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Introduction to the Inner Sphere during the Blackout

Life in the Inner Sphere during the Blackout
Excerpt taken from Sandhurst Academy, Terra

The Inner Sphere was hit hard by the Blackout and Conrad’s attacks. Whole worlds teetered on the edge of oblivion, some simply disappearing off the map – lost to disease, famine, war or their native environment. Others actually prospered – albeit in limited ways, and became new centers of power in the Inner Sphere. Today, the Inner Sphere is a radically different place compared to the dusty holovids of the Star League shown in classrooms throughout the Protectorate. While civilization continues to survive and thrive, both here and throughout the worlds closest to Terra, not every human is so fortunate to enjoy the same quality of life. Here is a brief introduction to the innumerable worlds of man and what you may find during your journey through the stars.
 
Government

Since mankind first left the trees to dwell on the ground he has worked to control his surroundings. Whether it was changing the course of a river, clearing a forest or terraforming a barren planet, man has changed the landscape to suite his needs. This desire for mastery extends far beyond his surroundings, but also to his fellow man. Without exception, this desire to dominate and govern other men has driven humanity to great heights and terrible lows. It has taken humanity to the stars and almost destroyed him there. Through order or through chaos, the governing and dominance of man remains humanity’s best hope and worst accompaniment as the history of our species marches on.
 
Throughout the ages humanity has developed and implemented a variety of governing bodies; from simple tribal councils to bureaucratic nightmares of mammoth proportions. Below is a basic description of some of the more common governing bodies in use throughout the Inner Sphere. Travelers take note; local planetary governments may vary considerably. Be sure to research the local laws and customs of your destination before visiting. While some planets may follow the greater laws of their interstellar nation – if any apply – many have modifications or amendments that are readily enforced.

Remember, a good traveler is a knowledgeable and respectful guest.
 
Dictatorship

A government ruled by a single leader who has not been elected and may use force to keep control. In a military dictatorship, the army is in control. Usually, there is little or no attention to public opinion or individual rights. There are many worlds in the Inner Sphere under the defacto control of a dictator, or a dictator-like individual. Depending on the nation or world in question, many Planetary Governors have dictatorial powers and answer only to individual or individuals above their station. The Sheiks of the Al Hillah Emirates and the Warlords of the Warrior Fiefdoms are all examples of dictatorships. The once Great Houses of the Inner Sphere are all nominal dictatorships, though some political scientists will argue they were monarchies.
 
Totalitarian

The rule by a single political party, a totalitarian government revolves around a group of people who are forced to do what the government tells them. Citizens are allowed and 'encouraged' to vote, but only for the government's chosen candidates. Totalitarian governments in the Inner Sphere are fairly rare, with only a small number lasting more than a few decades. Ultimately, internal pressures, greed or the power of the proletariat leads to a ruling party’s demise. It should be noted that some of the Inner Sphere’s longest lasting dictatorships or monarchies once started out at totalitarian party governments that fell to a single ruler.   

Theocracy

A theocratic form of government is where the rulers claim to be ruling on behalf of a set of religious ideas, or as direct agents of a specific deity. It was the dangerous dogmatic theocracy of Toyama’s Order sect that almost brought ComStar and the Inner Sphere to its knees. This viper, clutched to the breast of the HPG network was perhaps the worst example of its kind. Other more benevolent theocracies are the One Star Faith enclaves of the Periphery and the Omniss of the Outworlds Alliance. 

Monarchy

A monarchy has a king, Archon, First Prince, Chancellor, or Coordinator who sometimes has absolute power. Power is passed along through the family. Since the time of House Cameron and the vaunted Terran Hegemony, most of the great nations of the Inner Sphere, both large and small have been led by monarchies. It was the monarchs of the Great Houses that brought the Inner Sphere together beneath the aegis of the Star League and it was those same Houses who tore it apart. Today there are more monarchs in known space than any other form of government. Less notable examples of Inner Sphere monarchies are House David of the Kingdom of Zion and the many duchies of the former Free Worlds League.   

Parliamentary

A parliamentary system of government is one led by representatives of the people. Each is chosen as a member of a political party and remains in power as long as his/her party does. Parliamentary-only governments are rare in the Inner Sphere and Periphery. However, many governments include parliamentary components in their composition. For example, the Lyran Commonwealth still includes a parliament in the form of its Estates General, as do many of the former states that once comprised the Free Worlds League. Depending on the host government, parliamentary components may have varying degrees of power. 

Republic

A republic is led by elected representatives of the voters, with each representative individually chosen for a set period of time. Republic governments are represented in some part by many planetary governments whose elected leader is sometimes a part of a national parliamentary body. Many worlds from the former Federated Suns and Free Worlds League enjoy republic-style governments, but some can be found sprinkled throughout known space.

Anarchy

Anarchy is a situation where there is no government. This can happen after a civil war in a country, when a government has been destroyed and rival groups are fighting to take its place. During the early period of the Blackout many worlds and even whole nations fell into anarchy. Today, there are few worlds without some form of stable or semi-stable government. However, war, conflict or massive environmental disaster could create anarchy on any planet affected.

Oligarchy/Plutocracy

A form of government that consists of rule by an elite group who rule in their own interest, this form of government is especially concerned with the accumulation of wealth and privilege. Only certain members of society have a valid voice in the government. This can reflect (but is not limited to) economic interests, a particular religious tradition (theocracy), or familial rule (monarchy). Some of the ex-Capellan states enjoy this type of government, but they are far and few between.

Democracy

In a democracy, the people elect the government. Everyone who is eligible to vote - which is a majority of the population - has a chance to have their say over who runs the country. Democratic governments do exist on the planetary scale, but are often abandoned at the interstellar level in favor of more streamlined or concentrated government styles. A notable example of a democracy being instituted and utilized at the interstellar level is the governing body of the Kendall Parish. While applauded for their emphasis on the rights and say of their citizenry, the Parish government is ineffectual and over burdened by its electorate.

Currencies

The topic of currencies and economics is one that is often addressed in some basic form during every school child’s educational instruction. Still, a refresher course is often necessary to jog those nubile young minds of yours, and to help shake the cobwebs free from your brains. Upon graduation many of you will take your place out among the stars, or work in the (Insert ComStar Department Here). So if you want to keep your job, pay attention. Knowing how to buy a cup of coffee might come in handy, and one day it might even save your life. 

The Germanium Standard

The Star League currency was based on the Germanium standard. Germanium, as a superconductor, medicinal remedy, and a primary ingredient in early K-F Jump Drives, was and is a valued rarity. Similar to ancient gold standards (rendered obsolete on an Intersellar scale by the proliferation of gold sources), a Star League bill could theoretically be exchanged for a given amount of Germanium. This was just in theory of course. No member-state or individual actually attempted an exchange.

The Amaris Coup ruined the Star League’s integrated economy and currency exchange. The Usurper sacked mints, raided Star League Germanium depots in the Hegemony and generally just ruined a very good system of commerce. By the beginning of the First Succession War, each House was printing their own version of currency, backed by their own supplies of Germanium.

At first, the Germanium standard was universally followed. Later, as the devastation of the First Succession War wore on, Houses that were still capable, abandoned the Germanium standard. This was due in part to a dwindling stockpile of the resource, but also because the House economies were so wrecked, inflation skyrocketed. Soon, water supplies and other resources backed House bills, but it is more realistic to say that the value of these bills fluctuates with the fortunes of the backing House.

After the Blackout, House bills often varied not just by the currency’s backer, but also by the script producer. With so many new interstellar nations coming into existence during the 30th century, the number of currencies available skyrocketed.

Planetary Currencies

Individual planets often print their own currency for local use. Some developed planets are stable enough to be able to print notes against the good faith and credit of their local governments or ruling noble house. Most, however, back their bills with some local resource in order to give their script some off world legitimacy. Typically, though, local script is referred to derisively as "toilet paper" and such. Several planets refuse to accept off world currency in day-to-day dealings, and often the planet profits from the forced conversion to local script.

Trading and speculation on currency is usually a fairly unstable affair. Still, an aggressive individual can make a profit off of those wide fluctuations, but such a volatile market carries extreme risk. The cautious investor diversifies his assets between various currencies, or in valued resources and commodities.

ComStar Bills

The most commonly accepted currency in the Inner Sphere by far is our Comstar Bill (symbol: CB or C-Bill). While large nation or House currencies are based on the good faith and credit of the ruling House, the C-Bill is based on the cost of a 1 millisecond Hyperpulse Generator message (approximately 2 pages of text or 1 small picture.) Decimal amounts are used in electronic transfers, stock prices, banking and other economic transactions. Even with the fall of the HPG network, the C-Bill standard is still imposed by the corporation. We simply use JumpShips instead of HPGs to transport messages.

Coins exist, called demis, and before the Blackout were found only on ComStar administered worlds, like Terra. Since the blackout however, physical currency is now the standard and ComStar bills are found throughout the Inner Sphere as the medium of off world trade and exchange - especially on poor independent worlds. Most change is handled in local currency. Paper notes are printed on Terra using a hard wearing but flexible plastic. They come in 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 C-Bill denominations. The bills depict the ComStar symbol and pictures of various monuments on Terra. Almost 32% of all currency in circulation in the Inner Sphere is found in C-Bills.

The Eagle

For all its internal divisions the former Free Worlds League had always had a strong economy. Its currency, once known as the Eagle (symbol: E or M-bill), reflected this. Since the collapse of the HPG network only the Marik Commonwealth continues to use the old currency whereas other proto-League nations of the once mighty Free Worlds League print their own local variant of the original money. Though other denominations exist, the most common coins of the M-Bill include 1, 5, 10 and 25 cent pieces (usually copper alloy) and 50 cent and 1 eagle pieces (silver alloy). The most common notes are 1, 5, 10 and 20 eagle bills – though denominations up to 1 million eagles do exist (most of these were printed during the height of the First Succession War when M-Bills were worth less than the cost of the note’s actual physical material.)

The Yuan

The Capellan yuan (symbol: Y or L-bill) is still used by the fractured Capellan Confederation, St. Ives Compact and in the tumultuous Warrior Fiefdoms. Even the Sarna Commonalty has been known to dabble in the printing of L-Bills, ostensibly to under cut the already weakened value of their hated neighbors. Only the Sarna Commonality produces a different, local type of currency. Each ex-Capellan state produces their version of the yuan and refuses to accept any other. As a result, C-Bills and hard commodities feature prominently in what little off world trading that does occur in Capellan space. Coins dominate the convoluted Capellan-inspired monetary system. Each yuan is divided into 10 jiao and each jiao into 10 fen. Coins exist in 1, 2 and 5 fen denominations (copper alloy); 1, 2 and 5 jiao (silver alloy); and 1, 5, 10 and 50 yuan denominations (gold alloy). All Capellan coins have a hole bored through the center, allowing them to be carried on money strings. Notes also exist in 10, 50, 100 and 1,000 yuan denominations, but they are considerably less common than coins. Bank notes are virtually non-existent in the Warrior Fiefdoms. Depending on the area of space, trade is either conducted in barter or through coin exchange. Very few of the area’s warlords care to foster a market system of any type and simply take what they need from their peasant castes. 

The Pound

The Federated Suns continues to use the pound (symbol: £ or D-bill). Each pound is subdivided into 100 pence; through some Francophone regions of the Federated Suns use the term "centime" instead. Coins exist in 1, 2, 5 and 10 pence denominations (aluminum) and 20 and 50 pence (silver alloy). Each coin bears the First Prince's head on one side and the Davion insignia on the other. Notes exist for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000-pound denominations. The material used for these notes is usually a hardwearing but flexible plastic produced on New Avalon.
 
The Crown

The official money of the Capellan Marches, the crown or koruna (symbol: KC-bill) is subdivided into 100 hellers, abbreviated as hal. Coins exist in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 KC. Each coin is made from stamped aluminum and is rarely used in the Marches. Notes however, are very popular in the Marches and are the second most popular currency next to the C-Bill. Notes are printed in flexible plastic in 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 koruna denominations.

The Shekel

When the Draconis March claimed its independence from the Davion crown one of the first official changes to the new nation, besides changing its name to the Robinson Freehold, was the creation of a new state currency. Named the Shekel (symbol: RF-Bill) is subdivided into 100 agorot. Coins exist in 10, 20, and 50 agorot as well as 1, 5, and 10 shekels. Coins are stamped from locally approved materials and exhibit quite a bit of variation in composition, although the common copper alloy seems to be the most prevalent by far. Shekel notes are available in 20, 50, 100, and 200 shekel denominations. These notes are minted on Robinson and are made of paper. As a result, counterfeit shekel notes are a constant problem in the Robinson Freehold and are mass-produced by the Freehold’s underworld and foreign enemies alike. Each denomination is distinguished by color and size, with larger notes having greater value. One side shows the Freehold insignia and the image of the First Duke, while the other shows famous historical figures from Robinson’s past.

The Kroner

The currency of the Lyran Commonwealth is still the kroner (symbol: K or S-bill). Each kroner is subdivided into 100 pfennigs. Most major transactions were once carried out electronically, but notes and coins have become common since the fall of the HPG network. Coins exist in 1, 5 and 10 pfennig denominations, made of copper alloy; 25 and 50 pfennig, made of silver alloy; and 1 and 5 kroner, of gold alloy. All coins are minted on Tharkad, with the Steiner emblem on one side and the Archon's image on the other. Paper notes exist for 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1,000 and 10,000 kroner, all of which are color-coded and readily distinguishable. One side of each note bears the Archon's image and the Steiner insignia, while the other depicts a famous scene from Lyran history.

Of all the old major House currencies, the kroner has certainly suffered the worst. The Succession Wars took a terrible toll on the once robust economy of the Lyran Commonwealth, with the kroner’s strength a shadow of its former self. Since the Blackout economists have often debated what was worse for the Commonwealth – the Blackout or the Archon. While the blackout was destructive across the entire Inner Sphere, it has been argued that it was the Archon’s draconian economic directives before the fall of the network that caused most of the Commonwealth’s troubles. In fact, most of the worlds Tharkad lost during the Blackout stem primarily from economic reasons rather than a division in ideology or communication.
   
The Ryu

The Draconis Combine's economy has been a mess for over a century and consequently the value of Combine’s ryu (symbol: D or K-bill) is virtually worthless. Each ryu is divided into 100 yen. The Combine government is constantly changing the composition of its currency, probably in an effort to confuse traders and the Combine’s remaining nobility. At the time of the last revision, the denominations were 1, 5, 20 and 30 yen coins (copper alloy); 50 yen, and 1 ryu and 5 ryu coins (silver alloy); and 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 ryu notes. The 1,000 and 10,000 ryu notes used before 3025 are rare, but they remain legal tender in the Combine. Each of the Combine’s reorganized prefectures mint their own coins and notes, but there is little difference among them beyond the name of the mint, which is still embossed on the edge of coins or as a watermark on notes.

Currency in the Alliance of Galedon remains oddly similar to that of the Combine, despite a professed disgust for anything associated with the Dragon. While the Alliance’s economy is in better shape than the Combine’s, ComStar’s C-Bills are still more popular than domestic script. Other areas once conquered by the Combine operate very differently. In the unstable Benjamin Prefectures no one type of currency holds sway, instead the self-styled dictators of the region trade in whatever material they deem of value. Elsewhere the Trolloc Dominion trades strictly in gold coins or bullion. In one of the most disputed areas of space, currency often fluctuates with a planet’s tide.

Question if JumpShips are rare how "large" is the JumpShip fleet?

Also are there independent JumpShips?  Or Merc JumpShips or are they all nationalized?

The size of the fleet is kept intentionally vague, but I will eventually determine # of transports per faction for game purposes.

As for your other questions, the answers are in the next section. However, the answer is yes to both.

Notable Trade Houses

The term “Trade House” can be a little misleading; there are dozens of “standard” trade houses operating in the Inner Sphere and beyond, but there are an equal number that simply do not fall into simple categorization. These trade houses, guilds and collectives are just as equally important to interstellar trade as their corporate brethren – and sometimes more – but are cast from a different mold. Below are some of the most famous, or notorious Trade Houses operating in the Inner Sphere.
 
Prominent Trade Houses

House Winters – Firgrove/Capellan Marches

The Winters family has been the hereditary rulers of Firgrove for centuries, and have used their extensive political and family connections to entice foreign and industrial investment to improve their planet for generations. During the Reunification War, the Winters persuaded the SLDF to build a repair facility to service vessels during the conflict despite Firgrove’s proximity to the dangerous Taurian front. The Winters family even sweetened the deal by offering to help offset labor and material costs. While it was a massive drain on the family coffers at the time, the jobs created and revenue earned from off-duty ship crews, plus the unexpected import/export tariff all visiting ships had to pay, made the Winters family extremely rich. Support of the Haseks even netted Firgrove another expansion of their orbital facilities at zero cost, allowing Firgrove to sell DropShips during the Star League. The Succession Wars brought hard times for Firgrove and the Winters family. Raids from both the Capellan Confederation and the Periphery destroyed much of Firgrove’s manufacturing muscle, while the secession of the Capellan Marches from the Federated Suns destroyed important trade lines. Yet, in spite of the upheaval the civil war provided the perfect opportunity for Firgrove to gain its independence and strike out on its own. While a close relationship between Duke Hasek and Duke Winters exists even today (over the years marriages between the two families have been extremely common), Firgrove continues to operate as an independent planet, with the Winters family providing repair and refit services for anyone with the money.
 
Rekara, Miyido, Nezumi Clans – Throughout Draconis Combine Space

As the Draconis Combine disintegrated beneath the weight of betrayal, many previously suppressed or discriminated social groups took the chance to strike back, or out on their own. Some, like the Azami people, managed to gain their independence from the Dragon. Others, like the Yakuza Clans saw an opportunity to profit from the situation. Using the chaos to their advantage, some of the largest Yakuza Clans used their influence to seize control of previously inaccessible markets. While the Rekara, Miyido and Nezumi Clans represent some of the largest Yakuza groups operating out of Combine space, there are countless others. In some regions, especially in the Benjamin Prefectures, the Yakuza represent a vital link in the commercial chain, ferrying supplies and cargo from one planet to the next, having replaced traditional means of trade. Arranged in a loose pecking order, and governed by ancient traditions, the Clans are rife with rivalry and long standing blood feuds. At the top of the heap is the Nezumi Clan. A position they’ve held since their backroom acquisition of Dharma Hyperspace and controlling interest in Galileo Instruments. Careful manipulation of production records over the years has funneled dozens of new ships into the Clan, which have seen service as far away as Hastur. The other Yakuza clans – while no less impressive – lack the same physical assets as the Nezumi. A fact the other oyabun rarely forget. 

Nashan Trading House – Tharkad/Donegal/Coventry/Lyran Commonwealth

The largest civilian trade house in the Lyran Commonwealth, the Nashan Company is also the single largest civilian corporation still in existence. Built from the surviving assets of Ns-Shan Computer Tracking and other orphaned businesses in the wake of the Star League’s collapse, the Nashan Trading House owns controlling interest in a diverse number of markets. A major ComStar competitor in consumer goods, Nashan products can be found throughout known space. Major underwriters of the only Steiner-controlled JumpShip yards in the Commonwealth (the former Di Tron Shipyards of Gibbs), the Trading House is a staunch supporter of the Archon and is often seen as an agent of Tharkad when operating aboard – despite being an independent entity. Nashan is also notable for their elite Black Guards security force. A potent military force, the Black Guards are present wherever the Trading House operates, and is instrumental in protecting Nashan assets.
   
Avanti Shipil – Skye/Nusakan/Federation of Skye

Born after Skye gained its freedom from the Lyran Commonwealth in 2830, the Avanti-Shipil Trade House was created when the wealthy Avanti Family bought out Shipil’s remaining aerospace assets just as Skye gained its freedom. Long a diverse conglomerate, the creation of Avanti-Shipil came as a surprise to the new Skye nation, who expected to gain control of the only orbital shipyards in the region. Instead, Avanti, who had secretly helped funnel supplies from ComStar into rebel hands during the rebellion, used siphoned arms to secure their latest acquisition free from outside control. Forcing the Federation into accepting a one sided trade agreement for use of Shipil’s repair docks, the new Trade House owns a strangle hold on goods flowing to and from the Federation of Skye. Well supplied, the House is well known for periodically “losing” cargo shipments. Ostensibly the cost of doing business in Skye, the extra profit goes to enriching the coffers of the corrupt Avanti Family.

Haranshire Cartel – Alarion/Independent

Di Tron Industries was once one of the largest jump-capable ship producers in the Inner Sphere, but the fall of the Star League destroyed most of the company’s major facilities, and raids during the Succession Wars ruined the rest. It would take the withdrawal of Tamar and Skye to breath new life into the failing company, when an opportunity presented itself for then-Duke Donald Leone of Bowie Industries to seize control of Di Tron’s Alarion facilities. Declaring Alarion and his manufacturing assets independent of Tharkad, Duke Leone created one of the first independent trade worlds. Forced to create ties with local criminal elements to ensure Alarion’s long-term survival, the Duke’s family eventually lost control of their assets to the Haranshire Cartel; largest of the province’s organized crime families. Since then the Haranshire Cartel has ruled Alarion with an iron fist. While they are willing to offer refit and repair services for any customer, the Cartel makes most of their profit from the sale of arms and ships built at the former Bowie Industries factory. With ties to every major power player in the former Lyran Commonwealth, the Cartel operates throughout the Inner Sphere. A recent deal with the Mining Collectives of C.M.O 26 also netted the Cartel discount access to massive raw mineral stores. Required for increased production, many believe the Haranshire are gearing up for a possible expansion. Housed almost entirely in Port Sydney, the orbital facility is the center of their criminal empire.
 
O’Keefre Trade House – Fomalhaut/Deneb Kaitos/Terran Free States/ComStar Protectorate

Once the Star League’s largest import-export company, controlling the vast majority of civil goods traveling into and out of the League, the O’Keefre Company was hard hit by the Succession Wars. A large part of its JumpShip fleet was lost during the fighting, and valuable assets were either captured or destroyed throughout the war as trade disintegrated. One of the few Trade Houses with assets in the ComStar Protectorate, the O’Keefre House is primarily based on Fomalhaut and Deneb Kaitos, but has small trading hubs throughout the former Terran Hegemony and the Federation of Skye. The Trade House has a large fleet of heavily armed DropShips, and has seen an increase in the total number of JumpShips at their disposal in recent years. No one is sure where the new vessels are coming from, but O;Keefre does maintain a standing bounty for any stolen vessel returned to their control. The Trade House is still run by the O’Keefre family of Fomalhaut.
 
Salvatore Trade House – Layover/Robinson Freehold

The Salvatore Trading House was once known as Salvatore Incorporated, and was a major aerospace manufacturer during the Star League era. The Succession Wars were not kind to Salvatore. Raids and assaults on Layover destroyed a great deal of the company’s factories and yards. On the verge of dissolution, it was the secession of the Robinson Freehold that changed the corporation’s fortunes for the better.  Seized by Ziva Sharone, a close friend of the Sandoval family, and with help from the Marius Consorts mercenary command, Salvatore was transformed. Under the control of Sharone, and through a combination of bartering, theft and purchases Salvatore was able to rebuild a good percentage of their vacant St. Edwards facilities. While other DropShip manufacturers of the era were shrinking, Salvatore was growing. Although the House lacks a large number of JumpShips, Salvatore maintains a well-preserved DropShips fleet. One of the few Freehold companies that maintain good relations with the Federated Suns, Salvatore DropShips can be found traveling aboard Suns’ JumpShips inside that nation. In fact, theory holds that the Sandoval family uses Salvatore as a back door means of communicating and spying on New Avalon.

Deakin-Jones Group – SelaSys Subsidiary/Loyalty/Marik Commonwealth

Not every Trade House is a distinct corporate, independent or noble-ruled entity. A few are a fusion of all three. The Deakin-Jones Group is a perfect example of this phenomenon in action. An outgrowth of the fractured Free Worlds League, the Deakin-Jones Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of SelaSys Incorporated, which in turn is partially owned by the Marik Family. Although few foreign rulers are willing to admit it, the Free Worlds League came through the Second Succession War better than most. True, their industrial and economic base was thoroughly shattered, but the individual provinces of the Free Worlds were used to partial self-governance even before the disintegration of federal control. Where other new nations were struggling to come to grips with their newfound independence, most League provinces simply went back to business as usual. While new realities dictated some mandatory changes, League provinces were models of efficient management in miniature. The Deakin-Jones Group represents this symbiotic relationship between surviving industry and government. Built around the remaining civilian transport assets from both the Marik Commonwealth and Stewart Confederation, the Deakin-Jones Group is currently based out of the SelaSys shipyards above Loyalty, where they are responsible for maintaining the bulk of the Commonwealth’s domestic trade and communication. Staffed with some of the best naval crews and officers the Commonwealth can provide, the group doubles as unofficial commerce raiders when the need arise. In recent years, increased military adventurism on the part of the Principality of Regulus has seen Deakin-Jones privateers, and their trademark Gotha Fighters harassing Regulan shipping up and down the Atrean Corridor to great effect.
     
Highpoint Traders –Campoleone/Clipperton/Principality of Gibson/Principality of Regulus

Originally a trading company dating back to the Star League, Highpoint steadily declined after the League collapsed. A series of disasters, including the loss of their corporate headquarters on New Delos left the company on the verge of collapse. Relocating their remaining assets to Clipperton in 2846 at the invitation of Irian Enterprises was tough for Highpoint, as was their abandonment of the Federation of Oriente, and by 2849 the company had been officially absorbed by Irian Enterprises. Since then Highpoint Traders has been Irian’s dedicated transport division. A member of the semi-independent Duchy of Gibson, Highpoint Traders now peddles Irian-produced goods across the Inner Sphere and beyond. Well equipped with the best technology Irian can manufacture, Highpoint convoys are heavily armed, and sought after as incidental traveling companions in more dangerous areas of space. In fact, no raiders have attacked a Highpoint Traders convoy or ship since their relocation from New Delos. While odd, persistent rumors continue to claim Highpoint’s safe passage comes because of a deal struck between local pirate groups and Irian Enterprises. Supposedly, in return for safe passage, Highpoint Traders would provide information on civilian shipping. Even wilder, some claim Highpoint Traders actually engage in their own acts of piracy. Conspiracy theorists point out similarities between the notorious Death Jesters Pirate Band ships’ and registered Highpoint vessels as proof. As unsubstantiated as these rumors may be, there is no doubt that a higher percentage of ships are attacked in systems regularly visited by Highpoint Traders.
   
Centrella MindStar Traveling Circus – Canopus/Magistracy of Canopus

One of the most surprising survivors of the Succession Wars was the Canopian pleasure industry. More specifically, was the survival of the Pleasure Circuses of the old Star League-era. The Centrella Mindstar Traveling Circus is one of the most well known Pleasure Circuses of its kind, operating throughout the Magistracy of Canopus, the former Free Worlds League and Lyran Commonwealth space. A combination circus, casino, theatre, nightclub and traveling bazaar, most economic experts would be hard pressed to classify Centrella Mindstar as a Trade House. Yet the Circus continues to be one of the most sought trade destinations in the Inner Sphere. During the Circus’s slow circular travel route from one world to the next its frequent stops provide access to a stunning array of goods, most of which it brings along to its next destination. As a result, wherever Mindstar sets up shop local merchants flock, hoping to poach the best luxury items, or goods before their competitors and the circus moves on.  Like the gypsy caravans of old, the circus is not an easy target or trifled with lightly. Well armed, the circus has taught more than one would-be raider to quickly search for easier prey, and more than one disgruntled patron has learned that an angry circus performer will take more than just your wallet if crossed. Incidentally, MindStar’s travels also make it one of the best sources for information and news in the Inner Sphere. A hot bed of intrigue, it is an open secret that Canopian Pleasure Cruises are home to more than their fair share of spies and information brokers. 
 
Nakoma Cuirassiers – Capella/Sarna Commonality

With Capellan space a seething cauldron of shifting alliances and well-armed warlords, interstellar commerce can be a dangerous, perhaps even fatal proposition. Still, the payoff for a successful trade are great, and more than one merchant is willing to roll the fickle dice of fate for a fat wad of C-Bills. Since the secession of Capella and the creation of the Sarna Commonality puppet state, Capella has worked hard to ensure that fate continues to shine on its economic endeavors. Backed by the true rulers of Capella and the Commonality – Ceres Metals – the Commonality has hired a number of mercenary commands to act as armed couriers to transport the company’s goods.  A fairly unique situation, mercenary units in the employ of Ceres are paid for the successful delivery of goods, but also receive a bonus for every ton of usable salvage brought to Capella upon their return. What was originally slated as an anti-piracy measure soon turned into unrestricted privateer actions in the name of Ceres Metals. An unsavory practice by some of Ceres Metals’ less reputable hires, Capella’s voracious hunger for salvage forces them to ignore the worst offenders. The Nakoma Cuirassiers are one such mercenary group under contract with Ceres. A fairly large mercenary command, the Cuirassiers have been in the employ of Ceres Metals for over a decade. During that time, receipt of their salvage bonuses have set them apart as the most successful of Ceres Metals’ transporters. The key to their success has been the unit’s reported use of every conceivable tactic, including the transmission of fake IFF codes, hidden hull weapons and pre-recorded distress calls to lure unsuspecting victims into well laid traps. The Cuirassiers are ruthless in their pursuit of salvage and employ some of the best Zero-G marines in the region to capture targets as quickly as possible. Thankfully, their treatment of prisoners is humane, with most being held until their return to Capella. As a result of the Cuirassiers’s actions and other units like theirs, Capellan space remains incredibly dangerous to all but the best-armed travelers.
   
Brotherhood of Spacers – Capella/Wynn's Roost/Star’s End/Rim Republic

A loose collection of semi-independent JumpShip captains, the Brotherhood of Spacers grew into a major trade power in response to dwindling numbers and access to suitable repair and supply facilities. First proposed in 2822, the Brotherhood charter was written by three captains; Jerrad Olson, Kelli Ruhbavo and Malik al-Sharim. Together they created a framework for allowing independent JumpShips to remain feasible during an era when independent operations were becoming an impossible reality. Pooling their resources, the new collective was able to purchase the decrepit remains of the Tamar Bolson-Tamar Shipyards. Effectively destroyed since a Combine attack two years earlier, the Brotherhood dismantled any residual slips, and painstakingly transporting them to a location all three knew to be relatively safe: Star’s End. An unremarkable world blessed with once-vast mineral resources, by 2822 Star’s End’s major mining concerns were tapping into the final reserves of usable material, and much of the local population had already moved elsewhere.

Approaching the largest working mining conclaves with an offer of mutual assistance and a new means of generating income netted the Brotherhood both resources and expertise in Zero-G construction. Together the two groups assembled a functional Refit and Repair yard capable of servicing spacecraft. A primitive Space Defense System in the system’s enormous asteroid belt helped protect the valuable yard, while promises of free repairs purchased the services of a number of hungry mercenary commands looking for easy work.

Using their trade contacts and newfound resource, it was not long before membership in the Brotherhood grew to considerable size. New members paid dues in resources, technical expertise and the occasional contracted job. In return Brothers gained access to the Star’s End yards, a network of trade contacts and protection from outside predation. Within three decades, the Brotherhood accounted for almost 97% of all independent JumpShips still operating in the Inner Sphere and Periphery. By 2879 the Brotherhood of Spacers had managed to setup or borrow similar facilities in both the Outworlds Alliance and, surprisingly, in the Sarna Commonality.

Sadly, the Brotherhood has changed over the years. Today it operates more like an organized crime syndicate then a fraternity, exercising its muscle to gain favorable trade terms, enforcing random taxes, and steep transport fees. With their large membership, and ties to just about every faction in the Inner Sphere, including the Yakuza, the Brotherhood can operate with virtual impunity despite their questionable business practices. While management has not increased dues or imposed new rules on their rank and file, many in the Brotherhood have begun to grow disenfranchised with guild’s corrosive policies, and talk of forming a new organization has taken on a more serious tone of late. 

 

Thanks!

Again, this is just a basic foundation. If WarShips want to return there's a mechanism to allow it. Think of this like the 3rd Ed. BattleTech game. 

I left some extraneous bits out, but some sections are not from a ComStar source. I intentionally left them off so critics would spend more time on the content. Good catch - you're the first one to notice text that would NOT be accepted by a corporate sensor. Makes you wonder who actually put the Primer together...

Technology

Technology in the Inner Sphere and Periphery is a complicated and diverse subject. While some worlds of the Inner Sphere enjoy a technology level slightly higher than the twenty-first century standard, there are some worlds that enjoy far more sophisticated technology. The reality of technology standards since the start of the Succession Wars and the Blackout can best be described by a simple caveat; there is no standard. On some worlds you are just as likely to enjoy a taxi ride in a fuel cell-powered hover car as you are in a horse drawn cart.
 
The main culprit for such wide spread loss of advanced technology has undoubtedly been the Succession Wars. In their bid to claim the empty throne of the Star League the House Lords unleashed war with reckless abandon upon the worlds of the Inner Sphere. The First Succession War was unabashed in its use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Besides scouring the battlefields of life with weapons of mass destruction, the House Lords specifically targeted their enemy’s industrial and manufacturing capabilities. During the war whole industrial sectors were systematically destroyed.

In addition to the destruction of cities, factories and even whole worlds, interstellar transport was also targeted. JumpShips and DropShip were destroyed without any thought to the future. The pent-up frustrations of almost two hundred years of forced coexistence could simply not be contained, and by the start of the Second Succession War the war machines of the Great Houses were mere shadows of their pre-war strength. Scores of the Great Houses’ most prominent and advanced worlds were reduced to smoldering ashes. To make matters even worse, many of the Inner Sphere’s most advanced centers of science and industry – those worlds located at the heart of the defunct Terran Hegemony – were shattered under the constant attacks of the Sphere’s various claimants. 

And while most of your teachers will refrain for saying, but the next great blow to the Inner Sphere’s technological body came from the Protectorate; not from war or nuclear bombardment, but from an insidious enemy situated deep inside the belly of ComStar, Terra and the heart of humanity’s industrial and technological bosom. Terra and ComStar, the proverbial retainers of knowledge and industry sustained incalculable levels of damage during Toyama’s attempted takeover.

When Conrad’s delusional followers instigated their coup against Blake and the Inner Sphere, they did more than shut down the HPG Network. Converted ComStar technicians and supporters across occupied space enacted Toyama’s plans after having spent years infiltrating every level of the corporation, and were well prepared to do so. The hand of Conrad’s fanatics soon touched pristine worlds with the misery of war.

In addition to their overt acts of destruction, Toyama supposedly helped maintain and even increase violence between the various nations of the Inner Sphere in the months leading up to his Schism. While the many factions of mankind continued to slaughter each other Conrad loyalists attacked intact factories, universities and scientific centers, often leaving evidence pointing to another culprit as an early part of their Holy Shroud initiative. Whole sectors of intact industry felt the deadly caress of Toyama’s Order. When the ComStar Schism came to its bloody conclusion the final tally showed that Conrad had caused far more damage than anyone could have thought possible. Whether he intended it or simply underestimated the long-term effects of his plan, the physical damage wrought by his Order can never be fully calculated.

Despite the passage of decades since the Schism, there are many worlds where ComStar is still viewed with suspicion, fear or worse. There are some worlds where you will have to hide your affiliation or avoid it altogether. One of ComStar’s primary mandates is to help repair the damage Conrad caused – and the image he tarnished in the process. Remember, you are not only representatives of your company, but also representatives of a long and sometimes dark history. Speaking of “dark” history, you should know how the Blackout affected the Inner Sphere’s technology levels.

While the wars and Conrad’s coup destroyed physical assets like factories and schools, the dissolution of the Great Houses also disrupted centuries-old trade routes, industrial infrastructure and production. Coupled with too few Jumpships, the Blackout was the final nail in the coffin of technological decline for the Inner Sphere.

By itself, the Blackout did quite a bit to retard the technology levels of the Inner Sphere, but was more of a cap on earlier losses than a major contributor. While the most immediate effect of the Blackout was the loss of communication between worlds, which meant that planets suffering from drought, famine or disease went unheard by worlds or leaders in a position to help, the early years of the Blackout also helped continue to accelerate the erosion of the old systems of trade, manufacture and production – while significantly slowing the reestablishment of new ones. The loss of the HPG Network created a cycle of degradation that lasted for decades as the Inner Sphere worked to stabilize itself. By the end of the twenty-ninth century only the most developed worlds were microcosms of the former glory of their parent nations during the Star League, or before.

Today, with decades of misuse and miss-repair most advanced items are often jury-rigged or family heirlooms. Too few shipyards are available to repair older vessels, let alone build new ones, and increasing numbers of JumpShips are lost every year to accidents. The decreasing number of interstellar travel-capable ships has continued to slow commerce, trade and communication accordingly. In some ways, and in some places, the cycle of decay continues to this day.

The one bright spot in this otherwise dreary picture is ComStar. Despite the loss of manufacturing resources and technical data, the corporation has managed to retain a fairly sophisticated level of technology. Our ability to produce rugged, but useful consumer goods and substantial numbers of JumpShips and DropShips have allowed the corporation to expand greatly. So rejoice, you will all have jobs next year, and maybe even until the next!

This brings me to my final point. As members of ComStar your quality of life will be much better than most of the people you will come into contact with during your travels – so be careful. As mentioned before, there will be those who will view you with suspicion and hatred because of the ComStar name. Well, now you can add envy to the list. Do yourself a favor and keep your belongings either clipped to your skin or back on the ship. That notepad you are using right now might be as common here on Sandhurst as excuses, but out there, in the wild, it is a reason to stick a knife in your back.

Remember the old adage; Life is cheap – technology is not. 

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On RetroTech
Cambridge University Press, Terra, 2901

In the progressive development of military technology, nothing represents the technological decline of the Succession Wars and the Blackout than so-called “RetroTech”. The natural outgrowth of a devastated industrial and trade base; RetroTech is nothing new. In fact, the technologies predate what most armies consider even standard weapons tech. RetroTech is by definition older, primitive weapons being redeployed to the modern battlefield. Easily produced among the war-torn states of the Inner Sphere, primitive weapons now dominate many faction militaries.

While the reintroduction of primitive weapons to the Inner Sphere came in no small part from the wars following the fall of the Star League, their prolific spread throughout occupied space was the work of ComStar.

During the First Succession War, Jerome Blake made the decision to authorize ComStar to begin supplying Terran resistance groups with weapons from the corporation’s extensive SLDF stock to help slow the conquest of the former Terran Hegemony. A bold move to preserve the Hegemony, Blake knew weapons deliveries were not going to be enough to slow the Hegemony’s absorption. In addition to the weapons leaving Terra, blueprints and plans for primitive BattleMech and armor designs joined ComStar’s secret shipments.

The idea was simple, liberated Hegemony worlds could convert their planet’s remaining heavy industry to produce their own weapons. These locally produced weapons would alleviate some of the transport and supply burdens the corporation was forced to undertake, while bloating local resistance cells with greater defensive capabilities. Despite opposition from the First Circuit, who were apprehensive to provide guerilla groups with even primitive BattleMech technology, Jerome Blake earned their support with promises of easy expansion of the Protectorate and the overwhelming advantages of the ComGuard’s advanced technologies.
 
This early decision by Blake would have huge repercussions for ComStar and the Inner Sphere for years after, as it was not long before copies of these ancient plans made their way outside of the former Hegemony. Within a few years, primitive or “RetroTech” designs could be found in every realm. As the technological and industrial base of the Inner Sphere began to crumble, these primitive technologies soon replaced their more advanced counterparts.

Today, with the war torn factions of the Inner Sphere hungry for any armaments, even obsolete ones, a large percentage of all remaining industrial infrastructure has switched over from producing civilian products to manufacture “new” RetroTech. Long gone is the manufacture of mining, logging or construction gear. Instead these makeshift weapons factories continue to churn out ever increasing numbers of primitive designs. Unsurprisingly then, these RetroTech factories have become lucrative targets of opportunity for bandits and raiders, and remain one of the few targets of opportunity attacked with regularity.
 
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How this Alternate Universe Works

The premise behind this AU is pretty simple: Community Development. The Age of Chaos (AoC) is designed with community effort in mind, with only a little guided direction from an original premise.

A Lead Developer directs community development of the Alternate Universe

The Lead Developer is an advisory and mediating personality, whose sole responsibility is to supply guidance, compulsory plot points and to arbitrate disputes. A central task is to provide important base information to the member community and potential member developers. This information is foundational material for developing the universe, and presents a starting point for future expansion.
 
The first piece of information made available is a list of available Age of Chaos Factions and the Age of Chaos Alternate Universe Primer. From the available faction list BattleTech community members are allowed to select a faction for personal development. Selecting a faction designates the community member a Member Developer of the Age of Chaos.

Selection and faction preference are on a first come, first served basis. To help prevent conflict between potential Member Developers, community members will select their top three factions in descending order of desire. (The Lead Developer will take into account local Time Zones when selection posts are made and posted on the forum.) At the end of the selection period dual, or overlapping selections will be determined through a simple lot. However, Member Developers can opt to work together on a single faction should they desire to do so to avoid conflicts.

The Age of Chaos Universe Primer is a basic universe sourcebook, providing Member Developers with a basic understanding of the universe’s history, culture, factions, and background story. The primer is designed to help immerse Member Developers into the Age of Chaos universe, and to familiarize them with the fictional setting. The primer is left intentionally vague, with only a few specific pieces of content provided as examples to emphasize key differences between the Age of Chaos and the published BattleTech universe. Future Age of Chaos sourcebooks will be based on the Age of Chaos Primer and Member Developer contributions.
 
The Lead Developer will also provide a list of the Alternate Universe’s Turning Points. Age of Chaos Turning points are particular historical events or plot points in the basic Age of Chaos story line that have been created to help move the universe’s development forward in a flexible, but concise manner. Example Turning Points include the foundation of a new proto-nation, or an important battle between different factions. The Turning Points are designed to help Member Developers craft their individualized faction within loose boundaries – not to write the story for them. In effect, Member Developers get to fill in the blanks of the game universe by writing their faction’s adventure from one particular Turning Point to the next.

The Universal Turning Points for the Age of Chaos can be found in the Universe Turning Points List (p. XX) of this PDF. Each Member Developer will also receive faction-specific Turning Points with their assigned Faction File. 

Writing for the Age of Chaos

The submission process for writing for the Age of Chaos is a simple. To prevent written conflict between Member Developers, the system works on a first come, first submitted basis. Once Member Developers claim their faction they may immediately begin developing, writing and submitting their Faction Submission. Submitted text becomes accepted canon in the alternate universe, and once accepted as that faction’s canon all additional entries from other players will be tweaked to fit. This process is repeated until a seamless fictional narrative is created.

This system is designed so eager and committed Member Developers would be rewarded for their active participation in the Age of Chaos’s development. In life and BattleTech there are benefits for conquering an objective first.
 
Besides, competition is a healthy thing.

Outside of the rules governing basic faction submission, Member Developers are under no compulsion to work individually, or develop faction fiction entirely on their own. Member Developers are welcome, even encouraged to work together to create a comprehensive collection of faction submissions. If a fiction conflict does arise a settlement will be reached to fix the most contested points through a simple Member Developer/Community Poll, and as mentioned early, the Lead Developer will provide background information for ComStar and mediate differences in the overall storyline.

The system of Turning Points, along with their associated faction submissions influences the Age of Chaos in distinct Chapters. Chapters are specific sections of the Alternate Universe’s story. For example, the first chapter of the Age of Chaos covers the period of time starting with the dissolution of the Great Houses, through the fall of the HPG network in 2838, and up to the network’s reconstruction. This is a foundational chapter integral to the storyline. Member Developer fiction for this chapter will provide character to the Age of Chaos’s individual factions, expand the universe’s history and create the fictional groundwork for expanding the Age of Chaos universe. Turning Points from this period cover the creation and formation of the breakaway states, and other pivotal moments in this section of the timeline. Once this Chapter is finished, the next Chapter – beginning with the end of the Blackout – begins. Future chapters will progress after the second, and so on.

The Lead Developer will introduce the actual game-system for moving the storyline along in the second chapter. But it is the hope of this alternate universe to create a game universe where players who build their faction from the beginning will be invested in keeping it a part of the story. If a Member Developer decides not to, the faction will die out.

It will be an interesting part of the story observing faction developed and game direction.

When a Member Developer Selects a Faction

When a Member Developer selects a faction they will receive the final piece of helpful information from the Lead Developer: the basic help file – the Faction File – for that particular faction. This help file will supply some of the faction’s most basic info – like overall military strength – and specific Turning Points. These individual Turning Points require coverage in the faction submission. For example, if a Member Developer selected to develop the Federated Suns they would need to provide the names of both the next Prince, and the Prince who’s death during the Second Succession War helped foster the dissolution of the Federated Suns. Member Developers will notice that these turning points, like the ones designed to govern the alternate universe’s overall development, are very flexible. The faction file is not designed to stifle the creativity of a Member Developer, just to provide a helping hand.

As previously mentioned, the first chapter of the Age of Chaos is a foundational chapter. The chapter hopes to create the universe’s back-story, major characters, events prior to 3025 and cultural flavor for the factions of the Age of Chaos Universe. When a Member Developer selects a faction to develop and represent they should write and submit the following.

Member Developers should submit the following fiction with their Faction Submission: 

Faction History
Culture
Description of Worlds (Optional)
Economy (Optional)
Major Characters (For 3025)
Military

This is the most basic list of faction submission examples. Member Developers are not limited to this list and should feel free to use their creativity to expand it. 

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A Note on first chapter Faction Specific Turning Points:

To help Member Developers understand and utilize Turning Points in developing their faction’s individual history, this primer provides a basic selection of the alternate universe’s Turning Points list. Member Developers will notice each Turning Point is given a date and a brief description. This description also lists the major factions affected by the Turning Point. Some Turning Points on this basic list will have no effect on every available faction. Unless otherwise noted, affected factions are listed along with the Turning Point and attached description. A Member Developer’s Faction Specific Turning Points List will have a complete Turning Point list unique to that faction. However, should a Member Developer feel the need to incorporate other Turning Points they are more than welcome to do so – only the Faction Specific Points must be included in their first chapter submission. 

Every Faction File will include both the Universe Turning Points List and Faction Specific Turning Points List.

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