Imperial Union

Imperial Union
General Information
Status	Active
Leader	Imperial Union Council
Members	Galactic Empire (Co-Founder) Black Sun (Year 13) The Faerytail Family (Year 19) Tresario Star Kingdom (Year 13) Knights of the Fountain (Year 23)
Historical Information
Founded	Circa Year 7 Day 334 - 336 Reformed Year 13 Day 326
Political Information
Type	Economic and Military Agreement
Holosite	Imperial Union

The Imperial Union is an official alignment of great powers in the ongoing Second Galactic Civil War against the Galactic Alliance. The alignment formally began circa Year 7 Day 334 - 336 with a defensive military pact between the Galactic Empire and the Hapes Consortium, although its origins could be informally traced to a non-aggression pact signed on Year 4 Day 334 between Emperor Uebles and King James I.

For a fraction of its life, the Imperial Union consisted of the Galactic Empire, Hapes Consortium, Mandalore, Trade Federation, Tion Hegemony, and Aurodium Legion, as well as their respective satellites. However, circa Year 13, internal disagreements arose between Union members regarding the further evolution of the alliance. While there was an aversion to disbanding the Imperial Union completely, some governments were unable to agree to either commit to a full alliance within the Imperial Union, or reduce their accumulated powers of veto if they wanted to remain neutral in the Galactic Civil War. Some governments took the stance that they would not agree to sign a new charter without having unlimited access to the Galactic Empire's technology; something the Empire was unwilling to do. Unable to come to a resolution agreeable to all parties, the majority of the Union resigned from the Charter on Year 13 Day 300, with all parties pledging to pursue bilateral treaties with former signatories.

Several weeks later, on Year 13 Day 326, the Imperial Union was reformed with a new improved charter that addressed deficiencies in its previous iteration. The initial signatories were a tripartite bloc that consisted of the Galactic Empire, Black Sun, and the Tresario Star Kingdom.

Year 14 Day 184 saw the Anzatan Commonwealth, headed by Chancellor Azarin Isard and formerly a neutral power in the Galactic conflict, join the war on the Imperial side by officially uniting with the Imperial Union, aptly demonstrating how much Anzatan-Imperial relations had improved since the reign of the von Ismays. On Year 19 Day 263 The Faerytail Family was the next government to join the Imperial Union, under King Simkin Dragoneel, following an extended diplomatic expansion between the government and the Imperial Union and a joint military campaign in the [[1]] system.

History

Origins

The origins of the Imperial Union date back to Charon's brief stint as the Imperial liaison to the Hapes Consortium.

The Galactic Empire and Hapes Consortium first established diplomatic relations in Year 1 when a youthful J. Charon was assigned as the Imperial liaison to the Hapan regime. During the reigns of Emperors Trey Connel, Mccarthur and later Emperor Charon himself, diplomatic contact was sporadic, and the Consortium's established ties to the Rebel Alliance were eventually discarded by Year 3. In part thanks to King James prior service in the Imperial Navy, the Consortium established friendly ties with the leadership of the Imperial Core, and consequently the Dark Empire.

Following the re-unification of the Galactic Empire and the Dark Empire, the diplomatic process became more formalized with the Galactic Empire under Emperor Uebles recognizing the Hapes Consortium. A non-aggression pact between the two governments was announced over the Galactic News Service (GNS) on Year 4 Day 334 causing an uproar in the Rebel Alliance and Jedi Praxium.

In the years that followed, the Galactic Empire continued to expand its sphere of influence in the form of client states and satellites under the Imperial City-State Agreement, which included the New Anzat Order and 12 Colonies. While the Hapes Consortium was invited to join, the offer was rejected by the Hapan Royal Council, who did not wish to become subordinate of any other government. Consequently, Emperor Bonias and King James began planning a formalized alliance where each government retained equal standing and representation. The Imperial Union was declared circa Year 7 Day 334 - 336 with the Galactic Empire and Hapes Consortium as its founding members.

The offer of the Imperial City-State Agreement was also extended by the Imperial regime to the Trade Federation under Viceroy Corbin Esco, who declined. A conflict ensued between the Galactic Empire and the Trade Federation, continuing through the reign of Viceroy Bren Morgarr, and in to the initial period of Viceroy Jacob Jansen's leadership. Ultimately the Trade Federation sued for peace and was eventually invited to join the Imperial Union, which it did on Year 9 Day 295.

Structure

Extent of the Imperial Union's territory in blue on Year 12 Day 328 with its rival, the Galactic Alliance, in red.

The Imperial Union is structured in three tiers of membership; Executive, Parliamentary, and Provisional. These varying levels of membership provide flexibility for its members, and allows a choice as to the level of commitment that each member will invest within The Union, to be determined through their own means of internal governance. All members of the Imperial Union make up what is known as the Union Council and is the body that governs the Imperial Union, and is mandated with determining the collective actions of The Union, voting on matters brought before it and within the scope of the Council’s authority, and directing the priorities and focus of any committees.

The Union Council is composed of two sub-groups; the first being the Grand Parliament where the majority of the undertakings of the Imperial Union are determined, and using a voting system. The Grand Parliament consists of one representative from each Member of the Imperial Union, with each member designating one Representative to serve on the Grand Parliament, using whatever selection procedures they see fit. The second group being the Executive Council, a grouping of large and influential governments that have formed an alliance within the IU Charter, and oversee the ongoing activities of the Imperial Union. The Grand Parliament and the Executive Council are chaired by the Head of Parliament, and the Speaker of the Union Council respectively.

In addition to the Grand Parliament, the Imperial Union maintains several committees for the purposes of providing specialized attention, expertise, and discussion on specific areas of interest. The Grand Parliament may create and disband committees as they see fit, however there are three standing committees that may not be abolished; these are The Economic Committee, The Defence Committee, and the Intelligence Committee.

The Union was previously directed by the Leaders' Council. This council was composed of the heads of each Union government and a chairman, elected by those heads of government. The Leaders' Council formulated and directed all major pan-Union policy, including the admission of new members, united declarations of war, and the formulation of joint projects. Certain members of the Leaders' Council were granted a veto power, to which they could use without override, and contrary to the will of the majority of the Union. This power, combined with no clear guidelines under which the veto power was to be given to members of the IU, was a further source of contention for the attempted rework of the IU Charter in Year 13.

Internal Dissent

On Year 13 Day 300, after lengthy debate, Union officials announced the formal dissolution of their alliance.

Throughout Year 12, discussion among the Imperial Union members revealed a common set of concerns regarding the purpose, structure, and management of the Imperial Union. After considerable discussion among individual members of the Union, the Galactic Empire began drafting a new charter for the Imperial Union in early Year 13, under the auspices of Lord Seele. This new charter was developed to provide clear goals for the Imperial Union, establish a framework that encouraged members to seek continual improvement of their regimes, remove the limitation of only governments being able to join, allow more flexible external relationships for each member, and provide a clearly delineated set of expectations for its members. In addition, there were two documents that accompanied the charter which were foundations of the new way in which the Imperial Union would operate: The "Imperial Union Technology Trade Agreement" and the "Imperial Union Member Development Guidelines."

The floating of the new charter received an icy reception from the majority of the members, with many uncomfortable with Article VI of the new charter that established a formalized alliance between members of the Executive tier. Members such as the Hapes Consortium, Trade Federation, and Mandalore were fearful of entering a formal alliance with the Empire for fear of becoming targets of the New Republic-led Galactic Alliance. Refusing to accept only parliamentary status within the Imperial Union, where they could have maintained any Non-Aggression Pacts or trade agreements with the Galactic Alliance, these three members pushed for unlimited access to Imperial technology with the reasoning that it would enable them to fight the Galactic Alliance.

The Empire was unwilling to provide unlimited access to Imperial technology, and instead opted for the Imperial Union Technology Trade Agreement document, wherein access to Imperial technology was guaranteed to the various membership levels, as well as the accumulation of Imperial Union Points on a monthly basis which they could spend on technology. It was made clear that the IU Technology Agreement formed only the baseline of access to Imperial technology, and that all members of the IU would be free to seek individual trade agreements with the Empire for further technology (which was the only method of obtaining technology in the IU at the time).

Unfortunately, the other members of the IU felt that this wasn't enough, and continued to demand greater access to Imperial technology before they would sign a new charter. The Empire remained steadfast and refused to provide any further technology to any members of the Union whilst the new charter remained on the discussion table. Unable to come to a consensus on this major point where neither side would budge, charter discussions stalled.

Further to this there were mislead concerns the Empire wished to transform the Union into a purely military alliance, but the existing signatories refused to do so without guaranteed access to advanced Imperial technology. This misconception was based around the concept within the new charter that Union members would have options regarding how involved they were with the IU, but advancement to the Executive Council required complete commitment to the IU. Many were unwilling to entertain what they felt was a "lesser status" of Parliamentary member and maintain their current suit of political arrangements with those at war with other IU members.

The loss of key signatories decreased Union territory as reflected by this map circa Year 13 Day 308.

Detractors cited Seele's lack of tact as a key obstacle in negotiations and claimed he belittled the other heads of state throughout the lengthy and arduous diplomatic process, however, leaders such as Dorn Zeke of the newly accepted and small government of the Aurodium Legion, had their diplomatic status revoked by the Empire for consistent attacks on Seele and the Empire. Despite Seele's voluntary removal from the charter discussions after only a month, several delegates of the Imperial Union signatories continued to cite Seele's abrasiveness from months earlier as reasons to refuse support for the key planks of the new charter.

Faced with absolute refusal of key IU members to discuss the charter without what the Empire considered to be absurd arguments, Emperor Guinar Ndengin ordered the Empire to direct all contact and dealings with the IU through either The Throne, or the Vizier for Diplomacy. In unison with this, the Empire's delegation to the Imperial Union withdrew from the negotiation table and all IU functions. Lord Typhon Corbin, ruler of the Tion Hegemony raised the idea of drafting a new charter with the detractors of the proposed charter, so that it would address all of their concerns, and then present this charter to the Empire. Emperor Ndengin agreed that the Empire would take no further action and make no further comments on the proposed charter for a period of two months to allow others to develop a counter-proposal.

Despite Corbin's eagerness to write a counter-proposal, he gained little support for other IU members and ultimately was unable to produce a counter-proposal that might have held the IU together. With negotiations stalled and the counter-proposal dead in the water, it was agreed by IU leaders that the Hapes Consortium, Trade Federation, Mandalore, Aurodium Legion, and Tion Hegemony would all leave the Union. This would leave the Empire as remaining member to implement their proposed charter and seek out new members to rebuild the Imperial Union. This was announced on Year 13 Day 300.

Reformation

On Year 13 Day 326, the Imperial Union was reformed. Initial signatories included the Galactic Empire, Black Sun, and the Tresario Star Kingdom.

On Year 13 Day 326, representatives of the Galactic Empire, Black Sun, and Tresario Star Kingdom convened on Coruscant and signed a new charter to reform the Imperial Union. The announcement came mere weeks after the departure of five member states from the earlier incarnation of the Union. The new charter was designed for more exacting regulations and expectations among member governments, clearly codified operating procedures, and an unambiguous program for sharing technology. This rework addressed deficiencies of the old Union that formed the core of intense debate among previous Union members. According to Imperial Vizier for Diplomacy Jarek Sankin, the new Union charter was designed to address the realities of galactic politics.

The leaders of the new member states expressed their pleasure at their admission into the reformed Union. Premier Steve Sphinx of the Tresario Star Kingdom believed the new charter augured a new era of cordial relations between its signatories, "We may have had our differences in the past, however, through open discussion with both of the other governments involved, we have left our disagreements behind us in order to help the IU move forward." Dark Prince Banquo Knox of Black Sun noted that it might seem strange that his government was joining the Imperial Union. Nevertheless, he assured viewers that the goals of Black Sun were very much the same in establishing a free and prosperous galaxy. At the time, Black Sun had been the target of propaganda by the New Republic that vilified the organization. Prince Knox commented that Black Sun's methods were in line with galactic norms, and despite claims to the contrary, that Black Sun is a legitimate government with the welfare of its citizens foremost among its concerns.

On Year 14 Day 184, the Anzatan Commonwealth under Chancellor Azarin Isard, ruling over the Maldrood and Bortele Cluster Sectors, officially joined the Union, entering the Second Galactic Civil War on the side of the Empire. Eventually the Anzatan Commonwealth merged with The Tresario Star Kingdom, its members retaining their status as citizens of the Imperial Union.

The next addition to the Imperial Union came on Year 19 Day 263, when the Grand Parliament unanimously voted to grant The Faerytail Family Provisional Membership following a year long diplomatic growth in relations and Faerytail's ample aid of the Galactic Empire in the war for the Hosnian system.

Chronology

Main article: Timeline

• Year 4 Day 334: The Galactic Empire and Hapes Consortium sign a non-aggression pact.
• Year 7 Day 336: The Galactic Empire and Hapes Consortium found the Imperial Union.
• Year 9 Day 63: Mandalore is admitted to the Imperial Union.
• Year 9 Day 295: The Trade Federation is admitted to the Imperial Union.
• Year 11 Day 58: The Hapes Consortium and the Trade Federation sign a military, economic, and social pact.
• Year 11 Day 358: The Tion Hegemony is admitted to the Imperial Union.
• Year 12 Day 327: The Aurodium Legion is admitted to the Imperial Union.
• Year 13 Day 158: The Galactic Empire and the Tresario Star Kingdom sign a mutual defense pact.
• Year 13 Day 300: Due to internal disagreements without resolution, the majority of the Imperial Union resigns from the charter.
• Year 13 Day 326: The Imperial Union is reformed and includes the Galactic Empire, Black Sun, and Tresario Star Kingdom.
• Year 14 Day 184: The Anzatan Commonwealth joins the Imperial Union under Chancellor Azarin Isard.
• Year 15 Day 221: The Anzatan Commonwealth merges with Tresario Star Kingdom.
• Year 19 Day 263: The Faerytail Family joins the Imperial Union under King Simkin Dragoneel.
• Year 20 Day 185: The Imperial Union welcomed the Faerytail Family as a full member of the Grand Parliament.
• Year 23 Day 169: The Knights of the Fountain joins the Imperial Union under Knight Commander Tolando Krieg.
• Year 23 Day 233: The Imperial Union admitted the Faerytail Family as full Executive Members.