The Republic of the Threshold, (/'ðrɛʃhoɹld/ or θrɛʃhoʊld) was the former iteration of the Threshold nation prior to the Threshold Civil War. As with the current nation, it was a superpower with 18 star systems and 26 planets.
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Etymology
The name of “The Threshold” to describe the region as a “doorway” to new mineral-rich worlds was earliest recorded in usage in 2654 when the Sunderland-Belvoir system terminus was first discovered, leading early settlers further up-arm proximal to the galactic core. The Pharthan system proved to be ore-rich both in planetary and asteroid deposits. With only one terminus, the system was also easily defended, leading to early government establishment and general system control.
History
Unrest
A small but violent uprising originated on the planet of Selene in 2991 over lack of trade and believed unfair taxation for funding expensive projects centered around “The Big Three” regions of Pharthan, Belvoir, and Himeji, where the majority of the population was centered. As well, a great deal of focus was placed on fighting the beginnings of the terrorist group that would later become the Second Dominion. In initial talks, the Threshold government was originally willing to negotiate terms, or even allow independence, but following a major, violent riot in the capital city on New Haifa, which the government suspected but never confirmed to be started by local pirates, military intervention caused a boil-over. New Haifa was rapidly quelled as Threshold supporters held the majority, but the revolution on Selene and its many nearby moons continued. With little physical land to hold as a military strategic asset and the promise of new trade routes and dedicated military outposts for protection, most in the rebellion were satisfied and returned to the fold. A final, small skirmish in orbit of the Selenese moon of Quartz between Threshold Navy and rebellion armed-merchants ended the revolution, with the merchants surrendering after the loss of their flagship, Laissez-Faire.
President Macon Mohr was largely blamed for the unrest. Mohr had been considered a “popularity vote,” as the government of the time was a Democratic-Republic following Alliance government style; although the majority of people did not want Mohr as a president, they voted for him to not have his opponent, Senator Abebey Breden, who was viewed as far too liberal and socialist. Each citizen was allowed a vote, and, following a major war, many of the people were still incensed by the terror imposed by the Andras Dominion. Unable to forgive, many people voted in Mohr, who wanted reparations from many of the still-living citizens who “allowed the Andras Dominion to commit such atrocities.” This economic downturn in the former Dominion spheres ultimately led to a greater division in the nation.
The Threshold Civil War
Emboldened by the Selenese Uprising and emblazoned by partiality and divisive rhetoric, the regional spheres of Laterus and Gael, formerly of the Andras Dominion, rebelled in 2992, declaring their independence. The Threshold Navy and Marines were dispatched quickly, but forces initially in the area were surprisingly repelled and required reinforcements. For years, military advisors of the Coalition of Independent Systems had been training subversives in the regions, creating a far more effective fighting force using tactics that the Thresholders had not prepared for. Much of the regional Threshold Navy and Sentinel was wracked with subversive traitors originating from the affected regions, and they began disabling equipment and murdering their fellow servicemembers.
By the time the Threshold military recovered, Coalition Naval forces had entered the area and secured the Laterus and Gael termini, and began skirmishing with Threshold forces, trading blows with no decisive victor. With much of the region in full rebellion, Threshold decided to respect the apparently unilateral decision to secede on the condition that all military equipment made by Threshold, and all citizens and their property be allowed to evacuate. While the rebels openly relented, Threshold Intelligence Forces continued to discover and covertly evacuate people and AI for the next twenty years, though the Coalition denied that they had held anyone against their will.
The economic loss and loss of life was laid upon the shoulders of President Macon Mohr, who was ever more being shown as incompetent, and the Senate called a vote of “no confidence,” with an overwhelming majority, and military leaders declared a temporary martial law, gathering with the heads of the Senate to ratify a new constitution in 2999, thus forming the Meritocracy of the Threshold as it is known today.
In subsequent years the political and cultural shift focused on electing leaders more for evidence of prowess in making decisions rather than prowess in campaigning for election, and the nation was reformed as a technocracy, largely neutering politicians who had no expertise outside of politics.
Government
The government of the older Republic of the Threshold was more reminiscent of previous Democratic Republics, though the government was technically a Constitutional Republic that allowed for democratic elections of key government officials, primarily the President and Speaker of the Senate. Democratic elections were held for key members of the individual constituent planets, though as each planet was given equal voting rights regardless of population, this was a key point of contention.
The government consisted of three main branches; the Executive Branch, the Senate, and the House of Judges.