St. Ives Compact

(Author: BattleTech 3056 MUSE)

History

On November 16, 3029, news came that the St. Ives Commonality had seceded from the Capellan Confederation. This was mainly the work of Candace Liao, Duchess of the St. Ives Commonality and lover of Justin Xiang Allard. Though as ambitious as the other members of her family, she had shown more concern for her people than had the other Liaos. When confronted with the true identity of the man she loved and the threat of losing him, Duchess Liao chose to leave the Confederation and represent her people's interest from the court of New Avalon rather instead of trying to battle the House Davion war machine.

Then, as now, it is ruled by Candace Liao, one of Maximilian Liao's daughters. Ever since Candace left the Confederation and married Justin Xiang, a close confederate of Hanse Davion, her small realm has maintained a close affiliation with the Federated Commonwealth. The Compact might have been absorbed into the Federated Commonwealth, much as the short-lived Tikonov Free Republic has been, but Candace staunchly asserted her realm's autonomy. Perhaps she feared that any other position would have driven her sister Romano Liao to a frenzied attack that might have damaged the Compact's worlds. Now that the apparently more rational Sun-Tzu Liao has replaced Romano on the throne, the fate of the St. Ives Compact may also change.