"Every Man Is His Own King"
.......The Most Serene Merchant Republics are a Confederation of Autonomous Interstellar States, Planets, Nations, Organizations and People united under a common banner of liberty for mutual protection and prosperity. Its origin is in a collection of free human states fleeing the fiery quagmire of Earth in their third and final world conflict, at its climax the Free Human States fled to space in a mass exodus, leaving their precious and beautiful world to be consumed in Atomic Fire. They searched 50 years for a refuge only to be thrown into the calamity of Interstellar Warfare once they had found it, as humans courageously defended a homeland that was not theirs for a race of people who were not their own. Here in the bloody forge of the First Contact War, the Celestial Union was born and under her banner the free states of the Union have stretched the stars bringing with them the torch of Liberty, Reason and Sovereignty to new peoples, species and entire worlds. Holding it aloft as a symbol of peace, prosperity and freedom.
The motto of the Merchant Republics is one of voluntary organization, for nothing in the Celestial Union is brought about by coercion, and every action is one of individual choice. That man (and xeno) should never be made to bow to anyone else except by his own personal choice. No state shall be held to the Union except by the will of it's people, no state shall exist without the consent of its citizens, no man shall be made party to a ruling which was not his. These are the ethos of the Union and of the Free Merchant Republics of the Confederation.
Dear Reader,
I thank you for taking the time to learn more about the Most Serene Republics, whether your are Citizen, Denizen or Foreigner, Scholar or Rouge, regardless of your creed, I welcome you to this bank of knowledge as a friend. I will be your guide so to speak to our most Glorious Celestial Union. I shall endeavour to provide you with the most comprehensive and thorough overview of this nation, its people, politics, economics and history to the best of our available knowledge. I will also intend to provide you with more then a guide, and indeed a real voice and insight into our unique nation.
I dearly love this nation and I hope to impart that love on you, dear reader. Through our exploration of the wonders of Mercantorum Society.
I. Introductions & Overview
II. Political System
III. Notable Documents & The Celestial Constitution
IV. The Mercatorum History
V. Notable Organizations and Republics
VI. Economics & Trade
VII. Armed Forces
VIII. People
IX. Culture and Customs
X. Tourist Information
XI. A Tour in Pictures
XII. Q&A + F.A.Q.
XIII. A Day in The Life
XIV. Glossary and Disassociated Miscellany
This holobook was written in cooperation with the Celestial Information Bureau and Mercatorum Historic Society and brought to you free of charge thanks to the charitable donation of Illium Publishing Limited and viewers like you.
Note: The IRL writer of this Factbook has a rather severe assortment of mental issues. So if your wondering why half these pages are half-completed, the reason is probably something to do with that.