Gilgamesh Colonial Confederation
The Gilgamesh Colonial Confederation (GCC), officially the Independent Colonial Confederation of Gilgamesh (ICCG), is a regional power in human space, bordered by the Sol Central Government towards the galactic center. The capital of the Confederation is the city of Amaranth on the planet of Terra, in the Gilgamesh system.
Most of the Confederation's territory had been colonies under the early Terran Commonwealth. Over time, these colonies grew increasingly cut off from the centralized power of the Terran Commonwealth. On 31 July 2231, as part of the founding of the Sol Central Government, the Independent Colonial Confederation of Gilgamesh declared independence. The current Constitution of the Confederation was adopted at this time as well, and it remains in use today.
Member states of the Confederation may be considered either “full” or “pre-integration”. Full members send an elected minister as a representative to the directory, with an ostensibly “first among equals” Premier selected from that body. Other members are invited, instead, to send an elected observer.
Thanks to Terra's status as one of a handful of natural garden worlds in human space, as well as rich mineral deposits in the Confederation's other core systems, the state's economy is dominated by relatively new-growth primary industry – as well as a significant arms sector.
History
Most of the Confederation's territory had been colonies under the early Terran Commonwealth. Over time, these colonies grew increasingly cut off from the centralized power of the Commonwealth. On 31 July 2231, during the founding of the Sol Central Government, the Confederation declared independence. The Confederation has since become a major industrial and military power in the region.
Colonization
The habitable planet of Amaranth Major was colonized in late 2148 after a small fleet of cryogenic generational colonization ships sent out in early 2112 arrived in the Gilgamesh system. Another planet in the system, Amaranth Minor was also colonized during this time, as well as Novaya Zemlya. Other uninhabitable planets in the system were found to be rich in minerals and industrial materials. Development of the system proceeded slowly until the Terran Commonwealth made contact with the system in 2180.
After contact, the colonies in Gilgamesh were re-integrated into its government. With technological and logistical support from the Commonwealth, the Gilgamesh system became a lucrative trade hub. This directly caused a significant increase in immigration to the system, leading to additional economic and societal growth. During this time, developments on the planet of Novaya Zemlya had caused it to become the industrial center of the system.
Independence
In 2228, shortly before humanity's first contact with the Skrell, the colonies of the Gilgamesh system founded the Gilgamesh League, successfully lobbying for the right to expand their territory outside the system. After expansion into neighboring systems, and significant colonization efforts, the League's systems had become almost entirely self-sufficient. In addition, these systems had begun to work towards independence, cut off by their significant distance both physically and ideologically from the central government of the Commonwealth.
On 31 July 2230, during the signing of the Sol Central Government charter, many of the League's colonies declared independence from the now defunct Commonwealth, conglomerating into the Gilgamesh Confederation. By the 24th century, the Confederation encompassed thirty-one systems, with forty-nine colonies, and a population of ten-billion.
Contemporary Period
After the founding of the Sol Central Government, and the Confederation's declaration of independence, the Confederation entered into an economic depression caused by the abrupt withdrawal of support from the SCG. This depression led to a famine, causing the Confederation to expand their borders in an attempt to annex additional agri-worlds to provide for the rest of the Confederation.
Among the planets annexed was Gaia, a world on the border of SCG space. The annexation of this planet led directly to the Gaia Conflict in 2292. The conflict between the SCG and the Confederation aided significantly in the consolidation of the Confederation's economy as well as their overpopulation issues. The conflict ended in a pyrrhic victory for the SCG in 2296. During this time, the Confederation had begun significant economic reforms, which had been put in place by the end of the conflict.
Government
The Confederation is a directorial psephocratic confederation. The Constitution of the Confederation sets the framework for the government of the nation. The Constitution is unable to be amended except by unanimous vote of the directory, and cannot be revised during any national emergency or a time of war. Amendments to the Constitution affecting the sovereignty of member-states, unity, or independence can only be made after the proposal is supported unanimously by the directorial representatives. Furthermore, no revision can be made to limit the fundamental rights of humans enumerated in the Constitution. This does not apply to non-humans.
The nation's central legislative body is the Confederational Directory, whose members are elected by popular vote on party lists every four years. Each member-state of the Confederation may elect their own representative. The head of state is the Premier of the Confederation, who is elected every 8 years from the Confederational Directory, requiring a majority vote by the other ministers. The Premier additionally functions as the head of government and assembles a cabinet, which is subject to directorial approval, as are the majority of official actions which may be taken by the Premier.
Foreign Relations
After achieving independence from the Terran Commonwealth, the Confederation's foreign policy was designed with a view to establishing relations and integrating independent colonies, and isolation from non-human powers. Immigration is strictly controlled, with minimal allowances for the entry of non-humans and citizens of the Sol Central Government, but with fewer restrictions on citizens of independent human colonies.
Military
The Confederation's military is divided into the Ground Forces and Navy. It is mandatory for all citizens to carry out a period of state service upon reaching adulthood, to be begun before the age of 25. The military is one option for that service.
The Confederation has the largest stockpile of cobalt-nuclear weapons in the region. It has the largest fleet of stealth-equipped ballistic missile ships and is the only human government apart from the Sol Central Government with a substantial cobalt-nuclear arsenal. The Confederation's navy is the largest among human powers in the region, and its ground forces are the second largest.
The nation has a large and entirely indigenous arms industry, producing the majority of its own military equipment with only a select few types of weapons imported. The Confederation is the region's top supplier of armaments, accounting for a significant amount of regional weapons sales and exporting weapons to numerous independent states or colonies. In recent years, the Confederation has been known to supply weaponry to a number of independent states. Its military budget is considered high, relative to its wealth.
Economy
In 2306, the Confederation had a GDP per capita on par with Sol's lower-middle income, with significant wealth inequality between new territories and its core colonies. During its early years, the nation experienced decades of economic instability and decline, led in part by a lack of support from the newly formed Sol Central Government and a lack of structural reform. From 2250 onward, however, the Confederation's economy achieved relative macroeconomic stability, characterized by high growth, low unemployment, and declining inflation as it began its campaign of expansion. Although the Gaia Conflict took a massive toll on the GCC, the economic stability of the Confederation began to steadily improve toward pre-war levels after its formal end. According to 2304 census data unemployment in the Confederation is high, again skewed by higher levels in its more recent territorial acquisitions.
The largest local companies include arms manufacturer HelTek, Gazpran Oil and Gas, Grayson Terra, Sinnesloschen Electronics, TDE & TIE, and the Novaya Zemlya Shipyards. Exports have increased substantially over the past few years, with a major rise in 2299 attributed to the re-opening of commercial borders with SCG space. The Confederation's main exports are military equipment, electrical and electronic equipment, industrial machinery, metallurgic products, agricultural products, and raw materials. Its trade policies focus on independent colonies and smaller nations, although by sheer necessity and scale the SCG remains its single largest partner.
Since 2250 the official currency has been the Confederate credit ("cred"). It has a mixed history of stability, but trades favorably against the Thaler.
Cultural and Ethnic composition
The term "Indie" had initially described the inhabitants of the Gilgamesh league. In 2231, the Confederation's constitution was put into effect, naming the nation as the Independent Colonial Confederation of Gilgamesh. Thus, many among the group of Independent-speaking colonies clung to an "Indie" identity. With the prevailing identity among the member states being defined as "Independent," new colonies integrated into the Confederation were more likely to identify as Independents than were immigrants.
Languages
The official languages of the Confederation are Pan-Slavic and Zurich Accord Common. The 2230 Declaration of Independence stated that the national language of the Independent Colonial Confederation of Gilgamesh was Pan-Slavic and Zurich Accord Common, and its writing is based on a modernized Cyrillic alphabet. At the 2304 census, some two in three persons named Pan-Slavic as their primary daily language, compared to one third for Zurich Accord Common.
Culture
The Confederation's cultural tradition has been influenced primarily by the Slavic origins of its majority population, as well as Anglosphere cultures, the roots of which go back to its original colonization, which consisted primarily of the two ethnic groups. The Confederation has enriched its own culture by adopting and maintaining primarily Orthodox traditions, with minor influences from a number of disparate ethnic groups. The largest ethnic group, which had come to identify itself widely as "Indie" by the late 23rd century, is a speaker of Independent and played a significant role in the shaping of contemporary Slavic culture, which still maintains a major role. The culture has been further influenced by English and Scottish culture, and the cultures of integrated colonies. A strong Slavic influence in Indie literature and arts was prevalent in the late 23rd century.
Holidays
Most retail businesses close on Independence Day and New Year's Day as well as Christmas, which are officially recognized as public holidays, but remain open on all other holidays. Christmas is celebrated either on 7 January, the traditional old-calendar date in Independent Orthodox Churches or on 25 December, the former of which is officially recognized as a public holiday.
Sports
Thunderdome is the national sport in the Confederation. It is also both the most popular team sport in the nation, as well as the most popular sport overall. Additionally, the Confederation is the only major regional power in which the sport is still legalized. Broadcasts of the sport are popular internationally as well as domestically.
The Galactic Organization of Zero-G Racing also has a significant presence in the Confederation. Their primary racing league has barred IPCs and other non-humans from participating as contestants over concerns on physical equality.