The Molner Federation

**The Molner Federation**, formerly known as ***Makhaia LTD*** under Auroran rule, or simply as **Molnera** is a stratocratic federal republic located of the Brodean (or Auroran) arm in the Southern Persean sector.

### Early history and Auroran Rule

While initially not thought to be particularly rich nor strategically important, the Northern Brodean region was still colonised by the United Aurora Federation upon their arrival in the Persean sector. However, while the other planets fell under direct royal rule, Makhaia and the rest of the Northern Brodea fell under the jurisdiction of the corporation known as Makhaia LTD. The region then became known as "Aeria's Dumpster", being used as a destination for many political opponents, lower class Aurorans and an important proportion of Malns, a minority group present in the Aurora Federation. The immigration restrictions being also looser than on other Auroran worlds, Makhaia LTD quickly became a center for outcast from all around the sector as well as a gateway to the United Aurora Federation for the shadier part of society.

### The event that sparked the Revolution

With the 2nd Auroran-Hegemonic war dragging on its 7th year, many voices in Northern Brodea started calling for peace. Such acts were violently suppressed by Auroran authorities leading to the first underground Molneran militias to form. On 14 April 223, with tensions growing in the Northern Brodean region, the Queen of the United Aurora Federation, Aeria Charlotte, ordered Makhaia LTD to be dismantled and for the systems to be placed under strict martial law. On the 17th, a protest formed on Casaca Square (now Kasaka Square) in the Makhaian settlement of Civisa. While initially peaceful the protest was declared illegal and the 12th Makhaian Security Force was dispatched to remove the protesters from the square. The protesters unwilling to disperse, stood their ground until 1504 hour. At this moment, a still unknown shooter opened fire on the protesters, killing Fabian Leeon Cabosil a 16 years old boy. Whilst some protesters began fleeing the scene the 12th Makhaia Security Force opened fire, killing another 42 protesters while another 19 were trampled. This event was later called "Red Sunday". Two days later, on the 19th, multiple government buildings across Northern Brodea reported armed personnel taking control of their installations. On the 21st ,the United Aurora Federation, refusing to accept the Molner's demands for greater independence declared the organisation known as the Molneran Liberation Front an illegal rebellion and a threat to national security. This event marked the start of the Molneran War of Independence, also known to the Molners as "The Revolution".
 >Transcript 0001 "We have endured"

### Independence War

The 5 year period of the Molneran Independence war, simply known as "The Revolution", was marked by extreme violence even according to post collapse sector standards. Both the MLF and the UAF committed atrocities such as ethnic cleansing, torture and forceful deportation, in the context of the 2nd Auroran-Hegemonic war, no polity expressed public condemnation but a handful of independent organisation condemned both sides. The material support given to the MLF by the Hegemony allowed a relatively small insurgent group to go toe to toe with the much bigger and better equipped Auroran Military.

### Aftermath of The Crusade

In the direct aftermath of the 1st Molneran-Luddite War, mainly referred as "The Crusade", large swath of former Molneran soldiers came home to shut down factories and foreclosed homes. Many turned to crime or mercenary work, often doing both at the same time, while extremist groups consolidated more and more power and followers. The post-war era is also marked by important unrest across many worlds, mainly on the already poorer worlds of Braxilia and Cymengrid.

## Organization

### Government

The Molner Federation is a stratocratic federal republic led by a Marshal-President elected for life. The Marshal-President acts as head of state while the General-Deputy acts as the head of government. Despite its elected for life position and the tremendous influence that wields such a title, the Marshal-President must compose with the Senate and the Federal Council. In order to pass a law the Senate and the Federal Council must achieve a comprise, even thought the Marshal-President can overrule the Senate during times of war or major unrest.

### Administration and bureaucracy

Due to the decentralised nature of the Molner Federation local laws and administrative efficiency varies from market to market. All government position are held by locally elected active military personnel. The Molner Federation is built upon two different calendars, the standard time (ST), common to all the sector and space-bound installations and local time (LT) which name depends on the day length of each planet (example : MKT +11, for the 11th time-zone of Makhaia).

 >Additional Administrative Informations

### Military

The Marshal-President is the commander-in-chief of the Molner Federation and appoints its leaders, the minister of defense and the Molneran High Command. The Molneran Armed Forces consists of 3 service branches, the Army, the Navy and the Shock Trooper Corps. The National Guard is administered by the Office of the National Guard, which is appointed by the Federal Council, but can be transferred to the Molneran Armed Forces in wartime. The Molner Federation spends 5% of its GDP on its military.

Whilst retaining many similarities with the Auroran military, the Molneran Armed Forces puts a strong emphasis on heavy mechanised infantry and light cruisers instead of big capital ships. Cybernetics are common place amongst Molneran troopers but due to their expensive nature they tend to only be used to replace lost limbs. The Molner Federation also employs auxiliaries, attached to the Army, these non-citizen soldiers are often found in roles such as scouts, translators and garrison units. Auxiliaries are given Molneran citizenship after 5 years of service.

The Shock Trooper Corps is the elite expeditionary force of the Molner Federation, made of the best and strongest Molneran soldiers, all troopers have their limbs and some internal organs replaced by high tech military grade cybernetics. They also boast an important, yet extremely controversial, use of combat drugs making them some of the most feared soldiers in the Sector. Luddites see them as more machine and human and thus an affront to Ludd himself.

The Molner Federation also enforces mandatory military service for all able bodied Molnerans, the Shock Trooper Corps is an exception to this rule being only composed of volunteers. In 290, all 3 branches of the Molneran Armed Forces reported 500 000 personnel on active duty. The National Guard brought the total number of troops to 1 million.

#### Cult of Valkyria

While the Molner Federation is a secular state and does not recognise any religion as official or right, the soldiers making up the Shock Trooper Corps have developed over the years the worship of a deity called "Valkyria". Many believe its name to be derived from the Valkyrie-Class Troop Transport ship, frequently used by shock troopers. While not being an organised religion some common characteristics are found throughout all shock trooper regiments. Shock troopers refer to Valkyria as "her" but she does not have any shape or form and is a supposed omnipotent being surrounding every trooper at any given moment. The Valkyrian Cult is based upon two main pillars, the worship of war and the worship of death, officers can be heard shouting "Valkyria awaits ! GIVE HER BLOOD !" to their soldiers before engaging in battle. Prayers are also a part of the worship of Valkyria, troopers can be seen praying to Valkyria before and after engagements with the enemy. The violent nature and tendencies of the Cult of Valkyria have resulted in attempts by High Command to curtain the spread of this new religion but it has only resulted in renewed popularity amongst troopers, the only achievement of this censorship campaign was to curtain the Valkyrian Cult to the Shock Trooper Corps. The existence of the cult is not widely known by the general public.

 >Transcript 8105 "Shock Trooper Mental Health Assessment"

#### Molneran Militia System

Originating from pro-independence militias during the days of Auroran rule, militias are still a very important part of Molneran society and politics. Under Molneran law citizens are allowed to organise into a regulated militia, which are generally created upon regional and/or political affiliations. During times of war militias are usually the main component of entire regiments while during times of peace militias function as de-facto political parties (example : the Sons of Molnera are initially a militia) or as political entities loyal to a mainstream party (example : the Braxilian Red Guard is part of the Syndicalist Committee of Molneran Workers). After the 231 Treaty of Deescalation, militias are not allowed to operate heavy equipment or ships limiting their equipment to unarmoured transports and small arms.

### Ideology

*"Freedom at any cost !"*

 - Motto of the Molner Federation

The Molner Federation is heavily militarised in nature with almost every civil position held by active or former military personnel. Despite some authoritarian tendencies Molneran citizens still enjoy a fair share of civil liberties and a market driven economy. While being economically liberal, Molneran workers have an extensive set of constitutional rights such as the right to strike, protests and assemble into trade unions. Only key industries like the energy sector, the military-industrial complex and the terraforming sector are nationalised. Due to its important use of IA the Molner Federation attracts a lot of criticism from the Hegemony and the Luddic Church, which is even more outraged by the fact that the Luddite cult is outlawed and that any Luddite activity will be treated as part of a terrorist organisation and will grant involved citizens a tour to the prison world of Toccata.

### Security

The Office for the National Security of the Federation (shortened to ONSF) is the state organ responsible for the security of the Molner Federation. It is separated into two parts, the Federal Service of Internal Security (FSIS) and the Federal Service of External Security (FSES) which respectively oversees internal matters such as the identification and the dismantlement of Luddite cells while the other oversees external operation such as interstellar espionage and the destruction of assets on foreign soil.

On a day to day basis, most population centers fall under the jurisdiction of the Molneran Police Force (MPF) while on some remote installations and the world of Toccata the National Guard is directly used as security personnel. If martial law is declared the National Guard is to replace the MPF and in some rare occasions, Molneran Marines are to be deployed to maintain order. Bounty hunters are seldom employed but are still found chasing bounties for the Federation.

In the justice system, every citizen is entitled to defence by a qualified lawyer, the exception to this rule is Luddites, who can be trialled by a military tribunal without adequate representation. Foreign citizens are to be trialled in accordance with Molneran law or are to be extradited to their country of origin.

### Outside Relations

The Diplomatic Corps of the Molner Federation is responsible of all relations between the Federation and outside political entities. However, the Molners have built a reputation of being poor diplomats, privileging backroom deals and harsh retaliation against anyone who dares cross the path of the Molner Federation.

The Molner Federation alongside the Interstellar Imperium and the Nova Maxios Charter are part of the Organisation for Sector Security (OSS). An inter-polity alliance focused on the eradication of piracy and protection against Hegemonic imperialism and Luddite terrorism. The Tri-Tech corporation has, as of 290, achieved affiliate status with the OSS.

The Molner Federation had diplomatic relations with the Hegemony until 229, when the Molner Federation announced its IA-positive stance. Despite never having official relations with the United Aurora Federation, their embassies on Svarog are just across the street from one another, leading to frequent confrontations and public scandals. After the 236 incident at Belicko Checkpoint, a direct communication line has been established between the two polities, preventing further complications from degenerating into all out war.

#### Accusation of crimes against humanity

Despite the highly professional nature of the Molneran Armed Forces some independent sources accuse the Molner Federation of crimes against humanity. Mainly during the invasion and of the station known as Kanta's Den and during the pacification of the arid world of Surgania.

##### Kanta's Den massacre

On 7 January 251, the 4th Battlegroup carrying the 3rd and 5th Shock Trooper Company arrived in orbit around Kanta's Den, with order to arrest the pirate warlord Kanta and to dismantle her pirate organisation. After a 3 days long space battle the boarding parties readied themselves. On 14 January 251, the station formerly known as Kanta's Den was declared pirate-free, during the subsequent "cleaning" of the station a host of 37 low to medium ranking pirate "officials" were executed without trial by soldiers of the 5th Shock Trooper Company in a decrepit warehouse. The Molneran government qualifies this event as an "event of self-defense in which the soldiers were forced to shoot armed and hostile pirate personnel" and denies any allegations of war crimes committed against the people of Kanta's Den station. The station has been given back to the Nova Maxios ruling polity but Molneran soldiers can still be found maintaining order on the station, as requested by the Nova Maxian government.

##### Pacification of Surgania

When the Molner Federation first touched ground on Surgania on the 13 May 232, units of scouts found a populated but utterly lawless world. Having rediscovered this planet first the Federation officially laid claims to the planet. However during the subsequent and still going period called "The Pacification of Surgania" independent news outlets accuse the Molner Federation of having used death squads to enforce compliance amongst the native population. The evidence they present shows groups of unmarked and masked soldiers rounding up entire settlements worth of civilians and summarily executing them. Amongst other accusations are also found accusations of torture, deportation and killing of hostages. The Molner Federation strongly denies such accusations and declared that they, as a nation, can't be held accountable for the barbaric actions committed by the decivilized populace of a decivlized world.

 >Transcript 1340 "Operation Sdaznhu"

## Economy

Despite its corporate origin the Molner Federation adopts a mixed economy, where goods and production are driven by the forces of supply and demand except in a few industrial sectors, such as the energy sector, the military-industrial complex and the terraforming sector where production and distribution are respectively controlled by the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Ecology and Terraforming.

The Molneran Government is also the majority shareholder in a few corporations, including but not limited to Molnera Holovision, Halean Volatile and Fuel Transformation Company (shortened to HVFLC) and The Kamden Brothers Financial Institute.

### Infrastructure

A vast and brutally efficient transportation network connects the 3 republics of the Federation. Interstellar travel and commerce within Molneran space is mostly conducted along the Mabbian line, a very well mapped and relatively calm stretch of hyperspace going from the Heisenberg system to the Dubmor system passing by or near almost every system in the Federation. Every system in the Federation is equipped with a comm relay, a sensor array and a nav buoy, making it easier for fleets to travel and communicate while making most pirate activity virtually impossible. Thanks to the extensive anti-piracy operations of the Molner Federation its space is considered one of the safest in the system right after hegemonic territory.

### Communication and Media

The Molner Federation does not enforce censorship upon its citizens, however content can be removed from the internet for reasons such as "Luddite association" or "advocating for terrorism". The Molneran television network has a very large array of channels ranging from sports channels to 24/7 political debate channels. Only 5 channels (MT1, 2, to 5) are nationalised under the Molneran Television company. With more than 150 time zones local channels dominate the television market with only a slim margin for nation-wide TV programs.

### Science and Technology

The Molner Federation strives to always be on the lead of scientific development in the Sector. The Federal Institute of Technology is the main state organism responsible for overseeing the scientific affairs of the Federation. Most of the research accomplished is achieved by public labs receiving large amounts of funding from the government, however the field of armament is an exception to this rule, many military advancement are made by private labs under companies such as the Moab Brothers Development Initiave, Mag & Mig, Cavalon Technologies.

## Society and Culture

### Overview

*"They're a bunch of crazy extroverts that spend their time fighting and partying. They scare the crap out of me"*

 - A newly unfroze and slightly concerned Domainer

The Molners stem from the fusion of an older people know as the Malns, who were present in minority in the United Aurora Federation, and renegade elements from the post-domain cultures that are still present today in the Sector. They have few resemblances remaining with their distant Auroran cousins. Molners talk loudly, are highly extroverted, sanguine and boast a love for sport that borders religious fanaticism. Their obsession with sports has led to a society where any person considered out of shape will be very hardly discriminated against and anyone in good physical shape will be seen favourably. Even in the higher strata of government, being obese will destroy your public image. However, this has led to very low rates of obesity and on average a better health despite the heavy intoxicants consumption tendencies of the Molners. The most popular sports are MMA and Rugby, but many Molners can be found going to the gym or playing basketball. Originating from renegades and outcasts Molners tend to give their trust begrudgingly and have difficulties accepting authority but are proven to be extremely reliable once their trust has been earned. This mindset has led to an above average rate of mutiny in the armed forces or other governmental organs, but has created some one the most functional units seen to this day in the Sector. The Molners do not abide by any organised religion that can be seen in the Sector, most prefer to live by philosophical tenants instead, mainly those of stoicism while some prefer "regular" atheism.

#### Regional differences

While the Molners are an interplanetary culture some planets boast slight cultural and societal differences. Most planets have their own accent, with the worlds of Braxilia and Martina having the strongest accents in the Federation.

##### Makhaia

Makhaians (also called Makkers) are described by other Molners in one of two ways, extremely laid back retired people or a bunch of pretentious, stuck up, elitists with a total disdain for other Molners. This description is of course refuted by Makhaians, saying that they are just too cultivated and well behaved for the general population.

##### Janstonomia

Janstonomians (also called Janies) are the most serious of the Molners, prioritising work and duty over leisure. They make some of the best skilled workers in the Federation but are generally regarded as "odd" by the general population.

##### Braxilia

Braxilians (also called Braxers or Jungle Monkeys) embody the more extreme aspects of Molneran culture, even in their politics, they are the loudest, roughest, least disciplined Molners. Braxilia is rumoured to host more bars and nightclubs than bakeries, other Molners often complain that Braxilians dress too casual, often forgetting that swim trunks are year round apparel on Braxilia.

##### Cymengrid

Cymengridians (also called Cymers or Gridians) are often joked to be the most depressed Molners, the harsh living conditions of their planet surely does not help to fight this stereotype. Cymengridians are more reserved and generally calmer than other Molners. They can also seem unfriendly and dismissive at first but they are renowned as great friends and excellent psychologists.

##### Martina

Martinians (also called Marties) are the nicest and friendliest Molners, always very open to change and to new people. Their behaviour can sometimes be disconcerting for newcomers to their world but it makes them loved by everyone in the Federation, until it comes to rugby or war. They make some of the most violent sport fans and soldiers which contrasts heavily with their general behaviour.

##### Echa

Echans are very proud of their planet, perhaps too much, coupled with their love for drama and gossip makes them the most hated Molners. Echans strongly oppose such image, saying that other Molners are simply jealous of them for living on a paradise world.

##### Surgania

Surganians (also called Surgies) aren't a well defined group of people. The lack of contacts with the rest of the sector has created an impressive number of accents, patois and regional traditions. Whilst clearly distinct from Molners some urban area under Molneran rule are going through a process called "Molnerisation", whereby constant interactions with Molners cause some Surganians to adopt Molneran customs and language.

##### Lack or absence of regional differences

The world of Tokata along with Shidla Station and Kowal Station do not boast any significant cultural or societal differences. On Tokata the lack of differences is due to its primary role as a prison-world followed by a mining world making its permanent population very low. On Shidla and Kowal Station, the constant flow of people, assets and goods mixed with a low population prevents the creation of a distinct sub-culture.

### Notable Physical Features

Whilst defining a clear ethnicity is difficult in the Sector the extra-dimensional origin of the Molners allows for the classification of a few differences. Molners are known for their colourful eyes, up to 70% of them have green eyes while an estimated 10% have yellow eyes and a little bit below 3% have purple eyes. Molners also tend to boast muscular builds with naturally tanned skin although this is more often attributed to their lifestyle. They are also taller than the Sector average, standing at 183 cm for men and 179 cm for women.