Uvars (Planet)

Uvars is a planet located in the disputed Uvars/Chutov system between the Galian Empire and Laelian Republic. Originally one of two inhabited planets in the system alongside Chutov, the ecosytem of Uvars was devastated after a concerted program of biological warfare propegated by the Avelanian Principality during the height of the Avelanian war. Today Uvars is part of the Uvars International Zone (UIZ) located on the Orochi-Line and is part of a joint colonization effort by both Galia and Laelia. Due to rising tensions between the rival nations social conditions of Uvars have become heated in recent years, and the planet has been rocked by a series of terrorist attacks, particularly targeted against Galian-aligned feudal estates.

History
Uvars was first discovered and mapped in the year 2325 alongside the rest of its system. Quickly marked as a high interest system thanks to the presence of two habital worlds, the Uvars system was quickly colonized by an initial group of 40,000. Quickly evolving into a critical regional center of commerce, Uvars benefitted heavily from the growing metal extraction and industrial refinement industries on Kroton and Chutov respectively. Though Uvars would be overshadowed by its more populous neighbor Chutov, the planet became a major population center in its own right reaching a population of more than 8 billion by the height of the Avelanian War. During the 2700's the political climate of Galia shifted dramatically, with the nominally democratic Galian Systems Alliance collapsing into autocracy. The populations of Uvars and Chutov largely opposed the rise of the autocratic Pierre De Abiret, and so democratic elements from the system, along with other border systems, launched an offensive seeking to uproot the upstart dictator and restore the Systems Alliance. Ultimately this effort, known now as the First Galian Civil-War would end in failure, with Abiret-loyalist forces encircling the system and forcing its capitulation.

Avelanian War
Through the 2700's Uvars suffered economically, as much of the financial industries which had fueled it were siphoned off to the rapidly ascendant loyalist planet Akari. Because of its opposition to the Empire, many found the system too risky to invest in, since many nobles feared that radical-democrats may rise up again and seize or destroy their assets. These fears would ultimately prove true as not long after conflict returned to the Empire in the form of the Avelanian war, the planet and system of Uvars again revolted, this time abandoning its hopes of reforming the Systems Alliance and instead declaring itself to be the 'Republic of Chutov'.The Republic of Chutov would play a central role in the Avelanian war, though it would be a short lived and tragic one. Facing grim prospects in a losing war, the Avelanian Principality began to aggressive lash out against Galia and the Republic. Seeking to quickly eliminate one faction of the war, the Avelanian fleet began a vicious campaign of bombing on both Chutov and Uvars. The population of Chutov was faced with total erradication by means of radiological bombing, while Uvars itself was bombed with special canisters containing a modified fungus. The Carceri Fungus is a fungi native to the planet Tartarus. The Fungus has a distinct pink-purple hue and produces toxic spores which, by burrowing into and covering the Alveoli of the lung, are highly lethal to human life. By specifically targeting major population centers the Avelanian navy was able to rapidly poison the planet, leading to its near total depopulation after a month long campaign. Unlike Chutov the death of Uvars was not immediate, as though the fungi quickly emptied major population centers it look years to fully spread across all parts of the planet. This allowed for extensive evacuation operations for the more rural regions of the planet by Republican forces. The small surviving numbers fled eastward to the fringes of the Republic. These survivors would form the basis of what is today the Republic of Laelia, which now participates along side Galia in the resettlement of Uvars.

Reterraformation
By the turn of the millenia cooling relations between Galia and Laelia led to talks of launching a joint reterraforming program for Chutov and Uvars. The effort was intended to be primarily a diplomatic program seeking to normalize relations between the citizens of both nations with both people's participating in the resettlement of the highly symbolic worlds. Having an established and extensive terraforming program, the Galians would provide the bulk of the industrial capacity for the program, with the Laelians providing technical expertise and funding. Further the two nations formally extended an offer for the International Community to participate with the blessing of the Terran Federation.

The official terraformation process began on Uvars in 3021, with initial projections for its completion being set at around 3100. The recently invited Terran-led international coaliton was formally established under the name "UIZSA" or the 'Uvars International Zone Security Association', and would provide security, oversight, and would fully subsidize the operation of 'Uvars International', the planet's international orbiting station. It was decided during the terraformation process most of the surface of Uvars would be remodeled into a dry-savanna climate. This climate was chosen as the best compromise between habitability and inhospitality towards the Tartarus fungus. The first settlers were invited to Uvars in 3050, with the Laelian colonist settling the city of Uvars Prima and the Galians the city of New Chutov. By 3100 70% of the infection had been purged from the planetary surface, however highly resistant strains had embedded themselves in the planet's dense mountainous jungles and proved unexpectedly difficult to uproot. As such projections for total terraformation were pushed as far off as 3200. Despite this set-back Uvars was declared generally habitable and opened to all migration by 3080, with the lowland and oceanic savanna being declared fully safe, though exclusion zones were declared with 50 mile radii around planetary jungles. Only specialized crews and national or UIZSA security forces are allowed entry.

Social Tensions
Since the official beginning of resettlement on Uvars tensions among the settlers have been high. Ever since the Avelanian war was offically ended with the signing of the Orochi-Gerulfing accord the two nations have been locked in a cold war with elements of both sides taking hardline stances against one another. While the resettlement plan for Uvars was viewed by its creators as a way to ease tensions by bringing the two kindred peoples together, the reality on the ground has been far different.

The stark differences between the systems of Liberal-Capitalism employed by Laelia and the Aristocratic-Feudalism common in Galia has sparked substantial conflict between settler communities. In particular the presence of Villein, essentially indentured servants working under permanent transferrable contracts, has sparked substantial conflict between the two sides. Liked to modern slavery, Laelian radical groups have organized against their Galian counterparts, initially acting in protest against landlords whom employ Villein, but eventually branching out as far as acts of terrorism against largely uninvolved Galian settlements.

By the late 3090's the pace of terrorism picked up substantially in a period referred to by Galian settlers as "The years of blood and fire". During the decade a massive upkick in radicalism in the Laelian Mandates led to a series of vicious terrorist attacks across highly contested border regions. In response to this many border communities in the Galian Mandates began to heavily fortify their settlements, first by installing spot lights and mounted machine guns, and eventually through the creation of reinforces walls and bunkers. By the decades end most Galian frontier settlements resembled less resembled the farmer-settler communities that were first envisioned during the resettlement and more that of military outposts.

In response to this massive uptick in violence the Galian and Laelians provisional governments met under the guidance of the international security force UIZSA to discuss possible avenues to cool the situation off. Despite these efforts no party was able to come to a solution that would be acceptable to the other, with the Laelians desiring the Galians remove all Villein from the highly contested borders, and the Galians demanding a draconian crack down on Laelian citizens inciting violence.

With the failure of negotiations the Galian Provisional Government initiated the creation of a domestic security force known as the Uvars Expeditionary Force (UEF). Employing entirely local citizens and utilizing military hardware sold on the open market, the UEF was able to skirt regulations against the provision of military hardware by state actors to elements in the UIZ. Utilizing this equipment the UEF began a counter-insurgency campaign focused on locating and striking at known hot beds of terrorist activity within the Galian Mandates, and even going so far as to pursue known terrorist into the Laelian Mandates, to great controversy. Despite this however the rates of terrorism remained at an all time high well into the 3100's.

SCORS
By 3128 the Galian provisional government abandoned attempts to uproot the radical insurgency, and instead divised a local program which would be dubbed SCORS (the Secure Community Operations Rotation System), which would see to minimize Galian losses and deaths, while maximizing cost and casualties for insurgents. Divised by the director of the Uvars Expeditionary Force Baronet John Halsey the SCORS program massively expanded the size and responsibilities of the UEF and saw the division of the Galian mandates into dozens of districts, each headed by a Captain chosen from the ranks of the UEF, and a Provost elected from the local communities.

Through the SCORS system Galian communities would be encouraged to self-quarantine from outsiders, and only travel during pre-determined and supervised convoys, which would be secured by UEF personel. Further, all districs would be given designated "Capitals" which would serve as central transit hubs between districts, with unsanctioned land travel between districts being strictly prohibited. All residents of the Galian districts would be given identification documents and vehicles moving in the districts would be subject to routine checkpoints and inspections. In addition to this, the SCORS system saw the heavy subsidization of fortifications and defenses in Galian settlements, particularly ones located on conflict-prone borders.

Though the isolation and expensive militarization of Galian mandates had a negative effect on the economy of Uvars, the SCORS system has proven ultimately effective, as insurgent casualties have increased while Galian casualties have gradually declined since the implementation of the system. For his efforts Bt. John Halsey was rewarded and entitled to the Viscounty of New Chutov. Today the SCORS system is still in effect, with UEF patrols and checkpoints a regular sight in the Galian mandates, and with smaller Galian settlements virtually locking down at night and in essence becoming heavily armed fortresses permanently prepared for the possibility of a sudden and violent surprise attack.

Government
The various settled populations on Uvars are divided into "Mandates" under the control of either Galia or Laelia. The extent of each nation's mandate is determined by the number and location of their respective populations. To expand their given mandate each nation must simply population the region with settlers and develop infrastructure in the area. Each nation is given ownership of all land within 25 kilometers of any given piece of permanent infrastructure (Such as roads, bridges, railways, space ports, and airstrips), and 50 kilometers extending from any settlement exceeding 50 people. As a result of this system the surface of Uvars has been rapidly filled with infrastructure developments and small self-sufficient farming settlements.

Galia
The Galian mandates account for 62% of the total settled land on Uvars. The planet is organized as a Duchy level title in the Empire, with the Rigal family currently holding the title. The current Duke of Uvars is Ellis Rigal. Like other Imperial planets, Uvars is subdivided into Counties (Currently 3), Baronies (Currently 15), Baronetcies (Around 900), and many thousands of individual Lordships. Additionally Uvars is home to a single Vicounty in the form of the capital New Chutov. The capital of the Galian Mandates is New Chutov, where the planetary courts and bureaucracy are based out of. As system capital, New Chutov is home to the Uvars Court District which hears all Nobiliary, Financial, Criminal, and Common Dispute cases in the system. The Galian Mandates also have a domestic police force known as the "Uvars Expeditionary Force (UEF)". The UEF primarily patrol the tense Galia-Laelia border and lead counter-terrorism operations against the Laelian radicals. The UEF is a principal component of the SCORS system which has become a major part of the Galian resettlement effort on Uvars.

Laelia
The Laelian Mandate accounts for approximately 38% of the currently available habitable land on Uvars, though more could be considered under its jurisdiction if the many infected forest regions are included in their domain. The area on the planet is set up as many other Laelian planets are with a Herzog being appointed by the Government to represent their interests and a Graf being elected by the people of the planet to protect their interests. In addition to the normal titles of rulership appointment over the world a Markgraf had been appointed by the Military to watch over the world and guarentee it is ready for any potential action taken by the Galians. Outside of the ruling three there are the local Senate and Judiciary to propose legislation to the ruling three as well as verify the legality of any such law respectively. Though possesing less land than their Galian counterparts, the Laelian Mandate has managed to condense its population into dozens of cities around the globe and get from them not only a vastly larger population percentage but also a much more developed industrial base to rely upon. Despite having the larger population and the temptation to deploy more military troops than the Galian Mandate, the Laelian Mandate has largely held back to focuse more on forming the Uvarian Sector Rangers as their standing force for self defense and deterrence. The Uvarian Sector Rangers (USR) is a largely professional force with much of the manpower provided by Uvars itself, with local version of most Laelian Army vehicles being able to be locally produced, and a dedicated Corps of loyal officers ready to counter the current threat of violence breaking out across the border in the Galian Mandate.

UIZSA
The 'Uvars International-Zone Security Agency' is a nominally international security agency created by the Terran Federation to provide security for international assets in the UIZ. UIZSA is based out of Uvars International, and has a presence in both New Chutov and Uvars Prima. UIZSA primarily provides security for foreign dignitaries, diplomats, and prominent political leaders, however the organization has been known to provide protection to refugees -- particularly Villein fleeing persecution in the Galian Mandates. These actions have fed into concerns among Galian-aligned interests of UIZSA's compromised neutrality, with many in the Empire viewing the organization as little more than a Terran proxy being used to unfairly assist the Laelian settlement effort.