Alliance Origins
Pre-Verse Alliance - 2060-2220The Articles of Alliance were originally signed in the year 2060 between the United States and the People's Republic of China. In so doing, the last remaining superpowers on Earth joined their spheres (East and West) together to begin an era of unity that would last for centuries (currently 460 years and counting).
In 2060, the goal of this new Anglo-Sino Alliance was clear: the preservation of the human race. Earth was dying. That much had been known for years. Rather than fight each other to determine who would die last on their dying home, the Alliance set its sights toward the stars and more specifically the cluster of 34 Tauri. Twelve years later the first wave of unmanned craft were launched to begin the terraforming process. Eighteen years after that the first of the great Ark ships was finished. Together, the remaining powers of Earth combined all their scientific knowledge, manpower, and raw material resources to the project. Cities were torn down to be used as building material, many went hungry as supplies were rationed for the project, and wars were fought to protect humanity's future.
In 2097 the first Ark launched. In 2101 the last Ark departed Earth. On board the Ark Fleet were a quarter of a billion souls, samples of most every plant and animal species of Earth, supplies for the journey, the accumulated knowledge of thousands of years of civilization, and hope for a new future. For over a century, humanity traversed the stars with generations being born, living, and dying on the Ark ships.
Finally, in 2220, the Ark Fleet began to arrive in 34 Tauri, the 'Verse. The Alliance quickly began to finish the work of terraforming and complete their original mission. 160 years and countless lives later humanity finally was settling new worlds and surviving.
Early Alliance - 2220-2400In 2225 colonization of the first two worlds was complete. Londinium symbolized the West (the Anglo) and Sihnon the East (the Sino) with their continued partnership keeping the Alliance alive and well into this new 'Verse. As had been the case before colonization, the union was merely an Alliance as the name would imply. Both members remained independent sovereigns as their nations had been on Earth and as individual ships had been during the long voyage here. And the Alliance remained just that, an agreement between the two to further their common goals.
From these two worlds, most of the rest of the 'Verse was terraformed and colonized. Each planet was of course tied to its "mother" just as the individual settlers had ties to their original homes. However, over time these colonies grew and prospered into worlds of their own. The Core became more and more urbanized with advanced industries and technologies, Londinium and Sihnon arguably being the center of this growth. Meanwhile worlds were settled farther and farther out. These newer Rim worlds of course lacked the large populations and developed industries of the Core. Instead they turned to more basic industries such as farming and mining. The fruits of their labor were then traded back to the Core in exchange for the manufactured goods developed there.
Antebellum Alliance - 2400-2506After nearly two centuries of growth, the outer worlds were becoming more numerous and more populous. The unintended result of settling so many worlds was the politics that ensued. Things had been simpler on Earth-That-Was with just two primary superpowers and then in the 'Verse with just the two dominant worlds. It seemed that suddenly now the 'Verse was back the way Earth-That-Was had been centuries ago. There were seemingly hundreds of governments all competing across the stars.
No matter how "advanced" humanity got, it still faced the same problems. Some worlds suffered famine and natural disaster. There were disputes over trade, borders, diplomatic courtesies, etc. And of course there are always some men who just want to see the worlds burn. Skirmishes between competing worlds was common and there were even a few full blown wars. Relatively, they were all small and did not spread to encompass the entire 'Verse as a later war would, but of course war is still war no matter how many nations are involved.
In response to growing turmoil, Londinium and Sihnon decided to expand the size and responsibilities of their Alliance around the year 2400. Over the next few years, membership in the Alliance was extended to other worlds eventually totaling nine planets and their twenty-one moons, the heart of the present Alliance, the Core Worlds. Each world retained its old identity and local government but was incorporated into a larger union with an interplanetary government overseeing all the Core Worlds.
Through this new Alliance, the Core further grew economically and technologically while it became a peaceful center to the conflict ridden 'Verse. It wouldn't be truthful to say that the Alliance was perfect. At the time it had many of the flaws it currently has ranging from secret government projects to occasionally border-line totalitarian actions, but there was peace and prosperity.
Unification War - 2506-2511After about a century, the reinvigorated Alliance got the idea in it's head that controlling the entire 'Verse would be an even better system. The Alliance had worked so well for the Core after all. If all worlds were part of the Alliance then these petty conflicts between worlds would be a thing of the past. Advanced technologies could be distributed to those most in need just as the entire power of the 'Verse could be mustered to provide relief to disasters. Barriers to trade would be destroyed allowing for goods to more easily reach their destinations and do so at a lower price than they ever had been previously. The peace and prosperity of the Alliance would extend to all mankind. Just as the Anglo-Sino Alliance had saved humanity in an unparalleled display of cooperation so too would this extension of alliance to all humanity usher in a golden age.
As benevolent as all this sounds, almost every planet and moon outside of the Core refused the offer of Alliance. Even if the promises of the Alliance were true, few were willing to surrender their independence. Many suspected that the entire premise was merely a ruse for the ulterior motive of asserting Alliance hegemony over the entire 'Verse as an imperial power. Over the past years the outer worlds had become more and more important. In fact, without the outer worlds to provide raw materials and especially foodstuffs, the Core's economy would crash and million if not billions could go hungry. In that same time the Border Worlds had also become much more industrially powerful, a growing threat economically and military to the Core.
Many believed that this 'Verse-wide Alliance would be nothing more than the Core solidifying its interests rather than helping humanity as a whole. The colonial economic system would merely be entrenched rather than improved. In the end it would be the Core that got richer off cheaper trade and guaranteed access to raw materials. And even with a representative government, it would be the overwhelming numbers of the Core that would always outvote the Rim.
Thus in an astonishing show of unity, the formerly splintered Border and Rim Worlds refused the offer of Alliance. A few even began to mobilize their forces to protect their sovereignty. This was all the excuse the Alliance required. War was quickly declared and so began the Unification War. The Alliance believed that their superior numbers, tech, and industry would lead to a sure victory. A few quick victories would lead to a domino effect of worlds surrendering. Instead they faced over five long years of brutal war against a united and determined foe.
Alliance Hegemony - 2511-2548Unification brought about exactly what was intended. The Alliance of the Core soon gained control of the entire 'Verse. Some of the Alliance's promises came true or at least partially true. A few years isn't exactly a long time to change the socio-economic landscape of the entire 'Verse. However, others claimed that their fears about Alliance rule were also coming true with the Core economically exploiting the Rim and failing to provide the aid and support that had been promised. Politically, many saw themselves as second class citizens of the Alliance.
The 'Verse still saw Alliance concentration in the Core, but the shadow of the Alliance now reached the farthest areas of the 'Verse. Alliance warships patrolled the black, Alliance laws and taxes were in effect across the star cluster, local governments became subordinate to the larger Alliance, etc. However, the 'Verse is a great big place. As strong and numerous as the Alliance was, it either couldn't or wouldn't adequately govern and police the entire area. Much was left to local governments with only a handful of Alliance officials.
Shortly into this period of hegemony, the first real rebellion began on Beylix in 2520. The Alliance initially ignored the ragtag group of radicals, but before long the situation began to spiral out of control prompting a strong military response. However, by the time the Alliance began to contain the situation, the spirit of revolution had begun to spread to neighboring worlds that were also chaffing under Alliance rule and incensed by various incidents such as the Signal.
First Beylix went and then by 2532 the Alliance abandoned the entire Kalidasa system in an attempt to further focus on their closer holdings. Unfortunately this strategy only delayed the inevitable. In 2541 a second great wave of rebellion spread across the Alliance which proved impossible to suppress especially when the war weary Core worlds were not willing to fight a second war for unification.
By 2548 the Alliance had retreated to its current boundaries, not even controlling the entirety of the White Sun system and only holding a few small worlds in the star systems beyond. The Alliance had overextended itself and conquered too much territory in too short of a time. Their following treatment of the conquered populations only further alienated and led to the rapid downfall of their empire.
Alliance Today - 2548-PresentSince retreating back to the Core, the Alliance remains the most powerful player in the 'Verse despite their diminished role. The Alliance military is still the most advanced and professional force in existence. The Alliance still has the largest population base, controls a large portion of the 'Verse economy, and sits strategically at the center of the star cluster.
However, the Alliance is now just one of many powers all vying for control. In many ways, the Alliance has not changed. They still operate in a pseudo-colonial system exploiting the resources of the Rim to further their own affluence. Alliance interests are largely focused around the Core. Alliance law enforcement and military sometimes venture to the outer reaches of the cluster whether they are welcome or not. The only difference now is that Alliance laws no longer truly stretch to these distant worlds and there are now competing governments and militaries to stand in their way. Some are just and to their citizens are a vast improvement on the disinterested and sometimes tyrannical Alliance. Others are even worse than the Alliance ever was. It's a great big 'Verse, and governments can be just as diverse as human beings.
