Lore:United Colonies
The United Colonies is a government comprising of a few star systems within the Settled Systems. It is a direct successor the the former Earth governments, formed initially with a mandate to transport the entire civilization to the Stars due to the degradation of Earth's magnetosphere in 2150. It is led by a supreme decision-making Cabinet, with the head chair being an elected President. Citizenship is contingent of a varying amount of years of service the the United Colonies Public, either in the Military, Administrative, or Science divisions.
The End of Earth[edit]
In 2150, humanity learned the Earth’s magnetosphere would collapse sometime in the next half-century, eliminating all life on the planet. Decisive action was required. But the secure transport of an entire civilization would demand a new kind of cooperation, a new kind of courage, and a new kind of union. Thus, in 2159, the United Colonies were formed to make that journey possible. Just one year later, the Galileo, the first of the many colony ships, touched down here on Jemison, beginning a new era of human history: the age of the United Colonies.
New Factions Rise[edit]
From their foundation, the United Colonies (UC) strove to provide all their citizens with opportunity, security, and peace. But there were those among the UC that still wanted something more – independence. So, in 2161, the UC issued the Centaurus Proclamation, granting UC citizens the right to settle distant worlds and form their own sovereign powers. It wasn’t long before the first new faction – the Freestar Collective – was formally organized in 2188, later followed by House Va’ruun, revealing themselves to the universe in 2230.
The Serpent’s Crusade[edit]
Beginning in 2240, House Va’ruun forces declared all-out war on the rest of human civilization, initiating the “Serpent’s Crusade.” Over the next 23 years, thousands of Freestar, UC, and independent souls were killed by agents of House Va’ruun in the name of their serpent god. It was only with the death of their founder in 2263, and the succession of his heir, Jarek, that House Va’ruun finally sued for peace. There remains, however, select members of House Va’ruun who refuse to recognize the cessation of hostilities their leaders established. Even after House Va’ruun’s mysterious disappearance, these Zealots remain a threat to all who encounter them. Their pacification? A goal of all space.
Conflict Among the Stars[edit]
Of the many conflicts between the galaxy’s factions, none was more brutal than the recent Colony War between the UC and Freestar Collective. Set off by the unauthroized Freestar colonization of Vesta’s Pride in 2308 – a direct violation of the Narion Treaty – the Colony War spread quickly across the galaxy. Both sides deployed every tool at their disposal: armadas of warships, mechanized combat platforms – or “Mechs” – even bioengineered alien creatures – the infamous UC Xenoweapons. It was only in 2311, at the Battle of Chayenne, that the scales finally tipped. The Freestar Collective, utilizing their civilian fleet as a human shield, successfully crippled the superior United Colonies Navy. After their shocking victory against the galaxy’s greatest navy, the Freestar Collective offered terms of peace, which the Colonies, out of an interest in staving off any further human costs, accepted. The galaxy has been rebuilding ever since.
The Battle of Niira[edit]
Few settled worlds were left untouched by the Colony War. But nowhere could the viciousness of modern warfare be seen more clearly than on the Freestar planet of Niira. Initially occupied by invading UC forces as a forward operating positions, repeated attempts to take and retake the planet by Collective forces led only to devastation. Swathes of the world were transformed into scorched husks, a nightmarish testament to the depths of human ingenuity and human cruelty. And today Niira remains a continuing reminder of the horrors of unfettered war.
The Terror of Londinion[edit]
In the midst of the Colony War, a different kind of tragedy struck the UC city of Londinion. A newly constructed but critical supply center for the United Colonies’ war effort. Londinion found itself overrun by one of the galaxy’s most mysterious predators – the Terrormorph. A rare but pervasive threat to all human-settled worlds. Terrormorphs swept over the city seemingly out of nowhere, on a scale never before seen in recorded history. Valiant efforts by the UC military slowed the onslaught, but the creatures proved unstoppable. Ultimately, the decision was made to destroy the Londinion spaceport – sealing of the city, the outbreak… and its citizenry from the galaxy at large. The tragedy of Londinion is mourned by the UC to this day.
The Armistice[edit]
After the devastation wrought by the Colony War, the UC and the Freestar Collective came together to ratify a treaty that became known as “The Armistice.” Both sides agreed to a vast reduction in standing forces and that Xenoweapons and Mechwarfare would be outlawed. All related research was sealed away, accessible only in cases of dire emergencies. But the Collective had another demand – that the active commanders of the UC military stand trial for their actions. The United Colonies, in the interest of peace and galactic security agreed. In 2311, three United Colonies senior offices were found guilty: Commander Henry Durant, General Indira Rastogi, and Fleet Admiral Francois Sanon, known better as “Vae Victis.” All were sentenced to death for their actions, bringing the Colony War to a close and returning peace to the galaxy at long last.
The Vanguard Is Born[edit]
It was into this new world that the Vanguard was born. An official branch of the UC Navy, the Vanguard is the United Colonies’ volunteer fleet, serving a myriad of security, logistical, and reconnaissance roles. And, after a sufficient length of service, UC citizenship is guaranteed for every Vanguard member. Open to all captains, regardless of origin, the Vanguard is leading the charge to protect and support the citizens of the United Colonies, wherever in the galaxy they may be.
The United Colonies Citizen[edit]
No one is born a United Colonies citizen; only through service to the UC can one hope to earn one’s citizenship. But the UC prides itself on taking care of its people. Cost of living controles means citizens pay less than their foreign counter parts for needs big and small. All citizens are issued a grant upon joining to get themselves on their feet. And only UC citizens have the opportunity to purchase property, getting the chance to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the Settled Systems. By joining the Vanguard today, you too can begin earning your place here, in the heart of galactic civilization – as a citizen of the United Colonies.
