Olive Branch is a group for peace-endorsing citizens with a strict non-lethal policy on weaponry. Members seek an alternative to lethal violence through the use of diplomacy, bargaining, escape, electronic warfare, and EMP devices.
Named for an ancient Earth symbol for peace, Olive Branch was founded in 2871 amidst criticisms of the UEE as covetous warmongers. Its goal since its inception has been to reduce the harm wrought by arms proliferation, chiefly through membership, throughout the ‘verse in order to improve universal peace and prosperity. This would be achieved, it was hoped, through the group’s strict ban on any device that poses a serious threat to human life. The founders of Olive Branch were a diverse group mostly from the Terran capital, Prime, dedicated to promoting love, cooperation, peace and the flourishing of all life in their endeavours.
In 2918, it was found, after a concentrated series of pirate attacks on Olive Branch trade ships, that many among the group had been selling information to pirate syndicates about unprotected trade routes of fellow members. The council was slow to respond, and pinning down exactly who was responsible proved difficult, as the routes had been openly discussed until then. Ultimately, this led to a collapse in early 2919, with a majority of the members disillusioned and most of the council having given up, and it generally became apparent that the optimistic spirit of the founders was simply not present in Olive Branch at the time.
The last remaining council member, already ageing, kept the organisation alive in name only as the registered owner and sole member of Olive Branch until 2928, when his health declined and he decided to pass his burden on. Custodianship of the organisation fell to his somewhat reluctant niece. A small business owner, she agreed and signed the appropriate forms, registering herself as the organisation’s new ‘caretaker’. Years passed, and Olive Branch was all but forgotten.
The owner’s son, an undisciplined student at the time, took an interest in the history and ideas of Olive Branch after she mentioned it in passing in 2942. He scoured an old Spectrum archive of their official material and became increasingly intrigued by the universal peace and happiness they had envisioned. Before long, he had one goal in mind – the revival of Olive Branch, with the same hopeful spirit as the founders. His mother signed away ownership on request before the end of the year. In 2944, he began promoting Olive Branch at his academy and on the Spectrum, to very limited success. Finally, in 2945, having completed his studies and received a second-hand Freelancer from his mother, who had used it for business, he took to interstellar trade to fund the organisation on which his hopes and dreams rested.
Olive Branch now stands a chance to begin again, offering an alternative to the galactic arms race and seeking to promote love and peace throughout the ‘verse.
Olive Branch is an alternative group for those who believe in a universe without violence and who value sapient life and happiness above all. Or bounty hunters and security personnel who prefer to get the job done without blood. We don’t discriminate. Any who can follow the charter and are in accord with the manifesto are welcome.
While the rules of Olive Branch may be strict, your status as a member beyond the rank of initiate shows to others that you are likely of upstanding moral character.
It can be a rough universe out there, and it’s important not to let yourself grow hardhearted in difficult times. Always remain compassionate, generous and forgiving. Even feisty bounty hunters can do their best to be courteous and capture targets without bloodshed.
… there will be no need or desire for weapons or violence, and all will prosper.
Violence is not entirely impermissible, but should only be employed as a last resort, and presently ought to be strictly the domain of those tasked with protecting citizens from threats such as pirates and the Vanduul. In an ideal future, there would be no need at all for violence. Eliminating violence is a difficult process, however, as many industries – not only military, bounty hunting and security but also weapons trading and manufacturing – depend on violence or the threat of violence for their livelihood.
The law is not to be equated with what is right and wrong – some laws are unjust. Interfering with a corporation through electronic warfare or deception in order to disrupt their sales of weapons to pirates, for example, may be illegal, but Olive Branch condones such activities.
It is the duty of citizens and authorities alike to deescalate the proliferation of hazardous devices and materials throughout the galaxy for the good of all.
Piracy arises in some cases as a necessity, when an individual believes – justified or not – that they have no other means to make a living, and in others piracy occurs out of greed. With adequate education, welfare and support from communities and governments alike, piracy can be eliminated from the universe, as it should be. The cost of piracy in loss of life alone is reason enough to make the effort to put an end to it, but furthermore, the long-term financial impact of piracy on individuals, businesses and governments far exceeds the costs involved in eliminating piracy.
It bears mentioning that this is by no means a denouncement of individual pirates – rather, our view is that the systems in which they live have failed to properly educate and support them, and it therefore rests on the shoulders of government to make amends.
Olive Branch, first and foremost, maintains a strict policy on lethal devices. Members are required (ONCE THE PERSISTENT UNIVERSE LAUNCHES IN A COMPLETE OR NEAR-COMPLETE STATE) to abandon all weapons and other equipment capable of killing or seriously injuring a sapient life-form or destroying property (barring ships themselves, as well as certain tools – see below), whether these weapons/devices are ship-mounted or personal. Leaving such things in storage is acceptable, but members are encouraged to rid themselves of all objects designed to destroy, in whatever way they see fit.
Exceptions apply to most potentially lethal devices whose intended purpose is not to maim, kill or destroy. For example, a mining laser may be dangerous, but as its intended purpose is primarily beneficial and it is impractical to use as a weapon, it is permitted.
Ships themselves are obviously capable of ramming others and killing or injuring personnel, but ships are a vital and mostly good element of daily life – it would be as folly to ban them as it would be to ban the mobiGlas. Lethal weapons, on the other hand, will almost always cause significant grief for one or more parties when used for their intended purpose.
Members may apply to councillors for temporary permission to use banned devices if the intent is solely for the destruction of property which threatens peace, life and happiness (e.g. applying for a day’s permission to use explosives to detonate an unoccupied pirate ship or cache of weapons). Other nonviolent purposes may also be accepted if they align with the manifesto of Olive Branch.
Olive Branch maintains an ethos of understanding and fairness. If you feel a councillor has misjudged your case, the organisation’s custodian will review it on request.
Ex-members who previously used their Olive Branch status to appear trustworthy in order to deceive others will be publicly named in the manifesto. This is to both demonstrate the organisation’s commitment to keeping the community safe from dangerous individuals and to deter members from abusing their status.