Core Republic

The Core Republic (C.R.), commonly referred to as simply the Republic by its denizens and allies, is the largest and wealthiest faction in the core regions. Inhabiting the Inner & Outer Core, the Core Republic is made up of worlds that were mostly lifeless rocks once dominated by the Grox Empire.
== History ==
Founded in 13 BGS, the Core Republic (then known as the Freemasons Pact) was made up of mostly farming worlds with relatively small city centers. Having reached modern tech and spaceflight, the Freemasons elected to live traditional lives as workers of the land, ignoring the hustle and bustle of the larger galaxy. Contact with other powers had been made by now, but unlike most had not leaped to the occasion in introducing themselves. This led to the Pact remaining largely unknown to the majority of the galaxy.
Their obscurity led to the Freemasons surviving the onslaught of the Gorron Invasion, which had annihilated the surrounding Grox. The Gorron passed right on by the Freemasons to engage other powers, leaving the Pact alone with untold riches in both material and territorial claims. While the galaxy faced devastation at hands of the Gorron, the Freemasons expanded across thousands of systems. While the Gorron destroyed most of what made up the Grox Empire, there were still useful pieces of technology that the Freemasons used to excel their own by decades.
Now controlling a significant portion of the core, the Freemasons Pact restructured into a more traditional republic and as such renamed themselves the Core Republic. Farming and smaller population centers still make up a healthy portion of the republic, but now complex industrial and urban worlds also make up their possessions. Their advancements in such a small span of time led to the Core Republic quickly becoming a galactic superpower, joining the other top dogs in exercising their influence over the smaller factions of the galaxy.
== Culture ==
Coming from a loose commonwealth of farmers and tradesmen, the republic retains the ideals of freemasonry and self-reliance. A hard word ethic is the most respected factor of a persons character, along with their ability to aid friend and family.
The majority of republic worlds are ecologically strong and clean, strict pollution laws having been part of the founding documents of the fledging nation. Here, most citizens will be found living in modest communities, predominantly called towns. Sharing this aspect with other powers, the republic elected to have dedicated worlds for sprawling urban centers and industry rather than sharing real estate with more rural planets. Unlike other powers however, the majority of the population still resides in the countryside of quiet grassy worlds with moderate climates whereas foreign nations will see their metropolitan worlds having the most people.
== Demographics ==
Roughly 63% of the Core Republic population is Enphea (en-fay), the original colonizers of the worlds that made up the Freemasons Pact. The remainder is hundreds of immigrant species from other regions. Many lost their homeworlds and empires to both the Grox & Gorron. Others simply emigrated to the Republic for their welcoming people and docile lifestyles. Non-Enphea species are most commonly found on urban worlds, some exceptions include the Ninzid and Pholait who find the pastures of the countrysides to mimic their old homes.
=== Religion ===
Most citizens are followers of the Church of Spode. A much smaller but nevertheless relevant portion continue to follow the Freemason "religion". An even smaller slice of the population can be categorized under "Other", "Agnostic", and "Atheist".
==== Freemason Religion ====
To call the Freemason ways a religion is a heavily debated topic. It's followers do not consider it to be a religion, and many even count themselves among the Church of Spode. Freemason Followers (this term is used to avoid confusion with regular freemasons) adhere to the ideals of self-improvement, volunteer association, and the advancement of personal moral, intellectual, and spiritual values. The Freemason ways have no central authority and own no buildings or assets. Freemason Followers conform to these values because they believe the Republic, and on a greater scale the galaxy, would be at it's best with everyone working to improve themselves for the sake of those around them.
The religious debate comes from the fact that the founding Freemason articles argue against the idea of religious dedication. "On the issue of Faith: That while working for a higher power is a noble endeavor in it's own fashion, focusing too greatly on an unseen entity results in a drop in care and effort for those around you. Do not exert yourself in the name of an omnipotent being. For if there truly is a God, there is nothing you could possibly do for him that he could not already acquire himself. So spend your efforts on yourself! Your loved ones, confidants, compatriots! For even a believer in the Almighty would agree that bettering oneself would be in the interest of the Lord."
The Freemason articles do not argue against the existence of a god, but discourage time spent religiously as it does not achieve anything. Because of this, many Freemason Followers consider time spent in churches and congregations to be a hobby if not simply a time waster. They would rather focus on their crafts and ventures to better themselves, something even Freemason Followers of Spode find agreeable. Other Followers see this as reasoning against religion, arguing there's nothing a mortal can accomplish in the name of a god that would benefit the deity, while the same accomplishment in yourself could be immeasurable.
The Freemason Followers have come to blows with more reverent followers of Spode in the past, but for the most part the two find peace on uneasy ground and accept each other's presence.
== Government ==
The Core Republic centers around the Core Constitution as it's principle document to base all laws and order off of. After rapid expansion across the core regions, it was apparent the loose structure of a peoples commonwealth would lead to anarchy if left unamended. The existing and emergent leaders met together to form a republic, the structure of which being fairly conventional by galactic standards.
The leader of the Republic is a president who is elected by the citizens every five years, serving a maximum of four terms. The Senators and Representatives are elected in a similar fashion, also serving terms in five year increments, albeit limited to twenty five years total instead. These officials, who make up the upper and lower houses respectively, vote on behalf of their electorates in the indirect form of democracy customary in republics.
The Core Senate & House meet regularly (constitutionally required minimum of five meetings a year) in Ardenatol, the capital city of the nations capital world of Nocoth in the Baelex system.
== Foreign Relations ==
An uncommon situation for most, the Republic is bordered by multiple nations yet is at peace and allied with the vast majority. With the factions in the core being so young, few have managed to gain significant footholds to rival the C.R., let alone threaten them. Notably the C.R. has had minor confrontations with the Groajoren Empire, although this has never blown into full-scale warfare.
A member of the Alycine Confederacy, the C.R. enjoys domination over most other peoples in the galaxy and holds primacy over all others in the core regions.
== Military ==
The Core Republic Armed Forces, commonly shortened to the Core Forces, is made up of four main branches, a militia reserve component of the Army making five.
* Core Army
** Core Guard
* Core Navy
* Core Planetary Air Forces
* Core Planetary Naval Forces