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The establishment of the Kaen'anti Bypass brought the colonies into a major trade stream. Competition for the worlds became fierce among the houses, and several skirmishes nearly escalated into sector-wide war before a brokered agreement between the houses diffused the situation by declaring the worlds freeworlds. Like [[Oscion]], they would be independent worlds open to any and all comers. | The establishment of the Kaen'anti Bypass brought the colonies into a major trade stream. Competition for the worlds became fierce among the houses, and several skirmishes nearly escalated into sector-wide war before a brokered agreement between the houses diffused the situation by declaring the worlds freeworlds. Like [[Oscion]], they would be independent worlds open to any and all comers. | ||
No doubt most house officials thought that the Freeworlds could be controlled, but it was not long before the principal worlds of the Freeworlds Region ���?? [[Aelann]], [[Tinall]], [[Nanaria]], [[Calavar IV|Calavar]], and [[Maarok]] ���?? had the economic power to shake off external influence. They signed trade deals with the Romulans, and grew in power and prestige as the credits flooded their coffers. | No doubt most house officials thought that the Freeworlds could be controlled, but it was not long before the principal worlds of the Freeworlds Region ���?? [[Aelann]], [[Illara Prime]], [[Tinall]], [[Nanaria]], [[Calavar IV|Calavar]], and [[Maarok]] ���?? had the economic power to shake off external influence. They signed trade deals with the Romulans, and grew in power and prestige as the credits flooded their coffers. | ||
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]]. | 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]]. | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
It was not long after, though, that the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic]] forcibly introduced itself into the [[Par'tha Expanse]]. The [[ | It was not long after, though, that the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic]] forcibly introduced itself into the [[Par'tha Expanse]]. The [[Par'tha Expanse Great Council|Great Council]] knew they could not resist the superiority of the Valcarian military, and quickly came to a diplomatic agreement with the Valcarians. The [[Par'tha Expanse]] would submit to the rule of the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Valcarian Empire]], and the Valcarians would allow the [[Par'tha Expanse|Expanse]] to continue governing themselves. | ||
The Freeworlds have successfully maintained a high level of independence from the houses for several centuries. At the same time, as [[Par'tha Expanse]] worlds, they have been protected from gross imperial interference by the arrangements the houses have made with the Emperor. Due to its location at the opposite end of the [[Expanse Sector]] from the sovereign territory of the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Valcarian Empire]], the Freeworlds do enjoy a certain level of political freedom. | The Freeworlds have successfully maintained a high level of independence from the houses for several centuries. At the same time, as [[Par'tha Expanse]] worlds, they have been protected from gross imperial interference by the arrangements the houses have made with the Emperor. Due to its location at the opposite end of the [[Expanse Sector]] from the sovereign territory of the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Valcarian Empire]], the Freeworlds do enjoy a certain level of political freedom. | ||
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]], [[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. | 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. | ||
== Powers of the Freeworlds == | == Powers of the Freeworlds == | ||
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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. | 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 | 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. | ||
== Freeworlds Council == | == Freeworlds Council == | ||
While each of the Freeworlds is an independent political power, the | 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 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 [[ | 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]]. | ||
== The Freeworlds and the Great Council == | == The Freeworlds and the Great Council == | ||
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== The Freeworlds Common Navy == | == The Freeworlds Common Navy == | ||
The | 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. | ||
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. |
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