Armistice Conference

Armistice Conference

When Union historians talk about the Armistice conference, they could refer to two events: the First Armistice and the Second Armistice.

Of course there were many more such armistice events in Union and galactic history, but it is these two who are most mentioned and referred to.

An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, since it might be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from the Latin arma, meaning weapons and statium, meaning a stopping.

   A truce or ceasefire usually refers to a temporary cessation of hostilities for an agreed limited time or within a limited area. A truce may be needed in order to negotiate an armistice. An armistice is a modus vivendi and is not the same as a peace treaty, which may take months or even years to agree on. The Cease fire agreement between Union forces and the Galactic Council drawn up at the end of the 4th Intergalactic signed on the 5th of March, 3599 is such a cessation of hostilities event.

This cease fire agreement was the base of the Union / GC Armistice signed on the 12th of September, 3599 (it expanded into the Conference of the Big Four and the creation of Free Space on October the 6th, 3599.

 The Armistice was never very stable and there were many near war causing incidents caused by all four sides.

 The attack on Green Hell and the subsequent declaration of war between Union and Kermac (GC) in 4930 never really violated Free Space neither side passed fleets or warships across Free Space borders. (Neither side really wanted the involvement of Nul or Shiss)

 A second armistice conference was held in 4941 mainly due to the interference / suggestion of the Blue and the Belarc.

 It reconfirmed the Free Space borders and codified the rights of independent species to choose and join any of the Big Four if they chose to do so. (Sentient native populations of any stellar object had priority to choose their state of affairs with others)

 It also brokered a second cease fire agreement between Galactic Council and specifically the Kermac.

 (It ended all direct diplomatic connections between Kermac and the Union.)

 The second armistice and the Free Space agreement ended unofficially in 5050 and were officially null and void in 5051 with the outbreak of the 5th Intergalactic war.