Task Force 72

This article is written for the Confederacy of Vulcan set in the 22nd Century

Confederacy of Vulcan
Basic Information
Major Species	Vulcan
Homeworld(s)	Vulcan
Founded	1776
Warp Capable	320
Official Language	Vulcan
Political Information
Governance Type	Federal constitutional republic
Leader	Head of State & Government: First Minister T'Pau Legislature: Vulcan Council of Ministers Judiciary: Vulcan High Assembly of Magistrates
Military Branches	Vulcan High Command
Template:Government

The Confederacy of Vulcan (CoV) is the government of Vulcan (and its subsequent colonies and territories) after the unifying of the Vulcan people following the Sundering.

It is a federal constitutional republic with the First Minister of Vulcan being the head of state and government. By the mid-twenty-second century, the Confederacy was a major interstellar power, with influences in and around the Alpha and Beta Quadrants’ prime meridian. It became a founding member of the Coalition of Planets in 2155.

The Confederacy is known to be the envy of many other powers for its technological achievements and political and diplomatic influences among many young nations. In some cases this resentment from others has brought the Confederacy into conflict with others, especially the Andorian Empire and United Planets of Tellar.

Historical Conception

The Confederacy’s formation began in the late 18^th century (Earth calendar), shortly after Vulcans had almost decimated themselves from years of war among nations, states and regions. Surak, a prominent pacifist and philosopher, had promoted the need for nonviolence among his fellow Vulcans and to follow a true path of logic through the regulation and almost complete suppression of their emotions (especially the violent ones). Over a period of centuries, Surak's philosophy and emotional control gained respect all across Vulcan until eventually it became the prevailing way of life for the Vulcan race. Allegiances and patriotism towards certain nation states, regions and areas no longer interested the Vulcan people. The government was also formed following the Sundering. This was a period of time where the most violent, aggressive elements of Vulcan society were forced to leave the planet. This group were known as "Those who marched beneath the Raptor's wing".

Those that remained built what would become the modern Vulcan. Logic, peaceful co-existence and the pursuit of scientific understanding and development was the main way forward for the people of Vulcan. The government that represented them would share similar traits and philosophies.

Over the next five centuries, the Confederacy of Vulcan became a well-established galactic power in its region of space. The Vulcans made contact with countless warp-capable species and attempted to keep peaceful diplomatic ties with them all. Some species were not interested, while others resented the Vulcan’s superior technology and others disposed their lack of emotions in favour of the logical reasoning. In time though, species that became warp capable became more accustomed to the Vulcan way and relations were developed. Unfortunately, during this time, Vulcan government engaged in numerous conflicts with local powers like the Andorian Empire and clashed with the United Planets of Tellar over trade disputes. All three powers were unable to develop any kind of amicable relationship with one another. Fighting occurred between the Andorian and Vulcan military during a number of border skirmishes.

By the mid-twenty-second century, Earth, one of Vulcan’s allies and nation states that it had supported since first contact, began to develop itself as a well-rounded and neutral party to many races who the Vulcans had estranged relationships with, especially the Andorians and Tellarites. Earth’s involvement in affairs that the Vulcans were involved with raised the profile of the younger state, which eventually led to the United Earth Commonwealth becoming the respected and trusted influence the Vulcans had originally wanted to achieve centuries ago.

In 2155, Vulcan society was tipped upside down and turned inside out as their fundamental beliefs were shaken to the core. The exposure and revelation of Surak’s original teachings caused a massive shift in how the Vulcan people approach many aspects of their life that had become diluted over time by the more heavy-handed approach taken by the Vulcan High Command (the Vulcan military) in a number of government policies and approaches. An almost semi-revolution took place from the civilian population and the Vulcan Administrator (the original head of the military who became the head of state and government a few years prior) was overthrown and a new more purposeful and balanced government replaced it. Vulcan foreign policy was radically changed with less interference and input taking place from the Confederacy on other species and governments.

With Earth’s involvement, peace and eventually an alliance treaty was signed between Vulcan, Earth, Andoria and Tellar. Many other nations open up further diplomatic ties between the four due to this.

Timeline of significant events and the CoV establishment as a galactic power

• 320: Vulcan launches its first warp capable ship.
• 1776: The Golden Age of Vulcan begins with the people being unified under the single banner of peaceful coexistence, scientific endeavours and developing their sense of logic. The Confederacy of Vulcan is founded as former nations, states and regions open up all of their borders to ensure the Vulcan society can survive. The Rights of Association, the Vulcan constitution, is established and sets out the rights of all Vulcans and how the planet and its territories will be governed.
• 2050: Territorial disputes with the Andorian Empire begin, causing the start of a cold war between the two powers. The main focus is over the planetoid named Weytahn by the Andorians. The Andorians begin to terraform the planet, even with it being so close to the Andorian-Vulcan border.
• 2058: The Territorial Compromise with the Andorian Empire is signed. As part of the treaty, the Andorians allow the Vulcan government to scrutinise its colony on Weytahn to ensure it does not become a military installation.
• 2063: First contact with Earth after Zefram Cochrane launches the Phoenix, Earth’s first faster-than-light ship. His test-flight catches the attention of the Vulcan survey ship, the T'Plana-Hath, which investigates the warp signature. The Vulcans land their ship in Bozeman, Montana and make official first contact with Humanity. Over the next one hundred years, the Vulcan government will counsel, support and help Earth gradually prosper. Their support ‘from a far’ causes many humans to feel that the Vulcans were holding them back by not sharing all of their knowledge. The Vulcans agree to the point they were not fully interfering in Earth’s technological development but down to the fact they did not see the logic in Earth ‘rushing’ so quickly.
• 2097: The Vulcan High Command annexes Weytahn after the Andorian settlers refuse to let Vulcan inspectors in. The population is forcibly removed and placed into refugee camps and the planet, now renamed Paan Mokar. Returning the colonists to the Andorian Empire and setting up a surveillance system in orbit, the Vulcans stake their claim to the planet not. Avoiding a full out war, the Treaty of 2097 is signed. It is agreed that the planet, being so contentious between the two powers, should remain uninhabited.  
• 2112: Vulcans accuse Andorians of an incursion on Paan Mokar and violation of the Treaty of 2097. The incursion is an Andorian freighter that crash lands on the planet. The freighter crew is returned to the Empire without any further cause.
• 2122: Involved in supporting other races, the Vulcans send a number of altered undercover agents to the planet Agaron to help topple a number of the criminal organisations. When the mission is complete an alliance is signed between the Confederacy and the Agaron government.
• 2151: The Vulcan government attempts to intervene in preventing the Klingon Empire from attacking Earth after a courier of theirs crash lands on the planet and is shot by a civilian farmer. Instead of dealing with the matter, Earth decides to launch its first warp 5 ship, Enterprise, to deal with the matter. Reluctantly agreeing to the mission, a Vulcan observer is posted to Enterprise. Later on in the year, after visiting the monastery of P’Jem, Enterprise reveals to the Andorians that the Vulcan government is spying on them through the use of a massive listening posts. The Andorian Imperial Guard destroy the facility.
• 2152: Relations with the Mazerite government end due to the number of corrupt officials who are part of a number criminal organisations. Even though the Vulcans attempt to help their magistrates, the process is not a complete success as hoped. Later on in the year, the Andorians invade Paan Mokar which starts up another crisis. Thankfully the situation ends in a cease fire between both powers after talks are mediated by Earth representatives.
• 2153: After Earth is attacked, the Confederacy refuses to aid their allies instead this causes further tension between the two governments and is only made worse further when the Andorians agree to assist instead.
• 2154: The Confederacy is rocked to its roots when the V’Las government is removed from power after the discovery of the Kir'Shara and the plans to invade Andoria are halted. All thanks to the intervention of Enterprise and its commanding officer along with the Syrrannite movement. The entire Vulcan civilisation begin to change their perspective and ideology after the real teachings of Surak are shared publicly.
• 2155: The Coalition of Planets, a mutual-defence alliance, is created between the United Earth Commonwealth, the Confederacy of Vulcan, the Andorian Empire, and the United Planets of Tellar after dealing with the Romulun Star Empire’s attempts to de-stabilise the region. Further attacks take place in the 61 Ursae Majoris system and against the Andorian colony on Docana. Eventually one of the Coalitions’ trading partners, the People’s Republic of Coridan, is attacked by the Romulans and the Coalition declares war against the faceless race.

Current territories

Though a large state, the Confederacy of Vulcan has a number of colonies within its territories but has a number of key systems that are important, be it for the resources on the world, how large the population is or with some their religious importance.

• 40 Eridani/Vulcanis System
  • Vulcan Homeworld/Capital Planet (sometimes referred to as Minshara
  • T'Khut
• Merak
• P’Jem
• Calanara
• Trilian
• Heyain
• P’Jem
• Chaya

Structure

The Confederacy of Vulcan is a federal constitutional republic with three branches. The legislature branch is designated the Vulcan Council of Ministers and consists of eight elected ministers. The executive branch falls to the head of state and government in the role known as the First Minister of Vulcan. They are also considered the Administrator of the Vulcan High Command (the commander-in-chief of the Vulcan military). While the judicial branch was dealt with by the Vulcan High Assembly of Magistrates, which had five magistrates assigned to it.

The Legislature Branch

The Vulcan Council of Ministers

Elected to ten-year terms, a Vulcan over the age of one hundred is able to place their case forward to the Vulcan population as to why they are the logical choice to take on the role they were applying for. Once elected they will take on the role of Minister for that ministry of the Vulcan government.

Ministries include, listed in their importance:

• The Ministry of State (Includes home affairs, justice, labour, housing, environment, transport and energy)
• The Ministry of Health (includes social care, the Vulcan Genome Registry)
• The Ministry of Thought (includes education, art and cultural development and the Vulcan Science Directorate, the Vulcan Science Council and Vulcan Science Academy)
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• The Ministry of Defence (includes the military – the Vulcan High Command and Space Council)
• The Ministry of Security (includes the V’Shar)
• The Ministry of Trade (includes the merchant fleet and mining institute)
• The Ministry of Information (includes election commission)

The process of passing new law requires proposals to be sent forth to the council on a monthly basis. Proposals can only be put forward by a minister, but the topics and matters that surround it are open to general debate. The general public are allowed to submit their thoughts on the matter in an open forum before a referendum is held. The general public then submit the popular decision for the Council to confirm as legislature. Once this has taken place, the First Minister will sign it into law.

The Executive Branch

The First Minister of the Confederacy of Vulcan

Just like their subordinates, the First Minister is elected for ten years by the general population. Normally the First Minister is elected after holding one of the great eight ministries of the Vulcan Council. When elected they also take on the dual role of Administrator of the Vulcan High Command. First Minister, like any other minister, can be removed from their position by a majority of the Council. If such a situation takes place (or if the holder dies while in office), the Council will hold a special election to appoint someone into the role for a short amount of time until a proper general election can take place.

When required to do so, the State Minister will deputise for the First Minister when they are unable to fulfil their duties on a temporary basis.

The Judicial Branch

The Vulcan High Assembly of Magistrates

Five magistrates are appointed to the High Assembly for exactly fifty years, this is the highest courts in the Confederacy of Vulcan. Again the magistrates are elected by the people similar to how ministers are elected. The High Assembly Magistrates, similar to other senior courts, are there to review cases that have been sent up the chain of the justice system from local courts that are appeals. Alongside this the High Assembly can overrule any legislation or executive order given by the Vulcan Council and/or First Minister if it is deemed unlawful and breaks the Theorems of Governance and the Rights of Association.

The Confederacy of Vulcan In Play

• This only refers to the CoV/Vulcans during the 22^nd Century:
  • The Vulcans are no longer seen as the frustrating people in holding Earth back seen at the start of Star Trek: Enterprise, but they are not just sharing their technology with everyone. Most Vulcans had unanticipated the revelations from Kir'Shara, as such as a society they are going through a period of change on how they should perceive certain thoughts and behaviours.
  • The Vulcan government, in 2155, isn’t as a strong and influential as it once was. This primarily down to the unexpected change in leadership with the T’Pau administration and the number of worlds that have found their involvement in their affairs frustrating. As a result the Vulcan foreign policy of non-interference and withdrawal has been welcomed with a mixture of reactions. Joining the Coalition of Planets ensured some sort of security for the Vulcan borders from the Andorian and Tellarites.
  • Fascinated with the development of the United Earth Commonwealth as an emerging galactic power, the Vulcan government remains as a mentor to the younger government but no longer places any barriers to how it conducts itself on the galactic stage.
  • As the Vulcan fleet is highly susceptible to the Romulan telepresence capturing device technology, their ships are rarely seen on the frontlines of the war. They have instead focussed their efforts on border patrols and provide material aide to their allies instead, minus technological development.