with obligations and have done so. The charter would state the structure of the central government, the goals of the United Federation, and the primary role of Starfleet.
Government
The Government of the United Federation is a hybrid government that is based on the previous government before the Bloody Valentine War which includes a Monarchy role. A loose description of this government would be "Constitutional Monarchy," Though it isn't accurate to the definition.
Monarchy
The Monarch represents the unity of the Federation as the Head of State and Judiciary, often working with numerous advisors from the elected government to ensure that they represent the will and good of the people on the Galactic stage to the best of their ability. As such, they are often involved in the diplomatic process.
While described as the head of Judiciary, instead of directly getting involved the Monarch appoint a judge to represent the Royal Court.
The Monarch is also expected to have military knowledge and ideally have military experience in order to properly give input on military matters. The Monarch has the right to give the final word on operations but rarely exercises it unless they are looked to for their decision which happens on occasion.
The Nobility
While a nobility exists within different member planets including Gaia, their status does not automatically grant them special positions in the federal government. Only an election by the people or a vote in legislation can grant them federal government positions. If anything, their status only grants them a title that holds little sway.
Ideally, the next monarch would be an heir that is confirmed to be able to sit on the throne by Legistlation and would remain in the role indefinitely until they abdicate, is voted down in a public no-confidence referendum due to an elder age or because they are grossly incompetent. The vote must surpass 60% of the total population to avoid excuses and abuse of the system.
To date, there has only been one sitting Monarch, Lady Arthura.
Judiciary
The Judiciary of the United Federation handles the interpretation of the laws laid out by the legislation including the intentions of the laws set forth. Though the general public sees the Judiciary as a place where the truth is found, it is more accurate to describe the process as a fact finding system.
The Two Branches of the Courts
Due to the nature of the United Federation's structure, the Judiciary is split into two main branches, Nation State (or simply state) and Federal.
A Nation State Judiciary would handle local laws set forth by the governing body of a planet member of the Federation. Local laws would typically not override Federal law but it unavoidably happens on occasion. Local laws would typically reflect the cultural values of the planet they belong to.
The structure of the Nation State Judiciary starts from District, local Appeals, sector appeals, regional appeals, to Supreme Court. There would be variations of this structure depending on the planet member.
The Federal Judiciary would handle all Federation laws that apply to all planet members of the United Federation. They usually do not interfere on a local state level unless a case has details pertaining to Federal law. In addition, the Monarchy would appoint a judge to represent them in the highest court a case can be appealed to, the Royal Court. The appointed judge is expected to nominate two or three other judges to advise them on cases that reaches the Royal Court.
The structure of the Federal Judiciary starts from District, local Appeals, sector appeals, regional appeals, Supreme Court, to Royal Court. Unlike the Nation State court system, the Federal Court System does not deviate from this structure.