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Freeworlds Region: Difference between revisions
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{{Heading|Powers of the Freeworlds|#B6A2C2}} | {{Heading|Powers of the Freeworlds|#B6A2C2}} | ||
There are several levels of government in the Freeworlds, and they overlap in areas, which can give government officials, barristers, and judges fits. Each world is independent politically from the others, and maintains its own government and defense force. There was a Valcarian Imperial governor assigned to each world as well, who officially at least, had final say over planetary policy. | There are several levels of government in the Freeworlds, and they overlap in areas, which can give government officials, barristers, and judges fits. Each world is independent politically from the others, and maintains its own government and defense force. There was a Valcarian Imperial governor assigned to each world as well, who officially at least, had final say over planetary policy. No longer. | ||
But the six major Freeworlds are also members of the [[Par'tha Expanse Great Council|Great Council]], and are partially affected by decisions made within its halls. They are also members of the '''Freeworlds Council''', which is mostly a trade organization, but also provides for a common defense in case of attack. | But the six major Freeworlds are also members of the [[Par'tha Expanse Great Council|Great Council]], and are partially affected by decisions made within its halls. They are also members of the '''Freeworlds Council''', which is mostly a trade organization, but also provides for a common defense in case of attack. | ||
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The Council is made up of representatives from each Freeworld. It concerns itself with only the broadest of issues; setting economic policies, providing defense for the Region, and making treaties with outside powers. Other governmental duties, including enacting and enforcing laws, levying taxes, and so on, are reserved for each world, which also elects its own leaders in its own fashion. The Freeworlds value their independence if only in name; the mining companies pretty much call the shots in most areas of the Region. | The Council is made up of representatives from each Freeworld. It concerns itself with only the broadest of issues; setting economic policies, providing defense for the Region, and making treaties with outside powers. Other governmental duties, including enacting and enforcing laws, levying taxes, and so on, are reserved for each world, which also elects its own leaders in its own fashion. The Freeworlds value their independence if only in name; the mining companies pretty much call the shots in most areas of the Region. | ||
The Council Center is located on [[Illara Prime]], and has executive branches on [[Tinall]] and [[Aelann]] as well. Council representatives also | The Council Center is located on [[Illara Prime]], and has executive branches on [[Tinall]] and [[Aelann]] as well. Council representatives also had offices on key Imperial worlds as well, including [[Tibro]] and [[Valcaria]]. An additional council embassy has been set up on [[Deep Space 26]] to include the Federation representatives. | ||
{{Heading|The Freeworlds and the Great Council|#B6A2C2}} | {{Heading|The Freeworlds and the Great Council|#B6A2C2}} | ||
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A far greater source of leverage the Freeworlds have over the houses was formerly the lock they had on all major trade routes into the sector, and now the vast resources and credits they still maintain. The houses dislike the apparent hold the Freeworlds have on their economy, but there isn't much they can do about it officially. Even more alarming is the increasingly friendly relationship between [[House Rettaan|Rettaan]] and the Freeworlds Council. Should the two unite, the Freeworlds could find a voice in the [[Par'tha Expanse Great Council|Great Council]] and [[House Rettaan|Rettaan]] would gain some much needed and envied economic support. | A far greater source of leverage the Freeworlds have over the houses was formerly the lock they had on all major trade routes into the sector, and now the vast resources and credits they still maintain. The houses dislike the apparent hold the Freeworlds have on their economy, but there isn't much they can do about it officially. Even more alarming is the increasingly friendly relationship between [[House Rettaan|Rettaan]] and the Freeworlds Council. Should the two unite, the Freeworlds could find a voice in the [[Par'tha Expanse Great Council|Great Council]] and [[House Rettaan|Rettaan]] would gain some much needed and envied economic support. | ||
Relationships between the houses and the Freeworlds runs very much from hot to cold. On the surface, relations are stable and cordial, but just underneath the surface, an intense enmity born of competition and rivalry seethes unseen. A vast shadow war is underway. Industrial espionage, occasional bouts of sabotage, suspicious pirate raids, blackmail, and such are part of the game. Thus far, diplomacy has prevented hostilities from breaking out into trade wars, embargoes, and armed conflict. Everyone involved knows that such activities would bring in the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Valcarian Empire]], and few | Relationships between the houses and the Freeworlds runs very much from hot to cold. On the surface, relations are stable and cordial, but just underneath the surface, an intense enmity born of competition and rivalry seethes unseen. A vast shadow war is underway. Industrial espionage, occasional bouts of sabotage, suspicious pirate raids, blackmail, and such are part of the game. Thus far, diplomacy has prevented hostilities from breaking out into trade wars, embargoes, and armed conflict. Everyone involved knows that such activities in the past would bring in the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Valcarian Empire]], and few wanted to see that happen. Even now, things are tense between the two segments of the [[Par'tha Expanse]], and have been for a long time. | ||
{{Heading|Other Powers|#B6A2C2}} | {{Heading|Other Powers|#B6A2C2}} | ||
Like all the Par'thinian worlds, the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Valcarian Empire]] | Like all the Par'thinian worlds, the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Valcarian Empire]] had assigned an Imperial governor to supervise each Freeworld. Officially, the governor had supreme authority over his world, but in day-to-day affairs he tended to defer to local government officials. The [[Par'tha Expanse]] was supervised by a Grand Governor appointed by the Emperor, and this territory included the Freeworlds as well as the [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]]. Again, the Grand Governor was less powerful in fact than in theory, though some believed this would have changed if Imperial interests in the sector had grown. With the outset of the Noble Houses' war with the Valcarians, this point is now moot. | ||
Mining is big business in the Freeworlds Region, and the prominent mining companies are all members of the [[Mining Guild]]. This gives them a lot of pull in the governments of each Freeworld, and in the Freeworlds Council. | Mining is big business in the Freeworlds Region, and the prominent mining companies are all members of the [[Mining Guild]]. This gives them a lot of pull in the governments of each Freeworld, and in the Freeworlds Council. | ||
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{{Heading|The Freeworlds Common Navy|#B6A2C2}} | {{Heading|The Freeworlds Common Navy|#B6A2C2}} | ||
The six major Freeworlds pool a certain portion of their defense fleets to patrol the Freeworlds Region - | The six major Freeworlds pool a certain portion of their defense fleets to patrol the Freeworlds Region - formerly to supplement the Imperial patrols, but also to constantly reinforce the idea of Freeworlds hegemony throughout the sector. This fleet is known as the Freeworlds Common Navy. | ||
By convention, every Freeworlds navy is standardized along the same lines to make maintenance of the Common Navy vessels less expensive and command less complicated. Vessels rotate in and out of the Common Navy on a set schedule, to allow the ships to return to their homeworlds for home patrol. | By convention, every Freeworlds navy is standardized along the same lines to make maintenance of the Common Navy vessels less expensive and command less complicated. Vessels rotate in and out of the Common Navy on a set schedule, to allow the ships to return to their homeworlds for home patrol. | ||