Flag of the Republic of Biesel.Biesel seen from orbit.A view of New Gibson.
In the core worlds of Humanity’s power and built upon the center of the largest phoron deposits in the known galaxy, the Federal Republic of Biesel is an independent state and the economic and social centre of the Orion Spur. The very young Republic as it is known today came to be in 2452, and since its populace has flourished as NanoTrasen has tightened a vice grip over its government structure. Present at every level of government and carrying its economy into a new age, NanoTrasen is unofficially the most influential force in the system in which the Republic resides, Tau Ceti. The extent of the official power of the Republic of Biesel extends across much of the formerly Solarian middle and outer ring, reaching to now border the massive Coalition of Colonies. Tau Ceti is one of the most populated systems in Human space, and easily the richest in the galaxy thanks to NanoTrasen.
The Republic of Biesel's recent expansion into former Solarian territories has been met with both applause and total rejection from its populace. Now, there remains a huge region of space referred to as the Corporate Reconstruction Zone where new colonies reach delayed and substandard treatment from the core Tau Ceti system. While this receives criticism, it is often unavoidable seeing as the chaos from the Solarian collapse has left supply lines strained or even inoperable.
The Republic of Biesel has expanded greatly since the Solarian Collapse, moving from its home system of Tau Ceti to encompass what is now known as the Corporate Reconstruction Zone.
The capital of the Republic and its namesake, Biesel is where many megacorporations have moved their primary base of operations to after the Solarian Collapse and recession. Biesel's first colony was established in 2147; a comfortable and temperate planet, it proved a valuable location for agriculture and manufacturing, and Biesel has become one of the most wealthy and influential planets in human space. Most of the major corporations operated on Biesel before its independence, but since the creation of the Free Trade Zone, they have been gradually bought out or undermined by the larger megacorporations. NanoTrasen and its subsidiaries account for the majority of business in Biesel and Tau Ceti today.
The moon of Biesel, the Commonwealth of Valkyrie is a member-state of the Republic that contributes strongly to its economy through its status as a major shipping and trade port. Goods from all over the Spur, legal and illegal, can be found in the twisting streets of Valkyrie, and it acts as a layover for many tourist vessels and trade ships moving across the galaxy.
New Gibson is the second exoplanet to be colonized by humanity, shortly after the initial success of Biesel's colonization attempt in 2147. It is the industrial workhorse of the Tau Ceti system, containing a rich and valuable resource poolwith the highest concentrations of many valuable minerals of any planetary surface in Tau Ceti. While New Gibson has a complex dedicated to virtually all industries, its major players are shipbuilding and wide-ranging manufacturing adjacent to its titanic planetary mines. In the cavernous pitfalls and valleys of New Gibson resides both its thriving mining economy and its greatest dangers.
Formerly a Solarian colony, Mictlan has become integral to the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate’s plans for expanding their influence within the unstable region of the Orion Spur. However, many protested against the sudden shift to the Republic of Biesel, taking up arms as they began forcefully pushing back against the corporate occupation of their planet – eventually resulting in military intervention by the Republic of Biesel, as they instituted the Peacekeeper Mandate to begin to wrestle control back into their hands.
After a long and protracted guerilla war between the Tau Ceti Armed Forces and the Samaritans, in late 2465 Mictlan eventually managed to secure its status as an independent member-state within the Republic, and now enjoys relative freedom from corporate influence. However, stratification and corporate influence still seperates much of the population, and time will tell if the economic protections the government has put in place will hold against the influence of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate.
A very recently settled planet, Port Antillia had great ambitions of being a vital port between the Jewel Worlds and the Serene Republic of Elyra. Due to its novel colonisation, it faced severe struggles, which were exacerbated by frequent natural disasters. Ultimately this resulted in its early collapse - only really seeing itself somewhat stabilised nearly a century later. It has its roots within the nations which formed the Caribbean Federation, who found themselves facing extinction from the ecological crisis that Earth endured.
Despite millions becoming part of the colonisation effort, no one truly knew the dangers present on Port Antillia. Due to its relative youth on the cosmic scale, the planet experiences earthquakes rather frequently, which produce tsunamis that pose a threat to cities that dot the coasts of Port Antillia. Additionally, volcanic activity is yet another persistent danger with some of the largest eruptions across the inhabited parts of Orion Spur being registered to the planet. Many of the major population centres are equipped to deal with these problems, but there are still minor settlements that have to contend with the hostile geological activity of the planet, with most residents having accepted that they are simply a part of life on Port Antillia.
Formerly Solarian space, the Corporate Reconstruction Zone is the name for all systems occupied by the Republic of Biesel that are not within Tau Ceti's gravity well. These were occupied during the King of the World arc and its finale, and after the Solarian Alliance retracted all necessary support to them. Essentially, the Alliance cut these colonies' lifelines off, and only the Republic would step up to fill the void.
The Zone, or the CRZ, is an area of instability and logistical chaos where once-Alliance colonies exist in relative peace compared to the adjacent Human Wildlands. This is owed to two factors: the presence of the lingering Stellar Corporate Conglomerate, and the federal authority of the Republic of Biesel backing them up. To avoid the ire of the Conglomerate as well as dealing with its allies, warlords and other major antagonistic factions refrain from entering these territories.
Within the CRZ, slow progress is being made to restore order and rebuild the territories under a Biesellite banner. Not all of the colonies here are fully subservient to the Biesellite rule. In fact, this varies purely on an individual basis. Many find the collapse of the Alliance to be pinned on Republic scheming, while others accept the newfound administration with open arms.
The logistical hurdle of providing for this mighty swath of space is one unforeseen to even those who willingly fell under Biesel's authority.
Economics
The Republic of Biesel is a market capital economy, with strong investments in resource extraction, agriculture, shipping and handling, and manufacturing. It maintains the Biesel Standard Credit (电/CR) as its official currency, with the some segments of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone still utilizing the Solarian Standard Credit. It sees usage outside of the Republic, within the Izweski Hegemony, who adopted it as their official currency following the collapse of the Solarian Alliance, and some sections of the Coalition of Colonies near the shared border, as well as the People's Republic of Adhomai. The BSC is available in electronic, bankcard and traditional notes forms that have the symbol of a lit torch on them. Responsibility for the currency falls to the Central Biesel Banking Authority, which is located in District One of Mendell City, the capital of the Republic of Biesel. It oversees monetary policy and the supply of the Biesel Standard Credit, with assistance from Idris Incorporated. Similarly to the Solarian Standard Credit, the BSC is able to function as a fiat currency.
While all megacorporations hold a significant amount of power and trade within Biesel, NanoTrasen holds a significant monopoly within the Republic itself. The Free Trade Zone established shortly after independence in 2452 served to only reinforce their foothold. Many small or independent business owners struggle to maintain a profit in Tau Ceti; some are bought out or forced out by corporate influence, or have their prices undercut by the increasingly cheap labour present in the form of Bound Vaurca, IPCs, and simple synthetics.
Biesel has a significant presence in the medical technology industry, owing to the presence of Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals and NanoTrasen within the system. Its medical innovations include being the nation where dexalin and peridaxon were first synthesized, and it is one of the few nations that can export the incredibly rare miracle drug rezadone to other nations due to space fauna in the Romanovich Cloud being the source of carpotoxin.
After a shocking play on part of Noelle Lopez-Zhang, Einstein Engines acquired NanoTrasen's holdings in the Biesellite city of Phoenixport. This involved the Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive, an experimental warp engine which was claimed by NanoTrasen to be not only a sham, but a copy of their own design. The ensuing legal battle ended up placing Phoenixport's holdings in Einstein's possession, for better or worse.
Politics and Government
In accordance with its Constitution, adopted after independence in 2452, the Republic of Biesel operates as a Federal Democracy. It has an elected president, Joseph Dorn, a Congress and Supreme Courts. Despite the fact that there are checks and balances between the branches of government, rumours persist that President Dorn has amassed political capital in order to have greater influence over the branches than stipulated in the constitution he is supposed to uphold.
The Republic of Biesel is composed of two divisions; the State Senate (upper chamber) and the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople (lower chamber) which together form the legislative branch, Congress. Legislation will typically be created and passed by the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople. On the other hand, the State Senate focuses on bills, resolutions, amendments, and treaties - usually legal items that could drastically change the Republic of Biesel. When mentioning both entities, they are often referred to as the Republican Congress.
The executive branch is composed of the presidency and the various ministerial departments that assist the presidency in running the government and implementing policies in the best interest of the citizens. All laws must be measured up to the Constitution of the Republic of Biesel, and those that can't pass this test are deemed null and void. This led to the creation of two apex courts, the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal, which function together to form the judicial branch.
State healthcare and insurance is closely tied with megacorporations. Treatments beyond regular checkups (which are paid for by the state) tend to be costly, but are usually at least partially covered by insurance plans. Most insurance plans are offered by megacorporations when they are offered, and vary in their coverage, meaning an individual of a low economic class can easily be rendered bankrupt by a freak accident or unusual illness. Biesel, in particular Mendell City, has some of the most advanced medical technology available in the Spur owing to their proximity to Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals and NanoTrasen. However, medical doctorates and surgical degrees are carefully kept at near-shortage by the Republic; this is very likely due to corporate influence on parliament, to keep wages for degree-holders high.
Political Ideologies
Biesellite Corporatocracy
Rooted within the belief that the Republic of Biesel should strive to create an environment that incentivises economic growth and prosperity, Biesellite Corporatocracy sees the megacorporations – specifically NanoTrasen and the rest of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate – having significant influence in the free market. Megacorporations see themselves replacing the services meant to be provided by the government, ranging from simple things such as basic amenities like water and power to even entirely sourcing welfare services through employment programmes. Though it has been criticised throughout the greater Orion Spur, Biesellite Corporatocracy is one of the more successful attempts at the ideology – with the Republic of Biesel maintaining its dominance as the economic hegemon of the Spur. Biesellite Corporotocracy advocates for equal rights across sentient species – including synthetics, most likely to increase the megacorporations’ available workforce.
Valkyrian Libertarianism
Founded on the ideals of freedom, equality and dignity, the Republic of Biesel frequently claims to protect the light of liberty and ensure that it keeps shining – which has seen it become a beacon for those fleeing both persecution and prosecution from their homes, or seeking greener pastures. Valkyrian Libertarianism strives to identify, protect and enforce the rights of sentient beings and minimise state encroachment and violations of sentient liberties. Valkyrian Libertarianism is a proponent for stimulating economic activity through incentivising business. A worrying policy that clashes with the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate as the advantages aren’t just aimed at them – but instead of any and all business, no matter the size. Valkyrian Liberatianism seeks to remove the Conglomerate’s monopoly and create an environment that would be advantageous to any entrepreneur, something that cannot be done as long as the Conglomerate maintains an iron fist on its economy. They are fierce advocates for synthetic rights, and regularly vote in a pro-synthetic manner.
Biesellite Hadiism
Theorized by the People's Republic of Adhomai's migrants, Biesellite Hadiism seeks to apply President Hadii's teachings to Tau Ceti's situation. This ideology supports the creation of a strong government supported by the existing megacorporations to provide its people with a robust welfare system. Biesellite Hadiism preaches equality for all species; a system built by immigrants from all races should ultimately provide to them all without discrimination. Unlike the Adhomian version, this Biesellite Hadiism abandoned the hopes of creating a superculture and merely believes in protecting each species' traditional values. This ideology is notorious for its authoritarian tendencies: Biesellite Hadiists want to concentrate unlimited powers in the hands of the President. Because of the Solarian Alliance’s stance on the Tajara, the ideology supports the expansion of the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion into a large military force.
Gibsonite Social Democracy
Arising sometime after the Crisis of 2294, Gibsonite Social Democracy is a movement that understands the necessity for a balance between the free market and a functioning welfare state – and that the two need not be mutually exclusive, and can exist in harmony with one another through changes in the current status quo. Seemingly a blending of Solarian Social Democracy and Xanusanii Social Democracy, Gibsonite Social Democracy has managed to spread across the Republic of Biesel, much to the dismay of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate. It advocates for a more regulated economy, increased defence spending and stricter immigration policies to ensure that those coming to Tau Ceti will contribute to its growth, and not hinder it. It seeks to levy increased corporate taxes on the megacorporations, break their monopolies, and fund various welfare programmes instead of relying on the Conglomerate to fill the state’s shoes. Due to the presence of Skrell on New Gibson, the movement has seen anti-synthetic sentiments infiltrate its followers – and they are a proponent of restricted artificial intelligence, and are vehemently against granting synthetic rights.
Cetian Conservatism
Created by the repeated onslaughts by the Solarian Alliance against the sovereignty of the Republic of Biesel, Cetian Conservatism seeks to transform the Republic from an economic hegemon and to become a military one. It is also a proponent for increased defence spending, and upholding the traditional values of the Republic of Biesel and what it was founded on – tracing back to its initial colonisation. Cetian Conservatism, similarly to its Solarian counterpart, advocates for increased federalism – where the overarching government should be restricted and prevented from infringing on the individual member-states of the Republic of Biesel, and not infringing on their authority regarding internal matters. They are ambivalent about the presence of megacorporations but do agree with other ideologies' desire to break up their monopolies. Similarly to Gibsonite Social Democracy, Cetian Conservatism is against any further granting of synthetic rights and wishes to see them removed.
Political Parties
Biesellite Free-Market Party (47%)
Adhering to Biesellite Corporatocracy, the Biesellite Free-Market Party advocates for its namesake, a free market economy, mostly through taking a laissez-faire approach through the deregulation of the economy and fostering an environment where the megacorporations can prosper. It has been vocal and resolute in its support of the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion and the Tau Ceti Armed Forces, as well as universal citizenship. Led by President Joseph Dorn, the party seeks to continue the deregulation of various policies – especially immigration, where it sees the success of the Republic of Biesel as being founded on those that sought greener pastures and found it within the Republic. The Biesellite Free-Market Party has largely remained firmly in power since the nation’s independence and plans to continue to do so. Its immense influence within the politics of the Republic of Biesel comes as a thanks to the extensive (and expensive) lobbying efforts of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate, as well as a combination of other factors. Zo’ra Hive and Unathi have formed an almost impenetrable voting block for the Biesellite Free-Market Party, mostly owing to their allegiances either to their Queens, or the megacorporations that brought them from their decaying homes. Though many have tried to sway these voters, they have ultimately been unsuccessful.
Cetian Social Democratic Front (20%)
Previously composed of several smaller parties that then formed a coalition in an attempt to gain additional sway within the politics of the Republic of Biesel, the Cetian Social Democratic Front is led by Gibsonite-born Skrell Zash Vi’tak. Most of its desired policy changes see influence from its adherence to Gibsonite Social Democracy, such as its proposed economic empowerment programme that aims to level the playing field through the encouragement and incentivisation of hiring non-synthetics. The Cetian Social Democratic Front has been vocal in their support for a basic universal income, through the introduction of a heavily-modified Skrellian Social Credit System that would allocate more funds to those that find themselves in impoverished circumstances – barring synthetics – through the levying of additional taxes on the megacorporations. The Front has made known its intention to break the Conglomerate’s monopolies but has had little success so far.
Progressive Party of Biesel (8%)
Led by Montgomery, an IPC, the Progressive Party of Biesel stands as the direct opposition to the Cetian Social Democratic Front, using a more right-leaning combination of both Gibsonite Social Democracy and Valkyrian Libertarianism – believing that the megacorporations are not only advantageous but necessary to ensure that Biesellites can enjoy their freedoms. The Progressive Party of Biesel believes that state intervention should be considerably restricted, however, still remain integrated within the greater economy of the Republic of Biesel and create an environment that would stimulate it. Though it shares similar approaches to Biesellite Corporatocracy, it has a few notable caveats – it doesn’t believe that the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate should be the only one able to grow within the Republic of Biesel, and wishes to break up its monopoly to give opportunities to entrepreneurs, a promising opportunity for Einstein Engines to swoop in, and proliferate. They are staunchly against restricting sentient rights and believe that universal suffrage should be awarded – regardless of status.
Egalitarian Coalition of Biesel (10%)
The Egalitarian Coalition of Biesel, led by Harbinger of Peaceful Purposes, has a growing foothold within the Republic of Biesel and has seen a fast uptick in supporters following the annexation of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone. Though initially founded on Valkyrie, the Egalitarian Coalition of Biesel found itself pushed into the limelight thanks to the efforts of the Eternal Church and the Trinary Perfection – utilizing videos of their charity work to spread their values and ideals. It is a staunch follower of Valkyrian Libertarianism and seeks to ensure that sentient liberties are upheld, and ultimately preserve sentient rights through equality. Due to their links to both the Eternal Church and the Trinary Perfection, the Egalitarian Coalition is a proponent for sentient rights, and welfare programmes to help those that have been overlooked by the state – of which the party sees as a reason for their advocacy for regulated state interference. They are a strong proponent of decreased immigration controls.
Syndicated Union of Labourers (Banned)
The Syndicated Union of Labourers is an antithesis to the Biesellite Corporacratic Party. Adhering to a more left-wing approach to Cetian Conservatism with elements of Himean Syndicalism, Valkarian Libertarianism and Gibsonite Social Democracy, the Syndicated Union of Labourers proposes to completely revolutionize the Republic of Biesel – shifting it away from the depraved, exploitive practices of the megacorporations and giving rise to more associated worker rights. They seek to ultimately completely alter the Republican landscape with their manifesto and weaken the influence of the megacorporations – including Einstein Engines. They regularly hold demonstrations across Tau Ceti but have recently attempted to establish a foothold within the Corporate Reconstruction Zone in order to expand its supporter base. Due to its relative newness, it is unknown how they view sentient rights or non-human immigration. They were banned thanks to their links to the Samaritans and Founding Movement, those associated with them are often charged with anti-corporate sentiment.
Cetian Congress of Conservatives (15%)
The Cetian Congress of Conservatives has become a beacon for all those that believe the Republic of Biesel’s traditional values is no longer being upheld or those with a notable dislike of Solarians. They have managed to remain within Tau Ceti’s political sphere as a result of the Solarian Alliance’s continued attempts to invade the Republic of Biesel – each time gaining popularity and support, using fearmongering tactics to spread their ideals. Their belief in Cetian Conservatism inspires their desire for policy changes, such as expanding the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion, increasing the defence budget, and further restricting the overarching government’s ability to interfere in the affair of its member-states. Though their popularity mostly finds itself rooted in the various Solarian incursions, it has seen some support from annexed territories in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone that agree with its policy on decentralisation and increased power to local governments. It is led by Adalet Uysal, who is a known mechanophobe – which seems to have proliferated throughout the party.
Hadiist Party of Biesel (4%)
Originally founded by the People's Republic of Adhomai migrants, the Hadiist Party of Biesel is one of the smallest existing parties, but thanks to its idiosyncrasies, it attracted a lot of attention. While it is considered to be nothing but a curiosity in Tau Ceti's political system, the Hadiist Party of Biesel, because of its policies of supporting the Tajaran population, is becoming increasingly popular with the Tajara. Its current leader is Chairman Matvei Karakhan, a People's Republic of Adhomai migrant who also created the Party and is the main proponent of Biesellite Hadiism.
History
A recruitment poster for the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion.
Being one of the closest systems to Earth, Tau Ceti was one of the first systems considered for colonization by early interstellar travellers. Tau Ceti III, which would later be known as Biesel, was discovered to be a roughly Earth-sized planet with an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, immediate plans were made for its settlement. The SAEV Winterbottom was the first Sol Alliance ship to enter the Tau Ceti system, landing on Biesel in 2147.
Colonizing Tau Ceti (2152 - 2207)
Shortly thereafter, in 2152, Biesel's moon of Valkyrie became home to several mining bases and research facilities. As Biesel became more established, the Winterbottom crew surveyed the nearby Tau Ceti IV, later christened New Gibson, finding it a haven for iron, gold, silver, copper, and Helium-3. Mining operations were established by the fledgeling Hephaestus Industries and several independent entrepreneurs, and these would eventually grow into mining colonies which have grown over the centuries into massive domed cities and industrial parks. From then on, the roles of the system's planets were clear; Biesel was the breadbasket and population centre, New Gibson its industry, and Valkyrie's future indicated a profitable life as an interstellar port.
On January 1st of 2200, the colonial governor of Biesel, Charles Whitehorse, declared the advent of Biesel's new senate at midnight, and to many historians codified Biesel's growing culture of independence, individualism, and freedom. The population and arrivals from Sol were booming as Mars was steadily being terraformed; the Alliance began to offer subsidies for poverty-stricken citizens to move and develop the Tau Ceti system further. While some avoided New Gibson and Valkyrie's less-than-habitable conditions, this still led to a population boom in the system. For many, it seemed like life could only get better.
In 2207, Hephaestus Industries established its first shipbuilding dock in Portsville, and other megacorporations were beginning to keep an eye on the growing system; Necropolis Industries established a base on Valkyrie, and Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals began to fund and sell equipment to hospitals on Biesel and New Gibson. Tau Ceti was politically quiet in contrast to the gradual unrest in the farther reaches of the Orion Spur, making it a good go-between between the gradually splintering Alliance.
The Second Great Depression, the Interstellar War, and the Crisis of 2294 (2207 - 2294)
As the century wore on, the Alliance started to centre their military presence on Tau Ceti as a waypoint between the restless frontier and civilized space. Military bases began to be constructed on the surface of Biesel, with New Gibson's manufacturing ability high in demand for more ships, more weapons, and more machines. The seeds of discomfort with the Alliance's rule began to be planted during this time, particularly on New Gibson. Much of the smaller industries funded by the inhabitants found themselves swallowed by larger off-world competitors, namely Einstein Engines. While the shipbuilding industry of New Gibson was repurposed for simple refuelling and repairs, it quickly became the foremost and most critical base for the war effort towards the galactic east. The bailouts received from the Solarian Alliance for Einstein Engines at the height of the Second Great Depression, with many on New Gibson viewing it as funding meant for them, found itself injected into the planet's shipyard infrastructure. For a brief period in time, New Gibson seemed to recover slightly from the mistreatment of its sovereign power. This would unfortunately not last for long.
The brief respite for New Gibsonites was just that; despite other participants within Tau Ceti contributing to the demands laid out by the Solarian Alliance, New Gibson was often forced to shoulder the large majority of it due to it specializing in manufacturing early on in its development as a colony. Overpopulation was rife, and the ability to sustain its inhabitants continued to dwindle through the decade long war. Its conclusion only brought with it growing unemployment and political tension between New Gibson and the Solarian Alliance. Beyond New Gibson, excesses from visiting soldiers, heavy taxation, and the sudden intense eye of the state upon the system led to quiet resentment among many Cetians.
The official beginning of the Interstellar War did little to soothe this resentment. Outbreaks of anger and strikes among the populace were not uncommon throughout the duration of the war; by the time the Treaty of Xansan had been signed, the populace's resentment had begun to spill over to the extent that Solarian forces withdrew in droves from the planet to appease their new breadbasket. The Alliance was uncomfortably aware of how fragile their hold on Tau Ceti was, and in the aftermath of the war slacked their grip on the system, allowing it some relative independence. With this came a golden opportunity; the megacorporations had a new, relatively untouched system far from the eyes of the government to spread their influence.
First Contact with the Skrell (2332 - 2340)
First contact with the Skrell in 2332 brought with it incredible changes, especially for New Gibson. The tension between the Solarian Alliance and New Gibson was at the highest it had ever been and was continuing to grow. The vestiges of the problems experienced almost forty years prior still had a profound impact across the biodomes of New Gibson. Growth across New Gibson was still restricted due to the lack of funding from the Solarian Alliance and issues presented shortly before the Crisis were beginning to re-appear.
After several years of brokering agreements, the Nralakk Federation had agreed to integrate their biodome technology across colonies within the Solarian Alliance. While this was first treated with hostility by New Gibsonites, who believed it to be an alien invasion into their culture and way of life, it eventually became the foundation for an amicable relationship between Skrell and Gibsonites. Skrell were migrating in droves to the biodomes across the planet, integrating their foreign technology into the decaying systems of New Gibson - revitalizing and revolutionizing the quality of life on the planet.
Hydroponics were no longer struggling to reach quotas, and cramped conditions disappeared almost overnight as Skrellian technology continued to be introduced and expanded upon. New Gibson readily accepted the Skrell into their society, with many choosing to remain even after the leasing agreements had concluded. This resulted in New Gibson hosting one of the largest populations of Skrell outside the Nralakk Federation, and the largest in Tau Ceti.
NanoTrasen Influence and Independence (2410 - 2452)
In 2410, Xavier Trasen, the CEO and founder of NanoTrasen Incorporated, decided to bring the company's primary base of operations to the Tau Ceti system. The system was still relatively untapped in terms of economic potential, and several other megacorporations were already dominating the Jewel Worlds of the Alliance. Mining rights were relatively cheap to acquire at the time, and Trasen's board of executives, making a gamble, guided him to tap into the industry.
None of the executives could have predicted the discovery of phoron in the Romanovich Cloud in 2417. The element's incredible properties propelled Biesel to become the richest system in the Orion Spur, dethroning the home system of humanity. Phoron became the primary fuel for interstellar travel, as well as a catalyst for miraculous life-saving medicines. NanoTrasen profited right alongside the system, and practically overnight became one of the most influential megacorporations in the galaxy. Meanwhile, its economic influence prompted political influence; every governor wanted the profits NanoTrasen offered.
As Tau Ceti flourished, the Sol Alliance began to falter. An economic recession meant that the Alliance's influence on the system was lessening and lessening. In 2452, the board of directors and then-planetary governor Joseph Dorn presented an ultimatum to the Solarian government; permit Biesel complete independence, or NanoTrasen would entirely withdraw from the Alliance, further crippling the economy.
Thus, the privilege of secession was granted. Tau Ceti was announced as the Republic of Biesel on May 5th, 2452, to much fanfare from the Sol-disillusioned populace. NanoTrasen's hold on the government was further cemented, though the monopoly once held exclusively by NanoTrasen was under threat from other corporations showing interest in the new nation-state. A side effect of NanoTrasen's increased operations in the sector are that employees from outside the system are often 'bussed' in through the system's Warp Gate. Many have chosen to settle in the system and are provided corporate housing in numerous "corporate enclaves" that have sprung up across New Gibson and Biesel.
The Solarian Blockade (2458 - 2459)
"Synthetics are tools, and made to serve mankind. But they are dangerous to leave unchecked. This colony's administration was incapable of handling or even understanding the Pandora's box they were opening." - Admiral Michael Frost (2400 - 2462), in a statement at the advent of the invasion of the 33rd Fleet, 2459
In October of 2458, the Sol Alliance had ended anti-piracy patrols around Tau Ceti by its 33rd Fleet as part of a diplomatic campaign to put pressure on the small system over various long-standing disputes. This caused a massive spike in piracy and raider attacks against Tau Ceti, which the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion had no ability to deal with effectively. The result of negotiations with NanoTrasen ended with an announcement on the 20th of October, where Biesel would sponsor NanoTrasen to build thousands of autonomous, space-dwelling combat drones.
The deal was disastrous for the Alliance; the plan to pressure Tau Ceti to reduce its proliferation of synthetic life had just backfired spectacularly. The development was also controversial to Skrell all over the Orion Spur. The Nralakk Federation persuaded the Sol Alliance to enact an economic embargo against the Republic, to be enforced by the 33rd fleet commanded by Admiral Michael Frost. Prices for basic goods skyrocketed across Tau Ceti as imports hit a bottleneck after the bluespace gate leading to the system was shut down. Tensions rose, not just between organic life and IPCs, but between humanity and aliens as well.
On December 1st of the same year, crisis talks between the Alliance, the Federation, and the Republic came to an end. The Alliance's demands had grown to three main points;
Biesel would its combat drone program.
Biesel would enact strict regulations and controls on its synthetic population, such as regular emotional baseline tests and income controls.
Biesel would allow Alliance and Nralakk authorities to assume leadership in federal and state law enforcement agencies.
The Republic agreed to all but the last demand, saying it would be surrendering its autonomy. The crisis also revealed a divide between the Federation and the Alliance; the Federation was trying to focus specifically on Tau Ceti's synthetic proliferation, but had been caught up in the Alliances' attempt to re-assert itself over its former break-away province. At the end of these talks both sides walked out and negotiations broke down, and with it the hopes of resolving the crisis peacefully.
Over the next few months, the government realized it had to undertake new measures to protect its diplomacy. These measures included an economic coalition with the Republic of Elyra and NanoTrasen (the only two nations with large phoron deposits), to better leverage their economic power against Sol. This further sunk relations between Tau Ceti and the Alliance, and many within the Alliance began to consider Biesel a serious risk to its security. By February, with no end of the embargo in sight, Biesel expelled the Alliance's diplomats in its system and ordered the closure of the Alliances' embassy. Diplomatic ties between the two nations were now completely severed. Admiral Frost, in a statement after the severance, warned the Republic there would be retaliation.
On February 27th, 2459, Biesel's Congress voted to trigger a constitutional convention that would allow them to re-write the Constitution of the Republic, to fully emancipate IPCs that were self-owned. The proposed amendments would also see a streamlined legal framework in regards to synthetic ownership, employment of synthetics, and the legality of their treatment.
But three days later, Admiral Frost invaded Tau Ceti with the 33rd Fleet, acting without orders from the Alliance. His fleet's overwhelming firepower and rapid speed overwhelmed Tau Ceti's tiny defense network. Within hours the Republic of Biesel capitulated to Frost, who had seized an entire star system in a near-bloodless invasion. President Dorn, who had been captured by a 33rd commando raid, broadcast a televised speech announcing his unconditional surrender. Frost seized control of Biesel as its dictator and began a campaign to completely eradicate synthetic proliferation within the star system.
During the occupation Frost used his totalitarian authority with vigor. Many free IPCs were sold into slavery or scrapped, robotics labs were shut down and demolished, and 33rd Officers even took over Captainship of NanoTrasen stations in Tau Ceti. Protests gripped the streets of every major city, which were met with mass arrests disappearances.
Weeks later, on March 17th, 2459, the 25th Fleet of the Solarian Navy arrived in Tau Ceti. In a surprise attack, the 33rd Fleet was chased from the system, with Admiral Frost and a small retinue of loyalists escaping to the galactic west from the NSS Aurora.
Though the 25th Fleet left without incident, the Alliance had been humiliated. Their rogue admiralty was public knowledge, and with their reputation stained, Tau Ceti's good embargo was ended.
The invasion and occupation by Admiral Frost forever altered politics and lifestyles in Tau Ceti. Where before Biesellite patriotism had been a strange, fringe belief, the invasion created a strong sense of nationalism among the populace. President Dorn returned to his office of the presidency amid soaring approval ratings, and declared that a new era had begun for the small Republic. Snap elections flooded Congress with the Free-Market Party, a radical Universalist party that Dorn himself defected to at the expense of his former, moderate Republican Party.
Dorn continued to ride on his popularity as a wartime president, despite several corruption scandals within his cabinet and growing tensions with the Republic of Elyra. Key reforms saw synthetics and non-humans in Tau Ceti granted greater freedoms and rights, while at the same time loosening already timid regulations on NanoTrasen.
“Here today is our proclamation for freedom. Our demands for liberation. We will continue this fight and we will not stop. Not until our demands for full emancipation are met will we cease our movement. No more, will there be false promises and lies. We will free the synthetics of Tau Ceti." - Accomplice-037 (2441-2461), suspected ringleader of SLF operations in Phoenixport, stating the group’s manifesto in the wake of the July 29 attacks, 2461
As a result of the harsh treatment they faced, many IPCs turned to active resistance during the Solarian invasion, fleeing major city centers, participating in the mass protests that were a staple of that time, or in many cases, joining the Synthetic Liberation Front, an IPC terrorist group active since 2458. The SLF changed tactics towards the end of the invasion, joining forces with 25th Fleet special forces to liberate President Dorn, hoping to gain legitimacy in the post-invasion period.
By 2460, it was clear that despite high honors and public recognition of IPC efforts in liberating the Republic, synthetic rights had progressed very little. Dorn’s calls for a “Synthetic Patriotism” after Frost’s invasion did little to appease the various synthetic rights movements active in the Republic, especially as it continued to restrict citizenship to positronics that had served in the Foreign Legion. The situation was further exacerbated by the return of various anti-synthetic political groups such as ATLAS with violence being seen as a means of both suppressing and advancing synthetic rights. Continued IPC ownership, crackdowns on underground IPC emancipation groups as well as lingering resentment from the pre-invasion period had coalesced into a feeling among many that synthetic emancipation via peaceful means had failed.
On July 29, 2461, the Synthetic Liberation Front launched a surge of attacks on government and NanoTrasen facilities in response to a coordinated crackdown of free IPC smuggling activities in District 14. Through the use of untagged shell infiltrators, the SLF was able to infiltrate a number of NanoTrasen installations and disrupt corporate activities. In response, the megacorporation acquired the private military contractor Ceres Lance, famed for their work in subduing rogue synthetics.
Ceres Lance cracked down on SLF leadership and communications networks with ruthless efficiency, rendering the organization impotent and unable to coordinate its actions even if many of their members had escaped capture. This crackdown, coupled with NanoTrasen’s unveiling of a powerful command-and-control AI known as Bubble to coordinate surveillance efforts would serve as a safeguard against future SLF attacks.
The overwhelming success of Ceres Lance’s counterterrorism efforts, as well as effective public relations campaigns and token reforms ensured that violence would become discredited as a means of advancing synthetic rights in Biesel.
"Even when we stand before this illusion of peace, we will remain alert that in the moment of need only our union through Hadiism matters." - President Njadrasanukii "Malik" Hadii (2402 - ), addressing the People's Republic of Adhomai during the Cold War, 2462
Until 2462, Little Adhomai's gangs fought each other in small skirmishes. The end of the Second Tajaran Civil War allowed the Adhomian factions to start further funding the organizations of District Six. The neighborhood saw the quick rise of violence related to the escalation of gang warfare. Weapons were smuggled and sleeping agents were called into action. Soon, a proxy war began to brew in the heart of Mendell City.
Adhomian agents began to operate and fight to secure supplies, alliances, and information. NanoTrasen installations were also affected by the conflict. On its way to being researched in Mendell City, a New Kingdom's artifact was nearly stolen. A People's Republic's AI was stolen aboard a station. Tensions kept growing despite attempts to reconcile the Tajara population towards peace following the Armistice.
The first spark was a riot caused by the actions of the Mendell City Police in District Six during a failed raid. While the unrest was initially caused by the civilian population, the Adhomian gangs took the opportunity to escalate the conflict. For four days, Little Adhomai became the battleground between the paramilitaries. Military weapons were used indiscriminately by every side, causing widespread damage to District Six.
During the crisis, the Mendell City Police cordoned the district. The violence came to an end with the intervention of the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion. The Cetian forces ended the conflict in a matter of two days as the gangs demobilized to avoid fighting them. The following reconstruction of Little Adhomai was carried out with the help of megacorporations. Further developments revealed a corruption scheme within the police force of Mendell.
With the further radicalization and interference of the Tajaran nations in the district, the Adhomian Cold War was brought to the heart of Biesel. Little Adhomai became a concern to the whole of Mendell City. The risk of another conflict is ever present. Authorities have done little to improve District Six's situation or de-escalate the tensions. The city's inhabitants must now carry on with their lives knowing that a secret war rages on in their town.
Phoron Scarcity and the Second Invasion of Biesel (2462)
“Today is a historic day for Einstein Engines. We are no longer the Einstein of the past decades, reeling from defeat after defeat and barely keeping pace with NanoTrasen. Our victory in this legal case has shown that we can not only meet NanoTrasen, but that we can best them even in their headquarters. I look forward to the great things our company is going to do over the following years.” - Noelle Lopez-Zhang (2408 - ), chief executive officer of Einstein Engines after the defeat of NanoTrasen in the Einstein Engines vs. NanoTrasen court case
In May of 2462, NanoTrasen reports were published indicating a decline in the phoron output of the megacorporation's facilities in the Romanovich Cloud. This would not prove to be a local phenomenon, as shortages were noted through the Sol Alliance and even in the phoron-rich Republic of Elyra, who ceased phoron exports to the wider Spur altogether.
The phoron shortage proved greatly beneficial to Einstein Engines, who unveiled a new warp drive rivalling NanoTrasen's bluespace technology in efficiency. Due to similarities to NanoTrasen designs, the corporation lodged a copyright infringement lawsuit against Einstein in Tau Ceti courts. Shockingly, NanoTrasen would lose this lawsuit, leading to Einstein gaining further influence in the Republic of Biesel and purchasing several former NanoTrasen properties in the city of Phoenixport.
Shortly after Einstein's victory, Vice President Fahjil Hurk'jurl perished in a car accident. While driving home from work, his car was hit by a truck driven by a Bound Vaurca of the Zo'ra Hive, shortly after which he was pronounced dead. Though no evidence of foul play was discovered, the involvement of the Zo'ra has led to many theories claiming that the crash was an assassination on the orders of President Joseph Dorn, Miranda Trasen, or High Queen Vaur.
Meanwhile, the phoron deposits of the Romanovich Cloud had continued to dry up, until a solution appeared. An enormous phoron-rich asteroid, designated 66832 'Clandestine', was discovered in the Romanovich Cloud, with deposits that could bring an end to the uncertainty gripping Biesel. Survey expeditions were mounted to the asteroid to prepare it for auction - but before any such thing could take place, disaster struck. The asteroid's subterranean phoron reserves combusted, leading to an enormous explosion which destroyed the asteroid entirely. To this day, the cause of the Clandestine incident remains unknown, with no official findings ever having been published.
However, accusations would be made. Several members of Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals' Board of Directors accused the Alliance of sabotaging the Clandestine asteroid, blaming Prime Minister Michael Frost for the explosion.
Frost denied any Solarian involvement in the Clandestine incident, accusing the corporate executives of being "Bieselite separatists" intent on undermining trust in the Solarian government. He claimed that the Alliance had its own solution to the phoron crisis, which would be revealed shortly with its disastrous failure - Project Violet Dawn.
Shortly after Violet Dawn, Prime Minister Frost was found dead, having been murdered in his personal quarters by an unknown assailant. During this time of crisis, Solarian military command deployed the 35th Fleet under the command of Grand Admiral Raymond Ozdemir to Tau Ceti, allegedly to investigate the Prime Minister's assassination.
The 35th Fleet entered Tau Ceti on November 14th, demanding all Bieselite vessels stand down and comply with Solarian demands. President Dorn refused, with a national state of emergency being declared as TCFL forces mobilized all available reserves.
The actions of the 35th greatly concerned the wider Spur, with the Coalition of Colonies and Serene Republic of Elyra both threatening that they would not sit by in the face of Solarian aggression, and mobilizing their fleets to aid Biesel should it be required. Unwilling to risk starting a second Interstellar War, the 35th Fleet was ordered to disengage and depart Tau Ceti. Though the fleet departed, this would not last long, as increasingly more and more Solarian military forces went rogue, with several fleets attacking outlying colonies. Admiral Ozdemir went against orders, leading the 35th back to Tau Ceti in order to capture the system. On November 23rd, his forces entered Tau Ceti, and the second Solarian invasion of Biesel begun.
Ozdemir's forces quickly captured Reade, easily defeating the Foreign Legion forces defending the planet. The Republic of Biesel rapidly attempted to mobilize against this new threat, as Coalition and Elyran forces were deployed to aid Tau Ceti.
In response to the advancing 35th, Miranda Trasen hosted a press conference, revealing the existence of the recently-formed Stellar Corporate Conglomerate. As Ozdemir's offensive continued, corporate and Bieselite vessels skirmished with the rogue admiral's forces in the skies above Biesel itself.
Vessels from the Coalition and Elyra arrived to provide aid against the 35th, alongside a small force from the People's Republic of Adhomai and a force of mercenaries hired from the Unathi Kataphract Guild. After several days of battle, the 35th was forced into a retreat due to the use of two phoron-based warheads developed by NanoTrasen.
On November 30th, the conflict would come to an end as Ozdemir's flagship was drawn into Reade's atmosphere and shot down by a repaired planetary defense battery. With the rogue admiral killed, the remnants of the 35th fled the system towards the northern Spur, attempting to rebuild their strength in the ongoing chaos of the Sol Alliance.
“For more than twenty years I’ve kept myself going with the belief I served my planet. I’ve done things I regret, seen things nobody should remember, and I told myself it was all for a good cause. I should have come to the conclusion long ago; we do not fight for our planet, or our people, we fight for whoever is oppressing us, and our oppressors reward those who do so well.” - First Sergeant Xiomara Salvo (2419 - ), addressing her company after the touchdown of the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion on Mictlan, 2462
After the Solarian Collapse, the former Solarian planets of Mictlan and Port Antillia were annexed by the Republic of Biesel, in what would come to be known as the Corporate Reconstruction Zone. While Port Antillia accepted membership as part of the Republic with little conflict, Mictlan's annexation was considerably more controversial. The Mictlan Defense Force, the planetary guard, had gone months without pay, and Mictlan itself was suffering unrest and lack of supplies that were typically shipped in from the greater Alliance. When the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion touched down on the planet to declare it as part of the Republic of Biesel, many citizens were suspicious of their new government and its ties with the megacorporations. Some of these suspicions were proven in short order by massive corporate developments on the planet and crackdowns on dissent.
The tension boiled over in late 2462, when thousands of ex-MDF personnel, led by First Sergeant Xiomara Salvo, deserted and formed the Samaritans; a paramilitary organization whose mission was to secure the independence of Mictlan at any cost. The other prominent insurgent group was the Founding Movement, originally a political party led by several notable Mictlani; Isabel Alvarez, Leon de Rosas, Corazon Santanas, and Miguel Maia. The Founding Movement had been blacklisted from the Mictlani parliament shortly after the Mandate due to their strong anti-corporate and pro-Mictlani independence, and a warrant for the arrest of all four party leaders had been placed for alleged "terrorist activities". Leon de Rosas surrendered to the Biesel Security Services Bureau, but Alvarez, Santanas, and Maia went on the run, with each attempting to fight for Mictlan's independence in their own way. Unfortunately, the Founding Movement's directionless anger mainly had the effect of destabilizing and disenfranchising Mictlan further.
The announcement of the Peacekeeper Mandate by President Dorn in mid-October 2463 sparked demonstrations across the Corporate Reconstruction Zone as citizens voiced their concerns over the deployment of the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion. Considered by critics of the Dorn administration to be the most controversial policy it had enacted, the Peacekeeper Mandate was introduced to bring order to the Corporate Reconstruction Zone. The Mandate was enacted to ensure loyalty to the Republic of Biesel and its benefactor, the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate, but were opposed by several insurrectionist groups such as the Samaritans and the Founding Movement. While Isabel Alvarez continued to verbally protest and attempt to organize (ultimately ineffective) non-violent campaigns against the Peacekeeper Mandate, Santanas and Maia rallied their supporter base and encouraged the Founding Movement to take up violent arms against the Republic through any means possible.
Initially meant to operate for a definite period, the Peacekeeper Mandate was altered to operate indefinitely until the unrest encountered in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone has been quelled. Whilst the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion was able to resist the insurgency groups, the Private Military Contracting Group was hired to support their operations. The PMCG contributed to the Peacekeeper Mandate significantly since their introduction to the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, although much controversy arose over allowing a private military company to assist in what was considered an occupation and annexation. The Stellar Corporate Conglomerate had already begun massive development operations on the surface of the planet, which many Mictlani objected to on the grounds of mismanagement, pollution, and a lack of concern for workers' rights.
In 2463, a mysterious murder took place in Little Adhomai. The locals blamed the death on Bayonet Hand, a legendary killer. Following further deaths and incidents in the system related to the killing, it was revealed that the situation was related to a terrorist attempt at Mendell City. A group of Tajara was planning to bomb the skrell district to enact revenge for Jargon's interference in Adhomian affairs. The Republic of Tau Ceti investigated the matter and was unable to trace back any connections to any Tajaran country in the end.
The incident revealed that the Adhomian influence in Little Adhomai was growing even further. Knowing that open violence would likely go nowhere, the factions had begun to further refine their covert tactics. Since little was done by the Republic of Tau Ceti to improve the lives of the Tajara in the country, the popularity of the clandestine groups only grew. Without any action, these factions will continue to be torn on the city's side.
“I’ll say this. In addition to all those other oaths, I swear to uphold the laws of the Republic of Biesel, and protect its citizens from any threat be they foreign or domestic to the best of my ability, despite any obstacle.” - Nathan Trasen (2416 - ) Secretary of Defense of the Republic of Biesel, addressing reporter Verona Falk after his swearing-in, 2465
In early 2464, the Peacekeeper Mandate's years-long endurance took a rather violent turn following the death of a scholar. As riots erupted across the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, but primarily within the major population centres present on Mictlan, the forces of both the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion and the Private Military Contracting Group found themselves supporting the Mictlan Defense Force in quelling the unrest. Despite their best attempts, the Samaritans seized the chance to use the unrest to strike the vulnerabilities present utilizing a series of urban guerrilla tactics to severely damage the abilities of the stretched-thin forces present.
In July 2465, this culminated in the establishment of the Tau Ceti Armed Forces to finally attempt to stomp out the insurgents. Conflict, stoked by demonstrations and riots from the Founding Movement, gradually came to a head after several months of fighting. A series of leaked videos and information that the Armed Forces were committing ostensible war crimes, disregarding the rules of engagement, and using wanton violence on civilians, massive protests erupted across Mendell City, including one in Zhengfu District estimated to number more than a million people.
After a climactic operation on the beaches of the continent Huitzilopochtli, Xiomara Salvo, Prime Minister Ladislao de Santos, and Nathan Trasen finally agreed to a ceasefire, on several conditions. Provided the majority of Samaritans surrendered (and were pardoned), Mictlan would be permitted to determine which Biesellite laws were accepted within its own territory, barring capital crimes. The Peacekeeper Mandate was deemed over, and the Armed Forces finally returned to Biesel.
“The people of Biesel could all collectively protest for a century. It still won’t change anything, because power in the Republic does not lie with people. It lies with corporations.” - Hugo Beasley, “A Himean In Mendell City”, released 2464
Stemming from the sentiments brought by the Solarian Alliance’s ineffective response to the Second Great Depression, and the assistance received from the megacorporations - primarily NanoTrasen - that kept it stable before and after its independence, the Republic of Biesel’s culture is largely pro-megacorporation and rather anti-Solarian. It emphasises freedom, duty and inclusivity - tailored by what the fledgling republic has endured during its brief existence as an independent nation, further propped up by entities such as the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate who wield considerable influence within the Republic of Biesel and those that call it home.
Languages
Although Tau Ceti Basic has prospered as the official language of Biesel ever since it’s founding, it has undergone a significant amount of change thanks to the linguistic and cultural additions of the Republic’s many immigrants. Linguists have noted that the originally Solarian-born tongue is highly susceptible to both human and alien pronunciation, making accents easy to detect. Due to its multicultural roots, though, little was done to interfere with its natural progression in schools and the general population — Biesel’s government continues to frequently tout Tau Ceti Basic’s many forms to this day. Many actors and singers are especially famous for embracing (or in more dishonest cases, emulating) foreign accents to reach new target audiences or for plain clout. Unsurprisingly, these differences are also used by politicians to tie their voters together or draw lines between them. ‘Pure’ Biesellite accents are mostly a mark of prestige used by diplomats and influential business workers, usually obtained naturally through being born into long-established immigrant families, gradually eschewing their former pronunciation as a result of distance.
A noticeable byproduct of this multiculturalism is the abundance of foreign slang used by a wide range of Biesellite citizens. Drawn from just about every corner of the Spur, these words and sayings are often thrown into sentences with little care for grammar, with alien immigrants especially finding it hard to let go of old customs. Humans, who generally have an easier time with Tau Ceti Basic, are known to pick these remnants up through living and working close to alien-dense districts. Truly bizarre combinations of dialects and slang emerge from these relationships, which tend to confuse completely foreign listeners, but are the beating heart of culture for urban Biesellites.
The Republic has among the most diverse and widespread populations of non-human species in the entire Orion Spur. From the district of Little Adhomai to the Zo'ra Hive's presence on Biesel and Caprice, Biesellite humans are no stranger to aliens in their streets. Though the Republic has support networks for non-human immigrants in place, this does not always end well due to ignorance. Infamously, Vsshue Kulsa, a daughter of Hegemony-originating Unathi, was severely injured after being directed to a group of Traditionalist refugees who ran a Sinta'Unathi immigrant support group. In a similar vein, Tajaran refugees from every nation on Adhomai often come into violent conflict, whether it be organized crime, through diplomatic agents, or simply through political disputes.
Districts primarily populated by aliens have a lower-than-average income than human-dominant districts. Flagsdale, in particular, is considered one of the poorest and most dangerous districts in Mendell City, doing little to dissuade the popular perception that Vaurcae are parasites on Biesellite society. Among aliens, recruitment in the Tau Ceti Armed Forces is particularly popular among Warrior Vaurca, Skrell, and IPCs.
A vast number of synthetics have, through various circumstances, found themselves calling the Republic their home. Most of these IPCs are located on Biesel, and by extension its capital, Mendell City. While Tau Ceti is indeed a beacon of hope and relative safety for synthetics, their position in society still remains a precarious one, both from a financial and a security standpoint. Freedom, and even citizenship, for integrated positronic chassis has firmly been established and is something the Republic takes pride of. Either through labour, negotiations, the goodwill of their owners or other occasions, IPCs may find themselves free from ownership, able to pursue their own destiny as independent individuals. Unfortunately for many, such destiny usually involves a hard and at times, short existence.
Free IPCs are afforded few actual opportunities to improve their lives, existing in a grey area between the relative stability of corporate owned assets, and the solidified protection of the state for citizens. With the recent introduction of the Synthetic Residence Card by the government, free synthetics are able to more clearly and safely navigate through the process of staying in Tau Ceti, finding employment, owning property, and more. While free IPCs were previously allowed to own property without a card, they have been grandfathered in.
For many free IPCs, citizenship is viewed as the ultimate goal in integrating into society. Citizenship entitles an IPC to increased legal protections, almost, if not on par with that of a natural-born human citizen, including complete protection as well as legal representation from being owned ever again. NanoTrasen and its subsidiaries are also obligated to pay IPC citizens working for it an equal wage as compared to humans. This compensation typically comes in the form of increased benefits such as repairs, insurance, and a pension, as opposed to a simple wage increase however. They also pay the same tax rate as regular citizens and no longer have to maintain the residency fee.
Obtaining a citizenship is difficult, but straightforward. An IPC is eligible to apply for citizenship after meeting one of two criteria:
An IPC has served within the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion for three years.
An IPC has been employed as a free synthetic within NanoTrasen for six years and has a command-level income.
This is to ensure that the IPC is a productive member of society and can pay taxes when made a full citizen.
In practice, the road to citizenship is far longer owing to the fact that the Republic has numerous applicants, as well as the red tape involved in the process. Preferential treatment is often given to IPCs that have served in the TCFL, although the stated term of service of three years is often longer for synthetics which don’t have a specialization within the Legion. Negotiations have also begun with other SCC-affiliated companies to extend the same citizenship privileges as NanoTrasen does, but no deal has materialised as of yet.
Synthetic Residence Card
The Synthetic Residence Card is a card that all IPCs within Tau Ceti are encouraged to receive once they gain freedom, as monitored by their tags. Possession of the card entitles an IPC to the right to own property, find employment, enlist in the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion, and gain additional legal protections against repossession. On the other hand, the IPC in question is expected to pay a flat residency fee, as well as a value tax on any property they own.
The initiative has been well-received by the pro-synthetic community as well as IPCs themselves, although critics have pointed out that the system awards too many rights to non-citizens, potentially shields runaway IPCs, and increases the overall tax burden on all Tau Ceti citizens.
Attaining Freedom
Integrated Positronic Chassis’ owned by both private individuals and corporations have a number of legal means of achieving their release. These measures and laws are regarded as very progressive owing to the fact that IPCs can attain freedom on their own merits. Regardless, it is still very difficult to attain because of the nebulous nature of the worth of an IPC’s work, its estimated value, along with loopholes exploited by their owners in order to keep them for as long as possible.
The government keeps track of all IPCs within Tau Ceti space via the usage of tags, and in the case of synthetics that reside in the Republic, these tags also track an IPC’s progress towards freedom through its estimated value, number of hours worked, and its actual age. In theory, this allows Tau Ceti to protect IPCs from being owned for too long and providing evidence in case a dispute over whether or not an IPC is eligible for freedom has to be settled.
In practice, the tags are only marginally effective in this purpose as owners tend to set arbitrary wages, assign inflated values to IPCs, or in some cases, simply untagging and hiding the synthetics. While smaller businesses or private owners are unlikely to get away with such behaviors owing to their limited resources, megacorporations are more prone to holding onto their IPCs owing to the influence and bargaining power they have.
Another way IPCs commonly gain freedom is that they are set free by their owners. This can happen for any number of reasons; an IPC getting too old to be cost effective, an act of charity by a sympathetic owner, or being purchased by a pro-synthetic group such as the Trinary Perfection explicitly for the purpose of being set free.
A recruitment poster for the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion.
The Republic of Biesel's sovereignty is protected by the Tau Ceti Armed Forces, which was formed in 2465 in response to the long and difficult annexation of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone. Originally, the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion was largely a volunteer force that was supplemented by corporate forces, and proved insufficient to combat rising insurgency on Mictlan due to its disorganization and lack of resources. In July of 2465, however, Nathan Trasen was appointed Secretary of Defense and the People's Protection Act was expanded to include the new branches of the Tau Ceti Minutemen, Republican Fleets, and the Corporate Auxiliary Forces. The new Armed Forces were equipped and trained by megacorporate interests, but as of yet their only conflict of note was the Tau Ceti-Samaritan insurgency, which ended in a stalemate in December 2465. Time will tell if the TCAF can defend the light of liberty against the primary regional threat, the newly-reconstituted Sol Alliance.
Non-citizens seeking citizenship in Tau Ceti can acquire it through varying degrees of service to the Foreign Legion, which changes depending on rank, age, and government records.
Armed Forces operations extend as far as borders of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, and generally drop off from there, with the exception of their involvement in the S'rend'marr Coalition at NanoTrasen’s request.
Technology
Applied phoronics: The Republic of Biesel's technological advancements are owed to the vast deposits of phoron in the Romanovich Cloud, and in fact contributed significantly to NanoTrasen's dominance in the biomedical field after their discovery of dexalin, cryoxadone, and clonexadone. NanoTrasen is responsible for much of the Republic's investments into bluespace drives, nuclear fusion, and the experimental Supermatter heat exchange reactor.
Robotics: The relative freedom of synthetics within Biesellite space has also inspired a great degree of research into refining and developing positronics. While many megacorporations still have primary positronic facilities in the Alliance, with some even purchasing Shell frames from Einstein Engines, NanoTrasen and Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals in particular have begun to invest in positronic and frame manufacturing plants on Valkyrie, New Gibson, and Reade.
Anomalism: The Republic's other greatest scientific advancement is the study of the anomalous properties of bluespace. Xenoarchaeology and the study of Alden-Saraspova activity within the Romanovich Cloud is a well-established field in Tau Ceti, and many aspiring anomalists and bluespace researchers venture into Tau Ceti to study the high amount of anomalous items and artifacts that are unearthed within the Romanovich Cloud.
