OBT Forum

My main question is why New Samarkand?
The former capital of the Draconis Combine might not be the most obvious choice.

Why not go for the Rim Worlds Republic?

I just don't see it Dragon Cat. I mean if I am Kerensky and I decide to stay why not just defect to the Lyran Commonwealth. The Archon was wildly unpopular and most folks loved the Star League. If you can get the Lyrans it links the Hegemony and the Rim Worlds. To form the largest star empire around. Then you can try to liberate Rasalhague from the Dracs maybe lure a few Free Worlds.

The Outworlds Wastes would probably be a more viable choice in political terms - the colonies there needed Star League technology to function and were noted as being more loyal to the Star League than the Outworlds Alliance. It's unlikely the Avellars would have objected.

Taking New Samarkand would be far more aggressive - it's the historic capital of the Draconis Combine so House Kurita would almost HAVE to retake it, damn the cost. Otherwise they're disgraced and dishonoured.




It's questionable how economically stable such a nation would be, but struggling to cope with that would explain why they were left alone for the First Succession War.

It's also possible that this could lead to castes developing organically:
a group working to set up the manufacturing capacity to support their needs (the technicans)
a group working to co-ordinate shipping resources from world to world as most of the colonies aren't self-sufficient (the merchants)
a group focused on defending their resources from outside raiding and ward off the armies of the Succession Wars (the warriors)
a group working to apply Star League technology to get them out of the economic deathtrap they're caught in (the scientists)
and finally those who don't really have the skills or training to do anything but grunt labour and service industries - frowned on because they don't directly contribute to the planned economy but necessary to let off the social pressures (the laborers)

ComStar, on re-establishing contact, might well come to an agreement that they'll help provide critical resources as long as the new Star League doesn't shake their HPG monopoly.

2 issues with this:

1st - there were several units who didn't go, the Highlanders, the 12 Star Guard/Lindon's Company, Eridani Light Horse... all former SLDF units. If the SLDF had remained behind, it would have shuffled off units like a molting bird. each unit going merc or jumping in to whatever house the commanders/troops were most loyal too (as Kerensky predicted). As it was, the SLDF fell apart into civil war, while in exile, and Nicky boy had to reform the survivors into what became the Clans. That would have been massively accelerated with promise of paymasters a few jumps away.

a2nd -

Would the Combine and Federated Suns eventually say we're going after you too?

YES, in the 1st SW they had no qualms with nukes or orbital bombardment. In your scenario, after all the units that can be bribed away are gone, New Samarkand takes it from booth ends and becomes a radioactive waste dump.

I just don't see it Dragon Cat. I mean if I am Kerensky and I decide to stay why not just defect to the Lyran Commonwealth. The Archon was wildly unpopular and most folks loved the Star League. If you can get the Lyrans it links the Hegemony and the Rim Worlds. To form the largest star empire around. Then you can try to liberate Rasalhague from the Dracs maybe lure a few Free Worlds.

Or Kerensky could issue a call for universal peace and everything, rally some support and found a new State bigger than the Hegemony.

You could argue that mercs leaving the area would be balanced by refugees fleeing the Succession Wars too. Be interesting if they cut a deal. Send some of your profits home for development along with any new settlers fleeing the war zone.

Not really, it ain't like refugees from the Ukraine walking to Poland, they won't have a Jumpship sitting in their garage to run off in. Look at how difficult it was for Jews to flee Germany to the US (and how few succeeded) and that was just across a little water with air to breath. There may be some who can afford, and manage to acquire, transport, but not many. Most of those with the means to go would be in positions that they don't (or at-least currently think they do) need to go.

Good point on the jumpships. Kerensky and his son seemed to have a tight reign on their navy so to speak.

Not really, most units (especially Division level and above) had their own assigned Naval support. As I recall, when news of the coup first reached the SLDF, one Division took off on it's own, unsupported, and got itself whipped-out completely. Also, several units did go Merc/rouge the 12-Star-Guard, NWH and the EL were all SLDF Divisions originally. There's also the issue of the House Navies, if a House managed to bribe away a unit without JS capability they certainly wouldn't leave them stranded, they would send transport & escorts of their own to bring them in (and all the better since that unit would be beholden to them for future transport, reducing their opportunity to take other offers).