Movers, Shakers, and Notables of the Known Sphere

The Alliance of Sovereign Nations

Also called as the Sovereign Nations' Alliance or, simply, the Alliance, the Alliance of Sovereign Nations is, as the name suggests, a mutual defense league dedicated to protecting the sovereignty and integrity of its member states, specifically from the threat of Terra, through collective action. As a result, the Alliance is in direct opposition to the Blue Planet, and is the primary bulwark against Terran territorial designs and imperial ambitions. Allied military operations are conducted through the Sovereign Nations' Alliance Treaty Organization or SATO, for short. SATO also maintains a variety of bases, space stations and defense systems throughout the Known Sphere to provide for a response in case of attack.

Presently led by the Republic of Akasha, other important Alliance members include the Union of Joseon and the Free State of Caprera. The Federation of Corvia was also formerly a member until leaving the Alliance in 2129 due to irreconcilable differences. Although the Great Lion did end up fighting alongside SATO units during the Second War, it has not officially rejoined the ASN.

Over the years, the Alliance has developed quite a good working relationship, and citizens of different members often greet each other with the phrase. "For the Alliance."
 

The Coalition for Freedom, Peace, and Security

Nominally created for collective self-defense, the Coalition for Freedom, Peace, and Security is the primary international framework used by the Terran Military Order when the appearance of multilateral action is necessary or desirable. The organization is the Terran bloc's equivalent of the Alliance of Sovereign Nations, and consists of the Blue Planet and her partners (critics would use the term “puppet states”). Since the Blue Planet is so much stronger than the rest of the Coalition put together, operating under the Coalition banner often seems an afterthought; Terra acts unilaterally in most instances, using the Coalition only when useful and convenient.

Established by the Treaty of Peace, Fellowship and Mutual Co-operation, the CFPS was created in response to the decision to allow the Free State of Caprera join the Alliance, as well as a marketing and public relations ploy to counter claims of Terran aggression. The Coalition also provides the justification to station Federal Forces units in some of the member nations.

In theory, all members of the Coalition are equal, but the group is clearly led by the Blue Planet. A unified military command, with headquarters on Terra, directs the joint forces. The Coalition's Supreme Commander is always a Terran.
 

Dylan Johnson

Dylan Johnson was born with a snake above his fist while a hurricane was blowing, or so the story goes. Johnson has the unusual distinction of being simultaneously a rock god and one of music's elder statesmen.

When he was first discovered over twenty years ago by General Galaxy Records, Johnson was the latest, flavor of the month, bubblegum pop idol. Then someone on the Terran Command Council took a personal dislike to his music, and he was drafted and sent to the frontlines of the Second Unification War. Witnessing firsthand the horrors of warfare changed him in a fundamental way and, upon completing his tour of duty, he gave away all his worldly belongings and wandered the galaxy for over a decade, visiting the holy lands in the Middle East, studying with Sufi mystics in India, working the coal mines of West Virginia, and much more.

After his days as a traveller ended, Johnson returned to music again, albeit radically different from before, now mainly concentrating on folk. Though his songs are as varied as the sunsets of the galaxy, constants have been a quiet dignity and lyrics that satirize with the wit of the poets of old. As a result, he pierced the social consciousness and became the voice of the Lost Generation of the Second War. He has been touring ever since, pausing only to record new albums.

Terra is particularly alarmed that crowds of 50,000 or more can spontaneously form when Johnson decides to give an impromptu performance. The Terran Security Agency has tried to assassinate him at least a dozen times, but they have been repeatedly thwarted by, among others, Akashan Intelligence, the Megacorp Intelligence Bureau, and the Zionist Crusade.
 

Ordo Fratrum Minorum

One of the most familiar sights in Wild Space is the simple Catholic missions of the Ordo Fratrum Minorum (in English, the Order of the Little Brothers). Better known by their popular name, the Franciscans are a religious order founded, probably in 1208, by Saint Francis of Assisi and approved by Pope Innocent III in 1209. The Order of Poor Ladies, also known as the Clarisses or the Poor Clares after their founder, Saint Clare of Assisi, is the parallel order of nuns.

The Franciscans and the Clarisses follow the Rule of Saint Francis, devoting themselves to a life of preaching, service, and poverty. Then, as now, the friars and sisters are known as the people's preachers because they live among their congregations and share their hardships, and because they seek out abodes of sickness and poverty. Modern Franciscans and Poor Clares are instantly recognizable, adopting the same gray tunics with a white cord at the waist as their medieval brethren.

In addition to their preaching and charitable work, the Franciscans have been noted for their devotion to learning, counting among their number John Duns Scotus, William of Ockham, and Roger Bacon. Moreover, as fear and chaos have erupted throughout the Known Sphere, this mendicant order of clerks regular, the largest Catholic order, have spearheaded thousands of overstars missions, bringing the Good Book and a little peace of mind to those engulfed by the apocalypse.
 

The Organization of Catalytum Exporting Nations

The Organization of Catalytum Exporting Nations was formed to regulate interstellar catalytum prices by controlling the supply of this irreplaceable substance. From democracies to dictatorships, OCEN is a vastly disparate group, whose leading members include Vernier, Ðiên Biên Phú, and Mandrake, tied together primarily in the pursuit of profit and the stability that leads to more profit. Towards these ends, OCEN tends to align itself closely with the megacorps.

Although they carefully cultivate an image of being a dull, boring group of technocrats, OCEN is in fact, behind the scenes, one of the most powerful factions in the galaxy.

The reason for this is because, together, the 17 voting members of OCEN control more than 40 percent of the galaxy's known catalytum deposits. The Terran Military Order, the Republic of Akasha, and the Commissioner of the Board of Megacorporations are also advisory members. An advisory seat was offered to the Federation of Corvia, which refused, stating its laissez faire principles.

In any cartel, the pressure to cheat can be enormous. OCEN works because Vernier, the largest catalytum exporter in the galaxy, allows other members to do so while consciously producing under its own quota. This is possible because the mines on Vernier have been nationalized by the Cult, which is not particularly concerned about material possessions. As a result, Vernier has tremendous leverage as the swing producer, which the Cult carefully uses to curry favors to further their foreign policy goals, chiefly to limit Vernier's spiritual pollution from outsiders and to maintain as isolationist a position as possible.
 

Barbara White

Barbara White is a muckraking journalist and the host of her extremely popular talk show, The Objective Truth, which is famed for tackling hotbutton issues in a highly inflammatory style. Controversial by intent, White is known for her aggressive, highly acerbic, and confrontational style that often leaves her guests and critics sputtering in rage. She relishes provoking conflict, which has helped her to become the best-selling author of a half-dozen books.

On top of typical partisan sniping, White has been accused of being dangerous and irresponsible in her comments and subject matter and that she is hypocritical and generally misrepresents sources and facts to support her case. However, she and her supporters either dismiss such comments as being proof that the authors can't handle the truth. She is also highly self-important, self-promoting, and egotistical, claiming credit for many things, though the provenance of most of her claims is dubious.