The New Terran Enlightenment

On the 245th day of the standard year 649PE, a socio-political conflict on the world of New Terra came to a close , with a resolution that would vastly alter relationships not only on that world, but all across the span of the Perseus Arm touched by Humanity. On that day, the Preservers of the Destiny of Humanity came to power on New Terra, celebrating their victory and marking the end of a seventeen year conflict waged with outwardly with rhetoric, but supported by espionage, blackmail, violence, and military manipulation.

Seeds of Discontent

Two years after the founding of New Terra, the appearance of T'ka'an came as a shock to the Humans who had left Terra and made the long crossing to the Perseus Arm in the hopes of avoiding encounters with non-human space-faring species. The shock soon faded, though, as the T'ka'an proved to not only be friendly, but willing to help the colonists through their early years of establishing themselves. Comparison of the New Terran experience with that of the people of Firstfall makes it clear that it was T'ka'an cooperation that prevented a technological "dark age" on New Terra.

But not everyone on New Terra was happy with the "interference" and "threat" that the T'ka'an represented. The discontent and distrust of these few was handed down over generations as children learned and echoed the beliefs and prejudices of their parents. The majority, however, valued the partnership with T'ka'an as humans spread out around New Terra in colonies and independent worlds. The New Terran Confederacy formed to provide unity and fair regulation of trade among these worlds.

In standard year 585PE, the first hostile encounters with the Scasaleseans provided cause for the Confederacy to strengthen its central administrative power, and to form a military force to provide protection for all member worlds. These encounters also stirred the embers of xenophobia that had been all but extinguished among the descendants of those who left Terra in the hopes of never encountering a space-faring alien race.  

Political Maneuvering

The ardent followers of Nijibutu on the homeworld of New Terra took the step of registering themselves as a political party in the year 632PE. For the next three years, they tried unsuccessfully to get formal representation in the Confederacy Assembly. They realized with these initial failures, and with the disparagement - and sometimes even ridicule - of their movement coming from the mainstream, that a different approach would be necessary. They began to quietly recruit individuals that could be persuaded to their beliefs, but were popular enough among the mainstream to be electable (as long as they kept their affiliation with the Preservers unknown). Remarkably, this tactic began to work, and a long-term plan began to formulate among the leaders of the Preserver movement.

This plan included conducting espionage and blackmail operations against several key Assembly members. These tools were used to get party operatives installed in civilian positions that oversaw key positions within the government. The consolidated military was targeted specifically to ensure its forces were far from New Terra when their "final move" was made. By the year 649PE arrived, a general election year in the Confederation, they were ready.  

The Coup

The Confederation Elections of 649PE finally saw enough clandestine Preserver members elected into the Assembly to effect the coup they had been planning for years. The new Confederation Assembly's first act was to create a central executive position called "First Citizen". The office described as being more administrative than governing, but it called for broad, sweeping powers "in time of emergency".

Karan Nijibutu, installed as the first "First Citizen" wasted no time in declaring just such an emergency: she declared that the Confederation was experiencing an "alien invasion from within". Now essentially in complete control, she dissolved the Confederation Assembly to remove any dissident voices; the council was replaced by a "Council" filled with members appointed by her. This new council then dissolved the operating constitution and replaced it with a governing document that essentially made Nijibutu's "emergency actions" into permanent law. Future Council positions would be filled by election, but the election process itself was reshaped - starting with eligibility to vote - to ensure Preserver dominance. Citizenship was redefined to preclude T'ka'an, or any other non-human sentient species.

Local systems would be ruled by "Lord Governors" appointed by the First Human (the title that replaced "First Citizen"). Among other broad powers, Lord Governors had veto power over election results for worlds sending members to the Council.

Aftermath/Legacy

In the 350 or so standard years since the elections of 649PE, authority over the New Terran Hegemony has remained firmly in the hands of Humans who believe the superiority of Humanity and the words of the Declaration of Destiny. Propaganda and educational indoctrination have ensured this. The democratic republic system that was the New Terran Confederacy has been completely replaced by the Feudal Autocracy of the New Terran Hegemony.

A noble subclass of Humans governs on local levels, but complete control over the entire Hegemony rests with the holder of the title of First Human. The T'ka'an are a suppressed, if not overtly persecuted species within the borders; relations with the T'ka'an Federation have, unsurprisingly, been strained at best, with numerous military skirmishes having occured in recent years over Hegemony attempts to "protect" border worlds with human populations. The undeclared war with the Scasaleans persists. Relations with other Human Polities are formal, but not congenial.