The Colonial Affairs Commission

The Colonial Affairs Commission, or CAC, is a panel established by the Senate to oversee the development of Umbria's colonies and administer the various bodies that have been created to support those efforts. Its members are made up of senators and civilian appointments in equal parts, with a strong preference for those with the appropriate knowledge and experience needed to aid the Commission in its work.

In its early history, the CAC came under intense pressure from colonial communities for its ineffective management and accusations of cronyism and embezzlement. Funding earmarked for development would often prove inadequate for its intended purpose. Shady contractors submitted lowball bids to secure government contracts, only for costs to snowball after the projects had started, sometimes leaving half completed monstrosities to blight the very communities that Colonial Affairs had been attempting to help.

Finally, after a series of explosive stories appeared in the Palatinate Pratterer, the call for reform grew too loud to ignore. Strict accounting and vendor management oversights were put into place, scrutinizing every credit spent and holding contractors to account for the completion of the work they agreed to.

The Senate also changed the composition of the body itself, reserving half of the senatorial appointments to newly seated senators from the Frontier, while increased rigor was placed around selecting the non-governmental appointees.

These changes would have the desired effect, converting the Commission from a target of ridicule to a valuable partner for the people of the colonies. This newly acquired vitality would arrive just in the nick of time, as Umbrian technological advancements fueled the Republic's push ever deeper into the area of space known as the Frontier.

With the Commission's backing, the Umbrian private sector invested heavily in these new colonies. Cities were developed, resources were harvested, and the rush to the Frontier created a palpable sense of excitement and determination amongst the populations of these outlying worlds.

The boom was not to last forever though. With the sudden and violent onset of the Ascomanni War, migration to the colonies began to slow, and then reverse. The CAC's mission changed dramatically, and its leadership set themselves about their new roles with diligence and energy. The organization took the lead on relief services and refugee resettlement, showing decisiveness in a time when many were frozen by the gravity of the situation. For a time, the Commission was a bright spot among an otherwise dreary situation. Their quick action had saved hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of lives.

However, in light of the growing conflict, some questioned the continued relevance of the Commission, and whether or not there were more effective bodies to perform its changing role. As colonies continued to fall to the alien invaders, the CAC was broken up as more specific organizations were created to handle the various functions that it had adopted.

The Commission began to slowly fade from the public's consciousness, but In the minds of the inhabitants of the Frontier, the Colonial Affairs Commission continues to be fondly remembered as one government entity which broadly kept its promises, and was there when they needed it the most.