Difference between revisions of "Star League"
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In one of his first acts, [[First Lord]] [[Ian Cameron]] appointed his wife, [[Shandra Noruff-Cameron]] as Chief of Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the yet unformed [[Star League Defense Force|Star League Defense Forces]]. Dividing the [[Star League Defense Force|SLDF]] up into six Military Regions, the capitals being [[Asta]], [[Altair]], [[Fomalhaut]], [[Procyon]], [[Sirius]] and [[Rigil Kentarus]], each region stood between a Member State and [[Terra]] itself. Shandra assured each region would have few troops from a bordering Member State to prevent insurrection, and assigned loyal Hegemony divisions as the core of each region's command structure. The SLDF also maintained another 4 military command structures, one based on Terra, two reserve divisions, and an elite, rapid-response division known as the [[Star Guards]]. | In one of his first acts, [[First Lord]] [[Ian Cameron]] appointed his wife, [[Shandra Noruff-Cameron]] as Chief of Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the yet unformed [[Star League Defense Force|Star League Defense Forces]]. Dividing the [[Star League Defense Force|SLDF]] up into six Military Regions, the capitals being [[Asta]], [[Altair]], [[Fomalhaut]], [[Procyon]], [[Sirius]] and [[Rigil Kentarus]], each region stood between a Member State and [[Terra]] itself. Shandra assured each region would have few troops from a bordering Member State to prevent insurrection, and assigned loyal Hegemony divisions as the core of each region's command structure. The SLDF also maintained another 4 military command structures, one based on Terra, two reserve divisions, and an elite, rapid-response division known as the [[Star Guards]]. | ||
| − | During Ian's reign, the Star League tried to bring the [[Periphery]] into the League. Through the various bloody battles in the [[Reunification War | + | During Ian's reign, the Star League tried to bring the [[Periphery]] into the League. Through the various bloody battles in the [[Reunification War]], a cease-fire was reached with the [[Outworlds Alliance]] in [[2585]], the [[Magistracy of Canopus]] was defeated in [[2588]], the insurrection in the [[Rim Worlds Republic]] was extinguished in [[2596]], and the [[Taurian Concordat]] was finally defeated in [[2596]]. Each Periphery realm in turn was forced through a reconstruction (at the cost of the conquered realm), and some worlds (particularly Taurian worlds) were annexed by neighboring Member States. Upon completion of reconstruction, each Periphery realm was made a non-voting [[Territorial State]]. Though these territorial states held little external sway, each was allowed to enact Star League laws as it saw fit; usually all Star League laws passed through little more than a legislative rubber stamp. |
===Zenith=== | ===Zenith=== | ||
Revision as of 05:28, 25 August 2011
 | This article needs to be updated with material from Handbook: Major Periphery States. Once these titles clear the Moratorium period, or if they already have, please consider revisiting this article and updating it with the new material. |
| |
| Star League | |
|---|---|
| Faction Profile | |
| Time period: | 2570 – 2780 |
| Classification: | Coalition |
| Controlled systems: | ~ 2000 |
| Capital world: | Terra |
| Ruler title: | First Lord |
| Military: | Star League Defense Force (SLDF) |
The brainchild of Ian Cameron, the Star League was a self-policing interstellar council formed from the Terran Hegemony, the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere, and the Territorial States of the Periphery. Each of the States of the Star League was required to provide soldiers and war materiel for the mutual protection of the Star League Defense Force, but otherwise was allowed to maintain its own standing army, and even conduct (rare) small-scale wars. Though not completely stable, the relative peace, prosperity, and advanced technology of the Star League have led many to consider the Star League as the zenith of human civilization.
Contents
History
Founding
The first treaties of the Star League were penned by the Terran Hegemony, the Capellan Confederation, and the Free Worlds League in 2556. Following these initial treaties, the Lyran Commonwealth (2558), the Federated Suns (2567), and finally the Draconis Combine (2569) also signed. The Star League was officially born with the July 9, 2571 signing of the Star League Accords by Ian Cameron and the five house lords.
In one of his first acts, First Lord Ian Cameron appointed his wife, Shandra Noruff-Cameron as Chief of Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the yet unformed Star League Defense Forces. Dividing the SLDF up into six Military Regions, the capitals being Asta, Altair, Fomalhaut, Procyon, Sirius and Rigil Kentarus, each region stood between a Member State and Terra itself. Shandra assured each region would have few troops from a bordering Member State to prevent insurrection, and assigned loyal Hegemony divisions as the core of each region's command structure. The SLDF also maintained another 4 military command structures, one based on Terra, two reserve divisions, and an elite, rapid-response division known as the Star Guards.
During Ian's reign, the Star League tried to bring the Periphery into the League. Through the various bloody battles in the Reunification War, a cease-fire was reached with the Outworlds Alliance in 2585, the Magistracy of Canopus was defeated in 2588, the insurrection in the Rim Worlds Republic was extinguished in 2596, and the Taurian Concordat was finally defeated in 2596. Each Periphery realm in turn was forced through a reconstruction (at the cost of the conquered realm), and some worlds (particularly Taurian worlds) were annexed by neighboring Member States. Upon completion of reconstruction, each Periphery realm was made a non-voting Territorial State. Though these territorial states held little external sway, each was allowed to enact Star League laws as it saw fit; usually all Star League laws passed through little more than a legislative rubber stamp.
Zenith
In 2600, Lady Shandra Noruff-Cameron died, followed two years later by Lord Ian. Ian's son Nicholas was then declared leader of the Star League. During Nicholas' reign, the League narrowly averted a war with an unbalanced Leonard Kurita and the Draconis Combine, avoided when shamed Kurita family assassinated the Coordinator. Another feature of Nicolas' reign was a string of important technological breakthroughs, the most significant of which include the HyperPulse generator, new water purification procedures, medical advances, and neural-dimensional computer technology, all leading to rapid expansion of the Star League. Marrying Lydia Petersen, Duchess of Bryant earlier, in 2598, their son Joseph being born two years later. In 2646, Nicholas Cameron designated Michael Cameron, Joseph's son, as his successor, who assumed power in 2649 upon Nicholas' death.
Michael's reign was characterized by incidents with the Rim Worlds Republic and House Kurita, with the Draconis Combine encouraging independent Mechwarriors to engage SLDF forces in self-proclaimed 'duels' in the First Hidden War. On October 13, 2690, Michael retired after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and Jonathan Cameron, his oldest son, was designated his replacement.
During his reign, Jonathan engaged in a build-up of SLDF forces. First Lord Jonathan declared that Royal units would receive new technology first, with house units receiving it as hand-me-downs many years later, and saw to the construction of Space Defense Systems in major Hegemony systems, composed of drone warships, computer-run spaceports, and huge ground-based lasers and missiles designed to mop up any remaining invaders. Jonathan faced renewed cries of discontent in the Periphery and a second political crisis from Draconis Combine, when House Kurita launched the Second Hidden War against House Davion over the question of Kurita succession to the Davion throne. Unstable and unable to rule, Jonathan consulted his sister, Jocasta Camero, more and more often, with Jocasta in effect becoming the defacto leader of the Star League. The appearance of five crack Star League divisions shocked both sides of the Second Hidden War into agreeing to a cease-fire, and the issue was resolved in Davion's favor. In 2738, Jonathan Cameron died of a stroke, and Mother Jocasta handed over the Star League to Jonathan's son, Simon.
With the growing discontent in the Periphery and worried that Periphery forces could soon rival that of the Regular Army, First Lord Simon instructed that more fortresses be built in and along the Periphery border. The only Periphery kingdom apparently supporting the Star League was the Rim Worlds Republic, the high praise and show of admiration from the Amaris family, rulers of the Republic, only making some observers skeptical, aggravated by the hidden Rim World forces bringing its power two to three times above the allowed numbers.
Waning Years
Angered by the lag in the Star League forcing a cease fire between the Federated Suns and Draconis Combine, Richard Davion slowly withdrew its cooperation from Simon's reign, as Houses Davion and Kurita drifted further and further from participation in the Star League. Finally, in 2751, Simon Cameron died, his peace initiatives a failure, leaving his eight year old son, Richard Cameron II the only successor. The five Lords convened on Terra and appointed General Aleksandr Kerensky, commanding officer of the Star League Defense Forces as Richard's Regent and Protector.
Stefan Amaris, ruler of the Rim Worlds Republic, slowly began working his way in as a "friend" of the young Richard, poisoning the young First Lord Richard's thoughts. When the Council Lords imposed a series of heavy taxes on the Periphery worlds, heavy fighting broke out, drawing in more of the SLDF forces, the new tax money being redirected to help the house Lords build up their own forces. Richard now saw Amaris as his closest friend and confidant, and Amaris took advantage of this, convincing Richard to remove all SLDF forces from the Rim Worlds Republic and ordered all SLDF bases and fortresses be turned over to the Rim Worlds Republic. After attempts to strip bases of technology, some managed to fall into Republic hands.
Stefan Amaris continued to expand his influence on Richard, as the Houses started skirmishing on the verge of Richard's majority. In an act of revenge for slights cooked up by Amaris, Richard ordered all House armed forces to be disbanded. Angered by this, the Lords protested, and when convinced by Kerensky on the illegality of the action, Richard rescinded his previous order.
Convinced by Amaris that Kerensky and the House Lords were against him, Richard became even more embittered. When the Periphery again exploded in violence, with Amaris as its chief architect. As more and more of the SLDF forces were required to fight the war in the Periphery, Amaris offered the service of Rim Worlds forces to help defend the Terran Hegemony. Under objections, Amaris' offer was accepted.
As discrepancies showed up, with many more Rim Worlds forces seeming to arrive than planned, House Kurita unsuccessfully requested that joint action be taken against the Republic. As more and more bases were placed under Republic control, Stefan Amaris proceeded to Terra and assassinated Richard and all remaining members of the Cameron family, taking power of the Star League, removing any trace of the Star League he could.
Involved with fighting in the Periphery, Kerensky regrouped and quickly took the Rim Worlds Republic. After some rest, Kerensky divided his forces up into three groups, one to travel through each of the accommodating houses toward the Hegemony. As time wore on, Kerensky's forces had only captured eleven worlds and were contesting another ten, while losing 30 divisions and 40 major warships. As Amaris forces withdrew to regroup, Kerensky advanced further, finally capturing the worlds nearest Terra.
On January 23, 2777, soldiers on eight worlds moved towards Terra and finally captured the planet after a bloody battle and over 100 million total dead, on September of 2779. Amaris and his family was executed soon after Kerensky heard of the fate of Richard Cameron and his family.
A year later, on October 10, 2780, the Council Lords gathered and stripped Kerensky of his title of Protector, refusing an offer by General DeChavilier to help overthrow the House Lords. Ten months later, the Lords had not reached a decision on a successor for the position of First Lord, each claiming the position for him or herself, the Council being dissolved by the Lords on August 12, 2781. As the spirit of the Star League began eroding, Kerensky gathered 80 percent of the SLDF forces, and they jumped out of the Inner Sphere, not to be seen again for nearly 270 years, completing the collapse of the Star League.
Rulers
| Name | Reign | Descent |
|---|---|---|
| First Lord of the Star League, 2571 - 2765 | ||
| Ian Cameron | 2571 - 2602 | |
| Nicholas Cameron | 2602 - 2649 | Son of Ian |
| Michael Cameron II | 2649 - 2690 | Grandson of Nicholas |
| Jonathan Cameron | 2690 - 2738 | Son of Michael |
| Simon Cameron | 2738 - 2751 | Son of Jonathan |
| Richard Cameron | 2751 - 2765 | Son of Simon |
Politics
High Council
The leader of the Star League was the First Lord, a hereditary position held by members of House Cameron from the League's inception to its downfall. The First Lord had formidable political, economic and military powers, even over the other Great Houses, though the Camerons rarely used these powers unilaterally. Their efforts to govern through compromise and consensus endeared them to the general public, which helped the First Lord in implementing policies, even those privately opposed by the other Lords.[1]
The High Council was the primary governing body of the Star League, composed of the First Lord and the leaders of the six other Great Houses, known as the Council Lords. The Council met biannually to discuss and ratify the government's budget, summon witnesses to testify on an issue, hear petitions, and address other League concerns, but was restricted from discussing the governance of each others' realms. During a crisis an emergency meeting could be called, and for a matter of great importance a Council Directive, or Council Order, would be drafted and put to a vote, with a majority required for passage. The First Lord had the casting vote in the event of a tie. If a matter being discussed involved the Periphery, its Administrators could attend meetings and participate, but were not given the right to vote.[2]
Each Council Lord was also allowed to bring advisers, known unofficially as High Council Members, to Council meetings, to assist or even tell the Lords how they should vote. These advisers were often dispatched on fact-finding missions, and used their prestige to gain wealth and become nobles. Advisers to the First Lord, officially known as the First Lord's Advisors, were members of the Terran Hegemony's High Council, and headed major departments within the Hegemony's government.[3][4]
Council meetings were held in the capitol city of the Star League, the Court of the Star League. Known unofficially as Unity City, the Court of the Star League was built near Puget Sound, located on the North American continent of Terra. It was also the location of the Royal Court, which met for two months during the spring and winter Council meetings. Though not an official part of the High Council, the Royal Court was ostensibly a social gathering of nobles, intellectuals and celebrities, with the festivities led by the First Lord's spouse or Master of Protocol. It was often during these events that many backroom agreements were forged, such that the Royal Court gained a reputation for rampant political and economic dealing.[3]
Nobility
Though titles of nobility were reinstated by Micheal Cameron, they served more as job titles within the Star League and Terran Hegemony, a distinction purposefully made by the Camerons to prevent the kind of class stratification found in other realms. Towards this end, nobles were never given permanent positions within a planet's government; instead they served at the whim of the public, which could vote them out of office.[3]
Dukes and Duchesses were at the top of the hierarchy of nobles, and either owned the most land or controlled the most industry of a given planet. A variant of this were "Vagabond Dukes", owners of major interstellar conglomerates spread over many Hegemony worlds. The title of Marquess or Marquessa was granted to scientists for making a significant contribution to science. A Count or Countess was the owner of major companies or large tracts of land on a world, with their allegiance often (but not always) tied to the planet's Duke. The Baron and Baroness was the lowest rank of nobility, granted to owners of modest companies or farmlands, or as a reward for excellent service in the SLDF or BSLA. Some of the greatest political dramas were played out between a planet's Duke and their Counts and Barons jockeying for control of its government.[3]
Bureau of Star League Affairs
The vast bureaucracy charged with carrying out the laws and edicts of the League was the Bureau of Star League Affairs, with its headquarters located in the Court of the Star League. The Bureau was headed by the Commander of the BSLA, who position was so critical that they were personally selected by the First Lord for loyalty to the Camerons and the Hegemony.[5]It was further divided into six departments: Department of Administration, Department of Social Relations, Department of Economic Relations, Department of Revenue, Department of Education and Information, and the Department of the Attorney General.
Second Star League
After the Jade Falcon invasion of Coventry in 3058, the leaders of the Inner Sphere decided to re-form the Star League with the express purpose of fighting the Clans. This second Star League used a revolving schedule to elect the First Lord, and made efforts to form a new SLDF to fight the Clans.
On 28 November, 3067, however, this Second Star League was disbanded following a no confidence vote.[6][7]
See Also
References