Sovereign Colonies

The **Sovereign Colonies** are the predecessor to the Earth Government, a united ruling body encompassing Earth and its colonies that lasted until the early 24th century. The Sovereign Colonies were dissolved following the disastrous events on Tau Volantis and the decision to destroy all Marker-related research and eliminate anyone with ties to the project. The extent of the containment operation effectively nullified the Colonies' ability to continue the Secession War against the rebels. In the vacuum left behind, the secessionists seized power and formed an Earth-centric government.

The Sovereign Colonies Armed Forces was the military of the Sovereign Colonies.

## Background

The Sovereign Colonies were the united government of human space that formed in the wake of mankind's expansion to space after a string of global social calamities caused by post-21st century armed conflicts, specifically, the Bering Sea conflict, and environmental catastrophes known collectively as the Global Warming Epidemic. Without shockpoint drives, space travel was limited and required large investments of money and materials. Another problem was the constant resource shortage, limiting the ability to expand and support the population. Discovery of the Black Marker in the Yucatán in 2214 defied scientific understanding and gave hope for the beleaguered humanity. Despite the death of Michael Altman and the riots that followed, research into the Marker promised an end to humanity's resource crisis.

However, research required time that the Sovereign Colonies did not have. The resource-stricken populations proved susceptible to manipulation by secessionists seeking to form an Earth-centric government. Hostilities steadily escalated, from rioting on Earth to open war. The Secession War, as it was called, pitted Colonies against the Secessionists, consuming men and resources at a steady pace. The conflict steadily consumed the ranks of trained legionaries, eventually forcing the Colonies to rely on conscription.

By 2311, the Sovereign Colonies were in a critical situation, with both public support and the ability to wage war dwindling. The discovery of Tau Volantis thanks to the Ptolemy Station was a final attempt to turn the tide of the war in their favor. The Galactic Expedition sent to the planet drew resources and men away from the war effort, hoping to find the source of limitless energy received by the Marker. This, in turn, could resolve the resource crisis and give the Colonies' the upper hand against the Secessionists.

Unfortunately, reality proved to be quite different. What the Expedition uncovered was nothing short of an existential threat to humanity and the Sovereign Colonies Council decided to invoke a Scenario Five response, destroying all research related to the Markers, eliminating all personnel tied to it, and otherwise burying all knowledge related to the project. The extent of the purges and destruction nullified its ability to continue the war and losing to the Secessionists, who dismantled the Sovereign Colonies administration, and established an Earth-centric, centralized government in its place. Neither the Secessionists nor EarthGov were aware of the reasons behind the widespread destruction of materiel across Sovereign Colonies' territory. The accepted explanation in military circles was that the Colonies were simply implementing scorched earth tactics, preferring to scuttle their fleet, rather than hand it over to the victors.