|
|
| (30 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| | {{InfoBoxState | | {{InfoBoxState |
| − | | image = Rim Worlds Republic logo.png | + | | image = |
| − | | Founded = [[2250]]<ref name=TPp15-16>''The Periphery (sourcebook)'', pp. 15-16: "Birth of the Rim Worlds Republic"</ref> | + | | Founded = [[2779]]<ref name="FSWp100"/> |
| − | | Dissolved = [[2769]]<ref name=HLOTv1-p30>''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1'', p. 30, "Amaris Coup/Star League Civil War"</ref> | + | | Dissolved = [[2802]]<ref name="FSWp100"/> |
| − | | capital = [[Apollo (system)|Apollo]] | + | | capital = [[Finmark]] |
| − | | systems = c. [[2750]], estimated at 248<ref>''Combat Operations'', p. 86</ref> (including small Periphery settlements) | + | | systems = 6 (c. [[2786]]) |
| | | population = | | | population = |
| | | currency = | | | currency = |
| − | | language = | + | | language = Greek |
| | | demonym = | | | demonym = |
| − | | Head of State = [[First Consul of the Republic|First Consul]] (pre-[[Reunification War|reunification]]), | + | | Head of State = [[First Consul of the Republic|First Consul]] |
| − | [[President of the Republic|President]] (post-[[Reunification War|reunification]])
| |
| | | cintel = | | | cintel = |
| − | | army = [[Rim Worlds Army]] (RWA) | + | | army = |
| | | navy = | | | navy = |
| − | | mintel = [[AsRoc]] | + | | mintel = |
| | }} | | }} |
| − | Within '''[[Periphery|The Rift]]''' at the edge of [[Lyran Commonwealth|Lyran space]] once existed a periphery power that brought the end of the [[Star League]].
| |
| | | | |
| − | The '''Rim Worlds Republic''', [[2250]]-[[2769]], was born of [[Hector Worthington Rowe]] and his five-hundred-strong Theban Legion at the end of their own [[Exodus (2242)|Second Exodus]]. Journeying for six years through the [[Dark Nebula]], the men who would create the Republic were anti-[[Terran Alliance|Alliance]] veterans on the run aboard blackmailed [[JumpShip|JumpShips]], plunder from slain garrisons, and a limited number of provisions and women they'd taken as slaves. Simply put - pirates.<ref name=TPp15-16/>
| + | Formed after the fall of the [[Rim Worlds Republic]], the '''Finmark Free Republic''' was a rising periphery power that became another casualty of the [[First Succession War]]. |
| − | | |
| − | Pirates, albeit, beneath a militant historian undergrad. With the liberty of a small population and a near century outside the Sphere's eye, the Rim Worlds Republic would grow to stretch across the [[Lyran Commonwealth|Lyran Commonwealth's border]] - spanning from the [[Free Worlds League]] to near-direct contact with [[Draconis Combine|Draconis]] space. Born in a twisted mold of Ancient Greek society, over the course of five centuries the Republic would expand from a pirate kingdom into a well-educated and well-armed nation experienced in the art of guile and seduction.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Diplomacy, by another name - yet in spite of this over a dozen rulers would come to power in a history seemingly '''defined''' by ''coup d'état'' before the [[Stefan Amaris|Usurper]] was even born.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Ruled first by the founding [[House Rowe|Rowe family]] and by [[House Amaris]] from [[2463]] onward, the Republic as a whole remained unknown to the [[Inner Sphere]] until [[2339]]. Isolated as they were, however, the Rowes would depose members of their family for multiple generations. [[Maxwell Rowe]] removed his father through vote-backed bribery - and his daughter, [[Arabella Rowe|Arabella]], organized a coup with the [[Helot]] slaves.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The actions of [[Gregory Amaris]], First Consul at the birth of the [[Star League]], would invite over a century of court-level chaos in the wake of his consulship.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Assassinations, juntas, and coup after coup would precede the ascension of [[Selanta Amaris]] and follow her passing as relatives rose to power and had their ambitions checked, would act upon those ambitions, or see their aspirations cut short by yet another assassin. [[Tadeo Amaris]] and his military adventurism serve both as an example of political power struggle within the Republic as well as a crucial chunk of the foundation that would set the stage for statecraft devotionist [[Cynthia Amaris]], and [[Stefan Amaris|ultimately the usurper himself.]]
| |
| − | | |
| − | It is then in the 28th century that the Republic made its greatest mark in creating the [[Amaris Empire]], and waging nearly a [[Amaris Civil War|decade and half of war]] against [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] and the [[Star League Defense Force]].
| |
| − | | |
| − | Suffice to say that the Rim Worlds Republic ceased existing at the end of the [[Star League Era]], and is as responsible as Amaris in orchestrating the fall of [[House Cameron|the Camerons]] and [[Star League]] alike.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The territory of the Republic would later be claimed by the Lyran Commonwealth, and further remnants within [[Periphery|The Rift]] fractured into bandit kingdoms, independent systems such as the [[Rim Collection]], or vanished from starcharts altogether. Of the worlds later secured by the [[LCAF]] during the [[Amaris Civil War]], around half of them once constituted the Rim Worlds Republic.
| |
| | | | |
| | ==History== | | ==History== |
| − | === Origins === | + | In [[2779]] [[Finmark]] established an interstellar alliance with two other systems from the former Rim Worlds Republic, founding the Finmark Free Republic. Finmark was well-placed to become the capital of a new interstellar polity; despite the damage caused by the [[Amaris Civil War]], the [[Star League Defense Force]] invasion of the Rim Worlds Republic and the subsequent [[Republic-Commonwealth War]], Finmark was still home to an aerospace combat academy and one of the few surviving semi-operational Republic industries. In orbit above Finmark was the [[Roe Weapon Systems]] shipyards, which were damaged but still viable.<ref name="FSWp100">''First Succession War'', p. 100: "The Finmark Free Republic"</ref> |
| | | | |
| − | In [[2237]], in the midst of the [[Outer Reaches Rebellion]], [[Hector Rowe|Hector Worthington Rowe]], an undergraduate student studying classics and history at the University of Thebes, [[Alexandria (LC)|Alexandria]], volunteered to join Reinfield's 3rd Alexandrian Militia in an attempt to defend his school. Shortly afterwards, [[Terran Alliance]] forces (the 14th and 29th Alliance Special Combat Battalions) invaded Alexandria, killing 3000+ Alexandrians. Alliance forces retreated offworld in [[2238]].
| + | Between 2779 and 2782 Finmark created a government modeled on the early Rim Worlds system and managed to pull together a defense force comprised largely of fresh recruits and orphaned elements of the [[SLDF]] and the former [[Rim Worlds Army]]; these forces mustered a strength of almost two [[BattleMech]] [[regiment]]s, a similar number of [[aerospace fighter]]s, and enough armor and infantry units for each world in the Republic to have approximately two regiments of mixed armor and infantry each.<ref name="FSWp100"/> |
| | | | |
| − | After the end of the rebellion, Rowe started a student group in order to protest against the "Great Alliance Devil". The group became militant, and in [[2244]], hijacked a flotilla of [[Jumpships]] belonging to the Skye Freight and Goods company. Rowe arrived at an isolated Terran Alliance garrison world, [[Lucianca]], home to the 151st ([[Altair|Altairian]]) Fusiliers. Rowe and his guerrillas infiltrated the Fusiliers, assassinated the commanding officers, and staged mock trials against the unit - invariably executing each soldier through torture. Rowe was forced to flee, however, when one of the hijacked Jumpships escaped.
| + | Finmark's influence continued to grow, with systems as far away as [[Inner Surge]] and [[Port Vail]] receiving some form of defensive support from Finmark by the late 2780s as the government worked on rebuilding as much of the former Finmark Province as possible; the government also worked to restore the orbital shipyards above Finmark, with the shipyards nearing fully operational status by the late 2780s. Unfortunately for the nascent interstellar state - and particularly the inhabitants of Finmark - the increasing savagery of the [[First Succession War]] combined with Finmark's growing strength attracted predatory attention from the [[Lyran Commonwealth]].<ref name="FSWp100"/> |
| | | | |
| − | Rowe and the remaining assailants blackmailed the remaining Jumpships, and departed for the [[Periphery]], eventually arriving at the [[Dark Nebula]]. Along the way, Rowe raided small colonies and outposts, taking slaves (especially women), livestock, parts and food. After six years on the run, Rowe found a habitable world beyond the Dark Nebula, and founded [[Apollo (planet)|Apollo]] and the Rim Worlds Republic on 8 September, [[2250]], and named himself [[First Consul of the Republic]]. Hector Rowe ruled for more than 50 years until his son, [[Maxwell Rowe|Maxwell Achilles Rowe]], deposed him and became First Consul in [[2305]] via a vote of no confidence - and backed by bribery. Hector Rowe would commit suicide within the following months.<ref name=TPp15-16/>
| + | With the Lyran Commonwealth reeling from the death of [[Archon]] [[Jennifer Steiner]], the loss of huge amounts of industrial infrastructure to destructive raids and invasions and a significant shakeup of the [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces]] imposed by Archon [[Richard Steiner (29th c.)|Richard Steiner]], Richard Steiner chose to respond to [[LIC]] reports on the remnants of the former Rim Worlds Republic by redeploying the bulk of his [[WarShip]]s assigned to the [[Periphery]], shoring up defenses on the borders with the [[Draconis Combine]] and [[Free Worlds League]]. However, in addition to the general withdrawal of Lyran WarShips from the Periphery border, Richard also directed a squadron of corvettes to strike at Finmark, deemed the sole military threat remaining among the former unclaimed Republic worlds.<ref name="FSWp67">''First Succession War'', p. 67: "The Fist of Defiance: Steiner's Campaigns"</ref> |
| | | | |
| − | === Expansion === | + | Whilst General [[Paul Steiner]] advocated conquering Finmark, Richard had other plans. [[Operation HAIFISCHFLOSSENSUPPE]] - "Shark Fin Soup" - was drawn up; HAIFISCHFLOSSENSUPPE called for the capture or crippling of Finmark's jump stations and the shipyards. Rather than conquer the planet, Richard had his forces equipped with strategic nuclear weapons and issued explicit instructions that any potential strategic threats to the Commonwealth were to be neutralized with extreme prejudice should the local defenders prove too challenging. Claiming more worlds in the Periphery using ground forces was neither practical nor expedient, according to Richard's thinking, whilst the other Successor States posed more of a threat.<ref name="FSWp67"/> |
| | | | |
| − | Rather than use great force, the Rim Worlds Republic expanded by guile and seduction. When Maxwell Rowe discovered refugee colonies on his border in [[2334]], the Republic used trade agreements, as well as shared ventures to improve education and infrastructure, to ingratiate the Republic with its neighbors. Such agreements did not halt Republican colonization efforts, and by [[2338]], the Republic had settled the worlds of [[Icar]], [[Persistence]], [[Winfield (LC)|Winfield]], [[Derf]], [[Götterdämmerung (system)|Götterdämmerung]], [[Lackhove]] and [[Golandrinas]]. A chance hostile encounter with the [[Tamar Pact]] in [[2339]] turned the attentions of the Republic towards the Inner Sphere.
| + | Under the command of [[Kommodore]] [[Gustav Sharae]], the Lyran task force, consisting of half a dozen ''[[Leopard CV]]''-class [[DropShip]]s, four ''[[Fury (DropShip class)|Fury]]''-class DropShips fully loaded with marines and a squadron of six corvettes, conducted Operation HAIFISCHFLOSSENSUPPE. Of the six corvettes, two were ''[[Vincent (WarShip class)|Vincent-39s]]'', the [[Potsdam|LCS ''Potsdam'']] and [[Ulm (Individual Vincent-class WarShip)|LCS ''Ulm'']], while the remaining four were all ''[[Mako]]s'', including the [[Hadrian|LCS ''Hadrian'']] and Sharae's flagship, the [[Constantius|LCS ''Constantius'']].<ref name="FSWp68">''First Succession War'', pp. 68–69: "Shark Fin Soup"</ref> |
| | | | |
| − | Realizing the extremely tenuous situation, Maxwell journeyed to the Tamar Pact to meet its leader, [[Kevin Tamar]]. The two leaders were relieved to pen a nonaggression treaty, and the Republic was free to secure its future - under the rule of Maxwell's daughter, [[Arabella Rowe|Arabella]]. Without a home to return to, Maxwell departed unexplored parts of the Periphery and was never heard from again.
| + | The task force jumped into the Finmark system at the zenith jump point via the [[Dijonne]] system in [[2792]], facing only light resistance at the [[recharge station]] from a single pirate-rigged ''[[Achilles (DropShip class)|Achilles]]''-class DropShip stationed there. Sharae then delivered an ultimatum to the Finmark government, stating that the Commonwealth was going to seize the Roe Weapon Systems shipyards in the interests of "interstellar security," and that any resistance from Finmark would be met with maximum force.<ref name="FSWp68"/> |
| | | | |
| − | During Maxwell's diplomatic mission, Arabella had organized the [[Helot]] slave caste and staged a ''coup d'état''. Under Arabella's reign, the Rim Worlds Republic focused public efforts on education and infrastructure, especially in aid of the Helot class. Arabella also realized naval assets might induce panic among her neighbors, so she focused on building a large, defensive army. Arabella's reforms paid dividends; the Rim Worlds Republic was transformed from a feudal barbarian state with Roman trappings into a nation with a surplus of skilled labor, comparable with Enlightenment-era France. During this period, the Republic also colonized the worlds of [[Barcelona]], [[Black Earth]], [[Beta VII]], and [[Malibu]].
| + | The Finmark government made contact with Sharae while the task force was burning towards the planet, stating that they wished to arrange a diplomatic agreement and desired to avoid trouble with the Lyran Commonwealth; whilst unhappy with losing their single largest source of income, the Finmark government appeared to accept that they didn't have the strength to take on the LCAF. The shipyards had only been restored to working order in [[2790]], and while some of those under Sharae's command were suspicious that they were being led into a trap, but the task force was confident that there would be no any active WarShips to oppose their own WarShip squadrons, particularly given the intelligence reports indicating that the SLDF had already salvaged the bulk of any useful military resources from Finmark.<ref name="FSWp68"/> |
| | | | |
| − | Upon Arabella's death in [[2376]], she was succeeded by her son, [[Michael Durant|Michael Edward "Mishka" Durant]]. Durant was a boastful, gluttonous, lecherous man, but he understood his nation's strengths and weaknesses. Michael negotiated trade agreements with the [[Draconis Combine]], the [[Terran Hegemony]], the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and the [[Free Worlds League]], trading labor for technology and recognition. Michael also maintained a steady rate of Periphery exploration and colonization. He was succeeded by his sister, [[Heather Durant|Heather]], upon his death, around the year [[2400]].
| + | After two days of negotiation with the Finmark government, Sharae was confident that he had negotiated the government's surrender; Sharae dictated that the shipyards be left with all bays open to confirm that there were no hidden threats, and when the task force approached the shipyards, that appeared to be the case. Sharae ordered two ''Furies'' to approach and secure the shipyards, escorted by a pair of the ''Leopard CVs'', the ''Potsdam'' and the ''Ulm''. While the rest of the task force maintained overwatch, intent on spotting any sign of hostile forces emerging from either the far side of the shipyards or from behind Finmark's moon, the marines boarded the shipyard without encountering any resistance - and then a nuclear weapon concealed within the shipyards was detonated.<ref name="FSWp68"/> |
| | | | |
| − | [[Heather Durant]] maintained a careful policy of Republican neutrality, but profiteered from the Lyran-Kuritan conflict beginning in [[2407]]. Although the Republic refused to back the [[Lyran Commonwealth]], the Republic opened its borders to intelligence operatives of both sides. Establishing the Republican intelligence service, the [[AsRoc]], the Republic increased its influence, its territory, and its military through exchanges of information and special operatives. BattleMech technology gave the Republic a pair of key advantages:
| + | Located in the main docking bay, the nuke was viciously effective; the shipyards were nearly torn in half, bombarding the nearby ''Leopard CVs'' and WarShips with large chunks of debris. The two docked ''Furies'' and their two ''Leopard CV'' escorts were destroyed instantly, and the damage inflicted on the ''Potsdam'' caused it to spin to port, colliding with the shipyard solar array; the ''Ulm'' was left tumbling to starboard, and none of the other task force ships could contact the ''Ulm''.<ref name="FSWp68"/> |
| | | | |
| − | * Every Inner Sphere power needed to build their army from scratch.
| + | Sharae ordered an immediate withdrawal from the shipyard, whilst the surviving fighter carriers quickly disgorged their aerospace fighters. As the ''Ulm'' began maneuvering and the various ships attempted to work out what happened, the task force detected both fighters and strategic nuclear weapons being launched from Finmark, whilst communications from the ''Potsdam'' indicated that the ship was out of control and suffering damage from intense internal fires. The task force was hit with at least one if not two more nuclear weapons launched from Finmark, destroying the ''Potsdam'' and ''Ulm'' completely.<ref name="FSWp68"/> |
| − | * The Republic could practice and perfect BattleMech tactics in their Periphery holdings, away from prying eyes
| |
| | | | |
| − | === The Amaris Line === | + | Sharae had his surviving ships break orbit and recover their fighters, a maneuver that took an hour; with the recovery complete, he ordered his ships to launch a nuclear orbital bombardment of Finmark. Although pleas for mercy were received from the surface, those desperate pleas stopped ten hours into the bombardment; by the following day, so much damage had been inflicted on Finmark that the ash and smoke thrown into the atmosphere was dense enough to block visibility of the burning cities from the orbiting WarShips.<ref name="FSWp68"/> |
| | | | |
| − | During investigations of an attempted poisoning of Director-General [[Jacob Cameron]] in [[2448]], [[Terran Hegemony]] intelligence operative [[Terens Amaris]] discovered a link (real or fabricated) between the plot and both [[Draconis Combine]] and Republican covert operatives. Terens's husband, [[David Chi Wong]], had just been promoted to ambassador to the Rim Worlds Republic, so Terens, her husband and two adopted children (both Wongs) traveled to Apollo. There, Terens met and befriended [[Heather Durant]]. Both Terens and her husband were granted dual Republican and Terran citizenship, and both were granted titles within the Republic. Terens and Heather also became lovers, and in [[2459]], was designated heir apparent to the Rim Worlds Republic. Terens mothered more children with Ambassador Wong, the start of the Amaris line. In [[2463]], Heather passed away, making Terens Amaris ruler of the Rim Worlds Republic. Dual citizenship and Terens's marriage to Terran Ambassador Wong allowed the Republic quick entry into the confidences of the Terran court.
| + | With the loss of Finmark, the Finmark Free Republic collapsed over the next decade.<ref name="FSWp100"/> |
| − | | |
| − | The Amaris line struggled with identity due to its dual citizenship. [[Gregory Amaris]], First Consul of the Republic at the birth of the [[Star League]], ruled the Republic as a Hegemony protectorate. Republican citizen uprisings in response to high taxes and foreign occupation, especially the occupation of [[Efrimal Long]] maximum security (political) prison in [[2573]], led Gregory to impose martial law and issue the [[Universal Act of Loyalty]], an oath all Republican citizens were obliged to take. The Rim Worlds Republic went into open revolt, necessitating invasion by the Star League during the [[Reunification War]], after Gregory endorsed the [[Pollux Proclamation]] and issued the [[Manchester Directive]], both in [[2575]].
| |
| − | | |
| − | {{Main|Reunification War}}
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Territorial State ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | The arrogant leadership of [[Gregory Amaris]] came to an end through assassination in [[2599]]. The assassins, a junta run by Admiral [[Hakim Wbika]], installed [[Richard Amaris]] as the new President of the Republic. Sowing antagonism within the junta, Richard was able to break the junta in [[2604]] when General [[Samuel Macao]] tried to stage a ''coup d'état'', only to be executed along with Admiral Wbika by the palace guard and President Richard.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Richard died in [[2619]], leaving the Republic to his daughter Amanda. Before Amanda could institute sweeping political reforms, and hold open elections, [[Amanda Amaris]] was assassinated in [[2620]], but the attempt also killed the assassin, her cousin [[Willard Amaris]]. Amanda's brother, [[Jeffrey Amaris]], held office only long enough to institute free elections and abdicate to Amanda's baby daughter, [[Selanta Amaris]].
| |
| − | | |
| − | Before her 19th birthday, Selanta's government was run by a trio of "Protectors", [[Jimmy Siever]], [[Honor Chan]] and [[George Wong]], who died and was replaced by [[Jonofra Marcus]] within months of taking the position. Though each of the three Protectors plotted to overthrow President Selanta, Selanta averted any issues by gifting the three men with [[Magistracy of Canopus|Canopian]], [[Terran Hegemony|Terran]] and [[Free Worlds League|Atrean]] ambassadorships. Selanta also proved her cunning with her handling of her cousin, [[Tadeo Amaris]]. Stricken with incurable cancer, Selanta ruled from her sickbed, allowing her cousin Tadeo to rule as regent, a smooth transition of government. Tadeo rebuilt the Republican army, but in doing so postured himself against the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. At the behest of Archon [[Sarah Steiner-Dinesen]], the Star League held massive military games on the Republican border, on [[Black Earth]]. In response, Selanta secretly informed the [[Star League High Council]] Tadeo did not have the authority to practice his military adventurism. The incident broke domestic faith in Tadeo, making it impossible for Tadeo to stage a coup, at the same time strengthening the Rim Worlds Republic Military.
| |
| − | | |
| − | When Selanta died of cancer in [[2687]], the Republic faced its bloodiest transition. Selanta's successor, her son [[Bertram Amaris]], was killed moments before taking the oath of office, by his cousin, [[Gregor Siever]]. Gregor's brother, [[Carl Siever]], in shock at the events unfolding before him, found himself also attacked. Carl was able to defend himself and kill his brother, losing the use of an arm in the process. Carl was a paranoid man, and not harboring any political ambition, abdicated for his niece, the granddaughter of [[Selanta Amaris]], [[Cynthia Amaris]]. Carl Siever lived out the remainder of his life in a Buddhist monastery on [[Derf]]. Cynthia devoted herself to statecraft; at the age of 40 ([[2716]]), Cynthia married Inner Sphere industrialist [[Stefan Gorienko]]. The marriage appeared to be one of necessity - Cynthia desired an heir, in order to prevent another bloody succession. [[Stefan Amaris|Stefan "The Usurper"]] was born in [[2717]].
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Amaris Civil War === | |
| − | | |
| − | {{Main|Amaris Civil War}}
| |
| − | | |
| − | Though it is arguable if [[House Amaris]] had prepared for a coup for generation, the Rim Worlds Republic sat poised for just such an endeavor around [[2750]]. The Republic maintained a sizable army with a gigantic reserve, a well educated/trained population, and a large defense industry. Republicans had even penetrated every level of Star League administration. Stefan Amaris seized his opportunity. Stefan chose to foster a close relationship with the young, naïve and selfish Richard Cameron, First Lord of the Star League. Under the tutelage of the Terran courtiers, including President Stefan, Richard became paranoid and megalomaniacal, and pushed away his regent, "Protector" [[Aleksandr Kerensky]].
| |
| − | | |
| − | By [[2762]], when Richard came of age, Stefan Amaris was already a confidant. Richard began by disbanding the Star League High Council in [[2762]], ruling the Human Sphere unilaterally. Richard then issued the [[Taxation Edict of 2763]], a steep increase in taxes from throughout the Human Sphere, but especially upon the [[Periphery]]. As the tax increase was a clear infraction on the [[Reunification Treaties]], the Periphery governments quickly became militarized, and prepared for another Inner Sphere invasion.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The Taxation Edict of [[2763]] caused the Crisis required to move the [[SLDF]] and [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] away from the [[Terran Hegemony]]. The vacuum left by the SLDF deployment was compensated by the deployment of the [[Rim Worlds Republic Military]]. By December, [[2765]], Stefan was ready. Stefan presented The First Lord with a ceremonial, jewel-encrusted laser pistol in the Star League High Council chamber, Unity City, Terra, and then shot the First Lord in the head. Stefan Amaris proclaimed himself First Lord of the Star League.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Stefan ordered [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] to maintain operations (against the [[Taurian Concordat]]), which Kerensky refused. Both sides then requested aid, which was flatly refused by each Territorial State and each Inner Sphere State. Thus started the '''Amaris Civil War''' ([[2766]] - [[2780]]). Kerensky began his operations by conquering the Rim Worlds Republic, led by Stefan's regent, the patriotic [[Mohammed Selim]], an unambitious administrator Stefan could trust. Kerensky took the Rim Worlds capital of [[Apollo (planet)|Apollo]] (renamed '''Terra Prime''' by Stefan Amaris to "honor" First Lord Richard) in [[2769]].
| |
| − | | |
| − | After cutting away Amaris's base of support, Kerensky began a campaign to liberate the [[Terran Hegemony]] in [[2772]]. By [[2779]], the outcome of the war was a foregone conclusion, and on 30 September, 2779, Stefan Amaris was taken captive by the SLDF after [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] himself personally knocked down the palace doors in Unity City in his ''Orion''.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Stefan and his accomplices were held humanely until evidence was found confirming Stefan's atrocities. Stefan Amaris was executed by firing squad; the order came from Aleksandr Kerensky himself. There is no definitive end to the Rim Worlds Republic. [[Aleksandr Kerensky|Kerensky]] led the conquest of [[Apollo (planet)|Apollo]] in [[2769]], and [[Terra]] fell in [[2779]]. After the execution of Stefan, a long campaign was conducted, both officially and through vigilanteism, to end the Amaris/Wong/Siever lines - anyone with a claim to the Amaris throne was executed or lynched.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Despite the end of [[House Amaris]], the Rim World Republic might have endured. However, the loss of the core of the Republic to annexation by the [[Lyran Commonwealth]], as well as the power vacuum left by the death of the Amaris family and the [[Rim Worlds Republic Military]], meant the remaining independent worlds, literally more than 24 systems, were left to fend for themselves. Several bandit kingdoms arose in the vacuum of the collapse of the Republic, financed by privateering and ''de facto'' mercenary deals (both the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and the [[Draconis Combine]] hired pirates to raid one another); the rest persisted as Periphery independents or simply disappeared.
| |
| | | | |
| | ==Society== | | ==Society== |
| − | | + | The government was patterned using the early Rim Worlds Republic as a base.<ref name="FSWp100"/> |
| − | When Hector Rowe founded the Rim Worlds Republic, Apollo possessed an extremely small population - only Rowe's militants and slaves taken prisoner during Rowe's flight were present. Rowe dealt with this situation with pragmatism. Anyone with technical skill was allowed to practice their trade, and female slaves could gain social status by marriage. Everyone else was consigned to mundane labor or slavery. In spite of the small population, Apollo thrived. Commerce was also conducted in a most pragmatic manner - goods, services, and slaves were the currency of the Republic. Hector Rowe's granddaughter, Arabella, would later emancipate the Republic's slaves altogether.<ref>''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 15, sidebar</ref>
| |
| − | | |
| − | The strife of the [[Exodus]] era Inner Sphere quickly alleviated the population problem. The Republic expanded as a flood of immigrants sought refuge. In [[2376]], the Stewart, Brannigan, Sterling and MacGregor clans joined the Republic and settled [[Somerset]], near the Dark Nebula. Skilled refugees (artisans and technicians) of the [[Rasalhague Principality]], fleeing the brutality of Coordinator [[Shiro Kurita]] of the [[Draconis Combine]], settled the cold worlds of [[Steelton]], [[Toland]], [[Wotan]] and [[Bensinger]]. Refugees from the [[Sarna Supremacy]] and the [[Capellan Hegemony]] also sought refuge within the Republic, settling the worlds of [[Star's End]], [[Anywhere]] and [[Erewhon]]. With the origins of many worlds a result of refugee immigration, the Republic developed a fiercely independent attitude towards the Inner Sphere.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The great weakness of the Rim Worlds Republic was the lack of natural resources, especially compared with the resource heavy colonies settled in the [[Taurian Concordat]]. However, immigration and the reforms of Arabella Rowe gave the Republic a surplus of skilled, inexpensive labor with a moderate standard of living, a resource the Republic utilized to the utmost. Combined with the close political ties fostered with the [[Terran Hegemony]], the Republic ultimately became the most powerful Periphery realm in existence.
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==Rulers==
| |
| − | | |
| − | {| class="wikitable"
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | ! scope="col" width="150" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
| |
| − | ! scope="col" width="150" style="background: #dedede;" | Reign
| |
| − | ! scope="col" style="background: #dedede;" | Descent
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | colspan="3" style="background: #efefef;" | '''First Consul of the Republic [[2250]] - [[2305]]'''
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Hector Rowe|Hector Worthington Rowe]]||[[2250]] - [[2305]]||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Maxwell Rowe|Maxwell Achilles Rowe]]||[[2305]] - [[2339]]||Son of [[Hector Rowe]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Arabella Rowe]]||[[2339]] - [[2376]]||Daughter of [[Maxwell Rowe]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Michael Durant|Michael Edward "Mishka" Durant]]||[[2376]] - c. [[2400]]||Son of [[Arabella Rowe]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Heather Durant]]||c. [[2400]] - [[2463]]||Sister of [[Michael Durant]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Terens Amaris]]||[[2463]] - [[2488]]||Lesbian Lover of [[Heather Durant]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | colspan="3" style="background: #efefef;" | '''First Consul of the Republic [[2488]] - [[2575]]'''
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | ****||**** - ****||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Gregory Amaris]]||[[2544]] - [[2599]]||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | colspan="3" styel="background:#efefef;" | '''President of the Republic [[2599]] - [[2779]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Richard Amaris]]||[[2599]] - [[2619]]||Son of [[Gregory Amaris|Gregory]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Amanda Amaris]]||[[2619]] - [[2620]]||Daughter of [[Richard Amaris|Richard]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Jeffrey Amaris]]||[[2620]] - [[2622]]||Brother of [[Amanda Amaris|Amanda]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Selanta Amaris]]||[[2622]] - [[2687]]||Daughter of [[Amanda Amaris|Amanda]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Bertram Amaris]]||[[2687]]||Son of [[Selanta Amaris|Selanta]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Carl Siever]]||[[2687]] - c. [[2696]]||Cousin of [[Bertram Amaris|Bertram]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Cynthia Amaris]]||c. [[2696]] - c. [[2740]]||Granddaughter of [[Selanta Amaris|Selanta]]
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | [[Stefan Amaris|Stefan "The Usurper" Amaris]]||c. [[2740]] - [[2779]]||Son of [[Cynthia Amaris|Cynthia]]
| |
| − | |}
| |
| − | | |
| | | | |
| | ==Maps== | | ==Maps== |
| − | | + | ===Finmark Free Republic - 2786=== |
| − | ===Rim Worlds Republic=== | |
| | <gallery> | | <gallery> |
| − | Image:Rwr_-_2571.png.jpg|Rim World Republic - After Age of War [[2571]]
| + | Finmark_Free_Republic_-_2786.png |
| − | Image:Rwr_-_2750.png.jpg|Rim World Republic - At Fall of the Star League [[2750]]
| |
| − | File:Rim Worlds Republic - 2767.jpg|Rim Worlds Republic in [[2767]]
| |
| − | Image:Rwr - first sw.jpg|Rim World Republic conquered by LCAF.
| |
| | </gallery> | | </gallery> |
| | | | |
| − | ===Provinces===
| + | ==References== |
| − | <gallery>
| |
| − | File:Rim_Worlds_Republic_-_Apollo_Province_2571.png|Apollo Province, 2571
| |
| − | File:Rim_Worlds_Republic_-_Finmark_Province_2571.png|Finmark Province, 2571
| |
| − | File:Rim_Worlds_Republic_-_Timbuktu_Province_2571.png|Timbuktu Province, 2571
| |
| − | </gallery>
| |
| − | <gallery>
| |
| − | File:Rim_Worlds_Republic_-_Apollo_Province_2750.png|Apollo Province, 2750
| |
| − | File:Rim_Worlds_Republic_-_Finmark_Province_2750.png|Finmark Province, 2750
| |
| − | File:Rim_Worlds_Republic_-_Timbuktu_Province_2750.png|Timbuktu Province, 2750
| |
| − | File:Rim_Worlds_Republic_-_Erdvynn_Province_2750.png|Erdvynn Province, 2750
| |
| − | </gallery>
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Notes ==
| |
| − | * The Republican capital world of [[Apollo (planet)|Apollo]] is located near the [[Dark Nebula]], and is within the [[Clan Jade Falcon]] Occupation Zone after [[Operation REVIVAL]]
| |
| − | * Older Battletech sources had mentioned AsRoc being involved in Operation Prometheus, Catalyst later retconned AsRoc's involvement entirely, stating that despite what other sources may have said, the RWR had no involvement, and that the Lyrans had carried the operation out on their own.<ref>The original thread was found in [http://bg.battletech.com/forums/ask-the-writers/asroc-loki-operations/ this thread] on the forums, and a copy of the text from the two relevant posts is found on this article's talk page</ref>
| |
| − | | |
| − | == References == | |
| | <references /> | | <references /> |
| | | | |
| − | == Bibliography == | + | ==Bibliography== |
| − | * ''[[Explorer Corps (sourcebook)|Explorer Corps]]'' | + | * ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)|First Succession War]]'' |
| − | * ''[[Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1]]''
| |
| − | * ''[[Historical: Reunification War]]''
| |
| − | * ''[[The Periphery (sourcebook)|The Periphery]]''
| |
| − | * ''[[The Periphery, 2nd Edition (sourcebook)|The Periphery, 2nd Edition]]''
| |
| − | * ''[[Technical Readout: 3075]]''
| |
| | | | |
| − | [[Category:Nation States|Rim Worlds Republic]] | + | [[Category:Nation States|Finmark Free Republic]] |
| | + | [[Category:Finmark Free Republic Related Categories]] |
| Finmark Free Republic
|
| State Profile
|
| Founding Year
|
2779[1]
|
| Dissolution year:
|
2802[1]
|
| Capital world:
|
Finmark
|
| Controlled system(s):
|
6 (c. 2786)
|
| Official Language(s)
|
Greek
|
| Government
|
| Head of State
|
First Consul
|
| Military
|
|
|
Formed after the fall of the Rim Worlds Republic, the Finmark Free Republic was a rising periphery power that became another casualty of the First Succession War.
History[edit]
In 2779 Finmark established an interstellar alliance with two other systems from the former Rim Worlds Republic, founding the Finmark Free Republic. Finmark was well-placed to become the capital of a new interstellar polity; despite the damage caused by the Amaris Civil War, the Star League Defense Force invasion of the Rim Worlds Republic and the subsequent Republic-Commonwealth War, Finmark was still home to an aerospace combat academy and one of the few surviving semi-operational Republic industries. In orbit above Finmark was the Roe Weapon Systems shipyards, which were damaged but still viable.[1]
Between 2779 and 2782 Finmark created a government modeled on the early Rim Worlds system and managed to pull together a defense force comprised largely of fresh recruits and orphaned elements of the SLDF and the former Rim Worlds Army; these forces mustered a strength of almost two BattleMech regiments, a similar number of aerospace fighters, and enough armor and infantry units for each world in the Republic to have approximately two regiments of mixed armor and infantry each.[1]
Finmark's influence continued to grow, with systems as far away as Inner Surge and Port Vail receiving some form of defensive support from Finmark by the late 2780s as the government worked on rebuilding as much of the former Finmark Province as possible; the government also worked to restore the orbital shipyards above Finmark, with the shipyards nearing fully operational status by the late 2780s. Unfortunately for the nascent interstellar state - and particularly the inhabitants of Finmark - the increasing savagery of the First Succession War combined with Finmark's growing strength attracted predatory attention from the Lyran Commonwealth.[1]
With the Lyran Commonwealth reeling from the death of Archon Jennifer Steiner, the loss of huge amounts of industrial infrastructure to destructive raids and invasions and a significant shakeup of the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces imposed by Archon Richard Steiner, Richard Steiner chose to respond to LIC reports on the remnants of the former Rim Worlds Republic by redeploying the bulk of his WarShips assigned to the Periphery, shoring up defenses on the borders with the Draconis Combine and Free Worlds League. However, in addition to the general withdrawal of Lyran WarShips from the Periphery border, Richard also directed a squadron of corvettes to strike at Finmark, deemed the sole military threat remaining among the former unclaimed Republic worlds.[2]
Whilst General Paul Steiner advocated conquering Finmark, Richard had other plans. Operation HAIFISCHFLOSSENSUPPE - "Shark Fin Soup" - was drawn up; HAIFISCHFLOSSENSUPPE called for the capture or crippling of Finmark's jump stations and the shipyards. Rather than conquer the planet, Richard had his forces equipped with strategic nuclear weapons and issued explicit instructions that any potential strategic threats to the Commonwealth were to be neutralized with extreme prejudice should the local defenders prove too challenging. Claiming more worlds in the Periphery using ground forces was neither practical nor expedient, according to Richard's thinking, whilst the other Successor States posed more of a threat.[2]
Under the command of Kommodore Gustav Sharae, the Lyran task force, consisting of half a dozen Leopard CV-class DropShips, four Fury-class DropShips fully loaded with marines and a squadron of six corvettes, conducted Operation HAIFISCHFLOSSENSUPPE. Of the six corvettes, two were Vincent-39s, the LCS Potsdam and LCS Ulm, while the remaining four were all Makos, including the LCS Hadrian and Sharae's flagship, the LCS Constantius.[3]
The task force jumped into the Finmark system at the zenith jump point via the Dijonne system in 2792, facing only light resistance at the recharge station from a single pirate-rigged Achilles-class DropShip stationed there. Sharae then delivered an ultimatum to the Finmark government, stating that the Commonwealth was going to seize the Roe Weapon Systems shipyards in the interests of "interstellar security," and that any resistance from Finmark would be met with maximum force.[3]
The Finmark government made contact with Sharae while the task force was burning towards the planet, stating that they wished to arrange a diplomatic agreement and desired to avoid trouble with the Lyran Commonwealth; whilst unhappy with losing their single largest source of income, the Finmark government appeared to accept that they didn't have the strength to take on the LCAF. The shipyards had only been restored to working order in 2790, and while some of those under Sharae's command were suspicious that they were being led into a trap, but the task force was confident that there would be no any active WarShips to oppose their own WarShip squadrons, particularly given the intelligence reports indicating that the SLDF had already salvaged the bulk of any useful military resources from Finmark.[3]
After two days of negotiation with the Finmark government, Sharae was confident that he had negotiated the government's surrender; Sharae dictated that the shipyards be left with all bays open to confirm that there were no hidden threats, and when the task force approached the shipyards, that appeared to be the case. Sharae ordered two Furies to approach and secure the shipyards, escorted by a pair of the Leopard CVs, the Potsdam and the Ulm. While the rest of the task force maintained overwatch, intent on spotting any sign of hostile forces emerging from either the far side of the shipyards or from behind Finmark's moon, the marines boarded the shipyard without encountering any resistance - and then a nuclear weapon concealed within the shipyards was detonated.[3]
Located in the main docking bay, the nuke was viciously effective; the shipyards were nearly torn in half, bombarding the nearby Leopard CVs and WarShips with large chunks of debris. The two docked Furies and their two Leopard CV escorts were destroyed instantly, and the damage inflicted on the Potsdam caused it to spin to port, colliding with the shipyard solar array; the Ulm was left tumbling to starboard, and none of the other task force ships could contact the Ulm.[3]
Sharae ordered an immediate withdrawal from the shipyard, whilst the surviving fighter carriers quickly disgorged their aerospace fighters. As the Ulm began maneuvering and the various ships attempted to work out what happened, the task force detected both fighters and strategic nuclear weapons being launched from Finmark, whilst communications from the Potsdam indicated that the ship was out of control and suffering damage from intense internal fires. The task force was hit with at least one if not two more nuclear weapons launched from Finmark, destroying the Potsdam and Ulm completely.[3]
Sharae had his surviving ships break orbit and recover their fighters, a maneuver that took an hour; with the recovery complete, he ordered his ships to launch a nuclear orbital bombardment of Finmark. Although pleas for mercy were received from the surface, those desperate pleas stopped ten hours into the bombardment; by the following day, so much damage had been inflicted on Finmark that the ash and smoke thrown into the atmosphere was dense enough to block visibility of the burning cities from the orbiting WarShips.[3]
With the loss of Finmark, the Finmark Free Republic collapsed over the next decade.[1]
Society[edit]
The government was patterned using the early Rim Worlds Republic as a base.[1]
Finmark Free Republic - 2786[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 First Succession War, p. 100: "The Finmark Free Republic"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 First Succession War, p. 67: "The Fist of Defiance: Steiner's Campaigns"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 First Succession War, pp. 68–69: "Shark Fin Soup"
Bibliography[edit]
