Treecuu Star Empire (A1-0)

Treecuu Star Empire Treecuu-uumth-aateec (Treecuu Common)
Emblem
Overview of the Treecuu Star Empire
Founded	~200 standard years ago (Treecuu Republic reorganised)
Location	Sector A1-0, (500-1200,300-600 lys)
Capital	Ecteen (Irveem City)
Population	unknown
Head of state	vacant?
Head of government	President Cuul
Major species	"Treecuu": (Limavu, Teetac)*
Language	Treecuu Common
Key technology	Folding space warp drive Quantum communications Quantum synthesis
Military	Space: Mandate fleets System fleets Remote Fleet Planetary: Security Forces Marines
Intelligence service	State Security Agency Mandate Surveillance Service
Key people	Tham (Chair of the Committee for the Expansion of the Empire) Ivict (Minister of Foreign Affairs)
Currency	Uut

The Treecuu Star Empire (Treecuu Common: , Treecuu-uumth-aateec) is a young, rapidly expanding star nation in Sector A1-0, approximately stretching between 500-1200 lys horizontally and 300-600 lys vertically. Commonly it is estimated that the empire comprises 33,000 star systems, of which at least 7400 are settled to some degree. It borders the Badlands of Anarchy to the north, the Stoinian Star Kingdom to the south, and a vast badlands region to the east. Founded about 200 standard years ago in the aftermath of the so-called Loo-Yee Calamities, the empire is built on the principle of subjugating neighbouring civilisations that are not capable of defending themselves in order to prevent them from maintaining interstellar spaceflight, and to enforce a Treecuu monopoly on movement and communication, with the ultimate goal of maintaining order and peace. The Treecuu Star Empire maintains an isolationist policy and its extensive network of buoys marking the territory claimed is well-known. However, following the Aryyt't Incident, the empire has begun seeking to establish diplomatic relations with other star nations in the sector and to gain recognition as the sovereign entity of the space it claims.

The Treecuu Star Empire has a population of about 577 billion Treecuu, which all enjoy full citizenship, and about 300 billion so-called subject species, which are isolated on their respective planets of origin, barred from owning faster-than-light technology. The total number of inhabitants is significantly lower compared to most other star nations in the sector, but a successful aggressive government campaign has ensured a very high population growth rate of the Treecuu. Treecuu space is divided into twelve mandates and one region, each governed by a cirth (governor) who enjoys extensive personal power, being directly responsible for matters regarding law enforcement, industrial development and most importantly asserting dominance over the subject species under their control. Nominally a democracy, the empire is governed by an elected senate and a president, currently Cuul, having their seat on the planet Ecteen, the capital of the empire and Treecuu homeworld. In reality however, the empire is best described as an oligarchy, with power shifting to the Committee for the Expansion of the Empire consisting of self-appointed members, including the governors and business magnates.

The currency-less Treecuu economy is dominated by the replicator and information technology sectors, with significant contributions by the mining, shipbuilding, foodstuffs and recycling industries. Important native technology includes the folding space warp drive, quantum synthesis and ship cloaking technology. The Treecuu Star Empire has a highly devolved welfare system which is also extended to the subject species. Standard of living is high among the Treecuu and generally fair to high among subject species.

Etymology

The word Treecuu means "shared" in the Treecuu language. It was first used in the constitution written for the foundation of the Treecuu Republic 291 standard years ago, which was also the first official document in the newly constructed language. The full name of the nation, Treecuu Star Empire, could alternatively be translated as the Star Commonwealth, but is not recommended officially.

History

Pre-FTL

The Treecuu nationality includes two different species that evolved on the same world, Ecteen: the T'eetakh insectoids and the Limavu mammalians. The insectoids where the first to develop an advanced civilisation about 220,000 standard years ago and dominated the planet for millennia. They colonised the Ecteen system and terraformed the neighbouring planet Cin. The insectoids were close to achieving FTL technology, however, a combination of several devastating wars, natural disasters and climate change induced a mass extinction event on Ecteen, forcing the few remaining insectoids off the home world. After a century, only a few thousand individuals on Cin had survived. They did not manage to maintain their advanced civilisation and thus reverted back to a hunter-gatherer type of civilisation. Over time, knowledge of the old world and the advanced technology diminished.

With the insectoids gone, the mammalians, which had survived the mass extinction event in small numbers in the equatorial marshlands, developed an advanced civilisation. As scientific advances were made, traces of the ancient insectoid civilisation were discovered. When telescopes were aimed at the neighbouring planet they soon found it to be habitable. This prompted fast advances in astronomy and space faring technology. 354 standard years ago the mammalians sent their first manned expedition to Cin, leading to first contact between the two races. It was soon established that they were genetically related and shared a common origin. Working together, the insectoids and mammalians rediscovered and reclaimed ancient T'eetakh artefacts and technology throughout the system. The mammalians managed to cure diseases that had plagued the insectoids for millennia. 301 standard years ago they completed their first FTL flight.

Treecuu Republic

Following the peaceful integration between the insectoids and mammalians and the success of their space programme, it was decided to put their respective planets under a common government to accelerate integration and guarantee peace. The Treecuu Republic was proclaimed 291 standard years ago which included the entire Ecteen system. It was a liberal democracy and the various nations on the planets had a large degree of self-governance. The same year the first deep space exploration missions were launched and warp ships were sent out to neighbouring stars. nine years later first contact was made with the Utacs, an emerging FTL civilisation. The two civilisations maintained a relation of peace and trade. The following decades the Treecuu settled several uninhabited systems and made peaceful contact with the emerging Dacoorans and Catorans. Important breakthroughs in replication technology were made during this time. The total Treecuu population was approximately 30 billion, with a presence in 10-15 star systems.

Loo-Yee Calamities

240 standard years ago technologically advanced nomadic peoples, collectively called the Loo-Yee (in some sources called the Oleth), started visiting Treecuu space in what was likely scouting parties. Soon entire fleets arrived, who proceeded to plunder Treecuu worlds as well as neighbouring nations. After the first waves of Loo-Yee incursion, the Dacoorans hosted a conference with the goal to establish a military alliance between the Treecuu, Utacs, Dacoorans and Catorans. Except for the Catorans opting out, the treaty talks were successful. However, the Loo-Yee returned in greater numbers. The alliance was defeated defending Dacoora, which was thoroughly plundered, but never completely occupied thanks to a strong resistance movement. At the same time the isolated Catorans were almost entirely wiped out by the Loo-Yee. Seeing the fall of the two planets, the Utac negotiated a separate peace with the Loo-Yee, paying in gold and other basic resources to have the Loo-Yee leave them alone.

Utac leaving the war was seen as a great betrayal by the Treecuu, who now faced the Loo-Yee alone. After a period of both sides recovering, Treecuu and Loo-Yee forces clashed in the battle of Treel. The Treecuu deployed antimatter weapons for the first time. The outcome was a tactical draw but a strategic victory for the Treecuu, as the Loo-Yee likely decided it was too costly to continue their campaign in the region. They left and have since not been encountered again. An estimated 60% of all Treecuu had been killed in the war.

Empire reform

A Treecuu Ruum-class star destroyer extensively used during the last years of the Treecuu Republic.

Fearing that the Loo-Yee would return, the Treecuu government approached its former allies for a renewed Alliance. The Utac government declined, fearing revenge from the Loo-Yee. The Dacooran government failed to respond due to a collapse of their society following the plundering and infighting. Hardliners within the military persuaded the Treecuu government of the necessity of creating a buffer zone outside Treecuu core space for defensive purposes, and one standard year after the retreat of the Loo-Yee, a Treecuu fleet besieged Utac Prime. A special government body was formed to plan and oversee the creation of the buffer zone, called the Committee for Strategic Security (CSS). The siege lasted two years, and following escalating orbital bombardment, indiscriminately targeting military and civilian targets alike, Utac surrendered unconditionally. The CSS immediately seized Utac mines and production facilities to accelerate the construction of starships for the Treecuu Starfleet. All Utac state functions were placed under Treecuu leadership.

The following two years, under the pretence of helping the Dacooran government regain control of the planet, the Treecuu landed expeditionary forces on Dacoora Prime, which soon came under Treecuu and CSS control, suffering the same fate as Utac. Catora was also occupied, but without resistance. The CSS presented a plan for Treecuu government on how to ensure the survival of the Treecuu and maintain order in space surrounding the Treecuu core worlds involving subjugation of other civilisations through military expansion and a rapid increase in population by encouraging large families through extensive government support. While it was debated in the senate, news of the destruction of Treecuu civilians convoys by the warring star nations Grund and Fee'ehar reached Ecteen, causing mass protests and a popular demand for action. The government responded by voting unanimously in favour of the CSS's plan. It is uncertain if the convoys really were attacked, or if it was a false flag operation arranged by the CSS or certain members of the CSS.

The following year the CSS was reformed into the Committee for the Expansion of the Empire (CEE), being directly responsible for the planning of military expeditions and running subjugated worlds. 200 standard years ago the Treecuu Star Empire was proclaimed following the annexation of Otane, home to a major spacefaring civilisation. The reform introduced the mandates (ebovanes), which are large regions of conquered and settled space directly under a governor which is appointed by the CEE. The Treecuu cloaking system was invented during this time.

Contemporary

After the annexation of Bicaan in the northwestern reaches of the Empire, military expansion decreased significantly due to encountering stronger and more cohesive star nations, and fearing overstretching the supply lines. The last planet to be annexed was Yim-Lootuu III, also known as by its native name Aryyt't. The Aryyt't managed to send a slipspace probe with a distress call which visited over a hundred of systems before being destroyed while jumping to a Treecuu-controlled system. The distress call was received by Pax Dracon and the Venterran Federation which promted the Treecuu government to attempt establishing formal relations with these star nations to learn about their attitudes about the annexations and prevent any measures to be taken to recind the control of Aryyt't. These events led to a change in Treecuu foreign politics, shifting to a policy of seeking international recognition of claimed territory and cementing the Treecuu precense. To that end, trade agreements were made with the Ryccian Empire and extensive cooperation has been achieved with the Stoinian Star Kingdom with which there is much in common in terms of self-image and history. The Treecuu and Stoinians have signed a non-agression pact, and it is large believed that the two nations will form an alliance soon.

The CEE has further increased its power by having one of its members, Ivict, as foreign minister, gaining direct control of the Diplomatic Corps and the negotiations with other star nations. However, as the direct control of the governors and CEE is not normally felt by most Treecuu citizens, they are not aware or concerned with the elected government loosing its say in matters of controlling subject worlds or what the foreign relations should be with distant star nations.