“ OEA: For the safety of society. For the safety of our relationships. For the safety of you! ”
– Ascendancy Propaganda
The One Earth Ascendancy is a versal government within the Milky Way galaxy, whose seat of power rests upon the only known World, Earth. Outside of atmosphere, the Ascendancy stakes its claim upon vast swathes of aether sectors within explored quadrants of the Local Cluster. The Ascendancy has spearheaded colonization of many planets, all which enjoy the benefits of continuous terraforming, thanks to the hard work and relentless science of OEA Seekers.
The OEA, often simply referred to as the “Ascendancy,” is composed of a single tree of government, which overlooks three distinct branches. These are: the Ministry of Service and Loyalty, Seekers of the Ascendancy, and Office of the Perpetual Questioning, who’s powers are vested in the High Seat, Chief Seeker, and Great Eye, respectively. Although, it is the Ministry of Service and Loyalty which is most synonymous with the authority of the OEA, and the High Seat is considered the commander-in-chief of all Ascendancy territory, the two other branches serving supplementary roles.
History of the OEA
The OEA’s rise to power is a tumultuous ascension, and, to this day, is filled to overflowing with gaps in the assembled timeline of transpired events. The Seekers of the Ascendancy have done their best to establish an authoritative record for all posterity.
The OEA was officialized in the year 2241AD, after a decades long conflict with the former world government called the United Earth Empire (UEE). This war persisted until the major leaders of the UEE were forced to cede the last of their primary territories. After which, small skirmishes with hold-out UEE guerrillas, and various independent nations continued for some time. There also remained one loosely held nation of free-peoples on an archipelago at the tip of South America, called the Fireland. Alongside these still resisting on Earth, there were hundreds of United Earth Empire colonies throughout the aether. Many of which, to this day, have yet to make contact, or rejoin with the rest of Mankind.
The OEA was immediately well received as the government promised to eliminate all poverty, wipe away former debts, and propel the world into an age of Eternal Enlightenment (EE). In the same year, the creation of a new year moniker of the same name was established. Still, much of the world remained under the thumb of independent powers, though it did not last long, as they fought to be freed of bondage, and submit themselves to the yoke of the OEA.
Under the vast benevolence of the OEA, the fledgling power sought to simplify the rule of law and structure of government. Next to the three branches of government, with the High Seat acting as chief authority, Ascendancy military was composed of two branches: Skirmish, and Fleet. With the Earth subdued, to speed up recruitment and bolster their forces to prepare for aether expansion, the OEA allowed former service members of the United Earth Empire to join with their same ranks, albeit simplified to fit within the new structure. These were given pardon, and offered better pay, so long as their ideology aligned with that of the OEA’s. Vigorous psychological evaluations were also run to ensure loyalty, which became the foundation of the Psychological Affirmants. This saw the vast majority of the remaining hold-out forces of the UEE on Earth fall apart in the year 2243EE, assuring the transition of all power to the Ascendancy.
The OEA instituted a new universal language for all mankind in 2243EE, and a new currency called Chiun. Alongside these, a new dominant culture arose, and the banning of all religions, blaming it for having caused much of the past division of mankind. The OEA then instated its own human-centered faith and called it the Way of Enlightenment. All religions, cultures, languages, and loyalties other than those established by the One Earth Ascendancy were forbidden by pain of death, nullification, or enslavement.
Ascendancy growth on Earth was steady, but slow. Although the OEA had virtually achieved dominance over Earth, the Fireland on the archipelago at the tip of South America was a famed stronghold of resistance, and smaller cells would frequently crop up across the world with ties to these guerrillas. A plethora of battles across the Earth continued until 2270EE. Needless to say, the power and might of the One Earth Ascendancy easily quelled all opposition. See: “The Greater American Conflict,” for more information.
Besides land-bound threats, the aether carried thousands of pirates, and nation-fleets whom were not keen on being brought under the rule of a unified body of government. As such, aether dominance proved difficult. The abandoned UEE colonies and vast fleets of ships had largely turned to piracy or anarchy. Only a few colonies tried to establish their own governments, or continue with civility in the way of the UEE.
On several occasions, captains of pirate fleets would challenge OEA rule with threats of aether bombardments. On one occasion, a threat was followed through, but the Ascendancy was able to pit Earth opinion against them, and rally people to join for service, which further bolstered Ascendancy numbers. But, even with these increased numbers, the Ascendancy discovered they couldn’t build ships large enough to bring the opposition to ground, as large ships required construction directly in the aether. After the first of the OEA’s corvettes were stolen or destroyed during construction, the Ascendancy shifted to a strategy of swarms of small Carrion Fighters. These could be built in-atmosphere, and break aether to attack and whittle down pirates and rogue nation-fleets.
In the year 2270EE control of Earth’s landmasses and surrounding aether sectors were secured, and the Ascendancy has since moved on to the study and conquest of all the universe, for all mankind.
Life in the Ascendancy
Being a Debtor of the Ascendancy comes with many benefits, depending upon one’s status in life. Most Debtors enjoy a short six-hour work day, and four-day work week. That leaves plenty of time for recreation. Unfortunately for those on Archlight, most work schedules are doubled due to ongoing construction.
In Ascendancy society there are three classes of economic life which are popularly accepted: The High-Lifer, Mid-Lifer, and Low-Lifer.
A High-Lifer often works for one of the Ascendancy’s leading Corpos, and typically enjoys positions of power and authority. These earn exceedingly great amounts of Chiun, and often perform the least amount of physical work. A man can become a High-Lifer through hard work and dedication, birth, or appointment.
The Mid-Lifer is the most populously held position, and also the most mistaken. To a High-Lifer, the Mid-Life man seems common, or even poor. To a Low-Life, the Mid-Lifer is wealthy beyond reason, and ought to pay for this – typically with his blood. Either way, the Mid-Lifer goes through life with more than enough Chiun to survive, and enjoys much recreation. These are employed in all professions typically considered “white collar,” and, to an extent, “blue collar.” Positions include: Secretaries, low-ranking supervisors and managers, sales representatives, skilled labor, security, etc.
If a Debtor is what is called a “Low-Lifer,” they get to enjoy a six-day work week, and round-the-clock schedule, with the first day of the week serving as their only day off. This is to keep them out of trouble, and promote self-lifting out of poverty.
Most Low-Lifers have criminal backgrounds and histories of various substance abuses. For this reason, the Ascendancy has appointed rigorous work schedules to these. Having served their punishments, they have been generously released back into Ascendancy society. However, the High Seat has found it pleasing that those who commit heinous crimes should live their life hour-by-hour, in order to best reflect on the much benevolence which they have willfully rejected.
In a work week, the Low-Lifer is working six ten hour shifts in five days, with twelve hours of rest between shifts. On the sixth day of the week, they work a twelve hour shift. They are permitted the first day of the week to rest for an extra twenty-four hours. This equates to seventy-two hours of work, and ninety-six hours of rest in a single week. It is common to see Low-Lifers in these positions: dock-hands, miners, aether debris clearing, sanitation, ventilation-shaft work, prostitution, narcotics dealing, but mostly as Dissidents and criminals in general.