First Saturn Crisis
A minor diplomatic dispute between the United Nations and the Eurasian Federation over the ownership of the Saturn system of Sol.
Contents
Background
During Kapitan Tamryn Fedotov's whirlwind tour of the solar system in early 2025, The Federation became the first nation begin a true manned exploration of the Solar system. Fedotov would explore Luna, Mars, several asteroids and the Jupiter system, while Kapitan Maxim Sobolev led an exploration effort of the Saturn system. Arriving on November 25th, 2025, Sobolev began an earnest and thorough scientific examination of Saturn and it's satellites. Through Sobolev's efforts, the Federation was able to chart the Saturn system and become the first nation to have a manned presence in system.
Two years later, the UNS Panner launched a geological exploration of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, and found that it was well stocked with various Trans-Newtonian Elements.
One month later, British Petroleum established a colony of Titan to begin mining operations.
Disputes
The Federation reacted with outrage over BP's presences in the system, claiming that it was a violation of their sovereignty. Furthermore, the Federation claimed that U.N annexation of heavenly bodies violated the Outer Space Treaty, specifically the clause pertaining to governments not being allowed to annex heavenly bodies. However, the treaty was drafted in a time when concerns over multiple nations competing in a vicious land grab for small scraps of territory concerned many, especially in light of the Cold War. By 2027, only two world governments existed, the United Nations and the Eurasian Federation. When the U.N refused to back down from it's colonies, the Federation surprised no on by withdrawing from the Outer Space Treaty. With only the U.N left, the treaty in essence became void. However, this still left the issue of U.N colonies in Saturn unresolved.
Escalation
As a response to U.N colonization of Saturn, the Eurasian Federation formally declared the Saturn system and 250 million kilometers of space around it, to be Federation territory, with U.N ships strictly forbidden. The Federation further more demanded either a withdraw or cession of the U.N-B.P colonies on Mimas and Titan. To demonstrate it's seriousness, the Federation Navy dispatched it's newly constructed Moskva class corvette to Saturn.
The U.N, lacking any combat naval void ships, lacked the authority to enforce it's colonies in the Saturn system, however, the U.N was still unwilling to surrender it's Saturn holding, therefore, both super powers entered negotiations to try and reach a compromise. The U.N, in an effort to ensure no further escalation, placed a moratorium on travel to Saturn and it's moons. However, B.P ignored this ban and established a colony on Iapetus, nearly derailing negotiations just as they began.
Fortunately, through the herculean efforts of U.N ambassador Ceebees, the Federation remained at the negotiating table, and soon, a workable treaty was established with both parties. The U.N formally renounced any claim to permanently owning Saturn, but were allowed to keep the previously established colonies until 2043. In return, the Federation ceded Jupiter to the U.N
See also: Treaty of Saturn
Aftermath
The First Saturn Crisis was the first major dispute between the Eurasian Federation and the United Nations. While it only lasted a short period of time and ended with a peaceful settlement between the two groups, it did raise several issues. First the lack of a U.N military void navy sent many in the U.N scrambling to find an answer to the Moskva, which would later come in the form of the Berlin cruiser.
The peace achieved around Saturn spurred both sides diplomatic parties to try and craft treaties that could help prevent further conflicts from erupting in the Solar system ,especially over rare and valuable resources. This desire would eventually see the Treaty of Mars and Articles of Colonization drafted and ratified. The former dealt with the sharing of technology and worlds with alien ruins, and the later established protocol for formally annexing a heavenly body.
The vast distance between Earth and it's Saturn colonies would lead to further conflicts down the road, as B.P began to take advantage of it's control over the U.N Saturn colonies. This and several other factors would lead to the Second Saturn Crisis several years later.
