Zaranite Union

Emblem of the Union (pdmahler)

The **Zaranite Union**, known as the "Great Union" to its citizens, was the interplanetary state of the Zaranite people. It was overseen by the High Council from the planet Zaran II and became a member state of the United Federation of Planets in 2263.

## History

A desire to explore beyond their world led a small group of Zaranites to develop methods to reach outer space. In 2183, Z'Anlet became the first of zers people to do so. Zers pod orbited the planet 12 times before returning to the surface. This inspired other Zaranites and the High Council soon approved a new program to greatly advance their space exploration. By 2236, the Union had developed and constructed starships that could achieve Warp 1.3.

Due to their atmospheric needs, Zaranites saw little need to expand to other worlds that would require drastic terraforming or the constant need of respirators. However, a few mining operations and observation outposts were established throughout the Zaran system.

The Union's first contact with another sentient species occurred on 23 February 2250 when the Federation starship USS *Clandre*, in the vicinity of the Zaran system conducting a stellar mapping survey, was intercepted by two Star Sentry vessels. The Zaranites, excited to meet other sentient species, invited the Clandre and its crew to their homeworld.

This amicable first contact began a successful relationship between the Union and the United Federation of Planets. Less than a decade later, in 2257, the Union became a protectorate of the Federation shortly after its war with the Klingons had concluded. Finally in April 2262, the USS *Mithuna* arrived at Zaran II to escort the first delegation from the Zaranite Union to Earth where they were officially welcomed as a member state.

Zp'rang, a junior officer in the Star Sentries, applied for admission to Starfleet Academy in 2264. Zee was accepted and entered later that same year. With some credit granted for service in the security force, Zp'rang was able to graduate in three years and was stationed aboard the USS *Lexington*, which had just completed repairs at Starbase 11.

The transition to Federation membership was not so easy for others and a secessionist faction formed. In 2273, Zantra, a noted Zaranite philosopher and special advisor to the Union’s High Council, boarded the USS *Enterprise* to return to Zaran II and present a formal petition for secession to Union leaders. During the voyage, Zantra's view changed and zee instead worked to reconcile the secessionists towards Federation membership. Due to zers efforts, and those of other leading Zaranites, the faction dwindled and had completely disappeared by 2280.

## Politics

The High Council was the ruling body of the Union. Each settlement on Zaran II would vote for a councilor, who would be sent to sit on the High Council. The council would vote to elevate one of its members to serve as Prime Councilor, the Union's head of state. The Hall of the High Council, located in the city of Zagar, served as the seat of the government.

After the Union joined the Federation, some non-Zaranites settled on Zaran III and worked at mining colonies in the system. These peoples fell under the purview of the Zaranite Union and were granted representation on the High Council. Though the councilors from these settlements were active on the council, they generally participated remotely instead of donning the environmental suits needed to enter the Hall.

## Security and military

The domestic security force of the Zaranite Union was the Star Sentries. Comprising small patrol ships and observation outposts, the agency was responsible for defending and policing Union space. Though originally composed solely of Zaranites, as other species began to settle in the Zaran system after the Union joined the Federation, the Sentries grew to include citizens from various other member worlds. The first non-Zaranite to serve as the agency's director was Eirol th'Ukon, an Andorian who assumed the position in 2370.

## Appendices

### Connections

**Agencies:** Starfleet • Diplomatic Corps • Department of Temporal Investigations • Federation Security Agency

**Facilities:** 40 Eridani A Starfleet Construction Yards • Antares Ship Yards • Beta Antares Ship Yards • Copernicus Ship Yards • Laikan Starfleet Shipyards • McKinley Station • Memory Project • New Aberdeen Shipyards • Proxima Maintenance Yards • Salazaar Shipyards • San Francisco Fleet Yards • TL-9139 Starfleet Maintenance Yards • Tranquility Base • Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards

### Footnotes

1. ↑ *Star Trek Comic Strip* arc: “The Real McCoy.”