Terran Alliance
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| Terran Alliance | |
|---|---|
| Faction Profile | |
| Time period: | 2086-2315 |
| Classification: | Inner Sphere State |
| Controlled systems: | 600+ |
| Capital world: | Terra |
The Terran Alliance is the first central government to control all of Terra. Though at times brutal, the Terran Alliance funded and began the Brave New Age of Man with the Deimos Project (faster-than-light space travel). Able to travel great distances quickly, humanity began extra-terrestrial colonization. Therefore, the Terran Alliance is also the first central interstellar government.
Early Years
The Terran Alliance evolved from the Western Alliance, a multinational political entity which formed form the remants of the European Democratic Free States, seven former Soviet republics, and several Asian economic powers in the Aftermath of the Second Soviet Civil War. Renamed the Terran Alliance in 2086, scientists funded by the Alliance pioneered orbital heavy industry and faster-than-light space travel after advances in fusion and microwave technologies, but at a tremendous price in terms of civil unrest and economic hardship.
As an added insult to poorer member nations, the United States, possessing the most wealth and influence, colonized many of the most hospitable colony worlds closest to Terra. This gave the core of the Terran Alliance a feel similar reminiscent of the USA, and left poorer countries to travel farther, or settle marginal worlds.
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Waning Years
At the completion of the Alliance Grand Survey of Inhabited Planets in 2235, the Terran Alliance was at its very zenith, controlling more than 600 inhabited colonies within 120 light years of Terra. However, this statistic is misleading; less than 360 worlds were actually controlled by the Alliance, while illegal colonies and blockade running were common practice. Shortly after the completion of the survey in January, 2236, the world of Freedom declared its independence - frustrations with Alliance taxation policies had pushed the inhabitants of Freedom too far.
The Outer Reaches Rebellion lasted 18 months between early 2236 and autumn 2237. Eager to bloody the rebels and demonstrate the capabilities of the Alliance military, the ruling Terran Expansionist Party passed increased funding and orders to quash the rebellion. Under Major General Gunther Stein, The Second Interstellar Combined Assault Force was attacked at every jump point, and embroiled in guerilla and/or scorched earth warfare on more than 50 systems. Worse, many planets either refused to send troops and supplies, or aided the rebels with weaponry and officers. By the end of the rebellion, no ceasefire was ever formally declared - the Terran Liberal Party had simply gained enough power, and combined with public antipathy, troops were withdrawn from the front lines. By 2242, the Liberal Party was in control of Parliament.
2242 also saw the end of the Alliance as a powerful influence in Spheroid affairs. The Liberal Party passed the Demarcation Declaration - almost all garrisons and governments greater than 30 light years from Terra (one single faster-than-light translation) were recalled. The Outer Reaches had gained independence, and was forced to rebuild without Alliance aid. Nor would Alliance aid have meant very much. Gridlock and dissension ultimately doomed the Terran Alliance. The Terran Alliance was replaced by the Terran Hegemony when Fleet Admiral James McKenna staged a coup d'etat in 2315.
Military Organization
The Terran Alliance divided its entire military into 10 military commands. Each of these commands were then organized in a similar manner, though compositions and strengths may have varied. The Terran Alliance used the normal military organized adopted throughout (nearly) the entire Inner Sphere. Terran forces were organized in a triangular hierarchy.
- 1 Corps consists of 3 Divisions
- 1 Division consists of 3 Brigades
- 1 Brigade consists of 3 Regiments
- 1 Regiment consists of 3 Battalions/Wings
- 1 Battalion/Wings consists of 3 Companies/Squadrons
- 1 Company/Squadrons consists of 3 Lances/Flights
Society & Relations
The Terran Alliance emerged from Terran nations, and was dominated by lucrative western nations. This meant that early policies generally favored richer superpowers, like the United States of America, at the expense of developing and poor nations. Global fiscal policy dictated taxes low enough to be payable by richer citizens, but large enough to cause developing economies to stagnate.
No one, however, can dispute the universal utility of opening the stars to human colonization. However, here again, richer governments, like the United States, were able to make the first discoveries. The consequence is that worlds in close proximity to Terra, especially those worlds most hospitable to human civilization, generally tended to be controlled by descendants of highly industrialized and richer nations. These colonies are also more likely to be better supplied and able to spend more on terraformation, for instance by importation of large quantities of water bound in asteroids, as was pioneered by Rudolph Ryan of the Ryan Iceship Cartel. Core worlds within the Alliance tended to be more comfortable than recently colonized worlds.
Ultimately, the origins and circumstance of Terra and the core worlds of the Terra Alliance led to a "not my problem" attitude. Further, as displacement from Terra increased, space becomes increasingly unexplored. Having built a rich, developed core of to the Alliance, the "haves" of the Alliance definitely had more to lose. Alliance policy remained extremely authoritarian, initially towards underdeveloped Terran nation-states, later towards underdeveloped colony worlds. The policy doctrine of the Alliance can be summed up in the statement, "Those who are not for us are against us." Conducting foreign policy with such absolutes of thinking ultimately led to the Outer Reaches Rebellion, and the decline of the Alliance.