Unilateral Combined Force
The Unilateral Combined Force, or "UCF" for short, is a combined military structure created in N.D. 517. It is chiefly comprised on members of the Gudersnipe Foundation's Crimson Blade mercenaries, as well as the complete standing navy of the Trans-Draconic Federation and the Alliance Regulars. Military forces from New Day Alliance member worlds have also been committed to the force. The creation of the UCF has ushered in an unprecedented era of piece and is expected to end large-scale military conflicts throughout the Known Worlds.
Background
In N.D. 502, the Trans-Draconic Federation erupted into a civil war. While this was largely slugged out dragon verses dragon, several flights began to use their combat troops in the Trans-Draconic Federation Navy in proxy wars against each other. In the chaos, a breakaway faction of the Earth-Sphere Confederation stole huge quantities of war material from the TDFN.
After this debacle, the dragons collectively agreed that steps needed to be taken to remove themselves from the TDFN chain of command. The navy was mean to be a peace-keeping and self-defense force, not in proxy wars between flights. Since the majority of the Federation also belonged to the New Day Alliance, a proposal was made to absorb the TDFN into the Alliance Regulars.
However, the process dragged on and a framework could not be agreed upon. The TDFN itself did not wish to abandon it's strong draconic heritage. Meanwhile, the Alliance Regulars, being roughly 1/20th the size of the TDFN and grotesquely under-funded, were in no condition to absorb the much larger force into their command structure.
Then, in N.D. 516, a proposal was made that the Pendragon of Slayer Dragons be named as the ceremonial figurehead of the new military force. As a human touched by draconic magic, this would allow the TDFN to maintain their relationship to the dragons without actually allowing a dragon to give orders.
While this proposal was met with much support it was not enough to twist the wheels of bureaucracy, it triggered something else. The Gudersnipe Foundation, who had until then remained silent in the proceedings, stepped forward with an offer: The Foundation would commit roughly one third of its standing army, the Crimson Blade to the Alliance Regulars in order to achieve force-parity with the TDFN. It would then commit another third of the Blade to a new combined military force along with the enlarged Regulars and TDFN. In the process, allotments would be made to allow for the purchase of weapons and war materials that would put all the soldiers on an even footing. This new military would be the single largest ever seen. The Unilateral Combined Force would be able to bring enough fighters into any theater of conflict to win with overwhelming strength. Further, with every major standing army in the Known Worlds committed to this force, there simply be no room for any large scale conflicts.
The Foundation stipulated it would only do this if certain conditions were met; among them the original proposal that the Pendragon be named Commander in Chief; albeit symbolically. The Trans-Draconic Federation, which had long had a good relationship with the Foundation, quickly agreed with only one major stipulation of their own: that the UCF remain intrinsically a navy. The New Day Alliance, without a leg to stand on, went along with it.
UCF Framework
The basic premise of the UCF is first, foremost, and importantly as a peace-keeping force. The commitment of standing armies requires all the major powers of the known worlds to cooperate and prevents any one member nation from taking belligerent action. While smaller conflicts can still erupt, the UCF can use it's might to calm tensions and carry out police actions when necessary. The UCF personifies the "speak softly and carry a big stick" approach.
Security Council
The Unilateral Combined Framework operates with a permanent twenty-one member security council, with each major actor allowed to appoint seven representatives to the council. The twenty-one member security council is then tasked with deciding where the UCF should be deployed and what level of force is appropriate. The odd number is meant to prevent dead-locks. The Pendragon is nominally a member of the council but will only be asked to vote when circumstances create a deadlock despite the uneven number.
Practical Concerns
Officially, the Alliance, Federation, and Foundation each appoint seven members. Unofficially, because the Crimson Blade makes up so much of the Alliance's force commitments, the Foundation requires approval for five out of the seven representatives named by the Alliance. The Foundation has no official say in the Federation's appointees, but given the close political and economic relationship between the two powers, some influence is expected. This means that the Crimson Blade effectively controls the security council.
While this is a valid concern, history shows the Foundation's primary goals have always been peaceful.