The Confederacy of Freelance States is the youngest and weakest of the three human governments—and its citizens wouldn't have it any other way.
Born from a political maneuver that somehow became real, the Confederacy represents the closest thing humanity has achieved to organized anarchy. Its government can barely pass legislation, struggles to enforce what laws it has, and watches helplessly as corruption and crime flourish in the gaps. And yet, it persists—a haven for those who value freedom above all else.
The Confederacy was founded in 2448 when the League prompted a coalition of Free Colony worlds to declare themselves a third human government. What was intended as a legal fiction to deny the Terrans easy access to Freelance space somehow became a functioning—if barely—government in its own right.
The Confederacy War (2448-2493) forged the Confederacy into something real. With NorAellian backing, they won recognition as an independent power and declared themselves neutral in the ongoing conflicts between the great powers.
The Confederacy has the absolute minimum government structure required to claim legitimacy. The Confederate Assembly meets to discuss matters of mutual concern, but has almost no power to enforce its decisions. Each member world governs itself; the Confederacy only coordinates collective defense and trade policy.
Many significant powers in Freelance space—including the Clusters and major independent stations—have never joined the Confederacy at all, preferring complete independence.
Freelance culture centers on three core values: self-sufficiency, autonomy, and independence. Approximately 43% of Confederacy citizens own their own interstellar-capable ships—nearly double the rate in the League or Republic.
There is no monolithic Freelance culture. Each world, station, and Cluster maintains its own traditions. What unites Freelancers is their refusal to bend the knee to outside authority.
The Confederacy maintains the smallest military of any human government. The Confederate Defense Fleet is a small naval force—mostly converted freighters and purchased vessels—with an attached Marine contingent for boarding and station operations.
Real military strength comes from privateers—private vessels authorized to attack enemy shipping during wartime. With 43% of the population owning ships, the Confederacy can field a dispersed raiding force that's nearly impossible to counter.
Independent power blocs that trade with the Confederacy but have not joined: