Union of Earth States/Legends

"The Union - a nation and government I'd follow into the darkness and would willingly give my life for it."

- A loyalist citizen of the Union on the Union

The Union of Earth States was a nation founded on the planet of Earth in 81 BBY, established by the Articles of Union and constituted by the Constitution of the Union of Earth States, that united all nations of the planetary population. However, this was countered continuously by the Traditionalist Faction—which believed that Earth should be united under an alliance rather than a single-ruling government stating that it was susceptible to corruption. Despite the actions and speeches of the Traditionalist Faction, many governments continued to recognize the Union Senate as a more superior and appropriate legislature more than their own whereas the Traditionalists still refused the Union as well as laws and policies enacted by the Union Senate, favoring and maintaining their own governments.

81 BBY—57 BBY: Military Peace
For over two decades, the Union Armed Forces maintained a strong presence within its member states until 57 BBY where the Union Senate voted its deactivation due to the planet being ruled under a single government, and no threats were ever present.

56 BBY—21 BBY: Open Corruption
In the years long after its formation, the Union was being recognized more and more by its member states as a shadow of its former self and its Senate becoming increasingly corrupt by placing high taxes on its permanent and member states.

However in 21 BBY, Jane Zarkan—Queen of the Zarkan Empire at the time—went on to finally secede from the Union's corrupted grip and formed the Confederate States of Earth. This secession gave the Union a large blow as 58 states of the Traditionalist Faction withdrew themselves from the Union. This began the Confederacy's attempt at negotiating with the Union on resolving its corruption, however this did not work as Williams—Union President at the time—refused their pleas and disregarded further attempts.

21 BBY—19 BBY: Civil War
Following the Confederate States' secession from the Union, the Union Senate voted for the Union Armed Forces to be reactivated in fears of a war with the Confederates, which eventually did break out a few months later.

Once alerted of the attack on a Union-aligned state, Union Armed Forces reported attacking Confederates and so the First Battle of Earth began the Earth Civil War. The Union then had the support of the Galactic Republic and were given starships and ground vehicles to use against the CSE. However the Galactic Republic was called away from the planet's affairs following a vote made by the Galactic Senate.

The Civil War came to an end when Union President Richard Williams was captured by the Confederate States and used as leverage against the Union in order to surrender its submission to them. Following this, the Union was allowed by the Confederate government to continue to operate but without its military power, giving up most of their captured territory.

18 BBY: Union's Fall
Later in 18 BBY, the Galactic Empire—successor to the Galactic Republic—invaded the planet and so newly elected Union President Williams Crest sided the Union with the Galactic Empire, and after six months of war with the Confederate States, having gained victory over them; the Union was reorganized into the Earth Empire.

While the Confederate States of Earth was defeated by the Union and Empire, survivors—such as Jane Zarkan II and a Union general—relocated to Mars secretly following the Empire's victory and conquest of Earth.

81 BBY—57 BBY - 21 BBY—19 BBY: Union Armed Forces
The Union Armed Forces was created alongside the Union in 81 BBY and was active for years until the Union Senate voted its deactivation in 57 BBY as no threats were present.

Following a secession in 21 BBY, the Union Armed Forces were reactivated in fears of war which eventually broke out.

17 BBY—: Combined Forces of the Alliance
After the Union's reorganization, a general relocated those unhappy about the Union's fate to the planet of Mars and formed the Combined Forces of the Alliance, acting as a military force for the Union-Confederate Alliance.