I L'Pipe also vote for Tereshchenko, his great experience is exactly what is required at this point.

No this isn't a false moustache, why are you asking such rude questions?

Zimmerman because I want to see you fight spoilers with conventional engines! 

Also voting for Tereshchenko, because I haven't even read this yet and am woefully ill-informed yet want to have an opinion anyways, and I am told this is how democracy works.

Soon we will find out what sort of Democracy this story has.

The standard kind where the candidate who has the most votes wins, or the other kind where there is a complex system that means the loser somehow emerges victorious. Exciting times!

Also writing in Tereshchenko.

Presumably Zimmerman is enlightened enough to have instituted ranked choice voting, so my vote should then pass to Zimmerman. The man knows what he's doing, and age seems to have mellowed the rabble-rouser.

Right, that's two votes for the communist colonial rights advocate, one for foul centrist scum, and one vote split 50/50 between the Anti-Lloyd and the literal undead. Democracy is alive as ever. I'd still like suggestions for names for Mercury and Luna's outposts - Their people demand both name recognition and infrastructure and I'll be damned if those greedy commies are going to get two things at once!



And thanks Hostergaard - I like the sound of population-based voting rights. I need 100x the infrastructure per million pop compared to standard and given my ship and industry constraints I reckon five hundred thousand would work great. Else by my calculations it'd take centuries to move the infrastructure required, with trade good infrastructure developing on Luna/Mars still at the standard rate now being worth 0.01x what it normally would be (The requirement is 10000 infrastructure per CC per million; 20000 per million for Luna for example, where a standard [italic]Koziol[/spoiler] can only carry 0.4 infrastructure apiece). I largely forgot how the electoral system worked during the break, so its' nice that Zimmermann got through to allow for the system to be rejiggered. As of 2159, Tereshchenko is still alive and kicking at 110 years of age.







A brief summation of the Unions' cabinet/congress under the Zimmermann Model
The Grand Union is formed by member states much like the EU as an additional level of government, though leaning more towards US-style federalization. In doing so member states maintain their own sovereignty on Earth but cede mineral rights to all TN materials, pay Union dues, supply Union labor via visa programs, and abide by the OST of 1967 and subsequent agreements. Enforcing this, the Union maintains rights to inspect both construction and operation of member state sites and shipping as part of substantial material and industrial control systems. These sites and ships are not considered important, and are not tracked on screen. Over time, ratified Union legislation can empower the government or curtail its' abilities. With over a century of negotiations and legislation, it's inevitable that the purpose and activities of the GUN has expanded beyond its' origins which I believe was closer to an empowered ASEAN/UN than this blended EU/US frankengovernment.

While originally each member state controlled one elector chosen by their nation in order to represent its' interests, the age of Zimmermann brings forth grand changes more suitable for this Grand Union. The hundred-odd electors of the Union will now become a horde of thousands of bureaucrats, each representative position created and filled to represent the interests of a million of their underlying nations' citizens. These people are still known as Electors, and hold a position similar to a congressperson or minister. This body of electors is called the Cabinet. Where terrestrial nations exist in deficiency of this population, they will keep their one current elector. It is up to the member nation to determine the method of their electors' accession. It stands to reason that most democracies will elect those officials as an additional level of government, while more authoritarian governments will assign these positions from a top-down approach.

Where extraterrestrial colonies exist at a population under fifty thousand, colonists are entitled to vote for electors of their country of origin assuming that country allows. 50000 seems to be the hard-coded minimum population capacity. The only populated body to be within this threshold currently is Mercury, with a population of several thousand.

From fifty to five hundred thousand, colonies are considered to be territories under the Union and these colonists begin to gain voting rights independent of their home nations. colonists are able to vote for members of a voting block focusing solely on colonial affairs. This coalition for colonial affairs will represent all minor colonies, with the number of electors being based on the aggregate population of all colonies represented. Currently the coalition for colonial affairs has a single member rounded up from 180000 colonists, working equally for Martian and Lunar voters.

At over five hundred thousand (The equivalent of fifty million in a standard game) the colony accedes to a State under the Union and receives its' first elector, and continues to receive an additional electors for each half-million colonists. This gives Luna 17 electors at its' highest census, Mars 78, and Mercury 7. Venus would get over 200, but given its' high CC won't likely ever be colonized given my TF speed is 0.01. Finally, the moons of Jupiter and Saturn have a combined elector count through dedicated electors or the bloc of well under 100. In real life i'd imagine this would be cause for contention given that the voting power of an extraterrestrial citizen is effectively double that of a citizen on Earth, though the argument could be made that this discrepancy prevents a more unified terrestrial majority silencing many disparate colonies by always voting for a leader favoring Earth over all else. Think the US Electoral college being founded to reduce metropolitan tyranny. It doesn't stop it, but certainly does a great deal to mitigate its' impact and curtail its' growth.

Member states may sell or lease land near strategically important or urbanized areas in order to bring projects and Union investment. This land is used to house static units as well as all constructed installations on Earth. Away from Earth this land is owned and developed solely by the Union assuming no electors offer development complaints - such as building on the Earth-locked side of the Moon. These developments are manned by member nation citizens, or Union colonists when off-world.

Exemptions to Union TN material controls may be made with governments to form the civilian mining complexes, but control over these joint ventures is ultimately retained by the GUN.
Extraterrestrial colonization may be undertaken by these nations with permission from the Union, but are not heavily controlled - with nations maintaining their own territorial sovereignty. Again, they do not exist in-game Mining rights are offered to companies and nations for materials found on the periodic table, though the logistics and development of these deposits are left solely to the purchaser. Lord i'd love it if normal elements, alloys, and/or isotopes were included in-game; but for now this is just flavor because they're assumed to exist under the notice of the player.




January 05 2150 -
Markus Zimmermann stood unsteadily while addressing the electors of the Union. While his advisors had strongly recommended against giving an address at the Hall of Representatives, after decades of campaigning he needed to affirm both to the Union and himself that his mindset was cooperative with the denizens of Earth - and what better way to introduce himself as the new Head Administrator of Earth than to do so in person. Hidden under his suit, a sturdy frame prevented him from buckling under a weight approximately five times over what he had grown accustomed to over decades spent at Lunar Base. In full spite of his frailty, Administrator Zimmermann addressed the crowd and televised audience across the world promising both trans-planetary cooperation and a rejuvenation of Union democracy.

Whereas traditionally the Administrator of Earth had become the 'Head Administrator' by proxy, the position would now be separated from the role. Where they could be filled by one person, it would no longer be a guarantee. Zimmermann would gratefully return to administrate Luna, with a combined Terrestrial and Lunar entourage administrating the Union. Meanwhile, the electors would find the number of their positions based off of population rather than by equal right between nations. Though this caused no short uproar amidst smaller states, a slim majority of nations stood to gain and the idea was ratified within months.

Wondering how he had ever considered this a comfortable world to live on; the maladjusted Prime Administrator finished his speech, enjoyed some well deserved refreshments, and waddled clankily away to lie down feeling as if he weighed a tonne.

November 10 2150 -
In the lead up to Prime Administrator Zimmermann's election, the Union delegated funding and manufacturing capacity to allow for even more reliable secure communications between Luna and Earth. Spanning this distance was now a steady stream of data for both civilian and government pursuits. Beginning 2:35am (GMT), a lance of data began streaming towards Luna from Earth - Though the bulk of it was unintelligibly complex modelling, it was best summed up as a breakthrough in Thidar Kay Win's jump drive technology.

Previous prototypes could only jump microscopic objects using vast energy reserves with machines many orders of magnitude larger, Kay Win's breakthrough allowed a prototype capable of sending four times its' mass using only a modest power supply. Theorizing that a 250 tonne version of the engine could hypothetically transmit entire starships, the broadcast was peppered by excited proclamations and requests for funding and tests. By days end, Win had secured the support of all eight Union-funded labs, and expected she could finally answer the final questions preventing FTL travel to new solar systems by decades' end.


January 20 2153 -
Union economists were in dismay. After years of submitted complaints, expositions, and addresses their prophesied worst-case scenario had occurred. The combination of an exponential demand for Duranium with an insufficient and somewhat linear supply had depleted Union supplies of the super-valuable mineral. Talks of a 'functionally-infinite supply' died instantly as the Union released its' first press releases - The Earth was presently in a significant Duranium shortage.

Following market shock, Zimmermann himself was forced to reiterate that the Union was not in danger of losing its' space-faring status. Announcing austerity measures out of "an abundance of caution", the production of maintenance supplies would be ceased for the time being, in addition to redirecting the Colonization Corps. Temporarily, they would cease shipping autonomous mining complexes to the colonies, and would instead divert effort towards moving communications arrays and the infrastructure these growing colonies so desperately required. In the meanwhile, these advanced mining complexes would be installed on Earth to operate for some years.

Amidst the ranks of the enraged were the many thousand of manufacturers who had in effect lost their incomes. Resulting from this, Zimmermann's growing legacy as Administrator would struggle to re-balance from this mass stand-down where he had only three years ago promised to work with the best interests of Earth in mind.

April 11 2153 -
Sluggishly departing from the one of Earths' three primary shipyards, the sister ships of the England II and the Peru began movement to rendezvous with Colonization Corps 02. With the new directive of expanding the Unions' eyes and ears amidst  the asteroid belt, the Corps had been beleaguered by maintenance shortages and construction delays and would graciously accept the newcomers. For a while, it was not likely that UNCC Shipyard 01 would see any more of these titanic 2 Kiloton ships constructed.


November 09 2153 -
Having taken over Win's research, Caroline Kastrup was thrilled to announce her breakthrough - It was now possible to send large-scale objects through these non-Newtonian tunnels with relatively little impact. Hypothetically it would require a full reboot of system power and a substantial re-calibration of any onboard sensors upon arrival but for the most part it was theoretically a safe and effective method of travel. The 'Berlund-Hei-Win-Kastrup et al' method of interstellar travel would be realized once the new 'Win-Kastrup' prototypes were fully developed. Adjusting for this, there were two final questions to ask; How to find these hypothetical breach points between stars, and how best to design a ship that was dedicated over 25% to its' Inter-system engines, once crew space and armor were considered.

Resolving to answer these final questions by decades' end, the Administration continued diverting research efforts towards developing gravitational anomaly sensors. Scientist Deborah Hartwick had made convincing arguments in her controversial thesis regarding re-configuring the active sensors used by UNSC ships, which had been mothballed for some years while funding was secured.



January 08 2155 -
Administrator Zimmermann had elected against returning to Earth for his yearly address. With his health continuing to decline he took the advice of his medical team to avoid interplanetary travel in favor of making his address in the comfortable gravity well of Luna Atrophying as a combination of both poor physical management and age, he had begun to lose the ability to stand of his own accord, and was now largely bound to wheelchairs and exoskeletal walking aides. Soothing the concerns of nations who had born the brunt of his austerity measured earlier, Zimmermann announced the resumption of supply production that had been ceased years earlier.

In addition, a substantial expansion of UNEC Shipyard 01 would see Exploration High Command receive both an additional slipway, and a doubling in construction capacity. The month of December 2154 had been uncharacteristically warm on Earth both in terms of climate and in terms of market conditions. Months of speculative investment had been building in the latter half of the year, which had begun cresting even higher than the all-time highs of '52. Despite this existing inflation of value, the days end would see a full eight percent uptick in the share market, due solely to market interpretations of the announcement.

The yearly address had been long bet on to be favorable despite health concerns surrounding the beleaguered Octogenarian, but besides his announcement of government expenditure on space travel it was the investment in UNEC Shipyard 01 that saw unexpected and vehement excitement. Questions raged as pundits and enthusiasts alike speculated what new ship design could possibly require a ship of such grand size of 2000 tonnes; the limit of human engineering.
Not even focused towards the size, why would Exploration High Command require such a large ship and in such numbers? The most enthused of the watchers began speculating that perhaps decades of Union research towards interstellar travel were close to bearing fruit - Amplifying this, online articles and video blogs system-wide began asking whether it was possible that the dawn of a new Space Age was beginning.


May 20 2158 -
In secrecy, the academics of the Union began a flustered debate. It had been speculated since the release of the Berlund General Model that interstellar travel was possible. This was still theoretical in its' entirety, but no longer considered a cause for laughter, more a scientific capstone to be reached for and achieved. Since more developed hypotheses began forming, most neophysicists had adopted the 'Berlund-Hei-Win-Kastrup et al' model as the primary method through which humans were likely  to reach the stars. An almost fundamental part of this method was discovery of gravitational fluctuations, able to be utilized by massive and hypothetical interstellar engines.

Originally these engines would have to be be in the order of trillions of tonnes using more energy than the Sun for each jump, but several iterations had began to suggest more reasonably-sized engines particularly since Pak Hei Win had began its' study in earnest, albeit with scarce Union funding. The only thing preventing the prototyping of such an engine was there was no evidence these fluctuations existed - and preceding this issue was that no tool yet known could confirm, measure, or discover their existence.

As the result of Doctor Hartwick's efforts, a new Gravitational Survey Sensor was unveiled in the early morning and revealed in high secret to these debating Union academics. In spite of having convinced the Administration some years earlier that a breakthrough was imminent, there were still several substantial issues with the creation of any truly trans-stellar craft. First would be fitting a ship with this quarter-kilotonne sensor suite, and the second would be configuring an engine capable of delivering the ship through one of these anomalies if it were to find one. The technology was there in pieces, but time was becoming quickly scarce before funding was diverted away.

Amidst the squawking gathered crowd were two scientists in horrified agreement; Humanity was soon to become an interstellar species, which by all accounts proved any life outside the Solar system could also have that capacity - with an unknowable intent and unmanageable threat. Humanity had at large been thrusting themselves onward towards the stars but had not fully committed to recognizing the risk. Breaking the silence between them, Ramiro Leote and Huang Xiu Guo (the Unions preeminent kinetic researchers) determined that they must begin convincing a select and powerful few that a new generation of warships and military technologies were required to ensure the survival of Humanity in a potentially hostile galaxy. If necessary, these powerful few would have to "alter" the democratic model the GUN had long held dear should the universe prove...unwelcoming.


February 28 2159 -
Announced to the world, the laying down of the twin ships the Kastrup and the Win heralded the dawn of the second space age. The culmination of the works of millions of citizens and the supply of trillions over decades, these two ships would seek out the subtle anomalies that would see Sol linked to unknowable star systems. Caroline Kastrup herself made news during the celebration albeit for all the wrong reasons - The ceremony was somewhat soured after an unsober Kastrup mentioned that though the technology was proven at a small scale in labs, there was no true way to know if these full-scale designs worked or even if Sol possessed these travel points. She gave it a "Good 50/50" that interstellar travel was even possible from Sol before succumbing to the refreshments provided.


The 'Kastrup' class- The largest and most...effective ship class ever built.


Military freighters? Ten year long gravsurvey ships going 75km/s? This playthrough produces only BEAUTY. I'm aware there's too much fuel but those conditional <50% orders keep stranding my small and short range ships, this hopefully should let them get back even after factoring in orbital periods.


Pundits were still on-board with the notion that interstellar travel was possible, though tension would only grow in the following months until the ships were to set sail. It was understandable that Kastrup began to find herself new though often unhealthy coping mechanisms given the pressure of knowing your life's work was about to be either verified or destroyed. Amidst the watchers was a small yet growing faction within the Union cabinet who believed quietly that the endeavor was a mistake. Leaving the cradle is a necessary part of life, but to do so without support is to enter the grave. All it would take to delay talk of searching for other systems and planets was a single major error, or a deterrent.

Bombarding the email systems of Caroline Kastrup were the usual scientific inquiries, but a recent and persistent point of contact and stress was an anonymous mailer detailing themselves as a representative of the Restraint faction - One that was desperate to prevent her invention and ideas from being utilized due to a sense of extreme danger. Initially disregarded, Doctor Kastrup had began to listen to their concerns with greater interest and had begun to wonder if her lifes' work was in fact a threat to humanity.


September 16 2159 -
With surprisingly little fanfare, the twin ships now forming Exploratory Corps 01 departed UNEC Shipyard 01. Constrained excitement was felt amidst optimistic observers, but updated modeling from some of the most respected scientists of the Union had downgraded the chance of a G2-V type star like Sol having the necessary characteristics to form these bridges, and had even recommended scrapping the mission for the foreseeable future due to cost-versus-benefit concerns. With Sorium and starship fuel both low, these vast trans-Jovian survey missions were both so far and sparse that allegedly they could not be reasonably justified with the new figures.

Original estimates had originally said there were between zero and thirty points outside the orbit of Jupiter where a transit point could be and this was not likely to have changed, but now the odds of there being even one valid bridge were factored to almost zero. In spite of these adjusted, last-minute figures, Administrator Zimmermann elected to maintain the course, much to the chagrin of those surrounding him who feared what such an exploration may bring.

Fortunately for those unaware of the dissent, the Kastrup class had a range over double that of any operational vessel save for the Outreach tankers, and could therefore reach all thirty potential transit points, including the outer eleven which had long been outside Humanities easy reach. With weeks to go til his next election, Zimmermann begged whatever passed for a God for the new ships to find something -ANYTHING, that would validate his expenditures on these ships and the science behind them. Silently surrounding him, Administrators and scientists alike prayed to whatever idols they could fetch that something -ANYTHING, would prevent either of the sister ships from completing their nascent mission.

Amidst the prayers and curses, Exploration Corps 01 began the many-month journey to its' first survey location.



Election candidates!

Candidate 1 - The miserable Manninen

Tophi Manninen is a man well known and in fact solely known for his pessimism. Originally of a sullen and quiet disposition, he has recently been recruited to the dissenting group of leaders known for wanting to keep humanity within the influence of Sol alone. The Restraint faction had influenced Tophi early on in its' gestation, and he was now firmly of the mind that the greater universe would have to wait until well after the Solar system was fully developed, and such exploration and expansion was made fully necessary.

Candidate 2 - The up-and-coming Reyna

A newcomer to Union politics, Administrator Jacob Reyna had been diligently watching Outpost Reinmuth in the asteroid belt for years. Invited as a touring Administrator to address a function in early '54, Jacob had accidentally impressed the newly-reformed cabinet with his long service history, diligence, and focus. While rubbing shoulders with the newly-installed elite, Reyna had stolen not only a pocket full of snacks during the long function but the hearts of the electors who now discussed his installation. With few opinions regarding extra-solar expansion, likely a Reynan Administration would continue the search for new systems whilst not scaling the search further once discovered, content with what has already been achieved

Candidate 3 - The incumbent Zimmermann

Well known advocate Markus Zimmermann had seen the entirety of human space colonization to this point and was eager beyond measure to see it reach its' next stage under his leadership. Having succeeded in revamping the electoral system towards equality, his next and only goal is to see humans expand as far as possible through an empty cosmos. Though age, atrophy and a recent minor stroke have taken his ability to walk unassisted he still wishes to guide mankind further into the future, and the recently deceased still living former Administrator Tereshchenko was testament to determination being a far greater force than disability.

Candidate 4 - The extrovert Hernan

Arnaldo Hernan is a newcomer to politics - Intensely friendly whilst maintaining a level of methodical professionalism. Hernan had failed in his election attempt in his homeland yet had managed to secure candidacy for the entire Union through sheer force of personality. Popular amidst European electors and those in South America, his thick accent and well-spoken words are quick to soften those who oppose him. Welcoming positive change and with a true scientists mind, Hernan embraces the Second Space Age, and firmly believes that should FTL travel be in reach of humanity it is the duty of the Union to embrace it.

Candidate 5 - Luis Brandao

Luis was a French academic student who quickly became aware of his distaste of humanity. Starting as an urge to get away from urban centers, Luis became increasingly malcontent with the notion of being near anyone at all. It was Luis' dream job then when an Administrator vacancy opened up at Comas Sola Outpost; a listening station in one of the farthest corners of the colonized solar system. Whereas most would consider him the antithesis of an ideal politician, his exposure to the Restraint faction and their ideals while so isolated had a profound effect on him, and ever since he had endeavored to put aside his distaste for people and gain political power to prevent humanity from spreading at all

A politically-inclined psychopath. Elora Wolfenfield. There's not really much to say other than who in their right mind would vote for her?

After such a fate tempting description I obviously had to vote for her.

Though I am mildly annoyed that the greatest candidate has been cruelly denied a chance to stand, win and then blindly lead the GUNs to yet more glory. Consider this a write in vote for Tereshchenko, the candidate they literally cannot kill.

I had to cut out a good chunk of post. It'll be unedited from Febuary 14 2135. Sorry this chapter took so long! Originally I was delayed by an error that forced me to replay and rewrite, then current events made a post themed around subjugating Ukraine feel a little...off.

With three votes (two for Tereshchenko, one for Spada), our dear lich shall usher in his new dark age. If he dies mid-decade, Spada will take over.

January 13 2130 -
Alik Tereshchenko stood grinning amidst the clutter and dust of Outpost Herculina. Having announced his victory, Union electors had voted overwhelmingly in favor of his appointment to Administrator. With his team already on-site on Earth, he would soon give his speech to the Union to reconfirm the priorities of his administration. Knowing full-well that the broadcast would be received and dissected by all nations of Earth, declaration of a full-scale military reshuffle would be poorly received at best, and wildly threatening at worst. At over eighty however he had to act fast to achieve his goal of liberating homeland within his lifetime - it would be necessary to rectify military deficits as soon as possible.

His address would therefore consist of a carrot and a stick. On the one hand, he would take a page out of candidate Spadas' playbook and liberalize independent colonial ventures. Granting this decades-long request would ensure he was not considered particularly totalitarian, while potentially securing the Union a new source of capital and mining goods. On the other, his empowerment of the Union military would ensure terrestrial stability for the Union, despite long-rising global tensions. Commentators across the globe would note that during its' existence the GUN like the defunct EU had never needed a true standing army - Member states under the Union had long held universal articles of defense, and creation of a standing army could only signify intent of military adventurism.

Using the two to offset one another, deposed Ukrainian president-turned-Administrator Alik Tereshchenko hoped his arguments of balance would ensure that the Romania-Ukraine regime would not receive assistance over his tenure. With only a few non-Union states supporting it, direct GUN intervention could come by decades end if only they could prepare properly.


Hundreds of millions of kilometers away, Premier Sergiu Mihalcea saw the threat, and arranged for immediate re-militarization of the state-run economy. The people of Romania-Ukraine had duly rejected the Grand Unions' tyranny, and left through force. The insipid peace corps of the Union had withdrawn decades prior, allowing the people of the combined state to determine their own fate outside extranational jurisdiction. The old puppet Tereshchenko still acted on behalf of globalists and not his homeland, and finally was being used as a pawn to 'liberate' the free states. Premier Mihalcea would not have it, and neither would his people.


Our beloved GUN, a summary;


The treacherous dual-republic of Romania-Ukraine, a summary;



January 17 2132 -
Alik Tereshchenko had settled in well to his new life as Administrator. With tensions continuing as a result of his desire to rebel-held regions in Eastern Europe, he considered himself quite lucky to be out of the share market. Every press release he made sent the market to a tumble or frenzy, and every move he made was carefully dissected by a legion of would-be political experts. A thousand people coming up with two thousand motives for his actions was both humorous and wildly irritating. Knowing full-well that this would agitate both the tyrant of his homeland and the gawking masses, Administrator Tereshchenko released the news that several new ground force infantry prototypes had finished development, and would soon be trained within the facilities that had until recently been training Union peacekeepers.


As expected, the politically-minded went immediately to a state of furor. Unexpectedly, global share markets rose. Apparently, the commercially-minded had adjusted their appetite on  conventional and poorly-equipped peacekeepers, and revitalizing the military with 'Union Guards' evidently reduced the risk on market investments. Alik requested market data be sent to him in real time for the next fortnight, in order to gauge the enduring financial reaction. No need to request political updates, as they were far more intrusive and seeped in regardless of how hard he tried to ignore them.



January 18 2132 -
Enraged, Premier Mihalcea responded to this new military transgression with releases of his own. The numerous 'Infantrie Brigada' of the Peoples Republic would be bolstered. Doubled, even. Though securing nuclear arms from his nations supporters had proven impossible thus far, requests were made to every supportive non-Union nation for conventional and trans-Newtonian armament. It appeared the imperialistic Union would not allow the people of Eastern Europe any respite. Additionally ordering the establishment of several vehicular divisions to counter the Unions' aggressive weapons development, the Premier would not allow a mote of Union control over his homeland.

October 21 2132 -
Amidst fanfare, a representative of the Tereshchenko government attended the Unions' first guard graduation ceremony. Recently refitted, the brigade was smaller than anticipated, containing a modest fifteen hundred dedicated men and women, and their supporting vehicles. By dawn the day after, the grounds would be cleared for the induction of the next cohort, with several armored vehicle companies to follow afterwards. With sanctions mounting on the growing Eastern Bloc powers and with international tensions on the rise after Administrator Tereshchenko's military readjustments, few if any doubted those incoming cadets would not see action.

Thousands of miles away, Administrator Alik attended a ceremony celebrating the opening of the first non-union mining colony. Though he could not see them jostling, a dozen foreign leaders were held at bay by his security as they approached, each attempting to flatter him with flowery words and insubstantial platitudes in hopes of softening him up to granting further solar mineral rights.

Members in attendance noted to themselves the significance of the dual-ceremonies. Here, Tereshchenko himself continued to attempt appeasing Union and Non-Union nations alike with promises of continued peace and cooperation. In parallel however, were several thousand graduating military personnel, each swearing to defend the Union against the very nations that Tereshchenko was attempting to ingratiate. Circling above it all, ships of the UNSC continued monitoring the situation in ever greater numbers. Working only amidst their own naval hierarchy, the aging yet well-armed ships were poised to strike with just a moments notice, should the need ever arise.



November 20 2132 -
Roaring to life amidst a spectacle, the twenty brand-new vehicles of the 'Ninth Vehicular Company' began maneuvering before a small crowd of delegates. Though technically the first of its' kind, an old misinformation strategy was employed to infer a larger force number. With four supply-laden helicopters performing deft aerial acrobatics above, the sight was a well-choreographed if poorly-attended spectacle. Showcasing far more advanced equipment than the recent graduate ceremony and with no families present, the ceremony was over in short order before the next cohort of trainees began activity less than twenty-four hours later.

Not fooled by the spectacle, Premier Mihalcea dismissed the events as more sabre-rattling, to boost GUN morale. The troops of his free nation were more numerous than all the Union combined, and were not spread out worldwide on alleged 'Peace-keeping' operations.  Against the new Union vehicles would be the well-armored Main-line tanks, produced by the dozen in central Romania. With vehicles more numerous and better armored, the Union wouldn't stand a chance if they tried to bring Romania-Ukraine back in to compliance.

September 03 2133 -
After three years of fostering small independent Solar ventures, Administrator Alik virtually officiated the opening of a Canadian-run mining colony. Having dozens of 'control' stations throughout the solar system, the Canadian government had been granted first-of-its-kind mineral rights to Comas Sola. Now the largest non-union colony in the Solar System, the mining facilities on the distant comet would generate almost two-thousand tonnes of valuable material per annum. Using private contractors, the materials would be shipped to Earth at Canadian discretion  - the single largest concession yet granted to a single nation. Though hardliners rejected any notion of extra-national or private commercial development, Tereshchenko recognized that seeming pliant and cooperative undermined arguments coming out of the burgeoning Eastern Bloc and freed Union-directed industry to produce and deliver more valuable forms of infrastructure.



October 07 2134 -
Quite early on a Thursday morning, Tereshchenko was doing two things. Firstly, he was being read reports of the completion of a massive mining district in New Caledonia, and secondly he was learning of the release of a new cohort of mobile artillery platforms. Several years in the making, he was somewhat elated to hear a recording of their celebratory first firings. Alik was known for his fierce appetite for risk, but he wondered if he would even need to risk utilizing the platforms - the news was that the Bloc was in dire financial straits, and would either become unable to grow their military, or collapse entirely. With a history of unstable Eastern-European coalitions, the feedback was positive for the Union. Signing off on the new postings for the artillery pieces, Tereshchenko reaffirmed five more companies of them and permitted a recently-commissioned research lab to join Doctor Hei's work in power and propulsion.



December 25 2134 -
Christmas day 2134 across the world saw two things:
First, the delivery of presents across the globe. Despite the downward trend of most organised religions during the 21st century, Christmas maintained its' longstanding tradition of a unifying period of goodwill. Secondly and in stark defiance of that goodwill, the troops of Romania-Ukraine preempted Union aggression, and began an overwhelming assault to the surprise of pundits and strategists alike. Blocked by heavy snowfall and with the Northern plains bogged by substantial melt and runoff, Ukraine was well-defended from the North, while the West were almost impassable, and bristling with fortified infantry and artillery.

In response to Tereshchenkos' warmongering, and in recognition that the Union appeared to be in some sort of waiting game for the Bloc to crack, Premier Mihalcea had used the security-lax festive period to bring war to Union forces across Eastern Europe.

PRRU
Moving to capture agrarian Moldova from the North and East, Ukrainian forces came across little resistance and saw surrender in less than a day. Pictures of the disheveled Moldovan president signing the peace accord in bloodied casual wear would circulate the world by days end, and would generate great unrest despite arguments of the signing being invalid, made under duress. Concurrently, mobile divisions stationed in Southern Romania began a rapid transit over the Danube, taking the only border bridge. With the now-poorly-named Friendship Bridge under Romanian control and with few-if-any passable ways to attack the aggressor states, independent forces began movement towards Bulgaria, and afterwards the crucial waterway bisecting Turkey.

GUN
[Edited out some sections like the one here, because writing about towns being levelled and sieged while they're now actually being bombarded and sieged seems shoddy]

At the behest of Admiral Tsukamoto Montaro, the UNSC began requesting targets from the ground-based OTS spotters. The twenty warships of the UNSC struggled to find isolated targets to strike without hitting city centers themselves. With consideration for the citizens beneath, the Union would not burden itself with a twenty-second century repeat of the bombing of Dresden. Determining not to raise dangerous and radioactive dust from their exotic weaponry, they would wait until the situation beneath was either improved or desperate enough to warrant such actions.


This is where I found out the OTS spotters have light personal weapons rather than FFD. I believe this must have happened when I redesigned them in a rush after errors forced a reload. On a quick test, indiscriminate barrages caused a civilian:combatant casualty ratio of about 12000:1, so the now-useless UNSC will be sitting this one out until a small group of newly-designed spotters are recruited.

Tereshchenko, formerly convinced of Serbian support, was stunned to discover the borders would be closed to Union personnel. Determining that maintaining neutrality would best protect Serbia, the only relatively-undefended path towards Romania would remain closed to GUN and PRRU both. Beginning a far-harder journey, the recently-stationed Union Guard Brigades began their 1055km transit to the Sofian battleground. There the battle would be quickly joined.


On a near-universal day of rest for billions across the world, boiling tensions had resulted in the deaths of over twenty-five thousand people. Men women and children who had been celebrating the end of an uneventful year at morning were now bloodied or dead at evening, presents unopened and the wrecks of their homes and livelihoods now scarring the unexpected battlefield.



December 26 2034 -

[Another cut section. Damn Russians]

With the death toll mounting and the holiday season brought to an horrific end, Tereshchenko signed for immediate refurbishment and expansion of Union ground force training facilities. Though it wouldn't be operational until late 2136, there was not one mote of dissent regarding this priority despite its' immense economic disruption.

In a wide belt from Debresen to Burgas, scenes native to any war began to appear. With roads clogged with newly-created refugees and with the death toll rising by thousands an hour, there were few within the Union that were not either transfixed to hourly news broadcasts, or discussing the worst political and humanitarian crisis in over a century.



December 27 2134 -
From his seat of power in Kyiv, Premier Mihalcea viewed the progress of his invasion. In defeating Union forces in Europe, he would be able to secure his nation against the ousted Tereshchenko and his imperialist ilk. Long dreamt by his party, proving secession from the Union was possible by force would strike a hard blow against the GUN - similar to the secession of the United States from Britain several centuries earlier. Like the old British Empire, the lingering implicit threat of violence would ensure that the Union provided its' remaining members with a path to peaceful independence.

If only his countrymen didn't have to shed blood to make them see that.

Shocked by the Boxing Day massacres in Chișinău, Mihalcea ordered a single-days grace for the residents of Moldova. After collecting and disposing of the dead, Premier Mihalcea instructed non-combatants to leave the city, and head through a new humanitarian corridor to Poland. Though the trek to Poland in wintertime would be harsh, it would prevent further 'misunderstandings' with newly-appointed Ukrainian law enforcement.


[Another cut section]


December 28 2134
With Union troops in withdrawal from Sofia to nearby Pernik, and with heavy street fighting across the Bulgarian capital, PRRU Mitralors' began moving to position. Similar to the suppression of protestors in Chișinău, violent crackdowns on the civilian population broke most of the unprepared civilian resistance. With fighting at a temporary standstill in Hungary and Bulgaria, Tereschchenko's goal of a direct invasion of Kiev was in peril. Instead of moving South as expected, the vehicular divisions focused instead on encircling Sofia, seeming instead to protect the city from counterattack. With most of the Bulgarian cabinet missing or dead, it appeared that the mostly-Romanian brigades were hunting for leadership to secure a peace treaty.

From behind a wall, Mayór Petar Savu addressed the mounds of sandbags and wire fortifying the Largo, home to the Bulgarian administration. Nestled within its' many layers were the local citizenry - stubborn defenders that were preventing him from securing a Bulgarian peace. Forbidden from razing the complex to the ground and without a Bulgarian translator, his crude gesturing was insufficient to move them. Estimating them to have little in the way of food or supplies, a small-scale siege of the administrative center would suffice. With Savu's own fortifications beginning to take shape surrounding the center square and adjacent streets, if the President or her cabinet had survived thus far, they and their guards would soon be forced out.



December 29 2134
Though global-scale conflict had not at this point broken out, targeted terrorist attacks on GUN assets globally had increased in the preceding twenty-four hours. Making global news, an entire shift of several thousand Venderite miners were killed in Brazil when dissenting locals stormed the unguarded civilian complex. Looting what they could, charges were placed to collapse the deep shafts and destroy the complex entirely. The valuable complex was destroyed in less than twenty minutes, by rainforest conservation extremists that had found themselves long-ignored.

In secret, Administrator Tereshchenko had discussed former Administrator Koziol's fate. Though he had disgraced his office, all his actions thus-far had been solely to safeguard against this exact eventuality. Vindicated, Koziol would be pardoned and his house arrest withdrawn. With this news instantly leaking towards Zimmermann and his sympathizers, an inflammatory Lunar request to explain was received and rejected by Tereshchenko. Though discussions regarding the possibility of a Lunar rebellion had begun, there was simply no way for the colony to survive on its' own, and such an event was presently the least of the Administrators' concern.


[I deleted the rest of the post related to the war, because it was mostly focused on levelling Kyiv, Odessa, Mariupol, and settlements downstream of Kyiv all the way to the mouth of the Dneiper, half for story and half to explain the inexplicably high civilian death toll]



Febuary 14 2135 -

As agreed, the Christmas-Day war came to end at midnight, Valentines Day 2135. Signing upon the peace two days earlier was the bruised Premier Mihalcea, forced to sign a peace under similar circumstances to the Moldovan president eight weeks earlier. Despite its' estimated 3.6 billion dollar weekly damage bill, the war had calmed in its latest days. Cut off from fuel and ammunition, the stalling of the PRRU's main offensive had proven catastrophic and prevented damage to the extent seen in the first phase of the war.

The Valentines Armistice of 2135 would not see the PRRU rejoin the Grand Union of Nations. Over the course of three months the conjoined territories of Ukraine and Romania would be forcibly separated from one another, democratic governments reinstated, and both nation states would rejoin the Union as member states. Knowing that his homeland was again returned from nationalistic extremists, Tereshchenko determined that he would step down at decades-end to retire in his hometown, Odessa.

With peace signed, it would only be a matter of time before other entities within the GUN and without sought to violently force development of their own interests, and Administrator Tereshchenko endeavored to find likeminded people to address the security deficits that had allowed the PRRU the confidence to openly attack the Union, and initially overwhelm Union defenses.


Records of casualties over almost 8 weeks. Total GUN losses: 20676. Total PRRU losses: 25124. Total civilian losses: 312000.




March 16 2135 -
Addressing the Hall of Representatives were three men of great power. Administrator Alik Tereshchenko, Admiral Tsukamoto Montaro, and General Boris Heckel represented the highest ranking members of the administration, navy, and army. The three were to convince the Union at large that the best course would be a substantial expansion of the Unions' army and navy. Former Union leaders had assumed compliance of extra-national and extraterrestrial governments. Despite Lunar Administrator Zimmermann's protests, so far Union relations had been largely been peaceful. Independent attacks on Union assets in addition to the recent outright European war had shown that compliance had to be assured - through overwhelming military capability.


Following the full adoption of the Romanian and Ukranian peace treaties and with rebuilding efforts in Eastern Europe fully underway, the Union was losing in excess of a third of a billion dollars a month. It would be necessary to rectify this, and then immediately adopt the first true Union standing army, with additional developments in transporting these troops to the colonies. Increasing military strength and power projection outside the domains of Earth would ensure that the imprisoned war criminal Mihalcea was the last to threaten the goals of humanity and the Union.



November 13 2136 -
Attending the graduation ceremony in person, General Heckel watched the newest expansion of the Union military with great interest. The First Union Defence group was comprised of eight demountable surface-to-orbit railgun sites, alongside some eight hundred infantry and two dozen spotters and mobile artillery to protect them. Spreading several dozen of these sites around the globe would ensure no nation would be able to maintain local space superiority in future, as well as enforce Union presence on nearly every corner of the Earth.

With a planned two hundred thousand military personnel being trained by the end of the century, the Union would soon have a standing army comparable in size and greater in strength than even its' largest member states. With few updates to make regarding ship-based troop transportation, this ceremony was the best military update General Heckel would see for a good while yet.

Settled after the initial ceremony and knowing full well that this first group would be one of dozens, Heckel enjoyed his light refreshments - It was quite warm for the season, and the day would be quite long indeed.



March 14 2138 -
At his colleagues request, the far-away Admiral Montaro made plans to meet with Administrator Tereshchenko. Updates from the Union research divisions assured Tereshchenko that new micro-reactors would soon be available for the long-awaited 500 tonne escort ships. Delayed for years by environmental activists and nuclear safety concerns, arguments for ship-mountable nuclear reactors on surface-capable ships had finally won, and a prototype was almost ready.

Estimating the final adjustments would be finalized between April and June 2140, the first ships would begin construction within thirty months. Agreeing that the new 'Montaro'-class escort ships would suffice for extra-planetary protection, there would be a decline in production of the the far larger 'Nelson' class, with the signing of production contracts to fall for the first time in history.



Febuary 14 2139 -
Four years on from the Valentines Armistice and its' associated treaties, the Premier of Ukraine and the President of Romania gave a dual address to the Hall of Representatives. The post-war period had seen a great economic boon, with the books of the Union balanced to deliver a small monthly surplus, and damage from the Christmas war now considered almost entirely rectified. Scars still existed in riparian zones adjacent to the Dneiper river, but the deepest craters had become welcome wetland habitat, and were considered acceptable reminders of the war. Hearing this speech of peace and reconciliation were non-member states, all believing that these subjugated nations were no longer acting upon their own interest and were opinion-less protectorates, nothing more.

Expansion of the armies had been ongoing, and there were now a half-dozen new military bases; one in each continent and with more being trained. The free nations of Earth were growing stifled while adjacent to what they each believed to be an Empire in all but name. Above it all, the shipyards of the UNSC were churning out warships, while renovation of the sites that used to construct and launch the Lloyd-class geosurvey launch platforms would see them soon launching multitudes of warships allegedly to "Protect Union Shipping". Without access to the materials or sciences the Union had, these conventional nations could do little but watch the disparity between the GUN and themselves grow with increasing contempt.



The Electors of the Union had another year to decide who would steer the Union for the next decade, and there were several candidates considered likely to take the position. After such a dramatic decade, there was no shortage of candidates taking up a multitude of positions and offering to solve a plethora of problems they considered of utmost importance.

Remember you're an elector! The poll should be on top of the page from posting til I start next decade.


1. Markus Zimmermann.
The first was as always, Markus Zimmermann. One of the first Union Administrators, Zimmermann had spent decades addressing the need for a Lunar and Martian voting presence within the Hall of Representatives. Alongside campaigns for extraterrestrial rights, he had a longstanding reputation of being a competent if contrarian leader. Attracting the votes of the farthest-left electors, Zimmermann had either continued either drive the Union to be its' best, or sat stubbornly as a thorn in its' side - Depending on who you asked.



The arguments against him ranged from that suffraging less than a hundred thousand colonists would effectively disenfranchise billions of Earth-dwellers by diluting their voting rights - as well as that he was an extremist, a weak-stomached vegetarian and quite possibly a communist, though the latter allegation was yet unproven.



2. Donna Spada.
Appealing to the more moderate-left electors was Donna Spada making her second election appearance. Ever charismatic, Mrs. Spada had endeared herself during the Christmas war by leading relief efforts and charity drives. Passionate and friendly, she advocated for a trend towards keeping military strength and international cooperation high, while setting groundwork for eventual extraterrestrial rights without prematurely granting elector status. Ever known for her cheery and flexible nature, Donna Spada was considered a genuinely cooperative leader, moreso than any of the other candidates.



Detractors considered her to be an inexperienced and ineffective leader - Having not acted as an administrator for Earth or its' growing list of colonies, it would be difficult to gauge her effectiveness on the job. Against this argument was that she mirrored Evie Lloyd in passion and starting experience. With tiredness of the Unions' established path growing, Administrator Spada's open-mindedness would make peace a likely possibility.


3. Topi Manninen.
Having gone viral online for looking perpetually miserable, the Finnish candidate Topi Manninen had secured Nordic support of his current campaign following his tenure at Parliament House in Helsinki. The internet had become enamoured by his gloomy and depressing personality and looks - much like was common for grumpy or sad-looking cats during the 21st century. Though former Minister Manninen had enjoyed his time as a Finnish minister, he had never understood the internets' obsession with him and stereotypical of most Finns largely desired a life of service out of the spotlight.



Campaigning for modest yet effective Union expenditure, most centerists considered Mister Manninen to be an ideal and proven if mundane leader. The internet had already began trending petitions regarding the miser becoming Administrator of Earth, with his endearing similarity to Eeyore continued to bolster his otherwise inexplicable popularity.


4. Christopher Gardiner.
Having moved towards a slight nationalistic tendency over the last decade, Gardiner was the the third of three repeat candidates and the only of the three to have formerly been an Administrator of Earth. Manning the Aten deep space tracking station, Gardiner had watched the war from afar and determined that the best way to continue peace was through increasing Union strength. Unknowingly Gardiner had become an ideological clone of Tereshchenko, and attracted the same voter base that had seen the outgoing Administrator elected in the first place.



Popular during his tenure in the 20's, his existing supporters would vote for him without much argument, while his detractors discussed whether his previous inaction had caused the conditions leading to the Christmas war.

5. Aja Upadhya.
The candidate most appealing to conservative-leaning electors of the Union was Aja Upadhya. Migrating to the US as an adult, Aja was raised in a somewhat strict, traditional Indian household that saw her valuing both traditional ideology and the delicate environment with equal parts. Having been selected as Administrator of the US-lead civilian mining complex on Halley's Comet, Aja loved nature, tradition, and astronomy to the utmost.



Administrator Upadhya resists the notion of foreign influence and would see the Union not only strengthened militarily, but would go so far as to ensure the colonies of Earth remain just that - colonies, nothing more. Non-union mining colonies would be heavily taxed and Union dominion over international affairs would be paramount. Her strong-armed stance made her an extremely attractive candidate to those who felt Union weakness caused the Christmas war, especially amongst the European nations who had lost so much during the PRRU invasion.





And finally, a farewell to the outbound Tereshchenko, the luckiest (evillest?) leader to grace my gameplay - I've never had someone so old and so injured come back so many times from the dead. I'm starting to think all the error-related reloads are due to him and his magic. I'd RP his retirement ceremony, but honestly the lich probably just crumbled to dust.

Gimme the warmongering Lich please...vote (1) for 'Honest' Alik!

Ask and ye shall receive. This'll be a violent long decade I think. A fun one to RP, by all means though.