Federation of Hania



The Federation of Hania is the third most powerful human nation in the Milky Way Galaxy in ICY 952. It is a democratic nation and signing member of the Nova-Sicilia treaty, also known as the Four Nations Alliance. It is currently at war with the Humankind Empire of Abh.

Linguistics
Most of the populace are the descendantse of the immigrants from the Sumei system, retaining the original language with small changes, but some diversification did occur.

History
Majority of the The Federation's population is composed from the descendants of the emigrants from the Sumei system, making it the closest thing to nation-state amongst the other interstellar nations (althrough it is still far from that definition).

The Sumei system, which first discovered plane-space travel, was formerly within the territory of the Federation. They postulated from immigration and colonization for the population to increase, to the integration of another country. But they did not like interference from outside. It's for this reason the Sumei system joined the Empire.

The Federation is famous for its ability to gather information. The Federation does have the third most powerful military of the Milky Way Galaxy.

Space and Ground Factions
Banner of the Stars V and VI novels provide an important update on the life and the structure of the Federation. During the course of its existence, an important split in society of the Federation has occurred. The population of the member planets of the Federation are mostly uninterested in the events outside of their home systems, making the disparity of the level and quality of life mostly unnoticed, much to the content of their local politicians. On the other hands, wealthy hereditary space traders and members of the military eventually had lost their ties to the planets of their origin, mostly basing their activity in space. This eventually resulted in the formation of two distinct factions – Space and Ground ones.

A political schism exists between two factions. Based on the recommendations of the AI, responsible for governing decisions, Ground Faction seeks voluntary absorption into the Empire on the more favorable terms, seeing the Empire as more of the trading mediators. Meanwhile Space Faction finds this approach naïve, since the “trading mediators” have firepower, capable of destroying planets, and changing them, or even negotiating with them on certain topics, after they seize control, is essentially impossible, should their approach to governing the member planets change. Both factions provide significant amount of valid and reasonable arguments to support their point, but private interest of the individual representatives also plays important role. For the Space Faction it’s a matter of survival.

During the course of the war both factions had resorted to the unconstitutional and illegal actions to promote their agenda: Ground Faction had opened secret negotiations with the Empire to provoke the annexation of the Federation with their support, and in order to counter the Ground Faction efforts Space Faction had broken the neutral status of the Federation, secretly letting the Alliance forces to pass through the Federation territory, use some systems as a staging ground for the Lakfakalle Campaign, and eventually participated in military actions directly.

In the other nations, forming the Four Nations Alliance very few persons in top political and military echelons are aware about the actual state of affairs between the factions, but such information is indeed available to them.

It should also be noted, that the majority of the information about the factions come from the members of the Ground faction, so the possibility of bias should always be taken into account.

Nova-Sicilia Treaty
In ICY 940, the United Mankind invited representatives from the Federation of Hania, the Republic of Greater Alkont, and the People's Sovereign Union of Planets to the planet Nova-Sicilia in their territory. The United Mankind proposed a nonaggression treaty with these nations in order to form a front against the Humankind Empire of Abh.

The War
In ICY 952, Gwen Tauron was ambassador of the Federation to the Empire. At first the Federation supported the war, but later retreated from the Nova-Sicilia Treaty accusing the United Mankind of fabricating the whole pretext to the war. At that time, the Federation was still not involved yet as it had not participated in the assault on the Imperial Capital. The other three nations of the Four Nations Alliance decried the Hania Federation for its perfidy. Many of the Abh, including Lafiel, were equally disappointed in the Hania Federation.

Some time after ICY 955, representative of the Ground Faction (by now forming a majority of political center in Federation) Tin Kihan become ambassador of the Federation. In ICY 959, he had brought forth a proposal from the members of the Ground Faction, to support the annexation of the Federation territories into the Empire on more favorable terms, based on the Hyde precedence. It should be noted, that the Ground Faction insisted on secrecy, both of fear of retribution from other Alliance members, and due to the lack of the complete support from the population. The existance of two distinct factions within the Federation was conveniently omitted by the Tin Kihan, althrough the Empire did became aware about them some time later.

To counter the threat from the actions of the Ground Faction, the Space Faction had contacted the Alliance, first providing secret assistance for the preparation of the Lakfakalle Campaign, and later actively participated in the war effort.

The Federation actively participated in the fighting during the Lakfakalle Campaign, but it's activity were mostly limited to Kryb Kingdom. due to the lack of forces. During the Battle of Lakfakalle the Federation was represented by a token force of two ships, which had entered the area of operations only after the fighting had ended. After the Lakfakalle Campaign the territory of the Kryb Kingdom had fallen under the Federation's control.

Ten years after the Lakfakalle campaign the Federation was seen closely cooperating with the People's Sovereign Union of Planets. Higher overall level of the Hanian military saw Hanians eventually taking control of the military matters, with Hanian officers being placed in supreme command of the joint operations, much to the Union's discontent.

Government
The Federation 's political system is a combination of a parliamentary system and representative democracy. The political culture of the Federation is that of power and intrigues. Aiming for any kind of power or position comes with risk and dirty dealings.

Diplomacy
As member of the Nova-Sicilia treaty, the United Mankind works together with the Four Nations Alliance to contain the Humankind Empire of Abh.

Policy
According to the information, provided by the Ground Faction representatives during the events of the Banner of the Stars VI novel, Federation relies heavily on the AI in decision-making in the governance process, up to the point, where the AI is said to make actual decisions, and the humans just executing them (if accepted).

According to the same representatives, after the start of the War AI had recommended immediate surrender to the Empire, seeing any resistance as futile, and, considering lack of interest of most of the population in the affairs beyond their own planets – unnecessary. Lack of political unity and schism between the Space and the Ground factions had resulted in the compromise decision – neutrality, to which the AI expressed its disapproval.

The Federation provides high level of independency for its member worlds.

Society
Diverse and corrupt.

Life
The Federation's food is highly praised by many, but it has nothing good regarding alcohol.

Trivia

 * Hania proverb/saying encyclopedia: Encyclopedia of the sayings used in the Hania Federation. Publishing Company MINTSUIN.