The Fulcrum
Note - I used GURPS Aliens, GURPS Space and GURPS Space Atlas 2 for this area. There will be lots of references there - especially to GURPS Aliens.
What
The Fulcrum itself is a space station in the shape of a triangle. The triangle is about 2000 meters per side. It's about 30 decks deep. It has a pyramid built into the top surface - a globe about 500 meters across caps each point.
The Fulcrum as a space station is fully equipped to maintain and support ships from snub fighters to huge capital ships. It has a full suite of defense systems and weapons. It has a plethora of docking bays and airlocks.
A fleet unique to the Fulcrum defends it. This fleet was designed from a clean slate incorporating technology from most of the original participant races. The Fulcrum fleet is supported by contributions from the participant worlds and to a smaller degree by it's own industry. Volunteers and mercenaries from the surrounding Empires man the Fulcrum fleet. The Fulcrum can expect to receive reinforcement from most of the races in the area in case of hostile attack.
Why
The Fulcrum is a neutral zone. The Fulcrum is a way point and public access
space station designed for diplomatic purposes. Most races in this area keep
ambassadors there.
The Fulcrum is the brain child of a race called the "Fasanni" (GURPS Aliens Pg 44) - the Fasanni are not particularly technologically adept, but they love getting to meet new people and learning about new cultures.
The Fasanni are one of a handful of non-Human races (GURPS Aliens) trapped between three Human Empires and the Kaa. (GURPS Aliens Pg 64) The races that weren't dominated by the Kaa outright wound up being junior partners to the humans. The Non humans, especially the Gerodians and the An-Phar supported the Fasanni contention that unless something changed the Humans and Kaa would wind up fighting to their own and everyone else's destruction.
Not that the human empires were all that peaceful among themselves, to begin with.
The Fasanni began selling the thing as a way for them to get to meet everyone under diplomatic conditions. The Fulcrum also was intended to be a diplomatic neutral zone to allow participants to settle disputes.
The Fulcrum project was a hard sell, because participants were asked to donate technology to a Fulcrum Technological baseline, as well as lending monetary and production support.
Because the participants might well be able to benefit from such technological cross pollinization, eventually the Fulcrum was sold - at least to the human empires.
The Kaa made it difficult, refusing to cooperate at all unless they were lavishly flattered and bribed.
The Kronin (GURPS Aliens Pg 68) have always had a tense relationship with the Fulcrum.
In order to operate the Fulcrum has established itself as an extra-territorial entity, a neutral nation of its own. The Fulcrum defense forces enforce the Fulcrum neutral zone.
Nations that participate in the Fulcrum project can enter the neutral zone and travel about it at will.
This neutrality, and the placement of Fulcrum station, makes it a perfect place to meet and trade.
The Function of the Fulcrum:
The Hidden function of the Fulcrum, Dimly perceived by the powers that rule
the UP, the Shin hegemony and the Corporate Sectors - more clearly perceived
by the Kronin and the Kaa is to form an Alternative power center. To create
and enhance non-military conflict resolution options. The Fasanni, the An-Phar
and the Gerodans felt that they were in dire danger of being steam-rolled by
human imperialism and militarism. The Fasanni sold the project to them as a
way to take over the Humans from the inside and neutralize their suicidal war
making tendencies.
Many, many Humans also see this element of the Fulcrum and so support it as the "Last, best hope for peace."
The Fasanni sort of suspected the humans were ready for a change and so hope the Fulcrum gives them the excuse they need.
The Powers-That-Be in the respective human empires are not stupid, they can see what's happening, but the Fulcrum makes it possible for them to pursue short terms goals much, much more cost-effectively than previous methods, and so it's too good a deal to turn down.
This is the main reason the Kronin are reluctant to join the Fulcrum project all the way - they feel it is mainly a large scale Fasanni social engineering project with the end goal of having everyone wind up subject to the Fulcrum.
But Spies and espionage agents are often caught trying to sabotage or destroy the Fulcrum. An Evil Overlord who could do it would win massive major points in the Big Game in each of the three empires.
The Arrival of the Federation - in effect a completed version of what the Fasanni, the An-Phar and the Gerodans had in mind was a godsend. Faced with super high technology diplomatic and trade partners - old conflicts have largely been forgotten.
The Federation views it largely as a way to farm the area for new Federation members. Admiral Turkan, chastened, is taking this very slow - basically the Fulcrum is a much more informal and relaxed form of the Federation Council - and it will do just fine for now.
The arrival of the Romulan Empire and their decision to make use of the Fulcrum as an exceptionally cost efficient manner of settling disputes is weird, faintly scary and unexpected, but since it's what the Fulcrum is FOR - there's no real way for the Fulcrum administration to say "no".
When
Note - this timeline is not complete - it will contain entries from the other races when I have made them up.
The Ancient Past - A stellar empire, the Koballan Empire grows decadent, corrupt and then tears itself apart in civil war - humans in the region descend into primitivism.
2205 - The United States of Azarla on Gannao discovers a cache of galactic technology.
2210 - Azarla begins limited space exploration
2214 - Azarlan space explorers contact the Planet Shin
2235 - The United States of Azarla on Gannao has vanquished all opposition, replacing unfriendly governments with pliable client states - The Assembly of Nations on Gannao becomes an Azarlan rubber stamp and eventually the defacto world government.
2225 to 2240 - Ideological refugees, fleeing Azarlan domination of Gannao arrive on Shin - those that do not swear fealty to Emperor Walu Shin are tortured for their technological secrets -those that DO swear fealty are expected to help upgrade Shin's technology base, voluntarily - by any means necessary.
2235 to 2310 - An "Age of Exploration" for humans with Gannao and Shin explorers contacting many of the races that will become their eventual allies, clients and opponents.
2260 - The first Gannao/Shin war over planet Beela. The Gannao establish space superiority but discover that conquering an unwilling population across interstellar distances is all but impossible.
2270 - Shin struggles mightily and establishes near technological Parity with the Gannao. Gannao Based mega corporations, who - having saturated markets at home, seek to expand into new economic niches in On Shin and her colonies aid this.
2275 - Gannao and several colonies form the "United Planets" based on the structure of the Gannao Assembly of Nations. The existing power structure subsumes the new government. This new structure launches a crackdown on "rogue corporations" that do business with the Shin.
2280 - Corporations who prefer to do business anywhere they please have formed "The Corporate sector" a group of colonies from which they can do business on their own terms. The Shin initially backs the Corporates. Rifts form when the Corporates refuse to accept dominance by the Shin.
2285 - Weak Shin Heirs lead to colonization and the spread of neo-feudalism in the Shin hegemony - strong rulers can rally the nobles to their banner, but often these nobles fight among themselves for dominance - except when they need to fend off the United Planets.
2310 to 2318 - Contact between the Shin and the Kaa leads to a Kaa invasion - The UP and the Corporate sectors rally to defend the Shin and drive off the Kaa - the first of many Human/Kaa wars.
2349 - The Fasanni first propose the Fulcrum
2350 - The An-Phar and the Gerodans sign on the Fulcrum project. They join the Fasanni in lobbying heavily for it.
2355 - Construction of the Fulcrum started
2362 to 2366 - The "big one" Kaa/Human war - the Fulcrum becomes an allied base for much of that war - but returns to neutrality to negotiate a peace.
2373 - the United Federation of Planets contacts the Fulcrum. The Romulan Star Empire contacts the Fulcrum not long afterwards. ST-OM Prometheus Quest
2374 - The UFP and the Romulan Star Empire become Signatories and participants in the Fulcrum Project
Where
Fulcrum Sector. The ships are slow by Federation standards TOS Warp 6 for cruising
(2 ly per 3 days) and maybe up to TOS warp 8 but not much more. By and large
the technology would resemble the early Federation (No transporters, yet.) but
with odd differences. Phasers have just been introduced as common ship-to-ship
weapons.
I see this area as being some 200 - 250 light years away from the Federation border.
Who:
Humans
United Planets - Home World Gannao: A small multi-planet representative
democracy. Beset by cultural notions of human supremacy, jingo ism and sexism,
they are being shook by the Federation. Buffaloed into signing the Fulcrum Agreement
by the corporate sector and public relations, they twisted the Shin hegemony's
arm to join along with them.
Shin Hegemony - Home World Shinai: An ancient empire based on writings
that emphasize social harmony and the good of society over the good of the Individual.
It is a neo-Feudal collection of states. The Shin hegemony as the last o the
human factions to sign the Fulcrum agreement. The Emperor was reluctant and
only supported the Fulcrum well afterwards.
Corporate Sector - (GURPS Space Atlas 2): A sector of worlds run by corporations
or weak governments beholden to corporate powers. The Corporations of this sector
were the first human organizations to sign the Fulcrum Agreement, as peace is
far better for business and the bottom line.
Fasanni - Home World Fasan (GURPS Aliens Pg 44): Located Shin and Corporate sectors. They maintained independence because neither the Shin, nor the Corporates wanted to loose potential friends or see potential rivals make a gain. The Fasanni were the originators and among the first signers of the Fulcrum Agreement.
Gerodan - Home World Geroda (GURPS Aliens Pg 48): Quiet and gentle clients of the Shin Hegemony. They are semi independent. The humans don't want rivals, but also don't know if they *can* govern aliens, so they regard the Gerodans with some ambivalence. The Gerodans were among the Originators and first signers of the Fulcrum Agreement.
An-Phar - Home world Phar (GURPS Aliens Pg 26): Located Between the Shin and the U.P. They are another group of people who play rival human factions against each other to preserve their independence. An-Phar are valued members of the local stellar community. The An-Phar were among the originators and first Signors of the Fulcrum Agreement.
Irari - Home World Irari (GURPS Aliens Pg 32): Located in the Corporate Sector. The Irari are firmly clients of the corporate sector but also valued suppliers. Humans, An-Phar and others have largely taken over routine administration of the Irari homeworld, leaving the Irari free to pursuing mad Science, Art and other pursuits. The Irari were early signatories and proponents of the Fulcrum Agreement.
MMM - Home World MMM (GURPS Aliens Pg 112): MMM is located in the United Planets. MMM is a citizen of the United Planets, and holds a seat in the UP council. Most people consider MMM a client of the United Planet, an assertion MMM good-naturedly confirms. The UP is just realizing that MMM could change this at will. As a member of the U.P. MMM is considered a signatory of the Fulcrum Agreement MMM maintains a small presence there but defers to the U.P.
Sparrials - Home World Sparr (GURPS Aliens pg 84): The Sparrials are clients of the United Planets, but no individual Sparrials take that very seriously. Sparrial couriers, starship crew and rogues freely roam all over known space. As clients of the U.P. the Sparrials are considered signatories of the Fulcrum Agreement. Individual Sparrials enjoy the Fulcrum. Mot Sparrials working the space ways have been there at least once.
Gormelites - Home world Gorm (GURPS Aliens Pg 80): located Between Shin and Corporate Sectors. The Humans treat gorm itself with gentle neglect. Gormlites are thugs, leg-breakers, shock troops and cannon fodder all over the region. The Gormelites enjoy this. They love to break things. There is no Gormelite Government, and so the Gormelites are not signatories of the Fulcrum agreement. Some Gormelites work for the Fulcrum, and others work for pirates and factions that work against the Fulcrum.
Purulu - Home World Purulu (GURPS Aliens Pg 96): Located in the Corporate Sector. The Purulu are rapaciously mercantile, greedy, grasping, mean and foul tempered. They are solid stockholders in the Corporate sector. The Purulu were late and reluctant adopters of the Fulcrum agreement, but in the end could not dispute the cost/benefit ratio.
Pakchekki - Home world Pakchek (GURPS Aliens Pg 88): Located in the Shin Hegemony. They have an ambivalent relationship with the Shin. Sometimes treated as a client state, and sometimes ignored. Again, the uncertainty if the writings of Shin cover ruling aliens. The Pakchekki casually accept and adapt to various approaches by the Shin, but quietly assert their own identity. The Pakchekki were early adopters and supporters of the Fulcrum
Kronin - Home world Kron (GURPS Aliens Pg 68): Independent the Kronin are militaristic telepathic humanoids. They are an "honorable" enemy. They can be dealt with and even trusted to keep their words. They are not in a complete state of war with the Human and allied races of the Fulcrum area simply because they spend a lot of time fighting with the Kaa.
The Kronin see the Fulcrum as a place where Diplomacy is war conducted through other means. They come to play hard and win. Mostly they seek to fortify their borders and holdings with diplomacy to focus more effort on their latest enemy, who ever that may be. There is an on again/off again alliance between the Kaa and Kronin, depending on who the Kronin see as the most threatening that day.
The Kronin are often seen as mercenaries in the service of the various forces in the region.
The Kronin are not signatories of the Fulcrum Agreement but generally play along.
Kaa - Home world Kaa (GURPS Aliens Pg 64) - Only political and military rival of the humans in the region, these predatory reptiles are feared throughout the region. Already the Kaa have fought two major wars against the rest of the region - and came perilously close to winning each one. The Kaa are signatories of the Fulcrum agreement, but seem to break it whenever convenient.
Later the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Star Empire became Signatories to the Fulcrum Agreement.
-*-
The Base Commander is an An-Phar war hero. Male. Lam-No-Dan Ken-Los-Phar, An
An-Phar, with a broad skull and body, thin, spiny hair. A wide flat nose turned
forwards.
The Second in Command is a human, Lon Wu, a golden skinned man with great competence,
and a quiet demeanor, from the Shin Hegemony.
Disclaimer: Paramount owns all things Trek. I claim original characters and situations in this material for me.