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The systems where wormholes were discovered are as follows:
Epsilon Eridani's history has already been discussed. In the same way that the Eridani expanded their sphere of influence, so did the other systems. Also as in the case of the Eridani Republic, because of the advanced technology at their disposal, the 'wormhole endowed' systems were pretty much able to call the shots in their relationships to their near neighbours. Hence several power blocs were formed, with political, social and military structures which were in the main determined by the central power.
Known simply as 'Pegasus' to its inhabitants, this star system lies 43.4 LY from Sol, 'south west' and some way 'above'. At that distance, the Pegasus system was one of the last to be surveyed by robotic probe. It was also one of the jewels of the cosmos, having a planet which was as close to Earthlike as anything else in the colonies. It was also unusual because the original colonists, employing their right to select their own form of government, chose to set up a hereditary monarchy, with an elected House of Representatives acting as a parliament to advise the throne. The resulting government, known as the 'Star Kingdom of Pegasus', has become one of the leading technological and territorial power blocs.
The reasons for this are two fold: Firstly, since the colonists were some of the last to leave Earth, they benefited from the most modern initial industrial base. Secondly, Pegasus was the ideal environment with ample natural resources. Finally, Pegasus system included a wormhole and took advantage of similar Physics and Engineering breakthroughs as a result.
In their expansion, the Kingdom offered its neighbours a choice - either swear loyalty to the crown and become subjects of the kingdom, with full representation in parliament and full access to technology and trading rights, or remain independent but receive no assistance or involvement with the kingdom. Most of their neighbours choose the former. Some because their leaders quite fancied being Dukes and other 'nobility' of the realm. Others because they knew it made inescapable economic sense. Some choose out of fear.
One way or the other, the Star Kingdom of Pegasus is now a large collection of planets owing allegiance to the Royal House of Cavendish. The Kingdom is technologically advanced and economically integrated, although there are continual problems with guerrilla and/or separatist movements on several worlds. These keep the Royal Armed Forces in practice, making them the overall best combination of equipment, personnel and experience to be found amongst the colonies.
And, to be fair, by comparison with other monarchies through history, the House of Cavendish have managed to maintain a fair, effective leadership
The Wolf 424 system lies 14.1 LY from Sol, almost due 'west' and 'level'. As their wormdrive ships explored the sphere of space, their leaders choose a dictatorial approach to dealing with their neighbours. They coerced or directly conquered nearly 2 dozen worlds in a short period of time, and were well established as a military dictatorship. All this changed, however, when they tried to subdue the Centaurs.
The Alpha Centauri system, being closest to Sol, is one of the longest established colonies, and having several closely Earthlike planets was heavily colonise by several vessels. With a high initial population, and having had the longest time to expand economically (even though without the benefit of a local wormhole to study), the Centaurs were significantly stronger than anything of the other systems the Wolves had encountered. When the Centaurs were contacted by emissaries from Wolf, something unique in history happened. The Centauri were strong enough economically to rapidly and covertly develop wormhole based technologies, and then to compete with the Wolves as opposed to 'knuckling under'. What followed was the only full scale interstellar war in human history, with enormous casualties, mostly on the Wolf side.
Initially the war went well for the Wolves, with most direct encounters ending in victory for them mostly be extent of their superior technology. As a result they became complacent, and settled on a siege approach to the Centaur system. They refrained from direct planetary assault because of the cost, and the difficulty of supporting such an operation. They also refrained from full scale orbital bombardment, hoping to eventually capture the system substantially intact in economic terms. This strategy was to cost them dear.
The war ended after a small Centauri attack fleet outflanked the Wolf forces and reached the other end of the Wolf system wormhole. Thinking the Centaurs contained, and overconfident and complacent, the Wolves had only token forces guarding the wormhole and their home system. The Centaur fleet slipped through the natural wormhole into the Wolf system, and unlike the Wolves the Centaurs exhibited no restraint, this was after all their only chance for freedom and victory. 2 hours and 48 fusion bombs later, the Wolves were all but extinct.
What should have followed was the liberation of the Wolf regimes subject worlds, but events were to take a cruel turn. The war had resulted in a great rise in prominence for the Centaur military. Their military leaders enjoyed the new found power that resulted and had no intention of losing it in the face of peace. And so, not long after fighting off the Wolf Tyranny, the Centaur people were once again under a dictatorship - but this time of their own Generals and Admirals as a military coup removed the legitimate government. The junta immediately consolidated their position by reconquering all the worlds which had originally been Wolf subjects. In effect the Centaurs 'inherited' the Wolf Dictatorship.
As a result, the Centaur Federation is a no holds barred, 'in your face' military dictatorship, economically powerful and reasonably technologically advanced. Their strategic intentions are to continue to expand, not because they need to, but because they want to. Although Centaur culture has a superiority complex, their government recognises that the other power blocks, most notably the Republic and the Star Kingdom, would not permit continued expansion by conquest (and several minor conflicts have since proved the point). As a result, they have embarked on a long term strategy of 'softly softly catchy monkey'. They employ overt tactics of foreign aid in an attempt to win friends amongst the independents, drawing them closer in, whilst employing discretely employed mercenary units to foster unrest. So far, this tactic has been used to 'acquire' another client state by causing guerrilla warfare, and supplying extensive funding, arms, and a mercenary training cadre and strike force to beef up the insurgents until the government in question was in real danger of toppling. Federation troops were then 'requested' to assist by several high ranking government officials. The mercenary forces and other assistance were withdrawn and using 'inside knowledge' the Federation was able to restore order almost immediately.
The Centaur Federation continues to probe at its borders, whilst the other power blocs look on nervously.
This system was named 'Troy' by its initial inhabitants. It is 12.45 LY from Sol, 'south west' and slightly 'above'. When they expanded and contacted the nearby colonies they made no attempt to coerce them into a subordinate position, but instead insisted on preferential trading rights in return for the transfer of advanced technology. Military spending was kept to a minimum, with enough capability to deter any would be aggressor, although incapable of launching any offensive operations. As a result, the worlds involved developed rapidly, to the extent that they now have a seamlessly integrated production base, making them the most cohesive and powerful economy in the present day market place.
This relationship was formalised, shortly after the end of the First Interstellar War, by way of a response to the threat of continued Centaur expansion. The collective government is know as the '9 Star Combine', as there were 9 original members.
Whilst having no territorial goals, the Combine is incredibly aggressive in economic terms. Several of the most powerful corporations are based in combine space, and are always hard at work developing and exploiting new markets, particularly amongst the Independents.
Like the Swiss of Old Earth, the Combine has maintained strict neutrality. It maintains a small but highly effective defence force. It has the wealth to employ high quality mercenary forces to protect its interests outside its own borders.
The system referred to as 'Eden' by its colonists is 44.65 LY from Sol, 'north east' and well 'below'. It is a beautiful world, although not particularly Earthlike, and colonised relatively late on.
After discovering wormdrive technology, they contacted their neighbours. However the Government on Eden had no clear consensus on what sort of relationship to build when contact was made. With no clear policy, a loose connection of alliances built up between them and their neighbours. There were occasional minor conflicts, and cultural differences but by and large the direction of movement was been positive, with economic ties slowly growing. This loose alliance was originally referred to as the 'Eden Cluster'
When the Centaur / Wolf conflict raged, this provided the incentive to spur the Cluster into closer and more organised ties. This alliance declared itself to be the 'United Democratic Planets', and treaties exist which provide for mutual defence, with member states regularly exercising their forces together.
The UDP continues to attempt to integrate itself economically and militarily, nevertheless old divisions and petty jealousies sometime delay these efforts.
29.45 LY from Sol, to the 'south west' and slightly 'below', lies this system, named 'Liberty' by its inhabitants. In their steady expansion, the 'Free Worlds Collective' as it is known, has gradually absorbed numerous worlds before coming up against the edge of the Centaur Federation and the Star Kingdom of Pegasus. Their history has been one of steady but minor conflict, absorbing independent worlds.
The society is nominally communist, but like so many regimes in history 'some are more equal than others'. The state is intrusive into the every day lives of its citizens, and has a dubious human rights record
Corruption is widespread amongst government and military officials. The Collective has suffered from years of economic failure and financing its large, sprawling military. The military itself, while numerous, is not very capable, being handicapped by an unwillingness to delegate authority to subordinate. Most of its victories have been because of strength of numbers and a technological edge over the independents it has consumed. In comparison with the other major power blocs, its technology is lagging further and further behind.
Experts generally agree that the Collective's economy is on the verge of collapse, only continued expansion can provide the necessary spoils to prevent it.
Find out who else is out there in the epilogue.