Outworlds Alliance

Crest of Outworlds Alliance
Outworlds Alliance
State Profile
Founding Year 2413[1][2]
Dissolution year: 3060s
Capital world: Alpheratz
Controlled system(s): 36 (c. 3063)
Government
Head of State President of the Parliament
Military
Military Commander Senior Chairman
Army Alliance Military Corps (AMC)
Military Intelligence Outworlds Alliance Intelligence (OAI)[3]

The Outworlds Alliance is a major Periphery power located spinward of Terra and the Inner Sphere, bordering both the Draconis Combine and the Federated Suns. This region of space has also been called the "Outer Sphere."

History[edit]

At the outset of the Star League, the Outworlds Alliance was considered a backwater full of pacifists, particularly those of the Omniss faith. When the Reunification War began the Star League grudgingly decided to garrison the Alliance "for mutual defense and protection." The resulting measure, Star League Directive 21, was approved by Prime Minister Catherine Avellar but not by President Grigori Avellar. Unfortunately, tensions rose with Star League garrison on Alliance worlds, leading to the Santiago Massacre in late 2572.

The Santiago Massacre set off a chain of events throughout human-occupied space, leading to the Pollux Proclamation in 2575. Within two years, SLDF and DCMS troops sat poised on the Alliance's border, intent on forcing the Alliance to join the nascent Star League. This prompted President Grigori Avellar to seek outside help, which he found through a secret treaty signed with the Federated Suns in 2581, on the eve of hostilities. As part of the agreement, the Outworlds Alliance were given a brigade of elite soldiers mustered from the Davion Brigade of Guards in return for twelve border systems.

Reunification War[edit]

In failing health due to the Reunification War, Grigori Avellar died of heart failure in 2587. His successor, Barton Avellar, proved ultimately incapable of managing the Presidency. While Grigori's policies had always relied on taking advantage of the historical enmity between House Davion and House Kurita, this was a subtlety that Barton did not understand.

Barton was replaced by a Kurita-backed coup, placing Rodrigo Avellar on the throne. The coup quickly backfired on the Draconis Combine; Rodrigo was not only capable, his fiscal policies tended to always get the better of the Combine. Before long, the Alliance had even issued "Most Favored Nation" trade status to (paradoxically) both the Draconis Combine and the Federated Suns. Through his political acumen, Rodrigo was also able to make the Star League Defense Force garrisons stationed within his realm accountable to local laws and law enforcement, leading to their withdrawal by 2607.

Rodrigo died in 2628 of a massive seizure, leaving his niece Caryn Avellar as President of the Parliament. Unfortunately, Caryn soon suffered a severe break with reality, declaring the Star League dissolved and convening the "New Star League" on Alpheratz in 2634. While Caryn was led away to her "new office," Caryn's naïve brother, Peter Avellar, became the next President. Caryn's son, Adolfo Avellar, eventually became the next President of the Parliament in 2642.

Succession Wars[edit]

Like the other states of the Star League, the Outworlds Alliance suffered greatly during the Succession Wars. In 2765, Parliamentary President Beatrice Avellar died of old age. Beatrice's daughter, the dull Allyce Avellar, was approved as the next Parliamentary President. When the Amaris Civil War started in early 2766, Allyce chose to remain neutral simply because she could not bring herself to make a choice. Ultimately, this saved the Alliance from much bloodshed in the short term. However her indecision led her brother, Simpson Avellar, to place her under house arrest in 2772. The Outwords Alliance Parliament refused to recognize Simpson as the new head of state, so Allyce's son, David Avellar, was confirmed as the new President.

By the beginning of the thirty-first century the situation in the Outworlds Alliance had become particularly grim. The decline of both technology and civilization meant that the Outworlds Alliance had shrunk considerably as it gradually lost control over, or simply abandoned, dozens of outlying systems. The remaining worlds were suffering from declining population and literacy levels. Though protected by a reasonably strong military (and one that was particularly well known for its skilled Aerospace force at that), many of these planets were unable to feed their own people. A growing sense of betrayal among the populace led to increasing unrest, and there were many riots and demonstrations against the hereditary Avellar regime in these years. Although no one seriously challenged the right of House Avellar to rule the Outworlds, the possibility of an armed rebellion grew due to the deteriorating situation.

Clan Invasion Era[edit]

Being far from the Clan invasion corridors, the Outworlds Alliance would play a negligible role during those conflicts. However, in the late 3060s Clan Snow Raven would begin to see how little they would gain from staying in the Clan Homeworlds. As a result, they prepared to depart from Clan space permanently. During one of their early encounters with the Outworlds Alliance they would engage in a spaceborne Trial of Possession for an Outworlder JumpShip, on the condition that the Ravens would hand over a Dropship if they lost. Although the Snow Ravens have always been known for their focus on space warfare, the Outworlder aerospace contingent still emerged victorious. This outcome greatly impressed the Snow Ravens, and the skilled and honorable conduct shown by both sides during the Trial fostered a great deal of mutual respect and friendship. In time, the Outworlds Alliance and Snow Ravens were even working together to create the Corax OmniFighter. As the Ravens gradually moved their population to new holdings in the Periphery they maintained friendly relations with the Alliance.

Jihad Era[edit]

In late February 3075, diplomats from the Federated Suns traveled to Alliance space to negotiate with Clan Snow Raven. As well as a peace settlement, the negotiators hoped to arrange for the release of captured personnel from the Third Crucis Lancers and for the Snow Ravens to contribute aid to the coalition assembled by Devlin Stone.[4][5]

The Snow Ravens withdrew back to Alliance space in the wake of the Jihad, but the Alliance Military Corps found itself having to garrison a number of Alliance worlds despite the Snow Ravens supposedly taking on responsibility for defending the Alliance because of the diminished size of the Snow Raven touman. This led to some criticism of the growing alliance between the two factions.[6]

Post-Jihad[edit]

Following the end of the Word of Blake's Jihad, both Clan Snow Raven and the Outworlds Alliance saw the benefits of a full partnership. Consequently, in 3085 they formed the Raven Alliance. The Snow Ravens had finally found a new home, but unlike the mergers performed in the Rasalhague Dominion and Scorpion Empire, the Outworlds Alliance and Snow Ravens remained fully distinct entities. Henceforth they coexisted alongside each other as the closest of political, economic, and military allies.

IlClan Era[edit]

In 3151, a delegation of the Ravens travelled to Terra after the IlClan Trial. Both Raven Khans openly supported the IlKhan Alaric Ward. The next year, Raven forces easily conquered the Federated Suns world of Milligan. Their forces, with or without Alaric's permission, wore the Cameron Star of the Star League.[4]

Military[edit]

Mercenaries are employed for garrison duty or limited defensive contracts. Business interests in the Alliance might also hire mercenaries on occasion.

Weapons Industries[edit]

Lushann Industrials, Limited is reputed to produce some of the finest lasers in the Periphery, comparable with Diverse Optics of the Inner Sphere.

For many decades Alliance Defenders Limited was the Alliance's only source of domestic BattleMech production, mainly producing the Locust, the Wasp, and the Stinger. Due to a preponderance of light 'Mechs, the Alliance often struggled to provide their military forces with adequate fighting capability. This situation gradually began to improve after the Succession War era.

List of defense industries:

Alliance Defenders Limited - Plants on Alpheratz

United Outworlders Corporation - Plants on Ramora and Mitchella

Raveena Electronics - Plants on Ramora (3067)

Arenthir Electronics - Plants on Alpheratz

Lushann Industrials Limited - Plants on Lushann

Mountain Wolf BattleMechs - Plant on Alpheratz

Praxton Fusion Products Limited - Plants on Praxton

Alliance Motors Limited - Plants on Sevon

Alliance Mining and Geology - Plants on Sevon

Maps[edit]

Historical Maps[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • The 1987 boardgame The Succession Wars was the first BattleTech-themed product to present a crest for the Outworlds Alliance. The original low-resolution insignia only appeared in that product; for reasons unknown it was replaced with the current starburst crest in all subsequent publications.
Original crest

References[edit]

  1. The Periphery, Second Edition, p. 42: "Outworlds Alliance - Origins and History"
  2. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 15: "Outworlds Alliance"
  3. A Guide to Covert Ops, pp. 93–95
  4. Dominions Divided, p. 74

Bibliography[edit]