To my fellow Citizens, friends, and dearest allies in the Federation and beyond,
This year marks the two hundred and thirty-ninth anniversary of the signing of the Federal Charter, the event that gave birth to the First Union of the Federated Union of Gallente Prime as we know it today. Privately, I have the honour of marking my first year as a Federation Citizen proper, and I continue to strive to improve myself as we expect our Federation to in due course.
I would therefore like to discuss what I personally feel to be two of the Union’s greatest strengths: Alliance through Consent and the Community of Nations. When I refer to Alliance through Consent, I am of course referring to that the Federation exists through the mutual and ongoing acceptance and approval of its people. The Federation does not expand through military conquest, subjugating others at the barrels of guns and the threat of annihilation. It is not an insidious force that corrupts and twists communities into becoming simulacrums. Rather, the Federation welcomes those that welcome the Federation, without fear of ulterior motives, agitation or subversion of what makes that culture unique and special in New Eden.
The Federation is the culmination of our desire to further our understanding and knowledge of one another, to protect and defend another as brother and sister nations in a cluster that we, whilst we always hope remains tranquil, can be anything but. Our intent to prospective and existing members is conveyed with honesty, sincerity and with a commitment to mutual prosperity. It welcomes others that commit to share our values expressed in the Charter and Constitution, and commits itself to the collective defence of all, their culture and way of life. Through our diversity, we have forged an interstellar community that exists to the envy and perplexity of the Cluster.
Further to this, our President has taken another step in advancing her agenda as part of their message of “Unity, Security and Diversity”. Whereas the Federal District of Vieres was selected to avoid the historic concentration of power in Luminaire that led to so much discontent centuries ago, Sinq Laison and Everyshore have been chosen to host the official primary residencies of the Office of the President and the Supreme Court of the Federated Union. Essence is a heartland of the Federation, where the great civilisations of Gallentia and Cephalin/Caldari and all our signatories outside of Luminaire arose to the stars. However, Essence is but one region of many that compose the realm of the Federation and all share equal standing, from Everyshore to Placid, Sinq Laison to Verge Vendor.
That brings me to the ongoing crisis that befalls our Federal Union – the State occupation of the Serthoulde Federal District in Placid, and their desire to control the system of Athounon for reasons not yet in the realm of public knowledge. It is an unfortunate and regrettable episode that our counterparts in the Caldari State and those that fight on their behalf elected to prosecute because of the ongoing engagement between Federal Marines and the Triglavian Collective in the Athounon system. Their actions represent a further violation of the Federation’s sovereignty, least of all that of the member states.
Our forces in the Federation Navy and the Defence Union have not forgotten their responsibilities to all the member states that have signed the Federal Charter. We will perform to our utmost our duties to ensure that all that have consented to the Federal Charter and Constitution enjoy the protections that they deserve. Anything less is a complete betrayal of the trust and faith of our fellow Citizens, and we must not fail them in their time of need no matter the opposition that would stand in our way. In our defence of their liberty, we will seek justice for those that have suffered.
I would also like to remind all that serve the Federation that we are just as accountable for our actions as we will endeavour to hold those that would see nothing more pleasurable than our demise in New Eden. As I stated last year, how we act in the name of the Federation, irrespective of our intentions, is our presentation to future generations of Federal citizens and foreigners alike. The Federation demands only the highest standards of itself and those in its service, and we must not dishonour or disgrace the reputation it has fought so hard to repair over the centuries. Just as we seek justice, justice will be delivered righteously unto those that would trifle with the gravity of our responsibilities.
I am Commander Edward Adams, of the line of Adams, Commander of the Nadire Security Consultants and I remain a humble citizen of the Federation that has accepted me and continues to accept me for the person that I am. I wish a happy, peaceful, and safe Federation Day to all my fellow citizens, and throughout the cluster.
For Liberty and Justice. Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit.