Haldean Compact

Strengths

 * 1) Humanity First: The Haldean Compact is not one to shy away from a pro-human stance, even if it costs them good relations with alien races. Their population is united in all attempts to curtail alien interference within their area of influence. Furthermore, they have pardoned rebel fighters and activists that are otherwise persecuted in other human polities.
 * 2) Natural Barriers: Most of the Compact's infrastructure and territory is located within difficult-to-navigate sections of space, and their starships have the unique adaptations needed to traverse these areas without the severity experienced inflicted by other factions. At the same time, their holdings in the Haldean Fissure are obscured from outside observation, allowing them to develop and position their fleets without alerting detection beacons established beyond the veil.
 * 3) Large Navy: The Haldean naval arm is incredibly powerful for a state of its size, helped by the fact that most ground obligations are handled in-house by their member worlds. Because of this, their starships are far more numerous and are much larger than their UNSC equivalents, allowing them to take on multiple counterparts on at once.
 * 4) Parasitic Immigration: Although they are generally not all that active in UNSC space, they have benefited immensely by the refugee crisis they are managing. The population of their planets are quickly growing in size, and these immigrants have also used their expertise to improve fields that the Compact has previously struggled in.
 * 5) Technological Focus: Knowing that they are likely to face opponents that can bring to bear significantly-larger fleets, as well as the infrastructure to replace them, the Compact have endeavored to focus themselves towards other areas. Their large science division works tirelessly to introduce new weapon systems and countermeasures to give Haldean troops the advantage in any engagement. Any opponents that fight them will need to take time to develop defenses against them.
 * 6) Self-Sufficient: As their government takes a slightly more active role in directing the Compact's development, they do not need to rely on trade to keep their people fed and fusion reactors fired.
 * 7) Rebel Patronage: While they parade themselves as a sovereign entity, in secret, the Compact sponsors rebel elements and terror groups within the UNSC. This does have some advantages, as their advisors can help train up their military personnel, and may pass on information and assets they capture during raids. The Compact can also influence targets that they attack, keeping UNSC forces off-balanced.
 * 8) Generous Membership: The constitution for the Haldean Compact is fairly generous, permitting its member planets full autonomy in almost all areas concerning legislation, foreign affairs, and planetary defense. All worlds also have an equal voice in deciding actions taken by the federation, making them one of the better powers to align with in their region of space.

Weaknesses

 * 1) Xenophobia: The Haldean Compact has made no attempts to shake off the racist tendencies of its predecessor state, the Wealthian Coalition. Aliens are treated as second-class citizens or worse, and those that do not depart quickly may find themselves being hunted down and eliminated in one way or another. This extends to their unwillingness to open diplomatic channels with Covenant successor-states, often outright ignoring any territorial claims no matter the consequences. This has cost them the support of groups that have openly agreed to work with aliens, such as the Via Casilina Community.
 * 2) Developing Infrastructure: Because they are such a relatively-new polity that has established itself in one of the least-densely populated regions of the Human Sphere, they must build all-new infrastructure to service their needs. This means that every ship, every aircraft, and every ton of produce is irreplaceable, at least until the facilities are sufficiently built up enough.
 * 3) Conquest Fever: Also thanks to their developing infrastructure, they have proven extremely eager to capture any facility - mining stations, factories, and hydroponics habitats - that is in reach of their military. As a result, many of their neighbors are extremely suspicious of their actions, and this has driven many into the arms of their enemies.
 * 4) Obsolete Combat Theory: Although some of their officers did at one point enlist into the UNSC, for the most part their combat theory is still heavily inspired by techniques used during the Insurrection. While this does make them extremely well-qualified at guerrilla warfare, the Compact are learning the formations and maneuvers necessary to fight in prolonged engagements, and their logistics support is similarly being built from the ground-up.
 * 5) AI Scarcity: The Compact have very few facilities that are capable of building AIs, at least those on the scale that they need. Any that are available are typically much more overstretched and less-capable than their UNSC or even some Covenant equivalents, and are rarely allowed to influence doctrine evolution and planning.
 * 6) Internal Bullying: Although the constitution forbids the Compact from interfering with their members, a number of major colonies have the economic and diplomatic pull to coerce smaller worlds to their will.
 * 7) Repeating Problems: As a young polity paired with planetary governments that have existed for an even shorter period than the Compact has, as well as general fears that it could become like the UNSC, their leaders are forced to address many of the problems that have plagued other states such as the United Earth Government. In particular, they have demonstrated a worrying tendency to prioritize bills and projects that are backed by its capital of Wealth. Until these are truly resolved, tensions will continue to arise between various worlds.
 * 8) Multicultural Population: While they might not deal with aliens, many of its people exhibit an extremely wide array of cultures, ideals, and religions. This may be celebrated and offset by their universal dislike of aliens, but it has also led to strain and pressure between competing groups which have had some sort of disagreement or bad-blood.