The United Planets Federation
An interstellar federation approximately 10,000 years old, made up of humans and multiple alien races. Before the Federation, sustained inter-species conflict was ongoing. Peace became possible only after the Vaeli invented universal translation.
The Federation's core principle is self-determination: civilisations are left to succeed or fail on their own terms. Intervention requires overwhelming evidence of an extinction-level threat. The threshold is deliberately high; lower thresholds would produce more interventions, more resentment, and more conflict.
Earth received an exception on the grounds of its incalculable cultural and scientific value as the progenitor world for both humanity and the Chelva.
An observation post watched Earth for approximately 381 years before the invasion. The decision to invade was made by the UPF Military and Civilian Council on the recommendation of Lead Analyst Augur Taveth ka Del'an.
The Federation currently has a Proconsul on Earth and is transferring technology to New Zealand as the first step in a broader programme.
Earth
The progenitor world for both humanity and the Chelva, and the cultural and scientific heart of the Federation even before formal membership.
By 2026, Earth faced converging catastrophes: runaway climate change on track for biosphere collapse by end of century; a Russian war of territorial aggression against Ukraine in its fourth year; US bombing of Iran, which created a nuclear target; and the near-total collapse of the rules-based international order that had briefly stabilised after the Second World War.
The UPF modelled the combined probability of complete biosphere destruction at 99.5%. Deaths from war, terrorism, and conflict before the invasion ran at approximately 657 per day; global homicide added approximately 440,000 per year.
Since the invasion and cession of sovereignty by most nations, deaths from armed conflict have dropped to near zero.
Sofiya Moroz
Ukrainian war journalist and documentary-maker. She negotiated three conditions before accepting the project: access to anyone she wanted to interview; filming in Kyiv; and full editorial control. The UPF agreed to all three.
Young for the weight she carries. A gold cross at her throat she sometimes reaches for and sometimes stops herself reaching for. Stillness under pressure. Short questions. Comfortable with silence. She challenged every pillar of the doctrine across the first interview and landed no blow that dislodged any of it.
Kyiv is not a neutral choice. Something happened during the war. The full cost of it she has not yet named.
Augur Taveth ka Del'an
Lead Analyst at the UPF observation post UPSS X3750, which has monitored Earth from a repurposed asteroid in Earth's Trojan points since 1645. He recommended the invasion to the UPF Military and Civilian Council after thirteen years of direct observation.
A Deilian: two metres tall, built for lower gravity than Earth's, the frame stretched and slender in a way no Earth body is slender. Pale blue-tinted skin. Large amber eyes. Ears that come to a point. His arms carry biographical tattoos: family and clan history on the left; his personal life record on the right.
He spent six months in physical conditioning before he could walk on Earth unaided.
Measured, patient, honest. He does not claim more certainty than he has. When he says "maybe" he means it, and he will not trade a true answer for a certain one. He gave Sofiya a clear account of the doctrine, the statistics, and the cost, and held his position under sustained challenge without hardening it.
After the invasion he took leave. He went to Hawaii and stood on Diamond Head and watched the sun traverse the sky for the first time.
Deil
A human colonial world settled approximately 30,000 years ago. Lower gravity than Earth: the population has grown taller and more slender over generations, with larger amber eyes, pointed ears, and pale blue-tinted skin.
An orange sun, vast forests, cities built in and among trees large enough to dwarf anything on Earth. From within the cities, watching the sun set over the horizon is rare.
A gas giant called Liordac periodically eclipses the sun for sixteen standard weeks: the dark season. Deilians call it the Heart of Darkness. The Taveth flower blooms only then. Taveth ka Del'an was born in it, and was named for the flower.
Deilians tend to learn other languages rather than relying solely on the universal translator. Taveth learned both English and Ukrainian before the interview.
The Races
The Federation is home to humans and multiple alien races. The following have been named in Episode 01.
Chelva — uplifted from Earth octopi. They are aware of their origin and are still adjusting to the knowledge of it. They prefer the name Chelva; "octopi" belongs to Earth now. They gravitate toward scouting roles in the UPF, though they are present throughout the Federation. The Proconsul of Earth is Chelva.
Vaeli — invented universal translation, which made lasting peace between races possible. No further description yet.
Yulsa — members of the first scientific survey crew sent to Earth. No further description yet.
Arxcronix — members of the first scientific survey crew sent to Earth. No further description yet.
Federation Technology
The Federation's technology vastly exceeds Earth's. What has been established in Episode 01 is limited.
Nano hives — implanted nanobots carried by UPF troopers that sustain the body through injury and accelerate recovery. Civilian versions, capable of curing practically any disease, are among the first things being deployed to New Zealand. Sofiya challenged Taveth directly on this: if the technology exists, why wasn't it given to Earth sooner? His answer: without an enforcement framework, it would have been captured and weaponised. The invasion created the framework that makes equitable distribution possible.
Reactionless drives — the UPF fleet reached Earth from Mars without propellant trails visible to Earth observers. The James Webb Space Telescope recorded it passing Mars.
Clean energy — mentioned as part of the New Zealand technology transfer. Not yet described.