Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance

The Galactic Terran Vasudan Alliance or GTVA is a fictional galactic government in the "FreeSpace 2" universe. Its authority spans approximately 30 different star systems, of both Terran and Vasudan origins.

In the "FreeSpace 2" game, the GTVA was at first a collaborative movement, formed in 2345, to help spur and encourage more rapid reconstruction efforts between the Terrans and Vasudans after the Great War and subsequent defeat of the Shivans. As reconstruction gained momentum, there was a more serious need for a more powerful galactic government to help maintain order and political balance between the two newly united species, the Terrans and the Vasudans. Parallel to a real-life government, there would be need for a written draft of political provisions that this new government would have to conform to; essentially a constitution.

Beta Aquilae Convention

Due to the vast region of GTVA authority spanning over 30 star systems, it became quite clear that standards be set. In 2358 a constitution was signed at the Beta Aquilae system later to be known as the Beta Aquilae Convention (BETAC). BETAC consolidated power in the GTVA as the supreme authority in all of Terran-Vasudan space. It also provided provisions for civilian treatment during times of war and for political and economic balance and representation between each species. BETAC, also dismantled the remaining Terran government blocs, while still preserving their original status, severely reduced their authority and essentially made them external arms of the greater GTVA. The Beta Aquilae system, after the formation of the GTVA and ratification of the convention, later became the GTVA's galactic capital, replacing Delta Serpentis.

Technically, the Beta Aquilae Convention is part of a series of conventions that make up a broader constitution to stipulate how the GTVA works as a governing entity. Other series of conventions dictate civilian treatment, welfare and some are specifically designed to control military operations. The Deneb Convention for instance, regulates security access and freedom of information.

The NTF Rebellion

The dismantling of Terran governments also lead to the formation of a rebel factionFact|date=January 2008, the Neo-Terran Front (NTF). The former commanding officer of the GTVA 6th Fleet, Admiral Aken Bosch launched a coup in the Polaris system, using the economic problems plaguing the Polaris system during Reconstruction and underlying xenophobic sentiments of the Lost Generation to rally the disaffected and topple the system government in Polaris. A domino effect ensued, as governments in nearby Regulus and Sirius fell and NTF regimes were installed. Capitalizing on his initial gains, Admiral Bosch launched swift offensives, sending NTF ships into Deneb, Epsilon Pegasi, and Alpha Centauri and engaged stunned GTVA fleets across these border systems. These offensives make significant progress initially, forcing GTVA forces to evacuate Vasudan populations in Deneb as well as reinforce Terran installations (such as Enif Station) in Epsilon Pegasi.

Admiral Bosch and the NTF seek a new era of prosperity for humanity, where the lost grandeur of Earth is restored. They see the Vasudans as obstacles to this goal, and oppose the GTVA and call for its dissolution. As such the NTF opposes any alliance with the Vasudans. The NTF also covertly seeks an alliance with the Shivans, with whom Bosch eventually makes contact.

NTF forces engages in malicious acts against both Terran and Vasudan civilians (despite their professed sentiment in opposing only alien species), as the NTF do not recognise BETAC, which prohibits killing civilians during times of war.

Structure of the GTVA

The GTVA was modelled after the UN structure of the old Earth, long before the discovery of subspace and Earth's interstellar community. Although the GTVA is still isolated from Earth since the collapse of the Sol-Delta Serpentis subspace node by the destruction of the SD "Lucifer" also marking the end of the Great War, the GTVA has kept many standards that first originated from cultures and practises that originated from Earth. For example, with the agreement of the Vasudans, all Vasudan warships are given class names that correspond to mythical Egyptian names, while Terran ships are given names that correspond to mythical Norse, Greek and other European names. This convention is reciprocated with naming Shivan warships, which are themselves named after Shiva, the Hindu Incarnation of God as a destroyer.

Similar to the UN of the old Earth, the GTVA has three principal organs:
# The GTVA General Assembly: The General Assembly is an assembly of representatives from different star systems and planets that represent their respective constituencies in parliament.
# The GTVA Security Council: The Security Council is the executive arm of the GTVA, that manages and maintains military deployments and other executive decisions.
##Galactic Terran Vasudan Intelligence (GTVI) is the espionage and counter-intelligence arm of the GTVA.
##Special Operations Command (SOC) is the special and covert operations arm of the GTVA.
# The Vasudan Imperium: The Vasudan Imperium is the reformed political bloc that has been merged with the GTVA that still keeps the Vasudan Emperor, Khonsu II as leader of the Vasudan people. Its main task is for maintaining relations between the Terrans and Vasudans, but also has some executive power.

List of charted Star Systems

* Approximately 30 of them are under GTVA control
# Adhara
# Aldebaran
# Alpha Centauri
# Alphard
# Altair
# Antares
# Barnard's Star
# Beta Aquilae
# Beta Cygni
# Betelgeuse
# Capella - Cut off from GTVA space after the events of the 2nd Shivan Invasion.
# Deneb
# Delta Serpentis
# Dubhe
# Epsilon Pegasi
# Gamma Draconis
# Ikeya
# Laramis
# Luyten 726-8A
# Mirfak
# Polaris
# Procyon A
# Ribos
# Regulus
# Ross 128
# Sirius
# Sol - Currently cut off from rest of GTVA following the Great War
# Vasuda
# Vega
# Wolf 359

External links

# [http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/GTVA External FreeSpace Wiki (GTVA)] - A large directory on FreeSpace
# [http://www.freespace2.com/ FreeSpace 2 Website] - The official FreeSpace 2 website
# [http://www.gtva.org/ GTVA Alliance] - A fan website combining the popular online space game Ogame.