Trans-Solar Federation

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Trans-Solar Federation

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Trans-Solar Federation

General Information

Informal Names: TSF, SolGov, Feds
Capitol: Earth
Founding: July 14th, 2080

Demographics

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

Policies

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

Assets

Primary Exports: Various
Fleet: Placeholder

The Trans-Solar Federation, better known as the TSF or SolGov, is an interstellar nation located in the Orion Sector. Formed following a period of war and turmoil on Earth, the Federation now stands as one of the most powerful entities in the sector, together with their partners in the Skrellian Central Authority.

Summary

The Trans-Solar Federation, also known as the TSF or simply SolGov, is the primary human-majority nation today, and the de-facto superpower of the known galaxy. Primarily located in the Orion arm of the galactic South, the TSF is a network of dozens of local system governments, each swearing loyalty and taxes to the federal government based in Sol.

Coming into being in the late twenty-second century, the entity that would become the TSF was created out of a union between several old Earth governments following the end of the Eastern Seas War. With Earth running low on critical resources, the newly-formed Solar Federation expanded quickly, colonizing the Solar system, and, once FTL travel was developed, beyond.

Today, the Federation faces a hard road ahead. Relentless expansion has stretched the Federal military thin across a thousand systems against dozens of threats. The shadow war with Nanotrasen continues unabated, and the USSP has made startling moves that may shatter the age-old status quo. Despite every challenge, however, the men and women of the Trans-Solar Federation can march forward with confidence and pride, knowing that so long as Sol burns, the Federation will endure.

Government & Politics

The Trans-Solar Federation practices a form of hybrid democracy known as Federal Stratocracy. Under this model, only those who have completed a requisite five or more years in either the nation’s civil or military service are permitted to vote or hold public office. Those who have completed their service become true Citizens, while those who have not are known as Civilians. While civilians retain similar legal and property rights to citizens, they are excluded from several government programs, and are ineligible for political participation. Due to the difficult and low-paying nature of federal service, civilians make up the majority of the Federation’s population, though this varies between member worlds.

The Federal government is made up of four separate branches: The Joint Chiefs, the Citizens’ Councils, the Civilian Assembly, and the Supreme Court.

The Joint Chiefs

The Joint Chiefs make up the executive of the Federation, consisting of both voting and observing members.

Voting members include:

• The Grand Marshal of the Federation
• The Navy Chief of Staff
• The Commandant of the Marine Corps
• The Army Chief of Staff
• The Director of the Logistics Corps
• The Secretary of Civil Affairs

Observers include:

• The Director of the FAID
• The Commodore of the Merchant Marine
• Sector Authority Commanders
• Various lesser functionaries

Members of the Joint Chiefs, with the exception of the Grand Marshal, do not have set terms, but are expected to retire when no longer fit for office. The Grand Marshal is selected by the Joint Chiefs from the Federal Military at large, excepting the Joint Chiefs themselves, who are not eligible for the office. The upcoming Grand Marshal must then be confirmed by both Councils before assuming office. The Grand Marshal serves for a single term of ten years.

The Joint Chiefs collectively determine the foreign policy goals and general direction of the Federation, with the Grand Marshal serving as a speaker and the Commander in Chief of the entire Federal military. The Joint Chiefs also possess the ability to veto legislation passed by both Citizen Councils and the Civilian Assembly, though either Citizen Council can overturn this veto with a 2/3s majority vote. Notably, the Grand Marshal is permitted to issue Emergency Orders in extreme situations where normal bureaucracy must be bypassed. The use of an Emergency Order is always reviewed once said crisis has concluded, however, and improper use of such an order may lead to a vote of no confidence.

The Citizens' Councils

Comprising two separate assemblies, 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 two elected representatives per world. The Lower Council provides proportional representation, with each planet electing a number of representatives proportional to their population. 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 the Civilian Assembly.

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.

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.

Political Divisions

Within the Federal system, power is divided between two entities, the central government based in Sol, and the various planets throughout the Federation’s vast territories. This division is mostly a matter of practicality, as the sheer size of the Federation’s territory and the massive distance between them makes any unitary state impossible. Planetary administrations may then internally divide power further into states or counties, which is encouraged by the Federal government as a planet grows in population. Generally, planetary governments mirror the organization of the Federal government, though some leeway is permitted within the bounds of the Federal Constitution.

Following the events of the Cygni Crisis and the subsequent constitutional convention, secession was officially disallowed under the Federal Constitution, and is considered high treason within the Federal court system.

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 occupy a gray area.

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.

SAC-Central

• Headquarters: Luna
• Population: 47 billion
• Size: 27 systems (27 colonized)
• GDP: 165 trillion credits
• Current Assigned Fleets: 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

SAC-North

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

SAC-South

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

SAC-East

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

SAC-West

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

Military

Trans-Solar Marine Corps (TSMC)

The few, and the proud, the Trans-Solar Marine Corps is the scalpel to the Army’s hammer, and one of the most feared and effective fighting forces in the Orion sector. Numbering only around 500,000 active personnel, the TSMC is far smaller personnel-wise than the TSFN or Federal Army, but more than makes up for it in rigorous training, cutting-edge equipment, and a branch-wide commitment to being the greatest warriors in the Federation

Trans-Solar Federation Navy (TSFN)

"What stopped the Syndie plot? (Guns!) What was it the Reds forgot? (Guns!) What have we that they have not? (Big, big, guns!)."

- Drinking song of the Federation Navy.

Built on nearly eight centuries of naval tradition, the Trans-Solar Federation Navy is one of, if not the strongest and most powerful space-faring navies in the sector, with the highest combined battle fleet tonnage of all known Sector powers, and the greatest number of active naval vessels, with ten active battlefleets each hosting approximately 200 ships of varying hull class. The TSFN is also the largest branch of the Federal Armed Forces in terms of personnel, with approximately 2.5 million servicemembers on active duty, and ~500,000 in the Naval Reserves.

Federation Navy doctrine varies between battlefleets, but generally places heavy emphasis on big guns, long-range missiles, and large amounts of fighter and bomber squadrons. Energy shields are uncommon in Federal vessels, as they are considered too power-inefficient for widespread use, with most ships instead relying on thick armor belts, overlapping point-defense grids, and electronic warfare suites. This results in most Federation warships having incredible offensive and defensive capabilities, but maneuverability that is sub-par at best for everything but specialized pursuit vessels.

Federation Strategic Command (FEDSTRATCOM)

"STRATCOM denies the request. Continue bombardment."

- Federation RTO, Siege of Beta Archon III.

For all the myriad ways humanity has devised to kill one another, none have created a greater psychological impact than so-called “weapons of mass destruction”. Whether they be nuclear, biological, chemical, conventional, or any number of more esoteric devices, these are weapons with the power to sunder entire worlds, and bring species to extinction. Despite their unsavory nature, the leaders of the Trans-Solar Federation know that destroying them would be the height of naivety. As such, the keys to Armageddon must be retained, and it is Federation Strategic Command who hold the gun pointed at the head of the galaxy.

These weapons are used sparingly, with only a handful of recorded cases within the last century, usually in combatting a biohazard threat which has gone completely out of control. Declassified reports show that several areas, and at least one entire planet, had to be obliterated with nuclear armaments to prevent the spread of both Terror Spiders and Xenomorphs.

Federation Combat Synthetics

Cyborgs and robots are a common sight within the Federal military, with both acting as specialized support for organic servicemembers. Of particular note is the distinction between “cyborg” and “robot”. The former is controlled by an organic brain, retains rank and rights, and does not have laws forced upon it, while robots are entirely synthetic and are lawed to ensure proper function.

The Federal Analytics and Intelligence Directorate (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, FAID 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 shadow war with Nanotrasen, working around the clock to keep NT’s infiltrators out, and any scraps of evidence as to NT’s crimes, in.

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 Mercury and Europa 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, most notably Sunburst Heavy Industries.

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.

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.

Healthcare

International Trade

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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