Description
The Gaule Protectorate is the smaller of the two major powers and, as a result, more prone to paranoia and insecurity than the Consortium. The governance model is best described as a benevolent military dictatorship, adopted originally as a temporary response to the Catastrophe, but retained ever since.
The Gaule are deeply suspicious of the Consortium, whom they suspect of at least partial responsibility for the Catastrophe. Their culture is best understood with reference to fear of this more numerous potential enemy. Individual rights are subsumed by a pervasive sense of duty to the collective; military service is compulsory, and significant resources are poured into defense capabilities. Unlike the Consortium, however, the Gaule military has a primarily defense-minded outlook, with expansionism low on the agenda.
On ‘red’ stations, overt patriotism is encouraged and celebrated. Younger citizens are actively indoctrinated to become fiercely-loyal and self-sacrificing servants of the Protectorate. Symbols of Gaule identity are taken seriously and deployed frequently in the rituals of daily life, some of which allegedly derive from old Earth France, the Protectorate’s ancient political ancestor.
But, lest travelers anticipate a boring and defense-obsessed people, it’s worth remembering that the Gaule hold artistic endeavor in the highest of regards. This is also a society of thinkers and poets, even if they happen to trained soldiers too.
Introduction
Within the Universe of Tau Station there are two great “superpowers” that have been rivals for centuries. Though the Consortium and the Gaule Protectorate have reached agreements on numerous mutually beneficial economic, military, and scientific policies, their basic ideological and cultural differences have always been major points of contention. In an earlier blog we discussed the Consortium; here we take a look at the Gaule Protectorate.
Prior to the Catastrophe, the Gaule were a Federated Republic based on traditional and historic democratic principles born out of the ashes of a failed European Union on Earth. The Catastrophe and its devastating aftermath significantly altered the Gaule’s form of government (out of necessity, argued the survivors). Officially, the Gaule saw the Catastrophe as a deliberate attack by some unknown source or entity. Some within the government, however, feared collusion by the Consortium. It should be noted that within the Consortium, a similar suspicion regarding the Gaule was being considered.
In light of the crisis, the Gaule Protectorate (honoring an ancient European tradition) elected a “First Consul of the Protectorate” to lead the government. This position of First Consul, historically adopted in times of war or other emergencies, and usually given to a person of high military rank and/or distinguished service, was given absolute control of the government and military. This temporary dictatorship was supposed to be relinquished after the crisis had passed. To date, the First Consul of the Protectorate, Simone Beauharnais, remains the leader of the Gaule Protectorate.
In the duration, the Gaule have become a highly militarized society, despite its deep roots in republicanism, liberal citizenship, human rights, and social reform. The people of the Gaule Protectorate, after centuries of struggle against the Consortium, are willing to sacrifice individual liberty (temporarily) for the security of maintaining their identity as a sovereign state. Military service of 21 cycles is compulsory for females and males 65 – 146 cycles old and is required for full citizenship.
In this regard, the Gaule are considered to have the most advanced military services in the known systems. This military might, for now, is the shield and sword that keeps the much larger and economically stronger Consortium at bay.
Though Gaule suspicions about the cause of the Catastrophe were never completely quashed, both sides agreed to broker a tenuous detente. Diplomats took over. A treaty was later signed by representatives of both affiliations at Nouveau Limoges in the Sol System. This treaty is known as the Nouveau Limoges Accords, which outlined terms for expansionism, technical cooperation, claims to stations, and trade.
Under the Accords, the Gaule Protectorate and Consortium agreed to combine their efforts in producing and repairing ships, exploring the galaxy, redoubling the effort in recovering surviving stations, and answering the great question of what caused the Catastrophe—and how to prevent another. Despite the Accords, a deep distrust continues to exist between both powers, leading to an ever expanding cold war.
Stations
| Station | System | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Nouveau Limoges | Sol | 6 |
| Moissan Station | Alpha Centauri A | 7 |
| Paris Spatiale | Alpha Centauri A | 8 |
| Cirque Centauri | Alpha Centauri A | 9 |
| Bordeaux Station | Alpha Centauri A | 10 |
| Estación de Amazon | Barnard's Star | 12 |
| The Maid of Orléans | Barnard's Star | 12 |
| Madame de Pompadour | Ross 154 | 17 |
| Nouveau Besançon | Wolf 359 |
Embassies
"Tactical Edge" text
Citizens! Welcome to another show courtesy of the Mesh dealing with history and the military (everyone’s favorite two topics if you aren’t into anything warm and fluffy). The Tactical Edge – Military History of the Cosmos – From Thermopylae to the Dominion’s Folly.
Welcome to the Tactical Edge. I am your host Patton Brodmire. I’m very pleased to announce that my show has been picked up by the ISBO* and is also available for download off the Mesh.
This show will be dedicated to the military history of the home planet and the interstellar conquests that followed colonization of space. I will focus particular interest on the rivalry between the two interstellar powerhouses: the Gaule Protectorate, formed in 594 PC in Alpha Centauri, and the Consortium, which dates its foundation back to Old Earth in 1876 PC.
There are of course, official histories, published propaganda, and mutually acknowledged accounts of events that have transpired over the cycles, but, as Mapoleon (one of the famed forefathers of the Gaule Protectorate) said, “History is written by the victors.”
[Editor’s note: Mapoleon Bonmaman is cited as having said, “History is lies that have been agreed upon.” The aforementioned quotation is generally attributed to the British Prime Minister, Willie Churchbill. Patton should be more careful when gathering her references. This has been a HCP (History Check Proof) by the good people at FactFront ™. FactFront -Believe What’s True**]
That said, let me dive straight into a slice of history that I’m certain very few are aware of these days: the Gallic Imperial Guard: the elite Gaule tactical units feared throughout the galaxy. These highly-trained units were first designed to protect the higher echelons of the Gaule Military, but their numbers grew steadily, numbering five battalions at their height, preCat, supported by a special GIG squadron of fighter pilots -the dreaded Soterelles (or grasshopper squadrons). The GIG3 Arverni Brigade (named after an Old Earth Gaule tribe that resisted the BioRome Empire) was composed of five thousand of the finest fighters the Gaule armed forces ever fielded. Known as the “Blue Hornets” for their distinctive blue and black camouflage, their reputation instilled fear into the most hardened of military units. The Hornets were the bane of pirate armadas and freebooter outposts; even the Consortium’s top special forces, the CRABS (Consortium Ranger Airborne Battalion) were wont to engage with these crack troops.
Every single Hornet had two back-up clones on standby at all times -one on site and one at an undesignated Gaule Military Mobile Station (GMMS). GIG troops who’d been cloned many times were highly respected. Tradition dictated that a cloned Hornet would gash their forehead with a scar for the number of times they’d been cloned. Scars were a point of pride and coming across a Hornet with ten gashes across their forehead was something no one wished to encounter. The battalion’s Lieutenant colonel Hector Malveaux was said to carry thirteen scars on his brow. Fool hearted actions by contrast were not respected and the misuse of cloning was frowned upon. Tactical efficiency and cohesion were highly prized and the Hornets had the lowest cloning rates of any of the Gaule’s military.
Rumor has it that the GMMS on which the Hornet backup clones would spawn is still operational and has been unable to make contact post Cat. The idea is not outside the realm of possibility. Special military stations would have had several back-up systems in place, and gestating clones may very well have been immune to many of the effects that damaged their live counterparts. Rumor has it that SAG is feverishly hunting for the station, and who could blame them? What a military boon it would be for the Protectorate to unearth an entire battalion of Hornets.
Well, that’s all the time I have for times past. I hope you enjoyed our time together, it too has now become history. Come back tomorrow, for more of yesterday. This is Patton saluting you!
*ISBO Interstellar Box Office is an umbrella corporation of Old Earth HoBO, itself owned by AboutTimeWarnedYou Cable. Oddly, despite the widespread devastation caused by the Catastrophe and our inability to communicate with the home planet, cable channels are still available (although installation of a cable box will take anywhere from thirty to fifty cycles and you should be available to let the cable person in between 8 am and 10 pm).
** What’s true is what we tell you is true. Trust us -it’s true.
Notes
- They have an intelligence agency, typically abbreviated "SAG."
Additional information from the storyline
At Tau Station this affiliation is represented by Abre Jones at the Gaule Embassy Gaule Protectorate Embassy (Secrets and Servos).
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