Alliance

2017-11-20T03:34:19Z

59.167.92.117: BACON

{{Superpowerinfobox
|image1 = File:AllianceInsignia.png
|caption1 = Insignia of the Alliance
|capital = Garden City, [[Alioth/Turner's World|Turner's World]], [[Alioth]]
|government = Representative Democracy
|head_of_state = [[President of the Alliance]]
|head_of_government = [[Alliance Prime Minister]]
|legislature = Alliance Assembly
|military = [[Alliance Defence Force]]
}}
{{Quote|The Alliance rose to defend independent worlds from the relentless exploitation of the Federation and Empire. It is the newest of the great powers, but dig deep and you will find that its roots are ancient indeed. Large sections of the galaxy were once under the sway of a tiny handful of worlds in the Galactic Cooperative. Gal Cop is long gone, but its ancient founder planets of Lave, Leesti, Zaonce and other Old Worlds have an important story to tell. It is a tale that the Empire and Federation would do well to hear...|Alliance and Old Worlds Sourcebook, ''EDRPG''<ref>[https://www.edrpg.co.uk/what-s-in-the-books Alliance and Old Worlds Sourcebook excerpt]</ref>}}

The '''Alliance''', officially the '''Alliance of Independent Systems''', is one of the three galactic major [[factions]], the other two being the [[Federation]] and the [[Empire]]. Its historic and political center is the system of [[Alioth]]; Garden City on [[Alioth/Turner's World|Turner's World]] in Alioth, close to the old industrial and ship-building city of New Rossyth, is the seat of the Alliance government.

The Alliance was formed from a number of independent systems with the goal of gaining strength in numbers and defending, where necessary, against the other major factions.

Militarily, the cooperation is successful. Each member system contributes a portion of its navy to the [[Alliance Defence Force]]. The [[Council of Admirals]] is unified and has powers to act swiftly without [[government]] approval. Vessels of the Alliance generally bear the decals of their own navy, but display an additional Alliance Defence Force decal while operating with the unified naval force.

The Alliance was formed circa 3230 AD in Alioth, and portrays itself as a beacon of human rights (such as free bacon) and democracy in an increasingly autocratic universe. It does not conform to the political ideals of the totalitarian Empire, or the authoritarian Federation and there is much cultural variation among its members. This, however, means they often struggle to achieve political agreement. The [[President of the Alliance|presidency]] changes annually around its member systems. The current [[Alliance Prime Minister]] is [[Edmund Mahon]].

==History==
===Born from conflict===
[[File:Alioth Donaldson and Turner's World.jpg|thumb|200px|Donaldson and Turner's World. The birthplace of the Alliance of Independent Systems, the spindle of the first of the system's three huge Orbis Stations is in orbit of Turner's World (Alioth 5B).]]
The Alliance may champion the ideals of harmony and independence, but it is very much the product of violence. Alioth, the Alliance powerbase, was once a highly contested system. In the decades that followed its colonisation, it was the site of almost constant conflict between the Federation and the Empire. Naturally this made life difficult for the system's inhabitants, whose lives were impacted by generation after generation of war.<ref name="Galnet Origin">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5788c3c09657ba0207588b5a Galactic News: The Origin of the Alliance]</ref>

The turning point came in 3228, when the Federal corporations supplying one of Alioth's main population centres attempted to raise prices. This triggered a revolt. Federal and Imperial forces were dispatched to quell the uprising, but the resistance, bolstered by fighters from neighbouring independent systems, successfully repelled them. Ultimately the Empire chose to withdraw from the system, reluctant to commit to a potentially protracted campaign far from its centre of power. When the Federation realised how unpopular the war had become among Federal citizens, it followed suit.<ref name="Galnet Origin"/>

=== Events in 2380 - 3230 ===
After the war between [[Achenar]] and the Federation concluded in 2380, the Federation looked to find new resources elsewhere. In 2398, the first of a new wave of colonial missions was sent to the outermost sectors in the opposite direction to the Empire and [[Lave]]. / Alioth was colonised in 2452. Survey data and reports had already indicated the rich resources of the system before settlement, but the resources proved richer than expected. The first colonial settlement in the system was known as 'Fruitcake', the name given owing to the loamy consistency of the planetary surface and its propensity for small mineral deposits.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eu30UyjpQrWexAglwD1Ax_GaDz4d7l8KD76kSzX4DEk/ Tourist beacon 0115] Alioth History</ref>

In 2559, the tourist liner Everichon, full of Imperial nobles was hijacked by a Caker group who planned to crash it into one of the gas giants. The attempt was thwarted by the Imperial commandos. The holo-vid broadcast and subsequent fictional dramatisation 'Rebel Madness', went some way to diverting popular opinion from the insurrection.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eu30UyjpQrWexAglwD1Ax_GaDz4d7l8KD76kSzX4DEk Tourist Beacon 0117 Everichon Hijack]</ref>

Having smuggled weapons into the system, the tension between the Cakers and the authorities was always going to spill over eventually. In 2617, the death of Tom Quaterson, a munitions worker who had been convicted of selling food coupons to the poor, was the spark that lit the flame of revolt. Workers on the gas platforms seized control of the facilities and planetside, the general populace stormed the Governor's residence. / Quentin Deviseses wasn't just a revolutionary. He had a long term strategy for the system and as soon as the planet was secure, used every means he could to get the word out that Alioth would become a free trade port. / The resource implication of Alioth's independence was too much for either the Empire or the Federation to take.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eu30UyjpQrWexAglwD1Ax_GaDz4d7l8KD76kSzX4DEk Tourist Beacon 0118 Tom Quaterson Death]</ref>

In 2853, the science research outpost of Nesbitt Landing was founded. Initially this was to be a joint venture between the Empire and Federation, but when a detailed study into the genetic problems on New California linked the issue with the terraforming of the planet in 2612, the Imperials withdrew from the project. / The matter remained a local issue until, in 2854, responding to pressure from Achenar, Imperial soldiers instigated martial law and attempted to impose a genetic correction programme on the planet. This was prevented by a coup against the military garrison by a new Caker sect. Within days, the planet had been secured and an appreal was sent to the Federation for assistance. / A fierce battle ensued; Imperial forces from the orbital refineries began a planetary bombardment, but the arrival of a Federal fleet escalated the conflict. Eventually, the Imperial ships pulled back and [[Admiral Kracer]] landed with his marines to cheering crowds in the capital. Kracer retired three years later, settling in New California and later became the colony leader.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eu30UyjpQrWexAglwD1Ax_GaDz4d7l8KD76kSzX4DEk Tourist Beacon 0119 Caker Coup]</ref>

In 2924, a further conflict started up in the Alioth system, initiated by a squabble over its hydrocarbon resources. The Durn and Resnar Corporation applied for Imperial assistance to enforce its claim over a large swathe of the system's mining rights. A small force of Imperial cruisers and their support ships arrived in the system and rapidly deployed to enforce these claims. They vastly outnumbered the mustered Federal units, and forced them out of the entire system within a year. But then, without warning in 2925, the Imperial battle group disappeared. Federal vessels returned and Hassoni-Kruger appropriated the system's mining rights. Within months all assets of the Durn and Resner Corporation were seized by the Emperor. The reason for the strange events has never been discovered. Federal intelligence sources were later to accuse the Duvals of instigating a cloning programme to breed specialised infantry units.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eu30UyjpQrWexAglwD1Ax_GaDz4d7l8KD76kSzX4DEk Tourist Beacon 0135 Battlegroup's Disappearance]</ref>

In 3184, the election of Federation President [[Loric Trander]] saw a renewal of hostilities over Alioth. This time, conflict was instigated by corporate rivalry in the system's vast gas mining sector. After the discovery of a murdered official named Riley Dain who was investigating the abuse of permitted quotas, the situation quickly escalated. Trander authorised a force off privateers. In response [[Hesketh Duval]] sent in the Imperial XV fleet. / The conflict avoided the settlement of New California owing to the previous treaty, but the settlers there found themselves all but cut off until a further ceasefire was established in 3198. Neither side achieved anything but line the pockets of the industries who fueled and powered their fleets. It also served to stir further resentment amongst the settlers. At this time, the Caker insurrection became more organised and received substantial financial support from unknown sources.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eu30UyjpQrWexAglwD1Ax_GaDz4d7l8KD76kSzX4DEk Tourist Beacon 0120] Riley Dain Murder</ref>

The Alliance of Independent Systems (usually referred to as just 'Alliance') was founded on Alioth in early 3230. Over the next two decades, more than twenty system went on to join. Some were independent, other revolted from Imperial and Federal control. For nearly a thousand years, colonial settlements could only choose between Imperial tyranny or Federal interference. Alioth and the Alliance provided a third way, more supportive and less conditional on cultural alignment.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eu30UyjpQrWexAglwD1Ax_GaDz4d7l8KD76kSzX4DEk Tourist Beacon 0007]</ref>

===A third superpower===
[[Mic Turner]] and his life-long partner Meredith Argent were the first to propose a safe political unit for those who wished to exist outside the protection of the Federation or the constraints of the Empire. They were the main driving force behind the creation of the Alliance.<ref>http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Mic_Turner</ref>

In the wake of the conflict, the idea of an independent socio-political body rapidly gained popularity among the people of Alioth and in 3230 the Alliance of Independent Systems was established. Its founding principles were simple: to protect and support those who wanted to remain independent of the Federation and the Empire, and to empower its member systems while simultaneously preserving their independence. Over the next two decades, more than twenty systems joined the Alliance.<ref name="Galnet Origin" />

===Recent events - 3300 on===
The Alliance was "watching keenly" as events escalated around the Imperial [[Hengist Duval#Timeline|succession]] and a junior aide had hinted at frustration in its administration,<ref>[http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=8c803c1c03 Newsletter 53: The Chancellor Speaks Out]</ref> but little news had filtered out of GalNet regarding the region.

By 3303, the Alliance had largely avoided disputes with the Federation and Empire as tensions escalated between the latter two superpowers.

On June 19, 3303, following an apparent attack by [[Thargoids]] on a Federal fleet, Prime Minister [[Edmund Mahon]] called for caution, arguing that it had not yet been proven that the destroyed Federal ships were the victims of Thargoid attacks, and that much could be learned from an advanced alien race.

The Alliance joined together with the [[Federation]] and the [[Empire]] to established [[Aegis]], a scientific organization dedicated to researching the Thargoids that utilized the shared resources and knowledge of all three superpowers, on August 4, 3303.<ref name="Aegis">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59844fbe301ce614455222a1 Galactic News: Joint Superpower Initiative Announced]</ref>

Following a second attack by Thargoid ships that destroyed a Federal fleet in Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-55 on September 21st, the Alliance and the other two superpowers widened Aegis' remit to focus on both research and defence. The organization's budget was dramatically increased, and it recruited the [[Engineers]] [[Liz Ryder]] and [[Professor Palin]] to produce a new anti-Thargoid weapon and a scanner for Thargoid ships, respectively.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3a108ced3ff7f807f54b7 Galactic News: Aegis to Widen Remit]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/59c3cb9dffff1a05c9770bdd Community Goal: Engineers Appeal for Thargoid Material]</ref>

==Society==
[[File:Corbra_earthlike.jpg|thumb|200px|Cobra of the Alliance Defence Force]]
{{For|additional information|Alliance/Lore}}
Today, the Alliance is widely seen as a paragon of democracy in an increasingly autocratic galaxy. It is governed by a body known as the Alliance Assembly, the primary function of which is to establish common policies and treaties among the Alliance's member systems, and act as an arbitration body when necessary. The notional head of the Assembly is the prime minister, but in reality it is the Council of Admirals that wields the greatest degree of power.<ref name="Galnet Origin" />

The Council of Admirals is a six-person body comprising the leaders of the six largest military forces in the Alliance. In addition to selecting the prime minister, the Council also commands the [[Alliance Defence Force]], a vast flotilla of ships contributed by each of the Alliance's member systems. The Council of Admirals is free to deploy the Defence Force without the approval of the Assembly, making it extremely powerful.<ref name="Galnet Origin" />

"There can be no argument that the Alliance lacks the power-projection abilities of the Empire and the Federation. But it is more than capable of competing with them in economic and political terms, and of defending its member systems when necessary.<ref name="Galnet Origin" />

What the future holds remains to be seen, but under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Edmund Mahon, it seems likely the Alliance will only continue to grow.<ref name="Galnet Origin" />

"On revolutionary [[Eranin]] the population are expected to perform in weekly parades celebrating their independence from the Federation, even while their leaders ‘redistribute’ the people’s wages into their own back pockets."<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/edrpg/elite-dangerous-role-playing-game</ref>

The Alliance has systems with various government types. This includes systems where slavery is legal. For example Alliance systems with anarchy governments take slaves and imperial slaves which become regular slaves. The difference is those systems don't want people who live in other systems to govern them. This makes the Alliance morally challenged as the Empire and Federation.

=== Alliance Values ===
On July 2, 3301, Prime Minister Mahon gave a speech about the values of the Alliance which he holds dear at the esteemed Alioth University, his alma mater:<ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5593b9d49657bab1445913c1</ref>

''“The Alliance of Independent Systems is built upon a single defining principle and that is one of freedom. The freedoms we enjoy range from our personal freedoms as inscribed in the Bill of Human Rights to the freedom of societies and even planets within the Alliance.”''

''“But we should not accept this grace blindly or assume that its existence continues by mere chance. The birth of the Alliance came from removing the burden of the Federation and the Empire who for centuries fought each other for our resources and we were caught helpless in the middle.”''

''“Both of those organisations proudly describe their origins as being freedom from the tyranny of others. And yet now they are the tyranny and it is our duty to oppose them, while also ensuring that we don’t become them.”''

==Government==
===Leadership===
[[File:Edmund_Mahon.png|thumb|200px|Prime Minister Edmund Mahon]]
The [[President of the Alliance]] is the head of state of the Alliance, while the [[Alliance Prime Minister]] is the head of government. The latter position is the more influential of the two in directing the Alliance's policies. The current Prime Minister is [[Edmund Mahon]].

The Prime Minister is elected by the Council Members. Each Member State has slightly different electoral rules based on their history. In theory the Prime Minister is elected for six years, but disputes within the Assembly have meant that the PM often doesn’t make it that long. They can suffer votes against them, often resulting in resignation, or occasionally votes of no confidence. They can serve multiple terms, but none have managed to do so yet.<ref name="Brookes">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=225156 Governments and politics in Elite Dangerous] by Michael Brookes
Tourist Beacon 0116
</ref>

===Council of Admirals===
The [[Alliance Defence Force]] is run by the six member Council of Admirals, independently from the Council of Members, but reporting to it after the event, to facilitate rapid decision-making. Each of these Admirals is from a key contributing Navy.<ref name="Brookes" />

===Alliance Assembly===
Each Alliance Member State has a number of Council Members within the Alliance Assembly, based on the size of their respective populations; some only have one. Meetings of the Assembly are conducted virtually but run on Turner's World in Alioth. The Prime Minister is elected by the Members, and it is his or her job to corral them into some sort of consensus; generally a slow process. There is much less tradition than in the other powers, and processes within the Alliance Assembly are still subject to change – generally when arguments break out, as they frequently do. In practice the Alliance is largely run by Civil Servants – salaried officials that look after day to day running of the Alliance, generally not getting involved in the political struggles.<ref name="Brookes" />

The Alliance Assembly is the central body for the Alliance as a whole. While parallels can be drawn with the European Union in the 21st century, the Assembly lacks the law making powers of the EU. In main it functions as a means for establishing common policies and treaties rather than laws. It also acts as an arbitration body between member states and depending on Assembly votes can enforce sanctions or corrective measures. However the politics of the member states often makes this a tricky process.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R8jZN2_tJU Tourist Spot 0113</ref>

When the reigning minor faction of a Member State changes, then depending on the rules of that Member State, it could change who represents them in the Assembly – but given that the Assembly rarely gets anything done, it is unlikely anyone will notice.<ref name="Brookes" />

==Faction information==
===Ranks===
The Alliance does not contain ranks, instead featuring a complex permit scheme that restricts commanders' travel to Alliance systems.

===Permits===
{{For|a list of Permits|Permits/Alliance}}

Permits are required to access certain systems that are otherwise locked out by the computer of your [[Frame Shift Drive]] (FSD).

Such permits are rewarded by the controlling faction for that locked system, when you become allied with that faction. You can often find that faction on a [[station]] outside the main system they control.

Once allied, simply visit the [[Bulletin Board]] at any of the faction's stations to accept a job titled "Making Friends And Going Places". Accepting the job automatically adds the permit to your FSD computer.

===Associated minor factions===
{| class="article-table sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align: center;" border="1"
|-
! style="text-align: center;" | Faction
! style="text-align: center;" | System
! style="text-align: center;" | Station
|-
| [[Alioth Independents]]
| 78 Ursae Majoris
| Rominger Dock
|-
| [[Alioth Independents]]
| 78 Ursae Majoris
| Read Gateway
|-
|Indaol Independents
|Indaol
|Wafer Landing
|}

== Videos ==
<gallery>
Elite_Dangerous_-_Epic_History_of_The_Federation
</gallery>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
AllianceInsignia.png|Insignia of the Alliance
Alioth Donaldson and Turner's World.jpg|Donaldson and Turner's World. The birthplace of the Alliance of Independent Systems
Edmund Mahon.png|Alliance Prime Minister Edmund Mahon
Corbra earthlike.jpg|Cobra of the Alliance Defence Force
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[:Category:Alliance key people|Alliance key people]] - A list of key people within the Alliance and its council
* [[Lore]] - Overview of what kind of lore is in Elite: Dangerous
* [[Events]] - Various events that have happened or are ongoing

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Alliance]]
[[Category:Organizations]]

Elite Dangerous Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Alliance