Federation

Overview

The Federation sees itself as the centre of the galaxy, and more importantly, the centre of humanity, its capital system, Sol, being the birthplace of humanity. It prides itself on its democracy, freedom of speech and high level of living standards for all its citizens.

Other political factions see the federation as an old, decadent, corrupt establishment, which will probably fall apart of its own rot and decay, if it isn't destroyed by its enemies first.

Politics

Both versions are, unfortunately, true. Although the Federation has a strong navy, and relies on patriotism to drive its peoples (as opposed to genetics (See Empire)) it suffers the same problems all capitalist systems face: Corruption. Democracy: Ruled by the people Bribes: Used to control the people who rule the other people. These two factors result in many instances of the rich getting their own way, at the expense of the poor and planetary environments.

Navy

The Federation boasts the most powerful fleet in the known Galaxy, on par with the Imperial War Machine. Based out of Eta Cassiopeia, the Federation Navy Centre, the navies several fleets patrol human space, engaging in border clashes with both the Empire and the Alliance, as well as peace keeping missions in systems of civil war or disputed systems.

There are two different types of vessels in the Federation Navy: The capital ship and the fighter:

Federation fighters include small, one man vessels, such as the Falcon Attack Fighter and the Hawk Airfighter.

Capital ships are larger than Long Range Cruisers and are rarely seen on the common space routes.

Sphere of Influence

The Federation borders stretch from Beta Hydri in the 'South', bordering the Imperial Systems, up to Eta Cassiopeia and the Federation/Alliance border in the 'north'. Systems of note within the Federation borders include Delta Pavonis and Tau Ceti. Several systems not within the immediate vicinity of Earth nonetheless swear allegiance to the Federation Government. Examples include Tiliala (Coordinates -4,-1) and Quiness (-8,6)

Likewise, there are several systems within the Federation border which do not swear allegiance to the Federation, but are indepedent systems, with their own set of rules. the range from Religious Enclaves like the van Maneens Star System, communist enclaves to corporate systems such as the Siruis system (Home to Sirius Corp, the biggest manufacturer of military fuel in the galaxy)

History

The Federation emerged from the early colonial period of humanities exploration of the stars. Although it had been in effectual existence since intersolar corporations had existed, it came into name during the Achenar Insurrection in the 2300's (and consequent formation of Duval Empire)

Since that time, the Federation and the Empire had been in a state of perpeptual Cold War, only interrupted once in 900 years.

The 'War of Mutual Misunderstanding'

It was during the 3000's that humanity made contact with another intelligent lifeform. Unfortunately, this contact came in the form of an unprovoked attack on the alien ship, resulting in a long and costly war with the technologically superior insectoid species, known as the Thargoids.

Joining forces with its old enemy, the Empire, The Inter-Galactic Navy Research Arm, or INRA was formed. INRA was involved in finding ways to combat the Thargoid menace through both military and non military means.

After the end of the Thargoid War (later renamed the War of Mutual Misunderstanding, after contact with the aliens was reestablished) INRA disappeared into the darkness of myth, and the Federation returned to its cold war with the Empire.