The United Planetary Federation (often simply abbreviated UPF) is the interstellar organization that protects the Frontier Sector from outside aggression, and functions as a forum for resolving altercations between its member planets.
The UPF's jurisdiction does not extend to the surface of its member planets, only to orbit. It is also not allowed to influence or manipulate a member government, thus its members range from utopian democracies, to corporate worlds, all the way to totalitarian dictatorships and criminal-ruled near-anarchies.
The UPF is governed by the Council of Worlds, which is composed of delegates from each member planet, as well as observers from the most powerful mega- corporations. It funds and controls Star Law (which fights criminals that fall outside the jurisdiction of member planets), and Spacefleet (the most heavily armed force in Frontier space) to defend against Sathar incursion and pirate attacks. The UPF also runs the Planetary Survey Administration, which explores and surveys unexplored system and planets. The PSA was greatly expanded after the events that lead to an anti-Sathar rebellion in the Liberty system. From this, the Frontier Expeditionary Force was formed. Other important parts of the UPF include the Security Council and the Medical Services Organization.
The UPF and its agents are free to make contact, trade, and help primitive civilizations, usually to protect them against the Sathar.
History
After the Pyrrhic victory of the Second Common Muster in the First Sathar War, the Council of Worlds formed the United Planetary Federation to deal with the ongoing treat of the mysterious Sathar. At first, it was too small and weak due to the lack of available warships and had to make do with privateers and yachts. The fledgling UPF put a lot of money into the research and development of modern warships, and it took time to finally field such craft. Some 80 years after the "Grand Meeting," the Sathar fleets returned with a vengeance, and this time, the frontier was ready. So began the Second Sathar War.
The UPF Fleet not only fared better than the Second Common Muster, but also came out the war with a sizable force able to repel a counter-attack. Production of new warships grew during the war, and continued for years after, with newer ship classes replacing older ones in the three main Fleets. The UPF became the primary military force within the frontier and many of the local militia fleets were absorbed as Planetary Guard fleets.