Terran Union

*"We will save humanity." - Jack Campbell*

**The Terran Union** is an interstellar nation established in 2142 by the nations of Earth following the end of World War Three.

## History

### World War Three

On the eve of the 3rd of June 2088, escalating tensions between the United North American States and the Peoples Republic of East Asia caused Earth's first and only full scale nuclear war, known as World War Three. In a matter of hours, nearly all of humanity had been wiped out.

On the 6th of June 2088, Colonel Jack Campbell of the United North American States declared the formation of the United Earth Contingency, a provisional military government with the intention to restore human society, and unite the planet under one organization. After fifty-four years of brutal conditions, emergency measures and martial law, The United Earth Contingency had reversed the damage caused by World War Three, emerged from the fallout as the dominant power, and recognized as the world's single, provisional government.

### Establishment of the Terran Union

With the restoration of global communications, manned spaceflights and the ability for more complex governmental structures, a first of its kind worldwide referendum was held to the decide the future of the world government. In an unexpected landslide, the emergency coalition that was the United Earth Contingency was legitimized, and reformed into the Terran Union, officially established on the 7th of May 2142. The Union elected the grandson of the now legendary Jack Campbell, Alexis Campbell as the first President of The Terran Union.

With the proclamation of the Union came the establishment of 6 administrative regions, roughly following the borders of the continents of old. These had existed as provisional territories prior to the Union's declaration, but were likewise legitimized following its declaration.

Promising to prevent a future global catastrophe, the Union began a program of industrial expansion across the Solar System. Mining and research outposts were established across a multitude of planets and moons within the system.

### Expansion to the stars

On the 6th of June 2188, the 100th anniversary of the United Earth Contingency, the Ministry of Science announced Project Aither, a definitive faster than light research project. Over the course of the following few years, The Ministry would test 17 unmanned faster than light vessels. On the 3rd of August 2195, the National Council granted permission for the creation of the first manned faster than light capable vessel. The first of the SV-1 Einstein class scientific vessels was completed on the 7th of November 2199, Simply known as the UTS Einstein, it would fall under joint control of the Ministry of Science and Fleet Command.

## Government

The government of the Terran Union is a borderline stratocracy, where military and civil governance go hand in hand. Citizens are encouraged and required to work for the government for a certain period of time, whether it be in the armed forced or in civil governance. The government of the Terran Union is widely accepting of all races, creeds, and kinds, though this attitude is born out of a practical need rather than altruistic one.

The Terran Union acts as a de facto single-party state, however, many opposition parties exist and are approved as alternatives and allowed to function within the Legislative Assembly. However, any opposition parties must remain subordinate to the nation's interest.

A number of directives exist within the Terran Union's constitution. that can temporarily, or if needed permanently change aspects of the Union government.

Executive power in the Union is held by the National Council, a coalition of ministers, each of whom acts as the head of one of the government's departments. Acting as head of state and the National Council is the President, an elected official that is most commonly one of the ministers. The President has special powers that were created to allow the Council to act quicker are more decisively in times of emergency. Presidents are elected for a term of twenty-years, although this can be altered depending on extraneous circumstances.

## Society

The Culture of the Terran Union would likely at time seems eclectic to outside observers, with numerous languages, religious and philosophical belief systems, and species phenotypes seeming to exist within its borders and carrying the overall title of "human". The most common of these groupings consist of those that largely survived World War Three, mainly the peoples of North America, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Africa, India, and Oceania, though this is by no means comprehensive due in part to refugee migrants from South America, East Asia, and Western Europe that settled in new places around the world during and following the war. Initially wary of cross-cultural and inter-ethnic strife during the reconstruction period on Earth, the Greater Terran Union tightly regulates certain cultural practices, most especially among them practices of religion.

Although the Freedom of Religion is maintained within the Greater Terran Union, the state takes efforts to ensure that certain practices and organizations remain within the strict boundaries of the law. The task of ensuring religion does not become a danger to society or the state is handled primarily by the Ministry of State Security.

Similar amounts of government control and involvement extend into the cultural space as well, where works of art, literature, and other media are considered integral to the national interest as unifying forces and ought to in some way serve the interests of the state, either through the improvement of morale, patriotism, the furtherance of accepted morality or general pacification of the population. During the earlier years of Terran Union, media that was critical of the state was entirely banned, however, these restrictions were gradually lifted over time. Regardless of restrictions, clever artists have utilized a number of methods to bypass state censorship.

The society of the Greater Terran Union itself is organized upon a pessimistic outlook on the nature of the universe and humanity in general. The Union, being the product of a war that nearly led to the extinction of humanity, will, in general, assume the worst out of anyone's intentions.

## Military

The armed forces of the Terran Union consists primarily of two primary branches, Fleet Command and Land Command. Both of these branches include numerous component services, or are supplemented by other independent services. Additionally, many reserve, support or ceremonial units exist at both the Federal and Administrative Region level.