Trans-Solar Federation

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Trans-Solar Federation

General Information

Informal Names: TSF, SolGov, Feds
Capital: Earth, Sol System
Founding: July 14th, 2000

Demographics

Residents: 87 billion est.
Languages: G. Common, Sol Common, Tradeband

Policies

Government: Stratocratic Controlled Democracy
Current Grand Marshal: Samantha R. Daud
Currency: Credit

Assets

Primary Exports: Consumer goods, foodstuffs, heavy machinery, armaments, ship hulls
Fleet: Ten active battlefleets. >1000 crewed warships. >1500 uncrewed droneships

The Trans-Solar Federation, also known as the TSF, SolGov, or simply the Federation, is the largest human-majority nation and de-facto superpower of the Orion Arm. Headquartered on Earth, the TSF is a unitary federal democracy in which only those who have performed a requisite five years of national service may vote or hold public office. Militaristic, assertive, and egalitarian, the Federation is a political chimera that has served as a bastion of capitalism and controlled liberty for centuries. With the strongest economy, industrial base, and armed forces in the known Sector, the TSF is a beacon of stability and power for all under its aegis.

Unfortunately, that stability may soon be relegated to the past. The Twilight Conflict against the USSP, having lasted centuries, appears to be drawing towards a conclusion with a whimper, as internal struggles force the Federation to withdraw much of its influence and strength abroad. Smaller nations which once chafed under Federal oversight now move to chart their own paths, many of which run contrary to Federation interests. Within the TSF itself, rampant expansionism has stretched its forces perilously thin, while bureaucratic bloat and corporate corruption sap its strength from within. Today, it is becoming increasingly clear to analysts and generals alike that the Federation’s greatest test yet may soon arrive. As to whether the sun will finally set, or if it will rise resurgent, none can yet say.

Abridged History

This section is under construction. Check back later!

Government & Politics

"The vast majority of our citizens don’t want grand revolutionary ideas or sweeping societal change. They want stability, safety, and a cause to believe in. The Federation will provide all three."

- Grand Marshal Bolan, regarding the TSF’s post-Cygni political reforms.

While ostensibly representing all of its constituents equally, the Trans-Solar Federation is, in practice, a stratocratic federal democracy. Federal citizenship is only granted after a 3-year period of service in any branch of the Federal Armed Forces, or role as defined under the Federal Constitution. Those who have not completed this term, usually referred to as “residents” or “civilians”, are ineligible for most forms of political participation, and are excluded from several prominent government programs. The Federation operates with three primary branches of government: The Executive, represented by the Grand Marshal and their Executive Committee, the Legislative, represented by the Citizens’ Councils and the Civilian Assembly, and the Judicial, represented by the Federal Supreme Court. Below these are the five primary departments of the Federation, which in turn branch out into an unfathomable monolith of bureaus, sub-departments, and agencies responsible for keeping the Federation moving.

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The Grand Marshal

The prime executive of the Federation, the Grand Marshal of the Trans-Solar Federation serves as both the Federation’s head of state and head of government. Elected via ranked-choice popular vote, the Grand Marshal serves for a single term of five years. Originally little more than the commander in chief of the Federation’s armed forces and the director of its foreign policy, the office has grown substantially in power over the centuries, today holding legislative veto power, the ability to issue Federal Directives, and the authority to assume specified emergency powers in times of war or crisis. Prerequisites for becoming the Grand Marshal are some of the most stringent of any Federation office, requiring the candidate to be a Citizen, in good financial and legal standing, and having held the pay grade at or above O-7 in any Federation service branch, among others. The current Grand Marshal is former Vice Admiral Samantha Rachel Daud, an Earther of the incumbent Federal Unionist party.

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The Joint Executive Committee

The Joint Executive Committee serves as an advisory body to the Grand Marshal, and represents the overall top of the Federal hierarchy, just below the Grand Marshal. Comprising both civilian and military officials, the Committee is responsible for working with the Grand Marshal at all levels to coordinate and execute Federal policy, and to ensure the continued growth and stability of the nation. While possessing no official power outside their existing positions within the Federal government, members of the Committee are critical in ensuring that every major Federal initiative is executed across its constituent parts. Members of the Committee are not elected, but are instead selected by the Grand Marshal and approved by the Upper Council. The Grand Marshal may also choose to remove a sitting member of the Committee, but this too must be approved by the Upper Council.

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The Citizens' Councils

Comprising two separate bodies, Upper and Lower, the Citizens’ Councils provide political representation to the Citizens of the Federation. The Upper Council provides equal representation to all member worlds, with each member world providing two representatives decided via a ranked-choice voting system. The Lower Council provides proportional representation, using a mixed-member proportional voting system with two votes: a winner-take-all vote for a constituent representative, and a second vote for a political party, which divides the remaining seats in the Council by said parties. Representatives in both councils serve for terms of five years, with a limit of two terms per representative.

The Councils are the primary legislative body of the Federation, with both Upper and Lower being able to put forth bills. Said bills must then be confirmed by both Councils, and pass the desk of the Grand Marshal to be approved as law.

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The Civilian Assembly

The Civilian Assembly: Providing representation to the civilian populace of the Federation, the Assembly operates similarly to the Upper Council, with each member world’s civilian populace electing a single representative to speak on their behalf. Civilian representatives serve for four years, with a limit of two terms.

Unlike the Councils, the Civilian Assembly is not permitted to propose legislation, instead only being able to vote for or against existing legislation moving through the Councils.

Following the reforms of the post-Cygni era, the Assembly's power was curtailed even further, with many now considering it to be little more than a rubber-stamp.

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The Supreme Court

The highest court of the Federation, consisting of 7 appointed justices, selected by the Grand Marshal and confirmed by the Upper Council. Justices serve for life, with some exceptions, and are usually selected from members of the Federal military court system who have exhibited exceptionally honorable and apolitical conduct.

Member States

Membership within the Federation can be broken into two main categories, Full Members, and Dependent Members. Full Members meet the extensive criteria required by the Federal Constitution, including a population above five million residents, an economy capable of meeting Federal tax requirements, and the ability to host System Defense Force elements, among many others. By meeting these requirements, Full Member states are granted representation in the Citizens’ Councils and Civilian Assembly, and are permitted to host major Federation infrastructure such as naval bases and advanced production centers. Dependent Members, by contrast, are polities which cannot operate at this required level. Dependent states do not receive Federal representation and are ineligible for more advanced Federation programs. Instead, Dependent Members are fast-tracked for more foundational aid intended to bring the member’s GDP, population, and overall development to Federation standard.

Regardless of category, however, all Federation member states receive perks and obligations as a part of the nation. The Solar Credit is mandated as a standard currency, tax-free trade occurs between all members, and the Federal Reserve is available to all such worlds as a lender of last resort, among many others. Beyond this, member polities receive aid and assistance from the myriad agencies under the Department of the Interior in areas ranging from infrastructural development to agricultural subsidies, so long as the appropriate paperwork is filled out.

Legal Status of AI

Artificial intelligence and cyborgs remain contentious topics within Federal space. While cyborg units made from the brains of organic citizens retain their legal rights and Citizenship, IPCs and positronic brains are not legally considered people, and thus cannot interact with much of Federal society.

The general stance of most Federation citizens towards IPC units is one of ambivalence. IPCs are uncommon within Federal space, usually only being seen as servants or assistants to the wealthy. As such, an IPC seen "in the wild" is far more likely to receive stares and pointed fingers than any form of outright violence.

Sector Authority Commands (SACs)

Sector Authority Commands represent the largest administrative division within the Federation, encompassing dozens, if not hundreds of systems. Every SAC is in and of itself a state in miniature, and most are at least somewhat self-sufficient. Each SAC also contains a number of Federation Navy battlefleets, usually two, which rotate between SACs.

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SAC-Central

• Headquarters: Luna
• Population: 47 billion
• Size: 27 systems (27 colonized)
• GDP: 165 trillion credits
• Current Assigned Battlefleets: First, Fifth

Comprising Earth and its surrounding systems, SAC-Central is, and is likely to remain, the most well-equipped and prestigious command within the Federation, thanks to the disproportionate amount of high-value systems within its jurisdiction, to say nothing of Earth itself.

Given the high security and development of Central, fleets stationed here are unlikely to engage in high-profile combat. Central thus usually acts as a “R&R post”, with fleets cycled in following difficult deployments to frontier SACs. In the event that another SAC is embroiled in combat, Central also serves to provide reinforcements when required.

Notable Systems:

• Sol

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SAC-North

• Headquarters: Naval Station Gambier
• Population:
• Size:
• GDP:
• Current Assigned Battlefleets: Fourth, Sixth

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SAC-South

• Headquarters: Kayani
• Population: 12 billion
• Size: 78 systems (14 colonized)
• GDP: 67 trillion credits
• Current Assigned Battlefleets: Third, Eighth

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SAC-East

• Headquarters:
• Population:
• Size:
• GDP:
• Current Assigned Battlefleets: Second, Ninth

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SAC-West

• Headquarters: Joint Base Navarro
• Population: Five billion citizens & civilians
• Size: 215 systems (>50 colonized)
• GDP: Thirty trillion credits
• Current Assigned Battlefleets: Second, Tenth

Armed Forces of the Trans-Solar Federation

"I solemnly swear that I will uphold and defend the virtues, ideals, and Constitution of the Trans-Solar Federation; that I will protect it against all foes foreign and domestic, known and alien; that to it I will give my complete and uncompromising allegiance; and that I will do my utmost to serve my nation and her people in all my duties. So I swear, without doubt, reservation, or intent of subversion, for Sol and the Federation."

- Federal Service Oath, Military Variant.

Born on Earth, tested by Aurum, and reborn in the fallout of Cygni, the Armed Forces of the Trans-Solar Federation are the nation’s most venerable institution, and comprise the single most powerful conventional fighting force in Orion. Responsible for enforcing the Federation’s will in all theaters of battle, the AF-TSF is composed of three primary independent branches: the Federal Army, Federal Navy, and Trans-Solar Marines, with each serving a specific role and domain. The Federal Army is responsible for planet-bound forces, including all ground-based aircraft and, somewhat counterintuitively, sea-going vessels. The Federal Navy operates the nation’s space-going vessels, commanding the Federation’s ten great Battlegroups, and acting as overall command for Federation System Defense fleets. Finally, the Trans-Solar Marines serve as the Federation’s mobile ground forces, operating jointly with the Navy to deliver rapid assault and maneuver in space and from orbit. Collectively, all three branches fall under the direction of the Federation’s unified high command, known as Winter Solstice, and the Grand Marshal, who serves as the military’s commander in chief.

The Federation Analytics and Intelligence Directorate (FAID)

"Knowledge is the friend of the righteous."

- Motto of the FAID.

Seal of the FAID

The primary intelligence arm of the Federation, the center of its intelligence community, and an organization with seemingly limitless reach, FAID is a common boogeyman in the Orion Arm, and a source of paranoia and dread for any would threaten the Federation. Formed in the aftermath of the Cygni Crisis and Nanotrasen’s subsequent maneuvering, FAID is officially responsible for coordinating the Federation’s many smaller intelligence organs, as well as being the primary force behind operations and intel gathering beyond the Federation’s borders. Unofficially, the Directorate has a similar amount of influence within Federal space, and is believed responsible for countless instances of political interference, corporate sabotage, and even assassinations against those deemed dangerous by the Federation. Today, FAID is at the forefront of the TSF’s intelligence activities, furthering its reach across the sector, eliminating enemies of the Federation, and combatting intrusions from rival organizations.

Economy

The TSF possesses the largest economy of all known civilizations within the Orion Arm. While the total GDP of the Federation is difficult to calculate thanks to its size and interstellar distance, current estimates range between 200 - 350 trillion credits, with an average growth rate of 4.7%, though this varies heavily between systems and worlds. The nation’s currency, the Solar Credit, is the most commonly used in the Sector, and is backed by the Federal Reserve and the TSF’s mighty armies. The nation ranks first in nominal GDP and fourth in disposable income per capita.

The exact nature of the Federation’s economy depends on the planet in question. Highly developed habitable worlds such as Earth and Nova Byzantium are dominated by white-collar work and light industry, while barren worlds such as Ganymede and Chicomoztoc lean far more into heavy industry, fuel production, and other pollution-intensive work. The Federation also remains home to numerous major companies, including Nanotrasen, Cybersun Industries, and Sunburst Heavy Industries, among others. While some worlds have reached post-industrial levels of development, the Federation as a whole can be considered an industrial superpower, with the highest levels of raw production in the sector.

Earth itself remains the sector's premier financial center and remains one of the largest planetary economies within the Federation, second only to Mars in terms of financial movement. Earth is home to the Federation Stock Exchange, based in New York, and the corporate headquarters of several Federation-based companies, including Cybersun Industries, the Electra Dynamics Energy Corporation, and the Sunburst Group.

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Science, Technology, and Energy

While not as advanced as the technocratic Gray, or the lost wonders of the Vox, the Federation remains a leader in scientific innovation thanks to its egalitarian ideals, large educated population, and immense industrial base. While the Federal government has historically favored material sciences for their ease of adaptation to industrial and military use, the discovery of bluespace has caused a resurgence in less-applicable theoretical fields.

As of today, the Federation primarily relies on nuclear energy, which makes up approximately 60% of its total energy production, in both fission and fusion reactors. Other renewable sources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal power account for a further 15%, with various fossil fuels, mostly oil and natural gas, accounting for the remaining 25%. Fossil fuels are mostly used on the frontier, where technical expertise and energy infrastructure is not yet sufficient for large-scale nuclear energy production.

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Income and Wealth

The TSF is a broadly high-income nation, with average household income coming in at #4 in the sector. This varies heavily throughout Federation territory, however, with less-developed frontier zones receiving significantly less income, while core worlds such as Earth have median incomes matched only by the Skrell.

Income inequality remains a deep-rooted issue within the Federation, with the top 1% of income earning orders of magnitude above their next closest income bracket. While legislative efforts have been moderately successful in stemming the negative effects of such inequality, drastic action has been rejected due to fears for the greater economy.

The Federation also has a noticeably higher-than-average poverty rate, especially among those who have not completed Federal Service. This has largely been attributed to frontier worlds dragging down the national average, along with a general lack of social safety nets for civilians.

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Healthcare

The Federation's healthcare system is a mix of public and private practices, regulated under the Federation Health Service Act of 2235, meant to deter monopolies and prevent medical price gouging. Public healthcare is usually provided by system or planetary governments, with the exception of SolCare, a universal healthcare program restricted to those who have completed Federal Service.

As with many things within the Federation, care quality and infrastructure varies heavily between planets and systems. Highly developed planets like Earth feature advanced amenities capable of handling nearly every conceivable ailment, while frontier worlds may struggle to maintain any form of centralized health system. Earth itself possesses some of the most advanced (and expensive) medical services in the sector, and is a common destination for interstellar medical tourism.

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International Trade

The Federation is the sector’s largest trading nation, and the leader of the sector’s largest economic bloc in the Solar-Central Compact. Primary exports of the Federation include organic foodstuffs, processed industrial goods, military equipment, and refined metals. Primary imports include consumer goods, microchips, and encouraged immigrants.

As with all aspects of the Federation, trade varies significantly between worlds and sectors. Frontier worlds can be expected to import far more basic goods, such as machine tools and construction materials, than developed core worlds.

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Currency and Central Bank

The Federation's primary currency is the Solar Credit. The Credit is commonly used across the sector, and remains the most-used currency for international transactions. Many independent systems also use the credit as a de-facto currency, though independent nations opposed to the TSF have attempted to ban or restrict its usage for fear of economic coercion.

The Federation's monetary and fiscal policies are managed by the Federation Central Bank, formed in 2200 following the Constitutional Convention, which attempts to maintain stability, low inflation & unemployment, and high economic growth. All budgets drafted by the Councils must be approved by the Central Bank before being finalized.

The Credit can be considered a fiat currency, as it is backed solely by the Federal government. More accurately, it is backed by the Federation Armed Forces, and as such, most polities in the Orion Sector tend to agree upon the value of a credit.

Demographics

While primarily human, the Federation’s egalitarian citizenship policies and predilection towards open borders and free trade has created a large and diverse society with every known race in the sector represented in some capacity. By the last Federal census, the Federation’s total population numbers in the high tens of billions. This number is heavily subject to change, however, as the rapid growth of the frontier and colonization of new worlds has led to a Federation-wide deployment of birth incentives to help populate these newly claimed systems and planets.

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Population

As of 2568, the Federation has a total population of 87,751,450,223 citizens and civilians with a margin of error of 2%, according to the most recent Federal census.

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Language

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Immigration

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Religion

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Education

Within the Trans-Solar Federation, education is primarily provided by public schools and universities, with a significant number of private colleges also existing. Education standards are set by the Federation Department of Education, but can be modified by planetary and local governments within reason. Funding for schools is split roughly evenly between local governments and Federal grants.

Schooling is mandatory for all Federation residents up to the high school level, with continuing education encouraged following one’s Citizenship tour of duty, with many public universities holding Citizenship as an entrance requirement.

Publicly funded schools are noted to have a small but noticeable bias towards practical subjects, encouraging skills and talents directly useful to the Federation, with less practically useful subjects receiving slightly less support from the government. Far more noticeable the encouragement of Federation patriotism within schools and history courses, which some naysayers have slanderously labeled as “blatant propaganda”, to the disagreement of most citizens.

Culture & Society

"For the Federation, I will give my life."

- Unofficial Citizen motto.

While most of the Federation’s worlds originates from an Earthen cultural group, the gradual expansion of humanity and the Federation’s unusual style of governance have created an overarching Federal culture not defined by birthplace or species, albeit with numerous planetary and provincial subgroups. This culture, often known as the Federal Creed, emphasizes duty, honorable conduct, personal courage, equality of opportunity and rights, and Federal pan-nationalism. The spread of this creed is also purposefully encouraged by the Federal government, who see it as a unifying force for the state, and a natural extension of the Federation’s ideals. Thanks to its massive population and numerous major companies, the Federation possesses significant cultural soft power.

While the Federal Creed may provide an overarching framework, the Federation itself can be more aptly described as a patchwork of numerous Earthly and alien cultures which flow and merge together across hundreds of worlds.

Foreign Relations

While the Federation retains excellent relations with the Skrell, its overall foreign policy is a far different story. Often decried as “overly militaristic”, “overbearing”, and “downright imperialist”, the Federation has historically maintained an expansion-heavy foreign policy, encouraging smaller states to join via political and economic pressure. While outright force is rare, this approach has borne fruit, and many smaller states within the frontier and beyond have been absorbed after seeing the benefits of cooperation or the futility of resistance. States which chose, or have been chosen, to join the Federation are integrated in stages, as previous offices and governmental systems are replaced with Federal equivalents.

Even so, most larger nations within the Orion Arm retain cordial relations with the Federation, as its vast market and production capabilities prove a boon to any willing to do business.

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The Skrellian Central Authority

As a founding member of the Solar-Central Compact, humanity’s first interstellar contact, and the Federation’s largest trade partner, the TSF and SCA enjoy excellent relations, and have permitted free trade and migration between the two powers. SCA citizens are also automatically granted Civilian rights within Federal space, and a great number have performed their service and are now proud Citizens of the Federation.

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The Union of Soviet Socialist Planets

The wounds of the Cygni Rebellion may have healed, but the scars and memories will remain forever. Ever since the rebellion, a state of cold war has existed between the Federation and the Union, as the Union’s entrenched position makes a hot war impractical given the Federal fleet’s myriad responsibilities. Proxy and intelligence warfare between both powers are common, alongside occasional border skirmishes and brushfire conflicts.

Peace has never been, and will never be, an option. One day, open conflict will resume, and the rightful ruler of humanity will rise from the fires of one final war.

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The Independents

Relations between the Federation and independent systems vary wildly from state to state. Some have excellent relations, with trade and security agreements that may someday blossom into full membership. Some are adamantly opposed, forming ties with the Federation's enemies and even engaging in open conflict to see off the Federation's expansion. The majority, however, are some flavour of neutral. The Federation represents a truly massive market ripe for trade, while its military power deters all but the most committed Indies from facing them directly.

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Nanotrasen

The relationship between the Federation and Nanotrasen can be described as “complex”, if one wishes to grossly understate it. On one hand, Nanotrasen is a pillar of the Federation’s economy, employing hundreds of millions across the Sector, and is a constant innovator in numerous fields. On the other, it is a predatory megacorporation which consumed innumerable smaller businesses, has an organic rights record considered spotty at best, and is directly responsible for the economic crash following the Cygni Crisis.

At this stage, the Federation cannot allow Nanotrasen to exist, but it also cannot afford to destroy it, as Nanotrasen is, paradoxically, too powerful both to let go and to remove. As such, the Federation has begun a war of espionage with Nanotrasen, seeking to uncover the evidence needed to peacefully dismantle the corporation without undue effects on the Federation at large. The FAID remains at the forefront of this operation, and is rumored to have penetrated deep into Nanotrasen’s operations, just as Nanotrasen is rumored to have done the same to the Federation.

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The Syndicate

To the Federation at large, the Syndicate is nothing more that an unusually well-organized band of criminals and mercenaries, and are typically responded to as such. The Gorlex Marauders, SELF, and the ARC, among others, have found a home on the Federation Terror Watchlist as high-priority threat organizations, with the Gorlex Marauders in particular warranting a Navy and Marine Corps response on several occasions, such was the severity of their threat.

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The Cult of Nar'sie

Afforded a permanent spot in the highest category of the Federation Terror Watchlist, the Cult of Nar'sie is considered to be an organization of violent religious extremists, for good reason. Spreading violence, terror, and bloodshed wherever they ingrain themselves, a Nar'sian occult infestation is a uniquely horrific threat. Even more concerning is the Cult's apparent proficiency with what Federal analysts can only call "blood magic", which the cult uses to further their bloodstained goals.

Current procedure when engaging active Cults of Nar'sie is immediate lethal force, followed by incineration of Cult tools and equipment, due to the negative psychological effects these objects have on non-Cult individuals.

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