Organization

How Space is Organized 2030

 

1. The UN-EDF ( United Nations Earth Defense Force ) created in 1999, as a direct response to the large alien ship that crashed on earth. It was given a wide range of authority and the general mission of protecting Humanity from aliens.

2. In 2000 the United Nations defined 2 new branches of "world government" EDC - Earth Development Council, which was concerned with the general expansion of Humanity into space, and the EDF - Earth Defense Force, which was the military arm. A lot of projects fell under the EDC, while the development of faster than light tech and all first generation star ships fell under the control of the EDF.

3. All nations were required to make contributions to both branches. Although a lot of authority was surrendered to the UN, for the common good, most Nations still firmly held onto the idea of sovereignty. The UN did not forbid National space programs, it did strongly push for Nations to concentrate on the common projects. Of course a few big Nations had to do their own things.

For example; the USA built Buck Rogers Base on the moon, later expanding it to include ship yards, which would build American Space Defense Ships (ASDS). The Russians raced the Chinese to Mars in a contest of national pride. After which they founded Mars base Serra. The Chinese wanting their own goal, built a base on Jupiter’s moon Callisto.

4. Corporate Interests. As the cost of getting into space decreased and the speed of travel with in the solar system became reasonably fast, several corporations jumped into various projects. They were bound by “international law” but also very free to take action, so long as worker safety was a high priority.

The major area of resource exploitation, in the asteroid belt attracted a lot of attention. But even larger was the industry of colony creation. As Nations planted outposts to claim a piece of the moon or Mars or one of the big outer rocks, the business of colony supply and expansion grew up from 2000 to 2020.

5. In 2014 the Explorer Core was created as an arm of the UN-EDF. It controlled all star ships, mission plans and outpost establishment in other star systems. A lot of people referred to it as “Star Fleet”. From 2015 to 2020, many of the 150 stars with in the 20 light year range of Sol were investigated. By order of the UN-EDC, no colonization would take place yet.

6. By 2020 there was a clear division with in the UN-EDF between solar system defense and the “Star Fleet”. Up to this point 80% of resources had been used to build ships and installation for the defense of Earth. This was considered by all a reasonable balance. However things were about to change and the high council knew it.

The creation of the UN-HHC (Human Horizons Council) in 2020 was the next step. It would oversee the expanse of humanity out into the galaxy. In many ways the HHC stepped to the front, while the EDC (Earth Development Council) kept its focus on the solar system only. The plans to expand required two things; colonial transports and FTL warships. 

Thus Star Fleet was divided into three arms;

1. The Exploration Core, which would include messenger ships.

2. The Armed Response Force, which was the main fighting fleet.

3. The Civilian Support Navy, which included all the colonial transports.

While the EDF was still the overall military organization.

7. With the policy changed of 2021 the UN-HHC basically opened the door to expansion. 
Included in the new UN space law was the allowance for Nations and Corporations to own and use FTL technology, and to set up extra-solar outposts.

The main points of the Law being;

1. That no one could claim exclusivity over a star system or even a planet.

2. Direct ownership of small moons was allowed, providing a permanent-manned outpost was established.

3. When a colony was planted on a planet, it would be granted ownership of the “logical geographic zone” it was in. With the HHC being arbiter of any bounder dispute between colonies.