Rimward Commonwealth

> Every sentient has the right to self-determination and choice, choice that all must be guaranteed.
>
> Commonwealth Constitution

The **Rimward Commonwealth** is a community of many planets who have come together to defend their common liberties and rights, which they foresaw as being violated by the Imperials, if they weren’t going to stop it. Formed in 2ANZ (then as the **Rimward Alliance**) as a response to Sadowan Imperial aggression, the Alliance evolved overtime into a machine of democracy and equal representation.

Despite access to nowhere near the resources of the Sadowan Empire, in particular a lack of Tibanna gas production, the Rimward peoples managed to force them back towards the north of the Nebulous Zone, aided by the Empire’s constant distraction with the Mandalorians.

Though at first being simply an alliance of various rebel groups, militias, clone trooper units, disparate jedi and planetary defence forces that eventually formed a cohesive rebel military, the Commonwealth soon became a real coalition of states with a constitution, set of objectives and combined military known as the United Commonwealth Forces, which all the member planets are expected to contribute to. Other than decisions made in regards to the Commonwealth’s own policies, every member planet makes their own decisions and operates independently of the others.

## Life in the Commonwealth

> I finally found a life worth fighting for.
>
> Sergeant Major Ace, 5th Infantry

Though the Empire attempts to paint the Commonwealth as an inefficient state where people starve, struggle and are under the oppression of the UCF, life in the Commonwealth is a far more pleasant thing for many worlds that used to be under the Old Republic. With almost the entire Nebulous Zone being in the former ‘Outer Rim’, most of the population’s prospects have drastically improved, with serious effort going into improving their livelihoods and modernising their worlds. If nothing else, the Commonwealth needed to do this for the sake of its own economic and military might, and that suits many of the member worlds just fine.

The Commonwealth’s Assembly, the ruling body which makes decisions on policy, military and other functions of the union, has a rotating capital between each of its member worlds, changing host every few years as voted by the union. The Assembly must rotate through every member world before it can vote for one again. Currently, the Assembly is situated on Chalacta, having just finished seating on Jabiim in defiance towards the Empire for their previous occupation of the world.

The Occupation of Jabiim, also known as the Jabiimi Clearances, were a series of massacres enacted by the Sadowan Empire after they managed to capture the ore-rich world of Jabiim from Commonwealth forces. Thanks to the independence of the Jabiimi people and the amount of UCF-trained personnel still on the world, guerilla fighting and general resistance was intense. Stormtrooper casualties associated with the occupation quickly outpaced those from the actual battle to take the planet, and eventually, the Imperials had enough.

Going from town to town, city to city and from house to house, Commandos searched, and anywhere they found resistance-associated material, they gunned down the inhabitants. This was regardless of their status as combatants or if they were weak, old, or even children. The Clearances, at first carried out by Sovereign Commandos, eventually stepped up in scope and the Stormtrooper Corps was brought in to take over the duties. However, the Stormtroopers, not being anywhere near as fanatical as their Commando brethren, were not so eager to carry out these orders. Some reports of insubordination came in at first, before there were AWOLS and all-out desertion from entire units.

Realising the folly of their plan, the Empire attempted a more peaceful, militarised control over the world, but it was too late. Now, their own soldiers had turned coat and fought against them, using their own equipment, tactics and knowledge of their doctrine. The Empire may have captured Jabiim, but they never held it, as UCF forces arrived in force to take back the planet, and with so much struggle and logistical trouble already plaguing them, they were forced back into their own territory.

Ever since, Jabiim and its inhabitants are not only seen as martyrs, but brave freedom fighters, with every stormtrooper who defected being given Jabiimi citizenship.

## United Commonwealth Forces

> Do you want to be a hero?
>
> UCF Recruitment Slogan

After the Rimward Alliance officially reformed into the Commonwealth, the need to retain a united military was recognised, and the Commonwealth Assembly agreed unanimously to form the United Commonwealth Forces, or the UCF. The UCF is considered a successor to the Rimward Alliance and its victories against the Sadowan Empire, and this has created a prestige around the organisation that naturally encourages recruitment. Even so, most military funding from Commonwealth planets goes into the UCF rather than local militias. One of the things that stands out about the UCF compared to other groups in the Nebulous Zone, like the Hutts, Sadowan Empire and Mandalorians is that they have no means of tibanna gas production. While the Hutts were at first eager to trade and did so gladly with the Rimward Alliance as it held off the Empire, once they had thrown them back into their own space and the conflict cooled, their enthusiasm waned. The Hutts hiked up prices, knowing they were the only source of Tibanna the Commonwealth had. Rather than kowtow to a crime syndicate, the UCF adapted, and put extensive research into advancing slugthrower technology.

To this day, the Commonwealth does not use blasters except in specialised operations, almost exclusively utilising their own advanced slugthrowers, even as their enemies’ weapons boast a significant advantage in ammunition logistics and general destructive capability. Even so, the bullets of the UCF have become feared, and the fact that bacta cannot be quickly applied to wounds without first removing those bullets has created a dire need for medics in the Stormtrooper Corps.

The UCF has an equal number if not more soldiers than that of the Sadowan Empire, recruited entirely through volunteers rather than conscription. Soldiers are sent to the Irenic Base on Eadu to train before they are assigned to a unit, or to another training base if they are required to undertake specialised training. Special forces operators, simply known as Aurek Group, are available to apply to for any soldier, but only the best will be able to complete the grueling training courses on Jabiim.

In comparison to the ground forces, the UCF Navy is known for quick maneuvers and tactical know-how, able to outmanoeuvre the larger and more powerful Star Destroyers of the Sadowan Navy. Most efforts to accrue Tibanna Gas have been for funding the Navy’s turbolasers, and only after the Hutts had eventually agreed to lower the prices. The Navy relies on aggressive, flexible and risky tactics in their engagements, often bringing smaller ships right into close quarters with their larger enemies.

However, the efforts of admirals for reform and reorganisation have proved fruitful due to the tense stalemate currently between the two regional powers. Recently, the UCF has finished work on its own Star Destroyer-esque design, known as a Myrmidon.

### The Immortals

> If there is one gift the UCF gave me, it’s time.
>
> Lieutenant Jacker, Immortal

Originally theorised as a project to extend the lifespan of clone troopers so as to not love their valuable military experience and capability, Project IMMORTAL was worked on in secret on the world of Formos, near the headquarters of the UCF on Eadu. Human trials were conducted with volunteers from the military, whose DNA was resequenced, their physical abilities augmented, their brain stimulated in creating more neural pathways, as though it was a developing child’s. Though results were mixed at first, eventually the process was perfected as the project’s objective and ethos shifted; not from simple life extension, added as part of the enhancements early on, but the creation of the future and ultimate soldier.

Unfortunately for the creators of Project IMMORTAL, the genetic requirements for it were incredibly strict. While it would make a soldier far taller, faster, stronger and superior in many ways, very few could qualify for it. Thankfully, one of those few was Jango Fett, and all those cloned from him. While every soldier entering the UCF military from now on would receive military tests, every clone trooper would be given a choice; to subject themselves to this genetic augmentation, or age as gracefully as they could, whether in the military or without.

Immortals would not just be given genetic enhancements, but a new line of armour developed specifically for them. Using incredibly dense and heavy Neuranium plating, the newly-christened Phalanx Armour provides not just incredible protection from blaster and slugthrower fire along with explosives, but even gives some protection from lightsabers, making the Immortals a feared sight even for Sith; they are incredibly hard to move with the force, their physical capabilities rivals Sith Lords, and their radiation shielding protects from lightning and many other force abilities. It doesn’t help that many of them are former clone troopers, bred to kill force users, not that many are aware of that fact.

## The New Jedi Order

> Main Article: New Jedi Order
>
>

Though not directly associated with the Commonwealth, the New Jedi Order are considered close allies for their aid in the Rimward Alliance, their charity and negotiation work, and their desire to let the Commonwealth and other powers manage their own governance without Jedi interference. With temples and academies on the worlds of Teth, Eadu, Kashyyyk, Ruusan and Boz Pity, the NJO is built upon not repeating the mistakes of the old order, with many of its founding Jedi realising the mistakes that had been made, especially with the clarity of one of its first masters, Count Dooku.
The New Jedi Order does not take part in any politics or in the interests of any power. It only seeks to preserve life and aid the situation of any sentient they come across, and this includes those who would oppose or even threaten them. There have been many cases of Jedi covertly entering Imperial space to help struggling individuals or worlds with food, medicine or crisis relief, only to quickly disappear back into space before Imperials, or especially Sith, arrive on the scene.

However, those who serve in the New Jedi Order are considered eligible for citizenship on Commonwealth worlds if they do not already have it, which includes those married to Jedi or the children of Jedi, as the Order has rescinded many of their restrictions around attachment and attempts instead to promote emotional stability and peace, rather than avoiding the potential for emotional turmoil altogether.

Those in the UCF who discover that they are force-sensitive may go to the New Jedi Order for supplemental training, but should they wish to actually be inducted as a padawan learner and work towards becoming a full Jedi, they will be given an honourable discharge. In the case of former Jedi, they will be accepted into the UCF as long as they have the permission of the order and the UCF decides to accept them, on a case-by-case basis.

There are Jedi Councils on each world, with the Temple on Ruusan being considered the ‘Headquarters’ of the order, and as such, most reports are sent there and the most senior amongst the order are appointed to the Council. Council members on any world can be Knights or Masters, as is decided on a case-by-case basis.