Union of Lothea

Flag of the Union of Lothea

The Union of Lothea is a federation of syndicalist trade unions on the planet Lothea that was founded during the November Revolution. It has ties to both communist and anarchist organizations.

## History

### The November Revolution

Lothea, formerly considered a semi-autonomous planet by the Batvian government, was placed under direct authority after the outbreak of the Galactic War in 4030. Following the beginning of direct Batvian rule, a series of harsh rationing laws and industrial quotas were imposed on the planet by the Batvian Empire, which used the planet as a shipping hub and shipyard for their ever-growing wartime fleet.

The Lothean Dockworkers Union, in response to the tightening restriction and rationing of goods and life-saving medicine, turned to off-world smugglers to sustain the people living on Lothea. This open secret earned the growing labor movement a considerable degree of popularity with locals, and the ire of the Batvian authorities. In October of 4032, a harsh crackdown on this black market trade of life-saving goods had begun. This prompted mass protest and riots, which culminated in all trade unions affiliated with the nascent Confederation of Labor declaring a general strike. Demanding the easing of rationing and good restrictions, they shut down all star ports on the planet, blocking Batvian ships.

In an attempt to pacify the planet, the Batvian authorities sent in the imperial fleet to blockade the planet. Although this resulted in the further breakdown of local Batvian rule on the planet, which finally disintegrated on November 18th when radical anarchist and communist militias marched on the capitol in Ostlen.

A provisional government was quickly formed by the trade unions of the Confederation of Labour in the wake of the coup. Fearing infighting, counterrevolution and direct Batvian invasion of the planet, the provisional government invited all socialist, communist, and anarchist organizations to participate in the formation of the government.

### Batvian Invasion

After the overthrow of local Batvian authorities on Lothea, the modest Batvian blockade fleet was placed under the command of the 7th Imperial fleet on the orders of the Batvian naval command. This fleet entered the atmosphere of Lothea in the early morning hours of January 8th, transporting an invasion force onto the surface of the planet. With planetary and city-based shield generators now under the control of the socialist revolutionaries, the fleet was unable to bombard population centers or military targets from orbit.

Over the course of several weeks, the Batvian Empire attempted to land troops to retake the planetary capital of Ostlen. Although it was ultimately unsuccessful when the fleet was abruptly recalled after the revolutionaries won the battle of Ostlen.

## Structure

The Union of Lothea's ideas of governance is based on

#### Legislature

The Union of Lothea's ideology can be described as "Anarcho-syndicalism in theory, a socialist state in practice." With it's ideas of governance influenced by all aspects of the radical labor movement, it's largest de-facto governing body is the Lothean Democratic Council. This federation of Trade Unions, which grew to encompass all socialist and communist parties, now resembles a multi-party legislature. Despite this, all liberal and reactionary parties are barred from entry.