- "They love bureaucracy over there. You blend the UK, Japan, and Europe, mix in technocrats from Titan and executives from Mars, about all they have in common is love of paperwork."
- ―Lieutenant Feiyan Ko (from Aliens: Fireteam Elite)
The Three World Empire, often abbreviated as the 3WE, was an interstellar human superpower formed in 2088 by the United Kingdom and Japan, along with India and several other emerging countries. The first of several such so–called "conglomerate nations", the 3WE was named for the initial three worlds to be inhabited by humanity, namely Earth, Mars, and Titan. In 2099, the 3WE was the foundation from which the Weyland-Yutani Corporation emerged after the British Weyland Corp was bought out by the Japanese Yutani Corporation. In 2202 the 3WE joined with another political giant, the United Americas, to form the United Systems.
History[]
Formation[]
A cat carrier featuring the 3WE logo
As of 2088, the United Kingdom and Japan were innovators in the fields of space exploration and offworld colonization through the British Weyland Corp and the Japanese Yutani Corporation; both were responsible for establishing the earliest human colonies on other planetary bodies within the Sol System. Seeing the technological and economical potential afforded by humanity's expansion into the cosmos, both countries made the decision to pool their collective resources.[1]
To further capitalize on this course of action, they joined forces with India and a number of developing nations including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Kenya, and Fiji.[1] Several members of the European Union also joined[2] the newly–minted Three World Empire, which was named for the initial three worlds to be settled by humanity: Earth, Mars, and Titan. Due to its preexisting technological advantage, the 3WE quickly spread throughout the Core Systems and into the lucrative Outer Veil. The currency of the 3WE was the Three World Imperial yen. The Three World Empire was the first of the so–called "conglomerate nations" and was formed a full fifteen years before its nearest equivalent, the United Americas.[1]
Colonial age[]
The Three World Empire was responsible for the arrest of the members of the Monastic Order of Arceon, a technophobic movement that released a computer virus capable of wiping out a mass amount of the world’s data, and banished them from Earth. The Weyland-Yutani Corporation was contracted to contain and move the cult to a remote location in 3WE space. The Khadaji System, having been under 3WE control since the 2120s, was annexed by the United Americas in the 2150s. In 2152, the 3WE leased a mining complex on the Outer Veil planetoid of Fiorina 161 and recommissioned it as a Class C penal complex. The complex was largely closed down in 2175, though a small custodial population remained.[1]
The Helene 215 Uprising[]
In 2148, the corporate colonies of the 3WE's Central Space Consortium—including those located on the world of Helene 215—declared independence from the 3WE and launched an uprising. The United Americas Allied Command severed supply routes to Helene 215 in response, and an armed conflict ensued, with the United States Colonial Marine Corps and the 3WE's Royal Marines Commandos jointly mobilizing against the combat synthetics of the CSC. In 2150, all three parties resolved to negotiate, resulting in the '51 New Deal being signed in 2151. This deal returned Helene 215 to the 3WE, and recognized the CSC's autonomy as the newly–minted Independent Core System Colonies. Unwilling to accept these terms, local governor K. Watabe enlisted the forces of the Union of Progressive Peoples to expel both the RMC and USCM from Helene 215. The dissenting Shinowa and Tokonigara colonies were eventually neutralized by the USCM, with order being restored by 2153.
The New Earth Plague[]
In 2157, the successful and prestigious 3WE settlement of New Earth Colony in the HD88512 System was stricken by an outbreak of a deadly malady dubbed the New Earth Plague. To prevent the spread of the pathogen, the 3WE and the UA oversaw the sterilization of every celestial body in the HD88512 System. The Office of the Colonial Marshals established a cordon around the system to avoid any possibility of interlopers contracting the New Earth Plague and bringing it into inhabited space.[2]
In 2163, the 3WE introduced the Iapetus Protocols, which forbade the use of militarized flame units; this embargo extended to the Type 99 Incinerator.[3]
The Australia Wars[]
In 2172, 3WE member state Australia experienced a sizeable food shortage and led an uprising dubbed the Australia Wars against the 3WE. Subsequently, in 2174, the 3WE was hit by a revolt on several Australian–founded member worlds. Such was the case of Linna 349; this insurrection was launched by a rebel faction that attempted to take over the planet’s government. As it lacked the necessary resources on the Outer Rim to handle the threat, the 3WE requested assistance from the United Americas Allied Command. The UAAC, eager to help in exchange for new tariff and export treaties, dispatched the United States Colonial Marine Corps to assist in the reclamation of Linna 349; after the so–called "bug–boy" rebellion was squashed, the Colonial Marines maintained an occupation force on Linna 349 despite requests from the 3WE to relinquish control over the planet. The Australia Wars were eventually ended in 2182 with a nuclear strike on the Australian capital of Canberra, delivered by the UA. As a result, Australia's government was restored and the 3WE's integrity maintained.[2]
The Frontier War and beyond[]
As open warfare erupted on the Frontier in 2184, various systems began to secede from the 3WE, with New Albion's departure and establishment of its own breakaway government, the New Albion Protectorate, being one of the more infamous examples.[4] In 2187, 3WE dignitaries were dispatched to a summit at the Pushan Conference and Business Complex on LV-846 arranged to defuse tensions between the 3WE and other governments; however, the meeting was disrupted by an outbreak of Biodrone Xenomorphs unleashed by the clandestine Deep Void group.[5] In 2202, the 3WE joined the United Americas, China, Heelal Yo, and four member states of the Independent Core System Colonies in forming the United Systems.[6]
Territory[]
In addition to its almost exclusive holdings in the Sol System, the 3WE controlled the majority of the colonies in the Core Systems and Outer Veil; at one time, the 3WE enjoyed almost total supremacy in the Outer Veil, although several systems in the sector were subsequently annexed by the Union of Progressive Peoples. The 3WE also exercised a more limited presence in the Outer Rim Territories and the Frontier, although these distant colonization efforts were predominantly handled by the Weyland–Yutani Corporation. Combined, 3WE territory was known as the Anglo–Japanese Arm. Worlds under 3WE control included Coronado Colony, Gorham's Folly, Fiorina 161, and Linna 349.[1]
Organization and leadership[]
Much like the UK and Japan before it, the Three World Empire was a parliamentary democracy overseen by a constitutional monarchy. The monarchy, consisting of the former royal families of Britain and Japan now joined by marriage, served as a figurehead for the state but in reality held little real power. Governance was instead handled by an elected parliament consisting of representatives from each territory and former nation, led by a Prime Minister. Although this government ostensibly controlled all 3WE territories and dependencies, in reality, closer to the Frontier, 3WE worlds were overseen by a provisional governor. As of 2183, this position was held by Vihaa Reddy.[1]
Armed forces of the Three World Empire[]
A number of armed organizations operated under the aegis of the Three World Empire, including the Colonial Rescue Corps,[7] the Duke of Wellingtons,[4] Flotte du Cosmos de Défense Internationale,[3] and the Royal Expeditionary Group.[8] The 3WE's main military power, however, was comprised of the Imperial Armed Space Forces[2] and the Royal Marines Commandos.[1]
Imperial Armed Space Forces[]
- Main article: Imperial Armed Space Forces
The Imperial Armed Space Forces, or IASF, acted as the primary armed, naval and aerial combat strength of the 3WE. The IASF mainly protected the New Eden Sector.[2]
Royal Marines Commandos[]
- Main article: Royal Marines Commandos
The Royal Marines Commandos, or 3WE–RMC, were the elite forces of the 3WE. Though the 3WE–RMC were highly trained and equipped with advanced technology, they were limited in terms of the numbers and reach enjoyed by other militaries. Resultantly, the 3WE perennially shied away from conflict with the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples.[2]
Diplomacy and relationships[]
Weyland-Yutani Corporation[]
As expected of the state from which the Weyland–Yutani Corporation emerged, the 3WE was heavily influenced by it; Weyland–Yutani occupied a permanent seat in the 3WE parliament, the only non–state member to do so. Wild rumors suggested that key members of Parliament had in fact been replaced by Weyland–Yutani with synthetic doubles, although those rumors were never proven. While the 3WE was reliant on Weyland–Yutani for its technological status, frequent tensions between the corporation and the United Americas caused concern for Parliament, as intervening for the United Americas' benefit would not end well for the 3WE.[1]
United Americas[]
The 3WE maintained a generally peaceful relationship with the United Americas, although the UA was typically wary of the 3WE's aggressive expansion efforts, and as such maintained a constant watch on their borders. Although the 3WE lacked a fighting force able to compete with the United States Colonial Marine Corps, it maintained an extensive navy backed up by Weyland–Yutani's technological and mercenary might, which was a source of concern for the UA. Matters were further complicated by the UA's fractious relationship with Weyland–Yutani, a situation that often left the 3WE caught in the crossfire. As a result, some feared the possibility of armed conflict breaking out along the Frontier; however, in reality, the 3WE much preferred maintaining the status quo over engaging a powerful contemporary in hostilities.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
A concept sketch of the Three World Empire's flag by Ron Cobb
The Three World Empire was created by Ron Cobb for the 1979 film Alien; though the 3WE logo appears on Jones' cat carrier, the 3WE is neither named nor mentioned in the film.[9]
The 2014 reference book Alien: The Weyland-Yutani Report refers to the 3WE as the "EU/UK", and presents it as being so named as of 2202.[6] This presents a continuity issue with later sources such as Alien: The Roleplaying Game[1] and Colonial Marines Operations Manual, with the latter reporting that the European Union dissolved in 2108 after losing several of its constituent states to the 3WE and, later, the Union of Progressive Peoples.[2]
Appearances[]
- Alien (logo)
- Alien3
- Alien: The Weyland-Yutani Report (as EU/UK)
- Alien: The Roleplaying Game
- Colonial Marines Operations Manual
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite (logo)
- Alien: Colony War
- Scylla and Charybdis (mentioned only)
- Alien: Inferno's Fall (mentioned only)
- Alien: Enemy of My Enemy (mentioned only)
- Aliens: Bishop
- Building Better Worlds
- Aliens: Dark Descent (mentioned only)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Alien: The Roleplaying Game
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Colonial Marines Operations Manual
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Aliens: Fireteam Elite
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Alien: Colony War
- ↑ Alien: Enemy of My Enemy
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Alien: The Weyland-Yutani Report
- ↑ EVAC
- ↑ Building Better Worlds
- ↑ Alien