Stellar Confederate Union

Flag of the Stellar Confederate Union

Location of the Stellar Confederate Union (Member states: blue; Associate state: light blue)

### Principle headquarters

Aapalagi (Earth)
Dali (Tybin)
Sepakat (Pionerea)
Fairbrise (Everspring)
Yutakozan (Koiwe)

### Working languages

English
Mandarin
Hindi
Spanish
French
Arabic
Standard Malay
Russian

## Government

### Government type

Mixed intergovernmental confederation (Directorate)
Parliamentary directorial republic (Council)

### Legislature

Consultation Assembly (Upper house)General Parliament (Lower house)

### Military force

Stellar Confederate Union Collective Security and Defense Forces (SCU-CSDF)

### Formation

2282: Declaration of Coalition
 2284: Strategic Command Resolution
2288: Treaty of Mangala
2291: Treaty of Chowamori
2292-2300: Comprehensive Multilateral Treaties
2300: Union Charter

## Characteristics

### GDP (nominal)

Total:▲§2.082 quadrillion Per capita:▲§ 49,361

### Currency

None officialSolstand (§) (working currency)

The **Stellar Confederate Union (SCU)**, is a supranational economic, military, and political union of 32 member states. The successor to the Colonial Directorate and the Strategic Coalition of Allied States, it is the largest and most populous political entity in Colonized Space, with an estimated total population of over 42 billions and generated a nominal gross domestic product of §2 quadrillion in 2320.

Having the characteristics of both a confederation and a federation, it has the status of superpower, only rivaled by the Frontierran Commonwealth. Emerging after the Secessionist War and the collapse of the Colonial Directorate, it has since integrated many of its members under a single market, military command structure, legal framework and legislation, and common foreign affairs.

The founding document of the Stellar Confederate Union is the 2300 Union Charter, which outlines the various organs of the Union and their roles and responsibilities. Yet its beginning can be traced from the Secessionist War and its immediate aftermath, most prominently the Treaty of Chowamori. Though only 11 nations initially signed that Treaty, many further have subsequently joined or are looking to join. The Charter has stated a right for a member to leave the Union, though none have so far.

The Union is composed of 7 principal organs: the Directorate of the Stellar Confederate Union, the Council of the Commissions of the Stellar Confederate Union, the Parliament of the Stellar Confederate Union, the Consultation Assembly of the Stellar Confederate Union, the Court of Justice & Human Rights of the Stellar Confederate Union, the Military High Command of the Stellar Confederate Union, and the House of Auditors of the Stellar Confederate Union.

## History

### Secessionist War

Much of the origins of the Stellar Confederate Union lay in its predecessor, the Strategic Coalition of Allied States. Formed a year into the Secessionist War, as the mounting losses to the Independent Worlds' Concord forces continued due to deteriorating situations both on the battlefield and internally within the fractured Colonial Directorate, a desperate solution was needed. Then-Undersecretary for Colonial Security Sharlene Manalo made the 2282 Declaration of Coalition, to establish a proper military structure and consolidate once separate Earth national space forces, colonial militaries, and civilian militias. The Strategic Coalition of Allied States was originally meant as the armed branch of the CD.

Rallying the nations of Earth and colonies still aligned to the CD, SCAS quickly established the Coalesced Allied Command and merged forces under Manalo's leadership, who served as its only Chairperson, while the position of Supreme Commander was given to Cadwalader Cattell. Any discontent towards the reach of SCAS dissipated as the population was galvanized after the Battle of Taiwo where a Coalition fleet successfully halted an IWC attempt to threaten the Sol system. With this momentum, Manalo convinced the CD to pass the Strategic Command Resolution in 2284 AD, handing over all military authority and wartime decision-making to SCAS, allowing it to become an entirely separate organization. SCAS would be able to reverse the course of the war, even able to threaten the heartland of the IWC during Operation Burning Path. Though support wavered in the waning years of the conflict, SCAS was able to negotiate the 2288 Treaty of Tollankunft, ending the war with the Independent Worlds’ Concord forces and creating the demilitarized Treaty Line.

### Post-war

Within the same year as the peace treaty, many members of SCAS signed the Treaty of Mangala, transforming it into a collective security pact and a true military alliance from an ad hoc emergency military command. It was in 2291 AD, however, that the Stellar Confederate Union was found. The Colonial Directorate had always been politically weak, and the aftermath of the war saw it disintegrate and finally formally dissolved in 2290 AD. Almost immediately, efforts were made to integrate the CD institutions and any still-willing members into a new organization with the Strategic Coalition of Allied States. The Treaty of Chowamori was signed by 11 nations a year after, founding the Stellar Confederate Union.

The new Directorate of the Stellar Confederate Union elected Sharlene Manalo, who had then become a widely-known hero, as the organization's first Director-General in 2292. Her first initiatives were to expand the influence of the fledgling SCU through a series of treaties with other nations, independent institutions, and leftover entities of the Colonial Directorate. The Comprehensive Multilateral Treaties as they became known were successful, culminating in the Union Charter, which completely reformed the SCU into a loose confederation of nations.

### Tensions and cold war

Over the other side of the Treaty Line, the nations of Independent Worlds Concord fell into anarchy before being reunified under the Jalvatian-Bolari Common Army. Reformed as the Frontierran Commonwealth in 2303, it claims authority over the entirety of its side of the Treaty Line (though the Reincio Patch still refused to join them at that point).  The formation of two large power blocs on each side naturally led to increased fear in the Union about the continuation of peace. The stability of the Treaty Line had always been in question before. The collapse of the Colonial Directorate and the fracturing of the Independent Worlds movement meant the two parties of the Treaty of Tollankunft were unable to properly enforce it. The new interstellar order only exacerbated the Border Crisis, as none claimed to be parties to the Treaty.

The conflict came to a head when Frontierra invaded the Reincio later that year, under the justification that the worlds of the Patch signed the Independent Worlds’ Concord. Many third parties, including some of the Union’s members, began supporting the Reincio, in violation of the 2288 Treaty. Finally, Frontierra entered into negotiation with the Stellar Confederate Union, and began claiming as the successor of the Independent Worlds, thus would follow some of the provisions of the Treaty. In return, all SCU members stopped supporting Reincio forces, and both promised not to interfere in each other’s sphere of influence. Nevertheless, neither side agreed to reaffirm the Treaty as a whole, especially terms relating to the embargo. After the Reincio War ended with a Frontierran victory in 2304, multiple temporary agreements reaffirmed most of the Treaty Line, with the exception of the Erglamie region, and the other parts were still hotly debated.

Tensions flared again when the State of Ardulafra, an associate member of the SCU, invaded the Republic of Krusvet in 2305 in a dispute over the mineral-rich Wendigo system. The star system had been on the other side of the Treaty Line within the Erglamie region even though it was originally under the authority of Ardulafra. At the request of their neighbor, the Elpisi Confederation sent their warships into Krusvet to prevent a swift conquest of the home planet. Seeking to expand their influence in the region, Frontierra similarly intervened on the side of Krusvet. In fear of an attack on a Union associate member, many SCU members followed suit. The infamous Wendigo Standoff, as it has become known, was the closest point to a new interstellar war like the Secessionist War as nearly a hundred warships stood ready to fire in orbit of the white dwarf. This Standoff had a direct effect on the restart of the discussion on the Treaty Line. The 2306 Treaty of Krusvet City, followed by the Treaty of New Lubang ended the war, codified and expanded upon all the previous agreements, and reaffirmed a new Treaty Line.

## Government and politics

### Executive organs

Comprising all the heads of state of each of the member states and meeting in Sepakat, the Directorate of the Stellar Confederate Union is for the member states to discuss and adopt a general annual strategy, plan, and goal for the SCU, and to represent their individual nation's commitment to the Union. It is the only organ able to discuss exceptions and opt-outs of some bills and agreements for some members. The heads of state will also appoint a Director-General and Consultative Director every 2 years by consensus that would be the de facto head of state and head of the Assembly for the Union respectively and fulfill the initiative given. It is seen as a remnant or evolution of the defunct Colonial Directorate.

   The Council of the Commissions of the Stellar Confederate Union is the main executive branch of the Union, made up of the Commissioners of the 10 commissions of the Stellar Confederate Union and serves as a collective head of government. It is the only body able to propose legislation and is centered in Aapalagi, with offices spread out across the Union. Heading the Council is the Commissioner-General picked among and by the Council itself annually and serves as a first among equals. The position of Commissioner has no real term limits and one can hold power as long as they maintain the confidence of the Parliament. The 10 Commissions are further divided into 44 Sub-Commissions, headed by Deputy Commissioners. The main job of the Council is to write and apply legislation, execute laws, maintain day-to-day operations, and uphold treaties. The 10 commissions of the Council are the Commission for Joint Defense, the Commission for Internal Security, the Commission for Economic and Trade Cooperation, the Commission for Inter-Member Relations, the Commission for Common Foreign Policy, the Commission for Labor and Welfare, the Commission for the Promotion of Science, Culture, and Education, the Commission for Infrastructure Development, the Commission for Agricultural and Environmental Affairs, and the Commission for Communication and Transportation. Each Commission also makes use of various offices and specialized agencies, and the Council together coordinates with independent institutions.

### Legislative organs

The General Parliament of the Stellar Confederate Union acts as the lower house of the legislature and is considered to be the most powerful organ. The only organ to be directly elected from the citizenry of the SCU, it consists of 3,051 Members of Parliament that are proportional to their state's population. The President of the General Parliament presides over it and whose signature is one of two required to enact most laws and budget, and is elected from Parliament every third year. The Parliament's job is to discuss, amend, and vote on bills, but not propose, and to elect Commissioners. Matters relating to defense and budget require a two-thirds vote, while others only need a majority. The Commissioners' elections are organized to allow for representation of all the major regions of the SCU within the Council. Parliament can also call for a vote of no confidence to remove any Commissioners from office. Parliament is frequently divided among a dozen political groupings, made up of similarly-minded political parties of the Union’s members.

    The Consultation Assembly of the Stellar Confederate Union is described as the legislature's upper house and a counter-balance to the Parliament. Each member state appoints its permanent representative to the SCU and a governmental minister or ministerial representative pertaining to the current discussion to the Assembly. Its duty is to ensure equal representation of all members, to discuss legislation voted by Parliament, and if required, send it back to Parliament with recommendations for amendments, as well as confirm the appointment of Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners. It has little legislative power beyond budgetary and military, and cannot call for a vote of no confidence. The Assembly employs technical committees, sub-committees, and special interest groups, to ensure that all voices are heard. It is headed by the Consultative Director whose signature is the other one needed for the enactment of a bill.

Both organs are headquartered in Aapalagi.

### Military organ

While the Stellar Confederate Union Collective Security and Defense Forces are consolidated within the Commission for Joint Defense and the Commission for Internal Security of the Union Council, the majority of the Union's military power lays in the hands of its member states, and thus it's the duty of the Military High Command of the Stellar Confederate Union to coordinate and manage these disparate forces. A direct evolution of the Coalesced Allied Command during the Secessionist War, HighCom is the overall unified command structure of the SCU and deals with these military affairs by overseeing states' military, handling logistics between the states and the Union government, heading joint missions, etc. Additionally, it also advises the other organs on security and defense matters. HighCom is seated by the Chief of Defense or a very high-ranking officer of each member state, with a Chair and Deputy Chair heading the organ from its headquarters in Dali. This unique branch is indicative of the fact that the SCU is still very much a military alliance.

### Additional organs

The highest court in the Stellar Confederate Union, the Court of Justice and Human Rights is tasked with interpreting treaties and Union laws, hearing grievances against Union institutions, resolving inter-member disputes, as well as upholding human rights and peace. A Judge is appointed by their member state, who has to fit certain criteria before being approved unanimously by the Directorate. The Judges also choose an Attorney-General to act on their behalf in administrative and investigative duties. It has the power to check all the other organs and can strike down or revise bills before being voted on by the Parliament and Assembly. It can conduct investigations into allegations of corruption, human rights abuse, agreement violation, etc in its member states and the Union government and prosecute accordingly. In specific situations, the Supreme Court can remove people, even the Commissioner-General and Director-General, from offices of the SCU for breaking the law without the consent of Parliament or other organs, but no cases of this have ever happened. The court is located in Fairbrise.

    Seated in Yutakozan, the House of Auditors of the Stellar Confederate Union is responsible for checking and ensuring all funds are properly and fully allocated to and managed by the various Union departments and institutions. It is the supreme investigatory auditory, governmental transparency, and budget responsibility organ. Its overarching goal is to maintain the member states' full trust in the Union, as those funds directly came from them. Its governing authority is a panel of 32 Auditors from every member state, led by an internally elected Chief Auditor. Its mission required it to maintain a high degree of independence from the rest of the Union but still remain close. It has to publish a detailed report every year to all the organs and, if a discrepancy is found, it can report and bring actions to the Union Court.

## Symbol

The flag of the Stellar Confederate Union takes much inspiration from its predecessors, the Colonial Directorate and the Strategic Coalition of Allied States. The most prominent feature is the Union Rose, symbolizing peace and unity. The Rose’s origin is the fragmented star of the CD, which represents a galaxy divided into five arms, the five outer regions, and the core. It was adapted into a rose for use by SCAS, with a star replacing the circle, then it was moved above for the SCU. The 3 colors and their meanings remained the same: white is harmony, yellow is prosperity, and dark blue is the vastness of space. The 2 semi-circles make a simplistic wreath while also representing the merging of the Union’s 2 predecessors. The yellow band symbolizes the organization’s military origins and the star represents a hope for a brighter future.

The motto “Ex sacrificio nostro contendimus” was quoted from a rallying speech by Sharlene Manalo after the Strategic Command Resolution was passed, saying it in the context of being able to reverse the momentum of the Secessionist War.

## Military

The military power of the Stellar Confederate Union is separated into the individual militaries of its member worlds and the Union Confederate Forces, the latter is officially referred to as the Stellar Confederate Union Collective Security and Defense Force, or SCU-CSDF. The CSDF is all the military assets afforded to be used at the sole discretion of the Union Council by its member-states and is split between the Commission of Internal Security and the Commission of Joint Defense.

The SCU-CIS is in charge of promoting regional stability and enforcing Union laws through its peacekeeping and multinational police assets, while the SCU-CJD controls the naval and expeditionary capabilities of the Union, as well as its strategic intelligence. Efforts have been made to standardize and streamline the militaries of the SCU. In the event of a war affecting all of the Union, the CSDF and Union HighCom are expected to work in tandem, with all member state militaries under the latter's command, to which many have raised concerns over cohesion.

Military command is largely divided into 5 Theater Commands: Cunubulan Command, Thalastroni Command, Hamsan Command, Vallinian Command, and Border Command. Each has its own designated Fleet of the United Naval Forces and contingent of the Expeditionary Marine Corps.

## Membership

3 tiers of membership exist within the Stellar Confederate Union. Full-fledged member states are granted all the rights and responsibilities, including having a seat in all principal organs, mutual defense, and Union support, but having to abide by most SCU laws and contributing a minimum amount of money and military assets. The process of becoming a member state is lengthy and requires the applicant to be an associate member for many years while they are being vetted for democratic procedures, political and economic stability, etc. Associate members can access the Free Trade Zone and can participate in some discussions, but not vote. Some nations opt to stay as associate members due to the responsibility of accession like Szanyun. Observers, on the other hand, aren't nations but rather intergovernmental organizations whose importance grants them the ability to participate in some activities. These include the Union Investment Fund, the Stellar Food Bank, the International Red Cross and Red Cresent Movement, the Vallinian Economic Community, the Thalastroni Trilateral Trade Partnership, and more.

## Economy

Membership in the Union requires the state to pay annual taxes to the central Union government. The Stellar Confederate Union doesn’t have a unified currency nor a Union central bank, though most trade and foreign exchange are done using Solstand. The Stellar Confederate Union Commission for Economic and Trade Cooperation has a role on top of managing financial and commercial affairs which are overseeing all the national central banks, helping them stabilize their currency, and helping facilitate foreign exchange through insurance and derivatives. The internal market and free-trade area of the Union is the largest and most diverse, driven by continued free trade agreements and border relaxations yet often stymied by official and unofficial rival trade blocs within as well as economic fallouts of some states.