Roccan Resistance
The Roccan Resistance is an interstellar government organised as a military commissariat. Its capital is the arid world of Nogg, located in the Nog-Rasset System, where the avian Rocs evolved. The population of the Roccan Resistance is notable for its strong belief in fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as the use of military force to defend or spread those freedoms. The Roccan Resistance is ruled by a a Chief, who is elected by the eligible citizen population. Citizenship in the Roccan Resistance is primarily granted through military or civil service, and many Rocs are proud to do so. A strong sense of national pride permeates the society, following their hard-fought victory over Minamar Specialized Industries in 2190 CE. Diplomatically, the Roccan Resistance specifically seeks to defeat MSI permanently, both military and diplomatically. When conducting diplomacy with other nations, they get along with fellow democracies well, but are more than willing to use military force to liberate the population of autocracies.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Government
The Roccan Resistance is structured as a federal presidential representative republic. It is typically classified as a liberal mixed-market democracy, with low-to-moderate levels of corruption.The Roccan Resistance follows a presidential form of government. The combined head of state and head of government has the title of Chief, inherited from the commander of the original resistance forces fighting MSI on Nogg. The Chief commands the Roccan military, can veto legislation, appoint members of their cabinet, and controls all executive agencies. The Chief and the Deputy Chief are elected to six-year terms in popular elections, in first-past-the-post elections where the candidate with the most votes wins, without any term limit.
The Federal Assembly is the unicameral legislative body of the Roccan Resistance. Representatives are elected from local districts and represent them at the Federal Assembly on Nogg. The legislature is responsible for proposing and passing laws, declaring war, creating budgets, and can remove officials from office if they break the law. The Federal Assembly has 463 regular members, divided between the homeworld of Nogg, spaceborne habitats, and the colonies. In addition, the Roccan military appoints 87 voting representatives to the Federal Assembly, chosen by admirals and generals. Non-military representatives are elected on a first-past-the-post system every six years, without any term limit.
The voting franchise is extended exclusively to Roccans who have either served in the military or in government bureaucracy. Furthermore, only those individuals qualify for run for office. The Roccan Resistance constitution explicitly states that non-Roccans have a right to serve in the military (and by extension civil service), and thus are afforded full citizenship privileges if they do so. Those individuals that do not serve in the government or military (called partial citizens) are denied the privileges of voting and serving as an elected official, but are otherwise afforded the full rights of full citizens.
History
First Contact
Prior to 2166 CE, the Rocs were a fairly standard Early Space Age pre-FTL civilisation. Their homeworld of Nogg was divided between various nation-states, the atom had been split, and expeditions to low orbit had been undertaken. On 14 March, 2166 CE (UNE Standard Calendar), a signal was received by deep-space radio telescopes on multiple frequencies. Surprisingly to researchers, it appeared to be a broadcast in multiple languages native to Nogg, reading "Congratulations! Your civilization has been selected. Enlightenment may not be free, but at MSI, it's always worth the cost". This clear indication of alien life was presented to the various governments of Nogg, who realised that a coverup of the scale necessary to hide this message was untenable. As such, the confirmed existence of alien life was announced two days later, on 16 March.Several weeks passed until the next message was received from the aliens. This time, it was sent directly to the leaders of the most powerful nations of Nogg, explaining to them the terms of their upcoming enlightenment. A spacefaring corporation named Minamar Specialized Industries would provide advanced technology and knowledge, as well as ending illness, in exchange for the Rocs becoming an ally to MSI once they had achieved FTL travel, as well as "repayment" to be made in installments. MSI had noted the Rocs strong aptitude for engineering, as well as their propensity for quickly learning and ingenuity, and stated they would design fine starships once enlightened.
On 15 June, 2166 CE, an MSI Enlighenment Vessel appeared above the largest city on Nogg. The people of the planet had been informed of the deal to be made with the corporation, and largely agreed with it. As such, when the delegation from MSI landed and the first Olinbars set foot on the surface of Nogg, they were greeted by an international group of many of the planet's leaders. The deal was quickly signed, and despite some reservations from parts of the population, the agreement between the Rocs and MSI went into force that same day.
Enlightenment
True to their word, MSI began setting up gene clinics across the planet. Within a decade, the worst of the diseases afflicting the Roccans had been eliminated. While some nations had resisted the initial agreement, they were eventually brought into line. Later disclosures revealed that MSI had used both diplomatic pressure and espionage in order to secure their involvement, including a number of high-profile assassinations attributed to other sources. However, while MSI had greatly increased the standard of living on Nogg, they began to demand repayment as per the fine print and nebulous wording. This was in the form of workers - indentured servants - who would be transported by the millions to MSI territory.While the governments of the planet tried to cover up the disappearances, in 2185 CE, word leaked to the press, and the true scale of MSI's operation was unveiled. Tens of millions of Rocs had been forcibly taken offworld to act as slaves for their new corporate overlord. Mass protests and popular revolutions brought down over a dozen governments, and many began taking matters into their own hands to fight who they now considered invaders. At first, this was limited to acts of terrorism against gene clinics, enlightenment centres, and other MSI property, but eventually expanded to who they considered collaborators.
War of Independence
In 2189 CE, in retaliation for the bombing of a corvette, MSI warships deployed nuclear weapons on several Roccan cities. Instead of causing the Rocs to surrender to fear, it instead galvanised them with a defiant sense of unity, and the Roccan Resistance was created from a number of rebel cells, sympathetic governments, private militias, and escaped slaves. MSI deployed enforcement units on the planet, but those quickly became engaged in running battles with Roccan units. Although the Olinbars had superior technology, the Rocs were able to defeat them with greater numbers (and far greater casualties), and reverse engineer their technology.As the battle for Nogg escalated, MSI deployed indiscriminate bombardment against Roccan civilians, causing hundreds of millions of casualties. During the final days of the war, an elite Roccan commando unit infiltrated the Enlightenment Vessel over Nogg and were able to commandeer the vessel. They engaged the MSI fleet, destroying several warships and forcing the rest to retreat. During the engagement, the Enlightenment Vessel suffered significant damage, and was partially destroyed.
Although Minamar Specialized Industries had departed the Nog-Rasset System, much of Nogg was still in ruins. The Roccan Resistance continued in its role as a global government, electing a Chief on a 10-year term to lead them. Efforts were made to rebuild the planet, but orbital debris prevented easy access to space. However, significant amounts of alien technology had been left behind, including the gene clinics, and reverse-engineering them led to the discovery of the hyperdrive and the establishment of a starbase in orbit of the system primary.
Demographics
The main population of the Roccan Resistance are the avian Rocs, with significant numbers of Humans, Synthetics, Kiliks, and other member species of the Interstellar Concord. Full citizenship (voting franchise and the ability to run for office) is limited exclusively to those who either conduct military or civil service. Aside from the two privileges granted by service, partial citizens otherwise retain the same rights and responsibilities that full citizens receive (such as freedom of speech and the right to a fair trial, among many others). However, unofficially, full citizens receive benefits in private life that partial citizens do not. Studies have shown that private businesses are significantly more likely to hire a full citizen when given the option.The majority of the Roccan population lives in urban areas, though a significant number also reside in suburban districts a short distance from cities. Compared to the galactic average, there are low to mild levels of inequality among the population. Xeno residents occasionally experience some levels of informal discrimination, though this is primarily by older generations and those that live on Nogg. However, the Roccan government has taken significant steps to ensure xeno citizens enjoy the same standard of living as Rocs, including restricting hate speech sponsoring pro-integration education campaigns.
Economy
The Roccan Resistance is a medium-sized, semi-post-industrial market economy. Although the government controls significant portions of the economy, private industry makes up a significant majority. Some of the largest sectors of the Roccan economy include spacecraft manufacturing, defence, electronics, and energy generation. As a proportion of GDP, the Roccan defence sector is the largest in the Interstellar Concord, followed by the United Nations of Earth.Although it is a market economy, the Roccan Resistance offers a program of social welfare to all citizens within its space. The government provides low-cost housing, education, healthcare, and strong unemployment benefits, creating a powerful social safety net to offset market externalities. The Roccan economy makes use of its comparative advantage in the shipbuilding and defence sectors, as well as close economic integration with the rest of the Interstellar Concord, in order to fund the large civilian economy necessary for its social welfare programs. However, private actors provide the same services at a higher price, but also a higher quality than government-provided ones.
Society
The fabric of Roccan society is inextricably bound to their experience under the dominion of Minamar Specialized Industries. The invasion, planet-wide war, and post-war devastation left generational marks on society that have yet to fully heal. Although not necessarily xenophobic, Rocs tend to be somewhat cautious and distrustful of xenos - though this has softened due to further integration with the Interstellar Concord. Modern Roccan society is significantly more welcoming of xenos than a centry prior, especially those that perform military or civil service to the state.Democracy is considered the highest virtue of any state by Roccan society, as are individual liberties and freedoms. The slavery of any sapient being, even for the purpose of criminal punishment, is in contrast considered to be the deepest depravity of another society. These attitudes permeate society, and have created something of a civil religion centred around democracy. Symbols of Roccan (and in some cases, foreign) democracy hold special meaning for Rocs, as do the venerated heroes of the War of Independence against MSI. Many phrases in Roccan languages are drawn from praises of democracy and freedom, or slurs against autocracy and slavery.
While many citizens gain their citizenship through civil service, those who do so through the military are the most prominent in society. Military service has other benefits unrelated to citizenship, such as better healthcare and education opportunities, as well as transferable skills in civilian life. Current and former military members are often shown deference in society, especially those who have served in active combat (doubly so for those who have fought MSI directly). Politically, military voices are guaranteed seats in the Roccan legislature, and many former military personnel find work as consultants or political commentators.
Military
The Roccan military is comprised of the Roccan Space Command and the Roccan Ground Command, a traditional split in duties between spaceborne and planetary operations. Both are commanded by the Chief of the Roccan Resistance, a civil/military position that acts as the Head of State for the nation. The Roccan military has significant influence on civil affairs, and the elected Chief is almost always a current or former member of the military.As part of the Roccan socio-political philosophy, the military totally rejects any form of conscription, even as emergency defensive measures. However, the requirement for military or civil service to receive full citizenship ensures the military never lacks for recruits. The Roccan Ground Command also acts as a military gendarmerie, especially on frontier worlds that lack established policing forces. Intelligence services are also fully under military control.
Founding Date
2189 CE
Type
Geopolitical, Republic
Capital
Government System
Democracy, Representative
Power Structure
Federation
Economic System
Market economy
Controlled Territories
Related Species
Federation
Both victims of Minamar Specialized Industries, the Roccan Resistance and the Free Peoples of the Fall share the same struggle and similar values. They are also both members of the Interstellar Concord.
Federation
Federation
The UNE and Roccan Resistance have a long history of partnership, and are both founding members of the Interstellar Concord.
Federation
Federation
Amicable
Amicable
Poor
Poor
Poor
Poor
Cold
Cold
Cold
Cold
Cold
Cold
Cold
Antagonistic
Rivalry
Hostile
Hostile
Hostile
The Roccan Resistance wants payback against MSI for invading their homeworld.
Hostile
The XT-489 warform is programmed to destroy all organic life in the galaxy.
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