United Federation of the Thulean Islands
| United Federation of the Thulean Islands Unitit Federation o the Thulean Islands (Calidonian) Cónaidhm Aontaithe na nOileáin Thúil (Bardian) Förenade federationen Thule-öarna (Searickish) Ffederasiwn Unedig yr Ynysoedd Ddywl (Leirian) Caidreachas Aonaichte nan Eileanan Thoil (Guidelian) Den forente føderasjonen Thule-øyene (Norferdian) Keffrysyans Unys a'n Enys Dhywl (Ennoran) Den Forenede Føderationen Thule-øerne (Oewickish) Sameinað Bandalag Thule-eyjan (Solmarkish) |
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| Overview | |
| Capital (and largest city) | Tamlin |
| Government type | Authoritarian federal constitutional parliamentary republic |
| Prime Minister (head of government) | Niall McGuinness |
| Legislature | Federal Parliament (unicameral) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 78,884,367 |
| Demonym(s) | Thulean(s), Thule(s) |
| Language(s) | Insular Asconian (official), Calidonian, Insular Oewickish, Norferdian, Searickish, Solmarkish, Leirian, Ennoran, Bardian, Guidelian |
| Religions | Secularism, Pietist Soterianity (plurality; Church of Ascony, Northern Communion), Penitent Soterianity (plurality), Irreligious (minority), other |
The United Federation of the Thulean Islands, commonly referred to as the United Federation (UF) or Thule for short, is a federal constitutional republic located off the north-western coast of continental Eurysia. Various islands in the North Hyperian Ocean that were once part of the Empire of the Isles, including the Asconian Isles, the Bardian Islands and those of Vicavia, came together to form the United Federation, with its capital city situated on the main island of Ennora, or Avalon. The UF is a strategically significant position vital to the Coalition's interests in Eurysia and the North Hyperian Ocean in general, particularly pertaining to the containment of Union State encroachment.
Furthermore, the Thulean capital of Tamlin is a key political and economic centre of the Coalition, surpassed only by Olympic City and Keiyū.
History
The death of the royal family and much of the Empire's civilian government in the Twilight War (964-971 S.C.) effectively spelled the end of the Empire of the Isles. Quickly, the task of keeping order fell upon the hands of the military and Imperial Police, leading to the subsequent establishment of the Emergency Authority of the Isles. General Paul Leland would be recalled from the occupation in continental Eurysia in 972 S.C. to head this authority, being granted the position of Lord Regent. The Regency, as it would come to be known, marked the transition to republican government in the Isles, as well as a grueling regime of reconstruction and public works aimed at housing refugees displaced by nuclear weapons. In the midst of this reconstruction, the Thulean government would host the Tamlin Round Table Agreement in 974 S.C., outlining the procedures for Allied disarmament and the founding of the Coalition of Congressional Nations.
By 978 S.C., mounting public pressures, sectarian conflict and general discontentment with military rule would lead to the de jure restoration of civilian rule. The Kingsborough Agreement of 0001 R.C. mandated the immediate devolution of governmental authorities, empowering the local governments of its island constituencies; the Empire of the Isles was no more, now replaced by the United Federation. In theory, this new system of government closely resembled that of the Emerald Alliance, with its confederation of allied states — who jointly exercised the powers of sovereignty — and otherwise decentralized political engagement. Unlike the Emerald Alliance, however, the new government was considerably more centralized around the directorial aspect of the executive branch, and thus had aspects of both a unitary and federal state. Ultimately, the newly-elect Prime Minister was no more than primus inter pares in the UF cabinet system; instead the UF was made to be governed by the entire Council of Ministers, or Executive Council (ExCo) as it was later renamed.
Militarily, the former Empire's armed forces were folded under the newly-established Coalition Forces Authority in 0003 R.C., while the Imperial Police were reorganized into the Thulean Constabulary — taking up what militarized capacities the CFA did not require of the defunct Thulean Armed Forces. Stability has been a paramount demand due to its strategic position adjacent to the Union State and unresolved inner tensions, and thus the 'transition' to civilian authority meant little — the Isles remain a militarized, authoritarian police state, dominated both by the Thulean Constabulary and the garrisons of Coalition troops safeguarding the islands from foreign invasion. While local governments were permitted to elect leaders and councilmen, nothing was truly allowed to fall out of line from the established order enshrined by the Isles' self-appointed protectors.
The Bloody Tuesday massacre of 0079 R.C. remains a definitive memory in the minds of many — and it is still not known who detonated the first of the radiological bombs in Durknock. Pietist and Penitent alike blame one another for the tragedy, and the conflict of their violent sectarian paramilitaries remain a facet of Thulean society into the present. The conflict has especially intensified in the aftermath of the Colony War, as many men return home seasoned with military experience, bringing new ideas and experience into gangs and paramilitary orders. For many, the question of another violent wave of sectarian violence isn't a matter of if, but when.
