Editing Good Years

Following the horrors of the [[Reunification War]], the so-called '''Good Years''' ([[2601]]-[[2650]]) saw the [[Star League]] deliver upon the peace and prosperity its formation promised. Under the reign of [[First Lord]] [[Nicholas Cameron]], the period saw great technological advances and massive economic and trade increases which benefited all members of the League.

==Technical Advancement==
Freed from the demands of weapons research and a war economy, the leaders of Star League member states could direct their scientific and industrial resources toward creating a better life for all. Perhaps the most significant technological development during [[Nicholas Cameron]]’s reign was the [[hyperpulse generator]], developed from technology based on Kearny-Fuchida hyperdrive principles. Essentially a large "gun" that fired a high-frequency compressed data pulse through K-F space at a target world. The pulse traveled the immense distance instantaneously, just like a faster-than-light spacecraft. Though the energy cost of a single transmission was of the same magnitude as for a jump by an FTL ship, an [[HPG]] pulse could travel up to 50 light years, while a ship could jump a maximum of 30 light years. When research was completed in [[2620]], the system effectively cut the average communication time between [[Terra]] and the [[Periphery]] from more than a year to about six months. Communications time could be cut to days, but only at great cost.<ref name=TSL-54>''The Star League'', pp. 54–55: "Economic and Scientific Advances"</ref><ref name=MW1-6>''MechWarrior 1st Edition'', p. 6: "A History of Human Space, 2001-3025 - The Good Years (2601-2750)"</ref><ref name=MW2-109>''MechWarrior 2nd Edition'', pp. 109–111: "Historical: Overview - The Good Years (2601-2750)"</ref><ref name=HRU-165>''Historical: Reunification Wars'', pp. 165–166: "Aftermath - Good Years - The Second Invasion"</ref>

In [[2622]], League engineers at the [[Caph Institute of Technology]] developed the [[Jamerson-Ulikov Water Purification Procedure]], half the size and a third the cost of any previous water-purification system. It was significantly cheaper to operate this J-U Water Purifier than to import water, making it economically feasible to settle [[Inner Sphere]] worlds previously ignored during the [[Exodus (2242)|Exodus]]. The system also provided many settled worlds with an unexpected economic boom. The [[Ryan Cartel]], the great [[iceship]] manufacturer and operator, was nearly driven bankrupt as fewer and fewer worlds relied on its service. During the period from [[2632]] to [[2700]], more than a thousand new worlds had been settled, and the [[Star League]] had expanded to control a sphere roughly 540 light years in diameter.<ref name=TSL-54/><ref name=MW1-6/><ref name=MW2-109/><ref name=HRU-165/>

In a final important development, engineers working to improve [[BattleMech]] mobility were able to develop an improved, more efficient myomer. This improvement finally made it possible to construct artificial "bionic" limbs of human size, as well as full-scale, superstrong human exoskeletons for use in industry.<ref name=MW1-6/><ref name=MW2-109/>

==Trade and Economic Expansion==
Though a minor economic depression affected every government immediately following the Reunification War, the Inner Sphere began to boom as corporations retooled their factories to produce civilian rather than military items. Trade with the new Territorial states was especially profitable because they lacked almost everything and were willing to pay with vital raw resources from their worlds. Once again, it was cargo ships laden with goods rather [[SLDF]] troopships making their way among the worlds of the Periphery.<ref name=TSL-54/><ref name=MW1-6/><ref name=MW2-109/><ref name=HRU-165/>

Another major change that First Lord Nicholas instituted was the unification of the entire Star League under one economic system, based around the [[Star League Dollar]]. When he announced his ambitious plans in [[2621]], reactions were mixed, with the [[Kurita]] and [[Steiner]] governments most notably opposed because they feared becoming too dependent economically on the other states of the Inner Sphere and concerned it seemed to violate the sovereignty of an individual realm. The major corporations in all the member-states approved of the First Lord's economic plan, as businessmen saw a single currency as a way to raise profits and to simplify the maddeningly complicated monetary exchange system that hampered all their dealings and their protests ensured its universal adoption, officially began on July 1, [[2623]]. As the First Lord had foreseen, the new economic system led to an unparalleled boom in trade. Merchants traveled to the farthest corners of occupied space, bringing prosperity and a better quality of life to all.<ref name=TSL-54/><ref name=MW1-6/><ref name=MW2-109/>

==The Good Years End==
Despite hopes that the good times would continue forever more, in [[2650]] reports reached [[Terra]] that [[Tadeo Amaris]], leader of the [[Rim Worlds Republic | Rim Worlds Territorial-State]], was expanding his personal army at an alarming rate. [[Michael Cameron]], having recently succeeded to the title of [[First Lord of the Star League]], convened a special meeting of the [[Star League High Council]], whom he persuaded to issue the [[Council Edict of 2650]] restricting the size of personal military forces that any League member could raise. To back up this administrative action, Cameron gave Amaris a warning by sending several [[Star League Defense Force]] [[BattleMech]] regiments to conduct extended maneuvers just beyond the boundary of the Rim Worlds. Shortly after, League intelligence confirmed that Amaris had apparently disbanded his extra regiments.<ref name=MW1-6/><ref name=MW2-109/>

In truth, Amaris and other state leaders continued in secret to strengthen their militia and reserves. While the relative peace and prosperity continued for another hundred years, an increasing discontent set in and "minor" conflicts such as the [[First Hidden War|First]] and [[Second Hidden War]]s, and the [[War of Davion Succession]] began to occur more frequently.<ref name=MW1-6/><ref name=MW2-109/>

==Aftermath==
While this golden age was applauded by all member states of the League, it also sowed the seeds of its eventual collapse.
As prosperity of the period grew, [[Star League]] worlds became increasingly interdependent. With development and transportation costs low, many planets developed highly specialized economies that made them dependent on other worlds for basic commodities such as food, water-purification equipment, and replacement parts. While this presented no problem during this optimistic era, the collapse of Star League sounded the death-knell for goodwill and free trade which had allowed them to survive.<ref name=MW1-6/>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Historical: Reunification War]]''
* ''[[MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing Game]]''
* ''[[MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing Game, Second Edition]]''
* ''[[The Star League]]''


[[Category:Time Periods|Good Years]]