OBT Forum

Idiots question - which I should have figured out before I added anything

When is this set timeframe wise?  Is this set during the SLDF/Amaris Civil War, after the Exodus, During the Succession Wars, Clan Invasion, Jihad or even Republic era?

Reason I ask they have an SLDF Corps, 39 WarShips (if I've counted right and mixing in support and fighting ships together) and now an Amaris Embassy...

If we're looking at these people post-Jihad era they have one of the biggest military units in all of known space and a remnant of the Rim Worlds Republic that is active... could be lots of fun if outsiders ever find it.

After being contracted to help move LXIII Corps into the Commonwealth, several minor Lyran Merchant Houses began making runs into the Commonwealth seeking profits in the new market.

Baron Kilmacrennan Traders (BKT) has been the most active with 3 Tramps and 5 Merchants operating in the Commonwealth.  After a rocky start, the route is beginning to pay down the initial losses.  Each run enters and exits the Commonwealth at Dunedin and terminates at New Caledonia in the Tamar Pact.  DropShip Captains are cautioned to strictly obey the Dunedin Environmental Regulations.  SLIC has been investigating BKT as they are suspected of smuggling arms and supplies to the CDL.  After all, its just business...

The 127th MID of the XLII Corps/12th Army has been charged by the Quartermaster Subcommand  to push supplies to LXIII Corps.  XLII Corp's preference for armored vehicles over 'Mechs has allowed just enough replacements to flow through the pipeline to keep the Corps near 90%.

Two expansions

First: A new planet, the dark side of the Southern Cross

Star (Recharge Time):  New Sol (181 hours)
Star Type:  G0V
Number of Planets:  8 (including four gas giants)
Time to Jump Point:  10.48 days
Recharging Station:  None

Planet:  New Holland
Position:  4
Planet Type:  Rocky
Gravity:  1.00
Atmospheric Pressure:  Standard
Atmospheric Composition:  Nitrogren, Oxygen
Percent Surface Water:  32%
Percent, Level of Native Life:  10%, Reptiles
Satellites:  2 (Rock, Hard Place)
HPG Station:  None
Planetary Capital:  London Penal Site 001

Two jumps from Perth New Holland is little more than a penal colony.  The world itself is a largely barren rock with occasional outcroppings of dark plants near the two shallow seas on the planetary surface.  By rights no human would ever want to live on New Holland it has nothing to offer for itself other than the valuable rocks and minerals that are barely covered by the planet's surface.  These minerals and the Germanium that was found in the systems asteroid belt make the system more than valuable enough to colonize.

Unfortunately while most citizens of the Southern Cross region understood the value of the New Holland system enjoying the beautiful gems, useful metals and priceless Germanium that came out of the system few were willing to work to remove the materials from the world.  Instead a hard labour penal facility was set up on the world less than ten years after Perth had been settled.

For almost every major crime from bank robbery to terrorism to murder offenders are more often than not sent to New Holland for processing and a life sentence of hard labour.  Each year prisoners records and crimes are reviewed against their record on New Holland.  If they have met the required "freedom points" their case can be reviewed and their freedom granted.  Rarely however does anyone registered as a terrorist or as a member of the CDL ever gain their freedom.

On the surface of New Holland there are six penal facilities each named by Alex Cross after an "oppressive city" from the nation that had helped found his Earth home of Australia.  As a result the penal colonies of London, Glasgow, Dublin, Belfast, Aberdeen and Manchester were named each with their own work.

When the SLDF discovered the Southern Cross they did not stop the penal facility instead the Corps commander fully supported the method (and the Germanium coming out of the system).  Since the SLDF's arrival the Penal Colony has had a full SLDF garrison and following CDL activities is often host to a WarShip patrol.

London is purely hard labour little actually comes out of this facility other than dead bodies from the prisoners who have expired due to excessive work or by "accidents" which happen almost daily.  London is also classed as the capital of New Holland although there is no free citizens only administrators, guards and prisoners.

Glasgow is a manufacturing and shipyard dock.  At this massive facility on the Southern continent new Danais type cargo DropShips are produced.  Weaponless they are tested for flight capabilities at Glasgow before being flown to other worlds for refit with weapons and other systems.  The most educated of all New Holland's prisoners are sent to Glasgow and are most often likely to be released early.  One of the CDL's most brazen raids took place at this facility when they stole three DropShips from the facility.  This has led to a heavy SLDF security presence and often WarShip patrols throughout the system.

Dublin mines near the surface gems such as diamonds and sapphires to be sent to other Southern Cross worlds for use in jewelry.  Of all the facilities Dublin is seen as the easy assignment for both prisoners and guards.  More than one prisoner has been released from Dublin with more money than they went to prison with.

Belfast is the source of metals stronger than almost anywhere else in known space.  Used in both Composite and Endo Steel production the metals are found in almost every form of construction in the whole Southern Cross Region.

Aberdeen was named for its namesake on Terra.  The Liquid Gold under the surface of New Holland's northern sea is used in almost every vehicle, BattleMech, personal fiirearm and WarShip.  The penal colony is based on nearly a dozen oil rigs that dot the surface of the calm waters.

Manchester the most dangerous but most rewarding of all the Penal Colonies.  Based off a space station in low orbit the penal colony is home to the miners of the Germanium mines on the systems various asteroids.  A prisoner will serve a maximum of one year at this penal colony.  During the time they will make twelve mining trips to the asteroid belt - five days travel from the space station.  Mortality rates of miners is nearly 50% on any given mining trip largely due to the lack of training given to most miners.  But the benefits to the Southern Cross are so massive that serving for a year at Manchester is the equivalent to serving five years at any other Penal Colony.  Current leader of the CDL Martin Knight is believed to have volunteered for three separate trips to Manchester which won his freedom from incarceration.

Second Part: A Character in Focus

Martin Knight
Age: 30 (in 3025)

Little is known about his youth other than he originally came from the world of Dunedin and was sentenced to life in prison at the Penal Facility on New Holland at age 18 for the crime of murder of his parents.  At New Holland Martin Knight learned more than he had in the previous 18 years in 8 years.  He learned how to build things at Glasgow, how to use equipment at Aberdeen and Belfast and how to survive during his three stints at the Manchester facility mining germanium.

Aged 26 he was released on early parole after completing his third term at Manchester.  The murder of his parents was seen as an outburst of youth against an abusive father and an alcoholic mother and he was released under the condition he stayed away from any profession that would see him hold firearms of any type.

Two years drifting from one job to the next on Perth and ranking up large gambling debts Martin Knight conned his way onto a DropShip heading to Sahara.  On Sahara the Martin Knight that had been on New Holland emerged hard working and with an edge for survival.  In a year despite being an outsider he proved to the people of Sahara that he was capable of doing anything the locals could.  He was also brought to the attention of the Churchill Defence League leader Michael Crawford who saw in the man the potential to take his organization to the next logical step.  He then disappeared outside a known CDL Bar on Sahara and was assumed murdered by local law enforcement.

After this event Martin Knight's whereabouts and activities are unknown for all the authorities cared he was dead, in fact that could not be further than from the truth.  In 3024 Martin Knight led a CDL operation on New Holland that resulted in three newly completed DropShip hulls being stolen, the release of nearly one hundred prisoners and the death of 62 SLDF Guards.  Since then he has been linked to several CDL operations and listed as a wanted criminal by SLDF and Southern Cross authorities.

Communications

With the arrival of LXXIII Corps, Communications Command initially employed portable HPGs between the Corps' garrisons.  A DRUm (Direct Reciprocal Unit) network was emplaced back to 12th Army using uninhabited systems skirting the Spinward border of the Rim Worlds.  This prevented interference or the isolation of the Corps after 20th Army departed the Rim Worlds.

Reserve Command

Not normally subordinated to the local Corps, Reserve Command has deployed training and security units to the various Commonwealth Worlds.  Recruiting has been lower than expected as the citizens find the SLDF less attractive than joining the CDF/CMF.  Liason Command's representatives find the work almost as difficult as an assignment in the Combine or Confederation.  Its not hostility, just a cultural independence and self-reliance.

The Pensacola Convoy

In 2766 a large convoy was assembled.  With the Periphery Uprising demanding more and more resources, the Logistical Subcommands were directed by the High Command to push as many resources as could be spared to the Commonwealth knowing it would be the last supplies the Corps could count on as the Uprising continued.

31 transports departed Tamar on 21 November 2766.  Their holds and DropShips were loaded with replacement equipment, munitions, consumables and more importantly the plans, tools, and dies to upgrade the Commonwealth's single 'Mech production facility and two shipyards.  No Royal technology was exported but the convoy's contents would leapfrog the Commonwealth from a Reunification War-level to almost a Member State's level of technology.  The copy of the Prometheus Database alone would radically alter education, science, agriculture and most every field.

To protect the convoy, a large escort force was organized under Rear Admiral Toshiro Kurusato.  Admiral Kurusato had a well-earned reputation as the best cruiser flotilla commander in the Navy.  His force was scheduled to escort the convoy to Port Jackson, sweep the RWR's Spinward border then proceed along the Lyran's Coreward border to Columbus Station to investigate traces of large unknown forces moving through the region.  Admiral Blake was hoping the sweep would locate the bases of at least some of the mysterious divisions that were fighting in the Territorial States.

Cameron-Class Pensacola *
Congress-Class Hancock **, Madison
Vincent-Class van Gogh***, Kartheiser, McMahon**, Lombardi, Vaughn**, Lecavalier
578th Fleet Aero Wing
296th Indpendent Aero Wing
61st CAAN Regiment (earmarked for Dunedin)

* Escort Flagship
** Flotilla Flagship
*** Division Flagship

'Mech forces

CMF:  Leery of placing too much power in the hands of the Deep Thinkers, the Commonwealth maintains Light Horse Regiments (each of battalion size).  This coincidence in nomenclature and mission has allowed the closest ties between any SLDF and Commonwealth forces.  The six battalions are designed around a core of WAM-B Firebees and WSP-1 Wasps.  The third company of each battalion is built around SHD-1R Shadow Hawks and DV-1S Dervishes.  The SLDF's 11th and 24th Light Horse Regiments have been tasked improve the training of the Militia.  The individual 'Warrior's skills are up Territorial State norms but company and regimental-level skills are lacking.  The 5th Light Horse on Perth is an exception and is expected to match any Member State line unit.

CDF: Designed around heavier forces the 'Mech forces of the CDF are designated as Cavalry Regiments (each of battalion size).   These units are built around the GLD-1R Gladiator, EFT-2 Eisenfaust, and a few BNC-1E Banshees and AL-A1 Alfars.  The professionals of the CDF are more resistant to training with the SLDF; they feel the SLDF forces expect their superior weaponry to compensate for skill and tactics.  The individual 'Warrior's skills are up Territorial State norms and when a "bandit" raid hit the Penal Colony of Glasgow on the world of New Holland the attacking company escaped with only 1 'Mech and 3 'Warriors after the 2nd Cavalry responded.  (In reality the attackers were #2 Company, 11th Amaris Dragoons.  The Embassy lance is manned by all 3 of the survivors.)

Opinions?  I tried to use either common designs or at least from the Lyran sector.  I'm not sure if a few TR-A-6 Toros (Taurians) or PX-3R Phoenix (RWR) might have been obtained.  I tried to model the Light Horse and Cavalry designations after the Australian tradition.

<Location of the raid modifed as per Dragon Cat>