The Mission

## Overview

The Mission is an autocratic bureaucracy. It is the largest and arguably most powerful government in the galactic scene, known for its practice of interventionism—uplifting "primitive" species. It is a somewhat monolithic government, with much of its power concentrated among a few key individuals, especially Grand Ambassador Corteal, who has served in the top position in the Mission since the year 175C.

## Founding and History

The Mission was founded in approximately -2160C, though its current form can be traced back to the conclusion of the Mission War in the year 0C, and it made major changes following the Somm War in 222C. Standard years in the galactic scene, much to the Union's chagrin, are measured by one revolution of the planet Sorall around its sun. They are known as S years.

## Interventionism

Central to the Mission's identity is its practice of uplifting "primitive" species that are deemed to have something valuable to offer. In exchange for advanced technologies, such as life-saving and life-improving nanobots and medicines, these species are required to become an official part of the Mission's government, adhering strictly to its laws and paying taxes. This policy, known as interventionism, sets the Mission in opposition to the Union of Planets, which promotes self-determinism for less advanced species.

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.

It has been noted that Mission species have less autonomy and pay a higher tax rate than those in the Union. The Red Mission's tax-rate and autonomy levels could be said to fall rather neatly between the two.

## Key Species within The Mission

The Mission is home to a diverse array of many species, with the Sora, Xian, and Bendonites being among the most prominent members.

## Conflict with The Union of Planets

The ideological differences between the Mission and the Union of Planets have led to numerous conflicts and proxy wars, particularly along their shared border on primitive worlds. While a full-scale war has not occurred since the Somm War, tensions remain high between the two governments.

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

The Red Mission, another government in the galactic scene, was founded in the year 0C, following the Mission War. A faction called the Red within the Mission originally wanted only to reform the Mission, but eventually after the war was over the Red split from the parent government and became its own group. The Red Mission shares the Mission's practice of uplifting pre-FTL species and has a similar policy in exchange for their inclusion in the Red Mission government. However, they claim to choose their targets more carefully and to generally operate with a higher degree of transparency and ethics.

Despite its smaller size compared to the Mission and the Union, the Red Mission is well-funded and maintains relatively amicable relations with the Union. However, the same could not be said of the Red Mission's relationship with their "parent" government, as they have a longstanding tradition of bitter hostility towards the Mission.

## The Somm War

The Mission, headed by Grand Ambassador Corteal, was a central player in the Somm War (217C-222C), a historic conflict that significantly impacted the balance of power in the galactic scene. The war was instigated by the Mission's clandestine operations, notably their secret research facilities focused on developing advanced technologies and researching the Gift on Ledev criminals thought to be deceased, a practice violating a sacred Ledev D'sahn taboo. These activities were exposed by the Red Mission, sparking a war that involved the Union of Planets and led to a diplomatic crisis. The war's conclusion enforced a treaty that prohibited the Mission from further unethical research and compelled it to dismantle its secret labs. This has since led to a shift in the Mission's policy with more awareness of diplomacy and public scrutiny, with Grand Ambassador Corteal striving to repair her tarnished reputation.

## The Court

In the aftermath of the devastating Somm War, the Mission recognized the strategic importance of agreeing to use the Court, a mysterious Dyson Sphere, as a neutral ground for galactic diplomacy. While costly for Mission citizens to travel to due to currency disparities, the Court has become a symbol of resilience and a testament to the Mission's ability to adapt for the greater good, even amidst the complexities of galactic politics.

## Government and Leadership

In contrast to the Red Mission and the Union of Planets, much of the power in the Mission is concentrated into a small number of positions. At the top of the Mission's government is the Grand Ambassador Livita Corteal, a revered and enigmatic figure who has held her position for centuries. Supported by her chief secretary, Xilo Xiando, and her prodigious daughter, Anasta Corteal, Ambassador Corteal navigates the delicate balance of power and ambition within the Mission's government. A polarizing figure, one would be hard-pressed to find someone in the galactic scene who didn't have an opinion on her one way or the other.

## The Law of 55

The controversial "Rule of 55" underpins the interventionism policy of the Mission. This rule stipulates that the Mission only requires 55 members of a species willing to join their government to establish an official body within the Mission. This then saddles the Mission with the "responsibility" of protecting and uplifting the entire species. While the Mission maintains that they do not force any species to join them, this rule allows them to "legally" wage war on factions resisting their intervention, such as the Traditionalists of Callax, even when the majority of the species stands against the Mission's involvement.

Critics argue that the Rule of 55 is an exploitative loophole that undermines the sovereignty of "primitive" species. They contend that intervention, if necessary, should require the consent of a majority of adult sentients from the species in question, rather than a small minority that may not truly represent the broader population's interests. This controversy was one of the primary points of contention that the Red faction initially held with the Mission.

## The Mission Vanguard

The Mission Vanguard serves as the primary military force for the Mission, responsible for protecting its interests, ensuring security within its territories, and providing aid to species in need of guidance. The organization is led by the Supreme Commander, a male Sora named Rennic Golall, who has a long tenure in the position and maintains a close relationship with Grand Ambassador Corteal.

For various reasons, the MV makes use of a high number of mercenaries, which make up the majority of active soldiers at any given time.

## Challenges and Concerns

Despite its vast influence and power, the Mission remains deeply concerned and frustrated with the potential consequences of overstepping its boundaries. The harrowing memory of the Somm War, when the typically semi-neutral Frex threatened to arm the Union military with advanced technology, serves as a constant reminder. The Mission takes this threat seriously, and it significantly impacts their strategic planning and relations with their rival, the Union of Planets, to avoid provoking the Frex again.

Proxy wars are an increasingly-common mechanism by which the Mission is able to assert itself over the Union of Planets without seeming to anger the Frex, who have never made a move to assist the Union directly in any such conflict.

Some in the galactic scene have theorized another "benefit" of proxy wars, from the Mission's point of view, is strengthening its border with the Union and Red Mission. If anything ever happens that tips the balance of power in the Mission's favor—for example a technological breakthrough that puts them ahead of the Frex—perhaps the Mission wants to be ready to take advantage of it.