The Independent Congress was a gathering of delegates from each of the worlds of the former Colonial Star Cluster to decide how to react to Earth's involvement. There were two Independent Congress', both called by Galileo Planetary Governor Ivan Boldyrev. The first is primarily known for the declaration of independence in which the worlds of the star cluster opted to sever their connection with Earth. The second was formed to address the issues raised by the First Republican Defensive and was the source of the Constitution Of The Republic, the document which, after it was ratified, began the Unified Republic of Stars.
While there was some overlap in membership and the term "congress" was used for both Independent Congress' and the Republican Congress, they are three distinct bodies with different powers and purposes.
First Independent Congress
Following his election and unseating of the UUHA planetary governor Xiao Peng in 2167, Ivan Boldyrev began thinking about full independence from Earth. Galileo, after all, was its own world just like Earth, so why shouldn't they have the right of self-determination? For several years by then, the thought of independence had been percolating through the minds of the people of the Colonial Star Cluster but aside from some editorials, no one had done much about it.
Following his election, several other governors were either removed from office by force, through election, or had submitted themselves to the popular vote and been re-affirmed to the position though now with new loyalties. Seeing this, Boldyrev began to wonder if the time wasn't right to make a declaration of independence. Galileo was, for all intents and purposes, already independent but getting a resolution from most of the other worlds would, he knew, have more of an impact.
Additionally, Boldyrev was being advised by a former British naval captain by the name of Hugh Sims who had explained that maintaining a solitary defense of Galileo would be almost impossible and certainly enormously expensive without the other worlds' support. So in 2168, Boldyrev invited the other governors to send two delegates to an Independent Congress. He asked that they be allowed to discuss and possibly vote on matters of independence even if the topic never came up. Few thought it wouldn't but it was a nice trick meant to lure in worlds such as Columbus and Troy who weren't certain independence was exactly what they wanted.
Delegates from twelve of the fourteen colonized worlds showed, the notable exception being Yong Nam which still suffered under to yoke of its oppressive regime and Al Gharbiyah, whose conservative populace and leaders generally viewed the rest of the colonial worlds as a pain in the ass, especially Galileo and the Fenghuang planets, and wanted little involvement.
Appointing himself the "President of the Congress", Boldyrev empowered himself with the ability to set the agenda. But because he had twenty-four representatives to deal with, the first two months of the First Independent Congress revolved around putting together comprehensive list of their problems with Earth and the UUHA in particular. While Boldyrev thought this was initially a waste of time, he came around to the idea as each had something to add to the list and it made the general tone of the meetings fairly angry.
By the time the list was complete and the topic of how to resolve the issues came around, most of the worlds were already leaning toward a political separation from the UUHA. But this wasn't good enough for Boldyrev. He was looking for a unanimous vote, if only to show a united face to the powers on Earth and let them realize that the colonies would not be talked out of it. Naturally, this led to several more months of debate as various complaints were stricken and re-added to the list while the delegates tried to decide upon what was a reasonable set of issues.
Finally, on January 9, 2169, the First Independent Congress felt they had a list everyone could agree on. This list became the Article of Independence and passed with a unanimous vote, with every delegate signing the document, Boldyrev first of course.
Deciding that the document would carry the most weight if delivered personally to Earth, Varad Ranjani a delegate from Kaesong volunteered to do just that. As he packed his bags, the Congress turned its attention to what it viewed as the inevitable: war. They considered it unlikely that Earth would just let them go with a kiss and a wave. As such, they needed some kind of military force to repel and protect the newly independent worlds. Nominating Hugh Sims and Alexander MacGregor two men with similar naval experiences as Admirals of the Independent Fleet, they passed a flat tax all the governments of the independent worlds would be required to raise and pay to Congress for the expense of creating a fleet.
Following this, the First Independent Congress more or less dispersed back to their planets, leaving a few appointed members to act in an oversight fashion over the Fleet on a rotating basis but otherwise disbanded. The First Independent Congress never met as an entire body again. Ranjani, however, never did come home. Instead, he read the document on the floor of the General Assembly and was subsequently arrested on charges of treason and later executed. In 2177, the second NOVA to enter service was named in his honor.
Second Independent Congress
Following the events of the First "Republican" Defensive, Ivan Boldyrev again summoned the worlds of the former Colonial Star Cluster to a Second Independent Congress. After having seen how the Independent Fleet was barely capable of repelling the Earth invaders, Boldyrev and Admirals Sims and MacGregor became concerned that a second such action would not be successful. While only Galileo and Athena had been landed upon by UUHA forces, pictures and video footage had been disseminated around the star cluster soon after and many began to feel as though it had happened in their own backyards.
Boldyrev asked for each world to again send two delegates, this time empowered with the ability to negotiate a permanent union between the worlds to provide for their common defense. This time both Yong Nam and Al Gharbiyah were in attendance and the entirety of the star cluster was represented. Working out the details in a remarkably short period, the delegates settled on a limited central government with the primary responsibility of defending the star cluster. By early February, 2173, their work was done and by July the new Constitution Of The Republic had been ratified on every world. The creation of this document was the Second Independent Congress' power and purpose and with the release of the constitution for ratification, it essentially disbanded itself until elections could be held and the Republican Congress could meet for the first time.
