Trans-Solar Federation
Summary
The Trans-Solar Federation (also known as "SolGov") - the largest single originally Human governmental agency in the Galaxy. It is comprised of disparate states, colonies, and systems within and around Sol proper. Based in the Sol system, SolGov is structured similarly to the ancient United States, in that it has a bicameral legislature, and separate judicial and executive branches. These branches form a series of checks and balances against one another, preventing any one branch of government from acquiring too much power.
A unique feature of SolGov is that the Chamber Militant - comprised of the Navy, Marine Corps and Civil Defense Corps - is directly overseen by the Legatus, whom is the effective Commander-in-Chief of SolGov’s military forces. The Chamber Militant internal operations are autonomous from the other branches of government, with its own functional Judicial and “Legislative” branches – however, the Chamber Militant is still answerable to the Executive branch of the Federal government, as well as the Citizen’s council which reserves the right to censure and reprimand members of the Chamber Militant. The Citizen’s council also possesses the ability to issue a Declaration of War, as well as declare an Edict of Force; ordering the deployment of the Chamber Militant to a specific end. Both of these actions must be signed by the Praefectus to become valid, unless such a declaration or edict is ruled by the Altum Magistratus to be contrary to the Federal Charter.
History
After a prolonged nuclear conflict that lasted from 2083-2093, the surviving states on Earth federated to form the United Earth Confederacy, a precursor to SolGov. In 2099, the UEC launched the first extraterrestrial colonization program known as the “Ark Program”, with an intended destination of Mars. In 2103, the UES Ark arrived and successfully touched down within the Holden Crater, and colonization began in earnest. Internal conflict within the UEC resulted in the eventual failure of the colonization program and concurrent breakup of the UEC, and as a direct result the' colonists stopped receiving regular shipments of supplies from Earth. The power vacuum that resulted from the collapse of the UEC started a third world war, as the few remaining nations on Earth desperately struggled to seize power.
Following sixteen years of warfare, the Solar Federation finally emerged from the ashes of the now war-weary nations, and quickly resumed the Ark Program. Upon arrival of the first relief and resupply ship in 2128, it was quickly discovered that after the communications blackout, the Ark colony had exploded in population, size, and productivity. Using iron and carbon refined from the Martian soil they had built vast manufacturing and mining infrastructure, allowing the colony to become self-sufficient. Nanotrasen, having incorporated under the UEC just before the dissolution, already possessed the rights to a sizable amount of Mars’ planetary surface via lucrative mining, refining, and research contracts – a position they continue to hold to this day.
Spurred on by a population crisis in the Sol System, the recent discovery of Bluespace and advancements in faster-than-light transmission and thruster design, the Solar Federation was reformed into the Trans-Solar Federation (SolGov as we know it today) in the year 2199. Owing to the vast distances between stars, stations such as Naval Station Norfolk - which serves a double role as a refueling station for colonial vessels and a drydock facility for SolGov Navy ships - were constructed to further extend the reach of SolGov.
While SolGov’s power is vast, there are two notable exceptions to the body's sphere of influence within the Sol System. The large swathes of the planet Mars (Sol 4) - the historical headquarters of Nanotrasen - is typically policed by Nanotrasen, who are quite capable of policing and enforcing SolGov’s laws. As a whole, however, Mars is a vassal planet to SolGov and therefore under its purview.
The Second is the Earth’s moon (Sol 3.1), known locally as “The Moon” or “Luna.” The moon of Earth is protected under a special treaty granting it independence of Federation rule. The Port of Luna proper is administrated by Port Royal Inc. – an independent corporation which operates solely within the confines of Luna’s established boundaries.
Due to the nature of Luna’s economic zone of exclusivity, its status as a free port and its negligible taxes and fees, it has become an attractive haven for some of the wealthiest citizens in the galaxy to harbor their significant assets and holdings. Rumors abound that the CEO of Nanotrasen himself has a significant estate somewhere on Luna’s surface.
In the Federation, Civilians become enfranchised Citizens after serving within a Federal service, such as the SolGov Navy, Marine Corps, Colonial Defense Corps, or by holding a posting within in the Federal government itself, such as with the Search & Survey Bureau, Public Health Service, or Colonization Corps. Enfranchisement entitles citizens benefits such as voting rights in Federal elections, enhanced access to Federal benefits, the right to purchase voting shares, and a share of the United Trans-Solar, a massive nationalized mining conglomerate. Citizens also gain the right to serve in the Citizen’s Council, the upper legislative house of the Federal government.
Civilians are entitled to many of the same rights as a Citizen, however they may not vote in any Federal election save for the Civilis Assembly, which is a representative body for the Civilian population. Civilians are also permitted to vote in local elections as appropriate under their given planetary, colonial, station or municipal laws.
Political Structure
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| A typical TSF soldier. |
Based in the Sol system, SolGov is structured similarly to the old United States, in that it has a bicameral legislature, and separate judicial and executive branches. These branches form a series of checks and balances against one another, preventing any one branch of government from acquiring too much power.
A unique feature of SolGov is that the Chamber Militant- comprised of the Navy, Marine Corps and Civil Defense Corps - is directly overseen by the Legatus, whom is the effective Commander-in-Chief of SolGov’s military forces. The Chamber Militant internal operations are autonomous from the other branches of government, with its own functional Judicial and “Legislative” branches – however, the Chamber Militant is still answerable to the Executive branch of the Federal government, as well as the Citizen’s council which reserves the right to censure and reprimand members of the Chamber Militant. The Citizen’s council also possesses the ability to issue a Declaration of War, as well as declare an Edict of Force; ordering the deployment of the Chamber Militant to a specific end. Both of these actions must be signed by the Praefectus to become valid, unless such a declaration or edict is ruled by the Altum Magistratus to be contrary to the Federal Charter.
Rebellions
Despite its power, The Federation has had multiple rebellions and splinter groups. The latter, so long as they continue to pay taxes and keep to themselves, are generally ignored by the massive bureaucratic processes. Rebellions, on the other hand, are met with the government's full and undivided attention.
The largest, and most robust rebellion against The Federation occurred in 2443 when the Cygni system’s populace engaged in the wholesale slaughter of all federal personnel aboard Naval Station Oahu, resulting in 5,310 military casualties. The Oahu Massacre, as it was later deemed, was quickly followed by a Declaration of War and Independence by the Cygni system governor, Malfoy Ames. Upon transmitting these declarations, he reformed the Cygni government into the Union of Soviet Socialist Planets. This prompted the largest mobilization of human military might since World War III. An armada of 105 vessels arrived in the Cygni system, quickly crushing the meagre defenses of the USSP rebels, resulting in the destruction of Naval Station Oahu, 15 captured SolGov vessels, and 6 USSP-flagged gunships. Upon arrival at Cygni Prime, a declaration was put out by the SolGov Navy; The people of Cygni Prime would evacuate the planet immediately, or be killed in the ensuing nuclear bombardment that would take place three days later. Millions of souls were evacuated in the course of those three days, causing a massive refugee crisis in neighboring systems within jump range of the civilian vessels, and SolGov official estimates suggested that as many as 760,000 civilians died in the nuclear fire that followed.
This application of overwhelming force mitigated the need for a protracted planetary siege and engagement strategy, allowing SolGov to quickly and effectively re-establish their dominance over the Cygni system. Holdout loyalist groups would eventually coalesce in various sectors just outside SolGov’s reach, building stations that proudly bore the flag and language of the USSP. Many of these stations were later abandoned, thanks to substandard construction materials and techniques, but a few of these stations were destroyed by an unknown, hostile, and nuclear-capable force.