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Civilization Name: New Commonwealth
Government type: Constitutional Monarchy
Leader(s): Queen Elizabeth IV
Prime Minister Alexander Reid
Territory: 25 Stations from Luna to Mars. 5 on Luna, 6 on Mars, 2 on Phobos, 2 on Deimos, 1 on Earth and 8 amongst the Asteroid Belt
Capital: Port Victoria, Luna
Population: 32 million
Primary languages: English, French
Society: The New Commonwealth strives for the past glories of Earth, drawing inspiration from the British, French and Dutch colonial empires of old. Though generally a tolerant society, there is a well-established patriarchal class system, though it is common for someone to jump classes if they have the means. Society in the New Commonwealth also accepts and practices indentured servitude, which is usually voluntarily undertaken to repay debts to individuals or society as a whole. The people of the New Commonwealth have an imperialistic attitude towards the rest of the human diaspora, believing that humanity rightfully belongs under one banner, the banner of the New Commonwealth. They believe that to avoid the disaster of the Third World War that destroyed human civilization on Earth, humanity must be a united front, and so the New Commonwealth works towards the goal of human unification, whatever the cost; be it through diplomacy or conquest if necessary. To that end, two nations have been annexed by the New Commonwealth, with a third becoming a protectorate. The greatest obstacle to the New Commonwealth's goal however is the Orion Federation, the current top military power and natural rival to the New Commonwealth.
The New Commonwealth by necessity follows a mainly vegetarian diet, though they've managed to create near realistic protein alternatives to meat. Real meat remains a delicacy, almost exclusively enjoyed by the upper-class of New Commonwealth society. However the high quality soy protein meat alternatives are said to be almost indistinguishable from the real deal, and is highly sought after outside the New Commonwealth.
Like the Orion Federation, the New Commonwealth puts much emphasis on military prowess, ensuring that it's members are well-trained and well-equipped. Every civilian does their National Service, either in the military or an essential occupation, two years in the military or three years under an essential occupation.
Economy: The New Commonwealth is a free market capitalist state and a major player in the system's economy. Corporations from the New Commonwealth, like Meyer-Westland and Belltower Associates, are well-known brands alongside corporations from the Orion Federation. Alongside asteroid and Martian mining operations, the New Commonwealth is also a heavy investor in major industries system-wide, ranging from agricultural production to starship manufacturing and research into new scientific fields. New Commonwealth banks are also some of the largest and robust in the system, being located in every major station and nation, making the New Commonwealth one of the financial hubs of the system.
Military: The New Commonwealth Naval Service is the armed forces of the New Commonwealth, being divided between the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines. The Royal Marines are smaller in number than most militaries, but they make up for it with some of the most rigorous and extensive training in the system. All Royal Marines go through 36 weeks of infantry training, before moving on to more specialized training in their particular fields, and are divided into ship defence, station garrison or rapid reaction/expeditionary groups. The NCNS's special forces, the Special Boat Service, are drawn from the ranks of the Royal Marines. The Royal Navy is a mixed carrier and hunter-killer navy, focusing on carrier operations and space denial, having fewer heavy cruisers and dreadnoughts than other nations. The Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm also acts as the Commonwealth's air defence and air projection force.
Defence: Defence of the New Commonwealth is mainly provided by the Royal Navy, with Royal Marine garrison's defending the stations. Specialized Royal Marine rapid reaction brigades are also stationed strategically throughout the New Commonwealth, and can respond to any attack in New Commonwealth territory within 48hrs or less, and are often grouped with a naval battle group dedicated to the rapid reaction forces. Docks within the New Commonwealth are also mined, to hamper boarding forces, or deny control of the docks to the enemy if necessary. Automated turrets and semi-automated robotic sentries also provide defence and aid to Royal Marine garrison's within the stations. The Royal Marines also make limited use of vehicles, mainly IFV's, infantry mobility vehicles, armoured reconnaissance vehicles and light mechanized assault suits.
Back Story (Optional): The New Commonwealth started out as a joint Anglo-American colonization project of the moon and mars, as well as a few mining stations in the Asteroid Belt. Following the outbreak of the Third World War and subsequent nuclear exchange on Earth, the stations on Luna and Mars found themselves isolated after losing contact with Earth. For a few years the stations struggled to adapt to the new post-war reality, keeping in regular contact with each other and forming separate provisional governments of their Earth sponsors. Ten years later however the Lunar and Martian stations accepted the reality of their situation, and realizing there would be no one left on Earth to take authority, formally dissolved the states of the United Commonwealth and United States. For years afterword the Lunar and Martian stations carried on as independent states, slowly rebuilding civilization on the two colonies. Soon they slowly regained contact with other human stations in the solar system, and a new social political reality dawned on them. With other stations banding together to form new nations, the stations on Mars and Luna began to grow weary. For the longest time they were each other's only contact, and not too long ago regular travel and immigration had started between the two colonies, followed by trade and economic links. With powerful conglomerates rising from the ashes, the two colonial governments formally agreed to a merger of their two states, forming the New Commonwealth. A Constitutional Monarchy with a strong parliament, based on the Westminster model was decided upon, with the closest surviving relative of King George VIII being crowned. Believing this new union had a manifest destiny, the New Commonwealth began an arms buildup to defend against and make war with the new colonial nations rising up. The first thing the New Commonwealth did was reclaim some of the asteroid stations in the Asteroid Belt, some abandoned but others held by rogue settlers. After re-inhabiting or conquering the former US and UC stations, the New Commonwealth began to trade and invest in mining firms, slowly expanding to invest and control other major economic and industrial spheres.
Two wars broke out with neighbouring station-states, ending with the conquest and annexation of the enemy stations. Eventually a third station-state petitioned for and received protectorate status from the New Commonwealth, with a Royal Marine battalion being garrisoned alongside the station's security forces. Now the New Commonwealth has grown to be a wealthy and powerful colonial power, and is seeking to expand even further, until they accomplish their goal of uniting humanity under their banner.
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