UGTO

"A common defense for the interests of Humanity across the Galaxy."

-- UGTO Charter.

The United Galactic Trade Organization is the oldest human faction in darkspace. Based from the human home of Earth, the UGTO was formed on April 10, 2218. Its main function was to consolidate the military resources of Lunar, Mars and GCC (Earth) after the goverments of Lunar, Mars and GCC could not come to an agreement on dealing with the 1st steller war.

Currently the UGTO is seen as 'Imperialist' ruling with an iron fist on their colonies, causing much sediment against them. This style of leadership and government lead to the formation of the Farstars, and then later, the ICC.

Formation and History

The United Galactic Trade Organization was formed on April 10th, 2218 at 13:00:00 SST (Sol Standard Time), however it can trace it's roots right back to 2062 with the formation of the Global Corporate Council. In the years leading up to 2062, a period known as the '2nd Dark Ages' was in full swing. Multiple Nuclear and Biological weapons had been used in the last sixty-two years, with the resulting fallout nearly causing the collapse of Earth's Biosphere. On February 18, 2066, the GCC was ready to take the reigns back. At 00:01:00 GMT, the GCC shut the world off. At once, every power station, every communications station, every fuel pump in every vehicle, every computer, and anything else that they had been able to introduce their control circuitry into, was shut off. What little remained of the world’s economy ground to a complete halt. At the same time, certain equipment that was directly operated by the GCC had been spared the blackout. Covert and elite strike teams had been moved into positions. As these Para-military forces struck at the current leaders of these tyrant nations, word was spread using carefully placed operatives in communities all over the Earth. “Join us, liberty is at hand!” was the message spread throughout communities on the Earth.

Soon, the world was united under the rule of the GCC. But the damage had already been done, only 1.5 billion humans now lived and with the GCC now trying to rebuild what had been lost over the last sixty-two years, a massive manpower shortage came into effect. Over the Next fifty years, the GCC grew and life was finally getting to pre-darkage levels once again. However At 02:15:12 GMT on June 6, 2118, the SDO discovered a stellar object approximately eight months away from possible impact with the Earth. About 62 km in diameter, this solid chunk of rock would pass within just a couple of thousand kilometers of the Earth. Damage estimates were such that the already weakened biosphere would be rendered uninhabitable by Human life.

Construction on two ships, the Hope and the Genesis, had started in orbit before the new Fusion drive technology was even developed. So quickly were they built, that their construction scaffolds were actually completed two days after these vessels were ready for initial system tests. It took three months to complete construction and outfit both vessels, but on October 30, 2118 both the Hope and the Genesis had left Earth's orbit for their destinations.

Hope was set on course for Luna, where automated construction systems had been working for the last four months. After the initial population was deployed, it would return to Earth for the continual ferrying of the population to the new Luna base; where new personnel on Luna would then throw themselves into the construction process for their new home.

Genesis was a one-time use vessel. She was much larger than her sister ship, Hope. Her total passenger compliment was eight thousand; four times that of the Hope. Additionally, her hull was designed to be broken down for the initial colony base, making her journey a one-way trip.

Both ships performed remarkably well in their assigned duties. Neither had any major system failures, and both completed their missions on time. All told, the Hope had been able to move 12,000 people to the Luna Dome, and the Genesis was successfully disassembled into the Mars Dome 16 days after her launch.

In secret, the GCC had been playing a major gambit. In stationary orbit over the North Pole, the GCC had been working on a ship construction yard for the last year and a half. Designated "Bifrost Station", it was originally designed to build long range probes and colony ships to the rest of the worlds in the Sol system for possible use in the rebuilding of Earth. Now, she had a different mission. Hoping for the best, the GCC decided to build a torpedo warship in Bifrost Station’s births. Designated the Guardian, this ship was specifically designed to get to Ragnarok and deliver as much weapons fire as possible in the hopes of diverting it’s path. Small by today’s standards, her crew of twenty-eight pledged to keep the asteroid from hitting Earth, or die trying. She was launched on November 21, 2118 at 20:04:00 GMT.

On December 7, 2118 CE: Several attempts are made to push Ragnarok using the Guardian’s engines. They prove far too weak to make any kind of appreciable change in the asteroid’s vector. At 09:54:12 they send a simple message to Earth, “We give our lives for the lives of Humanity. May you all see better days.” Shortly there after, the Guardian explodes in a massive uncontrolled fusion reaction, consuming all of her torpedo and engine fuel in one cataclysmic blast. And on Jan 4th the following year Ragnarok misses the Earth and a great sigh of relief showed on all and the people of Earth party for one month straight.

With Earth saved, Interplanetary trade and travel began. The GCC, begins to turn its eye towards Venus. Bifrost Station begins to produce merchant ships, as well as creating two more Guardian class ships, just in case. Scientific efforts remain directed at space exploration and development. And over the next few decades independent mining colonies pop up in the outer solar system and pirates are soon discovered. The ensuing conflict puts strain on the GCC and it soon begins it's trademark action of increasing taxes on the outer colonies to pay for the new ships to fight the pirates.

By 2203, The GCC, Lunar colonial government and the Mars Colonial government cannot come to agreements on the pirate issues. So Rather than spark a devastating war that would undoubtedly lead to some kind of damage to Venus, the most habitable planet in Sol, Luna and Mars are granted full independence. They are also granted one quarter of the outer system colonies each.

However, pirate activity continues to increase and by 2218 a decision was made by the 'Big Three', the GCC, Lunar, and Mars. And finally on April 10th, 2218 at 13:00:00 SST (Sol Standard Time, the United Galactic Trade Organization is officially formed. Its initial charter is to provide “a common defense for the interests of Humanity across the Galaxy”. The ruling council is made up of representatives of Mars, Luna, and the GCC. Provisions are made for the inclusion of other members in the future. This council would be called the Senate. All military assets of each member are unified and put under the direct command of the UGTO. Additionally, a provision is made that “in times of war there will be voted into being an individual who would hold the title of Grand Chancellor.” This individual is to coordinate and direct all military activities from a central voice, allowing for fast and decisive decisions to be made. By April 21, 2218 CE Through shrewd manipulation and maneuvering, Westley Whitworth is elected the first Grand Chancellor, to “deal with the pirate threat”.

First Stellar War

After Several decades of vigorous interplanetary trade. Trade routes were well established, and major colonies had been constructed on most of the major worlds in the Sol system. To date, five merchant ships had now disappeared. The LaCroix, Hounds Tooth, Gabrielle, Murmensk, and Yoshiro. Midst building pressure from the GCC, the SDO conducts a covert operation to determine what is going on. Agents are specially trained and distributed among almost all of the merchant ships of the time. They make a startling discovery when their agent on board the LaSalle reports back that his ship is being boarded and captured by unknown assailants. The homing beacon their agent smuggled on board leads the SDO to a hidden asteroid base being used as a pirate outpost. Here they find not only two of the other missing ships, but a thriving black market. Realizing that there current fleet was under powered, a massive build up of ships was ordered. And in 2190 the first battle between space faring ships in Human space occurs. Leading their force of eight ships, the SDO overwhelms the pirate asteroid, but during after action clean up's more bases are discovered. And quickly a war with pirates remains of the pirate wars of the 17th and 18th century quickly broke out. Firstly the GCC were pushing the pirates back, but soon pirate ships become so bold as to attack the inner solar system, and even Earth. Between 2218-2224 CE The UGTO prosecutes its war against the pirates with much success. While he is accused of being a bit…heavy handed, Chancellor Whitworth proves he is a man who can get things done. Venus, the Jupiter Alliance, and the Saturn Mining Interests each join the UGTO during this tumultuous time. The war is furious and violent. The pirates are well equipped, with battle-hardened troops. The UGTO has superior resources and technology. In the middle of the fracas are caught the normal people. Several corporations do a brisk business in selling jump capable ships to people who want to get away from the war and start anew in a different system. These ships are very cheaply available, primarily because the corporations that manufacture and sell them require their owners to sign a contract giving the selling corporation ownership of any colony they establish. The vast majority of the colonists never notice this clause. They just want to get as far from the UGTO, pirates, and the Sol system as possible.

On January 15th 2228 CE The last pirate base is destroyed in the Sol system, and the First Stellar War comes to an end. The people of Sol celebrate, but only briefly.

2nd Stellar War

Because of a new wave of oppression and taxation, an underground organization called the Stellar Freedom Alliance was born. Organized in cells, the SFA was a revolutionary civilian group dedicated to bringing about change in the UGTO government. The SFA started its career with simple protests and minor acts of civil disobedience. The Grand Chancellor would brook no opposition to his absolute unquestioned rule. He had the leaders of the SFA hunted down and assassinated. Into this power void, a new and more violent group of individuals stepped. The SFA under this new leadership became a tool for terrorism and violence, dedicated to the utter collapse of the UGTO government. Bombings of government and loyalist businesses started to occur. The 2nd Stellar War had Begun.

By 2245 CE The Stellar Freedom Alliance grew impatient. Ever since Grand Chancellor Messinia took office, their covert support from the UGTO had dried up. They begin to escalate their activities, to bring across the message to the new Grand Chancellor that they are not a group to be trifled with. For his part, Grand Chancellor Messinia had no real understanding of the dealings that his predecessor had engaged in. On September 18th, 2248 CE The SFA got fed up, and hijacks ten freighters, six patrol frigates, and two passenger liners while they are in port at Redemption station orbiting Ocotat. They put forth several demands, including the release of several political prisoners and a very large sum of money. Grand Chancellor Messinia decides to confer with his security council and the senate before acting on this threat. The time this requires only serves to anger the SFA, who detonate two of the patrol frigates with all hands on board. This infuriates the Grand Chancellor, who sends the first, fourth, and sixth fleets all after the fleeing SFA. A massive campaign is launched by the UGTO against the SFA and any worlds that supported them.

June 29, 2249 CE: The UGTO has been successfully preventing advances of the SFA forces. In order to attempt to finish the war more quickly so as to reduce expenditures and loss of UGTO military lives and assets, on June 29, 2249 at 09:23:19, Grand Chancellor Messinia signs a classified approval for the use of biological weapons developed on Charon against an SFA-aligned planet.

Seeking to demonstrate their technological superiority, the specially tailored virus is released on Price, in Delta Pavonis. The virus is designed to spread quickly and the scientists estimated the entire population would be infected within a month.

On July 9, 2249, at 12:17 precisely, the exact radiation to trigger the virus is directed at Price; the scientists involved said it should cause total nervous system failure and cause death within 30 seconds. And because of the early activation, estimates were that only some 20% of the population would be affected. This was seen as an effective way to demonstrate to the SFA that its cause was hopeless and the UGTO was resolved to take any steps necessary to win.

However, the virus apparently mutates soon after introduction. Rather than quick deaths, most suffer a flare-up of the nervous system, causing swelling, pain, and degradation. All nerve receptors are stimulated by the virus, causing massive mental overload and unbelievable pain; the swelling damages internal organs and causes brain hemorrhaging. Additionally, 30 seconds to death is a dream to those affected, many of them taking days to finally die.

By the end of the year, the disease claims all the residents of Delta Pavonis.

On May 2nd, 2250 CE The last world holding out in support for the SFA falls. The Second Stellar War has raged across 7 systems including Sol, and claimed all human lives in an entire system. However, the UGTO was able to maintain a crushing weight of military power behind their efforts. Grand Chancellor Messinia’s last act in office is to declare the war over.

3rd stellar War

On July 23rd, 2258 CE The UGTO Senate lead by Grand Chancellor Falica declares war on the ICC, citing piracy as its reasons. The ICC, under the leadership of High Councilor Fredrickson, had been preparing for an inevitable conflict with another stellar power. The Third Stellar War ensues.

The UGTO Navy, who during the peace after the 2nd stellar war had lagged behind technological and tactically. The ICC however hadn't, and the Confederate Navy decimated the Trade Navy in multiple battles. Finally on May 12th, 2260 CE The UGTO successfully sue the ICC for peace. Territory lost by the UGTO is seceded to the ICC. This more than doubles the amount of space under ICC rule. The UGTO senate, outraged at what they call administrative bungling, suspends Grand Chancellor Falicia and places Vice Chancellor Margret Cooper as interim Grand Chancellor. The Third Stellar War comes to an end.

UGTO Government

The UGTO Government is based on Earth in the Sol system. The body that rules the UGTO is known as the senate, with every member world, and corporation with more than one million employees granted a seat in the senate. The leader of the UGTO is known as the Grand Chancellor who is elected on a termly basis by the people. The Grand Chancellor is both head of state and the head of government, eventually resolving into an elected Dictator, he/she has the ability to veto any law with under 3/4's vote and he/she is the commander and chief of the UGTO military. The UGTO government's leadership is very autocratic and Imperialistic so it's not surprising the UGTO government rules with an Iron fist, with unquestionable loyalty demanded of all citizens. Those who take part, or support acts of civil disobedience against the UGTO, especially against the government are quickly 'dealt' with, almost always in the form of torture and execution. Although technically a democracy, Corruption is very much apart of the UGTO government. With profits and the will of corporations always put before those of the people, creating a huge unbalance in the senate, causing the Inner-colonies to take much favor with the outer colonies seen just as tax revenue, which has caused uprisings many times over including the Stellar Freedom Alliance and the Interstellar Cultural Confederation to name a few.

The Ninth and Current Grand Chancellor is Grand Chancellor Margret Cooper amid allegations of a fixed election, however this does not diminish her popularity with the core worlds. Currently Grand Chancellor Cooper realizes that the UGTO requires more money than it currently has available in order to complete its military buildup. Rather than levy yet another tax, the Chancellor began an aggressive campaign to route out waste and corruption in the current UGTO government. This has made her no end of enemies, but any who too vigorously oppose her tend to come to some kind of premature end, either politically or entirely.

UGTO Military

The UGTO Military is the primary spender under the current government budget. It's total manpower is in the millions, however precise numbers have been kept close under raps. Not much is known about the UGTO army and Air force, with the Navy and Marines the primary fighters.

UGTO Marine Corps: The UGTO Marine corps is heavily based of that of the Pre drak-age United States Marine Corps. They are soilders who fight from ships, normaly part as raid to capture enemy ships and planet side infrastructure.

UGTO Navy: The UGTO Navy, known as the 'Trade Navy' is the oldest Human Space Navy currently in existence. With roots tracing right back to after the first Guardian ship in the 2060's, it is known as the 'senior service' for this. UGTO ship designs are of sleek rounded, white washed vessels, with an even amount of firepower vs Armour. UGTO ships therefore are the mid-range fighters in the current situation. Although the ships seem to suit close range fighting coupled with UGTO ships known for their combat durability, able to take a massive amount of punishment before they need to retreat for repairs they are force to be reckoned with.

UGTO Ships are based around Armour, first seen on the 2nd generation Guardian Ships from the late 2100's, Armour research has gained the UGTO the upper-hand in armor tech, with all combat rated ships having a minimum of two layers of Combat armor giving UGTO ships the ability to tank a massive amount of damage. But this added weight has caused UGTO ships to have the poorest handling of all known combat ships, they have large turning radius and very slow acceleration and deceleration. Their weapons are based around proton and EMP technology making them a balanced faction in relation to K'Luth and ICC.

UGTO naval doctrine focuses on the tried and true method of simply getting real close to the enemy and unloading their weapons. UGTO ship commanders use this, coupled with the UGTO ships ability to take a large amount of damage to devastating effect against the long ranged focused ICC ships, especially the Command and Missile Dreadnoughts seen in the rear lines and the lightly armored K'Luth who's ships cannot simply take the damage that the UGTO ships dish out in close range fights.