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How
is the IFF Funded?Narrative
Who is funding the IFF and what is that funding being used for? These are good questions, particularly in the light of the commitment by the signatories to a minimum funding only. The exact wording of Provision 3 is "All IFF members agree to commit a minimum of 1SV worth of research to the IFF."
Of course, all institutes and field teams are open to any appropriately qualified scientist, irrespective of their polity of origin, if they sign the correct undertaking on confidentiality and so this provisional audit is not commenting on the academic commitment but the polity commitment in terms of resources made available to the IFF.
The Venerian Contribution
It should be noted at the outset that the the Republic of New Venus (RNV)
remains at the forefront of Forerunner research and has increased its
funding for IFF projects recently.
They are now committing 10 SV per annum to Forerunner research and this
is supported by the dedicated use of one Interstellar Science Survey vessel
(SSI) in Quadrant 0 and a second, in Quadrant 5, being available to support
a field team in the Simm system.
The RNV formed the original Forerunner research institute in the New
Venus system, the very first government sponsored Forerunner research
institute in Human space - now the headquarters of the IFF. Originally
headed by Professor von Schliemann, who left after a dispute with the
RNV government; it is now headed by Prof. Dr. Sidelle Illion. This headquarters
is funded to the tune of 4 SV with a further 2 being used to support field
teams in the Simm system (Q5), studying a Forerunner underground habitation
structure, and in the Hook system (Q1), studying a possible Forerunner
engineered species of dinosauroid.
During 3202 the RNV also established a new research institute in the Avalon
system (Q1) to study a plethora of archaeological sites in that system
and have committed 4 SV to this.
They also have an SSI in the Vladimir system studying the asteroids which
appear to have an unusually regular pattern, but which have also had a
history of leaving their regular orbits to pass through the system on
"near-miss" trajectories.
A second SSI is available on a "needs" basis in Q5 to support
the field team at Simm, but in discussion with the authorities at the
institute the RNV would like a dedicated support vessel for this field
team and are looking to another polity to supply this.
The Wolfer Contribution
The second biggest contributor is the Wolf 359 Commonwealth (Wolf) with
a small research institute in the Barba system, and during 3202 they committed
2 SV to this establishment and announced that this would increase to 4
SV during 3203.
Professor Stone, Acting Director of the IFF, was instrumental in establishing
this institute.
They also have a field team in the Savory system (Q5), to which they commit
1 SV, and also stated last year, when announcing the increase in their
commitment to the Barba institute, that a new SSI would be committed to
the IFF.
The Martian Contribution
Last year the Martian Association of Free Colonies (MAFC) established a small research establishment in the New Mars system to which they committed 2 SV and they also have the services of Professor von Schliemann to head this up. They have also sent SSI's to the Slitch system, in Q5, and the Stown system, in Q7, on temporary attachment to the IFF to research certain aspects of those systems, these missions remain classified.
The Xyonist Contribution
The Union of Xyon (UoX) has directed that part of the resources of ERIC (Exterminator Research Investigation Committee) based in the Agama system would be committed to the IFF, the minimum 1 SV. They have also started to develop a range of scientific vessels based on a commercial hull, the C5R, the first of which has been named 'Indiana Jones' and is currently scheduled to support the field team in the Hook system.
The Esteeler Contribution
One of the original signatories, the Greater Federation of Asteel (GFA) have indicated that they will establish a full institute for Forerunner research, committing a full 4 SV, but there has been no official announcement of this.
The Earth Contribution
The Earth Empire has significantly increased its funding since joining the IFF treaty. During 3203 it even offered facilities for a new headquarters.
Explanatory Table
| RNV | ||
| Q0 | 4 SV | Forerunner Research Establishment, New Venus +1 SSI studying the Vladimir system asteroids |
| Q1 | 4 SV | Archaeological Research and Science Establishment @ Avalon, set up 3202.300 + 1 SV field team in Hook system from early 3203 |
| Q5 | 1 SV | field team in Simm system + 1 SSI supporting the Simm field team
on temporary attachment to IFF |
| Total 10 SV, 2 SSI | ||
| Wolf | ||
| Q0 | 2 SV | (Forerunner Research Establishment, Barba) [increasing to 4 SV}[1 SSI to be attached to IFF on completion] |
| Q5 | 1 SV | (research team in Savory system) |
| Total 3 SV [rising to 5 SV], [1 SSI] | ||
| MAFC | ||
| Q0 | 2 SV | (Forerunner Research Establishment, New Mars) |
| Q5 | 1 SSI researching in Slitch system on temporary attachment to IFF | |
| Q7 | 1 SSI researching in Stown system on temporary attachment to IFF | |
| Total 2 SV, 2 SSI | ||
| UoX | ||
| Q0 | 1 SV | (Forerunner Research carried out at ERIC, Agama)[Further C5R research platforms may be under consideration/construction] |
| Q1 | 1 C5R research platform in the Hook system | |
| Total 1 SV, 1 C5R [possibly 2 or more later] | ||
| GFA | ||
| Q0 | 4 SV | (Forerunner Research Establishment, Asteel, to be set up ??)] |
| Total [4 SV at a future date ??] | ||
| Earth | ||
| No information to date. | ||
| Grand Total | 16 SV | [possibly rising to 22 SV, or more??]4 SSI [possibly rising to 5 SSI]1 C5R [possibly to be increased by further vessels of this class] |
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