Human Defence Coalition

Human Defence Coalition
Government	Political, Military and Economic Alliance
Member-States	Kurgan Empire, New Covenant, United Systems Commonwealth, Bridgend Commune
Motto	"In Defensionem Humanitatis"
Species	Human, Cyborg, Android, Superhuman
Inclination	Twilight
Population	146.9 Billion
Religion	Multireligious
Primary Languages	English, German, Russian, Latin
Capital	C.D.S.S Malta

The Human Defence Coalition is a military, political and economic alliance of the four major human powers, formed in the year 2864G.C in the aftermath of the Shadow War. The original founding members were the Kurgan Empire, New Covenant and the United Systems Commonwealth, and was brought into force with the signing of the Human Defence Treaty. The Bridgend Commune was later admitted into the Coalition the following year after the Vindari Invasions, though with much controversy in the United Systems Commonwealth. The Coalition originally started out as a means of mutual defence against other hostile powers, but quickly grew into a political and economic organization in addition as a result of present good political relations between the members and rising tensions with the Galactic Entente. The Capital of the Human Defence Coalition is the Coalition Deep Space Station Malta (C.D.S.S Malta), a heavily defended space station built at the intersection point of the three founding members borders orbiting the habitable world New Scapa, and within reach of several major military bases.

No single member-state leads the Coalition, instead the Coalition is headed by four appointed representatives, who represent the four member-states. These four representatives make up the HDC Council of Directors, who head the HDC Permanent Board of Defence, HDC Economic Council and HDC Foreign Advisory Council. The four Directors meet bimonthly with the Board to discuss Coalition-wide issues and topics such as defence policy, updates on current threats, defence budget allocation and new technologies. They also meet bimonthly with the Economic and Foreign Advisory Council to discuss trade and foreign policy respectively.

While each member-state controls their own military, there is a degree of integration within the Coalition. Each member-state contributes forces to the Coalition Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF), which is made up of the HDC Battlegroups and the Interstellar Brigades, and is under the nominal command of the Coalition during times of war, and who cooperatively patrol Coalition borders during times of peace. This degree of integration allows for effective and efficient coordination among the member-states during war, and builds trust and cooperation among the member-states as well. The CRRF as well as individual fleets perform military exercises with each other regularly, and even allow non-member allies and affiliates to participate, in order to familiarize themselves with each others tactics and strategies, and to promote further integration and coordination among the separate militaries.

The HDC however is an organization focused on mutual defence, and its members do not condone wars of aggression by other members. If a member-state attack a galactic power without provocation, the Coalition is not obliged to provide any aid to that member, and may even suspend that member.

Member-state Contributions

New Covenant Contributions

The New Covenant, one of the founding members, was extremely happy to cement this alliance. Having originally wanted to form an Alliance with the Kurgan, gaining even more Human allies was a bonus as well.

The New Covenant helps with production of materials in the alliance, with its Forge worlds being able to supply so much with their extremely high production output. The New Covenant is actively searching for another Forge World to donate to the organization, and co-found with the members of the alliance for a mutually used planet, to help with military construction across all the Empires.

The New Covenant has also established an Academy for Psychic Training, established and run by the New Roman Catholic Church of the New Covenant. It is working with the Psychic Corps of the Commonwealth Intelligence Service but is majorly funded by the Church do to their extensive experience with dealing with gifted individuals.

Commonwealth Contributions

In addition to helping form the HDC Battlegroups, the Commonwealth has also established the Coalition Integrated Training Plan, an initiative that gives Coalition officers and servicemen access to advanced training in various military fields, run by some of the best and brightest the Royal Commonwealth Defence Forces (RCDF) have to offer. On New Scapa Prince Richard and the Joint Board of Defence, personally established the Coalition Integrated Training Acadamy (Fort Nelson), where soldiers assigned to the CRRF train together for six months before being assigned to the Interstellar Brigades. The RCDF have also opened their military ports and bases to Coalition allies, allowing Coalition ships to dock and resupply/repair at RCDF shipyards, and allow Coalition land forces to use Royal Commonwealth Army bases for training, field exercises and staging grounds for military operations. With the largest navy in the Coalition, the Commonwealth also contributes thousands of warships to the Coalition. The Seventh Fleet is on constant standby to respond to any threat and aid Coalition allies in any circumstances.

The Advanced Technologies Division of the Royal Commonwealth Research and Exploration Corps, has also begun working in conjuction with their counterparts in the Coalition in integrating technological advancements derived from Silonic technology, as well as other advanced species into their respective military forces.

Kurgan Empire Contributions

With a vast land army, the Kurgan Empire contributes thousands of soldiers to HDC forces. Two Guards Armored Divisions, the 10th and the 34th, are on constant standby to be deployed to any potential war zone within 48 hrs. Marshal Petrov has personally established two training schools for the Integrated Training Plan, the Petrograd War College and the Vassily Zhukov Center for Unconventional Warfare. The War College is a facility for general rank coalition officers to develop united strategies and unified tactical doctrine. The Unconventional Warfare Center was established by all the founder nations Special Operations units as a unified training center in some of the harshest conditions imaginable.

The Kurgan Army Research and Development Unit (Unit 314) has contributed a range of unconventional technologies to Coalition militaries, most notably the infamous Tesla Coils. Major General Ivanov, the Empire's leading scientist, continues to develop new advanced weapon systems for the Coalition armies.

Crusader Chapters Contributions

The Crusaders have given their support of this alliance, and have attained rights to take and train eligible children in their Organization in return for providing protection for the Empires, and to eventually establish Crusader chapters in their honor once enough have been trained to form successor chapters for existing ones.

In addition, they also cooperate with HDC Battlegroups, and assist when and if needed. On the C.D.S.S Malta they also have created a group of Crusaders to help protect the station, members from the Crusader Chapters are chosen to assist in keeping watch over the station and protect the delegates on the station for a period of time before being replaced by another group of Crusaders. Roughly 20 may be on the station at any one time.

History

Beginnings

The concept of the Human Defence Coalition arose during the First Shadow War, when the Shadows rampaged across the galaxy virtually unchecked. It was first concieved initially as an alliance between the then Union of Kurgan and the New Covenant. However that all changed with the arrival of the United Systems Commonwealth in the midst of the First Shadow War. During the beginning of the Kurgan Campaign, an effort by allied races to liberate Kurgan worlds from Shadow occupation, a Kurgan patrol ran into an exploration flotilla of the Commonwealth. After an initially tense stand-off, the Commonwealth was quickly recruited into the greater galactic war effort, and provided pivotal assistance during the Kurgan Campaign. This was especially true when New Covenant forces were recalled into their home systems, to help repel a Shadow offensive into New Covenant space. Eventually after the combined effort of Commonwealth, Kurgan and Ventus fleets, the Shadows were eventually repulsed from Kurgan space...though at the cost of millions of lives. The Kurgan Campaign would prove to not only be one of the bloodiest theatres of the war, but also one of the most pivotal. However it also proved one other thing...it proved how well human forces could work together, and it did much to dispel the initial hostility and tension between Kurgan and the Commonwealth. Months later after the final battle, the Battle for the Artifact, the Shadow War finally ended...and it proved to the disparate human factions how essential cooperation was to be, if Humanity was to survive in a hostile galaxy. A few weeks after the end of the First Shadow War, the three major human powers, the then Union of Kurgan, the New Covenant and the United Systems Commonwealth, together signed the historical Human Defence Treaty and ratified the HDC Charter, creating the Human Defence Coalition.

Coalition Reforms

A few months after its initial creation, the member-states of the Coalition realized that in order to effectively compete with the rising power of the Entente, and to better able to coordinate and organize the member militaries, extensive reforms would be required of the Coalition. So in the later months of 2864 G.C, the member-states organized an extensive reformation and reorganization of the Coalition. In addition to its military capacity, an amendment to the Charter also created the HDC Economic Council and Foreign Advisory Council, making the Coalition additionally an economic and political alliance, helping to further integrate the economies and policies of the member-states. Further amendments also created the office of the HDC Council of Directors, made up of three representatives that would lead the Coalition, and control the Permanent Board of Defence, Economic Council and the Foreign Advisory Council. The Directors however would be ultimately answerable to their respective governments. A further amendment also allowed for the creation of the independent HDC Battlegroups, that would fall under the authority of and answer to the HDC Council of Directors and Coalition Command.

Coalition Expansion

In the beginning of the year 2865 GC, the Coalition expanded its membership to include the Bridgend Commune, after much debate...and much controversy in the Commonwealth, due to its deep-rooted and historical prejudice against bionic organisms. However with Bridgend's entry, the Coalition had gained a valuable ally, as Bridgend brought with it the largest human land army seen, exceptional technical expertise and inside knowledge of the Unani Empire and Kingdom of Edolas, who were members of the Entente, an organization the Coalition was in a Cold War with.

Cold War

The Coalition is currently engaged in a Cold War with the Galactic Entente, largely due to the animosity between Crescania and the Human Powers, but also due to the lack of trust of any aliens by humans. The two opposing camps are also engaged in an arms race, with extensive military expansion and research being performed by both sides. Experts in both alliances agree that with tensions continuing to rise, the lack of trust and the intense arms race between the two, war between the Coalition and the Entente is inevitable, and that its only a matter of time before something triggers hostilities.

New Covenant Crisis

The New Covenant Crisis was a major crisis with the Coalition, when the Warp receded from the galaxy, taking the entire New Covenant civilization with it. With the vanishing of the New Covenant, the Coalition had taken a major blow, losing their largest and strongest member. The New Covenant had accounted for a large portion of the Coalition's political, economic and most importantly military strength. When the New Covenant disappeared, the Coalition was thrown into chaos. With their most powerful ally gone, the Kurgan, Bridgend and Commonwealth militaries mobilized their forces, as a precaution against foreign powers from taking advantage of the chaos. The CRRF was sent to the former New Covenant colonies to protect them from looters, and also sent to the frontiers of Coalition space to help reinforce the member militaries, and to be the first to intercept any foreign attack.

Military Operations

Kurgan Civil War

The first conflict that saw the Coalition begin its first wartime action as a united front was the Kurgan Civil War, between the Kurgan military and those loyal to the Party. When fighting first broke out between the two factions, the governments of the New Covenant and Commonwealth independently sent seperate task forces to Kurgan space, to prevent foreign interference in the civil war. However when a Kurgan Party assassin snuck aboard a Commonwealth Heavy Cruiser, killed four Royal Marines and attempted to kill Kurgan officials seeking asylum, the royal government declared it an act of war and authorized military action against the Party. After initial engagements with Party forces, and intervention by a New Covenant taskforce, the Commonwealth and New Covenant officially transferred jurisdiction of their military operations to the Coalition. Commonwealth and New Covenant forces in Kurgan space fell under Coalition command, and for the next few weeks provided orbital and air support to the Kurgan military, until eventually Party forces were routed. After the civil war, Marshall Petrov, commander of the Kurgan military formed the new Kurgan Empire, and re-ratified Kurgan's commitments to the Coalition. Not long after, the Coalition underwent extensive reforms, creating the HDC Battlegroups among other things.

Vindari Conflict

The Coalition underwent its first real test, when later in the year 2865 a race known as the Vindari invaded Kurgan space, which provoked for the first time the member-states to invoke Article 7 of the Human Defence Treaty stating that "An attack on one member of the Coalition, shall be considered an attack against all". Following this, the Commonwealth, New Covenant and Kurgan declared war against the Vindari, and elements of the Commonwealth Sixth Fleet and New Covenant Tenth Fleet aided the Kurgan Deep Space Fleet in the Battle of Minsk. The battle proved a decisive victory for the Coalition, with minimal casualties, partly due to the intervention of the Confederate Systems...a nation considered to be race traitors by the Commonwealth, due to events at the Fall of Earth millennia ago. However a few days after repulsing the Vindari from Kurgan space, the Vindari invaded the Bridgend Commune, who at the time was not a member of the Coalition. The HDC Council of Directors, after consulting with their respective governments, voted unanimously to intervene in aid of the Bridgend Commune. The Coalition then mobilized its forces, sending the Proxima and Petrograd Battlegroups, as well as the Amphibious Battlegroup. After linking up with the Bridgend Fourth Fleet, the Coalition Expeditionary Force fought the Vindari in the two month long Battle of Lech, ending in a decisive Coalition/Bridgend victory, and two weeks later in the repulsion of all Vindari forces from Bridgend space. Caualties however mounted in the thousands for allied forces, but the war had proven that the Coalition could successfully prosecute a war, and proved that officers and enlisted men from different backgrounds and nations could fight effectively as a united force. Following the end of the Vindari Conflict, the Coalition restructered its Battlegroups under the Coalition Rapid Reaction Force, which would consist of the HDC Battlegroups and the new Interstellar Brigades.

Structure

The main headquarters of the HDC is on the C.D.S.S Malta, located in the Epsilon Indi System, where the borders of the the three founding members intersect. The staff at the headquarters is composed of national delegations of the member-states and includes civilian and military liaison offices and officers, as well as the Interstellar Military Staff filled from serving members of the armed forces of member-states. C.D.S.S Malta also houses the HDC Council of Directors, as well as the Permanent Board of Defence, Economic Council, Foreign Advisory Council and Coalition Command.

HDC Council of Directors

The HDC Council of Directors is composed of the appointed reperesentatives of the member-states, who together lead the Coalition and represent their respective governments. The Council of Directors are each high ranking serving officers of their nations' respective militaries. The Council of Directors meet bimonthly to discuss matters of Coalition security, collective defence, budgetary concerns and to vote on critical issues concerning the Coalition. During times of war, the Council of Directors command Coalition forces in conjunction with their counter-parts in the member militaries, and have direct authority over the Coalition Rapid Reaction Force. The Council of Directors also coordinate and direct Coalition forces along with the Interstellar Military Staff and Permanent Board of Defence, through Coalition Command. During times of peace, the Council of Directors chair the Permanent Board of Defence, Economic Council and the Foreign Advisory Council, who they meet with on a bimonthly basis.

HDC Permanent Board of Defence

The Permanent Board of Defence is a body made up of serving senior officers from the member-state militaries, and meet bimonthly with the Council of Directors to update them on matters of defence policy, new technologies, current threats to Coalition members and defence budget allocation.

HDC Foreign Advisory Council

The Foreign Advisory Council is a body of senior diplomats and political advisors, that update and advise the Council of Directors on matters of foreign and domestic policy, current relations with foreign powers, galactic policy and potential political consequences of whatever decisions the Directors make. The Foreign Advisory Council also updates and advises the Directors on current political integration between the members, and on forming a common foreign policy.

HDC Economic Council

The Economic Council is a body made up expert economists and advisors, that update and advise the Council of Directors of economic policy, integration and trade between the member-states. It also advises the Directors on matters pertaining to the galactic economy as a whole.

Coalition Command

Coalition Command is the body that oversees the daily operations of the Coalition Rapid Reaction Force and other Coalition forces, and is made up of personnel of the Interstellar Military Staff, and lead by the Council of Directors. During times of war, Coalition Command is what oversees and directs the greater Coalition war effort, and provides common intelligence, tactics and war strategies for Coalition forces. All members of the Interstellar Military Staff and Coalition Command are graduates of the Petrograd War College, part of the Coalition Integrated Training Plan.

Coalition Transformation Authority

The Coalition Transformation Authority is the body that oversees the successfull integration of new members into the Coalition's command structure.

Coalition Rapid Reaction Force

The Coalition Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF) is the joint, high-readiness, multinational stand alone force under the authority of Coalition Command and the Council of Directors. The CRRF is composed of the HDC Battlegroups and the Interstellar Brigades, and serve as the Coalition's rapid reaction force to situations such as war, high-profile diplomatic actions, non-combat evacuation operations and collective defence. The HDC Battlegroups, an organization formed earlier in the Coalition, forms the naval element of the CRRF, while the new Interstellar Brigades forms the ground element of the CRRF. The CRRF allows for further increased interoperability between the Coalition militaries, and the ability to quickly react to any situation required. Soldiers in the CRRF train together at the Coalition Integrated Training Acadamy (Fort Nelson) on New Scapa, where the Petrograd War College and Vassily Zhukov Centre for Unconventional Warfare are also located. At Fort Nelson soldiers assigned to the CRRF are put through 6 months of hell, where they are forced to work, train and overcome together as a team and cohesive fighting force. After training, the soldiers are assigned to their individual brigades, and rotate every two years.