The State of the Galaxy (FT Guide)

[Feazanthia]

The State of the Galaxy Project

Brought to you by Feazanthia

As a mentor, my job description is to field questions for newbies and veterans alike. As one of the half-handful of Future Tech specific mentors, possibly the most common question I get is “what is the current state of the galaxy?”

While many in the general OOC threads are quick to post our standard glib responses, and these are often sufficient, I feel we can do better. That is why I took it upon myself, with some generous help from #NSLegion on IRC, to set up a definitive snapshot look at the current status of the NationStates galaxy. Basically, once a month, I will write a short blurb about various happenings within the galaxy. Momentous events, diplomatic meetings, the progression of wars; that sort of thing. The idea is for the community (that means you) to get involved as well: send me a telegram of events (threads) you think are worth making a note of or keeping record of. Encourage others to brush up on their galactic history. Put a link to the State of the Galaxy in your sig. That sort of thing.

So, without further ado...

The Current State of the Galaxy
(Real-world date: April, 2012)

With the end of the Galactic Cold War (IIWiki page forthcoming) and the fall of the last two great Alliances still a recent memory, the Milky Way takes a shaky breath of relief; but prepares itself for wherever the next blow will come from. Many of the ancient great powers have collapsed, become isolationist, or have reformed themselves to be nearly unrecognizable; newer and more ambitious nations and governments have begun to rise and fill the vacuum. Border wars and skirmishes have already broken out in several sectors, and the threat of being devoured from the horrors that lurk in the darkest parts of space remains a constant fear. While much of the galaxy remains at peace, it is a tenuous peace at best – a single tap could shatter it and plunge the galaxy back into conflict.

Alpha Quadrant
The Sol Cluster, a tightly knit group of human colonies built around Sol Prime and its various “clones”, remains the relative center of the galaxy's wealth. Sol itself, the birth system of one of the most expansionist and ambitious races the Milky Way has yet seen, remains a cluster of myriad nation-states, independent governments, and super-corporations; held in a long-standing balance due to the threat of mutually assured destruction and the specter of the ancient yet still-operational Kanuckistani battleplates maintaining order in the system. Beyond the Sol Cluster, the Alpha Quadrant is still considered to be the “old money” of the galaxy. Even the destruction of one of its economic powerhouses at the end of the Cold War has not hurt its reputation. Few stars remain unexplored, and few human-congruous planets remain unsettled; though investors and gamblers alike are all too well aware that an upstart could come out of nowhere to make things interesting once again.

Beta Quadrant
While not as densely populated as nor home to nearly as many of the ancient empires as the Alpha Quadrant, Beta is in no danger of losing its mantle of “second-most wealthy quadrant”. Largely untouched by the rigors of the Cold War, Beta did not suffer many of the calamities and upheaval that conflict brought to the rest of civilized space. As such, a mix of newer and more weathered multi-stellar nations has arisen. Beta remains peaceful and stable but not stagnant. Opportunity still abounds for those who know where to look, and more than a few systems remain to be explored and settled. Beta Quadrant can be a haven for entrepreneurial individuals and civilizations alike, as long as one either plays by the rules or has the strength to break them.

Delta Quadrant
The frontier of human and many alien societies, much of the quadrant still reels from the collapse of the Imperial Republic. As many of the old member nations withered and died, new civilizations rose to take their place. The few older nations that remained have largely kept to themselves, though could awaken at any time. The Huerdaen Star Empire, with its ambitious nature and aggressive policy of expansion, rapidly has taken center stage; there are few interstellar nations who are not aware of the threat the Star Empire poses. The Coalition arose from the ashes of the Galactic Commonwealth to oppose the Empire, and much of the quadrant became a battleground. While the Coalition and the Star Empire have since reached an uneasy but mutually beneficial truce, the return of an ancient power threatens to plunge the entire quadrant into war once more.

Gamma Quadrant
Once a shining example of the entrepreneurial spirit and a beacon of hope for a new life, Gamma Quadrant has become a dark place indeed with the coming of the Rethast Pathogen. A seemingly unstoppable macrovirus, the Immortal Pathogen has left a swath of dead worlds in its wake. The nations that survive here are hearty and not afraid of conflict, and often wield a great deal of power locally; though there are few of them left.

[Feazanthia]

The Current State of the Galaxy
(Real-world date: May, 2012)

Alpha Quadrant
A meeting of the Galactic Assembly has been called in the Alpha Centauri system, hosted by the Star Empire of Valinon and the Amaranthine Imperium of Derscon. While the Huerdaen Star Empire publicly declined to attend, citing disagreements of opinion on critical issues with past Galactic Assemblies; representatives from the Talons, the Kisians, the Vernii, the Eternal Night, the Maekari, the Zeppelin Manufacturers, the Prelation, the Wickians, the Vaku, the New Ortagans, the Tocrowckians, the Kiith, and the Russian Empire have thus far arrived in attendance.

Gamma Quadrant
While reconnaissance elements have lost sight of the Rethast Pathogen's main fleet, its vanguard led by the Nephilim “Amon” continues its march southward. This latest expansion has left eight known star systems and two whole civilizations completely obliterated, with sentient casualties estimated to exceed nine billion dead. With confirmation of its latest stellar victim, analysts now put the visible Rethast forces a mere twenty light years from the Alpha Quadrant border.

Beta Quadrant
Numerous probes of a similar but unknown design have been sighted near the Alpha/Beta border, raising speculation that a new interstellar civilization may have arisen.

While the greater Byzantine Empire remains relatively stable, rumors have been traded about the deteriorating power base of Rome. While no official sources have commented, this has led to speculation that the Roman regime may be on the verge of collapse.

Delta Quadrant
Corporations hailing from the Vipran Imperium have begun what analysts have described as a phase of rapid and aggressive expansion. Vipran corporate interests have been funding colonization and annexation efforts across the Delta and Alpha quadrants, often backed up by armed combat fleets.

The Galactic Matriarchy of Lemonius has recently seen an uptick in internal hostility following a declaration of martial law. Trade routes spanning the galaxy have had to reroute or have been severed completely as the Matriarchy has secured its borders and established a buffer zone. Diplomatic channels have been cut off, and foreign nationals have been reported fleeing Lemonian borders.

[Feazanthia]

The Current State of the Galaxy
(Real-world date: April, 2013)

Delta Quadrant
A mysterious civilization has seemingly appeared as if from nowhere. While not an unusual occurrence, this has not stopped the flood of interested parties flocking to this civilization, either to learn or to open relations.

The Sciarviat Syndicate have begun influencing the highest levels of the Corathyr Government in Tzinleithel, bringing faster-than-light technology to the civilization in exchange Tzinlei slaves. It remains to be seen how relations between these two will develop.


Gamma Quadrant
In the Gamma Quadrant, rumors abound of an incident between the Polyarchy and the Hierarchy, both relatively minor powers in the Quadrant. Further details are coming in.

The refugee world of Aiowe has been attacked by unknown forces, prompting a halt to all refugee traffic in that sector.


((OOC - Yes, that's all I could dreg up. It's been a slow year. Reminder, if you want something in the State of the Galaxy, you have to telegram me!