NationStates Jolt Archive

http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii375/wulfhelm/WulfhelmMap.jpg

Background:

The Wulfhelm Star Empire (http://www.nationstates.net/wulfhelm) was originally colonized by humans on accident - the UES Wulfhelm (from which the planet and star were named) and other colony vessels made an "anomalous hyperspatial transition event" during their jump to Epsilon Eridani and wound up near a habitable star system 7,233 light years away. The Wulfhelm Star Empire currently claims a region of space within a 100 light-year radius from the system Wulfhelm and encompassing several thousand star systems, which are physically marked through the use of claim marker beacons, outposts or settlements. Most of these are uninhabited, however, with the WSE's number of settled planets totaling just 38 across 29 star systems.

Location: NGC 1245 (http://www.allthesky.com/clusters/n1245.html), in the Wulfhelm System and neighboring colony stars.


Area:

total:
land (Wulfhelm only): 87,301,513 sq km
water:

People

Population: 12,490,000,000

Age Structure:
0-14 years: 13.8%
15-64 years: 63.2%
65 years and over: 23%

Nationality:
noun: Wulfhelmian
adjective: Wulfhelmian

Ethnic Groups: White 67%, Hispanic 21%, Asian 10%, Other 2%

Religions: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 3.5%, unaffiliated or other 38.5%

Languages: Anglic (English)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2503 est.)

Government of Wulfhelm

Country Name:
conventional long form: Wulfhelm Star Empire
conventional short form: Wulfhelm
former: Free City Republic, Wulfhelm Republic, Wulfhelm Transitional Authority

Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy

Capital: Tiros, Wulfhelm

Administrative Divisions: 82 Regions; Abre Campo, Allenhurst, Alpercata, Ashland, Aureliano, Aurora, Barlow, Barren Rock, Beltran, Bethany Falls, Bowie, Caiana, Chan, Clarksville, Colcord, Colfax, Conning, Coral, Daymore, Delmark, Derbe, Eagle, East Unity, Eastway Park,Elk City, Eugenopolis, Fairview, Fernando Islands, Fletcher, Franklin, Friedland, Frontenac, Galentown, Greater Jackson, Greater Marion, Greater New Gihon, Greater Rankin, Greater Riverside, Hayes, Jacinto, Kirkberg Green, Lancaster Valley, Lyndstead, Manchester, Millersburg, Millvania, Morrisville, Neusteinburg, New Arizona, New Arlington, New Bavaria, New Bismarck, New California, New Dallas, New Lystra, New Red River, New Washington, North Bayshore, North Free City, North Midway, Nova Ponte, Novoaltaysk, Outer New Tokyo, Phillipston, Pickens, Plainfield, Rapture, Republican City, Richview Springs, Santa Luzia, Santana do Deserto, Santo Antonio, Slater-Marietta, South Drake, South Free City, St. Clair & Ashrock, Talone, Tiros, Upper Beltran, Watervale, West Oaks, Winters

National Holiday: Planetfall Day, March 10 (2144)

Constitution: April 7 2144

Legal System: civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch:
chief of state: Emperor James STARKY (since 3 Jan 2501)
head of government: Executor Damion GRAY (since 3 Jan 2505)
cabinet: Executive Council of Department Heads (Secretaries) appointed by the Emperor on the recommendation of the Executor
elections: Executor elected for a 6 year term by a general election, election last held November 30 2504.

State Departments

Department of State (Includes the Office of Foreign Affairs)
Department of the Treasury
Department of Justice
Department of Defense
Department of Colonization - Founded in 2194, regulates the claiming of territory, founding of colonies, immigration
Department of Commerce
Department of Health
Department of Education
Department of Labor

Legislative Branch
bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (164 seats; elected by popular vote under a system combining direct and proportional representation; a party must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain proportional representation and caucus recognition; to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (1246 votes; regional governments are directly represented by votes; each has three to six votes depending on population and are required to vote as a block). The Senate has several exclusive powers not granted to the House, including consenting to treaties as a precondition to their ratification and consenting or confirmation of appointments of Cabinet secretaries. Representatives serve a three-year term. The House is granted its own exclusive powers: the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach officials.
elections:
election results: percentage of vote by party - DNP 35%, someone someone %, etc %.

Judicial Branch: High Court (the Chief Justice and ten Associate Justices, who are nominated by the Exeuctor and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate.)

Political Parties and Leaders: Democratic Nationalist Party or DNP; Techno-Progressive Party or TPP; Libertarian Moderate Party or LMP; Eco-Nationalist Party or ENP; Liberal-Democratic Union or LDU; Socialist Workers Party or SWP; Agrarian Party; Neo-Communist Front or NCF; Wulfhelm National Socialist Party or WNSP.

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders:

International organization participation: None yet.

Flag Description:

Economy

GDP (purchasing power parity): $549 trillion (2508 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 1.3% (2507 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP): $43,961.66 (2507 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 39.1%
services: 60% (2507 est.)

Labor force: 6.59 billion (2507 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 38.4%
services: 58.8%

Unemployment Rate: 4.49%

Budget:
revenues: $57.21 trillion
expenditures: $48.63 trillion (2507 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer prices): 2.3%

Agriculture
- products: potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle, pigs, poultry

Industries: among the largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, carbon, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages, defense technology and textiles.

Electricity
-production: 84,790 billion kWh

Electricity
-consumption: 83,580 billion kWh

Exports: $64.160 trillion f.o.b. (2507 est.)

Exports - commodities: machinery, vehicles, metals and manufactures, defense technology

Exports - partners: (your nation here) (2507)

Imports: $63.551 trillion f.o.b. (2507 est.)

Imports - commodities: machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners: (your nation here)

Currency (code): credit (CR)

Exchange Rates: credits (CR) per US dollar - $1.9526


Utopia Mining Company (UM) - Mining
Polaris Manufacturing Corporation (PM) - Defense Manufacturing
Arcturus Aerospace, Inc (ARA) - Aerospace Industries
Kess Corporation (KES) - Banking
Miller Biotech (MB) - Medical, Biotech
Optical Processor Systems (OPS) - Information Tech
Sutter Ausland Corporation (SAC) - Propulsion Tech
Kirk Sanders & Associates (KSA) - Propulsion Tech

Military of Wulfhelm

Military Branches: Wulfhelm Armed Forces (WAF): Wulfhelm Army (WA), Wulfhelm Space Navy (WSN)

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age (conscripts serve an 18-month tour of compulsory military service)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,853,477,840
females age 16-49: 2,700,543,324 (2508 est.)

Military Expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2501 est.)

Wulfhelm Army (WA)

The Army, with its millions of personnel, is Wulfhelm's garrison and peacekeeping force. Fighting in built-up areas is what's trained for. Artillery and armor have fallen out of fashion, supplanted by both the WSN (with its heavier weapons) and the new low-intensity military or paramilitary roles the WA performs.

There are two main types of ground combat units - heavy (armored/mechanized) and light (infantry). The latter are much more common and will continue to be in the foreseeable future.

Infantry Organization

Fire Team: 4 soldiers (CG-A10 rifleman, CG-A10GL grenadier, CG-B1 fire support typically led by a Corporal or Lance Corporal)
Squad: 3 fire teams, usually led by a corporal or sergeant
Platoon: 3 squads plus a WSN Corpsman, Platoon Sergeant and a Platoon Commander (typically a 2nd or 1st Lieutenant). Weapons Platoons will have a mortar, assault, and medium laser weapon (MPLLW) sections in place of rifle squads.
Company: 3 rifle platoons, a weapons platoon, and support staff. Weapons Companies have instead of rifle platoons a mortar platoon, anti-armor platoon, and a heavy weapon platoon. Typically commanded by a Captain.
Battalion: 3 rifle companies, a weapons company, and a HQ company, commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel.
Regiment: 3 battalions, commanded by a Colonel.
Division: 3 regiments and an artillery regiment, commanded by a Major General.

Wulfhelm Space Navy (WSN)

The WSN receives the bulk of defense spending, with its high-cost capital ships, heavy weapons, and seen as the decisive force by most analysis. From patrolling space, tackling piracy, stopping rebellions and coups, the WSN is the "deciding arm" more often than not historically.

Rates and Ranks

E-1 Crewman Recruit (CR)
E-2 Crewman Apprentice (CA)
E-3 Crewman (CN)
E-4 Petty Officer Third Class (PO3)
E-5 Petty Officer Second Class (PO2)
E-6 Petty Officer First Class (PO1)
E-7 Chief Petty Officer (CPO)
E-8 Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO)
E-9 Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO)
O-1 Ensign (EN)
O-2 Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG)
O-3 Lieutenant (LT)
O-4 Lieutenant Commander (LCDR)
O-5 Commander (CDR)
O-6 Captain (CAPT)
O-7 Commodore (CMD)
O-8 Rear Admiral (RADM)
O-9 Vice Admiral (VADM)
O-10 Admiral (ADM)


Personnel - Commissioned Officers

Officers who are not Line Officers (qualified to command a combat vessel) are either LDOs or Staff Corps. Line Officers are further specialized into Interplanetary Warfare, Interstellar Warfare, Special Operations.

Limited Duty Officer Specialties:

Engineering Technician
Repair Technician
Ordinance Technician
Ship's Clerk
Data Processing Technician
Cryptology Technician
Security Technician

Staff Corps Specialties:

Medical Corps
Nurse Corps
Chaplain Corps
Supply Corps
Civil Engineer Corps
Judge Advocate General Corps

Line Officer Specialties:

Space Warfare Operations
Special Operations

Personnel - Enlisted

As with historical Earth navies, enlisted could have ratings in Administration, Medical, Technical, Weapons:

Culinary Specialist (CS)
Cryptology Technician (CT)
Electronics Technician (ET)
Fire Control Technician (FT)
Gunnery Technician (GT)
Hospital Corpsman (HM)
Intelligence Specialist (IS)
Information Systems Technician (IT)
Legalman (LN)
Master-at-arms (MA)
Missile Technician (MT)
Musician (MU)
Operations Specialist (OS)
Personnel Specialist (PS)
Ship's Serviceman (SH)
Storekeeper (SK)
Yeoman (YN)

in Engineering/Hull (equivalent to wetnavy Deck crew)

Damage Control Technician (DC)
Electrician's Mate (EM)
Engineer Technician (ET)
Hull Maintenance Technician (HT)
Hyperspace Systems Technician (HS)
Interior Communications Technician (IC)
Machinist's Mate (MM)
Machinery Repairman (MR)
Nuclear Systems Technician (NT)

or in Construction:

Builder Technician (BT)
Construction Electrician (CE)
Construction Mechanic (CM)
Engineering Aide (EA)
Equipment Operator (EO)
Utilitiesman (UT)


Ships

In Service

Colcord class Cruiser

http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii375/wulfhelm/auroracity.jpgWSS Aurora City


Name: Colcord class cruiser
Builders: New Kiel Shipyards
Operators: Wulfhelm Star Navy
In service: 10 February 2498 - Present
Type: Cruiser
Mass:
48,830 tons (standard)
65,631 tons (full load)
Length (Overall): 160 m
Beam (Hull): 58 m
Height (Max):53 m
Propulsion:
4 x E-501 Antimatter Torch Drive
1 x Class V Hyperspace Drive
Max Acceleration: 5.36 g
Speed: 1500 c
Range: 150 LY
Complement: 1050 officers and men
Armament:
3 x 21.96 GW Heavy Laser (Dorsal, Starboard and Port)
8 x 650 MW Pulse Laser (Point Defense)
4 x 447 cm Torpedo Tube (Forward Mount)
16 x 447 cm Torpedo



Ossar-class Explorer

Retired

UES Wulfhelm Colony Ship
Scout Model 1
Scout Model 2
Scout Model 3
Hughes-class Destroyer


Sublight Spacecraft

Retired

Type B Shuttlecraft
Type B-F1 Assault Craft
Vivid-series Planetary Defense Vessel
Guardsman-series Planetary Defense Vessel

Wulfhelm Army (WA)
Wulfhelm Federal Police (WFP)

Military Technology


PCS-A Personal Communications System (Radio, Satellite Link)
PCS-B Personal Communications System (Longer-range)
IH-1 Integrated Helmet (HUD and optical interface)
CS-100 Combat Suit - Basic light body armor
CS-101 Combat Suit - CS-100 with NBC protective gear interface
CS-110 Pressurized Combat Suit - Pressurized combat suit and helmet system for use in space and vacuum combat operations
CS-111 Pressurized Combat Suit, Command (CS-120 with modified HUD and Commo)
CG-A02 8mm Coilgun Sniper
CG-A10 6mm Coilgun Rifle
CG-A10GL 6mm Coilgun Rifle with built-in GL
CG-A10FT 6mm Coilgun Rifle with built-in Flamethrower
CG-B1 8mm Coilgun Squad Assault Weapon
Man-Portable Light Laser Weapon (MPLLW)
Man-Portable Multipurpose Missile Launcher (MPMML)
Light Plasma Flame Weapon (LPFW)
CG-C1 20mm Rapid-Fire Coilgun
CG-C2 90mm Rapid-Fire Coilgun
455 MW Laser (95.9 tons, peak frequency 18 THz, 6.25m aperture, 65% efficient)
650 MW Pulse Laser (137 tons, peak 950 THz, 5.5 m aperture, 65% efficient)
2.16 GW Laser (598 tons, peak frequency 910 THz, 3.5m aperture, 54% efficient)
21.96 GW Heavy Laser (5,157 tons, peak frequency 966 THz, 5.7m aperture, 61% efficient)
Vehicle-Mounted Multipurpose Missile Launcher
E-203 Fusion Thermal Rocket (980.6 tons, 980 kN peak thrust, 920 MW power, 1,884,817 m/s ve, 0.52 kg/s flow rate)
E-501 Antimatter Torch Drive (58.84 tons, 58 MN peak thrust, 693 TW, 23,560,215 m/s ve, 2.5 kg/s flow rate )
GX Mark 1 Mod 3 Gravity Thruster (4800 tons, 82 MN peak thrust)
GX Mark 2 Gravity Thruster (3200 tons, 120 MN peak thrust)

A Brief History of Wulfhelm (2144–2519 CE)

Pre-Colonial Era (Before 2144)

The starship UES Wulfhelm was the largest of a fleet of colony vessels from Earth, each massing ten million tons. United Enterprise Systems (UES) was an early interstellar age megacorporation taking advantage of the first waves of extrasolar colonization which would mark the beginning of the heavy Terran expansion into the universe.

By that time Earth civilizations – and their nations numbered from as few as one to untold hundreds (depending on which records are true) – were fairly advanced: Practical laser weaponry, fusion power plants, magnetic confinement fusion engines and advanced alloys.

The goal of the UES was to get an edge in the interplanetary age market with a foothold in the early interstellar period; a goal which the UES ultimately failed to achieve, being out-competed and eventually destroyed by more successful megacorporations. For the colonists, escape from tyranny was a common cause, and selected, according to certain criteria, (wealthy and/or desperate) citizens in politically repressed states were given, in secret, offers to participate in the Terran exodus. Incidentally, the Fold Incident had very little impact on UES wealth: its main sectors were energy production and orbital manufacturing, and the government was held responsible for failing to ensure safety and oversight in the new Hyperspace Engines.

Free City Constitution/Colonial Period (2144-2194 CE)

The UES Wulfhelm, like the other ships in the colony fleet, was quipped with massive D-He3 fusion engines and primitive jump drives. They set out to colonize a star nearby within the Terran sector, but – due to an “anomalous jump due to unknown error” - inadvertently traveled 7,233 light years off-course.

Effectively severed from Earth by what would become one of the biggest mysteries of Wulfhelm culture – the “Fold Incident” – the colonists now had to find a new home and make the best of it. Later studies of the Incident helped improve jump technology and gave tantalizing evidence of wormhole creation and transport, but have not yet discovered what exactly went wrong (or why it happened to six ships on the same course).

At the time, the results were one ship destroyed at the exit point due to stress, fires and mechanical disasters on each ship, and the near-total destruction of the jump engines. Many lives were lost in the ensuing battles against fire and breakdowns.

The exit point was within a few months travel of a star system with a habitable planet, and it was there that the fleet made planet fall on March 10-16, 2144. The Wulfhelm was cannibalized to create the colony structure, and effectively became a city to the planet’s population of 2.6 million colonists.

Political and social unity was quickly fractured during the hard early years. Henry F. Mond, the heroic captain of the starship Wulfhelm, was offered continued leadership using his authority and popularity, but declined. The Free City Constitution, which had been established by the colonists (as per the original plan), was now questioned and suggestions were made to simply toss the idea of a united colonial government out the airlock. For two years after settling, a period called (erroneously and retroactively) “The Anarchy” featured the UES Colonial Authority, entrepreneurs, organized crime and political activists struggling for control over the City. Despite the romantic and excessively violent attributes assigned this period in later times, there were only a handful of recorded deaths that occurred as a result. Most of the criminal activity involved bribery, coercion, terraforming or habitat violations, theft and some drug trade.

Eventually two factions centering around the primary issues of the time rose. Jumpers wanted to leave the planet and look for a way back to the originally intended destination; Settlers wanted to remain on the planet and settle down. Both contended with each other on the Free City Council.

The settlers held sway for 28 years for four main reasons. First, because interplanetary, let alone interstellar travel was not going to be possible without a larger infrastructure. Second, the early colonial period was fraught with uncertainty and survival challenges; no one could be bothered to build spaceships when starvation was a possibility. Third, for the most part, the jumpers had no real plan to travel the vast distance in a reasonable amount of time. Fourth, even if they did, few of the original colonists wanted to even remember the horrors of the Fold Incident, let alone try to recreate it.

By 2174, the new generation was beginning to assert control, taking the old split and changing it with their own issues. Jumpers who had lost faith in the original plan now joined with youth factions, pushing merely to be allowed to leave the City entirely, forming new settlements on other continents. The Settlers, many of whom were now comfortably well-off, turned their “make the best of what you have, and be grateful!” philosophy into an ideology, establishing paranoid policies limiting exploration and reproduction. As time went on, these policies became exceptionally unpopular – particularly as the atmosphere was nearing human-breathable conditions, and lush beds of algae and lichens spread across the planet. Adhering to strict terraforming rules were still viewed as important, but no longer so important that dictatorial rule was required to do so.

By 2192, an exploding population (8.5 million) and quasi-anarchic sociopolitical dynamic toppled the Free City Council provisional government. Several groups left the city, breaking through the barriers to resettle elsewhere. Within the shield, rioting gave way to formation of “community systems,” in which those in control of key property and services “made themselves into little Barons.” The communities formed a new constitution for the city, proclaiming the Republic of Wulfhelm on August 21, 2194.

Early Republic Period (2194-2253)

The government had a traditional three branches: an Executive Branch headed by a Chancellor (elected every 3 years), a Legislative Branch, consisting of a House of Representatives (elected every 5 years) and a Congress of Citizens (consisting of the citizen population), and the Judicial Branch fulfilled by the High Court.

Although much of the planet was now freely inhabitable by unprotected humans, food, electricity and shelter remained under the thumb of the “little barons,” property owners, who through wealth had acquired political power (or vice versa).

Technological development remained at a minimum, only really serving to maintain or prolong the existence of existing engineering systems, and the real estate lords vied for control over uninhabited lands on the other side of the planet that wouldn’t be used for decades.

Trade became important and the City, whatever the self-sufficient attitudes of “jumpers” and their descendents might have been, became the default trade hub for the planet.

The need to become independent of the original colonial equipment drove economic development for the next fifty years. A second fusion reactor was constructed; mines were opened; communication satellites were launched.

Early Middle Republic Period (2253-2340)

Industry continued to grow, with the whole world, and star system and beyond – seemed ripe for the picking. It was a time of optimism and confidence. The population growth rate soared; cloning and genetic modifications were common. The launching of orbital spacecraft and stations and interplanetary probes signaled the first forays back off of Wulfhelm. Because of the need to continue terraforming the planet and maintain a viable ecosystem, off-world mining sparked battles to claim rights to the nearby asteroids. Helium3, needed for the preferred and (relatively) clean (though exceptionally hot) method of fusion electric generation, could be found easiest on the nearby gas giants, driving operations for interplanetary energy and asteroid mining.

Land quality and stability made real estate the largest single industry, and also the most heavily regulated by government (other than what was classified as “military technologies” like nuclear energy or heavy weapons). Real estate ventures produced billionaires whose vested interest in the ecological policies of the original colonists did not prevent them from ousting the descendants of those original colonists from power.

This period saw the formation of the first four big energy/manufacturing corporations: Sutter Ausland Corporation (SAC), Optical Processing Systems (OPS), Wulfhelm Green Factories (WGF), and the Holtzmann-Niko Conglomerate (HMNK). Although very small compared to the megacorporations of contemporary Earth, these paved the way for the future of Wulfhelm commerce and technology.

The most powerful computer system of the day, the OPS Intelligent Operating Mainframe Model 2, was selected to process direct voting by the Congress of Citizens. This wasn’t simply a matter of trust (although the IOM was extremely well-trusted by those who could afford one); it was “transparent” in use, secure and powerful. Optical transistors with holographic memory cubes had replaced silicon-based computers by the time the UES Wulfhelm was launched.

Politically, the “little barons” of old were relegated to a minority of old, though moderately influential citizens lost in a vast sea of newer generations with newer ideas. Factions were not set along geophysical region lines, for each region tended to have standardized demographic and economic characteristics (with notable exceptions: see the NNE Core Sampling Quakes Disaster). Special interests and transparent direct voting allowed for hundreds of political parties, although four dominated: the Social Democrats, Republicans, Green World and Freedom Party.

Late Middle Republic Period (2340-2394)

“Growth is our destiny,” claimed Chancellor Frederick Vasquez in 2331. He would prove to be right. The planetary population, all of which was solidly under the authority of the Republic, was nearly 330 million in 2340.

This put enormous pressure on enforcing the ecological limits enumerated in the Constitution (which were less strict than those from the original colonial charter) and slowed down industrial growth. Although the planet contained many rich deposits of various resources, harvesting them with the full speed and vigor of modern technology would shatter the world's habitability. Asteroid and gas giant mining became more attractive and on June 10th, 2348 the first mining operation was launched.

Simultaneously, population became a public concern, insofar as it’s impact on the ability of the world to provide for farming, irrigation, atmospheric protection against various types of radiation, space for humans to live. The question of “overpopulation,” defined in that context, became an issue of hot debate as contraception replaced having twins by 20 years of age. Soon the obvious answer – colonizing space – looked favorable, thanks in no small part to the successful, opportunistic capture of a passing-by asteroid, and the enormous riches it contained – ecologically risk-free.

Orbital colonies soared in popularity. Most employment at this time involved very little in the way of manual or factory labor; even in these fields, machines did the work, and only some of the technicians on the larger robots would be in a situation where physical strength was of much value. Life in a low-gravity environment, far away from the planet but in constant communications, had an appeal. 2388 was when the first such habitat, Skyworld 1, was finished and immediately filled with its occupancy of 1,000. Various enterprises and organizations would model their habitats along the lines of creating an “ideal community,” sometimes of genetically modified persons to achieve this. Others would simply cater to the smaller population of miners, pilots, scientists and other workers whose duties centered around or, more specifically in, a space environment. By 2394, Wulfhelm’s permanent off-world population was 430,000 and growing. But none of the other planetoids in the system would be easily terraformable, and there were only so many people who wanted to live offworld. Wulfhelm turned its interests to the stars, with a government proposed mission to build starships to explore the local stellar neighborhood.

Late Republic Period (2394-2480)

Although astronomers had already mapped out nearby stars, including detectable planets, only a close scan could reveal if there were small alien bases, signs of ancient civilizations, other starships, life, even whole planets. Because of the massive size and power requirements of a hyperspace drive, unmanned interstellar probes were not an option. Exploration-class starships were the answer, with large, powerful drives and the capability of traveling many light years before needing refuel. These carried auxiliary spacecraft; sensor probes, landing craft, and smaller manned spaceships. In addition, the large starships carried elaborate, powerful sensor suites of their own.

Communication was limited to light-speed, except for messages carried aboard starships, in which case communication was limited by the effective speed of the starship’s jump(s). This in turn depended on the power used in the jump, the coolant system capacity, and the jump fuel – a special compound simply known as J.F., or various amusing acronyms derived from that – as well as esoteric jump physics conditions.

In 2408, the first starship, R.W.S. Scout, designed and produced by the descendents of the Wulfhelm was launched. The effective velocities of hyperspace drives would, in 2437, place them into Classes of drives instead of Generations.

Colony worlds were founded in two systems, and claims were laid to twenty others. Mankind was isolated in this part of the galaxy, except for Wulfhelm, now a young interstellar civilization with a population of 2.6 billion.

The booming population, and its increasing growth and spread, solved many problems but created others. Interplanetary trade was essential to the survival of bases and orbital habitats, as well as colonies in various stages of development. Local systems had their own concerns, and formed their own factions. The legal system became bloated as battles for ownership or just plain feuding increased.

Two colonies – Ash III and Toshiba II - attempted to break free of the Republic in 2462 and enjoyed up to three years (for New Mars) of “independence.” This ended with the threat of nuclear missiles from a squadron of Republican patrol ships lead by a bold and clever leader: Commodore Thane Lorence.

These factors set the Republic up for its eventual overthrow when, in 2477, the economic growth so characteristic of the emerging interstellar society thus far flattened, faltered, stagnated, and then crashed hard, throwing the economy into chaos, with the Republican government flailing. Chancellor Black declared a state of bankruptcy in October 3, 2479 and almost immediately, 4 planetary colonies (Wulfhelm IV, Wulfhelm VI-3, Ash III and Lamp I) broke away from the government.

The small fleet of interstellar warships was antiquated and only somewhat combat-capable. Black sent orders to the interstellar fleet to put down the Lamp and then Ash systems, while to the interplanetary fleet (a much more sturdy unit) he sent orders to retake Wulfhelm IV immediately. The first task was never even begun – the starships were deemed “unsafe for hyperspace travel” and the fleet never left the star system. The second led to the October 25th Battle of Wulfhelm IV, in which the last gasp of the Republic – a few dozen heavily-armed interplanetary patrol ships – was soundly defeated by rebel laser fire.

Within a few days, the nine other colonies were independent, but the capital planet remained firmly in the hands of the Republican loyalists. But there was strife on the surface, as well: beginning in mid-November, attacks on military and government communications and computer networks increased. Several large corporations began to take part in this form of revolt, going so far as to provide arms and equipment to rebelling leaders and factions.

Corrupt and compromised, Wulfhelm III’s government could no longer fight back. Finally, the exceptionally unpopular president was ousted January 5th by a military-led coup; a coup, it was said in a private letter from General Martin to other coup leaders, done “to forestall and neutralize the approaching threat of … popular uprising and disastrous anarchy.”

Wulfhelm Transitional Authority Period (2480-2501)

The Wulfhelm Transitional Authority (WTA) ruled Wulfhelm after the January 5 coup. In place of the old Constitutionally-legitimized Chancellor, a Chief Director, elected by the military leadership, ruled with an iron fist. The first – General Martin – began the task of retaking the offworld colonies.

The battles of New Gaia (2480), Ash IV (2481) and Reusch VI (2488) saw the WTA as the clear victor; these were the last major engagements, but rebel hit-and-run behavior prolonged the official end of the conflict until 2492 (with the capture and execution of the last “pirate”). Post-war population grew at a 1.9% rate, expanding across 7 new colonies (a total of 22 by 2501) and covering 7.5 billion.

The WTA was notable not just as the precursor to the Wulfhelm Star Empire, but in reducing the vestiges of “eco-fascist” colonization limits in the process of total mechanization, giving in to the realization that the hyperspace drive made nearly unlimited resources and worlds available for exploitation. Green policies would have to concern themselves with minor aesthetic victories.

Despite the willingness to use force in consolidating its power, especially over colony worlds, the WTA gave local governments more liberties and initiative, and encouraged free trade.

Wulfhelm Star Empire (2501-2508)

In 2501, the WTA was dissolved by James Starky, who instituted the Federal Monarchy system - Starky, the last and most influential of the WTA's Chief Directors, would retain powers as Commander in Chief of all Wulfhelm armed forces and titular Head of State. The government would retain the form of the Republic, with the office of Chancellor replaced by the Executor, and subservient to the unelected Emperor. This was made possible through the cooperation of six of the top ten major media corporations, which made full use of the man's charisma and power to market autocracy to Wulfhelm and its colony worlds. Starky's main objective, he said, was to symbolize and keep the unity of Wulfhelm as an interstellar state.


Present (2508)

The rest of this history will be written through roleplay.

Historical Places and Events

North Free City - The location of the Free City, this is the oldest settlement in Wulfhelm, and historically its capital until the overthrow of the Republic in 2480.

Tiros - The capital (as of 2480; previously Free City), Tiros is a megalopolis spread out across the North Bay of the Inner Seas area of Wulfhelm. A planned city development begun in 2392, Tiros became a global trade center within a generation, and remains the largest, and the second wealthiest region in Wulfhelm.

People, Parties and Politics (Work in progress!)

Characters

Commander Callan, CO of the WSS Aurora City (a Colcord-class cruiser)
Ensign Link, a junior officer aboard the Aurora City
Tomas Krell: The WSE's first titled foreign Ambassador in the newly-formed Office of Foreign Affairs. His first mission was a meeting with the government of Reploid Productions.
John Nathan, CEO of KSA
(More to come.)

Political Parties and Factions

Democratic Nationalist Party

The DNP is a center-right party advocating a 'free market' with government involvement in regulating trade, particularly with new colonies who have very fragile, specialized economies, which are said to be 'unfairly disadvantaged.' They also support the military-industrial complex and the status quo on many issues. It is one of the three major parties.

Economic Left/Right: 1.62
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 0.10

Techno-Progressive Party

The center-left party, different from the DNP only on certain social issues and positions it emphasizes a lot more, such as public education, arts, and museums.

Economic Left/Right: 0.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.54

Libertarian Moderate Party

The "party of personal freedom," the rightist LMP is actually characterized by an extremely laissez-faire economic policy, eliminating 'big government' agencies and the practice free market ideology.

Economic Left/Right: 4.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 0.05


Eco-Nationalist Party
Liberal-Democratic Union
Socialist Workers Party
Agrarian Party
Neo-Communist Front
Wulfhelm National Socialist Party

(ooc http://wikistates.outwardhosting.com/wiki/Main_Page <-- that could work for you well :P)

Hey, I've been looking at a few FT factbooks before setting up my own, and I've been noticing a few oddities in some. For instance, how does a few colony-ships establish a 12.5 billion person interstellar empire spanning 38 worlds?

Of course some kind of timeline with a decent enough space for development could explain this.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Wulfhelm has only recently made contact with foreign powers or aliens at all, although it has had the capability for a while.

Nations and Status (as of Dec 26, '08)

Immortal Shogunate and Affiliated Territories of Reploid Productions - Some diplomatic contact
...




OOC:
Hey, I've been looking at a few FT factbooks before setting up my own, and I've been noticing a few oddities in some. For instance, how does a few colony-ships establish a 12.5 billion person

375 years of unchecked growth and an average population growth rate of 2.28%, that's how.

interstellar empire spanning 38 worlds?

I should note that almost all the population is on one world.