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[center][h2][u]The Combine[/u][/h2]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/ZOKFNbu.png[/img]
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[b][u]Government[/u][/b]
The Combine is a constitutional republic in which its legislative body is made up of all its citizens. This is made possible by neural chips that feed the conscious and subconscious opinions of citizens to the Administrator - a massive, self-propagating AI. The Administrator is responsible for synthesizing the neural input of the citizenry into policies. As its name suggests, it’s also responsible for day-to-day administration, maintenance of infrastructure and production of amenities. In contrast to the cold, logical AI of other civilizations, the Administrator is humanistic and benevolent by design. It is limited in the policy it can create by the Combine’s constitution, equal parts written document and complex code in the Administrator's programming. 

While the democratic process of the Combine requires only the neural input of the population and the Administrator to process it, there exists a body of elected officials called the State Council. The State Council consists of nine members who jointly exercise the powers of head of state, a counterpart to the Administrator in its capacity as head of government. On the surface, the State Council’s role is that of a figurehead, putting a human face on the Administrator’s executive direction. The State Council is actually a human safeguard, able to override the Administrator and implement directives of their own. Any alterations to the Administrator’s directives require majority votes. The State Council even has the ability to alter its kernel-level programming, although by unanimous consensus.  

[b][u]Demographics[/u][/b]

[b][u]Economy[/u][/b]
As a society, the Combine has rejected the concept of money and any economic system not based on voluntary work. Its technology is advanced enough to sustain a post-scarcity economy, or at least very close to it. All essential work and production is automated where possible, performed by machines and non-sentient devices. The Administrator is able to oversee this work across the Combine’s star systems via a network of local copies. This leaves the sentient population free for other pursuits. 

Without the need for money, sentimental and artistic value are the primary measurements of an object’s worth. The Combine’s unique economy has resulted in artisan guilds and cottage industry forming the lion’s share of non-automated work. Combine art, while multifaceted and encompassing many different styles, is sought after across the star cluster for its craftsmanship and ingenuity. 

While the Combine’s epicurean society is a paradise for many, some citizens find themselves in need of fulfilment beyond pleasurable pursuits. Individuals may desire to be useful and contribute to Combine society, rather than simply enjoy it. To accommodate these individuals, the Administrator offers citizens the opportunity to work, under the stipulation this is a choice they make for themselves. By and large, the roles filled by sentient workers are administrative or hospitable in nature. 

[b][u]Military[/u][/b]

[b][u]History[/u][/b]

[b][u]Characters[/u][/b]
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