Difference between revisions of "Federated Commonwealth"

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''(Author: BattleTech [[3056]] MUSE)''
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{{Update Needed|[[Handbook: Major Periphery States]]; [[20-Year Update]]; [[Shattered Sphere]]; [[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)|FedCom Civil War]]}}
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When Prince [[Hanse Davion]] and Archon [[Katrina Steiner]] signed the May [[3022]] [[Federated Commonwealth Alliance Document]] that would one day make their two states into one powerful nation, they must have foreseen the inevitability of war. The other Great House leaders could not help but tremble at the thought of the united military and economic might of the future [[Federated Commonwealth]]. A preemptive strike on their part would be out of the question; such an operation was beyond the scope of the capabilities of the signers of the [[Kapteyn Concord]]. Covert action, however, was well within their means.
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| crest = [[Image:FedCom.png|200px|Federated Commonwealth Logo]]
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| factionname = Federated Commonwealth
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| year = [[3055]]
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| timeperiod = [[3055]] - [[3057]]
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| classification = Successor State
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| systems =
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| capital =
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| rulertitle = Archon-Prince
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| military = [[Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth]] (AFFC)
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| secretservice = Lyran Intelligence Corps ([[LIC]]) <br /> Ministry of Information, Intelligence, and Operations ([[MIIO]])
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}}
  
It was one such action that the [[Davion]]s have cited as justification for the war. In [[3025]], agents of the [[Capellan Confederation]] kidnapped [[Hanse Davion]] and placed a cloned imposter on the throne. To accomplish this, the Capellans had wiped out the man's own personality and replaced it with their own version of "[[Davion]]." The Prince eventually escaped his captors, secretly made his way back to his court, and managed to prove his identity. The plot was never revealed to the public, but [[Davion]] vowed revenge. According to [[Romano Liao]], her father, [[Maximilian Liao]], received a message from [[Hanse Davion]] at the close of the [[Fourth Succession War]]. The message declared that the reason [[Davion]] had set his army against the Confederation, killing thousands of soldiers and visiting horror on untold millions, was revenge for what [[Liao]] had tried to do in order to create the [[Davion]] clone. Whatever [[Davion]]'s desire for revenge, he and [[Katrina Steiner]] must also have envisioned their banner unifying the whole [[Inner Sphere]], by one means or another. At the start of the [[Fourth Succession War]], the [[Federated Commonwealth]] was only a pledge between Houses [[Steiner]] and [[Davion]]. By the time the war ended, it was a political fact.
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The '''Federated Commonwealth''' was the union of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and [[Federated Suns]]. The accession of Archon-Prince [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] in [[3055]] formally brought the nation into being, though in practice it had existed since before the [[Clan Invasion]]. [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] seceded the Lyran half of the nation in [[3057]], creating the [[Lyran Alliance]], which would lead to the [[FedCom Civil War]] in [[3062]]. Victor abdicated the throne in [[3067]] and his successor, Prince-Regent [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]], renamed the rump Commonwealth "Federated Suns".
  
Some opposition to the alliance still exists, however, much of it from factions within the two allied Houses. The death of [[Hanse Davion]] and the eventual accession of Victor to the [[Federated Commonwealth]] throne will not dampen that opposition. The [[Federated Suns]] and the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] have each been in existence for roughly seven centuries. If their alliance is to succeed, it will have to develop a similar string identity to which its people can feel allegiance
 
  
==[[3050]] Update:==
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==History==
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{{Main|History of the Federated Commonwealth}}
  
[Prepared by Precentor [[George Spelvin III-omega]] for [[Theodore Kurita]], Kanrei of the [[DCMS]] and son of the Coordinator of the [[Draconis Combine]].]
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===Formation===
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In [[3020]], [[Archon]] [[Katrina Steiner]] of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] issued a "Peace Proposal" to all of the [[Great Houses]] of the [[Inner Sphere]]; only [[First Prince]] [[Hanse Davion]] of the [[Federated Suns]] responded, and the two states began a long-running dialogue.  In [[3020]] the two [[Successor States]] signed the [[FedCom Accords]], a treaty which formalized military, scientific and economic exchange between the two states. However, included in the document was a secret provision, promising the marriage of Prince Hanse and Archon-Designate [[Melissa Steiner]], which would unite the two in a vast political entity, the Federated Commonwealth. This provision would become known to the other States in [[3027]] during the [[Silver Eagle Incident]].
  
===Unification===
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However, the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth did not share a common border, complicating their eventual union. At the behest of Prince Hanse, to rectify this problem the two realms began increasing their military readiness and began training together for an eventual campaign of conquest, launching [[Operation Galahad]].  On 20 August, [[3028]], at the marriage ceremony of First Prince Hanse and Archon-Designate Melissa, with all the leaders of the Great Houses in attendance, Hanse made his fateful announcement: "Wife, in honor of our marriage, in addition to this morsel... I give you the [[Capellan Confederation]]!"
  
War, of course, has its destructive side, but gains in territory usually offset that fact. When the leaders of the [[Federated Suns]] and the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] decided not to pursue the [[Fourth Succession War]] further, they must have been well-satisfied with their enormous gains in territory. The [[Federated Suns]] could now claim, formally or informally, half the worlds of the [[Capellan Confederation]], including many of [[Liao]]'s key military and industrial centers. [[Davion]] lost only 15 planets to the [[DCMS]], mainly because Coordinator [[Takashi Kurita | Takashi]] was too obsessed with trying to destroy [[Wolf's Dragoons]] to exploit weaknesses on the whole [[Davion]] front. As for the [[Lyran Commonwealth | Lyrans]], they seized 53 planets from the Combine, mainly because Coordinator [[Takashi Kurita | Takashi]] was not aggressive enough on the Commonwealth front.
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With the launch of the [[Fourth Succession War]], the combined forces of the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth began a massive campaign aimed largely at the Capellan Confederation and the [[Draconis Combine]]. The war would end two years later on 10 January [[3030]] with roughly a third of the Capellan Confederation conquered, along with some 53 Combine and 13 [[Free Worlds League]] planets. The conquered worlds would be incorporated into the Federated Commonwealth as the [[Sarna March]] and form a corridor between the two halves of the new super-state.
  
These gains helped to strengthen the alliance between the [[Federated Suns]] and the [[Lyran Commonwealth]], as had their mutual support during the [[Fourth Succession War | Fourth War]]. Moreover, the war had opened up the "[[Terran Corridor]]," a region of space that connected the [[Steiner]] and [[Davion]] realms.
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On 12 April 3030, Melissia gave birth to [[Victor Steiner-Davion]], the future ruler of the Federated Commonwealth. While practically born in the aftermath of the Fourth Succession War, the Federated Commonwealth would only technically come into existence once Hanse and Melissa stepped down and allowed their son to assume his rightful position.  Efforts were increased to further unify the two States politically and militarily in expectation of his ascension.  Both the [[AFFS]] and [[LCAF]] increased work on combining their command structure, ranking system and battle doctrines into a single unified organization.
  
When the [[Fourth Succession War]] came officially to an end in [[3030]], the [[Federated Suns]] and the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] moved to assert political control over newly won worlds and to set in motion the unification of their states according to the terms of the F-C Alliance Document signed on [[Terra]] in [[3022]].
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===Rasalhague and Skye===
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On 13 March [[3034]], [[Haakon Magnusson]] declared himself [[Elected Prince|Prince]] of the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] which, in a surprise move, was agreed to by ''[[Gunji-no-Kanrei]]'' [[Theodore Kurita]].  The Combine's willingness to give up worlds to the nascent state would force the FedCom, and in particular the Lyrans, to do the same.  Katrina Steiner had agreed at the onset of the Fourth Succession War to recognize the [[Tyr Resistance Movement|Tyr movement]] as the legitimate government of the Rasalhague worlds, yet most of their gains during the war had been in the [[Rasalhague Military District]].  To avoid appearing as hypocrites, the Lyrans agreed to relinquish control of these worlds to the FRR, effectively creating a buffer between the two States.
  
One of their first acts was to create the [[Sarna March]] in late February [[3030]], with [[Melissa Steiner]] [[Davion]] as its ruler. Though designated a "free and sovereign" member of both the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and the [[Federated Suns]], the [[Sarna March]] was, in reality, a conquered territory whose inhabitants were resentful of their new rulers.
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This created discord within the Lyran half of the FedCom.  While objections to the alliance was mostly confined to small extremist groups within the Federated Suns, it was much larger and more organized within the Commonwealth.  The loss of men and material for what became almost no gain sparked anger and protests, especially within the [[Tamar March|Tamar]] and [[Skye March|Skye]] regions.  The [[First Skye Rebellion]], started by separatists seeking independence similar to Rasalhague, would end after successful negotiations by [[Duke]] [[Ryan Steiner]]; these negotiations has the simultaneous effect of shaming Prince Hanse for seemingly overreacting to the crisis with the use of AFFS troops.  This crisis would tie up FedCom forces and delay their expected attack against the Draconis Combine, originally planned for [[3035]], by several more years.
  
The [[Federated Commonwealth]] might also have annexed the [[St. Ives Compact]] in [[3030]]. In mid-March, Duchess [[Candace Liao]] asked [[Hanse Davion]] to send in [[AFFS]] troops, ostensibly to defend her against Confederation forces said to be massing on the Compact's borders. If the people of the St. Ives region had not been so outspoken in their desire for independence and their support of Candace, [[Hanse Davion | Prince Davion]] most certainly could have used this pretext to absorb the worlds of the Compact.
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===Conflict with ComStar===
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Although it had been instrumental in facilitating the alliance, [[ComStar]] had no wish to see any one nation dominate the Inner Sphere, especially one dedicated to scientific progress. During the Fourth Succession War, much of the FedCom had been placed under a communications blackout, ostensibly in response to the Suns's attack on the [[HPG]] station on [[Sarna]].  Later investigations would exonerate the AFFS of any wrongdoing and suggest an underhanded plot by a third party; the same would be discovered regarding an apparent attack by the [[Death Commandos]] on the [[New Avalon Institute of Science]].  Only later would it be discovered that ComStar had been the one behind these false-flag attacks. In any event, FedCom was forced to accept the stationing of the [[Com Guards]] at all HPG stations, and a hidden war would commence between [[ROM]] and the combined forces of the [[LIC]] and [[MIIO]] with [[Operation Flush]].
  
On April 12, [[3030]], another event occurred that would have a major impact on the [[Federated Commonwealth]]. This was the day that [[Melissa Steiner]] [[Davion]] gave birth to Victor, her first child and the rightful heir to the thrones of both the [[Federated Suns]] and the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. By the terms of the F-C Alliance Document, the [[Federated Commonwealth]] would officially come into being when Melissa and Hanse had both stepped down as heads of their respective states, allowing Victor to assume power over both realms. No one knew when that day would come, but preparations were in full swing to create a governmental and military structure capable of effectively administering and protecting such an immense and complicated realm.
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===War of 3039===
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{{Main|War of 3039}}
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Renewed conflict with the Combine was seen as inevitable, especially with both the Suns and Commonwealth facing political pressure not only to renew the conquest but also against the alliance in the first place.  When Katrina Steiner stepped down as Archon on 15 March [[3039]] and her daughter Melissa took her place, the die was cast and preparations for the conflict began.  The War of 3039 would start the following month, and end in December. What should have been a massive victory ended in a practical draw, with FedCom capturing seven planets to the Combine's three, far short of the projected forty to fifty worlds prior to the conflict.
  
The Archon Prince, as Victor will be known, will have a single military to defend his huge realm. Immediately after the [[Fourth Succession War | Fourth War]], the first steps were taken to combine the [[AFFS]] and the [[LCAF]]. A common ranking system and the integration of all [[BattleMech | 'Mech]] units were primary among these. Since then, twelve [[Federated Commonwealth]] [[Regimental Combat Teams]] of the best soldiers and the best equipment both states can produce have come into being. The formation of the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth]] has been so swift that the [[AFFC]] represents the greatest challenge the [[Arm of the Dragon]] has ever faced.
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The delay in the start of the conflict had given Theodore Kurita time to revamp the [[DCMS]] into a more effective fighting force, while the AFFS and LCAF continued to fight as two separate organizations.  FedCom communications were intercepted by the [[ISF]], due to their recovery of a [[Black Box|black box]] during the Fourth Succession War, which were lax in following encryption protocols. ComStar also assisted the Combine, secretly giving them [[BattleMechs]] incorporating advanced [[lostech]] from the [[Star League]] and preferential HPG rates, and indirectly through their hidden war with the FedCom intelligence communities. Finally, FedCom was unwilling to call the Combine's bluff with their final counter-attack, and signed the [[Exeter]] Accords in 19 January [[3040]].  The war would highlight problems with the FedCom, which despite efforts still remained two distinct political, economic and military entities.
  
In September [[3031]], more than a year later, the [[Federated Commonwealth]] did succeed in bringing the [[Tikonov Free Republic]] worlds into the [[Sarna March]]. With the assassination of [[Pavel Ridzik]], former ruler of the TFR, [[Hanse Davion]] had appointed [[Ardan Sortek]] as temporary administrator of the Republic. It was not difficult for [[Davion]] to manipulate the people of [[Tikonov]] to vote themselves into the [[Federated Commonwealth]], for there was no strong leader to mobilize possible resistance. Besides, [[Melissa Steiner]] [[Davion]] was more palatable to them than [[Ardan Sortek]]. Now [[Tikonov]] had the dubious privilege of being a minor administrative district in the [[Sarna March]], but it was also part of a state with a strong economy and powerful military
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===Decade of Peace===
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Following the disastrous War of 3039, the FedCom would go through a period of rebuilding and integration.  Learning their lesson from the war, in early [[3041]] the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth]] was officially established. In order to eliminate confusion, the two militaries were reorganized into State Commands, one for each realm, with full authority over all troops within their area of operation regardless of origin.  The LIC and MIIO was similarly grouped into the [[Intelligence Secretariat]], which was charged with coordinating the disparate agencies under its command.  The industrial and economic might of the two realms also helped them to recover swiftly from the aftermath of the war.  The [[Skye March]] in particular was seen as an opportunity for corporations in both realms, such that in [[3036]] Archon Melissa was forced to intervene to prevent the exploitation of entire planets by greedy industrialists. 
  
===Opposition to Alliance===
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However, FedCom's enemies also took the time to regroup: the Draconis Combine had proved itself more than a paper tiger, while the Capellans were eager to avenge their losses, and the Free Worlds League emerged from the [[Andurien Crisis]] with its house in order.  A Fifth Succession War was seen as inevitable.
  
The people of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and the [[Federated Suns]] are not unanimous in their support of unification, however. Factions within both states have attempted to agitate the citizenry enough to prevent the merger. In the [[Federated Suns]], the dissidents are confined to small groups of extreme nationalists. In the Commonwealth, the resistance is larger and more organized, led by Duke [[Ryan Steiner]], a second cousin to [[Melissa Steiner]]. After the death of Duke [[Aldo Lestrade]], Ryan took over control of the late Duke's separatist movement. Though the separatists' only real base is among rich nobles and intellectuals, they have stirred at trouble for the [[Steiner]] government.
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===Clan Invasion===
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{{sectionstub}}
  
When the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] claimed Combine and Commonwealth worlds for its new state in [[3034]], the [[Steiner]] government had little choice but to recognize the [[Rasalhague]] Republic. In [[3029]], Archon [[Katrina Steiner]] had signed the [[Intention of the Free Rasalhague Peoples]], which recognized the [[Tyr movement]] as the legitimate government of [[Rasalhague]]. The Combine's willingness to give up worlds to the FRR forced the [[Lyran Commonwealth | Lyrans]] to do the same, or else appear to be hypocrites. This concession did not occur without bitter protest from the Duke of [[Tamar]], who believed all those worlds belonged to the [[Tamar Pact]]. The Duke and his son-in-law, [[Ryan Steiner]], continue to agitate for the return of those planets to this day.
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===FedCom Civil War===
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{{sectionstub}}
  
When the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] came into being, the separatists in the [[Federation of Skye]] saw it as a rallying cry to launch their own bid for independence. Carried out against [[Ryan Steiner]]'s orders, the Skye separatist demonstrations provoked harsh actions from the garrisoning troops in the region, many of which were former [[AFFS]] units. This gave Duke Ryan the opportunity to shame the [[Federated Suns]]. By successfully negotiating a peaceful end to a confrontation between [[Davion]] soldiers and separatists holding a steel factory on the planet Skye, he was able to show that [[Hanse Davion | Prince Hanse]] had overreacted to the situation.
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==Government==
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In truth, for most of its existence FedCom was a joint venture between [[Hanse Davion]] and [[Melissa Steiner-Davion]].  With their deaths, the head of the Federated Commonwealth would formally be conferred onto the [[Archon-Prince]], though this position was only ever filled by [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] for a couple of years from [[3055]] to [[3057]]. Below him in the hierarchy would be the [[First Prince]] and [[Archon]] of the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth, respectively, who would take over governing duties during his absence.<ref name=20YU15>''20 Year Update'', p. 15</ref>
  
The [[Skye Crisis]] was a setback for [[Hanse Davion | Prince Hanse]] militarily, too. If he had not been diverted by this internal crisis, the Fox would surely have launched his inevitable attack on the [[Draconis Combine]] several years sooner than he did
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==Economy==
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The lowering of trade restrictions between the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth would do much to strengthen their respective economies, especially after the [[Fourth Succession War]] and [[War of 3039]].  The conquest of fresh territory would also help strengthen the business sector as corporations began to expand and grow into these new markets.  This led to massive exploitation, such that in [[3036]] Melissa Steiner-Davion had to step in and put an end to their unfair practices. In the years afterward, most effort went towards strengthening local firms, such as the revival of [[Asuncion Industries]].<ref name=20YO18>''20 Year Update'', p. 18</ref>
  
===[[War of 3039]]===
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Trade with the other [[Successor State]]s however dropped dramatically in the years following FedCom's formation.  Only with the [[St. Ives Compact]] and [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] was FedCom an active trader, and even the latter felt constrained to keep economic activity with the new superstate at much lower levels for fear of offending the [[Draconis Combine]].<ref name=20YO18/>
  
As it was, the invasion did not come until [[3039]], and then without cause or provocation. Four major thrusts into the Combine, three from the [[Federated Suns]] and one from the Commonwealth, were intended to bypass frontline defenses and strike at rear worlds. The massive assault was alleged to be for the purpose of winning back the worlds the Combine had taken from [[Davion]] in the [[Fourth Succession War | Fourth War]], yet that seems a feeble excuse for such a massive offensive.
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==Military==
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{{Main|Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth}}
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The '''Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth''' was the combined military of the [[AFFS]] and [[LCAF]]. By early [[3041]] AFFC High Command formally accepted control of the two organizations, and by [[3042]] the last vestiges of both militaries was discarded.  By [[3050]] the AFFC was the largest military organization in the Inner Sphere, with a [[BattleMech]] strength of 256 [[regiment]]s and 1 [[battalion]].<ref name=20YO19>''20 Year Update'', p. 19</ref>
  
The strength and honor of the new [[DCMS]] created by the honorable Kanrei soon put a halt to the Prince's grand schemes. The Combine's [[BattleMech | 'Mech]] regiments, many unknown to the [[Federated Suns]] before their appearance on the battlefield, easily contained the initial thrusts. Then, when the Kanrei's counterattack threatened [[Robinson]], the capital of the [[Draconis March]], [[Hanse Davion | Prince Hanse]] saw the folly of his plan and was forced to scale down his expectations and ultimately call off the invasion. The Kanrei's organizational and recruiting skills were responsible for most of the surprises the Combine gave the invaders, but [[House Davion]] also was hampered by its intelligence wars with [[Our Blessed Order]]'s [[ROM]].
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==References==
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<references />
  
It was in the earliest days of the war, on March 15,[[3039]], that [[Katrina Steiner]] retired as Archon of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] after 32 years of rule. [[Melissa Steiner|Melissa Steiner-Davion]] took her mother's place. [[Katrina Steiner]] died in her sleep January 4, [[3040]]
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==Bibliography==
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*''[[20 Year Update]]''
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*''[[Handbook: House Steiner]]''
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*''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
  
===Politics===
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[[Category:Factions]]
 
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[[Category:Federated Commonwealth]]
===The Marriage===
 
 
 
Those who believed that [[Hanse Davion]]'s greater age and experience would overshadow [[Melissa Steiner|Archon Melissa]] have been proved wrong. Even before the [[Fourth Succession War|Fourth War]]'s end, the young Melissa showed that her mother had trained her well. Gradually assuming control over the [[Sarna March]] from the [[AFFS]] military, the Duchess made frequent journeys to the region, whose population remained hostile to the occupiers for years. Nor was she shy of taking a stand. When several key worlds in the [[Sarna March]] threatened to rebel because of alleged abuses by [[Davion]] occupation troops, the Duchess ordered those [[AFFS]] units pulled out of the [[Sarna March]], to be replaced by [[Lyran Commonwealth|Lyran]] troops. Melissa's husband may have been the person most surprised by her forcefulness.
 
 
 
The Steiner-Davion marriage has produced a family of five. Besides [[Victor Steiner-Davion]], there are [[Katherine Steiner-Davion|Katherine Morgan Steiner-Davion]], born on November 16, [[3032]]; [[Peter Steiner-Davion|Peter Ardan Steiner-Davion]], born February 2, [[3035]]; [[Arthur Steiner-Davion|Arthur Andrew Steiner-Davion]], born July 14, [[3037]]; and [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]], born on the planet [[Liao]] in the [[Sarna March]] on March 15,[[3039]]. Unlike Victor, who was raised by the Steiners, these four were raised in both capitals. When Victor becomes Archon Prince, Katherine will become regent in the [[Federated Suns]] when the court is in [[Tharkad]], while Peter will be regent of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] when the court is in [[New Avalon]]
 
 
 
===Opposition to the Archon and Prince===
 
 
 
Most of the opposition to [[Melissa Steiner-Davion | Archon Melissa]]'s rule has gathered around Duke [[Ryan Steiner]], protege of the late [[Alessandro Steiner]], the man whom [[Katrina Steiner]] deposed as Archon and thus her long-time enemy. Under Alessandro's tutelage, Ryan became a skilled leader, able to bind together the separatists in the [[Federation of Skye]] and the influential [[Hanse-Off]] movement, which sprang at in [[3029]] and quickly started chapters throughout the Commonwealth. Ryan's marriage to [[Moresha Kelswa]], the daughter of the Duke of [[Tamar]], further increased his influence.
 
 
 
The first real test of Duke Ryan's powers was during the [[Skye Crisis]] of [[3034]], when separatists staged riots, strikes, and other rebellious acts without Ryan's knowledge. Realizing that he had lost control over many of his agents, Ryan was clever enough to use the fact to his advantage. When the agitators and students from a local university seized the [[Royal Edinburgh Steelworks]] and were surrounded by troops from a [[Davion]] regiment, the Duke seized his chance. After clashes resulted in death and injury on both sides, Ryan arrived on Skye and offered to mediate the situation. Before long, he persuaded the students to leave the factory.
 
 
 
The prestige [[Ryan Steiner]] gained by his ability to resolve the situation peacefully gave him the opportunity to make a case against the merger of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and the [[Federated Suns]]. His rhetoric struck a nerve among the many proud nobles of the region, particularly his warning that the [[Lyran Commonwealth | Lyrans]] and Skye would be culturally overwhelmed if they allowed the [[Federated Commonwealth]] to swallow them up. In addition to boosting his popularity, the aborted uprising gave Ryan a chance to purge those "supporters" who had either acted against his orders or were suspected [[LIC]] agents. Duke Ryan emerged from the [[Skye Crisis]] as an important separatist leader with a much stronger, if smaller, army of staunch followers.
 
 
 
Among the people of the [[Federated Suns]], there is very little organized opposition to the unification of the two great states. Only [[Aaron Sandoval]], Duke of [[Robinson]] and former Minister of the [[Draconis March]], has been consistently critical. He believes that the [[Davion]] government should pay more attention to retrieving worlds lost from the [[Draconis March]] during the [[Fourth Succession War]]. After stepping down from active government, the Duke went to [[New Avalon]], where he lobbied, pleaded, demanded, and cajoled everyone he could buttonhole, trying to win support for an attack on the Combine. The [[War of 3039]], in which [[Hanse Davion]] mounted a major offensive against the [[Draconis Combine]], was at least partially instigated by the indefatigable Old Duke, as he came to be called after his son James took over as commander of the [[Draconis March]]
 
 
 
===Government===
 
 
 
The structure of the [[Federated Commonwealth]] government has evolved over the past two decades. When possible, it has been patterned on existing departments in both the Commonwealth and the [[Federated Suns]]. When the differences between the two are too great, representatives from both departments meet with the [[Political Formation Committee]], which is overseeing the development of the [[Federated Commonwealth]] government.
 
 
 
The Archon Prince is the pinnacle of the [[Federated Commonwealth]] government. His immediate seconds will be the Archon and the Prince of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and the [[Federated Suns]], respectively, in his absence
 
 
 
===Political goals===
 
 
 
The immediate political goal of the [[Federated Commonwealth]] is to continue to develop its governmental system so that it will be fully in place by the time Duke [[Victor Davion | Victor Steiner-Davion]] assumes his role as the Archon Prince. As for [[Hanse Davion]]'s long-term goal of unifying the [[Inner Sphere]] with himself as the new [[First Lord]] of Human space, we have no reason to believe he has abandoned that goal.
 
 
 
The biggest stumbling block for the [[Davion]]-[[Steiner]] alliance is [[Our Blessed Order]] and its growing strength. Forced to bear the disruptiveness of a Communications [[Interdiction]] and then to accept [[ComStar]] [[BattleMech | 'Mech]]s and soldiers to guard his realm's [[HPG]] stations, [[Hanse Davion | Prince Hanse]] realizes that [[ComStar]] is no longer a neutral party in [[Inner Sphere]] politics. but a powerful adversary. To counter the threat, the Prince ordered [[Operation Flush]], unleashing agents from the [[MIIO]] against [[ROM]] agents from [[Our Blessed Order]]. [[Melissa Steiner-Davion | Archon Melissa]] has issued similar orders to her [[LIC]]. Many have died in this hidden war
 
 
 
===[[Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth]]===
 
 
 
The plan to unify the [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces]] and the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] into a single [[Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth]] began the day after the two realms signed their alliance treaty. The exchange of officers and cadets was a first step. Joint exercises soon followed. The two realms coordinated their attacks during the [[Fourth Succession War]]. After the war, a new ranking system was instituted for both militaries, [[Federated Commonwealth]] [[BattleMech]] and armor regiments were created, a unified curriculum was established in the military academies, and units began to exchange soldiers and equipment.
 
 
 
In early [[3041]], the [[AFFC]] High Command accepted control over the two militaries. Having learned painful lessons during the [[War of 3039]], the [[AFFC]] moved away from centralization of power and intelligence. Instead, they established two State Commands, directed by the Field Marshals.
 
 
 
In late [[3042]], the last vestiges of the [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces | LCAF]] and [[AFFS]] were discarded. Soldiers of the newly created F-C units were given special uniforms. The troops of previously existing units kept their traditional uniforms, but they do display the [[Federated Commonwealth]] emblem on their uniforms and vehicles.
 
 
 
Uniforms for the [[AFFC]] infantry and armor remain the same, though new field and dress uniform designs for both states are expected to appear within several years. Infantry units in the [[Federated Suns]] have also adopted the [[Steiner Clam]], the standard infantry helmet of the [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces | LCAF]].
 
 
 
All medals and decorations of both militaries have been retained. The [[Federated Commonwealth]] has added the [[Federated Commonwealth Medal of Honor]], the [[Federated Commonwealth Star]], the [[Pride of Sarna Medal]], the [[Tikonov Sword]], and the [[St. Ives Diamond]]. [[The Order of Davion]] has been renamed the [[Order of Steiner-Davion]], with its banner altered to give the [[Davion]] fox the blue eyes of [[House Steiner]] as well as a blue border
 
 
 
===High Command===
 
 
 
The FCHC consists of the Prince, the Archon, the [[Federated Commonwealth Champion]], the commanders of the two State Commands, and the chiefs of [[Military Intelligence and Strategies and Tactics]]. The High Command decides on strategy for the [[AFFC]] and coordinates actions between the two State Commands. Marshal of the Armies is [[Morgan Hasek-Davion]], who commands the [[AFFC]] whenever the Prince and the Archon are unavailable. Following are the other members of the High Command:
 
 
 
* Field Marshal [[Ivar Bergstrom]], commander, [[Department of Military Intelligence]]
 
* Field Marshal [[Nondi Steiner]], commander, [[Lyran Commonwealth State Command]]
 
* Field Marshal [[Jackson Davion]], commander, [[Federated Suns State Command]]
 
* Field Marshal [[Michele Bjuti]], commander, [[Department of Strategy and Tactics]]
 
* Field Marshal [[Toni Reynolds]], commander, [[Department of Military Education]]
 
* Field Marshal [[Lisa Steiner]], commander, [[Department of the Quartermaster]]
 
* Field Marshal [[Jessup Winston]], commander, [[Department of the Army and Navy]]
 
* Field Marshal [[Thomas Steiner-Green]], commander, [[Department of Military Administration]]
 
* Marshal [[Grissom Miller]], commander, [[Department of Mercenary Relations]]
 
* Field Marshal [[Tony Banzai]], commander, [[Department of Military Communication and Research]]
 
 
 
===[[Department of Military Communication and Research]]===
 
 
 
The [[Department of Military Communication and Research]] is an important secret section of the [[AFFC]]. We know there are more than 30 secret research centers assigned to this department, but have not yet penetrated the nature of their research.
 
 
 
[EDITOR'S NOTE: The [[Wolfnet]] has learned that this department oversees the manufacture and use of fax machines, as well as research into [[HPG]] technology. Because of the importance of these areas of research, members of this department, particularly its commander, Field Marshal [[Tony Banzai]], have been prime targets of [[ROM]] agents.]
 
 
 
===Organization===
 
 
 
The creation of the [[AFFC]] involved the merger of two divergent military philosophies and separate structures. The [[Davion]] concept of [[Regimental Combat Teams]] and an appreciation of the value of combined arms had already made an impression on the [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces | LCAF]] before the [[Fourth Succession War]]. This influence grew stronger after the war, with the creation of many RCTs attached to [[Lyran Commonwealth | Lyran]] regiments.
 
 
 
Training units of military academies became a growing trend in [[Davion]] space and spawned units in the [[Lyran Commonwealth]], [[Sarna March]], and [[St. Ives Compact]] as well.
 
 
 
Between the [[Fourth Succession War]] and the [[War of 3039]], the High Command instituted a single organization to reconcile the [[Davion]] system of [[Marches and Polymorphous Defense Zones]] with the [[Steiner]] system of Theaters and Military Districts. Many soldiers in the [[Federated Commonwealth]] and elsewhere still use the old terms, but a new system has been superimposed on the old. Replacing the PDZ and covering roughly one-third of a [[Lyran Commonwealth | Lyran]] Theater is a military district called a Command. The term [[Operations Area]] replaces the [[Lyran Commonwealth | Lyran]] term Theater and the [[Davion]] term Combat Theater. Two or three [[Operations Area]]s make up a [[March]]. The [[Marches of the Federated Suns]] remain intact, and the captured Capellan territories and former [[Lyran Commonwealth]] have been divided into the following [[March]]es: [[Sarna March]] (former [[Liao]] worlds plus four [[Marik]] planets captured by the [[Tikonov Free Republic]]), [[Tamar]] [[March]] (roughly [[Bone]], [[Trellshire]], and [[Tamar]] Theaters), [[Skye March]] (roughly the [[Federation of Skye]] plus captured [[Marik]] worlds near [[Terra]]), [[Tamarind March]] ([[Ford]] and [[Cavanaugh]] Theaters), [[Periphery March]] ([[Timbuktu]] and [[Main Street]] Theaters), and [[Donegal March]] (the central area of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]).
 
 
 
With this reorganization came some changes in the way of doing things. Many units received new home worlds, with [[Davion]] and [[Steiner]] units often changing places, sometimes for military reasons and other times for political considerations. In addition, the [[Davion]] system of March Militias came into common use throughout the [[Federated Commonwealth]]
 
 
 
===Ranks===
 
 
 
The ranking system of the [[AFFC]] is a merger of the [[Davion]] and [[Steiner]] systems. The ranks, including the position for which each rank is a prerequisite, are as follows:
 
 
 
* Marshal of the Armies
 
* Field Marshal (Head of State Command)
 
* Marshal (Head of [[Operations Area]])
 
* Hauptmann General (Head of Regimental Combat Team)
 
* Leftenant General (Head of Regiment Without RCT)
 
* Kommandant (Battalion Commander)
 
* Hauptmann (Company Commander)
 
* Leftenant (Lance Commander)
 
* Enlisted Ranks:
 
* Sergeant Major
 
* Sergeant
 
* Corporal
 
* Private
 
 
 
===Defense Industry===
 
 
 
The [[Steiner]]-[[Davion]] merger has created a defense industry boom. Though both states suffered a postwar depression in [[3031]], they were soon pooling their resources to produce more weapons, more efficiently. The focus of the vigorous new industry was [[BattleMech | 'Mech]] designs unique to the [[Federated Commonwealth]]. It soon became common to see [[Zeus]], [[Commando]], [[Enforcer]], [[Valkyrie]], [[Hatchetman]], and [[Wolfhound]] [[BattleMech | 'Mech]]s, particularly in the new F-C regiments. Other designs, such as the [[Victor]], [[Atlas]], [[JagerMech]], and the [[House Liao|Capellan]] [[Cataphract]] were also encouraged
 
 
 
===Economy===
 
 
 
[[Lyran Commonwealth | Lyran]] worlds did not suffer much damage during the [[Fourth Succession War | Fourth War]], allowing the Commonwealth economy to emerge virtually unscathed. In the transition period from a war to a peacetime economy, the [[Lyran Commonwealth | Lyran]] stock exchange did plunge as unemployment rose, but things calmed down once the huge Commonwealth industrial base turned to more consumer products.
 
 
 
The [[Federated Suns]] economy, on the other hand, suffered twice as much. Many [[Federated Suns]] worlds bordering the Combine did suffer heavy war damage and lost resources or markets on worlds captured by the Combine, but the economic hard times (which did not end until late [[3032]]) were caused mainly by the [[Interdiction]] that [[ComStar]] imposed on the [[Federated Suns]] during the war. Indeed, the [[Interdiction]] created a virtual chaos among the realm's businesses.
 
 
 
The lowering of all trade restrictions between the [[Steiner]] and [[Davion]] realms helped both states to climb out of their slumps and has promoted continued economic growth. Investors from both realms saw the worlds of the [[Sarna March]] as both challenge and opportunity, pouring money and technical help into the region to rebuild war damage as well as to obtain cheap resources and labor for the new factories they were building in the [[March]]. The appetites of some industrialists became so voracious that [[Melissa Steiner]] [[Davion]] had to intervene in [[3036]] to prevent whole planets from being exploited. Since then, the focus of most economic activity has been to revive local firms, including efforts by a consortium of [[Federated Commonwealth]] industries to resurrect the once-mighty [[Asuncion Industries]].
 
 
 
In contrast to the stimulation in [[Lyran | Lyran Commonwealth]]-[[Davion]] trade relations, their trade with the other states of the [[Inner Sphere]] has dipped. Trade with the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] has been constrained by Rasalhagians' fear of offending the Dragon by appearing too eager to buy [[Lyran Commonwealth | Lyran]]. The [[St. Ives Compact]] is an active trader with the [[Federated Commonwealth]], of course, but trade with the [[Free Worlds League]] and the [[Capellan Confederation]] has dropped dramatically
 
 
 
===Goals and Problems===
 
 
 
Why the [[Steiner]] and [[Davion]] families should go to such lengths and take such risks to unite their realms is clear: they want a state that is politically, militarily, and economically strong enough to intimidate rival Houses with the mere flexing of their realm's military muscle.
 
 
 
Because of its immense size, however, the [[Federated Commonwealth]] requires a huge central government that is also dependent on the services of [[ComStar]], an avowed adversary, to provide the communications needed to run it. Though a few anti-merger bastions still exist, most notably Duke [[Ryan Steiner]]'s separatist movement, there is no denying the military strength and economic vigor of the [[Federated Commonwealth]].
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[[Category:CBT Factions]]
 

Revision as of 15:08, 25 December 2019

Property "Update Needed From" (as page type) with input value "Handbook: Major Periphery States]]; 20-Year Update; Shattered Sphere; [[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)|FedCom Civil War" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.

Federated Commonwealth Logo
Federated Commonwealth
Faction Profile
Time period: 3055 - 3057
Classification: Successor State
Ruler title: Archon-Prince
Military: Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth (AFFC)
Secret Service: Lyran Intelligence Corps (LIC)
Ministry of Information, Intelligence, and Operations (MIIO)


The Federated Commonwealth was the union of the Lyran Commonwealth and Federated Suns. The accession of Archon-Prince Victor Steiner-Davion in 3055 formally brought the nation into being, though in practice it had existed since before the Clan Invasion. Katherine Steiner-Davion seceded the Lyran half of the nation in 3057, creating the Lyran Alliance, which would lead to the FedCom Civil War in 3062. Victor abdicated the throne in 3067 and his successor, Prince-Regent Yvonne Steiner-Davion, renamed the rump Commonwealth "Federated Suns".


History

Formation

In 3020, Archon Katrina Steiner of the Lyran Commonwealth issued a "Peace Proposal" to all of the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere; only First Prince Hanse Davion of the Federated Suns responded, and the two states began a long-running dialogue. In 3020 the two Successor States signed the FedCom Accords, a treaty which formalized military, scientific and economic exchange between the two states. However, included in the document was a secret provision, promising the marriage of Prince Hanse and Archon-Designate Melissa Steiner, which would unite the two in a vast political entity, the Federated Commonwealth. This provision would become known to the other States in 3027 during the Silver Eagle Incident.

However, the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth did not share a common border, complicating their eventual union. At the behest of Prince Hanse, to rectify this problem the two realms began increasing their military readiness and began training together for an eventual campaign of conquest, launching Operation Galahad. On 20 August, 3028, at the marriage ceremony of First Prince Hanse and Archon-Designate Melissa, with all the leaders of the Great Houses in attendance, Hanse made his fateful announcement: "Wife, in honor of our marriage, in addition to this morsel... I give you the Capellan Confederation!"

With the launch of the Fourth Succession War, the combined forces of the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth began a massive campaign aimed largely at the Capellan Confederation and the Draconis Combine. The war would end two years later on 10 January 3030 with roughly a third of the Capellan Confederation conquered, along with some 53 Combine and 13 Free Worlds League planets. The conquered worlds would be incorporated into the Federated Commonwealth as the Sarna March and form a corridor between the two halves of the new super-state.

On 12 April 3030, Melissia gave birth to Victor Steiner-Davion, the future ruler of the Federated Commonwealth. While practically born in the aftermath of the Fourth Succession War, the Federated Commonwealth would only technically come into existence once Hanse and Melissa stepped down and allowed their son to assume his rightful position. Efforts were increased to further unify the two States politically and militarily in expectation of his ascension. Both the AFFS and LCAF increased work on combining their command structure, ranking system and battle doctrines into a single unified organization.

Rasalhague and Skye

On 13 March 3034, Haakon Magnusson declared himself Prince of the Free Rasalhague Republic which, in a surprise move, was agreed to by Gunji-no-Kanrei Theodore Kurita. The Combine's willingness to give up worlds to the nascent state would force the FedCom, and in particular the Lyrans, to do the same. Katrina Steiner had agreed at the onset of the Fourth Succession War to recognize the Tyr movement as the legitimate government of the Rasalhague worlds, yet most of their gains during the war had been in the Rasalhague Military District. To avoid appearing as hypocrites, the Lyrans agreed to relinquish control of these worlds to the FRR, effectively creating a buffer between the two States.

This created discord within the Lyran half of the FedCom. While objections to the alliance was mostly confined to small extremist groups within the Federated Suns, it was much larger and more organized within the Commonwealth. The loss of men and material for what became almost no gain sparked anger and protests, especially within the Tamar and Skye regions. The First Skye Rebellion, started by separatists seeking independence similar to Rasalhague, would end after successful negotiations by Duke Ryan Steiner; these negotiations has the simultaneous effect of shaming Prince Hanse for seemingly overreacting to the crisis with the use of AFFS troops. This crisis would tie up FedCom forces and delay their expected attack against the Draconis Combine, originally planned for 3035, by several more years.

Conflict with ComStar

Although it had been instrumental in facilitating the alliance, ComStar had no wish to see any one nation dominate the Inner Sphere, especially one dedicated to scientific progress. During the Fourth Succession War, much of the FedCom had been placed under a communications blackout, ostensibly in response to the Suns's attack on the HPG station on Sarna. Later investigations would exonerate the AFFS of any wrongdoing and suggest an underhanded plot by a third party; the same would be discovered regarding an apparent attack by the Death Commandos on the New Avalon Institute of Science. Only later would it be discovered that ComStar had been the one behind these false-flag attacks. In any event, FedCom was forced to accept the stationing of the Com Guards at all HPG stations, and a hidden war would commence between ROM and the combined forces of the LIC and MIIO with Operation Flush.

War of 3039

Renewed conflict with the Combine was seen as inevitable, especially with both the Suns and Commonwealth facing political pressure not only to renew the conquest but also against the alliance in the first place. When Katrina Steiner stepped down as Archon on 15 March 3039 and her daughter Melissa took her place, the die was cast and preparations for the conflict began. The War of 3039 would start the following month, and end in December. What should have been a massive victory ended in a practical draw, with FedCom capturing seven planets to the Combine's three, far short of the projected forty to fifty worlds prior to the conflict.

The delay in the start of the conflict had given Theodore Kurita time to revamp the DCMS into a more effective fighting force, while the AFFS and LCAF continued to fight as two separate organizations. FedCom communications were intercepted by the ISF, due to their recovery of a black box during the Fourth Succession War, which were lax in following encryption protocols. ComStar also assisted the Combine, secretly giving them BattleMechs incorporating advanced lostech from the Star League and preferential HPG rates, and indirectly through their hidden war with the FedCom intelligence communities. Finally, FedCom was unwilling to call the Combine's bluff with their final counter-attack, and signed the Exeter Accords in 19 January 3040. The war would highlight problems with the FedCom, which despite efforts still remained two distinct political, economic and military entities.

Decade of Peace

Following the disastrous War of 3039, the FedCom would go through a period of rebuilding and integration. Learning their lesson from the war, in early 3041 the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth was officially established. In order to eliminate confusion, the two militaries were reorganized into State Commands, one for each realm, with full authority over all troops within their area of operation regardless of origin. The LIC and MIIO was similarly grouped into the Intelligence Secretariat, which was charged with coordinating the disparate agencies under its command. The industrial and economic might of the two realms also helped them to recover swiftly from the aftermath of the war. The Skye March in particular was seen as an opportunity for corporations in both realms, such that in 3036 Archon Melissa was forced to intervene to prevent the exploitation of entire planets by greedy industrialists.

However, FedCom's enemies also took the time to regroup: the Draconis Combine had proved itself more than a paper tiger, while the Capellans were eager to avenge their losses, and the Free Worlds League emerged from the Andurien Crisis with its house in order. A Fifth Succession War was seen as inevitable.

Clan Invasion


FedCom Civil War


Government

In truth, for most of its existence FedCom was a joint venture between Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner-Davion. With their deaths, the head of the Federated Commonwealth would formally be conferred onto the Archon-Prince, though this position was only ever filled by Victor Steiner-Davion for a couple of years from 3055 to 3057. Below him in the hierarchy would be the First Prince and Archon of the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth, respectively, who would take over governing duties during his absence.[1]

Economy

The lowering of trade restrictions between the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth would do much to strengthen their respective economies, especially after the Fourth Succession War and War of 3039. The conquest of fresh territory would also help strengthen the business sector as corporations began to expand and grow into these new markets. This led to massive exploitation, such that in 3036 Melissa Steiner-Davion had to step in and put an end to their unfair practices. In the years afterward, most effort went towards strengthening local firms, such as the revival of Asuncion Industries.[2]

Trade with the other Successor States however dropped dramatically in the years following FedCom's formation. Only with the St. Ives Compact and Free Rasalhague Republic was FedCom an active trader, and even the latter felt constrained to keep economic activity with the new superstate at much lower levels for fear of offending the Draconis Combine.[2]

Military

The Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth was the combined military of the AFFS and LCAF. By early 3041 AFFC High Command formally accepted control of the two organizations, and by 3042 the last vestiges of both militaries was discarded. By 3050 the AFFC was the largest military organization in the Inner Sphere, with a BattleMech strength of 256 regiments and 1 battalion.[3]

References

  1. 20 Year Update, p. 15
  2. 2.0 2.1 20 Year Update, p. 18
  3. 20 Year Update, p. 19

Bibliography