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Kingdom of Astarte

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The Kingdom of Astarte is a constitutional monarchy located in L4. Comprised of four space colonies, it is one of the smaller states in the newly-established Sovereign Colonies Compact, but nonetheless a founding member. While otherwise dependent on the broader Compact in resources and defense, Astarte's significance within the Compact is bolstered by the colony chain hosting various blacksites pertaining to former Coalition military research.

Power is vested in Edgar I, former governor of Alcácer-Quibir and self-declared King of Astarte.

History

The Autonomous Republic of Astarte was initially an endeavor lobbied by the Selendeta Group, a Viratian corporation, to bring four of its 'luxury colonies' under a single recognized entity represented within the CCN. The move succeeded in 0089 R.C., granting Astarte political freedom from the framework of the L4 Development Administration. Astarte's status as a tax haven within the broader framework of the Coalition had always proven attractive to wealthy elites, and quickly it became the definitive image of an idyllic, utopian space colony. Staunchly conservative, the policies of the Autonomous Republic of Astarte reflected the wealth and worldview of its population. While Plateia's population swelled, Astarte's government pushed towards tight restrictions on immigration, a policy that would prove increasingly contradictory to general CCN policies and offworld settlement initiatives.

These slights were ignored in their time, as the idyllic array of colonies that comprised Astarte also doubled as a blacksite for the Coalition Naval Research Office to work on the Gryphon Program, with the colonies' low population and ample space serving to the benefit of maintaining hidden laboratory facilities. The Colony War the following year would see the four colonies come under siege by the Union State— only defending its sovereignty through the course of the war by means of its private security forces and the protection of Kunlunese rebel forces. Though the Coalition would eventually triumph in 0114 R.C., the trials of the conflict had served to forge a bond between the wealthy elites of Astarte and the ideals of the Kunlunese cause.

The threat Plateian bickering posed to the peace of the colonies, as well as memories of Kunlun rallying in Astarte's defense, motivated many private individuals and corporate entities to harbor sympathies favorable to Chen Chengyang in the aftermath of his self-exile. The governor of Alcácer-Quibir, Edgar Neves, saw opportunity in these changing winds. Privately meeting with Chengyang, he promised him the clandestine financial backing of the Selendeta Group, of whom Neves was a high-ranking executive. Corporate assets were privately diverted towards investment in Jingliang Advanced Machinery Group, assisting in the development of the RZC-08 Hong I as part of Kunlun's secret rearmament.

Years of subtle scheming and planning would lead to Neves successfully assuming the presidency of Astarte in 0117 R.C., under the banner of the Solar Heritage Front. The Central District Massacre and fears of a second Colony War proved a decisive force in his election. Shortly after assuming office, the Astarte Papers would be leaked to the public, disclosing Neves' role in misappropriating Selendeta Group funds, leading to his firing from the corporation. Riding a fervent wave of pro-Spacer sentiment, Neves utilized this event to highlight that forces were at work against his new administration. Playing on fears of terrorist threats within Astarte, as well as rising tensions in L4, Neves would use his security forces to conduct a self-coup in 13 June of 0118 R.C., dissolving all political parties and deporting any dissident elements within the colony chain.

These overreaches in authority would lead to severe repercussions for Astarte. In December of that year, a Coalition intervention on the colony chain was authorized, aiming to prevent 'a second Grensland.' CFA forces quickly stormed all four colonies, security forces swiftly standing down and Neves being arrested. Subsequently, Astarte's security forces would be dissolved, the colony chain itself coming under the direct military authority of the CFA. Reversing previous government policies, the Coalition military government renewed immigration permits to the Astarte colony chain, an act that would quickly polarize its privileged population.

While Neves awaited trial, his supporters remained intensely active in opposing the CFA, with sabotage and protest endeavors targeting the perceived 'occupying' force. His family would remain intensely active in the political space, his wife and daughters becoming figureheads in the movement. An idea would spread among younger student groups loyal to the former Solar Heritage Front, positing the ideas of 'New Monarchism' — the idea that strongmen and their descendants would herald the most stable, efficient form of governance in the void of space, thus calling for a return to the ways of monarchy. Furthermore, it was a rejection of the republicanism prominent in the Coalition, believing the forging of a new royal bloodline would better unite the nascent Astartean national consciousness than democratic values, founded by the merits of a new leader, rather than the obsolete pretenses of old Plateian bloodlines.

When Operation Boswilger came to Astarte, the colony welcomed Grensland with open arms. In the chaos of the battle, militant student groups stormed the various blacksites across the colonies. Neves was released from prison by his supporters, who sought to reinstall him as leader. In his absence from the public space, he had been elevated from a mere president to a heroic martyr of idealized governance, despite the short tenure of his administration. While himself a republican, and holding no particular sympathy to the cause of 'new monarchism', he was nevertheless pressured by the leaders of the newly-reestablished Solar Heritage Party to accept a monarch's role, and be coronated.

Thus the Autonomous Republic of Astarte was reorganized into the Kingdom of Astarte, with Neves coronating himself as king and reestablishing Astarte's Colonial Security Forces, now the Royal Astartean Defense Force. Blacksite research was turned over to the broader Compact, kickstarting endeavors for a Spacer equivalent to the Gryphon program.

Largely taking after the GDF's organizational methodology, the RADF would primarily focus on the defense of the colony chain, while a multitude of squadrons were sent to operate alongside Grenslander and Kunlunese counterparts by the time of the Solar War.