Freeworlds Region: Difference between revisions

{{Par'tha Expanse}}

For many centuries, the Freeworlds Region was considered the backwater of the sector. Most of the periphery worlds were rich in [[Par'tha Ores|ore]], but poor in credits, and the houses used them as cheap sources for raw materials. With no major trade routes out of the sector, the houses were the only market for Freeworlds [[Par'tha Ores|ore]].

Piracy became a problem once the houses withdrew their navies from Freeworld space, so each world began to build up its own navy of patrol ships. [[Oscion]] objected to an armed build-up on its borders, but the Freeworlds were feeling confident enough to announce that their navies would not only remain, but would henceforth be subsidized by a new tariff applied to all goods passing through Freeworlds space - namely those heading for the [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]]. This extremely controversial tariff has lead to no end of troubles between the Freeworlds and the [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]].

The Freeworlds took a huge loss when the Romulans withdrew from the [[Par'tha Expanse]]. Suddenly, a major source of income was gone. Continued trade between the Romulans and the [[Lorundan]] Confederacy ceased, and the Lorundans were not interested in dealing only with the [[Par'tha Expanse]]. The future seemed bleak.

However, the Empire, while it does not control the Freeworlds outright, maintains a distinct presence in the Freeworlds Region. Imperial trade offices and diplomats are present on [[Aelann]], [[Illara Prime]], [[Tinall]], [[Nanaria]], [[Calavar IV|Calavar]], and [[Maarok]], and the military leases land and space locations for naval bases and army installations. By law, Valcarian military vessels have free passage everywhere in the sector, and the navy often sends its own patrols throughout the Freeworlds and along the Kaen'anti Bypass to discourage smuggling and piracy.

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 is a Valcarian Imperial governor assigned to each world as well, who officially at least, has final say over planetary policy.

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.

While each of the Freeworlds is an independent political power, the six major worlds are banded together in the '''Freeworlds Council''' (the other Freeworlds are non-voting members). The Council is a loose-knit alliance which allows the Freeworlds to collude in setting tariffs, provide for a common defense, and make other arrangements which protect and advance their goals.

The Council Center is located on [[Illara Prime]], and has executive branches on [[Tinall]] and [[Aelann]] as well. Council representatives also have offices on key Imperial worlds as well, including [[Tibro]] and [[Valcaria]].

Long ago, when the Freeworlds were directly ruled by the houses, they were represented on the [[Par'tha Expanse Great Council|Great Council]] along with every other world of the sector. When they declared independence, the representatives became non-voting members, but continued to attend sessions, mostly to maintain links with [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]] governments and trading associations.

The Freeworlds representatives are in a distinct minority on the [[Par'tha Expanse Great Council|Great Council]], and are not admitted in either the Senate or the Council of Ten. This isn't particularly surprising, really; none of the houses are interested in seeing outsiders (as the view the Freeworlders) have a voice in what they see as internal affairs. The Freeworld representatives would have been removed from the [[Par'tha Expanse Great Council|Great Council]] years ago, but the houses fear that doing so would cause the Freeworlds Council to come down hard on house-owned firms in the Freeworlds.

Not surprisingly, the houses of the [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]] are quite active on the Freeworlds, and maintain embassies, trade lobbies, and businesses on all of the worlds. The houses own quite a few lucrative businesses on the Freeworlds, which gives the Freeworlds a bit of leverage.

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 want to see that happen. Still, things are tense between the two segments of the [[Par'tha Expanse]], and have been for a long time.

Like all the Par'thinian worlds, the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Valcarian Empire]] has assigned an Imperial governor to supervise each Freeworld. Officially, the governor has supreme authority over his world, but in day-to-day affairs he tends to defer to local government officials. The [[Par'tha Expanse]] is supervised by a Grand Governor appointed by the Emperor, and this territory includes the Freeworlds as well as the [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]]. Again, the Grand Governor is less powerful in fact than in theory, though some believe this could change if Imperial interests in the sector grew.

More recently, Alpha Quadrant entities such as the Ferengi Commerce Association and the United Federation of Planets have arrived on scene. If the Freeworlds could reopen trade through the [[Jenatris Corridor]] they would retake their place as a major power in the sector.

The Freeworlds are egalitarian societies; their citizens don't care where you come from or who your family is as long as you are good at what you do. Naturally, this is more true in theory than in practice. As everywhere, certain families and individuals tend to hang on to power over the years, especially those affiliated with the mining corporations.

Some Freeworld families are descendants of houses which split away from the [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]] centuries ago. They have long since been absorbed into the general population, but certain of them retain something of their heritage (the first merchant families to be admitted into [[House Rettaan]] were long-lost splinters of [[House Kerraron|Kerraron]] noble families).

The six major Freeworlds pool a certain portion of their defense fleets to patrol the Freeworlds Region - both to supplement the Imperial patrols, and to constantly reinforce the idea of Freeworlds hegemony throughout the sector. This fleet is known as the Freeworlds Common Navy.