Difference between revisions of "Taurian Concordat"

 
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| image = Taurian_Concordat_1.jpg
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| Founded = [[2335]]
| crest = [[Image:Taurian_Concordat_1.jpg|300px]]
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| Dissolved =
| factionname = Taurian Concordat
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| capital = [[Taurus]]
| year = 3063
 
| timeperiod = [[2335]] - present
 
| classification = [[Periphery State]]
 
 
| systems = 56+
 
| systems = 56+
| capital = [[Taurus]]
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| currency =
| rulertitle = [[Protector of the Realm]]
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| language =  
| military = [[Taurian Defense Force]] (TDF)
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| demonym =
| secretservice = [[Taurian Ministry of Intelligence]]
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| Head of State = [[Protector of the Realm]]
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| cintel =
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| army = [[Taurian Defense Force]] (TDF)
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| navy =
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| mintel = [[Taurian Ministry of Intelligence]] (TMI)
 
}}
 
}}
 
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The '''Taurian Concordat''' is an interstellar nation located in the [[Periphery]]. Founded as a constitutional monarchy under the leadership of [[House Calderon]], the Taurian Concordat is one of the oldest surviving realms since the collapse of the [[Terran Alliance]].  Taurian citizens enjoy extensive freedoms guaranteed by the Concordat Charter and take pride in defending those freedoms through compulsory service. The Taurian Concordat has had an antagonistic relationship with the [[Inner Sphere]], particularly against the [[Federated Suns]], and is driven by a desire to expand its borders through colonization and protect its hard-won freedoms from outside aggression.
The ''Taurian Concordat'' is a interstellar nation located in the [[Periphery]].
 
 
 
==Fact Sheet<ref>''Touring the Stars'', p. 91</ref>==
 
* Founding Year: [[2335]] ([[2253]] as Taurian Homeworlds, Concordat); [[3066]] (Protectorate)
 
* Capital (City, World): New Samantha, [[Taurus]] (Concordat); New Taurus, [[Erod's Escape]] (Protectorate)
 
* National Symbol (Both): A bull’s head with exaggerated horns that curl downward and encompass three gold five-pointed stars (Calderon Protectorate uses black stars.)
 
* Location ([[Terra]] relative): Rimward, beyond [[Capellan Confederation]] and [[Federated Suns]]
 
* Total (Inhabited) Systems: 22 (Concordat); 13 (Protectorate)
 
* Estimated Population ([[3130]]): 33,031,000,000 (Concordat);15,310,000,000 (Protectorate)
 
* Government: Democracy (currently under military rule, Concordat); Democracy (Protectorate)
 
* Ruler: [[Protector of the Realm|Protector]] [[Kaff Doru]] (Concordat); Protector [[Sam Calderon]] (Protectorate)
 
* Dominant Language(s): English, Spanish, French
 
* Dominant Religion(s): Deism (official), Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism
 
* Unit of Currency: Bull (1 bull = 0.12 C-Bills)
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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{{main|History of the Taurian Concordat}}
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The Taurian Concordat traces its beginnings to [[Samantha Calderon]], a woman whose family was murdered by the [[Terran Alliance]] and soon found herself in dire straits when that government's collapse left the Outer Reaches in chaos.  After securing sufficient funding for a deep-space exploration effort, the Calderon Expedition left known space in [[2250]].  Nearly two years later, they reached the [[Hyades Cluster]], with Samantha the first to step foot on [[Taurus]] on 23 January, [[2253]].  Over the next century the Taurians thrived in their isolation, expanding out to colonize the rest of the Hyades Cluster and outlying systems, while at the same time running into refugees fleeing war and oppression in the [[Inner Sphere]].  In [[2335]], [[Richard Calderon (24th c.)|Richard Calderon]] announced the creation of the Taurian Concordat, allowing those systems which joined to maintain their internal affairs while pledging to come to the common defense of all.
  
===Origins===
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As the Concordat expanded, so did it come into more regular contact with the Inner Sphere.  Due to a series of unfortunate events involving the [[Capellan Confederation]] and the [[Federated Suns]], the Concordat became embroiled in conflict with the Federation, an event which would spark centuries of animosity towards House DavionAfter the [[Great Houses]] banded together to form the [[Star League]] in [[2570]], they tried to convince the Taurian Concordat and other major powers of the [[Periphery]] to join as well, an offer which was politely but strongly declinedEventually, the Star League gave them a final choice: [[Pollux Proclamation|join us or else]].  The Periphery refused, and for twenty-five years the [[Reunification War]] raged, causing immense destruction within the Concordat as both the Taurians and Star League fought with every tool at their disposal, including [[nuclear weapon]]s.  By the conflict's end, one in five Taurians were dead and the Concordat was made a Territorial State of the Star League.
In [[2331]], Taurian explorers discovered the first of 18 neighboring refugee settlementsFor example, the worlds [[Deifenbaker]] was settled by refugees of the war between the [[Sarna Supremacy]] and the [[Capellan Hegemony]].  Expecting hostilities from larger Inner Sphere aggressors, [[Richard Calderon]] negotiated a new government in the first year of his reign, [[2335]]; Richard became the first [[Protector of the Realm]] of the Taurian Concordat - Concordat military would be centrally governed, but planetary affairs would be completely autonomous.  The nascent Concordat consisted of 17 refugee settlements and all 12 colonized Taurian worlds.  Only [[Mandaree]] declined the invitation to join the Concordat.
 
  
===Inner Sphere Hostilities===
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The Taurian Concordat chafed under the rule of the Star League: slight increases in living standards and fewer pirate attacks were not worth the cost of being exploited and oppressed by distant masters.  When [[Stefan Amaris]] of the [[Rim Worlds Republic]] approached the other Periphery leaders about a conspiracy to win their freedom, they agreed.  The [[New Vandenberg Uprising]] began in [[2765]] when [[Nicoletta Calderon]] allowed several Concordat worlds to secede from the Star League, an act which would lead directly to the [[Star League Civil War]].  Though Stefan Amaris went back on his word and tried to retain the Periphery in his new "Amaris Empire," in the end the dissolution of the Star League in [[2780]] finally won the Concordat its freedom.
The Taurians began preparations for war when an exploration and survey mission led by [[Tracy Ashton Pendelton]] discovered and freed 15,000 slave laborers from the [[Federated Suns]] world of [[Tentativa]] in [[2360]].  The prisoners had been taken captive during a [[Federated Suns]] assault on the [[Sarna Supremacy]] world [[Bell]] in [[2355]].  Convinced of the barbarism of the Inner Sphere, by [[2368]], the Taurian Concordat was prepared when it was inadvertently discovered by "Freicorps" retainers of the [[Tikonov Union]] noble Lord [[Tormassov]] fleeing the [[Capellan Confederation]].  Pursuing Capellan forces commanded by [[Anthony LeBlanc]] discovered the "Freicorps" in Taurian space, forcing the Tikonov troops to commandeer Taurian vessels and flee - into a [[Federated Suns]] flotilla stationed at [[Sanurcha]].  Though the Tikonov "Freicorps" were able to escape (and were never heard from again), the Capellan pursuit also encountered the flotilla and was destroyed.  The [[Federated Suns]] navy began probing its periphery border expecting to find Capellan colonies - and discovered the Concordat.  The Taurians were forced to fight off the [[Davion]] invasion through [[2371]], and have since been extremely paranoid of the Federated Suns.
 
  
The Concordat maintained a tense state of armed neutrality in the [[Age of War]] but, unlike its [[Inner Sphere]] counterparts, it also devoted a major portion of its resources toward improving life for its citizens. On occasion, the success of the Taurian way of life benefited the [[Inner Sphere]] as wellEconomically, the [[Capellan Confederation]], the [[Federated Suns]] and the Taurian Concordat all prospered by trading together during the late 25th and early 26th centuries.  [[Jasmine Liao]] improved the Capellan education system by modeling it on that of the Concord in the 25th century, and the [[Federated Suns]] revamped its educational system along Taurian lines in the first decade of the new millennium.
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Though the Taurian Concordat was not directly affected by the devastating [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]], they nevertheless still felt its effects: severe disruptions in trade and communication, increasing numbers of refugees and pirates spilling into its borders, and [[LosTech|a general loss in knowledge and technology]].  A constant vigil was maintained against any aggression by House Davion, though more often than not any attacks on the Concordat came from its Periphery neighbors, including the [[Magistracy of Canopus]].
  
At the birth of the Star League, the Concord posed something of a problem.  The Taurians, unlike every other major Periphery realm, boasted a better economy, a superb education system, and finer artistic achievements than some of the Great Houses.  Further, the TDF posed an actual threat, being well-equipped, well-trained, and fiercely patriotic.  Starting in [[2573]], the Taurians were forced to fight for more than two decades against [[Inner Sphere]] forces under the banner of the [[Star League]].  Hostilities began when a Taurian fleet accidentally entered the neutral [[Malagrotta]] systemNegotiated in [[2511]], the [[Omsol Accord]] stipulated the titanium rich moon of Fontana was jointly mined by Federated Suns and Taurian mining operationsA Davion armada entered the system in response, destroying two ships and capturing a third.  Months later, [[Caterina Calderon]] offered an apology, but too late.
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When Houses Davion and [[House Steiner|Steiner]] joined to form the [[Federated Commonwealth]] in [[3028]], fears that this new superstate would once again try to conquer the Concordat spurred [[Thomas Calderon]] to put the [[Taurian Defense Force]] on high alert and vastly increase military funding at the expense of other programs.  This state of affairs, coupled with Thomas blaming every setback on "Davion saboteurs," put him in opposition to members of the [[Far Lookers]] group and members of his own governmentEven the [[Clan Invasion]] was first dismissed as a plot hatched by the Davions to distract the PeripheryHis death in [[3055]] and [[Jeffrey Calderon]]'s ascension brought relief from these policies and a change towards greater cooperation, first with the Magistracy and then the Capellan ConfederationThe [[Trinity Alliance]] would bring greater access to technology and resources to the Concordat, in exchange for allowing some TDF forces to participate in the [[Capellan-St. Ives War]].
  
{{Main|Reunification War}}
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Eighty-one years after the [[Calderon Protectorate]] was formed, on 29 August [[3147]], Protector [[Sam Calderon]] and [[Kaff Doru]] announced that Doru's twelve-year-old daughter Reva and Calderon's eight-year-old son Bryant would marry once Bryant turned eighteen. This meant that in [[3157]] the Calderon Protectorate and Taurian Concordat were scheduled to reunify as one nation again. Until then, the two nations would expand their trade relations and engage in mutual defense operations, with additional safeguards to prevent events like the [[Bromhead Massacre]] of [[3067]].<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 45</ref>
  
Though the Taurian Concordat fought a long, bitter struggle with the SLDF, the inevitable outcome of the Reunification War left the Concord in ruin.  The Taurian Concordat was left with planets either spared war by the surrender of Protector [[Marantha Calderon]] in [[2596]], or were left with ravaged populations, industries and environments by the scorched-earth military campaign of General [[Amos Forlough]]Choice worlds conquered but not destroyed by the SLDF were annexed by the neighboring [[Federated Suns]], leaving the Concordat a specter of its former gloryEven battered into submission, and stripped of most of its territory, the Taurians never renounced their dream of a free and independent state.
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==Politics==
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The political structure of the Taurian Concordat is in many ways ironically similar to that of the Federated SunsWhile the national government is headed by a constitutional monarch, individual worlds are given the autonomy to govern themselves as they see fit so long as they maintain a working allegiance to the Concordat and the ProtectorMost planets therefore are run as representative democracies, with many variations in how they operate.<ref name=TP71>''The Periphery'', p. 71</ref><ref name=HMPS105>''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 105</ref>
  
===Territorial Period===
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===Government===
Marantha's distant nephew [[Henry Calderon]] became the next Protector of the Realm in [[2596]], but [[Marantha Calderon|Marantha Calderon's]] suicide made his position difficultThough he did not want the position, Henry realized that without a Protector the Taurian people would face extreme hardship as a [[Star League]] [[Territorial State]]. Henry cemented his people's love through two actions:
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The [[Protector of the Realm]], or simply the '''Protector''', is the chief executive officer of the Concordat and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forcesA title bestowed upon the eldest member of House Calderon, the Protector is responsible for all matters foreign and domestic.  To guard against tyranny, all statutes passed by the Protector are subject to periodic review by the Concordat Courts, which have the power to strike down any deemed unconstitutional, though during times of war the Protector can evoke temporary emergency powers which grant them supreme authority.<ref name=TP71/><ref name=HMPS105/>
  
* Henry negotiated the removal of Star League garrison forces by [[2605]].  Henry argued that the SLDF was required elsewhere, and that the presence of foreign garrisons provoked further panic among the Taurian people.
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Advising the Protector is the [[Privy Council (Taurian Concordat)|Privy Council]], which meets on a monthly basis to review matters of state and recommend courses of action for the Protector to takeAt first the Council was composed of the original financiers of the Calderon expedition, but evolved to be composed of representatives from each of the major government departments as well as personal appointees by the Protector.<ref name=TP71/><ref name=HMPS105/>  In the event a suitable member of House Calderon is not available, the Privy Council also has the power (in consultation with the planetary governments) to choose a Protector themselves, as was the case with [[Grover Shraplen]].<ref name=HMPS105/>
* During a heated trade debate in the [[Star League]] [[High Council]] between the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and the [[Terran Hegemony]], Henry offered the views of the Taurian people.  When Henry was reproached for his actions, he replied, "You fought to force my people to be represented here.  You will not keep my voice from representing them."
 
  
33 years into his reign, Henry decided that he wanted an unambiguous and legitimate successionA vote was held, each citizen of the Concord given a single vote. The Taurian people overwhelmingly endorsed Henry to choose his own successorHenry chose his four-year old niece [[Consuelo Calderon|Consuelo]], and her uncle, [[Carlos Calderon]], as "Protector, to the Protector"Consuelo would assume full Protectorship in [[2650]], at which time Carlos became her representative to the [[Star League]] [[High Council]], the only member that did not rule a realm.  Consuelo was a great stateswomanAfter the death of Carlos, Consuelo represented herself on the High Council, and in [[2667]] became the first Periphery sovereign to preside over the Star League High Council during the a First Lord's absence.
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The government bureaucracy's primary goal is to ensure the individual liberty and general welfare of every Taurian citizen.  Civil servants are known as "functionaries" and generally divided into two groups: Masters of Request who handle most government affairs, and Auditors who operate as inspectors generalThe major government departments include:<ref name=TP72>''The Periphery'', p. 72</ref><ref name=HMPS106>''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 106</ref>
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* '''Ministry of Defense''' - Provides civilian oversight and administration of the armed forces.
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* '''Exchequer''' - Sets monetary policy and oversees financial affairs between member worldsManages the government mint, Concordat Bank of Taurus, and Taurian Treasury Reserve on Taurus.
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* '''Ministry of the Interior''' - Responsible for internal securityManages the [[Concordat Constabulary]], a ''gendarmerie'' which in times of war supplements the armed forces.
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* '''Ministry of Education''' - Oversees the educational system from preschool to university level.
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* '''Ministry of Trade and Colonization''' - Promotes commerce within the Concordat and the chartering of new colony worldsThis included the development of the [[New Colony Region]] and creation of the [[Colonial Marshals]].
  
Through the Territorial Period, the Concord was able to maintain its identity through two ways.  During the beginning of Henry Calderon's reign, Taurian nationalism was under fireTaurian nationalism was initially maintained through the reemergence of wandering Taurian troubadours.  Though outlaws, troubadours would travel from world to world, invading (disinterested) local authorities, and singing ballads about Taurian history.  Even after Henry's reign, Star League propaganda throughout the Periphery tended to encourage loyalty among Periphery denizens not to one's nation, but to the Star League itself.  The second factor in maintaining Taurian national identity was the educational reforms of [[Reginald Calderon]] in his [[Education Reform Act]] of [[2678]]. The Act helped in two ways
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The government is also responsible for bestowing titles of [[Nobility#Taurian Concordat|nobility]]While often hereditary, such patents may first be granted only to individuals who have performed an important service to the people (not necessarily the government).  Distinctly, Taurian nobles receive much smaller financial gains compared to the nobility of the Inner Sphere, an outgrowth of the idea that wealth disparities are harmful to a free society.<ref name=TP73/><ref name=HMPS107>''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 107</ref>
  
* The educational system within the Concord has maintained the highest literacy rates in the [[Human Sphere]] since Reginald Calderon.
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===Judiciary===
* Star League sponsored education through the Periphery, though ubiquitous, really was an instrument of indoctrination.
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An extensive court system upholds Taurian law and ensures the rights of the Concordat's citizens.  For every ten thousand citizens there are civil courts on every member planet, while a Planetary Court of Appeal for every three worlds serves an appellate function. A separate Court of Judicial Review, known as the '''Concordat Courts''', periodically reviews all statues passed by the Protector or any government department.  If any are determined to be a threat to individual liberty, such legislation can be struck down.<ref name=TP72/><ref name=HMPS107/>
  
As a result of increasingly harsh rule under the [[Star League]], tensions with the [[Star League]] began to grow increasingly strained.  After the death of [[Simon Cameron]], the situation escalatedWith the ascension of [[Richard Cameron II|Richard Cameron]] in [[2762]], Territorial States (indeed all States within the Human Sphere) were unilaterally subjected to steep tax hikes. Suspecting another invasion was imminent, Protector [[Nicoletta Calderon]] diverted her economy to arms production. In the midst of a Sphere-wide arms build-up, the [[New Vandenburg Crisis]] began in early [[2765]].  Protector [[Nicoletta Calderon]] gave 18 Taurian worlds her blessing to secede from the [[Star League]].  Because the [[Taurian Concordat]] at least nominally remained a "loyal" Territorial State, the [[SLDF]], dispatched by [[Richard Cameron II|First Lord Richard]], could not simply invade.  The standoff drew [[Aleksandr Kerensky|Aleksandr Kerensky's]] attention, and required the redeployment of enough troops that, in December, the [[Rim Worlds Republic]] garrisoned the entire [[Terran Hegemony]], and [[Stefan Amaris]] assassinated the First Lord.
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The Concordat Constabulary, in addition to its role of protecting against foreign intrusion, works alongside local police units to enforce the law on member worldsWhile there are variations in what different municipalities and provinces determine is legal and illegal, all major crimes (e.g. murder) have uniform definitions.<ref name=TP72/><ref name=HMPS107/>
  
{{Main|Amaris Civil War}}
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===Citizenship===
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The rights of the average Taurian citizen are guaranteed in the Concordat Charter, which include: freedom of speech, association, and religion; freedom from unwarranted searches, the right to remain silent, to a trial by a jury of their peers and to competent counsel; the right to move about freely and pursue economic activity; the right to free education, to free or low-cost healthcare, and to a living wage.  In return, citizens are obligated to serve the state for a period of four years, often in the military but also in any of the civilian branches too.<ref name=TP72/><ref name=HMPS106/>
  
In the wake of the [[Amaris Civil War]], Nicoletta left perhaps her most important legacy, when during the final session of the [[Star League]] [[High Council]], she proposed the formation of [[Comstar]] under the leadership of [[Jerome Blake]].  Her reasoning was sound - without a neutral, central body to maintain communication and technology, it was debatable if Humanity would ever re-achieve the pinnacle from which it was in clear decline.  The communications, so crucial for diplomacy and central government, remained free, despite the horrors of the [[Succession Wars]] yet to come.
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==Military==
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The [[Taurian Defense Force]] is a well-organized, well-trained and highly motivated military, especially by Periphery standards.  The military-industrial capacity of the Taurian Concordat, combined with the Taurian pride shown in the TDF, ensured that the TDF has traditionally been the largest and best-equipped army in the Periphery.
  
With the fall of the League and the start of the [[Succession Wars]], the Taurians became free of interference from the House Lords of the [[Inner Sphere]], and their independence has grown stronger.
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The arrangement of the TDF is modeled after that of the Napoleonic armies, with a [[thirty-first-century]] feel: [[BattleMech]]s, infantry, and armor assets are divided into operational Corps, with naval elements, primarily utilized for transportation and defense, attached directly to and under the command of the Corps commanders.  The Concordat Constabulary, a paramilitary force used for intelligence gathering and internal security, can be mobilized to supplement the TDF during times of war.  Finally there are a variety of armed groups, from planetary militias to the private armies of various nobles and corporations, which might lack in uniform quality and equipment but will not waver in coming to the defense of the realm.<ref>''The Periphery'', p. 74</ref><ref>''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 112</ref>
  
===Periphery Politics===
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The Taurian Defense Force has not maintained a fleet of [[WarShip]]s since the Reunification War, only possessing a single surviving (barely functional) WarShip, the ''[[Vincent (WarShip class)|Vincent Mk 39]]''-class [[Vandenberg (Individual Vincent-class WarShip)|TCW ''Vandenberg'']], which survived by hiding in the Hyades asteroid field.
In the last two centuries, the Taurians have not participated in the [[Succession Wars]].  However, immunity from the Succession Wars has not resulted to peace and unlimited expansion.
 
  
The Taurians began a conflict with the [[Magistracy of Canopus]], a land-grab to oust the Canopians from jointly colonized [[Capellan March]] settlements.  [[Semyon Calderon]] began the operation to annex [[Rockwellawan]] and [[Detroit]], in order to bolster the Concord in the event of another Inner Sphere invasion. The invasion was terribly unsuccessful, leading the Magistracy to counter-invade Portan<ref>''The Periphery (sourcebook)'', pg. 62</ref> (probably a misspelling of [[Portland]]) and [[Spencer]].  Also horribly executed, both invasion forces were severely bloodied and forced to return home.
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==Society and Culture==
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Taurians are proud to live in not only one of the oldest but what they see as the freest society in known space.  Freedom of speech and the press not only allows the average citizen to express their views without fear of government censorship but for the creation of a multitude of news sources and political parties who have made arguing over everything something of a sport.  Freedom of religion has allowed all faiths to flourish within Taurian society, and though some localities of like-minded individuals may create laws based on their particular interpretations the national government is wholly secularPerhaps the largest religious following in the Concordat is [[w:Deism|Deism]] (which, despite reports to the contrary, is not the official state religion but has received personal support by various Protectors over the years), while the philosophy of the [[Far Lookers]] plays on traditional Taurian beliefs in their pioneering founders' courage and man's destiny to conquer the stars.<ref name=TP73>''The Periphery'', p. 73</ref><ref name=TP83>''The Periphery'', p. 83</ref><ref name=HMPS123>''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', pp. 122–123</ref>
  
As a result, the Taurians have faced raids (and have conducted raids) on their anti-spinward border (with the Magistracy of Canopus) and their spinward border (pirates). Therefore, the Concord has been obliged to maintain a large and efficient military.  This, combined with the Concord's forced dependence on the [[Star League]], and the economic backlash of the [[Reunification War]], has stalled Taurian expansion effortsThe Taurian Concordat has required two centuries of relative peace to recover to the point of renewed expansion, a point of development they had reached centuries earlier.
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This love of liberty also explains in part the virulent anti-[[House Davion|Davion]] strain in Taurian culture, beyond the history of aggressive acts (both real and imagined) committed against the Concordat. Many see the Davions as hypocrites, espousing ideals like democracy and freedom but operating for all intents and purposes as a military dictatorship.<ref name=HMPS123/> On worlds with interconnected computer networks, the most popular MMO (massively multiplayer online) games are those which recreate the Reunification War or otherwise feature the Davions as antagonists.<ref name=HMPS124>''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 124</ref> This hatred and suspicion of the Davions permeates the government as well, with the military ever-ready to fight its counterpart in the Federated Suns and some foreign policy initiatives based simply on tweaking the nose of House Davion.<ref name=TP72/>
  
[[Ignatius Calderon]] also had to deal with the ultimate Taurian civic dilemma, the balance between a centralized government guaranteeing freedoms, and anarchy.  During the "[[Constitutional Crisis]]" of the 2850s, crime, corruption, anarchy and other civic problems began to intensifyThe situation became almost untenable, as [[Loyal Oppositionists]] rallied to suspend civil liberties while militant libertarians protested (violently), and targeted public Oppositionist figureheadsThe situation became a vicious cycle as public opinion swayed toward the Oppositionist campIgnatius settled the debate in [[2860]], when he pledged to increase funding to enhance civil protection to the fullest extent allowed by Taurian law ''without'' suspending any liberties.  Ignatius fulfilled his pledge, which pacified the libertarians, drained the Loyal Oppositionist's support, and improved Taurian quality of life.
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Perhaps the only thing Taurians value more than their liberty is the education needed to sustain it.  Even before the Reunification War the Concordat's educational system was one of the best, serving even as a model for Houses Davion and Liao.  During their occupation the Star League attempted to enforce a curriculum more favorable to their viewpoint, but many Taurians resisted such attempts and when their independence was regained the government quickly moved to rebuild the system to its former gloryAmple funding ensures that even the poorest planet is able to provide public education for everyone ages three to eighteen, along with many alternatives such as private academies and homeschoolingAfter graduating from secondary school Taurians can begin their compulsory state service, apply to one of the many professional schools for additional technical training, or apply to one of the prestigious universitiesIn [[3025]] the Concordat had six universities, graduating on average 40,000 students each year, with a seventh added in [[3068]].<ref name=TP83/><ref name=HMPS123/>
  
===The Pleiades Campaign===
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The Concordat also boasts a lively arts and entertainment scene, none more so than its publishing industry. Love of the written word is fed by a very high literacy rate, while the income authors derive from their published works is considered tax-exempt.  Another prominent feature are the Concordat Games, a triennial competition celebrating the ancient martial arts: sharpshooting, hand-to-hand combat, and swordsmanship are among the various war games celebrated by the Games.  The ultimate competition is a ten-team paintball battle with the winning side earning the title of Concordat's Defenders.<ref name=HMPS124/>
In the April of [[3066]] two dropships of the [[Fighting Urukhai]] arrived over [[Taurus]]. Because of the fact that they were [[Overlord]]s of a [[Davion]] employed mercenary unit, and had reached the capital of the Concordat without a guide leading them through the [[Hyades]], and that they were approaching fast burning from a [[Pirate Jump Point]] led the [[TDF]] to destroy both ships without asking questions.
 
  
The Urukhai claimed that the mercenarys just wanted to bargain for a contract and in August DeMaestri's Sluggers the second regiment of the Urukhai assaulted Taurus out of revenge. They caused great damage on the capital and its defending units before being destroyed completely by the combined [[Taurian Guards]].
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==Economy==
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The Taurian economy can in many ways be described as "capitalism with a human face."  When it comes to monetary policy the Concordat adopts a ''laissez-faire'' approach, with government bodies like the Bank of Taurus and the Taurian Treasury Reserve there only to ensure monetary stability or directly intervene in the most unusual of circumstances. However, strong regulations exists to ensure fair play and protect the rights of workers: a living wage, pensions, unemployment assistance and other benefits are guaranteed by the Concordat Charter.  Businesses are largely accepting of these rules, partly out of their own self-interest, and partly from the memories of rampant, predatory exploitation which occurred during the waning years of the Star League when regulatory safeguards were removed.<ref name=TP83>''The Periphery'', p. 83</ref><ref name=HMPS117-118>''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', pp. 117–118</ref><ref name=ER2750>''Era Report: 2750'', p. 65</ref>  There also exists a strong belief within Taurian society that too great of a wealth disparity is destructive to a free democracy.<ref name=HMPS107>''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 107</ref>
  
[[Protector of the Realm|Protector]] [[Grover Shraplen]] saw this incident as a Davion attack to weaken the Concordat's defenses and ordered more units to the [[Federated Suns]]' border. Shraplens rule was not very stable but because the only alternative was young [[Erik Martens-Calderon]] his opponents, in particular [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]] Baron [[Cham Kithrong]], could not muster enough popular support to unseat him. So Kithrong and his followers declared the independence of the [[Calderon Protectorate]] and Shraplen was not able to convince the military to attack the rebels for most Taurians sympathized with Kithrongs intentions and wanted no outright civil war.
+
The Taurian economy is built on a strong manufacturing sector, colonial expansion, and intra-Periphery trade in key technologies, with its largest trading partner historically being the [[Magistracy of Canopus]].  For many years trade with the [[Inner Sphere]] was severely curtailed and viewed as politically undesirable, but that began to change during the thirty-first century, particularly with the signing of the [[Trinity Alliance]]. By [[3067]], Taurian trading firms had succeeded in penetrating the markets in the [[Capellan Confederation]] and [[Free Worlds League]], while (to the Magistracy's annoyance) exploratory efforts were made at increasing trade with the budding [[Marian Hegemony]].<ref name=TP83>''The Periphery'', p. 83</ref><ref name=HMPS117-118>''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', pp. 117–118</ref>
  
So Shraplen refocused his attention on the Davions again. In the January of [[3067]] he ordered preemptive strikes into the Federated Sun's territory that initially made remarkable progress and exploited the weakness of the Suns in the wake of the [[FedCom Civil War]] by conquering the worlds of [[Hyalite]], [[Lothair]], [[Midale]], [[Brockway]] and [[Lindsay]] until March. The successes of the campaign and the proximity to their ancient homeworlds led the [[Pleiades Hussars]] and the [[Pleiades Lancers]] to proceed without orders into the [[Pleiades Cluster]]. In the meantime [[Duke]] [[George Hasek]] could assemble a mercenary force large enough to take on the invaders. The counter assault hit the Taurian Force hard and by March the Federated Suns had retaken every world except the Cluster worlds. The Pleiades Hussars' passionate defense of their former homeworlds increased the popular support for the campaign and for Shraplen himself. He planed now to occupy the Cluster until the Fourth [[Whitting Conference]] in November where he wanted to point out the legitimate claim of the Taurian Concordat to the worlds lost to the [[SLDF]] during the [[Reunification War]] and to regain them on the formal way. Although his plans were thwarted by the disbanding of the [[Star League]], the chaos of the following [[Jihad]] gained the Concordat the control over the Pleiades and of a few other worlds.
+
===Manufacturing Centers===
 +
A diverse array of industries make up the Taurian economy, from aquaculture to mining to publishing, but the largest are the military-industrial complex, second only to consumer goods and electronics in size and importance.  With a variety of weapons manufacturers, some of whom remained operational in secret during the Star League era, the Taurian Concordat can produce everything from [[BattleMechs]] and [[Combat Vehicles]] to [[aerospace fighters]] and [[DropShips]] for its armed forces. Unfortunately many key industrial centers are located outside the protective area of the Hyades zone, a fact which forces the TDF to deploy its units in a static defensive role to protect them from attack.<ref name=TP83/><ref name=HMPS117-118/>
  
===The Jihad===
+
====3067====
In [[3068]] the [[Taurian Concordat]] had initiated combat actions against the breakaway [[Calderon Protectorate]] and the [[3rd Taurian Lancers]] had been tasked with the conquest of the Protectorate world of [[Marknick]]. The mercenary [[Black Angus Boys]] had been contracted to support the offensive operations against the Protectorate, but refused to defend the 3rd Lancers' landing zone when the Lancers found themselves the target of a counterattack by the [[1st Taurian Pride]]. The Black Angus Boys refusal to support the Lancers effectively ended the entire campaign against the Protectorate.<ref name="MSUp31">''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 31, "Black Angus Boys"</ref>
+
;Major Defense Industries
 +
* [[Sterope Defense Industries]]<ref>''Objective Raids'', p. 161</ref>
 +
* [[Pinard Protectorates Limited]]<ref name=TO17>''Tactical Operations'', p. 17</ref>
 +
* [[Taurus Territorial Industries]]<ref name=TO17/>
 +
* [[Vandenberg Mechanized Industries]]<ref name=TO17/>
 +
* [[Wingman Enterprises Limited]]<ref name=TO17/>
  
In March [[3069]] the [[AFFS]] forces in the [[Capellan March]] had spent more than a year fighting as a part of [[Duke]] [[George Hasek II|George Hasek's]] [[Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE]], an offensive against the Capellan Confederation. The [[CCAF]] counter-offensive, [[Operation THUNDERSTRIKE]], forced Hasek to recall his forces from Capellan space to reinforce Capellan March worlds as the CCAF struck against numerous worlds in quick secession; as the AFFS troops withdrew, the Concordat used the opportunity to send reinforcements into the Pleiades Cluster between the 21st and 28th of March.<ref name="J:FRp46">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 46, "The Jihad In Review"</ref>
+
==Fact Sheets==
 
+
;3130<ref>''Dark Age: Touring the Stars (3130)'', p. 91</ref>
On the 1st of May [[3074]] Protector Shraplen was killed in an asteroid strike that destroyed the capital city Samantha on Taurus. Evidence discovered in the asteroid field and on the remainds of the asteroids on Taurus implicated the Federated Suns, a conclusion that [[House Davion]] denied vehemently.<ref name="JHS3076p52">''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 52, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp52">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 52, "The Jihad In Review"</ref> The Concordat responded by relocating it's rimward forces to the Federated Suns border - forces which included a newly unveiled ''[[Quixote]]''-class [[WarShip]], the [[TCS Vendetta|TCS ''Vendetta'']].<ref name="JHS3076p52">''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 52, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp53">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 53, "The Jihad In Review"</ref>
+
* Founding Year: [[2335]] (Concordat; [[2253]] as Taurian Homeworlds); [[3066]] (Protectorate)
 
+
* Capital (City, World): New Samantha, [[Taurus]] (Concordat); New Taurus, [[Erod's Escape]] (Protectorate)
At the end of May 3074 the Taurian Concordat launched a second invasion of the Federated Suns; by the end of June, the first wave had captured the worlds of [[Brockway]], [[Bromhead]], [[Hyalite]], [[Lothair]] and [[Midale]]. During the capture of three of these worlds - Brockway, Bromhead and Midale - the Taurian invasions were supported with nuclear weapons, destroying various [[AFFS]] pickets; as a result, by the end of June more than ten million Federated Suns civilians and military personnel had been killed.<ref name="JHS3076p52"/><ref name="J:FRp53"/>
+
* National Symbol (Both): A bull’s head with exaggerated horns that curl downward and encompass three gold five-pointed stars (Calderon Protectorate uses black stars.)
 
+
* Location ([[Terra]] relative): Rimward, beyond [[Capellan Confederation]] and [[Federated Suns]]
During July 3074 the Taurian Concordat second wave of the invasion created another pincer directed towards the Pleiades Cluster, capturing the worlds of [[Carmichael]], [[Diefenbaker]], [[Lindsay]], Lothair and [[Warren]].<ref name="JHS3076p52"/><ref name="J:FRp53"/> A third wave of attacks launched in January and February [[3075]] captured the worlds of [[Horsham]], [[Mendham]] and [[Robsart]], but the Taurian forces sent to capture [[Brusett]] are shattered by the defending [[Hansen's Roughriders]], and the Federated Suns launched a counter-offensive in February using a mix of AFFS troops, militia forces and mercenaries. The Federated Suns troops quickly recaptured Hyalite and turned the battle for Warren into a stalemate, although the attack on Lothair was successfully repelled.<ref name="J:FRp53"/><ref name="JHS:Tp14">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 14, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> Despite the Federated Suns counterattack, the Concordat seized Wrentham in April, capitalizing on the damage inflicted by the Word of Blake raid on the world in February.<ref name="J:FRp53"/><ref name="JHS:Tp15">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 15, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>
+
* Total (Inhabited) Systems: 22 (Concordat); 13 (Protectorate)
 
+
* Estimated Population ([[3130]]): 33,031,000,000 (Concordat);15,310,000,000 (Protectorate)
The [[Word of Blake]]'s [[22nd Division (Word of Blake)|22nd Militia]] struck at the Capellan March world of Brusett on the 30th of May 3075. The Federated Suns responded by mustering and deploying a small flotilla of ships including the [[WarShip]] [[Fox_(WarShip)#Named_Vessels|FCS ''Kathil'']] to the system to stave off an anticipated attack by the Concordat; Taurian forces arrived in the Brusett system in late June, and on the 30th of June the TCS ''Vendetta'' and the FCS ''Kathil'' battled over Brusett. The TCS ''Vendetta'' was forced to retreat, but the FCS ''Kathil'' was lost in the battle, and several major cities on the planet suffered horrendous collateral damage due to the nuclear weapons both sides used in orbit and within the planetary atmosphere.<ref name="JHS:Tp16">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 16, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp54">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 54, "The Jihad In Review"</ref>
+
* Government: Democracy (currently under military rule, Concordat); Democracy (Protectorate)
 
+
* Ruler: [[Protector of the Realm|Protector]] [[Kaff Doru]] (Concordat); Protector [[Sam Calderon]] (Protectorate)
A part of the Federated Suns counter-offensive against the Concordat involved using Hansen's Roughriders to strike at worlds within the Taurian Concordat. The Roughriders used a mix of nuclear and non-nuclear weapons captured on Hyalite to attack [[Amber Grove]] on the 15th of April 3075, destroying the local militia, the spaceport and the central military headquarters before spending several weeks destroying any target of significant military or industrial value on the planet. The Roughriders then subverted the mercenary unit on [[Perdition]], [[Longwood's Bluecoats]], before striking at the world in late July, destroying the Perdition factory complexes. The Roughriders attacked [[Grossbach]] in early September,<ref name="J:FRp54">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 54, "The Jihad In Review"</ref> and then [[Sterope]] on the 21st of November. In contrast to earlier attacks, the attack on Sterope was the first where the Roughriders didn't raze the local factory complexes, although they did plunder the [[Sterope Defense Industries]] plant before leaving. In turn, a Taurian raid in February [[3076]] inflicted critical damage on the [[Jalastar Aerospace]] [[BattleMech]] plant on [[Panpour]].<ref name="JHS:Tp20">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 20, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp55">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 55, "The Jihad In Review"</ref>
+
* Dominant Language(s): English, Spanish, French
 
+
* Dominant Religion(s): Deism (official), Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism
The Roughriders returned to Federated Suns space after the Sterope raid, landing on Warren on the 5th of April 3076 to resupply.<ref name="J:FRp55"/><ref name="JHS:Tp21">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 21, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> The Taurians pursued the Roughriders, with a task force led by the TCS ''Vendetta'' arriving in the Warren system on the 13th of June; the Roughriders retreated to [[Keuterville]], but their retreat didn't stop the Vendetta from bombarding the planetary capital and spaceports on Warren. The Taurians then bombarded Keuterville on the 7th of July, with the Roughriders retreating again, this time to [[Firgrove]]. In the Firgrove system a Federated Suns task force led by the ''[[Fox (WarShip)|Fox]]''-class ''[[Fox (WarShip)#Named Vessels|New Syrtis]]'' managed to intercept the ''Vendetta'' before the planet could be attacked, forcing the Taurian vessel to retreat. On the 30th of June Baron [[Cham Kithrong]] of the [[Calderon Protectorate]] recalled all of those Protectorate troops which had been deployed into the Concordat to assist the population after the asteroid strike on Taurus and the Federated Suns counter-offensive; Kithrong cited "moral conflicts" as the reason for the recall.<ref name="JHS:Tp22">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 22, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp56">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 56, "The Jihad In Review"</ref>
+
* Unit of Currency: Bull (1 bull = 0.12 C-bills)
 
 
Having been forced to retreat from Firgrove, the ''Vendetta'' returned to the [[Brusett]] system in mid-September 3076. The ''Vendetta'' and her task force put Brusett under siege, but the siege would only last until the 2nd of October; the arrival of the FSS ''New Syrtis'' and resulting naval battle saw the Federated Suns WarShip suffering crippling damage, but not before enough critical damage was inflicted on the ''Vendetta'' by the ''New Syrtis'' and her escorts to force the ''Vendetta'' to retreat. Despite the naval siege of Brusett being broken, a Taurian task force raided [[New Syrtis]] on the 12th of October 3076; using a combination of bombing runs, random orbital bombardment and nuclear strikes the task force not only crippled the [[New Syrtis Shipyards]] facilities but also to inflict devastating damage on large swathes of the equitorial regions of the world.<ref name="JHS:Tp22"/><ref name="J:FRp56"/>
 
 
 
As the end of 3076 approached and the Taurian forces on Brusett were faced with imminent defeat, they resorted to using scorched earth tactics to destroy as many of the Federated Suns ground forces on the planet as possible. These scorched earth tactics often involved the use of nuclear devices, causing carnage; this damage was exacerbated by the Federated Suns [[Pocket WarShip]]s which shelled the Taurian positions repeatedly.<ref name="J:FRp56"/><ref name="JHS:Tp23">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 23, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>
 
 
 
===Post-Jihad Era===
 
Emissaries from the [[Calderon Protectorate]] arrived on both Taurus and [[New Avalon]] on the 15th of March [[3080]], appealing to both states for an end to the conflict between the Concordat and the Suns. The Protectorate successfully brokered a treaty between the two states on the 2nd of July, a week after [[Baron]] [[Cham Kithrong]] stepped down as Regent-Protector so that [[Erik Martens-Calderon]] could assume the Protectorship. The treaty called for the Federated Suns to cede the Pleiades worlds to the Concordat, while the Concordat effectively surrendered the TCS ''Vendetta'' to the Calderon Protectorate, where it would be crewed by a crew of personnel from all three realms. While the treaty ended the war, the ''Vendetta'' wouldn't be formally ceded to the Protectorate until the 19th of April [[3081]].<ref name="J:FRp61">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 61, "The Jihad In Review"</ref>
 
 
 
Between the arrival of the envoys from the Calderon Protectorate and the formal declaration of a peace treaty, the Federated Suns launched [[Operation MATADOR]], a military campaign to recapture the planets the Taurians had conquered since their initial invasion. Commanded by [[Field Marshal]] [[Nathaniel Hasek]], MATADOR began on the 5th of May, but Field Marshal Hasek would be killed in an ambush on the world of [[Ridgebrook]] on the 14th of June.<ref name="J:FRp61"/>
 
 
 
The cost of the war to both the Federated Suns and the Taurian Concordat was extremely high. By mid-3080 the Taurian GDP was down 30% on where it had been 20 years before, a result of the combination of pirate activity, Blakist subversion and production capacity lost as a consequence of the worlds and industry lost during the war. The brutal nature of the war had inflicted damage on the worlds directly involved in the combat was bordering on levels unseen since the [[Second Succession War]]. Despite Operation MATADOR and the limited combat operations conducted in 3080, both nations were rapidly approaching the point where the war would become unsustainable for either; the Federated Suns was close to exhausting it's ability to conduct combat operations and logistics operations simultaneously while also protecting it's own supply lines, whereas the ravaged Taurian industrial base and the plunging economy placed the Taurian Defense Force in similar straits.<ref name="J:FRp28">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 28, "Piracy, Economics Complicate FedSuns-Taurus War"</ref>
 
 
 
The Taurian industrial base was devastated by the Roughriders, and the Concordat lost yet more industrial production when the Federated Suns conquered a number of Taurian worlds. While the Concordat gained control over the worlds of the Pleiades cluster, the military industry on Perdition and Taurus was effectively destroyed, while production facilities on Sterope, MacLeod's Land and Celano would take years to recover. The Concordat also lost worlds such as Perdition and Organo to the Federated Suns, losing more industry - and in the case of Organo, the Organo Flight Academy. The Concordat was forced to increase the production of [[RetroTech]] equipment in an era when the [[Inner Sphere]] nations were shutting down their own RetroTech production lines; the Taurian Defense Force had been so badly damaged that it was predicted that the enlarged production of RetroTech equipment would continue until at least [[3086]] as a part of the rebuilding effort.<ref name="J:FRp117">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 117, "Taurian Concordat"</ref>
 
 
 
===Dark Age===
 
A map of the [[Inner Sphere]] of [[3130]] indicates that while the Concordat still exists, most of its worlds have become independent. It is much smaller and consists only of the worlds around the [[Pleiades Cluster]] and [[Hyades Cluster]]. As of yet, it is unknown how this came about.<ref>''BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction'', p. 239</ref>
 
 
 
==Military==
 
  
{{main|Taurian Defense Force}}
+
==Maps==
 
 
The [[Taurian Defense Force]] is a well-organized, well-trained and highly motivated army, especially by Periphery standards.  The military-industrial capacity of the Taurian Concordat, combined with the Taurian pride shown in the TDF, ensures that the TDF is also the largest (by number of soldiers) and best-equipped army in the Periphery.
 
 
 
The arrangement of TDF is modeled after that of the Napoleonic armies, with a 31st century feel:  [[BattleMech]], Infantry, and Armor assets are divided into corps.  Infantry and Armor assets are able to act seamlessly.  Because of the paucity of BattleMechs spread through a realm reaching more than 250 light years in diameter, BattleMech assets deploy and act on their own.  Naval elements, primarily utilized for transportation and defense, are attached directly to Corps Commanders.  The Concord also maintains the [[Concord Constabulary|Constabulary]], a paramilitary force used for intelligence gathering, defense, peace-keeping and maintaining the law, but which can be mobilized.
 
 
 
The Taurian Defense Force has not maintained a fleet of Warships since the [[Reunification War]], only possessing a single surviving (barely-functional) Warship, the [[Vincent|Vincent Mk 39]] ''TCV New Vandenberg'', which only survived hidden in the Hyades asteroid field.
 
 
 
 
 
==Manufacturing Center==
 
A detailed list of some Taurian Concordat manufacturing centers.
 
 
 
===Major Defense Industries===
 
* [[Sterope Defense Industries]]<ref>''Objective Raids, p.161''</ref>
 
* [[Pinard Protectorates Limited]]<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 17</ref>
 
* [[Taurus Territorial Industries]]<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 17</ref>
 
* [[Vandenburg Mechanized Industries]]<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 17</ref>
 
* [[Wingman Enterprises Limited]]<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 17</ref>
 
 
 
==Rulers==
 
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
! scope="col" width="150" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
 
! scope="col" width="150" style="background: #dedede;" | Reign
 
! scope="col" style="background: #dedede;" | Descent
 
|-
 
| colspan="3" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Protector [[2253]] - [[2335]]'''
 
|-
 
| [[Samantha Calderon]]||[[2253]] - [[2268]]||
 
|-
 
| [[Timothy Calderon]]||[[2268]] - [[2330]]||Son of [[Samantha Calderon|Samantha]]
 
|-
 
| [[Sandra Calderon]]||[[2330]] - [[2335]]||Daughter of [[Timothy Calderon|Timothy]]
 
|-
 
| colspan="3" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Protector of the Realm [[2335]] - present'''
 
|-
 
| [[Richard Calderon]]||[[2335]] - [[2387]]||Son of [[Sandra Calderon|Sandra]]
 
|-
 
| [[Daniel Calderon]]||[[2387]] - [[2390]]||Son of [[Richard Calderon|Richard]]
 
|-
 
| [[Sigur Fonn]]||[[2390]] - ****||Regent for [[Amanda Calderon|Amanda]]
 
|-
 
| [[Amanda Calderon]]||**** - ****||Daughter of [[Daniel Calderon|Daniel]]
 
|-
 
|****||**** - ****||
 
|-
 
| [[Amalthia Calderon]]||*** - [[2557]]<ref>''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 62</ref>||rule includes year [[2528]]
 
|-
 
| [[Caterina Calderon]]||[[2557]] - [[2574]]<ref>''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 62</ref>||Protector durring the [[Malagrotta Affair]]
 
|-
 
| [[Mitchell Calderon]]||[[2574]] - [[2587]]<ref>''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 62</ref>||Protector prior to and durring the [[Reunification War]]
 
|-
 
| [[Marantha Calderon]]||[[2587]] - [[2596]]||Daughter of [[Mitchell Calderon|Mitchell]], Protector until the end of the [[Reunification War]]
 
 
 
|-
 
| [[Henry Calderon]]||[[2596]] - [[2629]]||Nephew of [[Marantha Calderon|Marantha]]
 
|-
 
| '''"Protector, to the Protector" (Regent)''' [[Carlos Calderon]]||[[2629]] - [[2650]]||Cousin of [[Henry Calderon|Henry]]
 
|-
 
| [[Consuelo Calderon]]||[[2650]] - [[2671]]||Niece of [[Henry Calderon|Henry]]
 
|-
 
| [[Reginald Calderon]]||[[2671]] - [[2687]]||Great Grandson of [[Marantha Calderon|Marantha]]
 
|-
 
| [[Jentarra Calderon]]||[[2687]] - [[2694]]||Daughter of [[Reginald Calderon|Reginald]]
 
|-
 
| [[Brandon Calderon]]||[[2694]] - [[2725]]||Brother of [[Jentarra Calderon|Jentarra]]
 
|-
 
| [[Hampton Calderon]]||[[2725]] - [[2726]]||Son of [[Brandon Calderon|Brandon]]
 
|-
 
| [[Nicoletta Calderon]]||[[2726]] - c. [[28010]]||Daughter of ****, Protector during the [[Amaris Civil War|Amaris Crisis]]
 
|-
 
| [[Semyon Calderon]]||[[2801]] - ****||Son of ****, Protector during the [[First Succession War|1st Succession War]]
 
|-
 
|****||**** - ****||
 
|-
 
| [[Ignatius Calderon]]||[[2842]] - [[2884]]||
 
|-
 
|****||**** - ****||
 
|-
 
|[[Zarantha Calderon]]||**** - [[3017]]||Mother of [[Thomas Calderon]]
 
|-
 
| [[Thomas Calderon]]||[[3017]] - [[3055]]||Protector during the [[Third Succession War|3rd Succession War]] and [[Fourth Succession War|4th Succession War]]
 
|-
 
| [[Jeffrey Calderon]]||[[3055]] - [[3061]]||Son of [[Thomas Calderon|Thomas]] - Assasinated on [[Detroit]]
 
|-
 
| [[Grover Shraplen]]||[[3061]] - [[3071]]||
 
|-
 
| [[Boris Tharn]] ||3074 - ****||
 
|-
 
| [[Kaff Doru]]<ref>''Touring the Stars'', p. 91 - Taurian Concordat/Calderon Protectorate section</ref>||**** - ****|| [[Dark Age]] era Leader
 
|}
 
 
 
==Era Maps==
 
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Image: Taurian Concordat partial 2366.png|Border between the Taurian Concordat and the Capellan Confederation during the Second Exodus (2366)
 
Image: Taurian Concordat partial 2366.png|Border between the Taurian Concordat and the Capellan Confederation during the Second Exodus (2366)
Image: TC_2571.png|Taurian Concordat and neighbouring states after the Age of War (2571)
+
Image: TC_2571.png|Taurian Concordat and neighboring states after the Age of War (2571)
 +
Image: TC_2578.png|Taurian Concordat and neighboring states (2578)
 
Image: Taurian_Concordat_2596.png|Taurian Concordat after the Reunification War (2596)
 
Image: Taurian_Concordat_2596.png|Taurian Concordat after the Reunification War (2596)
 
Image: TC_2750.png|Taurian Concordat before the Fall of the Star League (2750)
 
Image: TC_2750.png|Taurian Concordat before the Fall of the Star League (2750)
Image:Taurian Concordat 2764.jpg|Taurian Concordat in 2764
+
Image: Taurian-Concordat-2764.png|Taurian Concordat in 2764
Image: Taurian Concordat partial 2822.png|Taurian Concordat after the 1st Succession War (2822)
+
File:Taurian Concordat - 2767.jpg|Taurian Concordat in [[2767]]
Image: Taurian Concordat partial 2864.png|Taurian Concordat after the 2nd Succession War (2864)
+
Image: Taurian Concordat partial 2822.png|Taurian Concordat after the First Succession War (2822)
Image: Taurian_Concordat_3025.png|Taurian Concordat after the 3rd Succession War (3025)
+
Image: Taurian Concordat partial 2864.png|Taurian Concordat after the Second Succession War (2864)
 +
Image: Taurian_Concordat_3025.png|Taurian Concordat after the Third Succession War (3025)
 
Image: Taurian_Concordat_3040.png|Taurian Concordat after the modern colonization drive (3040)
 
Image: Taurian_Concordat_3040.png|Taurian Concordat after the modern colonization drive (3040)
 
Image: Taurian_Concordat_3067.png|Taurian Concordat after the FedCom Civil War (3067)
 
Image: Taurian_Concordat_3067.png|Taurian Concordat after the FedCom Civil War (3067)
 
Image: Taurian_Concordat_Jihad_gains.png|Taurian Concordat conquered territory during the Jihad
 
Image: Taurian_Concordat_Jihad_gains.png|Taurian Concordat conquered territory during the Jihad
 
Image: Taurian Concordat 3079.jpg|Taurian Concordat after the Jihad (3079)
 
Image: Taurian Concordat 3079.jpg|Taurian Concordat after the Jihad (3079)
 +
Image: Taurian-Concordat-3085.png|Taurian Concordat in 3085
 
Image: Taurian_Concordat_3130.png|Taurian Concordat at the beginning of the Dark Age (3130)
 
Image: Taurian_Concordat_3130.png|Taurian Concordat at the beginning of the Dark Age (3130)
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
==Historical: Maps==
 +
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:TC-2596.png|after [[Reunification War]]
 +
File:TC-2750.png|[[Star League]] Era
 +
File:TC-2822.png|after [[First Succession War]]
 +
File:TC-2864.png|after [[Second Succession War]]
 +
File:TC-3025.png|after [[Third Succession War]]
 +
File:TC-3030.png|after [[Fourth Succession War]]
 +
File:TC-3040.png|after [[War of 3039]]
 +
File:TC-3050.png|before [[Clan Invasion]]
 +
File:TC-3052.png|after [[Clan Invasion]]
 +
File:TC-3057.png|in [[3057]]
 +
File:TC-3063.png|after [[Operation Guerrero]]
 +
File:TC-3067.png|during [[Second Star League]]
 +
File:TC-3075.png|during [[Jihad]]
 +
File:TC-3079.png|after [[Jihad]]
 +
File:TC-3081.png|in [[3081]]
 +
File:TC-3085.png|creation of the [[Republic of the Sphere]]
 +
File:TC-3130.png|before [[Gray Monday]]
 +
File:TC-3135.png|in [[3135]]
 +
File:TC-3145.png|in [[3145]]
 +
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
Line 235: Line 152:
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
 
* ''[[BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction]]''
 
* ''[[BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction]]''
 +
* ''[[Dark Age: Touring the Stars (3130)]]''
 
* ''[[Field Manual: Periphery]]''
 
* ''[[Field Manual: Periphery]]''
 
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
 
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
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* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
 
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
 
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]''
 
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]''
 +
* ''[[The Periphery (sourcebook)|The Periphery, First Edition]]''
 +
* ''[[The Periphery, 2nd Edition (sourcebook)|The Periphery, Second Edition]]''
 +
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]''
 
* ''[[Tactical Operations]]''
 
* ''[[Tactical Operations]]''
* ''[[The Periphery (sourcebook)]]''
 
* ''[[The Periphery, 2nd Edition (sourcebook)]]''
 
* ''[[Touring the Stars]]''
 
  
[[Category: Factions]]
+
 
[[Category: Periphery Realms]]
+
[[Category:Nation States]]
[[Category: Taurian Concordat]]
 

Latest revision as of 18:52, 25 February 2024

Crest of Taurian Concordat
Taurian Concordat
State Profile
Founding Year 2335
Capital world: Taurus
Controlled system(s): 56+
Government
Head of State Protector of the Realm
Military
Army Taurian Defense Force (TDF)
Military Intelligence Taurian Ministry of Intelligence (TMI)

The Taurian Concordat is an interstellar nation located in the Periphery. Founded as a constitutional monarchy under the leadership of House Calderon, the Taurian Concordat is one of the oldest surviving realms since the collapse of the Terran Alliance. Taurian citizens enjoy extensive freedoms guaranteed by the Concordat Charter and take pride in defending those freedoms through compulsory service. The Taurian Concordat has had an antagonistic relationship with the Inner Sphere, particularly against the Federated Suns, and is driven by a desire to expand its borders through colonization and protect its hard-won freedoms from outside aggression.

History[edit]

The Taurian Concordat traces its beginnings to Samantha Calderon, a woman whose family was murdered by the Terran Alliance and soon found herself in dire straits when that government's collapse left the Outer Reaches in chaos. After securing sufficient funding for a deep-space exploration effort, the Calderon Expedition left known space in 2250. Nearly two years later, they reached the Hyades Cluster, with Samantha the first to step foot on Taurus on 23 January, 2253. Over the next century the Taurians thrived in their isolation, expanding out to colonize the rest of the Hyades Cluster and outlying systems, while at the same time running into refugees fleeing war and oppression in the Inner Sphere. In 2335, Richard Calderon announced the creation of the Taurian Concordat, allowing those systems which joined to maintain their internal affairs while pledging to come to the common defense of all.

As the Concordat expanded, so did it come into more regular contact with the Inner Sphere. Due to a series of unfortunate events involving the Capellan Confederation and the Federated Suns, the Concordat became embroiled in conflict with the Federation, an event which would spark centuries of animosity towards House Davion. After the Great Houses banded together to form the Star League in 2570, they tried to convince the Taurian Concordat and other major powers of the Periphery to join as well, an offer which was politely but strongly declined. Eventually, the Star League gave them a final choice: join us or else. The Periphery refused, and for twenty-five years the Reunification War raged, causing immense destruction within the Concordat as both the Taurians and Star League fought with every tool at their disposal, including nuclear weapons. By the conflict's end, one in five Taurians were dead and the Concordat was made a Territorial State of the Star League.

The Taurian Concordat chafed under the rule of the Star League: slight increases in living standards and fewer pirate attacks were not worth the cost of being exploited and oppressed by distant masters. When Stefan Amaris of the Rim Worlds Republic approached the other Periphery leaders about a conspiracy to win their freedom, they agreed. The New Vandenberg Uprising began in 2765 when Nicoletta Calderon allowed several Concordat worlds to secede from the Star League, an act which would lead directly to the Star League Civil War. Though Stefan Amaris went back on his word and tried to retain the Periphery in his new "Amaris Empire," in the end the dissolution of the Star League in 2780 finally won the Concordat its freedom.

Though the Taurian Concordat was not directly affected by the devastating Succession Wars, they nevertheless still felt its effects: severe disruptions in trade and communication, increasing numbers of refugees and pirates spilling into its borders, and a general loss in knowledge and technology. A constant vigil was maintained against any aggression by House Davion, though more often than not any attacks on the Concordat came from its Periphery neighbors, including the Magistracy of Canopus.

When Houses Davion and Steiner joined to form the Federated Commonwealth in 3028, fears that this new superstate would once again try to conquer the Concordat spurred Thomas Calderon to put the Taurian Defense Force on high alert and vastly increase military funding at the expense of other programs. This state of affairs, coupled with Thomas blaming every setback on "Davion saboteurs," put him in opposition to members of the Far Lookers group and members of his own government. Even the Clan Invasion was first dismissed as a plot hatched by the Davions to distract the Periphery. His death in 3055 and Jeffrey Calderon's ascension brought relief from these policies and a change towards greater cooperation, first with the Magistracy and then the Capellan Confederation. The Trinity Alliance would bring greater access to technology and resources to the Concordat, in exchange for allowing some TDF forces to participate in the Capellan-St. Ives War.

Eighty-one years after the Calderon Protectorate was formed, on 29 August 3147, Protector Sam Calderon and Kaff Doru announced that Doru's twelve-year-old daughter Reva and Calderon's eight-year-old son Bryant would marry once Bryant turned eighteen. This meant that in 3157 the Calderon Protectorate and Taurian Concordat were scheduled to reunify as one nation again. Until then, the two nations would expand their trade relations and engage in mutual defense operations, with additional safeguards to prevent events like the Bromhead Massacre of 3067.[1]

Politics[edit]

The political structure of the Taurian Concordat is in many ways ironically similar to that of the Federated Suns. While the national government is headed by a constitutional monarch, individual worlds are given the autonomy to govern themselves as they see fit so long as they maintain a working allegiance to the Concordat and the Protector. Most planets therefore are run as representative democracies, with many variations in how they operate.[2][3]

Government[edit]

The Protector of the Realm, or simply the Protector, is the chief executive officer of the Concordat and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. A title bestowed upon the eldest member of House Calderon, the Protector is responsible for all matters foreign and domestic. To guard against tyranny, all statutes passed by the Protector are subject to periodic review by the Concordat Courts, which have the power to strike down any deemed unconstitutional, though during times of war the Protector can evoke temporary emergency powers which grant them supreme authority.[2][3]

Advising the Protector is the Privy Council, which meets on a monthly basis to review matters of state and recommend courses of action for the Protector to take. At first the Council was composed of the original financiers of the Calderon expedition, but evolved to be composed of representatives from each of the major government departments as well as personal appointees by the Protector.[2][3] In the event a suitable member of House Calderon is not available, the Privy Council also has the power (in consultation with the planetary governments) to choose a Protector themselves, as was the case with Grover Shraplen.[3]

The government bureaucracy's primary goal is to ensure the individual liberty and general welfare of every Taurian citizen. Civil servants are known as "functionaries" and generally divided into two groups: Masters of Request who handle most government affairs, and Auditors who operate as inspectors general. The major government departments include:[4][5]

  • Ministry of Defense - Provides civilian oversight and administration of the armed forces.
  • Exchequer - Sets monetary policy and oversees financial affairs between member worlds. Manages the government mint, Concordat Bank of Taurus, and Taurian Treasury Reserve on Taurus.
  • Ministry of the Interior - Responsible for internal security. Manages the Concordat Constabulary, a gendarmerie which in times of war supplements the armed forces.
  • Ministry of Education - Oversees the educational system from preschool to university level.
  • Ministry of Trade and Colonization - Promotes commerce within the Concordat and the chartering of new colony worlds. This included the development of the New Colony Region and creation of the Colonial Marshals.

The government is also responsible for bestowing titles of nobility. While often hereditary, such patents may first be granted only to individuals who have performed an important service to the people (not necessarily the government). Distinctly, Taurian nobles receive much smaller financial gains compared to the nobility of the Inner Sphere, an outgrowth of the idea that wealth disparities are harmful to a free society.[6][7]

Judiciary[edit]

An extensive court system upholds Taurian law and ensures the rights of the Concordat's citizens. For every ten thousand citizens there are civil courts on every member planet, while a Planetary Court of Appeal for every three worlds serves an appellate function. A separate Court of Judicial Review, known as the Concordat Courts, periodically reviews all statues passed by the Protector or any government department. If any are determined to be a threat to individual liberty, such legislation can be struck down.[4][7]

The Concordat Constabulary, in addition to its role of protecting against foreign intrusion, works alongside local police units to enforce the law on member worlds. While there are variations in what different municipalities and provinces determine is legal and illegal, all major crimes (e.g. murder) have uniform definitions.[4][7]

Citizenship[edit]

The rights of the average Taurian citizen are guaranteed in the Concordat Charter, which include: freedom of speech, association, and religion; freedom from unwarranted searches, the right to remain silent, to a trial by a jury of their peers and to competent counsel; the right to move about freely and pursue economic activity; the right to free education, to free or low-cost healthcare, and to a living wage. In return, citizens are obligated to serve the state for a period of four years, often in the military but also in any of the civilian branches too.[4][5]

Military[edit]

The Taurian Defense Force is a well-organized, well-trained and highly motivated military, especially by Periphery standards. The military-industrial capacity of the Taurian Concordat, combined with the Taurian pride shown in the TDF, ensured that the TDF has traditionally been the largest and best-equipped army in the Periphery.

The arrangement of the TDF is modeled after that of the Napoleonic armies, with a thirty-first-century feel: BattleMechs, infantry, and armor assets are divided into operational Corps, with naval elements, primarily utilized for transportation and defense, attached directly to and under the command of the Corps commanders. The Concordat Constabulary, a paramilitary force used for intelligence gathering and internal security, can be mobilized to supplement the TDF during times of war. Finally there are a variety of armed groups, from planetary militias to the private armies of various nobles and corporations, which might lack in uniform quality and equipment but will not waver in coming to the defense of the realm.[8][9]

The Taurian Defense Force has not maintained a fleet of WarShips since the Reunification War, only possessing a single surviving (barely functional) WarShip, the Vincent Mk 39-class TCW Vandenberg, which survived by hiding in the Hyades asteroid field.

Society and Culture[edit]

Taurians are proud to live in not only one of the oldest but what they see as the freest society in known space. Freedom of speech and the press not only allows the average citizen to express their views without fear of government censorship but for the creation of a multitude of news sources and political parties who have made arguing over everything something of a sport. Freedom of religion has allowed all faiths to flourish within Taurian society, and though some localities of like-minded individuals may create laws based on their particular interpretations the national government is wholly secular. Perhaps the largest religious following in the Concordat is Deism (which, despite reports to the contrary, is not the official state religion but has received personal support by various Protectors over the years), while the philosophy of the Far Lookers plays on traditional Taurian beliefs in their pioneering founders' courage and man's destiny to conquer the stars.[6][10][11]

This love of liberty also explains in part the virulent anti-Davion strain in Taurian culture, beyond the history of aggressive acts (both real and imagined) committed against the Concordat. Many see the Davions as hypocrites, espousing ideals like democracy and freedom but operating for all intents and purposes as a military dictatorship.[11] On worlds with interconnected computer networks, the most popular MMO (massively multiplayer online) games are those which recreate the Reunification War or otherwise feature the Davions as antagonists.[12] This hatred and suspicion of the Davions permeates the government as well, with the military ever-ready to fight its counterpart in the Federated Suns and some foreign policy initiatives based simply on tweaking the nose of House Davion.[4]

Perhaps the only thing Taurians value more than their liberty is the education needed to sustain it. Even before the Reunification War the Concordat's educational system was one of the best, serving even as a model for Houses Davion and Liao. During their occupation the Star League attempted to enforce a curriculum more favorable to their viewpoint, but many Taurians resisted such attempts and when their independence was regained the government quickly moved to rebuild the system to its former glory. Ample funding ensures that even the poorest planet is able to provide public education for everyone ages three to eighteen, along with many alternatives such as private academies and homeschooling. After graduating from secondary school Taurians can begin their compulsory state service, apply to one of the many professional schools for additional technical training, or apply to one of the prestigious universities. In 3025 the Concordat had six universities, graduating on average 40,000 students each year, with a seventh added in 3068.[10][11]

The Concordat also boasts a lively arts and entertainment scene, none more so than its publishing industry. Love of the written word is fed by a very high literacy rate, while the income authors derive from their published works is considered tax-exempt. Another prominent feature are the Concordat Games, a triennial competition celebrating the ancient martial arts: sharpshooting, hand-to-hand combat, and swordsmanship are among the various war games celebrated by the Games. The ultimate competition is a ten-team paintball battle with the winning side earning the title of Concordat's Defenders.[12]

Economy[edit]

The Taurian economy can in many ways be described as "capitalism with a human face." When it comes to monetary policy the Concordat adopts a laissez-faire approach, with government bodies like the Bank of Taurus and the Taurian Treasury Reserve there only to ensure monetary stability or directly intervene in the most unusual of circumstances. However, strong regulations exists to ensure fair play and protect the rights of workers: a living wage, pensions, unemployment assistance and other benefits are guaranteed by the Concordat Charter. Businesses are largely accepting of these rules, partly out of their own self-interest, and partly from the memories of rampant, predatory exploitation which occurred during the waning years of the Star League when regulatory safeguards were removed.[10][13][14] There also exists a strong belief within Taurian society that too great of a wealth disparity is destructive to a free democracy.[7]

The Taurian economy is built on a strong manufacturing sector, colonial expansion, and intra-Periphery trade in key technologies, with its largest trading partner historically being the Magistracy of Canopus. For many years trade with the Inner Sphere was severely curtailed and viewed as politically undesirable, but that began to change during the thirty-first century, particularly with the signing of the Trinity Alliance. By 3067, Taurian trading firms had succeeded in penetrating the markets in the Capellan Confederation and Free Worlds League, while (to the Magistracy's annoyance) exploratory efforts were made at increasing trade with the budding Marian Hegemony.[10][13]

Manufacturing Centers[edit]

A diverse array of industries make up the Taurian economy, from aquaculture to mining to publishing, but the largest are the military-industrial complex, second only to consumer goods and electronics in size and importance. With a variety of weapons manufacturers, some of whom remained operational in secret during the Star League era, the Taurian Concordat can produce everything from BattleMechs and Combat Vehicles to aerospace fighters and DropShips for its armed forces. Unfortunately many key industrial centers are located outside the protective area of the Hyades zone, a fact which forces the TDF to deploy its units in a static defensive role to protect them from attack.[10][13]

3067[edit]

Major Defense Industries

Fact Sheets[edit]

3130[17]
  • Founding Year: 2335 (Concordat; 2253 as Taurian Homeworlds); 3066 (Protectorate)
  • Capital (City, World): New Samantha, Taurus (Concordat); New Taurus, Erod's Escape (Protectorate)
  • National Symbol (Both): A bull’s head with exaggerated horns that curl downward and encompass three gold five-pointed stars (Calderon Protectorate uses black stars.)
  • Location (Terra relative): Rimward, beyond Capellan Confederation and Federated Suns
  • Total (Inhabited) Systems: 22 (Concordat); 13 (Protectorate)
  • Estimated Population (3130): 33,031,000,000 (Concordat);15,310,000,000 (Protectorate)
  • Government: Democracy (currently under military rule, Concordat); Democracy (Protectorate)
  • Ruler: Protector Kaff Doru (Concordat); Protector Sam Calderon (Protectorate)
  • Dominant Language(s): English, Spanish, French
  • Dominant Religion(s): Deism (official), Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism
  • Unit of Currency: Bull (1 bull = 0.12 C-bills)

Maps[edit]

Historical: Maps[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Shattered Fortress, p. 45
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Periphery, p. 71
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 105
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 The Periphery, p. 72
  5. 5.0 5.1 Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 106
  6. 6.0 6.1 The Periphery, p. 73
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 107
  8. The Periphery, p. 74
  9. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 112
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 The Periphery, p. 83
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Handbook: Major Periphery States, pp. 122–123
  12. 12.0 12.1 Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 124
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Handbook: Major Periphery States, pp. 117–118
  14. Era Report: 2750, p. 65
  15. Objective Raids, p. 161
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Tactical Operations, p. 17
  17. Dark Age: Touring the Stars (3130), p. 91

Bibliography[edit]