Union of Cooperative Societies

Union of Cooperative Societies
Abbreviation	UCS
Type	Political and Economic Union Military Alliance (Optional Protocol)
Headquarters	New Kelth Yeqwiqu
Founder(s)	Ascendant Republic of Cooperative Societies Hunyan Collective Yeqwiqu Collective
Member States	Ascendant Republic of Cooperative Societies Hunyan Collective Yeqwiqu Collective The Glasen Union
Observer States	Union of Xarin Autonomous Republic of New Thalos Autonomous Republic of The Pion Cooperatives
Historical Information
Founded	551

The Union of Cooperative Societies is an intergovernmental organisation and political-economic alliance between four interstellar societies, alongside one partial-participant observer state, across the southern Milky Way. Founded by treaty between the ARCS, Hunyan Collective and Yeqwiqu Collective, its primary purpose is to preserve the sovereignty of smaller, typically left-leaning states across the galaxy through diplomatic cooperation and technological development. These connections are intended to modernise participating states and provide protection for revolutionary ideals across an increasingly unstable galaxy. Furthermore, it also serves to provide assistance to 'uprisings of suppressed peoples', most notably seen through the assistance and later membership of the Glasen Union.

Full membership of the UCS also allows nations to join an optional defence protocol, encouraging - though not enforcing - joint defence in the event of invasion by a foreign power. Regardless of participation in this protocol, naval development and strategic coordination between member states are encouraged. Partial participants, currently limited to the Union of Xarin, typically participate only in the economic element, while also opening their space to UCS members. Freedom of movement applies to all participants, providing streamlined FTL connections between Unknown Space and the Mid Rim.

Nations in the UCS meet at Union Assemblies, each composed of their own representatives. These chambers are responsible for organising regularly scheduled conventions to promote cooperation and discuss events across the galaxy. Full member states can put forward proposals during these conventions, which are then voted on by member states. Observer states are still encouraged to attend assemblies and may participate in debate, though they do not possess voting rights in regard to legislation. Nations are granted a number of representatives upon their entry, roughly equal to the number of star systems they control. To prevent nations with vast populations from overpowering smaller member states, UCS rules prohibit any nation from holding more than twice the representatives of the next largest member state. Nations can either enter the UCS through approval in an Assembly vote, or through direct endorsement from one of the three founding members.

The Autonomous Republics supervised by ARCS gain observer status in the UCS upon their establishment, and controversially provide the nation extra votes in Assemblies. This has so far been met with minimal pushback however, as the alliance remains mostly passive.

Participating States

Member States

Flag/Symbol	Name	Year of Admission	Capital World	Government Type	Region
	Ascendant Republic of Cooperative Societies	551	Kelth	Constitutional Cooperative Republic	Unknown Space
	Hunyan Collective	551	Hunya-Primos	Communal Dictatorship	Center Rim
	Yeqwiqu Collective	551	Yeqwiqu	Communal Republic	Center Rim
	Glasen Union	552	Glase	Communal Dictatorship	Outer Rim

Observer States

Flag/Symbol	Name	Year of Admission	Capital World	Government Type	Region
	Union of Xarin	551	Xarin	Technocratic Dictatorship	Unknown Space
	Autonomous Republic of The Pion Cooperatives	554	Pion	Authoritarian Cooperative Republic	Unknown Space
	Autonomous Republic of New Thalos	554	New Thalos	Constitutional Cooperative Republic	Unknown Space