United Taeran Hegemony

The **United Taeran Hegemony**, commonly abbreviated as the **UTH** or **The Hegemony**, is a powerful interstellar superpower located in the Diploma Cluster, on the opposite side as the Confederation. It is the successor to the Eicheron Republic. The UTH is currently under the rule of Autarch Kharus, who has been in reign for 84 years.

### Ideology

Taerans ("Taeran" refers to a citizen of the UTH; "Ghar'Taeran" refers to a member of the species) have a belief of nationalist pride and superiority, often at toxic amounts when viewed by outsiders. They believe that they are the most superior nation in the Diploma Cluster, in terms of government, military, economy, religion, and rights. These claims are often backed up by that almost the entire population of their species is unified under one society. The nation's demonym of 'Taeran', close to the name of their species, puts a sense of unity in them, and further enforcing that their government is the ultimate Ghar'Taeran government.

### Government

The UTH is an unusual blend of autocracy and democracy. The entire nation is ruled by the *autarch*, who, effectively, has unlimited power and complete control over anything in the UTH. They are able to enact or remove laws on command, start and end wars, and even manipulate the economy. Although, one person controlling billions of people over tens of light-years, is a daunting and very difficult task, so the 66 star systems are split up into 42 districts, each ruled by three senators, to oversee the smaller areas. Senators are appointed to their position by the autarch.

The UTH is often referred to as an "elective dictatorship". Autarchs are elected by the entire population whenever the previous autarch is removed, retires, or dies. Though they can exercise absolute control over the state, they generally do not, as the people have the ability to vote them out of office.

### Economy and Industry

The economy and industry of the UTH is a blend of socialist and capitalist ideologies. Massive state-owned corporations are in control of most basic, large scale services of planets/systems: water, food production, and resource harvesting are common examples. On smaller scales, such as towns and cities, private ownership of small businesses for lesser goods are allowed.

This economic system emerged after the collapse of the old Eicheron Republic. The Republic was close to becoming a post-scarcity civilization in terms of food and mined materials, and the state and large corporations had control over production. Unfortunately, the Cobalt War caused a downturn in this system, leaving the people to fend for themselves economically, thus creating a rise in capitalism. The post-scarcity era has since returned, but capitalism among the people has remained, so as to make their economy more robust.

### Military

Founded out of war-based economics, trigger-happy ideologies, and a devastating nuclear war, the military of the UTH is highly prized by both the government and the people. With roughly 300 million people in active service and in reserve, it is both the second largest military and second most powerful, only narrowly being topped by the military of the Confederation. While not possessing the most modern space weaponry and warships, their troops' gear is unmatched. The UTH's military prefers surface/aerial attacks rather than orbital attacks, able to deal significant damage to planets with mostly space-based weapons and defenses.

### Hegemonic Control

As of the present date, the UH exerts military control over seven other spacefaring polities, all of which are of Ghar'Taeran origin. They are often referred to as "slave states" by outsiders.