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{{Navbox Lore}}
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In the core worlds of Humanity’s power and built upon the center of the largest phoron deposits in the known galaxy, the Republic of Biesel is an independent state and the center of the Aurora server setting. The very young Republic as it is known today came to be in 2452, and since its populace has flourished as NanoTrasen has tightened a vice grip over its government structure. Present at every level of government and carrying its economy into a new age, [[Nanotrasen Corporation]] is unofficially the most influential force in the system in which the Republic resides, [[Tau Ceti]]. The extent of the official power of the Republic of Biesel extends across much of the formerly Solarian middle and outer ring, reaching to now border the massive [[Coalition of Colonies]].
{{Infobox Nations
|Nation = Federal Republic of Biesel
|Shortname = Biesel
|Flag = Republicofbieselflag.png
|Galatic Position = Position Biesel.png
|Capital City = Mendell City
|Capital Planet = [[Biesel]]
|Language = Tau Ceti Basic
|Species = Human (Majority)<br>[[Dionae]] (Minority)<br>[[IPC]] (Minority)<br>[[Skrell]] (Minority)<br>[[Tajara]] (Minority)<br>[[Unathi]] (Minority)<br>[[Vaurca]] (Minority)
|Religion = None
|Demonym = Biesellite, Republican
|Government = Federal Republic
|Head of State = President Ake Torvald
|Legislature = Congress
|Upper House = State Senate
|Lower House = Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople
|Established = May 5th 2452
}}


Tau Ceti is one of the most populated systems in Human space, and easily the richest in the galaxy thanks to NanoTrasen.
{{TOC Hidden}}


The Republic of Biesel's recent expansion into former Solarian territories has been met with both applause and total rejection from its populace. Now, there remains a huge region of space referred to as the Corporate Reconstruction Zone where new colonies reach delayed and substandard treatment from the core Tau Ceti system. While this receives criticism, it is often unavoidable seeing as the chaos from the Solarian collapse has left supply lines strained or even inoperable.
In the core worlds of Humanity’s power, built upon a center of [[phoron]] deposits and trade, the '''Federal Republic of Biesel''' is an independent state and considered the economic and social centre of the [[Orion Spur]]. The young Republic as it is known today came to be in 2452, and since its independence it has only grown stronger, its population flourishing, ignorant or uncaring as [[NanoTrasen]] maintained a vice grip over the Republic not only economically, but politically and socially as well.
[[Image:Republicofbieselflag.png|thumb|400px|Flag of the Republic of Biesel.]]
==Overview==


The Republic of Biesel is the foundation of the galactic economy, with NanoTrasen controlling the trickle of phoron that it exports to virtually all Human - and often other species’ - settlements. For this reason, it has long since been considered the “galactic center,” overtaking the Jewel Worlds in the early 2400’s. This, alongside its progressive legislation has made it a prime destination for immigration from all walks of life.  
However, in recent years, that is changing. The '''Phoron Scarcity''' has shaken the very foundations of the republic, not only in regards to NanoTrasen’s monopoly, but also the role it plays on the wider stage of the Orion Spur. Once only holding territory in Tau Ceti, today the Republic of Biesel extends across much of the formerly Solarian Middle and Outer Ring, reaching the new border of the massive [[Coalition of Colonies]], creating the [[Corporate Reconstruction Zone]]. The Republic of Biesel's expansion into former Solarian territories was met with both applause and total rejection from its populace Combined with the mounting issues of the Phoron Scarcity, the CRZ would prove the final nail in the coffin for the Republic’s political establishment, which was shaken drastically in 2462. However, Tau Ceti remains one of the most populated systems in Human space, and easily the richest in the galaxy thanks to NanoTrasen, and now the [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]].


As the Republic of Biesel holds sovereignty over the Tau Ceti system, planets under its control include New Gibson, Luthien, Caprice, Reade and its namesake, Biesel. The majority of the Republic’s phoron supply comes from the Romanovich Cloud, a very distant cluster of icy and metallic bodies that encompass the system. NanoTrasen has established control of virtually every source of phoron found here.
== The Effects of the Phoron Scarcity ==
Nowhere is more intertwined with [[phoron]] than the Republic of Biesel. As one of only two nations in the entire Spur with phoron deposits, it has always had the largest phoron deposits and the largest phoron exports. For many, the Republic is the only source of phoron, as unlike the [[Elyra|Serene Republic of Elyra]], it exports beyond its borders. The Republic’s prosperity, place in the Spur, and technologies all came to be because of phoron and the influence of the [[NanoTrasen Corporation|company]] that extracted it.


Tau Ceti’s population has for the better part of the century stood against Alliance control, but it took until 2452 for progress in this to be made in the form of their declaration of independence. Since then, it has butted heads with Sol, having even been the victim of a full militarized invasion by the rogue Admiral Frost in 2458.
As the primary system where commercial phoron mining occurs, [[Tau Ceti]] boasts the largest number of phoronic industries in the Spur. The sheer scale of the operation [[NanoTrasen Corporation]] created for mining and then processing phoron cannot be overstated — almost the entire planet of [[New Gibson]] is dedicated to the production of phoronic components. In 2460, around 23% of the population of the system had a job tied to the phoronics industry. [[Biesel]]’s economy and the livelihoods of its citizenry are dependent on phoron to retain their standards of living; it is the most “phoronised” system with the most advanced technology in the [[Orion Spur]]. With the [[Phoron#The_Phoron_Scarcity|Phoron Scarcity]] threatening the lifeblood of Biesel, fear, instability and doubt are on the rise, with concerns about the Republic’s future that almost came true come the [[KOTW|35th's invasion]]. Five years since the beginning of the Scarcity, the phoron industries of Tau Ceti are still humming along, but only growing quieter as facilities are gradually shuttered.


Only over three years later, a second rogue fleet attacked the Republic from the Alliance. This time, corporate and external intervention resulted in their ejection from the system, briefly before the total collapse of Alliance control throughout the Middle and Outer Rings.
[[Notable_Humans#President_Ake_Torvald|President Torvald]] has enacted policies attempting to limit the damage of the situation, keeping the economy afloat. Interest rates have dropped to near zero, bills have been signed into law that give substantial subsidies to new facilities built that supply alternatives to phoron — a boon to [[Einstein Engines]] — but it’s only barely keeping the flood wall from breaking. More extremely, the Republic and its [[megacorporations]] have officially begun to ration phoron, with much of the phoron and its components reserved in the state’s strategic stockpiles. While this rationing has relieved the stress of the scarcity from many people, it has done so by transferring it onto others, due to its unequal nature. Less affluent neighbourhoods find their infrastructure allowed to age and fall apart, becoming unreliable; hardware stores and clinics supply older, non-phoronic wares that are a notable downgrade. More affluent neighbourhoods continue to have phoronic infrastructure maintained, if at much greater cost and sparingly where possible and, while still supplied with phoronic hardware, medicines, etc., the prices have soared.
Due to the unstable state of the Spur, the [[Tau Ceti Armed Forces]] remains very high on the priority list for phoron allocations. [[Zavodskoi_Interstellar|Arms factories]] and [[Reade|military shipbuilding docks]] rarely have shortages; the fleets always have enough fluidic [[phoron]] for their [[Interstellar_Travel#Bluespace_Travel|bluespace drives]], and those within the enlisted ranks of the [[TCAF]] find themselves in as good a position as the middle class (one of the top reasons enlistment rates haven’t plummeted since the [[Peacekeeper Mandate]] saw opinions on the TCAF nosedive). President Torvald has promised these are temporary measures but, for now, there are no signs this will change.  


Now, the Republic of Biesel exercises newfound authority over massive swaths of colonies that have fallen under its banner across formerly Solarian space.
Unemployment is at an all-time high, with sustainable jobs exceedingly rare and, as  crime has skyrocketed, less affluent neighborhoods have changed massively over the past five years. More ghettos are cropping up, and places such as [[Mendell City]]’s [[Mendell City#District_6|District 6]], [[Mendell City#District_11|District 11]], and [[Mendell City#District_12|District 12]] look more run down than ever, deprioritised of phoronic infrastructure maintenance. Brownouts and blackouts are of frequent occurrences, as their phoronics based infrastructure (such as phoronic superconductive cabling) falls into disrepair or is unfitted for use elsewhere. It has a cruel similarity to the Alliance's abandonment of their outer worlds during the [[Sol_Alliance_History#2462-65:_The_Solarian_Civil_War|Collapse]]. Criminal organizations have filled in the vacuum, allowed to run the districts as they see fit, and be largely unbothered by law enforcement, who only interfere when any violence within these areas spills out into other, less dilapidated parts of the city; in which case the standard response has been to violently bludgeon it back into containment.


==General==
Phoron black markets and the smugglers who supply them have exploded within the Republic, and though they are not yet utilized by the population at large, their presence is steadily growing. Many have come to rely on them for everything from replacement [[Phoron#Applications_of_Phoron|phone/PDA-use SMES cells, to superconductive cabling, to phoronic medications]] — often stolen. Smuggling routes into [[Tau Ceti]] all lead to the tradeport moon of [[Valkyrie]], a nexus for criminal activity. Valkyrie has been hit especially hard by the economic slowdown experienced across the [[Orion Spur]], and its many port workers struggle to make ends meet; it is no surprise that a great many of them now participate in this smuggling activity. With these black marketers paying well for phoronic goods, petty theft of phoron-based equipment from the workplace has reached the top three reasons why an employee contract is terminated within Biesel, despite the unemployment crisis all but ensuring the fired employee will be unable to find another job.


'''Official Title(s):''' "The Federal Republic of Biesel and the Corporate Reconstruction Zone" (SC)
As a result of the scarcity, [[NanoTrasen Corporation]]’s power has waned. Where NanoTrasen once had almost complete control over the Republic's government by themselves, their influence has dropped to just ‘very strong’. Now, the other [[megacorporations]] flock like carrion birds, eager to claim what they can and emboldened to challenge the phoron giant. [[Notable_Humans#President_Ake_Torvald|President Torvald]] appears willing to exploit this, now giving an ear to all of the megacorporations jointly, where previously only NanoTrasen was afforded the privilege.


'''Capital:''' Mendell City, Biesel
== Planets==
The Republic of Biesel has expanded greatly since the [[KOTW|Solarian Collapse]], moving from its home system of [[Tau Ceti]] to encompass what is now known as the [[Corporate Reconstruction Zone]].


'''Demonym:''' Bieselitte, Cetian, Gibsonian
[[File:Pixel Planet Biesel1.png|thumb|left|Biesel seen from orbit.]]
[[File:NewGibson weather.png|thumb|256px|left|A view of New Gibson.]]


'''Official Language(s):''' Sol Common, Tau Ceti Basic, 24 additional Recognized Languages.
=== [[Biesel]] ===
The capital of the Republic and its namesake, Biesel is where many [[megacorporations]] have moved their primary base of operations to after the Solarian Collapse and recession. Biesel's first colony was established in 2147; a comfortable and temperate planet, it proved a valuable location for agriculture and manufacturing, and after the [[Timeline|discovery of phoron in 2352]], proved a very valuable location for all sorts of phoronics work. Since then Biesel has become the most wealthy and influential planet in human space. Biesel previously had many smaller corporations, however since the discovery of Phoron, these have either been gradually bought out or undermined by the larger megacorporations; in the contemporary Spur they no longer exist. Despite recent setbacks, [[NanoTrasen]] and its subsidiaries account for the majority of economic activity in Biesel and Tau Ceti today - though continue to slip lower.


'''Population''': 2460 Est.: 11,632,576,000
===[[Valkyrie]]===
The moon of Biesel, the Commonwealth of Valkyrie, is a member-state of the Republic that contributes strongly to its economy through its status as a major shipping and trade port. Goods from all over the Spur, legal and illegal, can be found in the twisting streets of Valkyrie, and it acts as a layover for many tourist vessels and trade ships moving across the galaxy. Since the beginning of the scarcity it has also quickly become a hub for smuggler's as corruption runs rife throughout its ports.


===Economics===
===[[New Gibson]]===
New Gibson is the second exoplanet to be colonized by humanity, shortly after the initial success of Biesel's colonization attempt in 2147. It is the industrial workhorse of the Tau Ceti system, containing a rich and valuable resource pool with the highest concentrations of many valuable minerals of any planetary surface in Tau Ceti. While New Gibson has a complex dedicated to virtually all industries, its major players are shipbuilding and wide-ranging manufacturing adjacent to its titanic planetary mines. In the cavernous pitfalls and valleys of New Gibson resides both its thriving mining economy and its greatest dangers. Unlike its bigger brother Biesel, New Gibson hosts very few phoronics specific facilities like refineries and compounding factories - though it still uses immense amounts of phoron in its more regular industries, as they wish to create goods up to the 2400s standard of technology.


Biesel maintains the '''Credit''' as its official currency.  
===[[Mictlan]]===
Formerly a Solarian colony, Mictlan had become integral to the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate’s plans for expanding its influence within the unstable region of the Orion Spur. However, violence followed the sudden shift to the Republic of Biesel, with deserters, terrorists, and paramilitaries taking up arms to forcefully push back against the perceived corporate occupation of their planet, eventually resulting in military intervention by the Republic of Biesel, as they instituted the Peacekeeper Mandate to begin to restore order.


NanoTrasen is an '''unquestionable monopoly''' within Tau Ceti. The Free Trade Zone established shortly after independence in 2452 served to only reinforce their foothold. Almost the entirety of business in the system are either owned directly or a branch of Nanotrasen. Business that does not affiliate with the megacorporations '''can not be founded legally,''' and thus all independent businesses found in the Republic are either external to Tau Ceti or have existed for longer than NanoTrasen, and simply have not offered enough to warrant being bought out.  
After a protracted occupation by the Tau Ceti Armed forces, including a guerilla war between against the ex-Mictlani Defense Force run Samaritans (a paramilitary group) and a protracted anti-terrorist campaign against the Founding Movement (a political movement that turned towards violent extremism and terrorist tactics), in late 2465, after the leader of the founding movement was found lynched and the Republic Forces negotiated a surrender with the Samaritans following rising public unrest within Tau Ceti, [[Hasta La Victoria Siempre Arc|Mictlan eventually managed to secure its status as an independent member-state within the Republic]], and now sets it's own terms with the corporations. They have not left in their entirety, merely been somewhat restricted in their activity, and stratification and corporate influence still separates much of the population. Mictlan is the sight of the worst disparity of phoron rationing, with the corporate upper classes getting almost all of the allocated phoron and the anti-corporate lower classes getting little to none of it.


Megacorporate presence outside of NanoTrasen exists in Tau Ceti, such as Hephaestus super-stations and some properties in orbit - but most date back to well over sixty years ago, before the monopoly was formed.
===[[Port Antillia]]===


Within the Biesel city boundaries of Phoenixport however, things remain quite the contrary. After an absolutely miraculous play on part of [[Notable Humans|Noella Lopez-Zhang]], [[Einstein Engines]] acquired NanoTrasen's holdings in the city. This involved the Lopez-Zhang Hammer Drive, an experimental warp engine which was claimed by NT to be not only a sham, but a copy of their own design. The ensuing legal battle ended up placing Phoenixport's holdings in Einstein's possession, for better or worse.
A very recently settled planet, Port Antillia had great ambitions of being a vital port between the Jewel Worlds and the [[Republic of Elyra|Serene Republic of Elyra]]. Due to its novel colonisation, it faced severe struggles, which were exacerbated by frequent natural disasters. Ultimately, this resulted in its early collapse, only really seeing itself somewhat stabilised nearly a century later. It has its roots within the nations which formed the Caribbean Federation, who found themselves facing extinction from the ecological crisis that Earth endured.


==Societal==
Despite millions becoming part of the colonisation effort, no one truly knew the dangers present on Port Antillia. Due to its relative youth on the cosmic scale, the planet experiences earthquakes rather frequently, which produce tsunamis that pose a threat to cities that dot the coasts of Port Antillia. Additionally, volcanic activity is yet another persistent danger with some of the largest eruptions across the inhabited parts of Orion Spur being registered to the planet. Many of the major population centres are equipped to deal with these problems, but there are still minor settlements that have to contend with the hostile geological activity of the planet, with most residents having accepted that they are simply a part of life on Port Antillia.
[[File:Biesel calls 2.jpg|400px|thumb|A recruitment poster for the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion.]]
Being one of the early colonized systems, Tau Ceti remains diverse. People from all walks of life exist in the Republic, and the meshing of cultures extends to even the growing minority of alien species that find their home in the small Republic. There are tensions between the natives and the influx of alien immigrants, and the integration of IPC's into society remains an extremely hot topic.


===Languages===
===[[Corporate Reconstruction Zone]]===
 
Tau Ceti Basic is the dominant language in the Republic of Biesel, spoken by nearly all its inhabitants except some small groups of immigrants. Due to the diverse nature of the Republic, every language across populated space can be found here. Sol Common is viewed with some hostility by natives of the Republic, especially after the Frost Invasion, and is mostly spoken in pro-Sol areas of the Republic. Tradeband and Freespeak are commonly spoken amongst the resident and immigrant populations, with many coming from across the human frontier to pursue a better life in Tau Ceti.
 
===Culture===
[[Image:Minimap biesel.png|thumb|A closer image focusing on the many factions surrounding the Republic of Biesel, both friend and foe. ]]
As endlessly varied as its populace, the culture of the Republic is impossible to define. However, definitive enclaves have coalesced over time, not to mention the divide between the unique districts of its capital, Mendell City. Among these are the Tajaran-dominated Little Adhomai, or District 14 - for synthetics, IPCs, or even District 9 - for Vaurca respectively.
 
====Life in Tau Ceti====
 
The standard of living in Tau Ceti is rather high due to the prospering nature of the system. Most of the lower class consists of immigrants and new settlers, though wealth tends to be easy to build especially when cooperating with NanoTrasen. The “Republic Ideal,” as it is stated in NT-sanctioned media, leans on one person being able to sustain a family’s worth of others with hard work.
 
Life as it stands in Tau Ceti can be considered a mixed basket. As virtually every form of media and entertainment is covered - and arguably controlled by NanoTrasen, “official” and outstanding means of entertainment are often dreary and corporate in concept. People, especially the lower class, make do with their own attempts to curtail the dull blanket over the social world. This, in day-to-day life, includes closed extracorporate relays, exercises of public freedom or otherwise. An obvious side-effect of this is strengthened traditions and isolation of oneself to protect that which they feel passionate for.
 
It can be said with certainty due to all this that close bonds - namely family and the sense of community, are strengthened heavily in the system. Local festivities such as annual holidays are adored and can vary completely based off of the location they are in. Whether intentional or not, NanoTrasen’s presence in the system has ended up uniting the Republic into a singular tightly-knit body.
In the middle and upper class, things get more chaotic. People here can bring themselves to afford the “standard of living” that is expected of all the Republic’s citizens, and either use this to consume NanoTrasen’s corporate media or dive into their own divided and rich cultures.
 
A good example of the divides between NanoTrasen media and Republic tradition is the annual system-wide and crowd-funded '''Xavier’s Gala''' on May 5th, ironically named after Xavier Trasen. This is a holiday where megacorporate presence is totally rejected - no businesses can be found partaking in any practice here, outside of the unofficial organization which assembles it. In this, people tend to gather in carnival-like fairs that celebrate the independence of the system and the freedoms granted to them by the events of the last sixty years.
 
Immigrants find difficulty integrating into Tau Ceti’s varied cultures, to such an extent that they are often warned against entering alone without family or friends. Basic necessities are easy to get, as the nature of the Republic promotes all manner of immigration from anywhere, but finding your own place amidst the confusion can be an overwhelming task to most. Social standing is hard to come by as a newcomer, forcing immigrants to lean into NanoTrasen to develop any sort of positive track record in the system.
 
====Life in Phoenixport====
While the overwhelming majority of Tau Ceti and Biesel rest beneath the grinding wheels of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate, there is one city that stands as an exception to this rule: Phoenixport, Biesel’s second largest city. This major shipping centre on the Phoenix Ocean was previously dominated by NanoTrasen before a disastrous legal battle and losses from the phoron crisis saw the megacorporation sell off its assets in the city to recoup its losses. Unfortunately for NanoTrasen, its assets in Phoenixport were quickly snatched by [[Einstein Engines]] - their main rival.
 
The domination of Phoenixport by Einstein Engines has been a double-edged sword for the city. It has become an enclave for non-megacorporation-owned businesses thanks to Einstein’s desire to show themselves as a more benevolent overlord while also spitting in the face of their rival’s monopoly, and now serves as a hub for independent businesses throughout the Orion Spur. Unfortunately, NanoTrasen has not taken the transfer of ownership idly - any NanoTrasen employees within Phoenixport have been given until March of 2463 to relocate or be summarily fired, Phoenixport residents found outside of the city’s limits are often summarily stopped and searched by NanoTrasen-owned police officers, and Phoenixport-flagged spacecraft are similarly “randomly” searched by SCC patrol vessels. Yet despite this the prospect of having a business not owned by NanoTrasen continues to attract new capital to Phoenixport.
 
In the meantime Einstein Engines, the new hegemon of Phoenixport, has worked feverishly to establish itself in a hostile corporate environment. Repeated shakeups of Phoenixport’s zoning and local government have allowed it to rapidly establish a foothold, particularly in the downtown of the city. Most former NanoTrasen properties have been demolished and replaced with orbitally-deployed Einstein facilities, including a new building referred to as “the Spire” by local residents erected atop the remains of the former NanoTrasen city headquarters. The Spire, which towers over every other building in the city, is regarded by Einstein Engines as its central administrative hub for Biesel, and Doctor Lopez-Zhang allegedly wishes to see it surpass NanoTrasen’s headquarters in due time.
 
====NTCC Odin====
The NTCC Odin, or NanoTrasen Central Command, is the primary headquarters for the NanoTrasen Corporation in [[Tau Ceti]], and the primary focal point of the Corporation in space. The station is just under the NanoTrasen Headquarters in [[Mendell City]]. At the end of every shift crew can take a shuttle back to the Odin to end their working day.
[[File:Odin_Lanze.png|600px|thumb|right|The NTCC Odin, floating in space.]]
The Odin consists of three arms surrounding a command spire: The residential block, the industrial block and the commercial block. The residential block contains housing, shopping and leisure facilities with accommodation ranging from simple hab sleeper booths to luxury apartments. The richest district of the residential block is known as "Archway" for its faux stone facades and is home to many corporate executives and senior members of NanoTrasen. The Industrial block contains various phoron and materials refining facilities alongside ship maintenance blocks. Space is at a premium on the station so it is known for small storage rooms to be sub-let within the district. This practice has formed one of the poorest areas on the station - the "Refinery Block". Those not wishing to rent hab sleepers yet possessing insufficient credits for a box apartment can find cramped, grimy but affordable housing here. The commercial district contains various NanoTrasen commercial departments including key corporate offices and NanoTrasen's local Extranet. Station Security (Civil Protection) is head quartered here.
 
At the head of the command spire is located Tau Ceti's NanoTrasen Emergency Response Team (ERT) Command and facilities; this includes private docks for ERT vessels, armories and living quarters.
At the base of the command spire are the station's docking facilities, with the lower berths serving the numerous heavy freight and mining vessels that traverse Tau Ceti and the upper serving as private dockland that services various ships ranging from luxury cruisers to system transports and junk barges. It is not unknown for some of the station's citizens to live within their personal spacecraft to avoid paying rental fees for station accommodation and only having to pay dock rental fees instead.
 
The station defenses are split into three systems: The first defense system is two private military frigates permanently stationed at the Odin - NTV Diewana and NTV Ogun, the crew of which is drawn from staff on rotation from the Odin. When in Sol Alliance space they are both licensed under Private Military Vessel Licenses (PMV). Both are capable of Atmospheric Operations. As a second defense system the station itself is ringed by state of the art point defense laser systems and an array of artillery canons. Whilst serving as one of the station's defensive measures, the weapons array can also allow the station to function as a Battle Cluster Defense Station for Biesel if it were required to do so. The third defense system is the paramilitary ERT teams supplemented by equipment enhanced Civil Protection units which can be deployed to repel boarders or maintain the peace on the station in times of extreme civil disobedience.
 
The "outdoor" residential and commercial zones having a standard temperature of 25 degrees celsius with a light breeze. The Industrial districts and interiors have a variable temperature depending on the activities within.
 
====[[Corporate Reconstruction Zone]]====
Formerly Solarian space, the Corporate Reconstruction Zone is the name for all systems occupied by the Republic of Biesel that are not within [[Tau Ceti]]'s gravity well. These were occupied during the [[KING OF THE WORLD| King of the World]] arc and its finale, and after the Solarian Alliance retracted all necessary support to them. Essentially, the Alliance cut these colonies' lifelines off, and only the Republic would step up to fill the void.
Formerly Solarian space, the Corporate Reconstruction Zone is the name for all systems occupied by the Republic of Biesel that are not within [[Tau Ceti]]'s gravity well. These were occupied during the [[KING OF THE WORLD| King of the World]] arc and its finale, and after the Solarian Alliance retracted all necessary support to them. Essentially, the Alliance cut these colonies' lifelines off, and only the Republic would step up to fill the void.


The Zone, or the CRZ, is an area of instability and logistical chaos where once-Alliance colonies exist in relative peace compared to the adjacent [[Human Wildlands]]. This is owed to two factors: the presence of the lingering Stellar Corporate Conglomerate, and the federal authority of the Republic of Biesel backing them up. To avoid the ire of the Conglomerate as well as dealing with its allies, warlords and other major antagonistic factions refrain from entering these territories.
== Politics and Government ==
 
The Federal Republic of Biesel is a '''federal democracy''' that is committed to ensuring the dignity and basic rights of all that make up the Republic, as laid out in the Constitution. It is composed of 5 member states.
Within the CRZ, slow progress is being made to restore order and rebuild the territories under a Biesellite banner. '''Not all of the colonies here are fully subservient to the Biesellite rule.''' In fact, this varies purely on an individual basis. Many find the collapse of the Alliance to be pinned on Republic scheming, while others accept the newfound administration with open arms.


The logistical hurdle of providing for this mighty swath of space is one unforeseen to even those who willingly fell under Biesel's authority.
The Republic has a bicameral legislative branch, with a '''Republican Congress''' divided into an upper and lower chamber. The upper chamber, the '''State Senate''', is responsible for, in addition to legislature, treaties, the appointment of senior civil and judicial roles, and trying and convicting the impeachment of senior civil servants. It is composed of 10 representatives of each member state of the Republic holding terms of five years, for a total of only 50 senators, and so represents more long-term visions. The lower chamber, the '''Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople''', is responsible for, in addition to legislature, financial bills and triggering impeachments. It is composed of 800 seats which are filled by directly elected representatives of smaller voting divisions. Both chambers together share war powers.  


==IPC Rights in Tau Ceti==
The [[Republic Law|judicial branch]] of the Republic is dual jurisdictional, split between private law (civil and criminal) and public law (administrative and constitutional). Each jurisdiction has an apex court: the '''Council of State''', which is the highest court in private law; the '''Supreme Court of Cassation''', which is the highest court in public law. The latter of which is the judicial check on both the legislative and executive’s authority, and has a role ensuring the constitutionality of any legislation either during its formation or prior to it being assented by the President.


A vast number of synthetics have found themselves through various circumstances, calling the Republic their home. Most of these IPCs are located on Biesel, and by extension its capital, Mendell City. While Tau Ceti is indeed a beacon of hope and relative safety for synthetics, their position in society still remains a precarious one, both from a financial and a security standpoint. [[IPCs in Biesel|For an in-depth look at the lives of IPCs on Biesel in particular, click here.]]
The executive branch is composed of the president and the various administrative departments that assist the presidency in running the government and implementing policies in the best interest of the citizens. Currently, [[Notable_Republic_Figures#President_Åke_Torvald|Åke Torvald]] is the President of the Republic of Biesel.


===Free IPCs===
For the most part, the Republic is very hands off as a result of historical scars over the [[Solarian Alliance]]’s strong governance of [[Tau Ceti]] and a byproduct of its laissez-faire capitalist approaches, with its major responsibilities only being that of: 1) promoting the Republic’s core values of freedom, individualism, multiculturalism, 2) ensuring the Republic’s sovereignty and security against those which would do harm to these values. While many federal laws are in place, it is ultimately left to local governments as to their finer interpretation, application, and enforcement. Consequently, the Republic relies heavily on the [[megacorporations]] for many functions, from private megacorporate [[Republic Education|education]] and health & social care that runs parallel to local state schooling — many of these gaps are filled in by [[NanoTrasen Corporation]], due to their historic dominance over [[Tau Ceti]], but other megacorporations have been beginning to carve out their own portions of these sectors.


Freedom, and even citizenship, for integrated positronic chassis has firmly been established and is something the Republic takes pride of. Either through labour, negotiations, the goodwill of their owners or other occasions, IPCs may find themselves free from ownership, able to pursue their own destiny as independent individuals. Unfortunately for many, such destiny usually involves a hard and at times, short existence.
=== Political Parties and Ideologies ===


Free IPCs are afforded few actual opportunities to improve their lives, existing in a grey area between the relative stability of corporate owned assets, and the solidified protection of the state for citizens. With the recent introduction of the Synthetic Residence Card by the government, free synthetics are able to more clearly and safely navigate through the process of staying in Tau Ceti, finding employment, owning property, and more. While free IPCs were previously allowed to own property without a card, they have been grandfathered in.
====Cetian Congress of Conservatives====
The Cetian Congress of Conservatives is a Cetian Conservative party that seeks to uphold and ''defend'' the [[Biesellite_Culture_and_Society#Societal_Attitudes|traditional values]] of the Republic of Biesel against a perceived threat.


===Synthetic Residence Card===
The party stands for transforming the Republic from a peaceful, economic hegemon that influences the Spur with its prosperity, abundance of [[phoron]], and connections with the megacorporations, and instead one that has a strong military and is able to stand and defend itself. Defence spending and ensuring the [[Tau Ceti Armed Forces]] is best fit to repel a military incursion is the priority for the party, even if at the detriment of spending elsewhere. It advocates for increased federalism and devolving the powers held by the Republic of Biesel’s federal government to those of its planetary and regional governments, and staying hands-off in regional matters. The party is pro-immigration, on the basis that immigrants are a key component of the TCAF’s Foreign Legions, however has advocated for tougher citizenship restrictions where other citizenship application routes are taken and also the tough prosecution and potential deportation (or pressing into TCAF service) of immigrants who criminally offend.


The Synthetic Residence Card is a card that all IPCs within Tau Ceti are encouraged to receive once they gain freedom, as monitored by their tags. Possession of the card entitles an IPC to the right to own property, find employment, enlist in the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion, and gain additional legal protections against repossession. On the other hand, the IPC in question is expected to pay a flat residency fee, as well as a value tax on any property they own.
The Cetian Conservatives’ economic policy would see changes to ensure the federal republic is capable of some economic intervention to ensure competition between the megacorporations remains competitive, however has not meaningfully laid out any plans to achieve such. The party does not wish to limit the power of said megacorporations to empower smaller or regional corporations to compete with the giants. The party has delivered mixed messaging when it comes to the Republic’s reliance on [[phoron]], with party members offering differing views on solutions to the [[phoron|Phoron Scarcity]], however the party has seen a number of [[Republic_of_Biesel#The_Effects_of_the_Phoron_Scarcity|phoron rationing policies]] enacted to ensure what phoron stockpiles do remain are distributed where best seen fit.


The initiative has been well-received by the pro-synthetic community as well as IPCs themselves, although critics have pointed out that the system awards too many rights to non-citizens, potentially shields runaway IPCs, and increases the overall tax burden on all Tau Ceti citizens.
The party’s social policies largely focus on increasing participation in the military. The party has long advocated for national service (including military) for citizens between 16—18, alternative criminal sentencing resulting in mandatory national service, and similar. A significant amount of spending on service members and veterans of the [[Tau Ceti Armed Forces]] is also advocated for, ensuring those doing or who have done their service are well-compensated (and to incentivise those to join the TCAF).


===Attaining Freedom===
While the Cetian Conservative party espouses multiculturalism as one of the Republic of Biesel’s traditional values, the party has wavered when it comes to the rights of more alien species, such as [[vaurca]] and [[diona]]. Party members often raise into question the sapience of these species, whether they are able to positively contribute to Republic culture and society, or some other mitigating factor based in speciesist belief. While significant progress has been made in advancing the rights since the Republic’s independence, the Cetian Conservatives have begun to walk back certain policies brought in by the Biesellite Free Market Party — notably, voting restrictions on bound vaurcae were established in the [https://forums.aurorastation.org/topic/16330-tau-ceti-times/page/3/#findComment-175624 Electoral Integrity Act]. Legislation that sought to wholly emancipate owned [[IPCs]] or provide better opportunities to free, non-citizen IPCs has also been repeatedly quashed, with the Conservatives unwilling to commit to universal IPC emancipation or supporting non-citizen IPCs.


Integrated Positronic Chassis’ owned by both private individuals and corporations have a number of legal means of achieving their release. These measures and laws are regarded as very progressive owing to the fact that IPCs can attain freedom on their own merits. Regardless, it is still very difficult to attain because of the nebulous nature of the worth of an IPC’s work, its estimated value, along with loopholes exploited by their owners in order to keep them for as long as possible.
In 2466, the Cetian Conservatives under now President [[Notable_Humans#President_Åke_Torvald|Åke Torvald]] and Vice President Adalet Uysal defeated the BFMP in the Republic’s presidential election, marking the first change in administration in the Republic’s history. On their own the party is not able to achieve much, not controlling enough of the seats in the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople to rush through legislation despite holding the most. As such, the party is only capable of seeing legislature through when backed by at least one of the other significant parties, and which usually results in the Conservatives having to back the legislation of another party.


The government keeps track of all IPCs within Tau Ceti space via the usage of tags, and in the case of synthetics that reside in the Republic, these tags also track an IPC’s progress towards freedom through its estimated value, number of hours worked, and its actual age. In theory, this allows Tau Ceti to protect IPCs from being owned for too long and providing evidence in case a dispute over whether or not an IPC is eligible for freedom has to be settled.
The party is headed by '''Adalet Uysal''', Vice President of the Republic of Biesel. Though President [[Notable_Republic_Figures#President_Åke_Torvald|Åke Torvald]] won his presidential bid with the support of the Cetian Congress of Conservatives, he is not a member of the party on paper. They control a fluctuating '''38%''' of the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople seat share.


In practice, the tags are only marginally effective in this purpose as owners tend to set arbitrary wages, assign inflated values to IPCs, or in some cases, simply untagging and hiding the synthetics. While smaller businesses or private owners are unlikely to get away with such behaviors owing to their limited resources, megacorporations are more prone to holding onto their IPCs owing to the influence and bargaining power they have.
====Biesellite Free Market Party====
The '''Biesellite Free Market Party''' is a corporatocratic party that advocates for a wholly deregulated, free market economy with ideally zero intervention by the state. It is generally regarded as a puppet party of [[NanoTrasen Corporation]].


Another way IPCs commonly gain freedom is that they are set free by their owners. This can happen for any number of reasons; an IPC getting too old to be cost effective, an act of charity by a sympathetic owner, or being purchased by a pro-synthetic group such as the Trinary Perfection explicitly for the purpose of being set free.
The party seeks to foster an environment where the megacorporations can continue to prosper, and that market forces will shape the economy into what is demanded by the consumer. Under the BFMP, megacorporations have and would be encouraged to replace services typically provided by the state, ranging from basic utilities (water, power, etc.) to replacing all state welfare services through employment programmes. The party advocates for equal rights across the board for all recognised sapient species of the Spur — including oft-excluded [[vaurca]] — however, this is wholly transparently not altruistic and instead to bolster the workforce available to the megacorporations. For the same reasons, it is pro-immigration and lax on citizenship requirements.


===IPC Citizenship===
The BFMP also takes an explicitly [[Biesel]]-first stance, prioritising the financial and cultural centre of the Republic of Biesel over the other planets and moons. The party has shown little interest in meaningfully tackling the problems experienced by other federal regions of the Republic, other than ensuring they too enshrine the corporatocratic and party values as [[Biesell] is eager to take on.


For many free IPCs, citizenship is viewed as the ultimate goal in integrating into society. Citizenship entitles an IPC to increased legal protections, almost, if not on par with that of a natural-born human citizen, including complete protection as well as legal representation from being owned ever again. NanoTrasen and its subsidiaries are also obligated to pay IPC citizens working for it an equal wage as compared to humans. This compensation typically comes in the form of increased benefits such as repairs, insurance, and a pension, as opposed to a simple wage increase however. They also pay the same tax rate as regular citizens and no longer have to maintain the residency fee.
The party is a staunch advocate for the continued mass adoption of [[Phoron#Application_of_Phoron|phoronic technologies]], even in the face of the [[Republic_of_Biesel#The_Effects_of_the_Phoron_Scarcity|Phoron Scarcity]]. It has stated that the Republic of Biesel’s future relies upon and is determined by the continued exploitation of [[phoron]] by [[NanoTrasen Corporation]], and that the megacorporation and state’s missions are one and the same in regard to the elusive element.


Obtaining a citizenship is difficult, but straightforward. An IPC is eligible to apply for citizenship after meeting one of two criteria:
Historically, the BFMP has had a major influence on the Republic of Biesel, having been in power from its [[Tau_Ceti_History#NanoTrasen’s_Monopoly_and_Independence_(2410_-_2452)|independence]] in 2452 to 2466 when the party was finally ousted. It has been a strong supporter of the now defunct [[Tau_Ceti_Armed_Forces#Tau_Ceti_Foreign_Legion_(2459—2463)|Tau Ceti Foreign Legion]] and was responsible for securing a number of deals between the armed forces and the [[Vaurca_Hives#Zo'ra|Zo’ra Hive]]. During power, it advanced the rights of many alien species, shaping the Republic of Biesel into the beacon of liberty in human space it is today. It is also, as a result of incalculable lobbying efforts from the megacorporations — particularly [[NanoTrasen Corporation]] and, in more recent years, the [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]] — responsible for the level of integration and inter-reliance the megacorporations have within the Republic.


* An IPC has served within the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion for three years.
Since being voted out of power, the BFMP has been in a state of disarray, as it had never prepared to lose an election when it had the full support of the Spur’s megacorporations behind it. Naturally, it continues to receive heavy support from the megacorporations.
* An IPC has been employed as a free synthetic within NanoTrasen for six years and has a command-level income.
* This is to ensure that the IPC is a productive member of society and can pay taxes when made a full citizen.


In practice, the road to citizenship is far longer owing to the fact that the Republic has numerous applicants, as well as the red tape involved in the process. Preferential treatment is often given to IPCs that have served in the TCFL, although the stated term of service of three years is often longer for synthetics which don’t have a specialization within the Legion. Negotiations have also begun with other SCC-affiliated companies to extend the same citizenship privileges as NanoTrasen does, but no deal has materialised as of yet.
The party was formerly headed by former president [[Notable_Republic_Figures#Joseph_Dorn|Joseph Dorn]] who retired after his election defeat. It is now headed by '''Caroline Benkhoff''', a former [[NanoTrasen Corporation]] executive who has since changed career and entered Republic politics — shocker. They control a fluctuating '''16%''' of the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople seat share.


== Government ==  
====The Egalitarian Coalition====
=== Government ===
The '''Egalitarian Coalition''', or just ''Egalitarians'' (sometimes ''Republic Egalitarians'' to differentiate from other Spur parties), is an alien rights and equality single-issue party that seeks to improve the lot of non-human species in the Republic of Biesel.


In accordance with its Constitution, adopted after independence in 2452, the Republic of Biesel operates as a '''Federal Democracy'''. It has an elected president, a Congress and supreme Courts. Despite the fact that there are checks and balances between the branches of government, rumours persist that President Dorn has amassed political capital in order to have greater influence over the branches than stipulated in the constitution he is supposed to uphold.  
The party focuses on the Republic’s tenets on multiculturalism, personal freedoms and individualism, and argues that previous governments have fallen short on these values by allowing non-human species within the Republic to disproportionately be subjected to discrimination and segregation to deprived areas. The Egalitarians seek to break up instances of segregation in the Republic, minimise state encroachment and violations on sentient liberties, and significantly increase social spending to deprived cities and regions of the Republic of Biesel (particularly in [[Mendell City]], [[New_Gibson#Virklund|Virklund]], and the [[Corporate Reconstruction Zone]]). It is entirely pro-alien and inclusive of species often excluded ([[IPC|IPCs]], [[vaurca]], [[diona]]). The party is pro-immigration and supportive of lax citizenship application routes where it concerns aliens, but has indicated it would limit asylum application from other human states (arguing humans have more options to seek safe asylum within compared to aliens), and is also for universal suffrage regardless of citizenship status.


The Republic of Biesel is composed of two divisions; the State Senate (upper chamber) and the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople (lower chamber) which together form the legislative branch, Congress. Legislation will typically be created and passed by the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople. On the other hand, the State Senate focuses on bills, resolutions, amendments, and treaties - usually legal items that could drastically change the Republic of Biesel.
An ambitious policy of the Egalitarian Coalition is that of outlawing the [[Vaurca Hives]] practice of creating and lobotomising [[Vaurca#The_Bound|Bound vaurca]] within Republic territories, who they argue — without lobotomisation — could have formed into Unbound instead. The creation of an unbound would be tantamount to inflicting grievous bodily harm, and bound would be covered under the same protections that unbound are — and so owning one would be tantamount to slavery. The party has not outlined any plans on how they would deal with Bound already active in the Republic.


The executive branch is composed of the presidency and the various ministerial departments that assist the presidency in running the government and implementing policies in the best interest of the citizens. Currently, it is led by President Joseph Dorn. All laws must be measured up to the Constitution of the Republic of Biesel, and those that can't pass this test are deemed null and void. This led to the creation of two apex courts-the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal-which function together to form the judicial branch.
The party has no significant stance towards the megacorporations or the [[Republic_of_Biesel#The_Effects_of_the_Phoron_Scarcity|Phoron Scarcity]], however has condemned the megacorporations which discriminate by species — so, all but [[NanoTrasen Corporation]] — and has acknowledged that the Phoron Scarcity disproportionately affects alien species within deprived cities and areas of the Republic.


===Military===
The party has gained a large amount of publicity with a mandate goal that will see the Federal Republic of Biesel formally renamed to the Federal Republic of the Middle Spur — a name inclusive of all bodies and regions under the Republic. This alone has garnered the support of elder, non-Biesellite Republic citizens — [[New Gibson|New_Gibsonites]] especially — who remain resentful of the [[Biesel]]-first nature of the Republic and its name, though the name is still contested within the party. This has soured the party to some [[Biesel|Biesellites]] though, alienating a portion of their largest voting base.


The Republic of Biesel formerly existed in an area surrounded by Solarian territories. Now, counting the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, it is the martial authority of some of the largest singular swaths of territory in Human space. No major power beyond the dwindling Alliance seeks to undermine the Republic outright, leading to general peace amidst its space. However, pirates and raiders of all sorts are an ever-present threat, especially the further one gets from the core Tau Ceti system.  
The Egalitarian Coalition was formed recently in 2467 out of two regional parties that had struggled previously to field the resources to campaign on a Republic-wide level: the Progressive Party of Biesel and Egalitarian Coalition of Valkyrie. It is almost entirely reliant on the donations from organisations such as the [[The_Trinary_Perfection|Trinary Perfection church]] and [[The_Eternal|Eternal schools]], both of which holding large presences on [[Biesel]].


Most, if not all official military power has been delegated to the individual corporations under the banner of the [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]]. After the Second Solarian Invasion, these megacorporations have ultimately superceded all former power with the promise of a secure Republic. Whatever the case may be, NanoTrasen previously upheld all security in the Tau Ceti system. Many consider the shift of security handling to the Conglomerate to be a swap of names and nothing more.
The party has a co-leadership structure, headed by both '''Montgomery''' and '''Harbinger of Peaceful Purposes''' — an [[IPC]] and [[diona]] respectively. Since combining their resources and planetary reputations, they now control a fluctuating '''23%''' of the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople seat share.


====[[Tau Ceti Foreign Legion]]====
====Cetian Social Democratic Front====
The Tau Ceti Foreign Legion is the primary military of the Republic of Biesel. This is an extension of the government which consists primarily of temporarily assigned, contracted or most importantly volunteer citizens. As well, non-citizens seeking citizenship in Tau Ceti can acquire it through varying degrees of service to the Legion, which changes depending on rank, age, government records, etcetera.
The '''Cetian Social Democratic Front (CSDF)''' is a New Gibsonite Social Democratic party that seems to balance the Republic’s capitalist values with a robust welfare state, as seen on [[New Gibson]].  


Legion operations extend as far as the orbit of Reade, and generally drop off from there, with the exception of their involvement in the [[Tajaran_Military_Structures#The_S.27rend.27marr_Coalition|S'rend'marr Coalition]] at NanoTrasen’s request. The organization is led by the Foreign Legion Stellar Command, who operate from bases in the core of the system and very near to the NTCC [[Odin]].  
The party endeavours to implement a series of policies that will regulate the Republic of Biesel’s economy, implement some anti-trust laws, and increase taxes targeting megacorporations and the wealthy so as to level the playing field in the Republic’s markets and to establish a welfare state. It has explicitly set out to break the [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]] and constituent companies monopolies and party messaging often claims they have been allowed to progress too far, which has seen it gain the ire of the megacorporations. The CSDF has also advocated for significantly increasing public education and health & social care funding, allowing public schools and health & social care services to better compete alongside private services. The party should not be mistaken for left wing or socialist though, and their vision only sees the megacorporations regulated enough to allow competition with local corporations, services, and public bodies.


The Foreign Legion Fleet operates 332 official government vessels, several thousand shuttlecraft and consists entirely of donations from the Trasen Family.
With a notable [[skrell]] influence, as is expected for a party out of [[New Gibson]] and one led by a [[New_Gibson#Xoikku|Xoikku]] skrell, the party has advocated for a [[Nralakk_Federation#Social_Compatibility_Index|Social Compatibility Index]]-like system to be implemented in the Republic, with a scaling universal income based on one’s degree of impoverishment and contribution to the Republic of Biesel. The party has also taken an anti-synthetic stance, seeking to halt any further emancipation or support of owned or non-citizen [[IPC|IPCs]], null the First Amendment that emancipated free IPCs and entitled them to citizenship and the rights thereof, bring back external IPC tagging at a national level, criminalise IPCs who do not clearly identify as such, and to decommission advanced AIs such as [[Notable_Synthetics#Huginn|Huginn]] and [[Notable_Synthetics#Aura|Aura]]. For all other species though, sans [[vaurca]] which they have remained silent on, the CSDF strongly advocates for equality, and putting in place strong anti-hate laws that prevent speech and actions that threaten the Republic’s diverse and multicultural environment.
[[Image:Tcflposter.png|thumb|400px|A recruitment poster for the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion.]]


== Politics ==
Despite its progressive stances, the CSDF takes an anti-immigration stance. The party has stated that temporarily halting citizenship and asylum applications or severely toughening up the application process is necessary for the Republic to effectively handle the strain on its systems which now are exaggerated by the [[Republic_of_Biesel#The_Effects_of_the_Phoron_Scarcity|Phoron Scarcity]]. It is adamant that said anti-immigration stance is not a result of xenophobia.
=== Ideologies ===
==== Pluralist Universalism ====


While Universalism was created within [[Sol]], it has since changed considerably after finding itself within the hearts and minds of Biesellites. While the core of Universalism was founded on the premise of removing trade barriers and increasing the exchange and integration of cultures, essentially adhering to a philosophy of a more freeform society, it found itself wildly changed after its introduction to the Republic of Biesel. It focuses on the need for megacorporations, incorporating them as another source of authority - as well as heavily deregulating the economy in which they are allowed to flourish and grow, not even restricting monopolization. It sets out to further the exchange and integration of foreign cultures through decreased immigration restrictions, as well as supporting equality for all. The '''Republican Universalism Party''' is a follower of this ideology.  
Unlike all other parties, the CSDF is also explicitly anti-[[phoron]], believing phoron alternatives — such as [[Interstellar_Travel#Warp_Travel|warp drives]] and [[Einstein_Engines#Taipei_Engineering_Industrial|cryogenic engineering solutions]] — are vital to see the Republic of Biesel through the phoron scarcity. Yet another reason for the [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]] and constituent companies to scorn the party. However, it has seen the party receive some support from [[Einstein Engines]].


==== Orthodox Protectionism ====
Historically, the Cetian Social Democratic Front has always been hindered by scandals, [[Republic_Security_&_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|Biesel Security Service Bureau]] investigations, and other obstacles set in place by the megacorporate establishment. However, since the election of Ake Torvald, the frequency of these have curiously ceased.


Similarly to Universalism, Protectionism initially began within the [[Sol]], however, it has managed to stay true to its original purpose within the Republic of Biesel. It was founded on the goals of ensuring a structured economy, social intervention, and a unified nationalistic culture. It has mostly adapted to the needs of the Republic of Biesel, specifically breaking up the reliance on the megacorporations as well as the authority that they exercise, increasing regulations regarding immigration, enforcing a unified culture, and even exploring policies that are “Organic First”. The '''Biesellite Protectionism Union''' and the '''United Congress of the People''' are followers of this ideology.  
The party is headed by '''Zash Vi’tak'''. They control a fluctuating '''20%''' of the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople seat share.  


==== Biesellite Hadiism ====
====Minor Parties====
'''Hadiist Party of Tau Ceti'''


Theorized by the [[People's Republic of Adhomai]]'s migrants, Biesellite Hadiism seeks to apply President Hadii's teachings to Tau Ceti's situation. This ideology supports the creation of a strong government supported by the existing megacorporations to provide its people with a robust welfare system. Biesellite Hadiism preaches equality for all species; a system built by immigrants from all races should ultimately provide to them all without discrimination. Unlike the Adhomian version, this Biesellite Hadiism abandoned the hopes of creating a super culture and merely believes in protecting each species' traditional values. This ideology is notorious for its authoritarian tendencies - Biesellite Hadiists want to concentrate unlimited powers in the hands of the President. Because of [[Sol Alliance| Solarian Alliance]]'s stance on the Tajara, the ideology supports the expansion of the [[Tau Ceti Foreign Legion]] into a large military force. The '''Hadiist Party of Biesel''' is a follower of this ideology.  
The Hadiist Party of Tau Ceti is a Biesellite Hadiist party that seeks to apply [[Notable_Tajara#President_Njadrasanukii_Hadii|President Njadrasanukii Hadii]]’s teachings to the Republic of Biesel and its problems.


==== Libertarian Insularity ====
The party seeks to drastically expand the powers of the Republic’s executive branch, consolidating unlimited power in the president, through which the Hadiist teachings can be enacted with greater ease. These teachings include the establishment of a robust welfare state and equality for all species. It is against melting pot multiculturalism and instead advocates for the state to preserve and protect each species’ traditional values, and that they can exist alongside one another but not merging with one another — it somewhat differs from [[People%27s_Republic_of_Adhomai#Hadiism|Adhomian Hadiism]] in this regard, as it has abandoned the idea of creating a superculture. As a result of the [[Solarian Alliance]]’s stance on [[tajara]], the party also advocates for a strong defence budget.


There are countless foundations where Insularity is said to originate from, however, [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] migrants are the reason it exists within the Republic of Biesel. Quite popular within New Marfa, Libertarian Insularity is the implementation of an isolationist model that is used by [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] and focuses on the Republic of Biesel utilizing its resources and efforts to its own advancements by remaining at peace and avoiding binding responsibilities to other nations, as well as restricted government interference in the lives of its citizens. While it is not clear, some say that Libertarian Insularity is inherently against the presence of megacorporations, while others argue that it isn’t. The '''Independent Freedom Party''' is a follower of this ideology.  
Its current leader is Chairman '''Matvei Karakhan''', a [[People%27s_Republic_of_Adhomai|People's Republic of Adhomai]] migrant who also founded the party. They control a fluctuating '''3%''' of the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople seat share.


=== Political Parties ===
'''Syndicated Union of Labourers (Banned)'''


==== Republican Universalism Party ====
The '''Syndicated Union of Labourers (SUL)''' is a radical syndicalist party that seeks to revolutionise the Republic of Biesel into a system of worker’s unions, as seen on [[Himeo]].


Taking a laissez-faire approach, the Republican Universalism Party advocates for a free market economy, mostly through deregulating the economy and allowing the proliferation of megacorporations (particularly [[Nanotrasen Corporation|NanoTrasen]]) within its borders. The party claims that its economic approach signifies independence and that the Republic of Biesel being founded on the contributions of megacorporations is a sign of its success. The party has been vocal regarding the importance of universal citizenship, as well as being resolute in its support of the [[Tau Ceti Foreign Legion]]. Led by President [[Notable Humans|Joseph Dorn]] who is also the main proponent of Pluralist Universalism, the party has promoted increased immigration to Biesel through continued deregulation of policies. The party’s main objective is the continued success of its economy, and that all species are welcome in the Republic of Biesel if they meaningfully contribute to its progress. Most of its supporters are from [[Biesel]], specifically [[Mendell City]].  
The party is the reaction to the Biesellite Free Market Party that has dominated the Republic’s politics since its independence. To this day and despite being banned, it campaigns for the immediate nationalisation of [[megacorporations|megacorporate]] holdings, the expansion of worker’s rights, and then ultimately the dissolution of the [[Republic of Biesel]] after the promotion of worker’s unions to the point they can replace the Republic. However, being the only socialist party to have ever gained significant traction, it often attracts those with their own ideas of syndicalism, or those who aren’t syndicalist at all and instead some other flavour of socialist, so it has forever been uncertain as to whether they would be as extreme in their actions as they say they are — or, if these campaign messages are [[Republic_Security_&_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Intelligence_Service|fabricated]].


==== United Congress of the People ====
Obtaining membership or associating with the SUL is a potentially criminal offence, one that is guaranteed to put someone on a watchlist (''and so must be noted in Security Records, if a character is an open member''), increasing the chance of a [[Republic_Security_&_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]] or CCIA investigation and stricter punishments. Higher echelon members or those responsible for organising party events or membership drives are at risk of serious indictments, up to terrorism. '''You are at greater risk of losing your character should you play an SUL-affiliated person; discretion is advised.'''


The United Congress of the People has advocated for a different economic approach, while not opposing the megacorporations they believe that their expansion may stagger social policies. The party proposes a balance between economic and social development, mostly through increased taxation on megacorporations that will fund social programs. They have been vocal regarding their support of [[Einstein Engines]] in Phoenixport, and the challenge it has brought to the monopoly of the [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]] (namely [[Nanotrasen Corporation|NanoTrasen]]). Within their manifesto, they outline the introduction of a basic universal income as well as increased regulations regarding the formation of monopolies. The United Congress of the People has been noted for having a strong “Organics First” stance. While this has earned them a small bit of bad press, they have gained a significant following of people who feel threatened by synthetics or simply dislike them. It is led by a Traverse-born [[Skrell]], Chancellor Zash Vi’tak.  
== Economics ==
The Republic of Biesel is a market capital economy, described as having strong investments in resource extraction, agriculture, shipping and handling, and manufacturing. In reality, its economy is based on two things: phoron and trade. Exporting phoron, and acting as a trade hub for the rest of the Spur. Both of which are currently under threat due to the scarcity, and have resulted in [[Spurian Economy|economic instability]] within the Republic. Early in the Scarcity, its currency saw some devaluation; however, it has since bounced back as subsidies, the slashing of interest rates, and other monetary policies have managed to keep its economy technically growing slowly for now, but the rate of that growth is falling rapidly year over year. It maintains the '''Biesel Standard Credit''' (电/CR) as its official currency, with some segments of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone still utilizing the Solarian Standard Credit. It sees usage outside of the Republic, within the [[Izweski Nation|Izweski Hegemony]], who adopted it as their official currency following the collapse of the Solarian Alliance, and some sections of the [[Coalition of Colonies]] near the shared border, as well as the [[People's Republic of Adhomai]]. The BSC is available in electronic, bankcard and chip that have the symbol of a lit torch on them. Responsibility for the currency falls to the Central Biesel Banking Authority, which is located in District One of [[Mendell City]], where it cooperates closely with [[Idris Incorporated]] to form monetary policies. Similar to the Solarian Standard Credit, the BSC is a fiat currency.


==== Biesellite Protectionism Union ====
While [[NanoTrasen]] is still the undisputed most powerful megacorporation within the Republic, the Republic is no longer exclusive to them. This was made clear by a daring move of [[Notable Humans#Noelle_Lopez-Zhang|Noelle Lopez-Zhang]], when [[Einstein Engines]] acquired NanoTrasen's holdings in the Biesellite city of [[Biesel|Phoenixport]]. When the government cooperates with Megacorporations, it cooperates with almost all member corporations of the [[SCC]] on somewhat equal terms. Still, for now [[NanoTrasen]] holds significant economic power within the Republic, given their stranglehold on one of the most important aspects of the economy, [[Phoron]]. Phoron has made [[Tau Ceti]] and the Republic as a whole one of the wealthiest nations in the Spur, and has been integral to its very identity. This is, of course, now threatened by scarcity -  something that has put pressure on not only the entire country but on NanoTrasen specifically, [[Phoron|who tries their best to keep up the illusion that all is well]].


The Biesellite Protectionism Union was founded on the principles that seek to strip the megacorporations of their power, citing that they have far too much sway in the governing of the  Republic of Biesel. Those within the party have called for a “redistribution of power” among the megacorporations, breaking up the monopolies that they hold, and they particularly oppose [[Nanotrasen Corporation|NanoTrasen]], blaming the Phoron Scarcity on its monopolization of the resource. The party lacked any significant support before the expansion of the Republic of Biesel into the former territories of the [[Sol Alliance|Solarian Alliance]], now integrated as the [[Corporate Reconstruction Zone]]. Despite its growing support, it has yet to win any meaningful election. The current leader is [[Biesel|Biesel-born]] Premier Kang Guo who is the main proponent of Orthodox Protectionism and is a charismatic individual that has made it his priority to remove the iron grip that megacorporations hold over the Republic of Biesel, alongside the controversial goal of nationalizing Phoron.  
Biesel has a significant presence in the medical technology industry, owing to [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|the agreement signed between Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals and NanoTrasen a decade after the discovery of phoron]]. Its medical innovations spawned from this agreement include being the nation where dexalin and peridaxon were first synthesized.


==== Hadiist Party of Biesel ====
== Culture and Demographics==
''See also: [[Biesellite Culture and Society]]''
<center>''“The people of Biesel could all collectively protest for a century. It still won’t change anything, because power in the Republic does not lie with people. It lies with corporations.”'' - Hugo Beasley, “A Himean In Mendell City”, released 2464</center>


Originally founded by [[People's Republic of Adhomai]] migrants, the Hadiist Party of Biesel is one of the smallest existing parties, but thanks to its idiosyncrasies, it attracted a lot of attention. The Party's ideology, Bieselitte Hadiism, is an attempt to adapt the Tajaran doctrine to the realities of the system. While it is considered to be nothing but a curiosity in Tau Ceti's political system, the Hadiist Party of Biesel, because of its policies of supporting the Tajaran population, is becoming increasingly popular with the Tajara. Its current leader is Chairman Matvei Karakhan, a [[People's Republic of Adhomai]] migrant who also created the Party and is the main proponent of Biesellite Hadiism.  
Due to the [[Tau Ceti History | many events of the past decade]], the Republic of Biesel’s culture has drastically changed in recent years. They place emphasis on individual freedoms, inclusivity, and more recently, duty to uphold those previous two values. Originally a culture propped up by megacorporate entities, in the past decade's challenges, such as the [[KOTW|Second Solarian Invasion]], it is clear that the culture of the young nation [[Tau Ceti History|has come into its own in many ways]]. Still, Republic Citizens are on average largely pro-megacorporation and rather anti-Solarian; the latter sentiment only continuing to increase due to Solarian Actions.


==== Egalitarian Coalition ====
=== Languages ===
Although Tau Ceti Basic has prospered as the official language of Biesel ever since its founding, it has undergone a significant amount of change thanks to the linguistic and cultural additions of the Republic’s many immigrants. Linguists have noted that the original Solarian-born tongue is highly susceptible to both human and alien pronunciation, making accents easy to detect. Due to its multicultural roots, though, little was done to interfere with its natural progression in schools and the general population — Biesel’s government continues to frequently tout Tau Ceti Basic’s many forms to this day. Many actors and singers are especially famous for embracing (or in more dishonest cases, emulating) foreign accents to reach new target audiences or for plain clout. Unsurprisingly, these differences are also used by politicians to tie their voters together or draw lines between them. ‘Pure’ Biesellite accents are mostly a mark of prestige used by diplomats and influential business workers, usually obtained naturally through being born into long-established immigrant families, gradually eschewing their former pronunciation as a result of distance.


The Egalitarian Coalition believes in equity for all within the Republic of Biesel, regardless of species or nationality. It borrows influence from the Biesellite Hadiism, Modified Insularity and Universalism - forming a unique splice of ideologies that do not exist anywhere else outside of the party. They are vocal against the forced integration of colonies within the [[Corporate Reconstruction Zone]], instead advocating for national referendums in which a vote can be held regarding their introduction to the Republic of Biesel or independence. They recently have been doing charity work in Districts 11 and 14, where most of their supporters are. Minister Harbinger of Peaceful Purposes, a Blossoms-born [[Dionae]] from District 11, has led the party since its inception.  
A noticeable byproduct of this multiculturalism is the abundance of foreign slang used by a wide range of Biesellite citizens. Drawn from just about every corner of the Spur, these words and sayings are often thrown into sentences with little care for grammar, with alien immigrants especially finding it hard to let go of old customs. Humans, who generally have an easier time with Tau Ceti Basic, are known to pick these remnants up through living and working close to alien-dense districts. Truly bizarre combinations of dialects and slang emerge from these relationships, which tend to confuse completely foreign listeners, but are the beating heart of culture for urban Biesellites.  


==== Independent Freedom Party ====  
===Aliens in Tau Ceti===
''See also: [[Skrell_Abroad#Skrell_in_the_Republic_of_Biesel|Skrell in the Republic of Biesel]], [[Unathi_Abroad#Unathi_in_the_Republic_of_Biesel|Unathi in the Republic of Biesel]], [[Little Adhomai]], [[Zo'ra in the Republic of Biesel]], [[Minor_Dionae_Factions#The_Biesellian_Choir|The Biesellian Choir]]''


The independence of Tau Ceti also presented its isolation, according to the Independent Freedom Party. The failure of the [[Sol Alliance|Solarian Alliance]] was inevitable due to its expansion, and its involvement in foreign affairs, and that the Republic of Biesel will soon follow in its footsteps unless there are radical changes. It heavily modifies the isolationist model of [[Republic_of_Elyra|Elyra]], going so far as to prohibit nearly all forms of immigration. They have opposed the waves of non-Biesellites, especially the settlements of [[Vaurca|Vaurcae]] that have been established across Tau Ceti. The party has also been a vocal supporter of the Tajara Immigration Bans instituted by the [[Sol Alliance|Solarian Alliance]]. While they are a rather small party and have had trouble keeping their numbers up, they have been gaining support from non-Biesellites, which mostly consist of Elyran migrants and Solarian refugees. It is led by [[Republic_of_Elyra|Elyran-born]] Speaker Aaima Masood. She is the main proponent of Libertarian Insularity.
The Republic has among the most diverse and widespread populations of non-human species in the entire Orion Spur. From the district of [[Little Adhomai]] to the Zo'ra Hive's presence on [[Biesel]] and Caprice, Biesellite humans are no stranger to aliens in their streets. However districts primarily populated by aliens have a lower-than-average income than human-dominant districts, and are essentially ghettos. The condition and wealth divide in these districts is only continuing to worsen as the phoron rationing policies of Ake Torvald sees priority go towards wealthy neighborhoods. They look more run down than ever, as the crime rate has steadily been increasing and black markets begin to pop up more frequently. As a result, similarly to the human poor, [[TCAF|recruitment in the Tau Ceti Armed Forces has become particularly popular]].


==History==
===Synthetics in Tau Ceti===
Being one of the closest systems to Earth, Tau Ceti was one of the first explored by early interstellar travelers. When Biesel was discovered to possess an Earth-like atmosphere, complete with full-fledged biospheres, the system was flooded with settlers. As Biesel flourished and towns grew into cities, explorers began to survey the nearby planet of New Gibson, and found it metal-rich. Corporations and individuals alike established mining colonies which have grown over the centuries into massive domed cities and industrial parks, mining raw materials and turning them into all manner of goods, then shipping them off to Biesel or outside the system. Biesel, with it's Earth-like atmosphere, became the financial and agricultural heart of the system while New Gibson was the industrial powerhouse. Around 100 years after it's first settlers made planet-fall, the Republic of Biesel was formally established as one of the first semi-autonomous states within the Sol Alliance.
''See also: [[IPCs in Biesel]]''


Following the discovery of phoron in the sparsely explored Romanovich Cloud at the edge of the system, NanoTrasen began to move it's corporate assets and bureaucracy onto Biesel. As NanoTrasen became fabulously wealthy, the money trickled down to the Tau Ceti System's upper class. However, the economic catastrophe of the Second Great Depression threatened to wipe out the entire economy of the Sol Alliance. With the Sol Alliance teetering on absolute bankruptcy and consequential tax hikes for systems, the unemployment rate in Tau Ceti exploded to 20% by 2450. Within the next two years, Nanotrasen became one of the only still functioning corporations within Tau Ceti, making it extremely popular with both politicians and the population at large, as it offered jobs and services unavailable anywhere else.
[[Biesel|Biesel]] is currently home to one of the largest populations of [[IPC|IPCs]] within the known galaxy. Although not yet entitled to the same rights as their fellow Bieselittes, the attitude towards IPCs, owned and unowned is generally regarded as the most progressive within the [[Sol Alliance#Inner Colonies|Inner Colonies]]. IPCs in the Republic are a common sight in urban areas such as [[Mendell City|Mendell City]] and Phoenixport. Such a degree of urbanisation can be attributed to the more developed infrastructure and available services required for the maintenance, housing and charging, as well as employment opportunities provided by the megacorporate presence.


Politicians pushed for closer ties with the mega-corporation, and eased anti-monopoly laws for NanoTrasen. In 2452, The Republic of Biesel and NanoTrasen formed the "Tau Ceti Free Trade Zone", which gave NanoTrasen control of vast swathes of the Romanovich Cloud and at the same time presented an ultimate to the Sol Alliance government to give Tau Ceti independence or face a total loss of Nanotrasen investment. The announcement was met with both praise and outrage: Some welcomed the money that would flow into the system with NanoTrasen able to more effectively mine and distribute phoron, while others claimed that NanoTrasen had 'bought' the government of Biesel and that an Orwellian future was just around the corner. Desperate and unable to enforce their refusal without a total collapse of their economy, the Sol Alliance caved and allowed Tau Ceti to become independent in 2452.
==Military==
''See also: [[Tau Ceti Armed Forces]]''


A side effect of NanoTrasen's increased operations in the sector are that employees from outside the system are often 'bussed' in through the system's Warp Gate. Many have chosen to settle in the system and are provided corporate housing in numerous 'Corporate Enclaves' that have sprung up across New Gibson and Biesel. The system's population is estimated to be one of the most diverse in Human Space.
[[Image:Tcflposter.png|thumb|400px|A recruitment poster for the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion.]]
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=== The Frost Invasion: 2458 - 2459 ===
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In '''October of 2458''' the Sol Alliance had ended anti-piracy patrols around Tau Ceti by its 33rd Fleet as part of a diplomatic campaign to put pressure on the small system over various long-standing disputes. This caused a massive spike in piracy and raider attacks against Tau Ceti, which Biesel's small, part-time military had no ability to deal with effectively. Biesel maintained contracts with NanoTrasen's [[Emergency Response Team]] but the mega-corporation was cool to the idea of increasing investment without re-negotiating the terms of the contracts. The result of negotiations with NanoTrasen ended with an [https://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?p=71272#p71272| announcement on the 20th of October] where Biesel would sponsor NanoTrasen to build thousands of combat drones that can operate near-autonomously in the vacuum of space. This was a disaster for the Alliance, who's plan to pressure Tau Ceti to reduce its proliferation of synthetic life had just backfired spectacularly.
 
This development also angered and worried many Skrell both within Tau Ceti and as far as the [[Skrell | Jargon Federation]]. [https://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?p=71543#p71543 The Federation persuaded the Sol Alliance to enact an 'economic embargo' against the Tau Ceti system, to be enforced by the 33rd fleet] commanded by Admiral Frost. Prices for basic goods skyrocketed across Tau Ceti as imports hit a bottleneck after the bluespace gate leading to the system was shut down. Tensions between Synthetics and Organics as well as general xenophobia grew across Tau Ceti.
 
[https://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?p=72875#p72875 On '''December 1st'''] crisis talks between the Sol Alliance, Jargon Federation, and the Republic of Biesel that had been attempted to resolve the crisis had come to an end. The Alliance's demands had grown from not Biesel cancelling its combat drone program, but also creating strict regulations and controls on its synthetic population, and finally that Biesel would allow Alliance and Jargon authorities to assume leadership in federal and state law enforcement agencies. Biesel agreed to all but the last demand, saying it would be surrendering its autonomy. The crisis also revealed a divide between the Federation and the Alliance: The Federation was trying to focus specifically on Tau Ceti's synthetic proliferation, but had been caught up in the Alliances' attempt to re-assert itself over its former break-away province. At the end of these talks both sides walked out and negotiations broke down, and with it the hopes of resolving the crisis peacefully.
 
On '''December 26th 2458''' [https://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?p=73541#p73541| Biesel announced it had formed an economic partnership] with the [[Republic of Elyra]] and NanoTrasen called the Association for Market Stability. This economic alliance created a union between the only two galactic nations with control over large phoron deposits. Overnight the entire balance of power shifted as Biesel now had a serious bargaining chip to use against the Alliance: potentially slashing phoron exports and tanking the Alliance economy. This further sunk relations between Tau Ceti and the Alliance, and many within the Alliance began to consider Biesel a serious risk to its security.
 
On '''February 26th, 2459''', with no end of the embargo in sight, [https://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?p=74869#p74869 Biesel expelled the Alliance's diplomats in its system and ordered the closure of the Alliances' embassy]. It accused the Alliance diplomats of intimidation and abuse towards Biesel authorities. Diplomatic ties between the two nations were now completely severed. The first warning signs from Admiral Frost surfaced here, with the admiral warning Biesel that there would be retaliation.
 
On '''February 27th 2459''', [https://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?p=75258#p75258| Biesel's Congress voted to trigger a constitutional convention that would allow them to re-write the Constitution of the republic]. The purpose of the convention was clear: pro-synthetic factions had finally gathered enough influence, and full emancipation of synthetics was soon to be a reality. The proposed amendments would also see a streamlined legal framework in regards to synthetic ownership, employment of synthetics, and the legality of their treatment.
 
[https://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?p=75365#p75365| Only three days after the announcement of the convention], Admiral Frost suddenly invaded Tau Ceti with the 33rd fleet. He was acting autonomously and without orders from the civilian government. His fleet's overwhelming firepower and rapid speed overwhelmed Tau Ceti's tiny defense network. Within 5 hours the Republic of Biesel capitulated to Admiral Frost, who had seized an entire star system in a near-bloodless invasion. President Dorn, who had been captured by a 33rd commando raid, broadcasted a televised speech announcing his unconditional surrender. Frost seized control of Biesel as its dictator, and began his campaign of terror, who's goals can be best described by the man himself.
 
''"This colony of the Alliance has been proliferating synthetics as potential weapons of mass destruction. There have already been numerous incidents where synthetic infiltrators have murdered people in cold blood to progress their agenda. Synthetic proliferation is an existential threat to all mankind. Like a weed, synthetics take root among us and spread until they are able to strangle us all. They can look like us, they feel no pain, and are incapable of understanding mercy. To allow the Tau Ceti government to build an army of combat synthetics, despite the abhorrent lessons of history, is unthinkable. The 33rd, along with assistance from federal, state, and NanoTrasen authorities, will be working over the next month to completely cripple the power of synthetics in this system. They will be dismantled. They will be re-purposed. They will be returned to their status as tools and stripped of all notions of independence or emancipation. Synthetics are tools, and made to serve mankind. But they are dangerous to leave unchecked. This colony's administration was incapable of handling or even understanding the Pandora's box they were opening. Hail Sol, and God bless the Alliance."''
 
During the occupation Frost used his totalitarian authority with vigor. Many free IPCs were sold into slavery or scrapped, robotics labs were shut down and demolished, and 33rd Officers even took over Captainship of NanoTrasen stations in Tau Ceti like the NSS Aurora. Many in Tau Ceti resisted the occupation, with protests gripping the streets of every major city.
 
[https://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?p=75614#p75614 Eventually, the Sol Alliance 25th fleet arrived to Tau Ceti and fought the 33rd in a surprise attack], chasing it from the system. Admiral Frost and a small retinue of loyalists were chased to the NSS Aurora where he managed to evade capture from its security force and 25th Marines on his tail, and he escaped to the frontier.
 
The 25th Fleet left Tau Ceti after chasing off the 33rd, and a humiliated Alliance, who's rogue Admiralty was now public knowledge, ended the embargo.


The invasion and occupation by Admiral Frost forever altered politics and lifestyles in Tau Ceti. Before the invasion, patriotism was uncommon and viewed as strange. But the invasion created a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism within its diverse population. President Dorn returned to his office of the presidency amid soaring approval ratings, and declared that a new era had begun for the small Republic. Snap elections flooded Congress with New Republicans, a radical Universalist party that Dorn himself defected to at the expense of his former, moderate Republican Party.  
The Republic of Biesel's sovereignty is currently protected by the Tau Ceti Armed Forces, which were formed in 2465 in response to the long and difficult fight against insurgency in the [[Corporate Reconstruction Zone]], replacing [[TCAF|their ineffective predecessors in the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion.]] An amendment to the [[Peacekeeper Mandate|People's Protection Act]] saw the creation of the TCAF, alongside the new branches of the Tau Ceti Minutemen (Army), Republican Fleets (Space Fleet), and the Corporate Auxiliary Forces (Corporate Paramilitaries). Since [[Tau Ceti History|President Torvald’s election]], the [[TCAF]] has seen it’s funding increase dramatically, and be prioritized for phoron after the president instituted soft-rationing, which has led the military to see a surge in recruitment numbers, while retaining access to some of the best technology and equipment available in the spur; enough to where by most estimates, they could put up a real fight against their current regional threat, the reconstituted [[Solarian Alliance]].


Despite being plagued by corruption scandals and growing tension domestically and abroad, President Dorn continued to ride on his popularity as a war time President to push through key New Republican reforms that see synthetics and non-humans in Tau Ceti granted greater freedoms and rights, while at the same time loosening already timid regulations on NanoTrasen.
Non-citizens seeking citizenship in Tau Ceti can acquire it through service in the Armed Forces.
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===[[SLF Incursion Arc|SLF Incursion: 2461]]===
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The Synthetic Liberation Front, after several years of inactivity, appeared once more in the Republic in 2461. In a do-or-die final throw for life, they attempted to set up a safe route for disadvantaged synthetics to enter the Republic through on the NSS Aurora. This resulted in a miserable failure on all sides, with the SLF brought to its end and various anti-synthetic groups failing to apprehend the main perpetrators of the incursion.  


The events of the SLF Incursion Arc can be found in detail [[SLF Incursion Arc|here.]]
Their current operations extend as far as the borders of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, and generally drop off from there, except their previous involvement in the [[Tajaran_Military_Structures#The_S.27rend.27marr_Coalition|S'rend'marr Coalition]] at NanoTrasen’s request almost half a decade ago.
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==Technology==
===[[Tajaran Cold War Arc|Crisis in Little Adhomai: Early 2462]]===
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Shortly after the end of the Tajaran Civil War, the three Adhomian nations entered in a cold war. [[Little Adhomai]] was transformed into a theater of operations for intelligence agencies and paramilitary groups seeking to expand the influence of their factions. Several incidents involving the Tajaran forces happened within the Republic. This resulted in a large conflict between Little Adhomai's gangs, in which the outcome was heavily influenced by the previous actions of Tajaran agents operating in Biesel.


The events of the Tajaran Cold War Arc can be found in detail [[Tajaran Cold War Arc|here.]]
'''Phoronics:''' The Republic of Biesel's technological advancements are owed to the vast deposits of phoron in the Romanovich Cloud, and what would become the republic was the birthplace of the “Phoronic Revelotion” a technological revolution that followed the discovery of phoron for almost fifty years, and laid the foundations for the technology of the Spur to become what it is today. Even in the midst of the scarcity, Biesel still has some of the most advanced technology in the Spur thanks to its large supply of phoron - including a large supply of phoron WMDs and Phoron Warheads, planet killers and city killers respectively.
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'''Robotics:''' The relative freedom of synthetics within Biesellite space has also inspired a great degree of research into refining and developing positronics. While many megacorporations still have primary positronic facilities in the Alliance, with some even purchasing Shell frames from [[Einstein Engines]], NanoTrasen and Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals in particular have begun to invest in positronic and frame manufacturing plants on [[Valkyrie]], [[New Gibson]], and Reade.
===[[KING OF THE WORLD]]: Late 2462===
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The Solarian Alliance collapses, and the Republic of Biesel takes the center stage of fighting as rogue admiral Raymond Ozdemir directs his full fleet toward the system!


In the largest singular arc in the Aurora server's history, the collapse of Solarian influence across its middle and outer rings became a lore team effort unlike any other. Among the events that occurred, major changes affected the galaxy at large. These include but are not limited to Michael Frost's death, the Republic of Biesel expanding, the formation of the [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]], and more!
'''Anomalies Studies:''' The Republic's other greatest scientific advancement is the study of the anomalous properties of bluespace. Xenoarchaeology and the study of Alden-Saraspova activity within the Romanovich Cloud is a well-established field in Tau Ceti, and many aspiring anomalists and bluespace researchers venture into Tau Ceti to study the high amount of anomalous items and artifacts that are unearthed within the Romanovich Cloud. Strangely, the rates of anomalous activity emanating from the Romanovich Cloud have steadily increased as phoron has been mined.


The events of the KING OF THE WORLD can be found in detail [[KING OF THE WORLD|here.]]
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Latest revision as of 16:17, 28 July 2026

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    Republic of Biesel
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    Federal Republic of Biesel
    Biesel

    Flag

    Galactic Position
    Capital Planet:
    Capital City    		 Biesel
    Mendell City
    Language(s): Tau Ceti Basic
    Species: Human (Majority)
    Dionae (Minority)
    IPC (Minority)
    Skrell (Minority)
    Tajara (Minority)
    Unathi (Minority)
    Vaurca (Minority)
    Religion: None
    Demonym: Biesellite, Republican
    Government
    Head of State    		 Federal Republic
    President Ake Torvald
    Legislature
    Upper House
    Lower House     		Congress
    State Senate
    Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople
    Established: May 5th 2452


    Contents


    In the core worlds of Humanity’s power, built upon a center of phoron deposits and trade, the Federal Republic of Biesel is an independent state and considered the economic and social centre of the Orion Spur. The young Republic as it is known today came to be in 2452, and since its independence it has only grown stronger, its population flourishing, ignorant or uncaring as NanoTrasen maintained a vice grip over the Republic not only economically, but politically and socially as well.

    However, in recent years, that is changing. The Phoron Scarcity has shaken the very foundations of the republic, not only in regards to NanoTrasen’s monopoly, but also the role it plays on the wider stage of the Orion Spur. Once only holding territory in Tau Ceti, today the Republic of Biesel extends across much of the formerly Solarian Middle and Outer Ring, reaching the new border of the massive Coalition of Colonies, creating the Corporate Reconstruction Zone. The Republic of Biesel's expansion into former Solarian territories was met with both applause and total rejection from its populace Combined with the mounting issues of the Phoron Scarcity, the CRZ would prove the final nail in the coffin for the Republic’s political establishment, which was shaken drastically in 2462. However, Tau Ceti remains one of the most populated systems in Human space, and easily the richest in the galaxy thanks to NanoTrasen, and now the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate.

    The Effects of the Phoron Scarcity

    Nowhere is more intertwined with phoron than the Republic of Biesel. As one of only two nations in the entire Spur with phoron deposits, it has always had the largest phoron deposits and the largest phoron exports. For many, the Republic is the only source of phoron, as unlike the Serene Republic of Elyra, it exports beyond its borders. The Republic’s prosperity, place in the Spur, and technologies all came to be because of phoron and the influence of the company that extracted it.

    As the primary system where commercial phoron mining occurs, Tau Ceti boasts the largest number of phoronic industries in the Spur. The sheer scale of the operation NanoTrasen Corporation created for mining and then processing phoron cannot be overstated — almost the entire planet of New Gibson is dedicated to the production of phoronic components. In 2460, around 23% of the population of the system had a job tied to the phoronics industry. Biesel’s economy and the livelihoods of its citizenry are dependent on phoron to retain their standards of living; it is the most “phoronised” system with the most advanced technology in the Orion Spur. With the Phoron Scarcity threatening the lifeblood of Biesel, fear, instability and doubt are on the rise, with concerns about the Republic’s future that almost came true come the 35th's invasion. Five years since the beginning of the Scarcity, the phoron industries of Tau Ceti are still humming along, but only growing quieter as facilities are gradually shuttered.

    President Torvald has enacted policies attempting to limit the damage of the situation, keeping the economy afloat. Interest rates have dropped to near zero, bills have been signed into law that give substantial subsidies to new facilities built that supply alternatives to phoron — a boon to Einstein Engines — but it’s only barely keeping the flood wall from breaking. More extremely, the Republic and its megacorporations have officially begun to ration phoron, with much of the phoron and its components reserved in the state’s strategic stockpiles. While this rationing has relieved the stress of the scarcity from many people, it has done so by transferring it onto others, due to its unequal nature. Less affluent neighbourhoods find their infrastructure allowed to age and fall apart, becoming unreliable; hardware stores and clinics supply older, non-phoronic wares that are a notable downgrade. More affluent neighbourhoods continue to have phoronic infrastructure maintained, if at much greater cost and sparingly where possible and, while still supplied with phoronic hardware, medicines, etc., the prices have soared. Due to the unstable state of the Spur, the Tau Ceti Armed Forces remains very high on the priority list for phoron allocations. Arms factories and military shipbuilding docks rarely have shortages; the fleets always have enough fluidic phoron for their bluespace drives, and those within the enlisted ranks of the TCAF find themselves in as good a position as the middle class (one of the top reasons enlistment rates haven’t plummeted since the Peacekeeper Mandate saw opinions on the TCAF nosedive). President Torvald has promised these are temporary measures but, for now, there are no signs this will change.

    Unemployment is at an all-time high, with sustainable jobs exceedingly rare and, as crime has skyrocketed, less affluent neighborhoods have changed massively over the past five years. More ghettos are cropping up, and places such as Mendell City’s District 6, District 11, and District 12 look more run down than ever, deprioritised of phoronic infrastructure maintenance. Brownouts and blackouts are of frequent occurrences, as their phoronics based infrastructure (such as phoronic superconductive cabling) falls into disrepair or is unfitted for use elsewhere. It has a cruel similarity to the Alliance's abandonment of their outer worlds during the Collapse. Criminal organizations have filled in the vacuum, allowed to run the districts as they see fit, and be largely unbothered by law enforcement, who only interfere when any violence within these areas spills out into other, less dilapidated parts of the city; in which case the standard response has been to violently bludgeon it back into containment.

    Phoron black markets and the smugglers who supply them have exploded within the Republic, and though they are not yet utilized by the population at large, their presence is steadily growing. Many have come to rely on them for everything from replacement phone/PDA-use SMES cells, to superconductive cabling, to phoronic medications — often stolen. Smuggling routes into Tau Ceti all lead to the tradeport moon of Valkyrie, a nexus for criminal activity. Valkyrie has been hit especially hard by the economic slowdown experienced across the Orion Spur, and its many port workers struggle to make ends meet; it is no surprise that a great many of them now participate in this smuggling activity. With these black marketers paying well for phoronic goods, petty theft of phoron-based equipment from the workplace has reached the top three reasons why an employee contract is terminated within Biesel, despite the unemployment crisis all but ensuring the fired employee will be unable to find another job.

    As a result of the scarcity, NanoTrasen Corporation’s power has waned. Where NanoTrasen once had almost complete control over the Republic's government by themselves, their influence has dropped to just ‘very strong’. Now, the other megacorporations flock like carrion birds, eager to claim what they can and emboldened to challenge the phoron giant. President Torvald appears willing to exploit this, now giving an ear to all of the megacorporations jointly, where previously only NanoTrasen was afforded the privilege.

    Planets

    The Republic of Biesel has expanded greatly since the Solarian Collapse, moving from its home system of Tau Ceti to encompass what is now known as the Corporate Reconstruction Zone.

    Biesel seen from orbit.
    A view of New Gibson.

    Biesel

    The capital of the Republic and its namesake, Biesel is where many megacorporations have moved their primary base of operations to after the Solarian Collapse and recession. Biesel's first colony was established in 2147; a comfortable and temperate planet, it proved a valuable location for agriculture and manufacturing, and after the discovery of phoron in 2352, proved a very valuable location for all sorts of phoronics work. Since then Biesel has become the most wealthy and influential planet in human space. Biesel previously had many smaller corporations, however since the discovery of Phoron, these have either been gradually bought out or undermined by the larger megacorporations; in the contemporary Spur they no longer exist. Despite recent setbacks, NanoTrasen and its subsidiaries account for the majority of economic activity in Biesel and Tau Ceti today - though continue to slip lower.

    Valkyrie

    The moon of Biesel, the Commonwealth of Valkyrie, is a member-state of the Republic that contributes strongly to its economy through its status as a major shipping and trade port. Goods from all over the Spur, legal and illegal, can be found in the twisting streets of Valkyrie, and it acts as a layover for many tourist vessels and trade ships moving across the galaxy. Since the beginning of the scarcity it has also quickly become a hub for smuggler's as corruption runs rife throughout its ports.

    New Gibson

    New Gibson is the second exoplanet to be colonized by humanity, shortly after the initial success of Biesel's colonization attempt in 2147. It is the industrial workhorse of the Tau Ceti system, containing a rich and valuable resource pool with the highest concentrations of many valuable minerals of any planetary surface in Tau Ceti. While New Gibson has a complex dedicated to virtually all industries, its major players are shipbuilding and wide-ranging manufacturing adjacent to its titanic planetary mines. In the cavernous pitfalls and valleys of New Gibson resides both its thriving mining economy and its greatest dangers. Unlike its bigger brother Biesel, New Gibson hosts very few phoronics specific facilities like refineries and compounding factories - though it still uses immense amounts of phoron in its more regular industries, as they wish to create goods up to the 2400s standard of technology.

    Mictlan

    Formerly a Solarian colony, Mictlan had become integral to the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate’s plans for expanding its influence within the unstable region of the Orion Spur. However, violence followed the sudden shift to the Republic of Biesel, with deserters, terrorists, and paramilitaries taking up arms to forcefully push back against the perceived corporate occupation of their planet, eventually resulting in military intervention by the Republic of Biesel, as they instituted the Peacekeeper Mandate to begin to restore order.

    After a protracted occupation by the Tau Ceti Armed forces, including a guerilla war between against the ex-Mictlani Defense Force run Samaritans (a paramilitary group) and a protracted anti-terrorist campaign against the Founding Movement (a political movement that turned towards violent extremism and terrorist tactics), in late 2465, after the leader of the founding movement was found lynched and the Republic Forces negotiated a surrender with the Samaritans following rising public unrest within Tau Ceti, Mictlan eventually managed to secure its status as an independent member-state within the Republic, and now sets it's own terms with the corporations. They have not left in their entirety, merely been somewhat restricted in their activity, and stratification and corporate influence still separates much of the population. Mictlan is the sight of the worst disparity of phoron rationing, with the corporate upper classes getting almost all of the allocated phoron and the anti-corporate lower classes getting little to none of it.

    Port Antillia

    A very recently settled planet, Port Antillia had great ambitions of being a vital port between the Jewel Worlds and the Serene Republic of Elyra. Due to its novel colonisation, it faced severe struggles, which were exacerbated by frequent natural disasters. Ultimately, this resulted in its early collapse, only really seeing itself somewhat stabilised nearly a century later. It has its roots within the nations which formed the Caribbean Federation, who found themselves facing extinction from the ecological crisis that Earth endured.

    Despite millions becoming part of the colonisation effort, no one truly knew the dangers present on Port Antillia. Due to its relative youth on the cosmic scale, the planet experiences earthquakes rather frequently, which produce tsunamis that pose a threat to cities that dot the coasts of Port Antillia. Additionally, volcanic activity is yet another persistent danger with some of the largest eruptions across the inhabited parts of Orion Spur being registered to the planet. Many of the major population centres are equipped to deal with these problems, but there are still minor settlements that have to contend with the hostile geological activity of the planet, with most residents having accepted that they are simply a part of life on Port Antillia.

    Corporate Reconstruction Zone

    Formerly Solarian space, the Corporate Reconstruction Zone is the name for all systems occupied by the Republic of Biesel that are not within Tau Ceti's gravity well. These were occupied during the King of the World arc and its finale, and after the Solarian Alliance retracted all necessary support to them. Essentially, the Alliance cut these colonies' lifelines off, and only the Republic would step up to fill the void.

    Politics and Government

    The Federal Republic of Biesel is a federal democracy that is committed to ensuring the dignity and basic rights of all that make up the Republic, as laid out in the Constitution. It is composed of 5 member states.

    The Republic has a bicameral legislative branch, with a Republican Congress divided into an upper and lower chamber. The upper chamber, the State Senate, is responsible for, in addition to legislature, treaties, the appointment of senior civil and judicial roles, and trying and convicting the impeachment of senior civil servants. It is composed of 10 representatives of each member state of the Republic holding terms of five years, for a total of only 50 senators, and so represents more long-term visions. The lower chamber, the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople, is responsible for, in addition to legislature, financial bills and triggering impeachments. It is composed of 800 seats which are filled by directly elected representatives of smaller voting divisions. Both chambers together share war powers.

    The judicial branch of the Republic is dual jurisdictional, split between private law (civil and criminal) and public law (administrative and constitutional). Each jurisdiction has an apex court: the Council of State, which is the highest court in private law; the Supreme Court of Cassation, which is the highest court in public law. The latter of which is the judicial check on both the legislative and executive’s authority, and has a role ensuring the constitutionality of any legislation either during its formation or prior to it being assented by the President.

    The executive branch is composed of the president and the various administrative departments that assist the presidency in running the government and implementing policies in the best interest of the citizens. Currently, Åke Torvald is the President of the Republic of Biesel.

    For the most part, the Republic is very hands off as a result of historical scars over the Solarian Alliance’s strong governance of Tau Ceti and a byproduct of its laissez-faire capitalist approaches, with its major responsibilities only being that of: 1) promoting the Republic’s core values of freedom, individualism, multiculturalism, 2) ensuring the Republic’s sovereignty and security against those which would do harm to these values. While many federal laws are in place, it is ultimately left to local governments as to their finer interpretation, application, and enforcement. Consequently, the Republic relies heavily on the megacorporations for many functions, from private megacorporate education and health & social care that runs parallel to local state schooling — many of these gaps are filled in by NanoTrasen Corporation, due to their historic dominance over Tau Ceti, but other megacorporations have been beginning to carve out their own portions of these sectors.

    Political Parties and Ideologies

    Cetian Congress of Conservatives

    The Cetian Congress of Conservatives is a Cetian Conservative party that seeks to uphold and defend the traditional values of the Republic of Biesel against a perceived threat.

    The party stands for transforming the Republic from a peaceful, economic hegemon that influences the Spur with its prosperity, abundance of phoron, and connections with the megacorporations, and instead one that has a strong military and is able to stand and defend itself. Defence spending and ensuring the Tau Ceti Armed Forces is best fit to repel a military incursion is the priority for the party, even if at the detriment of spending elsewhere. It advocates for increased federalism and devolving the powers held by the Republic of Biesel’s federal government to those of its planetary and regional governments, and staying hands-off in regional matters. The party is pro-immigration, on the basis that immigrants are a key component of the TCAF’s Foreign Legions, however has advocated for tougher citizenship restrictions where other citizenship application routes are taken and also the tough prosecution and potential deportation (or pressing into TCAF service) of immigrants who criminally offend.

    The Cetian Conservatives’ economic policy would see changes to ensure the federal republic is capable of some economic intervention to ensure competition between the megacorporations remains competitive, however has not meaningfully laid out any plans to achieve such. The party does not wish to limit the power of said megacorporations to empower smaller or regional corporations to compete with the giants. The party has delivered mixed messaging when it comes to the Republic’s reliance on phoron, with party members offering differing views on solutions to the Phoron Scarcity, however the party has seen a number of phoron rationing policies enacted to ensure what phoron stockpiles do remain are distributed where best seen fit.

    The party’s social policies largely focus on increasing participation in the military. The party has long advocated for national service (including military) for citizens between 16—18, alternative criminal sentencing resulting in mandatory national service, and similar. A significant amount of spending on service members and veterans of the Tau Ceti Armed Forces is also advocated for, ensuring those doing or who have done their service are well-compensated (and to incentivise those to join the TCAF).

    While the Cetian Conservative party espouses multiculturalism as one of the Republic of Biesel’s traditional values, the party has wavered when it comes to the rights of more alien species, such as vaurca and diona. Party members often raise into question the sapience of these species, whether they are able to positively contribute to Republic culture and society, or some other mitigating factor based in speciesist belief. While significant progress has been made in advancing the rights since the Republic’s independence, the Cetian Conservatives have begun to walk back certain policies brought in by the Biesellite Free Market Party — notably, voting restrictions on bound vaurcae were established in the Electoral Integrity Act. Legislation that sought to wholly emancipate owned IPCs or provide better opportunities to free, non-citizen IPCs has also been repeatedly quashed, with the Conservatives unwilling to commit to universal IPC emancipation or supporting non-citizen IPCs.

    In 2466, the Cetian Conservatives under now President Åke Torvald and Vice President Adalet Uysal defeated the BFMP in the Republic’s presidential election, marking the first change in administration in the Republic’s history. On their own the party is not able to achieve much, not controlling enough of the seats in the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople to rush through legislation despite holding the most. As such, the party is only capable of seeing legislature through when backed by at least one of the other significant parties, and which usually results in the Conservatives having to back the legislation of another party.

    The party is headed by Adalet Uysal, Vice President of the Republic of Biesel. Though President Åke Torvald won his presidential bid with the support of the Cetian Congress of Conservatives, he is not a member of the party on paper. They control a fluctuating 38% of the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople seat share.

    Biesellite Free Market Party

    The Biesellite Free Market Party is a corporatocratic party that advocates for a wholly deregulated, free market economy with ideally zero intervention by the state. It is generally regarded as a puppet party of NanoTrasen Corporation.

    The party seeks to foster an environment where the megacorporations can continue to prosper, and that market forces will shape the economy into what is demanded by the consumer. Under the BFMP, megacorporations have and would be encouraged to replace services typically provided by the state, ranging from basic utilities (water, power, etc.) to replacing all state welfare services through employment programmes. The party advocates for equal rights across the board for all recognised sapient species of the Spur — including oft-excluded vaurca — however, this is wholly transparently not altruistic and instead to bolster the workforce available to the megacorporations. For the same reasons, it is pro-immigration and lax on citizenship requirements.

    The BFMP also takes an explicitly Biesel-first stance, prioritising the financial and cultural centre of the Republic of Biesel over the other planets and moons. The party has shown little interest in meaningfully tackling the problems experienced by other federal regions of the Republic, other than ensuring they too enshrine the corporatocratic and party values as [[Biesell] is eager to take on.

    The party is a staunch advocate for the continued mass adoption of phoronic technologies, even in the face of the Phoron Scarcity. It has stated that the Republic of Biesel’s future relies upon and is determined by the continued exploitation of phoron by NanoTrasen Corporation, and that the megacorporation and state’s missions are one and the same in regard to the elusive element.

    Historically, the BFMP has had a major influence on the Republic of Biesel, having been in power from its independence in 2452 to 2466 when the party was finally ousted. It has been a strong supporter of the now defunct Tau Ceti Foreign Legion and was responsible for securing a number of deals between the armed forces and the Zo’ra Hive. During power, it advanced the rights of many alien species, shaping the Republic of Biesel into the beacon of liberty in human space it is today. It is also, as a result of incalculable lobbying efforts from the megacorporations — particularly NanoTrasen Corporation and, in more recent years, the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate — responsible for the level of integration and inter-reliance the megacorporations have within the Republic.

    Since being voted out of power, the BFMP has been in a state of disarray, as it had never prepared to lose an election when it had the full support of the Spur’s megacorporations behind it. Naturally, it continues to receive heavy support from the megacorporations.

    The party was formerly headed by former president Joseph Dorn who retired after his election defeat. It is now headed by Caroline Benkhoff, a former NanoTrasen Corporation executive who has since changed career and entered Republic politics — shocker. They control a fluctuating 16% of the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople seat share.

    The Egalitarian Coalition

    The Egalitarian Coalition, or just Egalitarians (sometimes Republic Egalitarians to differentiate from other Spur parties), is an alien rights and equality single-issue party that seeks to improve the lot of non-human species in the Republic of Biesel.

    The party focuses on the Republic’s tenets on multiculturalism, personal freedoms and individualism, and argues that previous governments have fallen short on these values by allowing non-human species within the Republic to disproportionately be subjected to discrimination and segregation to deprived areas. The Egalitarians seek to break up instances of segregation in the Republic, minimise state encroachment and violations on sentient liberties, and significantly increase social spending to deprived cities and regions of the Republic of Biesel (particularly in Mendell City, Virklund, and the Corporate Reconstruction Zone). It is entirely pro-alien and inclusive of species often excluded (IPCs, vaurca, diona). The party is pro-immigration and supportive of lax citizenship application routes where it concerns aliens, but has indicated it would limit asylum application from other human states (arguing humans have more options to seek safe asylum within compared to aliens), and is also for universal suffrage regardless of citizenship status.

    An ambitious policy of the Egalitarian Coalition is that of outlawing the Vaurca Hives practice of creating and lobotomising Bound vaurca within Republic territories, who they argue — without lobotomisation — could have formed into Unbound instead. The creation of an unbound would be tantamount to inflicting grievous bodily harm, and bound would be covered under the same protections that unbound are — and so owning one would be tantamount to slavery. The party has not outlined any plans on how they would deal with Bound already active in the Republic.

    The party has no significant stance towards the megacorporations or the Phoron Scarcity, however has condemned the megacorporations which discriminate by species — so, all but NanoTrasen Corporation — and has acknowledged that the Phoron Scarcity disproportionately affects alien species within deprived cities and areas of the Republic.

    The party has gained a large amount of publicity with a mandate goal that will see the Federal Republic of Biesel formally renamed to the Federal Republic of the Middle Spur — a name inclusive of all bodies and regions under the Republic. This alone has garnered the support of elder, non-Biesellite Republic citizens — New_Gibsonites especially — who remain resentful of the Biesel-first nature of the Republic and its name, though the name is still contested within the party. This has soured the party to some Biesellites though, alienating a portion of their largest voting base.

    The Egalitarian Coalition was formed recently in 2467 out of two regional parties that had struggled previously to field the resources to campaign on a Republic-wide level: the Progressive Party of Biesel and Egalitarian Coalition of Valkyrie. It is almost entirely reliant on the donations from organisations such as the Trinary Perfection church and Eternal schools, both of which holding large presences on Biesel.

    The party has a co-leadership structure, headed by both Montgomery and Harbinger of Peaceful Purposes — an IPC and diona respectively. Since combining their resources and planetary reputations, they now control a fluctuating 23% of the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople seat share.

    Cetian Social Democratic Front

    The Cetian Social Democratic Front (CSDF) is a New Gibsonite Social Democratic party that seems to balance the Republic’s capitalist values with a robust welfare state, as seen on New Gibson.

    The party endeavours to implement a series of policies that will regulate the Republic of Biesel’s economy, implement some anti-trust laws, and increase taxes targeting megacorporations and the wealthy so as to level the playing field in the Republic’s markets and to establish a welfare state. It has explicitly set out to break the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate and constituent companies monopolies and party messaging often claims they have been allowed to progress too far, which has seen it gain the ire of the megacorporations. The CSDF has also advocated for significantly increasing public education and health & social care funding, allowing public schools and health & social care services to better compete alongside private services. The party should not be mistaken for left wing or socialist though, and their vision only sees the megacorporations regulated enough to allow competition with local corporations, services, and public bodies.

    With a notable skrell influence, as is expected for a party out of New Gibson and one led by a Xoikku skrell, the party has advocated for a Social Compatibility Index-like system to be implemented in the Republic, with a scaling universal income based on one’s degree of impoverishment and contribution to the Republic of Biesel. The party has also taken an anti-synthetic stance, seeking to halt any further emancipation or support of owned or non-citizen IPCs, null the First Amendment that emancipated free IPCs and entitled them to citizenship and the rights thereof, bring back external IPC tagging at a national level, criminalise IPCs who do not clearly identify as such, and to decommission advanced AIs such as Huginn and Aura. For all other species though, sans vaurca which they have remained silent on, the CSDF strongly advocates for equality, and putting in place strong anti-hate laws that prevent speech and actions that threaten the Republic’s diverse and multicultural environment.

    Despite its progressive stances, the CSDF takes an anti-immigration stance. The party has stated that temporarily halting citizenship and asylum applications or severely toughening up the application process is necessary for the Republic to effectively handle the strain on its systems which now are exaggerated by the Phoron Scarcity. It is adamant that said anti-immigration stance is not a result of xenophobia.

    Unlike all other parties, the CSDF is also explicitly anti-phoron, believing phoron alternatives — such as warp drives and cryogenic engineering solutions — are vital to see the Republic of Biesel through the phoron scarcity. Yet another reason for the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate and constituent companies to scorn the party. However, it has seen the party receive some support from Einstein Engines.

    Historically, the Cetian Social Democratic Front has always been hindered by scandals, Biesel Security Service Bureau investigations, and other obstacles set in place by the megacorporate establishment. However, since the election of Ake Torvald, the frequency of these have curiously ceased.

    The party is headed by Zash Vi’tak. They control a fluctuating 20% of the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople seat share.

    Minor Parties

    Hadiist Party of Tau Ceti

    The Hadiist Party of Tau Ceti is a Biesellite Hadiist party that seeks to apply President Njadrasanukii Hadii’s teachings to the Republic of Biesel and its problems.

    The party seeks to drastically expand the powers of the Republic’s executive branch, consolidating unlimited power in the president, through which the Hadiist teachings can be enacted with greater ease. These teachings include the establishment of a robust welfare state and equality for all species. It is against melting pot multiculturalism and instead advocates for the state to preserve and protect each species’ traditional values, and that they can exist alongside one another but not merging with one another — it somewhat differs from Adhomian Hadiism in this regard, as it has abandoned the idea of creating a superculture. As a result of the Solarian Alliance’s stance on tajara, the party also advocates for a strong defence budget.

    Its current leader is Chairman Matvei Karakhan, a People's Republic of Adhomai migrant who also founded the party. They control a fluctuating 3% of the Tau Ceti Assembly of Spokespeople seat share.

    Syndicated Union of Labourers (Banned)

    The Syndicated Union of Labourers (SUL) is a radical syndicalist party that seeks to revolutionise the Republic of Biesel into a system of worker’s unions, as seen on Himeo.

    The party is the reaction to the Biesellite Free Market Party that has dominated the Republic’s politics since its independence. To this day and despite being banned, it campaigns for the immediate nationalisation of megacorporate holdings, the expansion of worker’s rights, and then ultimately the dissolution of the Republic of Biesel after the promotion of worker’s unions to the point they can replace the Republic. However, being the only socialist party to have ever gained significant traction, it often attracts those with their own ideas of syndicalism, or those who aren’t syndicalist at all and instead some other flavour of socialist, so it has forever been uncertain as to whether they would be as extreme in their actions as they say they are — or, if these campaign messages are fabricated.

    Obtaining membership or associating with the SUL is a potentially criminal offence, one that is guaranteed to put someone on a watchlist (and so must be noted in Security Records, if a character is an open member), increasing the chance of a BSSB or CCIA investigation and stricter punishments. Higher echelon members or those responsible for organising party events or membership drives are at risk of serious indictments, up to terrorism. You are at greater risk of losing your character should you play an SUL-affiliated person; discretion is advised.

    Economics

    The Republic of Biesel is a market capital economy, described as having strong investments in resource extraction, agriculture, shipping and handling, and manufacturing. In reality, its economy is based on two things: phoron and trade. Exporting phoron, and acting as a trade hub for the rest of the Spur. Both of which are currently under threat due to the scarcity, and have resulted in economic instability within the Republic. Early in the Scarcity, its currency saw some devaluation; however, it has since bounced back as subsidies, the slashing of interest rates, and other monetary policies have managed to keep its economy technically growing slowly for now, but the rate of that growth is falling rapidly year over year. It maintains the Biesel Standard Credit (电/CR) as its official currency, with some segments of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone still utilizing the Solarian Standard Credit. It sees usage outside of the Republic, within the Izweski Hegemony, who adopted it as their official currency following the collapse of the Solarian Alliance, and some sections of the Coalition of Colonies near the shared border, as well as the People's Republic of Adhomai. The BSC is available in electronic, bankcard and chip that have the symbol of a lit torch on them. Responsibility for the currency falls to the Central Biesel Banking Authority, which is located in District One of Mendell City, where it cooperates closely with Idris Incorporated to form monetary policies. Similar to the Solarian Standard Credit, the BSC is a fiat currency.

    While NanoTrasen is still the undisputed most powerful megacorporation within the Republic, the Republic is no longer exclusive to them. This was made clear by a daring move of Noelle Lopez-Zhang, when Einstein Engines acquired NanoTrasen's holdings in the Biesellite city of Phoenixport. When the government cooperates with Megacorporations, it cooperates with almost all member corporations of the SCC on somewhat equal terms. Still, for now NanoTrasen holds significant economic power within the Republic, given their stranglehold on one of the most important aspects of the economy, Phoron. Phoron has made Tau Ceti and the Republic as a whole one of the wealthiest nations in the Spur, and has been integral to its very identity. This is, of course, now threatened by scarcity - something that has put pressure on not only the entire country but on NanoTrasen specifically, who tries their best to keep up the illusion that all is well.

    Biesel has a significant presence in the medical technology industry, owing to the agreement signed between Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals and NanoTrasen a decade after the discovery of phoron. Its medical innovations spawned from this agreement include being the nation where dexalin and peridaxon were first synthesized.

    Culture and Demographics

    See also: Biesellite Culture and Society

    “The people of Biesel could all collectively protest for a century. It still won’t change anything, because power in the Republic does not lie with people. It lies with corporations.” - Hugo Beasley, “A Himean In Mendell City”, released 2464

    Due to the many events of the past decade, the Republic of Biesel’s culture has drastically changed in recent years. They place emphasis on individual freedoms, inclusivity, and more recently, duty to uphold those previous two values. Originally a culture propped up by megacorporate entities, in the past decade's challenges, such as the Second Solarian Invasion, it is clear that the culture of the young nation has come into its own in many ways. Still, Republic Citizens are on average largely pro-megacorporation and rather anti-Solarian; the latter sentiment only continuing to increase due to Solarian Actions.

    Languages

    Although Tau Ceti Basic has prospered as the official language of Biesel ever since its founding, it has undergone a significant amount of change thanks to the linguistic and cultural additions of the Republic’s many immigrants. Linguists have noted that the original Solarian-born tongue is highly susceptible to both human and alien pronunciation, making accents easy to detect. Due to its multicultural roots, though, little was done to interfere with its natural progression in schools and the general population — Biesel’s government continues to frequently tout Tau Ceti Basic’s many forms to this day. Many actors and singers are especially famous for embracing (or in more dishonest cases, emulating) foreign accents to reach new target audiences or for plain clout. Unsurprisingly, these differences are also used by politicians to tie their voters together or draw lines between them. ‘Pure’ Biesellite accents are mostly a mark of prestige used by diplomats and influential business workers, usually obtained naturally through being born into long-established immigrant families, gradually eschewing their former pronunciation as a result of distance.

    A noticeable byproduct of this multiculturalism is the abundance of foreign slang used by a wide range of Biesellite citizens. Drawn from just about every corner of the Spur, these words and sayings are often thrown into sentences with little care for grammar, with alien immigrants especially finding it hard to let go of old customs. Humans, who generally have an easier time with Tau Ceti Basic, are known to pick these remnants up through living and working close to alien-dense districts. Truly bizarre combinations of dialects and slang emerge from these relationships, which tend to confuse completely foreign listeners, but are the beating heart of culture for urban Biesellites.

    Aliens in Tau Ceti

    See also: Skrell in the Republic of Biesel, Unathi in the Republic of Biesel, Little Adhomai, Zo'ra in the Republic of Biesel, The Biesellian Choir

    The Republic has among the most diverse and widespread populations of non-human species in the entire Orion Spur. From the district of Little Adhomai to the Zo'ra Hive's presence on Biesel and Caprice, Biesellite humans are no stranger to aliens in their streets. However districts primarily populated by aliens have a lower-than-average income than human-dominant districts, and are essentially ghettos. The condition and wealth divide in these districts is only continuing to worsen as the phoron rationing policies of Ake Torvald sees priority go towards wealthy neighborhoods. They look more run down than ever, as the crime rate has steadily been increasing and black markets begin to pop up more frequently. As a result, similarly to the human poor, recruitment in the Tau Ceti Armed Forces has become particularly popular.

    Synthetics in Tau Ceti

    See also: IPCs in Biesel

    Biesel is currently home to one of the largest populations of IPCs within the known galaxy. Although not yet entitled to the same rights as their fellow Bieselittes, the attitude towards IPCs, owned and unowned is generally regarded as the most progressive within the Inner Colonies. IPCs in the Republic are a common sight in urban areas such as Mendell City and Phoenixport. Such a degree of urbanisation can be attributed to the more developed infrastructure and available services required for the maintenance, housing and charging, as well as employment opportunities provided by the megacorporate presence.

    Military

    See also: Tau Ceti Armed Forces

    A recruitment poster for the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion.

    The Republic of Biesel's sovereignty is currently protected by the Tau Ceti Armed Forces, which were formed in 2465 in response to the long and difficult fight against insurgency in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, replacing their ineffective predecessors in the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion. An amendment to the People's Protection Act saw the creation of the TCAF, alongside the new branches of the Tau Ceti Minutemen (Army), Republican Fleets (Space Fleet), and the Corporate Auxiliary Forces (Corporate Paramilitaries). Since President Torvald’s election, the TCAF has seen it’s funding increase dramatically, and be prioritized for phoron after the president instituted soft-rationing, which has led the military to see a surge in recruitment numbers, while retaining access to some of the best technology and equipment available in the spur; enough to where by most estimates, they could put up a real fight against their current regional threat, the reconstituted Solarian Alliance.

    Non-citizens seeking citizenship in Tau Ceti can acquire it through service in the Armed Forces.

    Their current operations extend as far as the borders of the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, and generally drop off from there, except their previous involvement in the S'rend'marr Coalition at NanoTrasen’s request almost half a decade ago.

    Technology

    Phoronics: The Republic of Biesel's technological advancements are owed to the vast deposits of phoron in the Romanovich Cloud, and what would become the republic was the birthplace of the “Phoronic Revelotion” a technological revolution that followed the discovery of phoron for almost fifty years, and laid the foundations for the technology of the Spur to become what it is today. Even in the midst of the scarcity, Biesel still has some of the most advanced technology in the Spur thanks to its large supply of phoron - including a large supply of phoron WMDs and Phoron Warheads, planet killers and city killers respectively.

    Robotics: The relative freedom of synthetics within Biesellite space has also inspired a great degree of research into refining and developing positronics. While many megacorporations still have primary positronic facilities in the Alliance, with some even purchasing Shell frames from Einstein Engines, NanoTrasen and Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals in particular have begun to invest in positronic and frame manufacturing plants on Valkyrie, New Gibson, and Reade.

    Anomalies Studies: The Republic's other greatest scientific advancement is the study of the anomalous properties of bluespace. Xenoarchaeology and the study of Alden-Saraspova activity within the Romanovich Cloud is a well-established field in Tau Ceti, and many aspiring anomalists and bluespace researchers venture into Tau Ceti to study the high amount of anomalous items and artifacts that are unearthed within the Romanovich Cloud. Strangely, the rates of anomalous activity emanating from the Romanovich Cloud have steadily increased as phoron has been mined.

    Megacorporate Lore
    Relevant Human Lore Pages Timeline of Humanity · Offworlder Humans · Human Piracy · Human Social Media
    Republic of Biesel
    Locations Tau Ceti · Biesel · Mendell City · Valkyrie · New Gibson · Reade · Caprice · Mictlan · Port Antillia · Corporate Reconstruction Zone
    State and Institutions Republic of Biesel · Tau Ceti Armed Forces · Republic Law · Republic Security & Law Enforcement
    Culture, Society, History Tau Ceti History · Republic Culture and Society · Republic Education · Notable Republic Figures
    Species in the Republic IPCs in the Republic · Diona in the Republic · Vaurca in the Republic · Unathi in the Republic · Tajara in the Republic · Skrell in the Republic
    Megacorporations
    Megacorporations Stellar Corporate Conglomerate
    NanoTrasen Corporation · Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals · Hephaestus Industries · Zavodskoi Interstellar
    Idris Incorporated · Private Military Contracting Group · Orion Express · Einstein Engines
    Locations SCCV Horizon · SCC-CC Odin · Corporate Reconstruction Zone
    Pages Notable Megacorporate Figures · The Trasens · The Idrises
    Quick Navigation
    New Player Lore Starter Guide
    General Languages · Interstellar Travel · Timeline · Phoron · Starmap · SCCV Horizon · Lore Arcs · Deep Space · Guide to Law · Economics · Citizenship · Technology · Terraforming
    Megacorporations Idris Incorporated · Einstein Engines · Stellar Corporate Conglomerate · NanoTrasen Corporation · Orion Express
    Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals Hephaestus Industries · Zavodskoi Interstellar · Private Military Contracting Group
    Major Factions Solarian Alliance · Republic of Biesel · Empire of Dominia · Coalition of Colonies · Eridani Federation · Serene Republic of Elyra · Nralakk Federation · The Golden Deep
    People's Republic of Adhomai · Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai · New Kingdom of Adhomai · Karszekani Moghes · The Rotunnkc Compact
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