Martian Times [FT][Closed]
Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2019 3:37 am
Rise of Mars: An Empire in the Making - Senate passes SB-7501.3
Solarian Reaches - It has been a busy week in the Senate Chamber as officials in the Martian capital of Laconia debated many major bills. One that has particularly been of major interest to international observers, and domestic critics, is SB-7501.3. The bill, also known as the 'Solarian Defense Charter' is a complementary form of legislation to a group of bills recently passed by the Senate that has helped create Mars' initiative to reinforce its position in the Reaches. These bills include the 'Solarian Security Act', the 'Homeland Act', and the '2177 Military Review and Reorganisation Act'.
Together, the legislation has shown a shift in Martian foreign policy towards greater interventionism and what some have argued as imperialism. The Homeland Act, being the oldest of the recent laws, is perhaps the most controversial as it outlined major divides between the nation's complex law code. Mars has a Civil Law, Foreign Law, Commercial Law, and a Martial Law code that has long been a staple of the nation's governance. Prior to the Colonial War (2153-2170), the barrier between many of these statutes was blurred allowing greater freedom. Foreigners and Corporations especially benefitted greatly from overlapping legislation.
In the Post-Colonial War world, however, as the Martian Assembly (A party in the Senate) fell out of public favour towards the mid-decade and the Martian Camera became more popular and gained power, it seemed such luxuries in the lax law codes was in danger. The Homeland Act removed protections from Foreigners such as exemption from judicial proceedings (Prior to this, expulsion and banishment was the typical punishment), and taxes for those living in the nation for more than five years, and reasserted Martian citizen privileges. The nation's Martial Code, which applies to Maritime law and military personnel beyond defined boundaries of Martian systems in what's called 'black water' zones saw a greater amount of power.
The 'Homeland Act' reinforced the 'Martian Terrorism and Maritime Law Directive' by enabling a 'no pardon/mercy' policy towards pirates, slavers, and terrorists operating in Martian space, regardless of national origin. This was a major blow to the Assembly's lobbying for fair trials that were previously guaranteed under the original Civil Law code. Instead, the legislation gave the military full authority to execute searches, seizures, and even 'executive' action on hostile or perceived hostile elements. This process has already been seen thanks to Admiral Granger's 'Delta Campaign', where the Martian second fleet has engaged in fierce anti-pirate operations in a conflict resembling a small war in its casualties.
Granger was recognised for dismantling the Alarian Coalition, a large network of mercenaries and pirates in the Delta Quadrant. According to state documents from the nation's principal military station, Hawking, 3500 detainments had been performed, 117 pirate vessels had been either destroyed or put out of commission, and 2700 pirates had been killed including several dozen Martian marines and naval personnel. For his service, the Empress awarded Granger the 'Martian Medal of Leadership' - despite controversies over Granger's heavy-handed detainment practises and what many have described as extra-judicial concentration camps that became home to said detainees during investigations of pirate activity.
Another development in the nation's domestic policies was its treatment towards the colonial sectors. By law, colonists are considered subjects of the Empress, not the Senate, as the two have a division of powers on such matters. This 'Imperial Authority' has given the Empress substantial power to enforce her wishes on the nation's colonies, and how these regions are subsequently governed. This is why Royal Assent is required for new colonies, or even military and security deployments to such regions. Originally, the Martian Senate's role was limited to the Republic of Mars only, with the Secretariat being the nation's main body for representing Mars' protectorates, dominions, colonies, and other states that are a part of the Conglomerate.
Following the Colonial War, and major allegations against a number of officials in the Secretariat of supporting colonial separatists, the assembly lost a considerable amount of power and the Senate strengthened in its own authority. Martial law that had been declared in a number of regions was simply never rescinded, and this gave the Senate plenty of authority to affect the outcome of local elections which helped stack the Secretariat following its dissolution during the war. However, despite this new concentration of power for the Senate, it was still limited by the Imperial Authority clause over Martian colonies specifically.
Empress Agatha's ascension to the throne in 2172 proved to be a major boon to the Senate's already burgeoning political powerhouse. The Empress didn't share many of the same isolationist, and non-interventionist policies of her predecessors and instead became more active in the nation's political landscape even if not initially obvious. Her Majesty's role can't be clearly defined since it has long been practice that the Crown does not make any official statements or obligations in public that could be construed as otherwise favouring specific policies or parties. Yet, her role has been integral to the nation's major shift, since her consent is required for every form of legislation, and her passing of major economic and commercial reforms has especially seen a major boost in corporate lobbying and expansionism across the Conglomerate.
All of these factors have helped the Senate skirt its way around Imperial Authority with the Crown's silence on such matters having made a deafening impact on these regions - which had long been protected from the Senate's increasingly aggressive militarism. And now, with the Senate having passed the 'Solarian Defense Charter', it has become more startling clear the Martian intentions for the Reaches, and how they view themselves in such a position.
The Deltan third fleet was combined with the Martian Home Fleet, creating a Solarian Defense Force [SDF] that will enforce Martian maritime law on regions around the Reaches. The move is likely going to draw major protests from other Solar states, and concerns have been lobbied quite loudly (See: Senator Sarges (MA) removed from the chamber after disruption; Fist fight) against the bill. The SDF has put together a force of almost five-hundred warships, with two expansion plans in the works with Hawking.
Hawking's commander, Grand Admiral Charles Quay, commented on the recent legislation as the dawn of a 'Martian Era' citing a number of recent reports about the nation's major industrial expansions and military refits. It is undeniable that the nation is seeing its largest economic expansion since the Neon Era (See: Martian Thassalocracy: Colonial Hegemon and Economic Supremacy). Yet, despite these advancements, the Assembly, in particular, has continued to criticise the Camera's legislative actions arguing that such economic policies have also greatly damaged relations with the nation's colonies.
The overall rise of Martian Nationalism, and the nation's entry into international astropolitics has allowed the nation to become bolder in its endeavours. The SDF will be given budget priority for the next fiscal year, with a potential expansion of £200 billion. Much of this will be directed to the navy's three new ship designs rolling out of dry-dock, and the nation's Solarian Defense Network that has been under construction around the Reaches for the last few months. Finally, the last legislation that'll be debated and is currently in the cycle may see Martian forces on the Lanthe route.
Concerns with recent developments around an economic station in the Gamma Quadrant and the warlike rhetoric between two otherwise unknown states has prompted concern among the Senate. The Lanthe Route is a major economic corridor that runs into the Reaches, and some are concerned that a conflict between these two states could come to the Reaches, a move that'd no doubt draw the military ire of Mars. Whether or not the Senate approves of an expedition, however, is debated, and likely won't be known for certain for at least a few months.