Difference between revisions of "ComStar Schism"

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The '''ComStar Schism''' occurred shortly after the [[Battle of Tukayyid]] and in the wake of [[Primus (ComStar)|Primus]] [[Myndo Waterly]]'s failed [[Operation Scorpion]].  It would lead to the creation of a splinter faction known as the [[Word of Blake]] and bring about a chain of events leading eventually to the [[Jihad]].
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The fallout of Primus [[Myndo Waterly]]'s [[Operation Scorpion]] and her subsequent assassination by [[Precentor Martial]] [[Anastasius Focht]] led to a schism within [[ComStar]] forming the [[Word of Blake]] faction in the [[Inner Sphere]].  
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
[[Anastasius Focht]] and newly-elected [[Primus]] [[Sharilar Mori]] decided to reform the order and remove of many of its mystical trappings, but there was a group of reactionaries who did not agree with these changes. Sticking to the old ways, they seceded from the secularized order as the radical splinter group [[Word of Blake]] in [[3052]]. They were a very diverse group in the beginning, united only through their disapproval of the changes within [[ComStar]]. Although they initially lacked a coherent leadership, [[Thomas Marik]] was almost certainly among their leaders right from the start.
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Operation Scorpion was a disaster for ComStar, losing control of nearly all of their [[HPG]] stations in the [[Federated Commonwealth]], [[Draconis Combine]] and the entire [[Clan]] [[Occupation Zone]].  Upon hearing of what happened, [[Precentor Martial]] [[Anastasius Focht]] returned to [[Terra]] and, together with Primus [[Sharilar Mori]], convinced Waterly to step down from her position. Four day later Waterly was dead, reportedly of a brain hemorrhage.  For their own safety Focht also had the [[First Circuit]] placed under protective custody.<ref name=CS74>''ComStar (sourcebook)'', p. 74</ref>  Within a week of Waterly's death, the First Circuit elected Sharilar Mori as the new Primus.<ref name=CS90>''ComStar (sourcebook)'', p. 90</ref>
  
Early on, the [[Captain-General]] of the [[Free Worlds League]] (Thomas' double, acting as Thomas) allowed tens of thousands of [[Word of Blake]] zealots to settle on the FWL world of [[Gibson]]. This was almost certainly the real Thomas Marik's doing. He was named Primus-in-exile by them, which was apparently more a honorary title at the time as the various factions of the [[Word of Blake]] could not agree on a real leader. The Word also took over the administration of [[HPG]]s from ComStar wherever possible, ensuring them a source of revenue.
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In the weeks that followed, Focht reported he was visited by a vision of [[Jerome Blake]] which brought his attention to a cornerstone of the Hall of History.  There he found a copy of a technical readout written by Blake himself where he made clear that his intention for ComStar, rather than horde knowledge and shroud it in mysticism, was to spread knowledge to all of mankind.  The [[Operation Holy Shroud|actions]] ComStar had taken in the years before were not part of Blake's plan then but the result of greedy Primuses looking to increase their power.<ref name=CS74/>  Focht brought this new information to the rest of the First Circuit, which for the most part agreed it to be authentic and that reforms were needed.  One of their members however, [[Demona Aziz]], [[Precentor]] of [[Atreus]], was a strict conservative and follower of Waterly who believed this to be part of a coup that Focht had engineered.  Taking her staff she fled from Terra back to Atreus, where she informed [[Captain-General]] [[Thomas Marik]] that there was an internal struggle within ComStar and asked for asylum for herself and those who followed her, to which he agreed.<ref name=CS90/>
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With Mori (newly elected as Primus) and the rest of the First Circuit, Focht made the new revelations known to the rest of ComStar.  The response was less than hoped.  Many members of the Order, so used to an unquestioned belief in their Order's mission enforced by an inquisitorial [[ROM]], were confronted by revelations which now upended that worldview. More still were the confusing explanations regarding what and why Operation Scorpion was initiated and the reports of horrible losses from Tukayyid.  In the midst of this confusion and rumor-mongering, Precentor Aziz transmitted to every HPG station her renouncement of Focht's "secularization" plot and all but called for his and Mori's overthrow. She also invited all who rejected their heresy to join her in exile.<ref name=CS90/><ref name=CS76>''ComStar (sourcebook)'', p. 76</ref>
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Within months, thousands of ComStar acolytes from all parts of the organization had made their way to the [[Free Worlds League]]; some members of the [[Com Guards]] even managed to smuggle out their [[BattleMechs]].  Rather than resist their attempts to leave and instigate a civil war, Mori decided to let these individuals leave so that the Reformation could be carried out peacefully.<ref name=CS90/>  Caught off-guard by this sudden flux of refugees, the Captain-General met with the senior most Precentors of the group now calling itself the Word of Blake.  An agreement was made whereby land on [[Gibson]] was given over to the Blakists, and in return they would be in charge of servicing the HPG stations which the League had seized during Operation Scorpion.<ref name=CS91>''ComStar (sourcebook)'', p. 91</ref>
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With the most fanatical elements of ComStar now gone, the Reformation Acts instituted by Mori and Focht were able to proceed with little issue.  While not all of the spirituality was eliminated, much of the outdated superstition and mysticism which had defined the group was now gone. ComStar also began to freely share its information with the rest of the [[Inner Sphere]], turning around public opinion which had soured since Scorpion.<ref name=CS76/>  The combination of deep budget cuts and losses from the schism meant that ComStar could no longer support the [[Outworlds Alliance]], leading to the closure of many facilities and ending of economic and educational programs there.<ref>''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 60</ref>
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For the Word of Blake, the establishment of a secure base of operations and steady source of income would provide them the opportunity to strike back at what they viewed as the heretics who had taken over Blake's Blessed Order.  In a gesture of good faith, ComStar initially allowed the Word of Blake to use the HPG network under their control, and continued to transmit message through stations operated by Blakist technicians. The Blakists' initial response was to tamper with ComStar messages traveling through their network.<ref>''ComStar (sourcebook)'', p. 92</ref>  Such petty vandalism would eventually lead to more serious actions, culminating in the Word of Blake [[Operation Odysseus|seizing Terra in 3058]].
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references />
 
<references />
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==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
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*''[[ComStar (sourcebook)]]''
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*''[[Handbook: Major Periphery States]]''
  
 
[[Category:ComStar]]
 
[[Category:ComStar]]
 
[[Category:Word of Blake]]
 
[[Category:Word of Blake]]
 
[[Category:Rebellions]]
 
[[Category:Rebellions]]

Revision as of 01:17, 19 November 2017

The ComStar Schism occurred shortly after the Battle of Tukayyid and in the wake of Primus Myndo Waterly's failed Operation Scorpion. It would lead to the creation of a splinter faction known as the Word of Blake and bring about a chain of events leading eventually to the Jihad.

History

Operation Scorpion was a disaster for ComStar, losing control of nearly all of their HPG stations in the Federated Commonwealth, Draconis Combine and the entire Clan Occupation Zone. Upon hearing of what happened, Precentor Martial Anastasius Focht returned to Terra and, together with Primus Sharilar Mori, convinced Waterly to step down from her position. Four day later Waterly was dead, reportedly of a brain hemorrhage. For their own safety Focht also had the First Circuit placed under protective custody.[1] Within a week of Waterly's death, the First Circuit elected Sharilar Mori as the new Primus.[2]

In the weeks that followed, Focht reported he was visited by a vision of Jerome Blake which brought his attention to a cornerstone of the Hall of History. There he found a copy of a technical readout written by Blake himself where he made clear that his intention for ComStar, rather than horde knowledge and shroud it in mysticism, was to spread knowledge to all of mankind. The actions ComStar had taken in the years before were not part of Blake's plan then but the result of greedy Primuses looking to increase their power.[1] Focht brought this new information to the rest of the First Circuit, which for the most part agreed it to be authentic and that reforms were needed. One of their members however, Demona Aziz, Precentor of Atreus, was a strict conservative and follower of Waterly who believed this to be part of a coup that Focht had engineered. Taking her staff she fled from Terra back to Atreus, where she informed Captain-General Thomas Marik that there was an internal struggle within ComStar and asked for asylum for herself and those who followed her, to which he agreed.[2]

With Mori (newly elected as Primus) and the rest of the First Circuit, Focht made the new revelations known to the rest of ComStar. The response was less than hoped. Many members of the Order, so used to an unquestioned belief in their Order's mission enforced by an inquisitorial ROM, were confronted by revelations which now upended that worldview. More still were the confusing explanations regarding what and why Operation Scorpion was initiated and the reports of horrible losses from Tukayyid. In the midst of this confusion and rumor-mongering, Precentor Aziz transmitted to every HPG station her renouncement of Focht's "secularization" plot and all but called for his and Mori's overthrow. She also invited all who rejected their heresy to join her in exile.[2][3]

Within months, thousands of ComStar acolytes from all parts of the organization had made their way to the Free Worlds League; some members of the Com Guards even managed to smuggle out their BattleMechs. Rather than resist their attempts to leave and instigate a civil war, Mori decided to let these individuals leave so that the Reformation could be carried out peacefully.[2] Caught off-guard by this sudden flux of refugees, the Captain-General met with the senior most Precentors of the group now calling itself the Word of Blake. An agreement was made whereby land on Gibson was given over to the Blakists, and in return they would be in charge of servicing the HPG stations which the League had seized during Operation Scorpion.[4]

With the most fanatical elements of ComStar now gone, the Reformation Acts instituted by Mori and Focht were able to proceed with little issue. While not all of the spirituality was eliminated, much of the outdated superstition and mysticism which had defined the group was now gone. ComStar also began to freely share its information with the rest of the Inner Sphere, turning around public opinion which had soured since Scorpion.[3] The combination of deep budget cuts and losses from the schism meant that ComStar could no longer support the Outworlds Alliance, leading to the closure of many facilities and ending of economic and educational programs there.[5]

For the Word of Blake, the establishment of a secure base of operations and steady source of income would provide them the opportunity to strike back at what they viewed as the heretics who had taken over Blake's Blessed Order. In a gesture of good faith, ComStar initially allowed the Word of Blake to use the HPG network under their control, and continued to transmit message through stations operated by Blakist technicians. The Blakists' initial response was to tamper with ComStar messages traveling through their network.[6] Such petty vandalism would eventually lead to more serious actions, culminating in the Word of Blake seizing Terra in 3058.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 ComStar (sourcebook), p. 74
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 ComStar (sourcebook), p. 90
  3. 3.0 3.1 ComStar (sourcebook), p. 76
  4. ComStar (sourcebook), p. 91
  5. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 60
  6. ComStar (sourcebook), p. 92

Bibliography