Marik Civil War (31st c.)
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| Marik Civil War (31st c.) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Succession Wars | |||||
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| Factions | |||||
| Free Worlds League (Loyalists) | Free Worlds League (Rebels) | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Janos Marik | Anton Marik | ||||
| Environment | |||||
| Standard | |||||
| Conditions | |||||
| Normal | |||||
| “ | Betrayal
If any event could evoke sympathy for the Captain-General, it would be that day when Janos Marik confronted the truth that his own brother had made common cause with the Liao enemy. After a decade of disappointments it was the ultimate disappointment. - From Crossed Swords, by Ema Kochkov, Rahne Publishing, 3021[1] |
” |
The Marik Civil War, also known as Anton's Revolt, was a civil war that engulfed the Free Worlds League from 22 May 3014 until May 3015. Instigated by Anton Marik, who was covertly backed by the Capellan Confederation and ComStar, he aimed to usurp the Captain-Generalcy from his elder brother Janos Marik. After a year of bitter fighting Janos put down the rebellion, at the end of which Anton lost his life, but serious damage was dealt to the Free Worlds League that would last for years to come.
Contents
Background
Internal troubles
A series of mediocre Captain-Generals throughout the 30th Century left much disaffection with House Marik in both the League Parliament and its populace, dissension which culminated with a failed plot in 2988 against Captain-General Stephan Marik. When his son Janos Marik became the League's ruler in 2991, he set about turning his realm's fortunes around. During the first decade of his reign Janos succeeded not only in mending fences with Parliament and undertaking domestic improvements, but also achieved battlefield successes against the Lyran Commonwealth with a revitalized military.[2]
Shortly after the turn of the millennium Janos enacted the first step of a bold plan to eventually weaken both of the League's traditional enemies, by damaging the Federation of Skye's industry and seizing more ex-Terran Hegemony worlds from the Tikonov Commonality. Instead, this vision would be derailed from the outset and plant the seeds of civil war. The opening assault on Loric in 3002 turned into a eight-month quagmire that ended in a Lyran victory, while the second attack, on Solaris VII, also ended in a drawn-out disaster. A simultaneous offensive on the Capellan front, overseen by Janos' brother Anton Marik, likewise foundered as reinforcements and supplies were diverted to the stalled Lyran campaign.[3] [4]
Compounding the military setbacks was the rift that erupted between Janos and Anton Marik. The two had previously been close, with Anton being a key supporter of his brother early in Janos' reign, but the most notable casualty from the Solaris debacle permanently sundered them. To dampen the political fallout, Captain-General Marik ordered the execution of the responsible General, Willis Crawford, a classmate and friend of Anton's. Crawford's death, which Anton unsuccessfully tried to prevent, left Anton festering with resentment, with Janos' compromises with House Marik's political opponents and his neglect of the Capellan front adding fuel to the fire.[3] [4]
Janos' Decline and Foreign manipulation
Following these events, the masterminds behind the 2988 plot sounded out Anton Marik about making his own bid for the throne. Anton refused but did not abandon the idea or denounce the conspirators. Encouraged by this, Maximilian Liao, Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation, covertly established his own relationship with Anton and began prodding him towards open revolt against his brother.[5]
Over the following decade Janos Marik's initial popularity within the League waned as personal tragedies led to his seclusion and battlefield successes against the Lyran Commonwealth did not translate into long-term gains or plentiful booty. Disaffection within Parliament grew as a result, and both Anton and other opponents of the Captain-General took notice.[3] [4]
Though their initial contact had been in the aftermath of Crawford's execution, it was not until 3014 that Anton and Maximilian met. At the Kashmir Arcology on Terra, the two men forged an alliance: Chancellor Liao would assign his best mercenary force, the legendary Wolf's Dragoons, to provide Anton's own threadbare army with a reasonable chance of victory in the inevitable civil war. To sweeten the deal, Anton was also offered a future betrothal to Candace Liao, Maximilian's eldest daughter. Regardless of how the coming civil war turned out, Maximilian had positioned himself as a winner. At worst, Janos Marik would be preoccupied for years with a divided and weakened realm, while if Anton won he would be a pliable ally to the Confederation.[6] [3]
In addition, a close advisor to Anton during this time was Vesar Kristofur, the Precentor of ROM, who was working behind the scenes to advance his own and ComStar's agenda. By encouraging Anton's rebellion, the Order would weaken the Eagle, which had grown too powerful against the C-Bill for ComStar's liking. In addition, Kristofur hoped to uncover the secret of Wolf's Dragoons' origins, a mystery which had thus far eluded ROM's efforts to unveil.[7]
Beginning
On May 22, 3014, calling Janos a "madman" and a "tyrant", Anton Marik openly challenged his brother's reign. Self-declaring himself Captain-General, he called upon all provinces and military units of the Free Worlds League to rally at his side.
While the Wolf's Dragoons conducted several highly successful strikes against loyalist forces, several units and many star systems did indeed flock to Anton's banner; however it was far less than what he'd expected.
Rather than be devastated by his brother's betrayal, the war re-energized Janos. He officially declared all rebel military units and leaders, foremost his brother Anton, as traitors and outlaws.
On June while Nova Roma fell to Rebel forces, most provinces invoked the Home Defense Act. They declined to support either rebels or loyalists and declared their neutrality in the civil war.
Reacting quickly, Janos invoked the powers of Special Resolution 512 in order to gain the loyalty of the provincial units. By this measure he gained the support of the Principality of Regulus and of the Sirian Concordance; rallying his loyalist forces he gave orders to counter-attack.
Worse was yet to come for the rebel side: the revelation that Anton was receiving support from the Capellan Confederation enraged many citizens of the Free World League who consequently supported and joined the loyalist side. Only the martial services of Wolf's Dragoons stiffened the rebel resistance.
By February 3015, the rebels controlled only a few remaining star systems. The tremendous strain upon Anton began to show.
He met with Jaime Wolf at his headquarters on New Delos in February 26th. Anton gave the order to break the mercenary regiments into company-sized forces in order to distribute them among other rebel troops, hoping that this measure would slow the advance of the loyalist forces.
Jaime Wolf refused, citing the terms of his contract. This refusal led to a fallout with devastating consequences.
On March 6th Anton gave the order to arrest Jaime's brother, Joshua Wolf and 27 other Dragoon personnel and dependents. While being interrogated, Joshua Wolf was killed, apparently "in a struggle with his guards". It has been speculated that he was intentionally murdered by Vesar Kristofur.
The remaining prisoners were quickly executed; it would not be revealed until several years later that Jaime Wolf's wife and two daughters were among them. Attempting to use the "prisoners" as hostages Anton sent a message to Jaime Wolf, announcing their arrests and concealing the executions [8].
The response was swift, overwhelming and deadly: the enraged Wolf's Dragoons fell upon New Delos crushing all opposition.
After three days of fighting, Natasha Kerensky led her Black Widow Company through a forest fire, attacking the rear of Anton's palace and ultimately killing him as a wall collapsed upon him.
The Dragoons then proceeded to destroy all remaining rebel units on New Delos, ending Anton's rebellion.
Aftermath
The end of the civil war led to the six-month long New Delos Treason Trials. Several rebel leaders among them Gerald Marik, Janos' own son, were found guilty of treason, sentenced to death and then executed. Additionally, another panel was formed to investigate the conduct of Janos' troops, the New Delos War Crimes Trials.[9]
Rebel military units were disbanded in disgrace and stricken from the records. In a twist of realpolitik, Janos gave the Wolf's Dragoons an offer of employment with the Free Worlds League, which Jaime Wolf accepted.
While managing to escape the carnage of New Delos, Kristofur's failure was not forgiven by ComStar's First Circuit; he was excommunicated and then sent into exile.
References
- ↑ House Marik (Free Worlds League), chapter Brother against Brother
- ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 7-9
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 9-10
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Handbook: House Marik, p. 44-45
- ↑ House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 52
- ↑ Handbook: House Liao, p. 36
- ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 13-14, "Vesar Kristofur profile"
- ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p.??[citation needed]
- ↑ Mechwarrior: Destiny, p. 146