Galactic Federation
| |
| The Galactic Federation Emblem | |
| Galactic Federation | |
| Prominent Members |
Admiral Dane Adam Malkovich (deceased) |
| Founded | 2000 (Galactic Calendar) |
| Debut | Metroid (mentioned) Metroid Prime 2: Echoes |
The Galactic Federation is a powerful affiliation of planet governments that exist in the Metroid series. They usually perform the role of the benefactors for Samus Aran and are typically involved with the plot of each game at some level.
Background[edit]
Origins[edit]
In the year 2000 of the Galactic Calendar, the representatives of several planets within the galaxy convened and established a congress together, known as the Galactic Federation. To provide security to the galaxy, the Federation organized a military force. However, despite the size of the fleet and advances in weaponry, the Federation would face threats too great to handle. Because of this, the Federation began relying on a number of bounty hunters to undergo special missions that their Marines were not suited for.
A long-time nemesis of the Galactic Federation has been the Space Pirates. These aliens have often proved technological superiority over the Federation. This has long been accomplished by their constant experimentation without regard to life, unlike the Federation's more humane method of weapons development. Although the Federation has been able to hold ground against the Space Pirates, the war has been ongoing between both sides.
Discovery of Metroids[edit]
In the year 20X5, a Federation research ship discovered the unusual Metroid species on planet SR388. A specimen was placed in suspended hibernation for further analysis, but was attacked by a Space Pirate vessel and the specimen was stolen. Early analysis of the creature determined that the Metroids would be extremely dangerous, especially in Pirate hands.
Instead of a full assault on the Pirate stronghold, Zebes, the Federation deployed bounty hunter Samus Aran to infiltrate the planet and exterminate the Metroids. Although she succeeded in her mission, the Space Pirates escaped the planet with Metroids in tow. What ensued afterwards would be a continued hunt by Samus Aran to eradicate the different Metroid breeding locations operated by the Space Pirates.
Phazon Crisis[edit]
On a scouting mission to investigate Pirate activity on Aether, the G.F.S. Tyr encountered a Space Federation vessel and the two ships engaged in battle. The Tyr was forced to land on the planet and the twelve surviving marines set up camp on the planet. The ship was beyond repair and the planet atmosphere scrambled their distress signal. In time, the twelve Marines were killed by native Splinters, possibly under Ing possession.
The distress signal was answered by Samus Aran who was too late to save the Marines, but did manage to eliminate the Space Pirates and assist the native Luminoth in eliminating the planet's dark twin by defeating Emperor Ing. Following this, the Federation dispatched the G.F.S. Anhur to Aether. The crew assisted the Luminoth in removing the Pirate technology, but also discovered a supply of Phazon on the planet. The Anhur took the Phazon and used it to develop the Phazon Enhancement Device for a select number of Marines.
Some six months following this, the Phazon crisis exploded with the spread of Leviathans to several planets. Furthermore, the backbone of the Federation data network, the Aurora Units had been taken offline by a Phazon virus. Four bounty hunters - Samus Aran, Ghor, Gandrayda, and Rundas were hired to deal with this crisis. During their briefing, Norion was attacked.
The defenses on Norion were disabled by an assault led by Dark Samus. However the combination of the planetary Marines and the four bounty hunters were able to activate the generators and use the main cannon to destroy the Leviathan. However, crisis had not been averted on Elysia and the Fuel Gel rich planet, Bryyo. The bounty hunters were dispatched to these planets to remove the Leviathans.
The only survivor of Phazon corruption was Samus Aran, who destroyed the Leviathans on Bryyo and Elysia. She also infiltrated the defenses on the Pirate Homeworld, allowing the Federation to send a full assault force to invade the planet and wipe out the Space Pirates.
Samus Aran escorted twelve explosive experts through a long corridor to the Leviathan, allowing her to access the Phazon seed and destroy its guardian creature.
With the Pirate Homeworld conquered, the Federation organized one final assault on the planet Phaaze. While Samus dealt with Dark Samus on the planet, the Federation engaged in a full scale attack with the remnants of the Space Pirate forces loyal to Dark Samus. When the planet was about to explode, the Federation escaped through a wormhole, however the battle toll had taken 33% of the vessels and the remaining ships all reported heavy casualties.
Extermination of the Metroids[edit]
After having seen the power of the Metroids, the Federation decided it would be best to eradicate the species from SR388 rather than allow it to enter Space Pirate hands. At first a research team was sent to survey the planet for any surviving Metroids, but the research team went missing. Following this, an armed Federation Marine force was sent in, but they too lost contact shortly after landing.
Samus Aran was thus employed to land on the planet and eradicate the Metroids. It was a job she performed efficiently. She discovered the methods of Metroid evolution through gamma rays and even returned with one Metroid infant that she handed over to scientists at the nearby Ceres station.
The infant Metroid was studied and DNA samples were taken and sent to the BioLogic Space Labs. The Space Pirate Ridley led an attack on Ceres Station. He briefly engaged in a battle with Samus Aran, but took off with the Metroid infant when the station neared destruction. Samus Aran pursued the pirates back to planet Zebes and not only destroyed their facility, but the planet was self-destructed by Mother Brain. At the time, it was believed Metroids had been destroyed for all time.
Breeding Program[edit]
The Metroid DNA was used on the BioLogic Space Labs research station to clone Metroids for military applications. Using their knowledge of SR388, they even managed to evolve Metroids to full Omega Metroid status. They were stored in a secret facility on the station in suspended animation. Everything about the facility was kept top secret.
Sometime after the destruction of Zebes, Samus Aran was hired to lead a Federation research team on SR388. However in this time the X Parasite, the natural prey of Metroids, had greatly increased its population and taken over the planet. Samus Aran was infected by the X Parasite, unknown to her at the time. Afterwards while piloting her gunship, she lost consciousness and crashed into an asteroid belt. She was rescued and using a vaccine of Metroid DNA, was purged of the X Virus. The infected pieces of her suit were sent to the BioLogic Space Lab.
By the time Samus recovered, things had gone poorly at the station. The X Parasite escaped confinement and had overtaken the researchers. Samus Aran was sent to the space station, but under the orders of the AI of her new gunship. Unknown to her, it was a memory backup of Adam Malkovich, her commanding officer when she had been part of the Federation herself.
At first Samus Aran simply attempted to contain the X Parasite and search for survivors. Her efforts were hampered largely by the presence of the SA-X, a clone of herself formed from her Power Suit and her own DNA. She soon discovered the Metroid breeding facility and eventually of the Federation's plans to salvage the space station and find a way to weaponize the SA-X.
Samus realized the implications of allowing the X Parasite to overrun the galaxy. She managed to persuade her computer AI to assist her in destroying the lab - as well as SR388, to make sure the X Parasite was completely eradicated. Although they succeeded, they returned to the Federation with the possibility of facing serious consequences for disobeying orders.
Structure[edit]
Intelligence[edit]
The Federation has long used spy networks to gather information. Perhaps their most valuable resource has been the planet Elysia. The native mechanoids of the planet were built by the Chozo and therefore have access to very sophisticated technology. Working in conjunction with the Elysians, the Federation has been able to prevent a number of disasters and locate distant planets.
Failing this, the Federation also employs bounty hunters to perform special ops. Shape-shifter Gandrayda was often employed for infiltrating enemy ranks to gather information. Likewise, the cyborg Ghor was also used on missions requiring computer hacking or other technological work.
Military[edit]
The Federation's military is comprised of a variety of space vessels. The largest of these incorporate Aurora Units to coordinate attacks. These vessels are staffed with technicians and engineers, but also with a large complement of Federation Fleet Troopers and Marines.
The Marines are potent fighters that are equipped with durable power suit armor and powerful weapons. Although capable fighters, they are easily outclassed by elite fighters such as some of the more radical Space Pirate experiments or the bounty hunters hired by the Federation. During the Phazon crisis, Marines were equipped with a PED (Phazon Enhancement Devices) to increase their combat prowess.
Cylosis Incident[edit]
Before the Phazon crisis, a military research station on Cylosis was robbed of several extremely advanced Federations weapons. They were largely untested, but extremely potent weapons. Among these were the Shock Coil, the Lockjaw transformation mechanism, an enhanced power suit, and a vessel known as the Delano 7. The thief of these items was a man known as Sylux known for his intense hatred of the Federation and Samus Aran.