Griffon Alliance

History
The origin of the Griffons Alliance can be traced back to a group of 'dissident cells' that were founded right at the time when the late Emperor Palpatine started to enforce his 'New Order' policy around the galaxy. It all started in a couple of planets which were pretty much racially integrated and which reacted with outrage when the newly formed Empire started to brutalize and enslave non-humans as part of its racial policy. Suddenly, non-humans started to disappear all around, far faster than the Stormtroopers could get rid of them. Eventually, several cells which had developed independently became aware of each other and agreed to act in concert. After some time things turned more serious and an all-out campaign of disruption was waged against the Imperial authorities.

News of a more widespread movement reached their remote sectors and, at the Corellia Conference, what was then a loose confederation of guerrillas joined the rebellion as a single block. Their current name, "The Griffons Alliance", was then coined, and it was under that name that they broke up their ties with the rebellion in the midst of the political anarchy that filled the vaccuum of power left by Palpatine's death.

Looking for a safe haven, the Griffons finally settled in a mothballed supply base located in a long forgotten debtor's colony where they were welcomed by the local population. By the time they had finished with the titanic task of setting up a government and bringing the pre-industrial society of the colonists up to modern day standards, the war had become a side show in the galactic landscape, a private issue between the New Republic and the Empire.

Not wanting to get caught in the political crossfire again, the new Griffon government did not actively support any of the sides, but instead, they have become a symbol of freedom and justice among the independent worlds. Although they are based on a planet, the Griffons are culturally spacers and this influence can be easily seen permeating all aspects of their life. Apart from the fact that they keep one of the biggest space stations in known space, Pride-1, they also have one of the most efficient and better trained space fleets in the galaxy. Their society is widely known for their strong ideas about freedom and individuality which seem to collide with a Spartan and shipboard-like way of life, where education is targeted to reinforce collective responsibility and strict obedience to the law.

The time of neutrality could not last eternally. Soon, Griffons became aware of the situation of the people of Mutanda, a planet lying not so far away from their controlled space systems. The local race, the Horansis, were living under the conditions of quasi-enslavement enforced by the Corporate Sector Authority. Having developped a strong military by this time, the Griffons wanted to show the Galaxy what they really were about. They invaded the Mutanda space and took control of the planet, hence allowing the Horansis to establish their own government. The neutrality of the Griffons became nihil. Mutandans wanted to have limited Griffon presence on and over their planet, and their claim was satisfied.

Unfortunately, this could not be accomplished without the Empire noticing the new threat. In their quest to destroy the New Republic, Imperials founded again the Galactic Senate, an alliance of several Governments, notably the Empire, the Corporate Sector Authority, and the Caspian Democratic Union. With the threat of the Third Death Star, and the Emperor convinced the Griffons Armiger of the time, Robert Dragoon Bruce, to cooperate.

Still having an underhanded alliance with the New Republic, the Griffons were made aware a plan to destroy the Third Death Star. After its destuction, they would be able to leave the Galactic Senate. As a result, a combined fleet of New Republic and Griffon vessels attacked the huge superweapon and succeeded in destroying it. The Empire was left in turmoil, losing their highest ranking officers. Furthermore, a new threat for them would raise soon: the returned Emperor Palpatine, coming to claim his Empire back. Griffons were at a relative safety at this moment, but Emperor Valak seeked vengeance upon the small Government.

A little over a year later, the Empire proved they were back up and here to stay, when they took back the small planet of Mutanda. Shortly after, the Griffons assisted the New Republic in retaking Mon Calamari in the Second Battle of Mon Calamari. Unfortunately, the New Republic didn't help in protecting their ally's assets -- aboveall, Pride-1 space station, a symbol for the Griffons. It was destroyed shortly after in the Fourth Battle of Pride-1.

With their greatest asset and their main source of revenus destroyed, the Griffons were taken off guard. They had no means to build nor even repair military warships any longer, and they had no base for their capital ships. The maintainance costs of the Griffon Fleet in the wake of the destruction of Pride-1 proved far too costly for the Griffons to maintain, and the Griffons entered a financial crisis.

Therefore came the time when the Griffon were compelled to make a choice. They could either reduce their fleet, and therefore to prove very weak against an Imperial attack, or join the New Republic.

In spite of the protests of some hardcore Griffons, the second option was chosen. In order to survive, the Griffons had to go back to the mother's womb, namely join the New Republic.

It was a time of protests and civil turmoil, as the Griffons lacked good leadership at a time they needed it most. The situation was so terrible that even a former Imperial, an Imperial defector, was allowed inside, achieved high positions and even tried to claim to position of Armiger. But he couldn't, even though the man who took the lead was a tad controversial himself. Armiger Gyzen Bel started to rebuild Cochran, doing his best to preserve the Griffon cultural difference and to secure the support of the New Republic Senate altogether. He always thought that body to be inefficient, though, and he continued his long-established relationships with the Bothan Federation. Soon, the Middle Rim Treaty Organization, the MRTO, a regional organization gathering all worlds forming up the Middle Rim, was created.

With the Griffons Alliance now a member of the New Republic, their two militaries joined and became one. Griffon SATs were now on the front lines alongside New Republic Marines, and proved their worth to the New Republic during the Fourth Battle of Coruscant.

Recently, however, the Griffons have been plagued with many problems and their government has more or less collapsed. AEC has been abandoned, and rumors of a renewed Imperial offensive against the Griffons have been emerging across the galaxy.

Alliance Council
The supreme executive and legislative body for the Griffons. This body is composed of the 4 military leaders (the Armiger, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO or CO FleetOps), CO StarOps, and the CO of the SATs), the chief of the Griffons Intelligence Division, the CEO of AEC, the CO of the Merchant Marines (MM), and the head of the diplomatic corps. Also, the Governor of Cochran de la Rhine may speak as a non-voting observer. The Armiger appoints all other members and chairs all meetings, yet is himself appointed by the Council.

This body is responsible for the largest matters of Griffon affairs, such as war and peace. Within it lies the Alliance Executive, which is composed solely of the 4 military leaders. This body sets strategic policy (confirmed by the Council), decides on force deployments, and operates as the military high command. The Armiger may be (and is often) one of the three military COs.

Meetings of the Executive are typically closed, while meetings of the Council are either open or closed depending on circumstances. In open meetings, all Griffon citizens (PCs) are invited to observe, and meetings are traditionally held on Cochran de la Rhine.

Below the Alliance Councils lies the military branches, controlled by their commanders, the Intelligence Agency, which is controlled by a chief appointed by the Armiger and the Executive in secret session (and who reports directly to the Armiger), the diplomatic corps (led by the Senior Ambassador, traditionally a retired military officer of senior rank), the Government-sponsored corporations (AEC and GMC), and the system Governors, who are responsible to the Council for their systems.

Assembly of Warriors
Once every year all active and reserve members of the Griffon military, as well as all retired members still citizens of the Alliance, meet on Cochran de la Rhine in an isolated forest, to convene what is known as the 'Assembly of Warriors'. This assembly is a place for all Griffons, regardless of rank or position, to speak their minds on any issue. All statements are held without attribution, and proceedings are closed. In the Assembly, the Armiger and the Council are held accountable to the population, who decides each member's fitness for continued service. A member who is deemed unfit is replaced in their position by the Council members remaining. Specifically, the Armiger is chosen between those remaining. If no Council members remain, or less than its half (a very unlikely event), each branch represented in the Council must first elect the new members, and then the Council will vote. Additionally, in this multi-night gathering, Griffons renew their traditions and often participate in athletic or other contests.

Judiciary
While legislative powers, as stated before, are held by the Council, judiciary powers are held by a system of courts which are largely independent of the Council. There are no jury trials in Griffon space; Instead, each civil trial is heard by 3 magistrates. Military courts-martial are presided over by a board of 5 officers of field-grade rank (In the Navy, Lieutenant or above; In the SATs, Captain or above). Above the court or courts-martial is a system of appeals, all heard by 3 judges. The first level is the System Court, 11 judges from both the civil and military systems (hearing cases in groups of 3, or en banc as 11) that hear all civil, military, and criminal appeals. The System Court, one per Griffon star system (with the military having a special "system" allotted to it) also exercises administrative functions over all Griffon courts and courts martial. Beyond the System Courts lies the Alliance Council. In addition, the Alliance Council automatically reviews all sentences which may result in t the death penalty, and each member personally signs the death warrant if the sentence of death is confirmed. The death penalty is traditionally performed by firing squad, but sometimes it can consist in a beheading.

Sentences are typically gentle yet firm, though treason, murder, rape, and similar crimes often being punished with life sentences or death. Repeat offenders are treated harshly, though the entire system (especially as regards offenses with regards to spice possession and juvenile offenses) is oriented towards rehabilitating the offender so as to preserve their use to the community. Often, a term in the military is offered to repentant offenders, with an eye toward giving them someplace to belong and keeping them out of trouble. Often, these "saved cubs" make some of the better enlisted personnel, and many excel at things such as instructing new recruits.

More to come later..