Editing Federation of Skye

{{Cleanup|reason=review needed|date=September 2023}}
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| image = 
| Founded = [[2299]];<br/>c. [[3152]]<ref name=Si11>''Shrapnel'', Issue 11: "Voices of the Sphere: The New Mercenary Market"</ref>
| Dissolved = c. [[3081]]<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', pp. 62–63: "Inner Sphere - March 3081" (Map)</ref>
| capital = [[Skye]]
| systems = 57 ([[2341]])<ref name=HBHSp13>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 13: "Lyran Commonwealth Founding [2341]" (Map)</ref><br/>77 ([[3025]])<ref name=HBHSp47>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 47: "Lyran Commonwealth after Third Succession War [3025]" (Map)</ref>
| population = 
| currency = 
| language = 
| demonym = 
| Head of State = [[President of the Federation of Skye|President]]<ref name=HBHSp12>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 12</ref>
| cintel = 
| army = [[Skye Rangers]]<ref name=FMLA99>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 99: Skye Rangers profile</ref>
| navy = 
| mintel = 
}}

The '''Federation of Skye''', sometimes known as the '''Isle of Skye''', the '''Skye Province''', and the '''Skye March''' during various periods, refers primarily to one of the three founding member states of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. Bordering both of the Commonwealth's enemies during the [[Succession Wars]] the region suffered heavily and by the [[thirty-first century|mid-thirty-first century]] a strong secessionist movement had arisen, attempting on three occasions to break Skye free of Lyran rule. By the end of the [[Jihad]] the Skye region had been mostly subsumed into the [[Word of Blake Protectorate]] and then divided between the Commonwealth and the [[Republic of the Sphere]]. In the aftermath of the Republic's collapse the Isle of Skye nation was resurrected in [[3151]] or [[3152]].

Note that while the term of Isle of Skye is officially used in regards to the area of the Federation closest to [[Terra]], it is often used to describe the Federation as a whole.

==History==
===The Federation of Skye===
[[Ian McQuiston (23rd c.)|Ian McQuiston]] was the son of a merchant ship company owner in Great Britain on [[Terra]], becoming one of the millions to leave humanity's homeworld during the last few decades of the [[Terran Alliance]]. He chose to settle on the planet [[Skye]], as the climate was the closest to his native Scotland. He was elected President of Skye in [[2282]], and by [[2296]] he had formed the Skye Traders, a powerful conglomerate of merchant fleets, which soon dominated the trading interests of several worlds. By [[2299]], McQuiston had gained enough power to form an interstellar government known as the Federation of Skye, which would provide military protection and political strength for those worlds under the influence of his company.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 10</ref>

When the new [[Terran Hegemony]] took the place of the old Terran Alliance, it allowed many of the nascent interstellar colonial states to expand further into space, hemming the Federation in. They were forced to look inward, becoming heavily industrialized.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 11</ref> Nevertheless, by [[2341]], the Federation consisted of 57 worlds spread across many light years.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 13: "Map of the Federation of Skye as of 2341"</ref>

In [[2340]], Thomas McQuiston, Ian's descendant and head of the Federation, heeded Kevin Tamar's call from [[Arcturus]] to unite the Federation of Skye with the [[Tamar Pact]] and the [[Protectorate of Donegal]] into a single state, with shared resources and mutual protection from other recently formed powers, such as the [[Draconis Combine]]. They succeeded in coming to an [[Articles of Acceptance|agreement]], and the Lyran Commonwealth was born.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', pp. 11–12</ref>

===The Age of War===
The Lyran Commonwealth experienced considerable growing pains in its first few decades, with political corruption, economic instability and military weakness. [[Robert Marsden]] eventually consolidated the power of the central government in [[2375]], claiming the title [[Archon]] and ruthlessly crushing any opposition. The planet Skye was one of the last holdouts, eventually giving in only after facing military invasion by Marsden's military.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', pp. 12–13</ref> Such military action might have threatened the future of the Commonwealth, if Archon Marsden had not proven himself capable of forging an effective military in the [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces]]. By protecting his people, he earned respect even in the Federation.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 17</ref>

The [[Age of War]] saw new challenges for the Commonwealth and the Federation of Skye. An invasion by the Draconis Combine threatened not only the capital of Arcturus, but also the cutting off of most of the Federation. Only the entry of Archon [[Alistair Marsden]] into the conflict managed to stem the tide. Despite this, there were still rumblings of discontent from the Skye region.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 15</ref> This settled somewhat when Archon [[Katherine Steiner]] took power in [[2408]], naming the Duke of Skye to her ruling Commonwealth Council.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 17</ref>

Conflict again reeled its ugly head when Archon [[Alistair Steiner]] was assassinated in [[2467]]. His son, [[Michael Steiner]], would marry the Duchess of Skye, Regina McQuiston, last of the [[House McQuiston|McQuiston line]]. When Regina was killed in an earthquake, it helped trigger a series of catastrophes for the Commonwealth that led to a madwoman, [[Margaret Olsen]] (supported by backers from [[Tamar]] and Skye), as Archon in [[2501]].<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', pp. 22, 24–27</ref> Indeed, the Duke of Skye, [[Connor Gilderoy]]<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 21</ref> and his Tamar ally had been manipulating matters for years to improve their own power base, regardless of the long-term price paid by the Commonwealth. [[Robert Steiner]], the illegitimate nephew of Michael Steiner, led a successful military rebellion against his aunt, pursuing her and her supporters to Skye in [[2504]]. Eventually securing his throne as Archon, Robert appointed the Lestrade family to the Dukedom of Skye for their loyalty and support. He also made full reparations to Skye to help them rebuild following the fighting. The brief Lyran Civil War was over.<ref name=HSLC28-29>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', pp. 28–29</ref>

In [[2558]], the Commonwealth would sign on to join the [[Star League]]. This not only brought military stability, it also represented massive economic growth for the Federation, based upon its industrial might. During this period, [[Carlo Lestrade]], the current Duke of Skye, engaged the Archon in rigorous but peaceful public debate over proposed tax reforms, with the Archon emerging triumphant.<ref name=HSLC30-32>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', pp. 30–32</ref> Among other achievements in the Federation during this time, the prestigious [[Sanglamore Military Academy]] was opened on Skye. Though originally a [[Star League Defense Force]] facility, it would produce many soldiers for the Commonwealth (and the Federation in particular) in the centuries to come.<ref name=HSLC24>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 24</ref>

During the [[Reunification War]], the Commonwealth engaged in [[Operation MAILED FIST]], the conquest of the [[Rim Worlds Republic]] by the Star League and its member states, with Archon [[Viola Steiner-Dinesen]] leading the Lyran forces. During this operation, the Duke of Skye was implicated in the kidnapping of the Archon's son. Though the duke was eventually cleared, the Archon had gone into a psychotic rage in the field, actively attacking the [[Skye Rangers|Skye Ranger]] troops provided by the Federation of Skye. This resulted in a permanent rift between the Lestrade family and the Archon.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', pp. 34–36</ref>

The following centuries represented a golden age for the Federation, the Commonwealth, and much of the [[Inner Sphere]]. However, no one could foresee the conflict that would soon engulf all of humanity, following the Star League's collapse.

===The Succession Wars===
In the days leading up to the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]], the five member states of the old League scrambled to gobble up the former Terran Hegemony worlds surrounding Terra. Many important worlds joined the Federation at this point, most notably [[Summer]], [[Lyons]] and [[Thorin]]. The [[First Succession War]] was devastating for the entire Inner Sphere, with the Federation of Skye particularly hit hard. As it bordered both the Draconis Combine and the [[Free Worlds League]], the heavy industry of its worlds made it seem a ripe target. Even among the worlds that had not fallen to the enemy, ten Federation worlds had suffered tremendous damage to their industry, with some never fully recovering.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 53</ref> Although the Federation did benefit from the Commonwealth's net gain of ten worlds from the Free Worlds League, it also lost fifteen of its own worlds, mostly to the Draconis Combine.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 36</ref>

The [[Second Succession War]] would further hamper reconstruction efforts. Most notable was House Kurita's [[Hesperus II#Sixth, seventh and eighth battles|attempt to destroy]] the [[Defiance Industries]] factory on [[Hesperus II]] in [[2853]]. The Commonwealth would prove triumphant, though it would cost it its last [[WarShip]].<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', pp. 62–64</ref>

The [[Third Succession War]] saw the birth of a new kind of warfare that considered industrial targets off limits for destruction. Unfortunately for the Federation, the Lyran military was caught unprepared and many Federation worlds fell to the Combine with minimal resistance. By [[2884]], the situation was dire. In [[2895]], the planet Skye itself was attacked. Its defenders, the [[Seventeenth Skye Rangers]], the [[Eighth Donegal Guards]] and [[Narhal's Raiders]], fought with a viciousness unprecedented in the history of the Lyran military, committing war crimes and using a tactical nuclear device against the Kuritan invaders. Though the battle would last well over a year, the Combine was defeated. In the years that followed, House Kurita chose to focus more of its efforts against the Tamar Pact, finding resistance in the Federation of Skye to be too heavy for its tastes.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', pp. 67–70</ref>

In [[2913]], the Commonwealth launched [[Operation FREEDOM]], with the goal of the liberation of those planets of the Federation that had been taken by the Combine. Though it initially had some successes, it soon bogged down when Archon [[Eric Steiner]] was killed during the fighting on [[Freedom]]. The operation would last an incredible 84 years, during which the Lyran military grew in its ability, recapturing several worlds.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', pp. 71, 74–75, 78, 82</ref> Still, by the end of the Third War in [[3025]], the Federation had lost nearly 20 worlds to the Combine and another 16 to the Free Worlds League.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 47</ref>

None of this helped to keep the people of the Federation content. By [[3025]], [[Aldo Lestrade (31st c.)|Aldo Lestrade IV]], Duke of [[Summer]] and leader of the Federation, had begun what would become known as the [[Free Skye]] movement, fostering separatist sentiment among the people of his province.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 155</ref>

===The Fourth Succession War===
In [[3028]], Archon [[Katrina Steiner]] launched [[Fourth Succession War#Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG|Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG]], a massive invasion of the entire Draconis Combine-border, as part of the [[Fourth Succession War]]. It was launched in part to distract the Combine from attacking the underdefended [[Federated Suns]]' [[Draconis March]], while the [[AFFS]] was focused on its own invasion of the [[Capellan Confederation]]. Though most of the Combine worlds targeted were in the [[Rasalhague Military District]] bordering the Tamar Pact, many others were in the [[Dieron Military District]] bordering the Federation.

Despite many successful Lyran attacks, [[Theodore Kurita]], the Combine's heir designate, managed to rally the [[Legion of Vega]] and other Combine troops, successfully, defending [[Vega]] and launching counterattacks against the politically volatile Isle of Skye. These attacks won the Combine the worlds of [[Alphecca]] and [[Skondia]].

During the war, Duke Aldo Lestrade and his ally, Duke [[Frederick Steiner]], were both implicated in the attempted assassination of the Archon and her daughter, [[Melissa Steiner-Davion]]. Lestrade was himself assassinated during the war and Steiner was believed killed on a suicide mission to [[Dromini VI]] that halted Theodore Kurita's attacks.<ref>''Warrior: Coupé''</ref> This did not end the Free Skye movement, but it effectively slowed it down for several years.

By the end of the war, the Commonwealth's attacks had won them 13 worlds formerly under Combine control, netting them 11 overall. They unexpectedly took control of nine worlds from the Free Worlds League, due to the failure of [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Janos Marik]]'s military planning.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 56</ref>

===The Rebellion of 3034===
The Lyran Commonwealth was now joined with the Federated Suns in a new superstate called the [[Federated Commonwealth]]. Though massive and strengthened by their gains during the Fourth Succession War, they still faced potent opposition. Externally, these threats were [[ComStar]] and the resurgent Combine (under ''[[Gunji-no-Kanrei]]'' Theodore Kurita). Internally, the separatist movement in the Isle of Skye remained troublesome.

Duke [[Ryan Steiner]], [[Duke of Porrima]], cousin to Archon Katrina Steiner and the former protégé of Aldo Lestrade, had taken control of the Free Skye movement, which had become better organized and increasingly powerful as more and more Lyran nobles opposed the alliance. When the Draconis Combine granted the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] its independence, it was seen as a rallying cry to independence in the Federation of Skye. Major demonstrations were launched, officially against Ryan Steiner's orders. Later known as the "Skye Crisis" or "First Skye Rebellion", Prince Davion reacted harshly to the uprisings with major military force, often using AFFS troops. An estimated 200 civilians were killed during these clashes, as well as several soldiers.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 58</ref> When Ryan Steiner stepped in and negotiated a successful settlement to a standoff between Davion soldiers and separatists on Skye, it won him tremendous political clout while embarrassing Hanse Davion at the same time.<ref>''20 Year Update'', p. 13</ref><ref>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 8</ref><ref>''Heir to the Dragon'', p. 309</ref>

While not on the same level as [[Operation ROSEBUD]], meetings between [[Primus of ComStar]] [[Myndo Waterly]] and Ryan Steiner in this period culminated in an agreement whereby Steiner and the Free Skye movement received priority access to all [[HPG]] traffic in and out of the region, the movement would provide Waterly the justification for posting the [[Com Guards]] within the Lyran realm after an "unsanctioned" Free Skye attack against a ComStar facility in [[3041]].<ref name=CS-60>''ComStar'', p. 60</ref> It was during this time that, seeking to further solidify his political position, Ryan Steiner married [[Morasha Kelswa]], heir to the Tamar Pact.

With the formation of the [[AFFC|Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth]], the Federation of Skye was militarily organized into the new Skye March, consisting of the [[Ryde Operations Area|Ryde]] and [[Alcor Operations Area|Wyatt]] Theaters.<ref>''20 Year Update'', pp. 26–27</ref>

===The Clan Invasion===
In [[3050]], the Isle of Skye was not directly impacted by the [[Clans]]' invasion of the Inner Sphere, far as it was from the front lines. However, the political impact was considerable. [[Tamar]], along with much of the old Tamar Pact, fell to the [[Clans]], with Ryan Steiner's father-in-law, Duke Kelswa, dying in defense of his capital city and planet.<ref>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 44</ref> Many blamed the Davion-dominated AFFC military for these failures, inspiring major discontent, particularly in the Federation of Skye. Indeed, when discussing counterattack options early on in the invasion, [[Marshal of the Armies]] [[Morgan Hasek-Davion]] had to concern himself that if he did not attempt to futilely defend all of Tamar's worlds that Skye might revolt.<ref>''Lethal Heritage''</ref> The Federation's historical armed forces also suffered somewhat, as the elite Seventeenth Skye Rangers were destroyed fighting [[Clan Jade Falcon]] on [[Barcelona]], [[Bone-Norman]] and [[Black Earth]].<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 38</ref>

===The Rebellion of 3056===
In the aftermath of Melissa Steiner-Davion's assassination in [[3055]],<ref>''Natural Selection''</ref> the Isle of Skye again erupted in a rebellion orchestrated by Ryan Steiner. During what became known as the "Second Skye Rebellion", the Duke blatantly accused [[Archon-Prince]] [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] of arranging his mother's murder, and he fostered "anti-Davion" sentiment throughout the region.<ref name=HHS63>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 63</ref><ref name=SS42>''Shattered Sphere'', p. 42</ref>

Among the boldest actions taken by the Free Skye movement was the attempted conquest of [[Glengarry]], home of the famous [[Gray Death Legion]] [[mercenary]] unit. Sending the newly formed [[Fourth Skye Guards]], commanded by [[Kommandant-General#Lyran Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance|Kommandant-General]] [[Wilhelm von Bulow]] and [[Hauptmann-General]] [[Leonidas Brannock]], the Guards found themselves mired in a guerrilla war against the Legion's First [[Battalion]] for several months. When Colonel [[Grayson Carlyle|Grayson "Death" Carlyle]] arrived with the rest of the Legion and elements of the [[Northwind Highlanders]] in support in November, the Guards were finally defeated.<ref>''Blood of Heroes''</ref><ref>''Historical Turning Points: Glengarry''</ref><ref>''Day of Heroes''</ref>

Victor Steiner-Davion secretly ordered Ryan Steiner killed on [[Solaris]], using [[Dancing Joker|the same assassin]] that Ryan Steiner and [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] had used to kill Melissa Steiner-Davion the year before.<ref>''Assumption of Risk''</ref>

Afterward, the Skye separatist movement foundered, despite resentment for alleged heavy-handed uses of the military to put down revolts on some worlds. When the Archon-Prince rotated the government to [[New Avalon]], his sister Katherine took over as Regent on [[Tharkad]], and was credited by her supporters with largely resolving the conflict through a humanitarian agenda.<ref name=SS42/> Effectively, Katherine had turned the rebellion from a secessionist rebellion to an anti-Davion protest. Overall resentment of the Archon-Prince was only further fueled.<ref name=HHS63/> It was later found that Katherine had helped support the Free Skye movement in the first place. [[Robert Kelswa-Steiner]], the son of Ryan Steiner, would then assume leadership of the Free Skye movement.

===The Lyran Alliance===
In [[3057]], with the revelation of [[Operation Doppelganger|Operation GEMINI]] and in the wake of [[Operation GUERRERO]], Katherine Steiner-Davion declared herself Archon and seceded the entire Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth, renaming it the [[Lyran Alliance]]. In doing so, she neglected the worlds and people of the [[Sarna March]], nominally under the Lyran Commonwealth State Command, as per her mother's wedding gift.<ref>''Bred for War''</ref>

Though openly supportive of Katherine Steiner-Davion, Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner became a concern of [[Lyran Intelligence Corps|Lyran Intelligence]], particularly with his formation of the [[Tamar Cavaliers]].<ref name=SS45>''Shattered Sphere'', p. 45</ref>

The occupation of the [[Lyons Thumb]] by the Draconis Combine in 3057 led to its eventual annexation [[3062]], supposedly in retaliation for an attack by the [[1st Skye Jaegers|Skye Jaegers]]. This created further discontent in the region.<ref name=SS45/>

With the reorganization of the [[Lyran Alliance Armed Forces]], the former Skye March was militarily broken up into various theaters and provinces, with Skye itself central to the Skye Province.<ref>''Shattered Sphere'', pp. 47–51</ref> This did nothing to squash secessionist sentiment, however.<ref name=SS45/>

===FedCom Civil War and another Rebellion===
When the inevitable [[FedCom Civil War]] broke out in [[3062]], Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner saw the perfect opportunity to finally win independence. He began by marrying Duchess [[Hermione Aten]] of Skye, cementing his place as nominal leader of the Federation. Then, beginning in [[3065]], Kelswa-Steiner began to openly defy Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion, leading to his arrest in April of that year. This further inflamed the passions of the region, with several regional militias openly declaring for the Free Skye cause. Led by Kelswa-Steiner's former military advisor, [[John Claverhouse Dundee]], open rebellion broke out, with several frontline regiments declaring their loyalty to the cause. Their most critical move was [[Hesperus II#Fifteenth battle|the attempted conquest of Hesperus II]].<ref name=HHS68>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 68</ref> With the Defiance Industries factory, the Free Skye army would not only have a ready supply of equipment but they would also deny it to the Alliance as well.

There were serious battles, as well, on Freedom and on Skye itself. On Freedom, the [[Alexandria Freedom Theater Militia|Alexandria]] and [[Accrington Freedom Theater Militia|Accrington FTM]]s, in service to Free Skye, assaulted the weakened pro-Katherine [[Fifth Lyran Regulars]]. Though they suffered serious losses to the more experienced Regulars, the two Militia units were able to cut off their enemies from basic supplies, including food and water. When [[Maria Esteban]] arrived with pro-Skye defectors from the [[Eleventh Arcturan Guards]] to take command, events shifted decidedly in Skye's favor. By February [[3066]], Free Skye had claimed the planet.<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 146, 163</ref><ref name=HHS68/>

On Skye, the pro-Lyran elements of the Eleventh Arcturan Guard RCT, along with the [[1st Alarion Jaegers|Alarion Jaegers]] struck the Skye Jaegers. Only the unexpected arrival of the Fourth Skye Rangers and the recall issued by [[General]] [[Nondi Steiner]] to help defend Tharkad would save the Skye Jaegers.<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 164</ref>

Most decisive, however, was the Fifteenth Battle of Hesperus II. Representing the Free Skye forces were the [[Twenty-second Skye Rangers]], the Fourth Skye Rangers, and the [[WarShip|WarShips]] [[Fox (WarShip class)#Named Vessels|LAS ''Illustrious'']] and the [[Fox (WarShip class)#Named Vessels|FCS ''Indefatigable'']]. Defending the planet on behalf of the Alliance were the Gray Death Legion, the [[15th Lyran Guards|Fifteenth]] and the [[Thirty-sixth Lyran Guards]], and the [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]], a corporate military unit. In orbit was the WarShip [[Avalon#Named Vessels|FSS ''Simon Davion'']]. Early in the campaign, the ''Illustrious'' was destroyed but the ''Simon Davion'' was captured by the Free Skye forces, giving the invaders a decisive advantage in orbit. After initial skirmishing, the two Skye regiments lifted off, only to drop directly on the target factory, leaving the divided defenders in a desperate position. Orbital bombardment by the Free Skye forces destroyed an [[Hyperpulse Generator|HPG Station]], killing hundreds of civilians, and dealt tremendous damage to the Fifteenth Lyran Guards. When the [[Thirty-second Lyran Guards]] joined the attack in support of Free Skye, the campaign appeared lost for the loyalists. The Gray Death Legion spent itself holding off the Rangers, losing most of its troops and its commander, Colonel [[Lori Kalmar|Lori Kalmar Carlyle]]. The Thirty-second Lyran Guards had lost their commander, and were now plagued by dissent. The Twenty-second Rangers were shattered, while the Fourth and Seventeenth Rangers were mauled. The pro-Skye [[Fourteenth Lyran Guards]] arrived with Maria Esteban in command, inflicting heavy losses on the Thirty-second Guards. Despite all of this, the loyalists still held the massive factory while the rebels had been ravaged, demoralized and had lost the element of surprise. The Fourth Skye Rangers abandoned the battle, returning to Skye. Esteban made one last push for the factory, neutralizing much of the Defiance SPF and reaching the gates of the legendary facility. Loyalist [[battle armor]] units, however, managed to regain control of the situation, and the Free Skye forces, facing a suddenly resurgent SDF and Fifteenth Lyran Guards, were forced to retreat. When General [[Caesar Steiner]] arrived with the pro-Lyran [[Second Donegal Guards]], Esteban and her forces surrendered.<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 146–147, 163–164, 177–178</ref><ref name=HHS68/><ref>''The Dying Time''</ref>

With the loss on Hesperus II, the situation appeared dire for the Free Skye movement. The situation changed when Grand Duke [[Morgan Kell]] and the [[Allies (FCCW)|allies]] freed Kelswa-Steiner from prison on [[Donegal]]. Recognizing the situation, Kelswa-Steiner quickly threw his support behind [[Peter Steiner-Davion]] in return for "greater autonomy" for the Federation.<ref name=HHS68/> Peter and his allies - including the Fourth Skye Rangers Kelswa-Steiner graciously provided - would triumph in his attack on Tharkad, thus winning the throne of Archon and helping to end the war.

In the months following the war, Robert Kelswa-Steiner continued to rebuild his power base. He sent his wife, Duchess Aten, to blackmail a Hauptmann-General with the [[LCAF#Quartermaster Corps|Lyran Quartermaster Corps]], in order to retain an exclusive contract with the [[Brigadier Corporation]] to produce [[Chimera (BattleMech)|Chimera]] BattleMechs on the Free Worlds League planet of [[Oliver]]. It was implicit that the quartermaster would help steer those 'Mechs to units loyal to Duke Robert and the Free Skye movement.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 6–8</ref>

===Jihad===
In February [[3068]], with the entire Inner Sphere reeling from the [[Word of Blake|Blakist]] [[Jihad]], the planet Skye was bombarded from orbit by the [[Free Worlds League]] WarShip, [[Eagle (WarShip class)#Named Vessels|FWLS ''Percival'']]. The attack did massive damage not only to the Fourth Skye Rangers but to the civilians of Skye as well. Invaders bearing the colors of the [[Second Sirian Lancers]] landed, briefly skirmishing with the defenders before reinforcements forced the Free Worlders to retreat. Robert Kelswa-Steiner, acting as Provincial Lord, vowed retribution against the Free Worlds League.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'', pp. 45–47</ref> It was later determined that the entire debacle was created by the Word of Blake.{{cn}}

In short order, Lyran forces under Steiner-Kelswa's command launched an invasion of the League, an action he called [[Operation ÜBERSCHATTEN]]. By March, General of the Armies [[Adam Steiner]] was describing Kelswa-Steiner's actions as "rogue". At the same time, [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Thomas Marik]] denied his realm's complicity in the attacks.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'', p. 47</ref> Despite this, Kelswa-Steiner soon launched a second wave of invasions on the worlds of [[Colfax]], [[Sheridan]], [[Thermopolis]] and [[Pingree]]. [[Togwotee]] and [[Cascade]] had already been taken during the first wave.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'', p. 50</ref> By March [[3068]], the Bolan Province had joined Kelswa-Steiner's invasion. Meanwhile, [[Megrez]] joined the other Marik worlds claimed by the Steiner forces.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'', p. 77</ref> By May, ten worlds had fallen to the Skye-Bolan invasion.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'', p. 80</ref> In June, forces under the command of General [[Jeremy Brett]] liberated Preston.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'', p. 81</ref> By October, Brett's forces had reportedly struck deep into Lyran space.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'', p. 82</ref> In November [[3068]], Skye forces under the command of Maria Esteban narrowly repulsed an attack by the [[First Atrean Dragoons]] on [[Zebebelgenubi]]. Meanwhile, the Fourteenth Lyran Guards likewise repulsed FWLM invaders on [[Syrma]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 30</ref> In January [[3069]], Skye media reported successful liberations of Summer, [[Alcor]] and [[Mizar]], which had all briefly fallen to Free Worlds forces.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 44</ref>

In October 3069, the Word of Blake had begun openly attacking Skye worlds, using nuclear weapons against Summer and sacking Glengarry<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 64</ref> though they were repulsed at Skye and [[Menkent]]. At Skye, the [[Fylgia|LAS ''Fylgia'']] surprised Blakist attackers, despite the use of nuclear weapons by the Blakists. On Menkent, local aerospace defenders were sufficient to rebuff the attack.<ref name=JHS7072>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 72</ref> Still, the news was not all good for the former worlds of the Federation. Hesperus II and its vaunted Defiance Industries was conquered by the Word of Blake, marking the first time in history an enemy had taken that critical world.

Meanwhile, Operation ÜBERSCHATTEN was still technically ongoing, with ten worlds taken from the League held by Alliance forces, with five previously Marik-conquered worlds liberated. The Free Worlds League, for its part, had retaken only Preston and still held the Lyran world of [[Giausar]], with attacks continuing on at least 20 other worlds, most of them far from the Skye Province border.<ref name=JHS7072/> By late 3069, the Free Worlds League had reportedly proposed a ceasefire with the Lyran Alliance.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 62</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 76</ref> By October [[3070]], that ceasefire still held.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 110</ref>

In April [[3071]], General Dundee, still in service to Skye, proposed shutting down the mercenary business on [[Galatea]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 35</ref> By [[3072]], many worlds that had been historically tied to the Isle of Skye (and militarily part of the Skye Province) had been taken by the Word of Blake, including Summer, the traditional seat of the Free Skye movement.<ref>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 13</ref> In September [[3073]], the Twenty=second Skye Rangers were wiped out on [[Caledonia]] by the Word of Blake's [[Fifty-second Shadow Division]] and elements of the [[Fortieth Shadow Division]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 12</ref> In December 3073, Robert Kelswa-Steiner agreed to accept support from [[Devlin Stone]] and his coalition, as Skye was once under threat of attack.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 38</ref> In March [[3074]], three regiments' worth of Coalition troops arrived on Skye to bolster the defenses. In June 3074, the Blakists launch their assault on Skye. By late July, Devlin Stone's Coalition routed the invaders, most notably the [[3rd Division (Word of Blake)|Word's Third Division]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 48</ref> In November 3074, Skye forces joined with the Coalition in liberating Hesperus II, emerging triumphant by the end of December.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 55</ref> In November [[3075]], Skye forces were still participating in Coalition operations against the Blakists, including the Skye Jaegers joining the campaign to liberate Galatea, thus depriving the Word of much of their mercenary support.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 47</ref> They were successful in securing Galatea in January [[3076]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 63</ref>

By the start of [[Operation SCOUR]], the entire Skye Province was participating in the coalition, and Kelswa-Steiner was a valued supporter of Devlin Stone.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', pp. 13–14</ref> By February [[3077]], Kelswa-Steiner was the task force commander for the entire Lyran-[[Word of Blake Protectorate|Protectorate]] front.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 26</ref> No later than February [[3078]], Kelswa-Steiner had led the liberation of [[Phecda]], losing his leg in the process, and he was forced to put his son, [[Gregory Kelswa-Steiner]], in command.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 65</ref> Nevertheless, the Coalition successfully freed Terra from Word of Blake control, ending the Jihad.

The end of the Jihad found the Skye Province in a somewhat precarious position. Whereas before the Jihad it had been an industrial powerhouse rivaling the Donegal Province in terms of production, the Jihad had seen many developed worlds lost to the Blakists and others badly damaged.<ref name="O:LAp26"/> Whilst the major defense industries on Skye had escaped with relatively light damage, those in the [[Hesperus]] system, on [[Edasich]] and [[Solaris VII]] had taken far more damage.<ref name="O:LAp3">''Objectives: Lyran Alliance'', p. 3: "State of the Industry at a Glance"</ref> The people of Skye remained a divided in opinion, simultaneously desiring more self-governance or independence while also desiring more support and protection from Tharkad.<ref name="O:LAp26">''Objectives: Lyran Alliance'', p. 26: "Skye Province"</ref>

===Republic of the Sphere===
With the formation of [[The Republic of the Sphere]], most of the Isle of Skye, along with Robert Kelswa-Steiner, chose to leave the Commonwealth once and for all and join this new government. Archon Adam Steiner provided his reluctant approval. Various key worlds of the Federation however, such as Hesperus II, remained under Lyran control.

===ilClan Era===
At some point between January [[3151]] and April [[3152]] the Isle of Skye had been reestablished as an independent nation, including among its members [[Zebebelgenubi]] and the mercenary hub [[Galatea]].<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 102–103: "Inner Sphere - 3151" (Map) - Isle of Skye is not an independent state at this time</ref><ref name=Si11/><ref name=DDp85>''Dominions Divided'', p. 85: "Rasalhague Dominion June 3152" (Map)</ref>

==Regions==
By the end of the Third Succession War, the Federation was broken up into three provinces:

===The Isle of Skye===
The so-called heart of the Federation, the capital of the Isle is the heavily industrialized predominately Anglo-Irish world of Skye. Among the most insular people of the Commonwealth or Alliance, the Isle is frequently a hotbed of succession and rebellion against Steiner rule.

===The Rahneshire ===
The most heavily industrialized group of planets in the Commonwealth, the province also boasts the largest Oriental population in the Lyran realm. Led from its capital of New Kyoto, the Rahneshire shares the Isle's insular ways but boasts a fanatical streak when its own interests are threatened.

===Virginia Shire===
Lying in the path of frequent Combine attacks, the Shire is the poorest province of the three, and lacks the inward focus of the others due to the requirement for strength in numbers against the Kurita foe.

==Federation of Skye Historical: Maps (Gallery)==
<gallery>
Image:Federation of Skye 2341.jpg|Federation of Skye 2341 Map
Image:Federation of Skye 2571.jpg|Federation of Skye After Age of War 2571
Image:Federation of Skye 2822.jpg|Federation of Skye After First Succession War in 2822
Image:Federation of Skye 2864.jpg|Federation of Skye After Second Succession War in 2864
Image:Federation of Skye 3025.jpg|Federation of Skye After Third Succession War in 3025
Image:Federation of Skye 3030.jpg|Federation of Skye After Fourth Succession War in 3030
Image:Federation of Skye 3040.jpg|Skye March After War of 3039 in 3040
Image:Federation of Skye 3052.jpg|Skye March After Clan Invasion in 3052
Image:Skye_Province_3067.png|Skye Province After FedCom Civil War in 3067
</gallery>

==Key Planets of Skye Province (Gallery)==
<gallery>
image:Skye_Flag.jpg‎|[[Skye]]
image:Alexandria_Flag.jpg|[[Alexandria (LC)|Alexandria]]
image:Galatea.jpg|[[Galatea]]
image:Hesperus_II_Flag.jpg‎|[[Hesperus II]]
image:New Kyoto Flag.jpg|[[New Kyoto]]
image:Rahne Flag.jpg|[[Rahne]]
image:Logo solarisVII.gif|[[Solaris]]
image:Summer_Flag.jpg|[[Summer]]
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
<div class="desktop-3-col">
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[Assumption of Risk]]''
* ''[[Blood of Heroes]]''
* ''[[Bred for War]]''
* ''[[Dawn of the Jihad]]''
* ''[[Day of Heroes]]''
* ''[[Dominions Divided]]''
* ''[[The Dying Time]]''
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)|FedCom Civil War]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Steiner]]''
* ''[[Heir to the Dragon]]''
* ''[[Historical Turning Points: Glengarry]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]''
* ''[[Jade Falcon Sourcebook]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3070]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3072]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3076]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
* ''[[Lethal Heritage]]''
* ''[[Natural Selection]]''
* ''[[Objectives: Lyran Alliance]]''
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]''
* ''[[Shattered Sphere]]''
* [[Shrapnel Issue 11|''Shrapnel'', Issue #11]]
* ''[[Starterbook: Wolf and Blake]]''
* ''[[Warrior: Coupé]]''
* ''[[Wolf Clan Sourcebook]]''
</div>


[[Category: Lyran Commonwealth Regions|Skye Province]]
[[Category:Nation States|Federation of Skye]]
[[Category:Federation of Skye Related Categories]]