President Byss Th'rhahlat (2201-2262)
Byssyek Kethnnik Th'rhahlat, the 17th President of the United Federation of Planets, was one of the most pivotal figures in 23rd-century history. Despite his short term - only three years - Th'rhahlat would leave a lasting impact on the Federation. His commitment to Constitution Reform, Anti-Slavery Activism and muscular liberalism would shape politics for the rest of the century, and influence the politics and practise of every president from Wescott to Ra-ghoratreii.
Th'rhahlat entered politics at the height of the Colonial Crisis, riding on a wave of public outrage and displeasure that rippled around the Federation in the aftermath of Tarsus IV. The utter failure of both Starfleet and the federal government to adequately plan for and mitigate ecological disaster, authoritarian dictators and Klingon invasion was a catalyst for massive political upheaval, and Th'rhahlat's long shot in the New Andor elections was transformed into a landslide. His seminal book - Frontier Democracy - was published at this time. The book was part family history and part political manifesto, and emphasised the importance of a Federation that could "unify the diverse ambitions and utopias of a thousand worlds within one progressive vision." Time in government as first a planetary official and then as a representative of New Andor in the Andorian Parliament engendered Th'rhahlat with both disregard for the political elite of the core, and a new sense of solidarity with disenfranchised colonists across the entire UFP. In 2248, Th'rhahlat would join with Normand of Kobax III and Kuznetz of New Leningrad to form the Outer Systems and Frontier Party (OSF-P). The OSF-P was the first organised political party in Federal history that worked across planetary political structures as a united front. While initial gains were limited, Th'rhahlat's advanced to junior rep and then Senior Ambassador to the Federation Council increasing the party's influence: by the 2254 presidental elections, 15 of the 84 Federal Ambassadors were members of or endorsed by the OSF-P. Th'rhahlat's reputation grew across his time as Andorian Ambassador. He was well read and opinionated, ready to critique any piece of art and culture placed in front of him. His charm was notorious to a level of near-scandal, placated by his partner's indifference to his habits of "late night visits" and "escortings". Jovial to those he liked and decisively deadpan to those he didn't, many delighted at the opportunity to watch Th'rhahlat take an unfortunate rival, enemy or doting admirer to pieces in bars, dinner parties or the council chamber. While Th'rhahlat would back Barrueco for most of her administration, the utter collapse of Starfleet during and after the 2256-57 war was too much for him. He would deliver the killing blow in the First Contact Day debate, ensuring her defeat in the vote of no confidence. The ensuing campaign - known as the "Redshirt Election" due to it's focus on the war and recovery - saw Th'rhahlat visit more planets than any candidate in the history of Presidental elections. His victory was followed by immediate reforms to Starfleet, infrastructure and the civil service: their success, however, could not be capitalised on. Instead, immediate opposition from the particularists and the president's own party began to limit and restrict these changes, in favour of an immediate confrontation over constitutional reform. The opportunity to deliver decisive change - open due to a split in the Vulcan caucus in summer 2259 - was turned down. Instead, Th'rhahlat made the decision to back FEDAC's plan to expand support for the Suliban Refugee crisis. This call - which killed the chance of reform in Th'rhahlat's first time - arguably saved the Suliban population from total enslavement and cultural destruction in the early 2260s. It did, however, force the president to cede initative to the factions of the Federation Council. Across the rest of 2259 and 2260, defence concerns - from the stunded and frozen Starfleet Allocations bill through to the diplomatic crisis over Ardana - fixated the Federation Council, forcing Th'rhahlat to cede initiative to more radical actors like Peter Broadhurst, alienating erstwhile allies in the OSF-P. The final straw was the 2261 Strategic Resource Denial Act. The Embargo - seen by Th'rhahlat as a neccessary step to protect internal trade and uncut attacks on colonies - was anathema to the OSF-P and their parochialism. Th'rhahlat's vision of linking the political ambitions of the colonies and core - key to Frontier Democracy - did not survive the bitter summer debates of 2261, and by the end of his administration, the OSF-P formed a dedicated opposition faction within the council. In mid-2261, Th'rhahlat was diagnosed with Ch'kaalan’s Syndrome, a degenerative cellular disease exacerbated by the use of matter-energy transportation. He was given two years to live. Despite protests from his doctors and advisors, Th'rhahlat insisted on carrying on until the end of the year. However, the progress of the syndrome began to rapidly affect his work, reducing his schedule to a minimum. By December, his public appearances had been reduced, with his place being filled by Galactic High Commissioner Peter Broadhurst where possible. In January 2262, Th'rhahlat announced his intention to resign. The Security Council would replace him with Broadhurst - a brash, somewhat argumentative but popular politician who was expected to win the next election without much of a contest. Th'rhahlat's term formally ended on the 3rd of February 2262. He was the shortest-running president in Federation History - a record that would immediately be broken by Broadhurst, who only lasted 178 days in office. Despite his doctor's reservations, Th'rhahlat refused to retire to a quiet life, instead taking a teaching position at the University of Strathclyde's Political Science department, but even the light work of a guest professor would prove too much for his ailing body. His final public appearance on the 16th of March was as guest speaker to the University of Edinburgh; he would pass away that night in university guest accomadations. Th'rhahlat's body would be interred at the Andorian Cemetery in Inverness; his heart, however, would be buried in a full state ceremony in Paris on the 5th of May. His coffin would be carried up the steps of Les Invalides to the sound of Battle Hymn of The Republic: a testament to his life's struggle against slavery, inequality and tyranny. Th'rhahlat's legacy is conflicted, but strong. His stance of defense, while complicated, laid down many of the strong pro starfleet principles that would define early Charterism and Unionism for most of the 23rd century. His dogmatic anti-slavery activism was critical to the survival of several societies, including the Suliban, who consider him an "Aq-Yuxili" - a righteous elder. He also represented a watershed in Federal politics between the original charter and the age of reform under Wescott, Chav Bav Lorg and Roth. |
InformationFull Name: Byssyek Kethnnik Th'rhahlat
Born: 9th June, 2201 (Euli City, R'Vel Colony) Died: 17th March 2262 (Edinburgh, Earth) Affiliation: United Federation of Planets 17th President of the United Federation of Planets (2258-2262)
|
Excerpts From "The Edge of Midnight"
Unlike Xaall, Th’Rhahlat had stayed out of politics until 2246, when the disaster at Tarsus IV compelled him to action. The Tarsus disaster, as well as toppling the poorly-run Qasar Administration, galvanised the discontent those who lived on the Fringe had with their political representatives.[18] Th’Rhahlat’s rise to the council had been supported by the emergent Outer Systems and Frontier Party, which had rapidly risen as the key political group advocating for constitution reform. He summed up the OSFP’s beliefs in his maiden speech in the 2249, when he argued that “if the colonies had real representation - real, direct representation on the council, not diluted by far off assemblies on ‘parent planets’ - then men like Kodos would never end up ruling with an Iron fist and a thirst for blood.”[19]
Th’Rhahlat saw the combination of strong government tied into with direct representation as the only solution that would prevent division, and it was that message that saw him win his seat on the Federation Council in 2253. He had been a strong supporter of Barreuco during the campaign and her first year, helping push his landmark communications and infrastructure projects through the council and earning himself a reputation as somewhat of a kingmaker. However, as time went on, Th’Rhahlat became disillusioned with the Barreuco administration. The President’s foreign and defence policy (or lack thereof) was of increasing concern to Th’Rhahlat, who along with the Rigellian Ambassador and others were the lone voices in the Security Council calling for increased security in the Klingon Border Area. Unlike, Xaall, however, Th’Rhahlat had backed the president for much of the war’s duration despite his concerns. In a time when more and more councillors were cheering Xaall on in the Council debates, the Andorian Ambassador remained a fierce defender of the President’s conduct.
Th’Rhahlat saw the combination of strong government tied into with direct representation as the only solution that would prevent division, and it was that message that saw him win his seat on the Federation Council in 2253. He had been a strong supporter of Barreuco during the campaign and her first year, helping push his landmark communications and infrastructure projects through the council and earning himself a reputation as somewhat of a kingmaker. However, as time went on, Th’Rhahlat became disillusioned with the Barreuco administration. The President’s foreign and defence policy (or lack thereof) was of increasing concern to Th’Rhahlat, who along with the Rigellian Ambassador and others were the lone voices in the Security Council calling for increased security in the Klingon Border Area. Unlike, Xaall, however, Th’Rhahlat had backed the president for much of the war’s duration despite his concerns. In a time when more and more councillors were cheering Xaall on in the Council debates, the Andorian Ambassador remained a fierce defender of the President’s conduct.
Federation Central was doing its’ best to manage the crisis – Th’rhahlat had hoped to use 2259 to push through his Colonial Reform Act, which would rebalance the electoral system to give the colonies of member worlds more power within the Council Chambers. Controversial to most within the core, it had barely survived the Committee stage and had spent most of May and June as was being viscerally ripped apart by the opposition. The news of the Suliban crisis broke during the council session on June 28th as an amendment on tariff regulation was being attacked by the councillor for New Tellar. The chamber immediately suspended the session to allow the President to attend Cabinet, which he hurried to along with Ambassadors Tilly and Sarek. The reports from the Diplomatic Corps, Starfleet and FEDAC were dire. Action was needed immediately if a serious sentientarian disaster was to be avoided, and direct action from the government meant passing it through the council, no easy task at present. Despite the large majority he (hypothetically) had, challenging the power of the core worlds with a colonial reform programme was rapidly chipping away at the president’s political capital. The ire he was getting from centre core worlds (including the Andorian bloc) only increased once the suggestion came that Federation funds should be allocated to help the Suliban setting en masse on new worlds within the Treaty Zone. The President was faced with a choice he shouldn’t have had to make; pass his bill and leave the Suliban out to dry or sink his own bill to get the resources needed.
Ken Wescott was at that time working as an advisor to the Federal Department of Aid and Allocation Control (FEDAC), drawing up a shortlist of prospective colonies and resources necessary for resettling the nearly 2.3 million Suliban who were now within the treaty zone. “It was tiring work, made only harder by the long communication times with the hundreds of representatives of the refugee community. They were desperate for help, and we were determined to give it to them.” On June 20th, the President came to visit. Wescott watched him walk slowly, but deliberated around the halls, saying nothing, listening attentively to all and especially to a representative of a Suliban refugee camp on Rigel Ho! . When the call was over, the President stepped back, sighing. “He turned to Secretary Batarian and said, ‘damn the bill.’” The next day, the President introduced the emergency resolution on the Suliban refugee crisis personally. The Colonial Bill was pushed to secondary business and would be killed by a roll-call vote within a week. It didn’t matter to Th’rhahlat now. Instead, the business of the legislature was turned to a more important business: helping the helpless.
Ken Wescott was at that time working as an advisor to the Federal Department of Aid and Allocation Control (FEDAC), drawing up a shortlist of prospective colonies and resources necessary for resettling the nearly 2.3 million Suliban who were now within the treaty zone. “It was tiring work, made only harder by the long communication times with the hundreds of representatives of the refugee community. They were desperate for help, and we were determined to give it to them.” On June 20th, the President came to visit. Wescott watched him walk slowly, but deliberated around the halls, saying nothing, listening attentively to all and especially to a representative of a Suliban refugee camp on Rigel Ho! . When the call was over, the President stepped back, sighing. “He turned to Secretary Batarian and said, ‘damn the bill.’” The next day, the President introduced the emergency resolution on the Suliban refugee crisis personally. The Colonial Bill was pushed to secondary business and would be killed by a roll-call vote within a week. It didn’t matter to Th’rhahlat now. Instead, the business of the legislature was turned to a more important business: helping the helpless.