Republic v Confederation

A conflict spanning hundreds of years is in a lull. The Imperial March ended with contact with the Asida, proving that the foundation for the need of the March was not justified, the Republic military lost support to continue a very slow, economically crippling, disliked war. A truce was made that promised independent planets to either side, and a freezing of borders on Arita.

Like any good cold war this conflict is never over. The Confederate wont forget the lies that earned them assault and the Republic wont give up its dreams of a united Arita. Currently the Republic is trying to push the Confederation to leave the world and set up their Confederation on another planet, the political entity itself is just a few buildings not a people or state so why not? They don't have to give up the state's memberships, but building the HQ somewhere else could be good for them.

This comes at a time where both sides should be decreasing their planetary military buildup but neither are. The various smaller nations not aligned to either are becoming fewer as some join the Confederation.

The latest, and this would be less than 6 months before the start of the first book, is that a Republic District on a far flung world successfully rebelled and became independent, joining neither side. The details are still murky and the event is not public information in the Republic.