Fiction:Medwedian Democratic Federation

"For God and Fatherland!"

- Motto of the Medwedian Democratic Federation

"It is the superior duty of the Medwedian people to bring Civilization and the Words of God to foreign races and to free the universe from those who resist and choose to retain their barbaric and diabolical ways."

- then-Marshal Theodor Lynden Frankenstein during the Conquest of Savar

The Medwedian Democratic Federation, short Medwedia is a young but relatively large, highly expansionist and militaristic state located in the Lower Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. Medwedia, a totalitarian dictatorship, is considered to be one of the most oppressive and stratocratic societies of the galaxy. The governmental elite, headed by an almighty dictator (currently Theodor Lynden Frankenstein, the "Glorious and Honourable President"), employs advanced technology to control its population and fight dissidents. The homeworld and capital of Medwedia is Ærd (Ursus Prime). It is the home of the Ursoids, the ruling race of the nation.

The Medwedian Democratic Federation is notorious for its warmongering nature - while the last conflict on Ærd, the Great War of Planetary Unification, was conducted many centuries ago, the massive Medwedian Armed Forces and the Medwedian Space Fleet expand the nation at the rate of several systems per month. If a planet destined for colonization or exploitation is discovered to be inhabited by a sentient race, resistance is broken using heavy orbital bombardment. The conquered species is then enslaved or, if deemed useless and undesirable, exterminated using death camps, mass sterilizations and even artificial viruses.

Medwedian society is highly stratified and hierarchical - while the ruling elite enjoys a lavish life full of feasts and concerts the lower classes, not entitled to enjoy higher education, conduct hard manual labor or are sent out to cultivate barely inhabitable worlds. Even though the wealthy and powerful have a much higher standard of life, they share the proletariat's affinity for hard work and endurance. Medwedians are known to hold their promises and finish what has been begun, even if it takes multiple generations.

Terminology
The name of the Medwedian Democratic Federation originates from the name of the planetary state which occupied most of the north-eastern part of Ærd prior to the Great War of Planetary Unification. The short name "Medwedia" is usually applied in this context; however, it is acceptable to shorten the name of the whole state this way. The official name in Medwedian is: Medwedisk Demokratisk Føderatjon, which means exactly the same as in English.

Dating System
It should be noted that the Medwedian dating system is distinct from many others, being separated into three main eras: the Before and After Exodus eras separated by the collapse of the ancient city of Hobr and the exodus of its residents, whereas B.E. years are counted negatively while AE years are counted positively. The last part of the "After Exodus" era is also commonly named "Pre-Planetary Unification" (PU), whereas the usage of both terms is currently being debated. Most Medwedian history textbooks use the year 1335 AE (the foundation of Medwedia as a state) as the border between AE and PU, whereas year counting continues - the year after 1335 AE is 1336 PU (or alternatively 1336 AE). The PU era ends in the year 1769 AE, at the signing of the Planetary Unification treaty that puts the whole planet Ærd under Medwedian control, beginning the New Era (NE). The year 1769 PU. is identical to the year 0 NE.

Evolution and Prehistory
It is believed that 'Ursus sapiens' evolved from medium-sized, now-extinct omnivores similar to Terran bears that lived in the dedicious forests of the planet Ærd. An evolutionary shift towards a more meat-based diet led to the formation of packs that lived and hunted together. The dietary change resulted in an increase in brain mass; the proto-ursoids learned how to use simple tools and became bipedal around 1.5M years BE. It has been postulated in reference to findings of partially burned sticks and primitive torches that the discovery of fire occured 0.6M years BE. Tribal societies that lived in caves, hunted large animals of the forests and gathered herbs and fruit arose; by the year 120.000 BE, population growth started accelerating and first migrational waves started. Medwedia proper (the area on Ærd that was under control by the Medwedian Democratic Federation before the Great Planetary Unification War) was settled around 95.000 BE by tribes from what today is the region of Radova; a second wave of Ursoids arroved from Nordland, the northern polar continent by 20.000 BE, caused by a decrease in global temperature accredited to an eruption of the Toglaun volcano.

One of the last areas to be settled was Tukal, the southern polar continent. Its climate is even harsher than the one of the north pole, with temperatures below 100 degrees celsius being observed during polar winter. As such, settlement is still today limited to small coastal fishing villages and the first men to reach the geographical south pole would be not natives but Medwedian explorers.

Ancient Times
This article is WIP.

Astrography
The Medwedian Democratic Federation is located in the so-called "Inner Sectors" of the Lower Sagittarius Arm, in the "southern" part of the Milky Way. It borders the Talven Empire and the Stellar Union.

Government
As already mentioned, the Medwedian Democratic Federation is a totalitarian dictatorship that oppresses its own people. Even though aristocracy has been long abolished, the might over the nation is concentrated in the hands of the small ruling elite. Greed, jealousy and fierce struggles for power fulfill the life of the wealthy and mighty citizens of Medwedia; however, they unite their efforts when it comes to oppressing their own people. The only party ('Medwedisk Folksparti', the "Medwedian People's Party"), supervises the population of Medwedia and quickly reacts to events or changes in ways that prevent public unrest from arising. Extensive propaganda penetrates all areas of life. For centuries, rebellions and revolutions could be succesfully suffocated at their roots, making Medwedia a relatively stable nation when compared to other dictatorships that are commonly plagued by nearly-constant uprisings or even major rebellious factions.

The President
His Excellency, The Glorious and Honourable President of the Medwedian Democratic Federation officially stands above the law as the head of state and government. The constitution does not limit his power in any way; it merely obligates him to act "for the good of the Medwedian people and of the nation. Serving until his death, he has unlimited judicative, executive and legislative power. His word is holy, be it even the order to summarily execute the population of a whole planet. The President can (and does regularly) enact or abolish laws, declare war or peace or create or disband state institutions. The fate of millions of citizens depends on the mood, character and taste of His Excellency; often, the face of cities or whole planets changes completely when the President dies and a new one assumes the office.

The current President, Theodor Lynden Frankenstein, is known for his maniacal desire for expansion. According to him, "no planet is uninhabitable"; colony ships containing thousands of farmers and miners are sent out on a monthly basis; their captains sometimes determine the destination when already in flight. Upon assuming office in the year 2432 PU, Frankenstein drastically enlarged the military, police and intelligence budgets. The size of the armed forces was increased by 15 percent on his order; in his ongoing rule, more new systems were colonized by the Medwedian Democratic Federation than even before.

The well-being of the governmental elite that lives on Ærd is maintained by him at the cost of millions of (usually non-Ursoid) lives. In order to organize festivities in the capital city, Frankenstein lets the natives of the colonies starve. Farms are burned down in order to plant Medwedian vegetables and alien livestock is slaughtered, just to be replaced by Medwedian cattle.

"Election"
The "Presidental Election" that is concluded every six years is not a real electionary process but a highly ceremonialized tradition left over from the foundation era, in which the modern power distribution was still developing and it was up to the people to decide upon a dictator. The era in which the President was an "elected dictator" persisted for approximately a century after the foundation of the Medwedian Democratic Federation; by the time of the Planetary Unification, the government of Medwedia had already assumed its modern form. However, the President has always enjoyed near-unlimited or unlimited power; by giving him the highest office of the nation, the people entrusted this power to him. The President always stayed in office until his death; in fact, not a single case of a President being displaced by another one while still alive is known.

The "Election" ceremony usually consists of all citizens entitled to vote (all landowning men aged 33 or older) reporting to the local city hall in order to sign pre-printed ballots. Only one option is avaliable (the current President); those who refuse to sign are immediately executed. Ironically, voting is mandatory in Medwedia - the "100 percent turnout" is used for propaganda purposes. After his "Re-Election", the President usually holds a speech in which he thanks the citizenry for its loyality and then invites those holding important offices to a banquet.

Proceedings in the case of a President's death
De facto, a President chooses their Vice-President and as such the next person to assume his position upon taking office. The death of a President is always held secret until the new President has been sworn in to prevent the creation of a power vacuum. Should a President die, a secret Emergency Council that consists of the Vice-President and ten military or party representatives meets and formally chooses the successor - usually, the Vice-President. After this process is completed, the new President is sworn in and then formally inaugurated, resulting in a seamless power transistion that is often described as "The President is dead. Long live the President!".

As the President usually does not have children or even a wife, no direct dynasties form; however, most Presidents have been distant relatives of eachother because of the isolation of the ruling elite. It is common for a President's great-grandnephew to become President.

The Vice-President
The Vice-President of the Medwedian Democratic Federation (currently Herbert Petersen) is, as in many other countries, the "Number Two". He represents the President when he is absent and has a similar amount of power, only limited by the superiority and the will of the President. As the Vice-President usually assumes the President's office when he dies (the most notable exception being Marshal Theodor Lynden Frankenstein, he usually takes the role of an apprentice who learns how to manage the mechanisms of power.

The Prime Minister
The "Number Three" of the state is the Prime Minister. He forms the link between the President and his ministries as well as the other organizations of the state. The current prime minister Thorwald Skansenbjerg is regarded to be incompetent as he rarely interferes with state matters and only enjoys his lavish lifestyle, spending more time at parties, village feasts and banquets than at work.

Ministries, Councils and Organizations
The President has the power to create or disband ministries; as such, new Presidents often restructure the government to their liking. Medwedia has an abnormal amount of ministries whose fields of interest overlap, leading to productive cooperation or conflicts. The most recent change was the creation of the Ministry of Colonization by the President in 2433 PU. It must be noted that due to the President's unlimited power, ministries, departments and councils are technically merely advisory bodies.

Ministry of Defence= Considered to be the most important ministry, the MoD is responsible for Medwedia's armed forces. Ministry of National Security= Ministry of the Police= Ministry of Health= Ministry of Agriculture= Ministry or Justice= Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy Ministry of Internal Affairs Ministry of Industry and Production= Ministry of the Media= Ministry of Science and Technology= Ministry of Mining and Natural Resources= Ministry of Morality= Ministry of Colonization= Ministry of Transport= Ministry of Communication=

Folksdag and Senate
The Folksdag is the lower house of the Medwedian pseudoparliament. Meeting in the Folksdagshus in the city of Medwed and consisting of 500 seats, it serves as the publicity organ of the government, supporting its decisions and executing them. Mostly comprised of party officials, high-ranking military figures or financial oligarchs, the Folksdag's purpose is mainly visual. Membership in the parliament is considered to be a great honor; its members, the "Deputates", are granted large privileges.

The upper house, the Federal Senate, is essentially a downscaled version of the Folksdag comprising of 24 seats. Often, aspiring ministers or governors spend several years in the Senate before being appointed by the President.

The Party
The governmental (and only legal) political party of the Medwedian Democratic Federation is the Medwedisk Folksparti (Medwedian People's Party). Membership in the party is exclusive to the national elite, with approximately 6 percent of the population being members. Party membership is hereditary and passed on to the children of the member; non-members wishing to enter must undergo a year-long application process in which they are closely monitored. Of course, party membership can also be "inofficially acquired" by means of bribery. Members of the Folksparti are considered to be behavioral examples for the rest of the population and are as such kept on a tight ideological leash. Advancement into the Folksdag or high governmental offices is only possible for party members.

Federal structure and the Power Devolution principle
As the name suggests, the Medwedian Democratic Federation is a federal state. Devolution of governmental organs goes down to communal level. One of if not the most important political principe is the so-called "Devolution of Power": an officer or office-holder has unlimited power when it comes to making decisions in his area; this can only be overruled by superior laws and orders. The system was inspired by the military command authority system and is an aspect of the militarization of civilian society. If a superior of the office-holder (on any level - it can be the planetary governor of a provincial governor or the President of Medwedia and a chief janitor of a rural hospital) deems the decision to be unfit or desires to decide by himself, he can give out respective orders himself. This allows the President or high-ranking governors to intervene in local affairs (which he often does) but does not force him into micromanagement. As the intervention of the President or said high-ranking governor can result in the displacement or even imprisonment and execution of those affected, the "Power Devolution" principle plays an important control role and prevents local governments from misusing their authority or distancing themselves from the federal ideology.

Territorial Hierarchy
The following hierarchization of the territory of the Medwedian Democratic Federation exists, whereas the level of devolution varies by population density.


 * The Federation is ruled by the President
 * Sectors (100-500 systems) are ruled by Supergovernors or Sector Governors
 * Subsectors (25-100 systems) are ruled by High Governors or Subsector Governors
 * Systems are ruled by System Governors. Usually, the role of System Governor is assumed by the Planetary Governor of the most important or populous planet.
 * Planets are ruled by Planetary Governors. This position only exists in systems with multiple significantly populated planets and/or moons.
 * Continents are ruled by Continental Governors. This position and those below it only exist on very populous planets with multiple settlement centers.
 * Provinces are ruled by Provincial Governors.
 * Herads (Sub-Provinces) are ruled by Herad Governors.
 * Counties are ruled by County Chiefs.
 * Communes are ruled by Mayors.

This system was introduced in the late 26th century, at that time of first rapid expansion and shortly after Medwedian-Talven first contact. Medwedia hit the 100 system mark after the introduction of the system. Planets which were colonized before the introduction of this hierarchy have retained their old structural separations that are oriented on that of Ærd (Ursus Prime).


 * The Planet is ruled by the Planetary President or Planetary Governor. The President of Medwedia assumes this office for Ærd.
 * Planetary Countries - not identical with continents or superregions - are ruled by Country Presidents or Country Governors. Note that this applies only to Ursus Prime as it is the origin planet of the Ursoids and as such has distinct cultural regions identical to the pre-Planetary Unification countries.
 * Governorates are ruled by Governors and from that level down as in the new system.

Justice and Punishment


Even the slightest of crimes are punished harshly. Arrested criminals are tried by a "Tribunal", which usually consists of a single "Federal Judge" who decides upon a punishment after policemen present the culprit and list the crimes committed. Often, hundreds of convicts are tried and punished every day. Technically, confessions or any type of evidence are not required for the convicting of a person; however, they are often extracted by professional torturers, especially when the trial is public. The Medwedian justice system is dreaded for its extensive use of corporal punishment, mutilation and easy attitudes towards the death penalty; prisons and work camps are filthy and overcrowded, with inmates being exposed to the terror of their wardens.

The following penalties are usually handed out by Federal Tribunals:


 * Flogging
 * Branding
 * Amputation of hands, arms, legs (usually without anaesthesia)
 * Blinding (gouging of eyes or using acid)
 * Deafening (cauterizing of eardrums)
 * Removal of tongue
 * Breaking and removal of teeth
 * Reeducation camp (work camp with propaganda and brainwashing)
 * Work camp (usually life term)
 * Injection of pain-inducing drugs
 * Imprisonment (often in either tiny, extremely uncomfortable or larger but crowded cells)
 * Medical torture (often handed out on a hourly basis, usually results in death even though it is technically not a death sentence)
 * Exile to a colonial planet
 * Forced separation from family

When it comes to executions, the Medwedian justice system is even more creative:


 * Breaking wheel
 * Boiling alive
 * Flaying
 * Throwing into acid bath (or alternatively putting the condemned into a cylinder full of water and slowly adding acid; this execution can last for days)
 * Live dissection and disembowelment
 * Burning at the stake
 * Impalement
 * Crucfixion
 * Scaphism
 * Cooking in a metal cylinder put over a fire, similar to the Brazen Bull
 * Decompression in a vacuum chamber (or throwing out of the airlock of a spaceship without a spacesuit)
 * Live burial and immurement
 * Injection of yeast or aggressive bacteria into the bloodstream
 * Forced ingestion of poisons
 * Strangling
 * Hanging (usually the "short drop")
 * Beheading
 * Drawing of blood until death
 * Slow crushing

An experimental method of torture or the death penalty is the dreaded "Infipain" punishment - the convict is put into a vat, restrained or injected with paralyzing drugs, attached to a life support system and has electrodes drawn into the pain center of their brain. A current is applied and the condemned is left in a state of endless agony.

Society and Culture
Medwedian cultural norms are extremely conservative. The society is patriarchic and extremely hierarchical, being rigidly separated into multiple socioeconomic classes. Wealth and power are distributed unevenly, which results in a Gini index of 0.875. Honor and pride are highly balued, especially amongst the elite; honesty, character strength and respect for superiors are important personal values. Many customs appear dated and sometimes outright archaic to foreigners.

Class Structure
Due to numerous laws, social mobility is close to zero. Members of every class look down upon those below them and try to suppress their jealousy at those who are better off. One's profession is usually determined at birth; schools rigorously teach social roles and clarify the childrens' social positions to them by means of indoctrination and brainwashing. The constant survelliance and oversight prevents worker revolts from arising; any expression of unhappiness is punished by death.

Non-Ursoid Slaves and Workers= The lowest social class is comprised of non-Ursoid citizens of the Medwedian Democratic Federation. Torn away from home in a brutal planetary assault, separated from their families and sent to work camps, members of this proletarian class often remember childhoods of freedom and nationhood. Regarded as expendable and worthless slaves, they are forced into heavy and dangerous physical labour. While some work in mines, others participate in the terraforming of their home planets and the erasement of native cultural traces. Constantly fearing draconic punishments, they must submit to their Ursoid masters. Officially called "Alien Workers", they live in cramped barracks full of filth and diseases and are fed leftovers. Classless Ursoid Proletariat= Living in precarious conditions, these people enjoy no rights or governmental attention. Homeless and looked down upon even by the working class, they are arrested and sent to work camps or forced to fight in penal batallions, awaiting certain death. Those who are lucky find low-wage jobs at factories or become landless peasants who wander from farm to farm, sleeping outside the barracks of the normal farm workers and helping to harvest or slaughter livestock in return for food. Unskilled Workers= Unskilled workers live in tiny apartments (which are usually shared by multiple families) in the industrial districts of cities and work in factories belonging to the government or members of the elite day and night, finding relief in the few hours of sleep that are abruptly ended by factory sirens. Some choose to leave the cities and become farm workers in the country or are sent to colonial planets. Conducting tenious and repetitive jobs such as digging or working in gold mines (where they are kept under constant survelliance to prevent theft), unskilled workers are regarded as the productive backbone of Medwedian industry. Due to a rise in food prices, unskilled workers living on Ærd often save their money for a permission to leave the planet and board colonial ships. In wartime, unskilled workers are usually drafted into the line infantry. Professional Soldiers and Officers= All men must undergo 3 years of military service in a position according to their social status, being drafted at the age of 20 years. Some choose to stay in the army to preserve their family tradition or wish to defend their fatherland voluntarily, becoming professional soldiers or officers. While soldiers and NCO's have living standards comparable to those of the sorking class, officers from Lieutenant to Major enjoy a lifestyle comparable to that of skilled workers or the middle class. Those who excel in battle are sometimes granted small estates and legal privileges. Skilled Workers and Craftsmen= Considered to be the "upper class amongst the working class", skilled workers have undergone vocational training and perform complex jobs. Cooks, electricians or butchers are typical representatives of this class. While not permitted to send their children to universities, some save money for a vocational school over multiple generations. Children who don't go to vocational school are usually trained by their parents. Professional farmers are also part of this class, usually supervising agricultural estates for wealthy landowners in return for a regular pay. "Private" farmers, e.g. those who own their farm, are almost unexistent except for some colonial planets as laws often mandate farms to be bought out after a certain period of time. Lower Academia= This class is formed by families whose male members have undergone academic education and as such send their children to grammar schools and universities. Comprising of approximately 15% of the population, this is the closest one can get to the "Middle Class" in Medwedia. Young army officers, doctors, teachers, engineers and scientists are regarded to be part of this class. Tightly controlled by secret police organizations such as the Departament of Oversight because they are considered part of the intelligentia and as such prone to illegal thinking, they usually live in small houses or midrange apartments. The lower academia enjoys a standard of life much higher than the working classes but nowhere as comfortable as that of the upper classes. Usuallu performing white-collar office or laboratory jobs, members of the lower academia can afford to retire instead of working to their death as the working class does. Upper Academia= Living in small mansions and sometimes owning several farm estates, this class consists of 3 to 5 percent of the population and is considered to be the equivalent of the upper middle and upper classes. Licensed writers and artists along with high-standing doctors, less-known university professors and architects are typical members. Considering themselves as part of the elite and often holding high military ranks, these people sometimes employ servants or drive limousines. Children of this class are usually educated along with the higher elites in governmental or private boarding schools. Sub-Elite= Considered to be truly "wealthy", the Sub-Elite enjoys a luxurious lifestyle and many privileges but usually does not produce famous personalities, keeping themselves in the background. Famous scientists, diplomats and artists as well as regimental commanders or fleet admirals form this social class, living in large mansions or city penthouses and regarded part of the "High Society". Families which used to be a part of the elite but gradually lost their fame and fell out of the President's favor also fall into this category as well as inherited landlords and major enterpreneurs. Often, members of this class and of the governmental elite make fun of the lower classes by ordering their lifeguards to terrorize the homeless or ordering orphaned children they saw to be killed. This practice is not only legal but also encouraged and mandated by the current Frankenstein regime as it "encourages effort and hard work amongst the workers". Governmental Elite= Granted major estates and palaces by the government, the governmental elite de facto owns the Medwedian Democratic Federation. Less than a percent of the nation's population is considered to be part of this class. Commanding officers of the armed forces, ministers, planetary governors and presidents always spring from this class; these positions are unattainable even by the sub-elite. Members of the governmental elite usually know the President in person and regularly dine or celebrate with him. The offspring of this class is sent to the most elite schools and universities of the nation to be prepared for national leadership, being taught to oppress and subjugate those below them.

Economy
The currency of the Medwedian Democratic Federation is the Medwedisk Dalar, backed by a large gold reserve and similar in value to the British Pound. Numerous (illegal) regional currencies circulate on isolated colony worlds, being constantly manipulated by planetary governors in enriching ways.

Relations
Allies

None

Friendly

None

Neutral

None

First Contact


 * Tybusen Intergalactic Allied Federation - "An imperialist state that subjugates galaxies!"

Afraid

None

Rivals


 * Stellar Union - "Multiple species can not co-exist equally and peacefully! There must always be a governing race!"
 * Zagresi Cooperative - "They might have been a large empire once, but not much is left of them. A carcass of a nation."

Bad Terms


 * Milky Way Cooperative - "A threat to our national sovereignity. We will not join under any circumstances."

Cold War


 * Talven Empire - "We've had multiple...disputes in the past."

At War


 * Grox Empire - "An effective state. The government exercises total control over its citizens - this is the ideal we are striving toward. Their society has been long ago cleansed from unnecessary instincts such as freedom and free will. We would admire them if it weren't for the harsh anti-Medwedian sentient of their Empire."

Defeated

None

Quotes
Add your own!