The Union of Planets

## Overview

The Union of Planets is a major democratic government in the galactic scene, with its roots dating back to the year -603C.

Comprising numerous member species, the Union of Planets is characterized by its dedication to self-determinism and protection of all member planets through its military, the Union Defense Force.

## History

The Union of Planets originated as a modest alliance between the Tellia and Ledev D'sahn in the year -603C, both of whom sought mutual protection and cooperation in the increasingly complex landscape of the galactic scene. At this time, the Mission was a fixture but not active in the part of the galactic scene where the Tellia and Ledev D'sahn homeworlds were. Over time, as they discovered and established relationships with other species, the alliance expanded and evolved into the Union of Planets.

The Union's founding principles were centered around self-determinism, fairness, and equal representation, ensuring that no single species held a disproportionate amount of power. The inclusion of the Frex in the year -505C further solidified the Union's commitment to these principles, and today, more than two dozen species are part of the Union, participating in various capacities.

The Frex agreed to join the Union only on the condition that they not be required to have a typical census/taxation system and not be required to join the military. Instead, the Frex pay a sizeable tax on all goods they sell in the galactic scene, most notably Frex nanos.

The Prango are a newer inclusion, as they became technically "advanced" only recently, but they have made great effort to be active participants in the Union, striving to integrate themselves helpfully as part of the Union culture and leadership. They officially joined the Union in the year 322C.

While the Tellia and Ledev D'sahn remain highly active within the Union, it is widely acknowledged that they do not receive preferential treatment, and that the Union strives for fairness and equality among all member species. Although some critics have brought up the case of the Frex, who may be said to receive some special favors.

## Self-Determinism

The Union of Planets is guided by the principle of self-determinism, which allows "primitive" societies to develop independently. These species are shielded from contact with advanced life forms until they reach "advanced" status. Species are thus classified as either "Primitive" or "Advanced," depending on their readiness for contact and integration.

There is a complex set of requirements that determine whether a species is "advanced" or "primitive." Some of these factors include things like not having segregationist laws in almost all governments on a world, having achieved FTL travel, and having overcome the three crises.

## Prominent Member Species

There are dozens of species in the Union of planets. Three of the most prominent are the Tellia, the Ledev D'sahn, and the Frex. While species in the Union enjoy greater autonomy than those uplifted by the Mission, they must still pay taxes, contribute to joint causes, and abide by certain rules that ensure equality and fairness.

Although the Prango are the newest addition to the Union, they seem to have an unusual drive to be a central part of the government. Many Prango have sought public office or other positions of service or authority.

## Union Defense Force

Advanced militaries often feature looser command structures than what is typically seen in "primitive" species, focusing more on roles than ranks and allowing for more flexibility and improvisation. In the field, officers tend to have a high degree of autonomy.

The Union Defense Force is tasked with protecting all member species. The High Protector, the top-ranking position in the UDF, is responsible for coordinating efforts between member species' militaries, overseeing large-scale operations, and ensuring transparency and integrity within the organization. The current High Protector The High Protector has often been a Tellia in the past, but the current HP is a middle-aged mot Prango named Jule Giddle Mevre.

## Governance and Autonomy

Each member species within the Union of Planets retains its own governing body and a certain degree of autonomy. However, most species are required to contribute to joint causes, pay taxes, participate in the military, and adhere to specific rules that promote equality and prevent discrimination.

Despite the Union's seemingly unified front, some question its true power and stability, as the member species retain a great deal of autonomy.

There is also a Senate in the Union, with five senators from each member species who serve fifteen-year terms. Any given senator may serve only one term.

Note: there is one exception to this. Although the Goral are technically a member species, they do not have their own senate body of five senators. Instead, according to a longstanding tradition, the Tellian senators are supposed to advocate for the Goral as well as the Tellia.

## Rivalry with the Mission

The Union's primary rival, the Mission, is a powerful government that has existed since -2160. Unlike the Union, the Mission is known for "uplifting" undeveloped species by sharing advanced technology and medicine, subsequently integrating them as official members. The Union and the Mission are locked in a long-standing cold war, fueled by their differing ideologies and principles.

Some differences between the Mission and the Union of Planets is that while leisure travel is typically more costly in the Mission because of the relative weakness of its currency (currents), there is a firm mechanism put in place for permanently immigrating to a different Mission planet or territory, whereas in the Union movement is typically controlled by the individual species. Also, in the Mission all citizens are given access to things like Frex nanos at birth, something the Union does not universally provide.

Union leadership has long entreated the Mission, especially addressing Grand Ambassador Corteal, to enter into formal trade agreements for Frex Nanos, adopt the stable Union currency (gallies), move their government leadership to the neutral ground of the Court, and to join its extranet, among other things, but Mission leadership doesn't seem likely to change course on any of these issues soon.

## Relationship with the Red Mission

One of the primary ways the Red Mission attempts to make good on its promise to be more ethical and transparent than the Mission is in its dealings with the Union of Planets. The Red Mission has taken several steps that the Mission has long refused to take, including adopting the Union currency (201C), joining its extranet to the Union's (320C), and brokering formal trade agreements for goods such as Frex nanos (289C). Though the Union still opposes the Red Mission on the same grounds as the Mission itself, they must—almost reluctantly—admit that relations with the Red Mission are on a decent footing due to the RM's insentience on playing nice and making compromises. However, there are still some lingering resentments over events that transpired during the Somm War.

## The Somm War

The Union of Planets played a main role in the Somm War (217C-222C), a conflict that drastically reshaped the political landscape of the galactic scene. Initially manipulated by the Red Mission into investigating secret research facilities operated by the Mission, the Union became a significant combatant upon uncovering the Mission's violation of a core taboo of the Ledev D'sahn on the planet Somm, where they were secretly researching the Gift on Ledev criminals. The conflict escalated into a three-way war involving the Mission, the Red Mission, and the Union, with unexpected intervention by the semi-neutral party, the Frex. The aftermath of the war led to a stronger drive within the Union towards a unified galactic scene, and it set the stage for a cold war amongst its three main governments.

## The Court

The Union of Planets, driven by its foundational ethos of unity and fairness, has embraced the Court, a neutral ground encapsulated within a Dyson Sphere. Despite its initial discovery by other parties, the Union understood the inherent value of the Court as a hub for galactic diplomacy. Today, the Union of Planets houses its government on the Court and it encourages the Mission to follow suit.

## Political Parties

The Union's political landscape is dominated by two main parties: The People's Voice (PV) and the Galactic Party (GP). The PV advocates for a stronger central Union government, while the GP prioritizes autonomy for member species. The current Union President, Pok, is a member of the PV, while the GP holds a slight majority in the Union Senate.

## Union President and First Gentleman

The Union President commands a great deal of power, but must answer to the Union Senate. Presidents serve a single ten-year term and are expected to resign if they are not meeting the expectations of their constituents. The Senate may also expel the President with a majority vote if certain conditions of removal are met. Being a member of the non-majority party is not sufficient cause for removal and presidents are rarely removed from office in this way.

Pok, a gruff older Tellia, is the current president of the Union of Planets. A member of the People's Voice political party, he is known for his intense love of Union ideals and the Union people, as well as for his efforts to pressure the Mission to adopt policies like gallies and formal trade agreements. Pok is married to Ledev Klan, a male Ledev D'sahn, making him the Union's First Gentleman. Pok was sworn in in the year 344C.