Intergalactic Exploration Commission

 ***THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE EC SERIES*** 

The Intergalactic Exploration Commission is a multi-government exploration charter, formed by assets of the Milky Way Trifecta (United Federation, Keplerian Republic, and the Alyssian Reich). The IEC utilizes starships equipped with state-of-the-art slipstream drives, which allows for monumentally faster travel through dead space with a mass acceleration system. The IEC was formed with the goal of establishing a presence in the Andromeda Galaxy. Consisting of a large number of starships, as well as specialized ships for starbase construction, the fleet was formed and prepped for a grueling 10 year journey, four of which for travel time.

History
The IEC was formed after the successful completion of the Proxima Dyson Sphere, and the discovery of the Mark XI Slipstream drive system, a phenominally more efficient means of traveling beyond lightspeed. The 2140 Joint Forces Conference in Alnilam led to the official formation of the IEC, with the Federation, Republic, and Reich all signing onto the joint commission, with Rear Admiral Vance serving as the liaison for the Republic and Generalleutnant Reinhardt serving as the liaison for the Reich.

Fleet Admiral Crow Seetan, chief of staff for the United Federation Navy, was initially passed over to lead the expedition. However, his assistance in selecting a command staff and overseeing the construction and modification of the current fleet led to the Department of Defense selecting him to lead the expedition for the United Federation.