OBT Forum

But why go for a pure training planet for Queensland?

No particular reason it was just the name that came to mind given Alex Cross' Australian ancestry it seemed to make sense to name an early colonized world after his home.

Training purposes as the military grew to cover more worlds it made sense to have a world that the military could conduct war games on and test live fire weapons.  Having a world that is perfectly habitable but having big ugly rocks potentially falling on their heads sounded like a world that not many people would want to go to but that the military could use as hazardous environment training.

Here is a very rough map of what we have so far.  Might be a little TOO close to the Inner Sphere, but I will let you make that call.

MA

Superimpose that on one of my exsiting maps and I'll get to works at some stage mapping it all once all the worlds are named.

New St. Andrews (at the lower right side) is the only system on this map that is on any of the maps.  I think.  It should be (roughly) 24 jumps between NSA and Perth (using the unihabited mapped systems), or about 600 lightyears (20 jumps on a straight line).

MA

Looks like you've put the Southern Cross in the Aquila Rift (see ISP3) which is where I had another Periphery realm. The Cerulean League if you can believe it is about where the Axumite Providence is and in a Star Cluster/Nebula too! Was going to do a alternate development for the Providence but now I'm anxiously awaiting the completion of this project. 

You guys want to hear about the other inhabitants (aka the Royal Houses) of the Cerulean League for possible inclusion into the Southern Cross?

Here is the old Anti-Spinward Map showing the Aurolian Star Cluster home to the Cerulean League for comparison.

Posting the relevant map section now MA. The Royal Houses are on their way!

Might be a bit further north or coreward then that MA but not sure.

Real quick briefing on the Royal Houses of Aurolian / Cerulan League. You'll notice a lot of old family names here which was intended but I could certainly go away from that if you like. Here are the first few, enjoy!

House Cloudrunner
Worlds: Ravenna, Solanar (Shadowdown)
Briefing: In 2280 a group of Native Americans escapes the chaos of Terra during the Exodus. Led by William Cloudrunner they travel into the Aurelius Star Cluster convinced that their future homeworld is located there. The world they would settle, Ravenna, would do much to shape the Tribes as a dramatic drop in temperature marked the start of a new Ice Age almost 100 years after colonization. In order to preserve their beloved new homeworld the Sovereign Tribal Council embarked on its first terraforming project. After many years their enormous conservation efforts paid off reversing the Ice Age and restoring their endangered planetary habitat. The preservation and enrichment of planetary systems has continued to be their highest calling. Many are astounded about their awareness but question their pacifistic policies which have often failed to stand up to aggressors.

House Drake
Worlds: Dracon (Torkyn)
Briefing: In 2831 House Drake was founded by scientists and skilled technicians from Marik space who fled the Word of Blake's Holy Shroud. Colonization of Dracon was followed by the establishment of a highly advanced scientific outpost on the nearby habitable moon of Torkyn in 2850. Both of these settlements were greatly aided by the League which remains a strong ally of these quiet technologists. They prize their security and privacy which again is strongly back by the High Lord.

House Wittelsbach
Worlds: Neuvaria
Briefing: Lyrans escaping the First Succession War founded the colony of Neuvaria in 2807 under the leadership of House Wittelsbach. Using their great wealth and tremendous fiscal acumen they quickly rose to economic power during the volatile Great Arrivals. Through long term low interest investments in new settlements from the InnerSphere they became the masters of banking a position they continue to hold today.

House Orange
Worlds: Benelux
Briefing: My newest idea not previously included in the Aurolian Cluster is these Low Landers. Their original colony was founded during Mankind’s Exodus to the stars by settlers from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxemburg.  This watery Deep Periphery world with abundant natural resources developed independently but traded with outsiders. Skilled spacefarers their small trade empire unfortunately ran afoul of the Rim Worlds and was conquered. Despite their resolute standing this civilization would be subjugated time and time again from the Star League to bandits. However they have endured these occupations and emerged stronger becoming a regional commercial powerhouse.

Updated TIMELINE -I've added in the Gateway changes - currently have stepped down from a Fleet Headquarters to only 2 Nadir Stations and a Bastion but the Headquarters could follow later or at a different location?  Changes from this update are in bold.

2314 – Marks the breakdown of the Alliance as Expansionists and Liberal gangs start a civil war on Earth

2315 – McKenna reacts with the AGM and Colonial Marines halts the violence

2316 – McKenna is elected Director-General in February of the new Hegemony

2320 - Alex Cross leads 80+ ships away from the Hegemony looking for a new start travelling beyond the Inner Sphere boundaries into the periphery.

2322 - Perth is founded far beyond other borders
          - Formation of Commonwealth Militia Forces to defend Perth and scout out other systems

2323 - Gateway is discovered by Scout parties - the world is not colonized but is logged for future expeditions.

2328 - Discovery of New Holland and the Germanium asteroid belt; exploration of the Southern Cross Cluster

2338- Dunedin is founded; the Congress of the Southern Cross is formed

2342 - Colonization of the moon of Churchill in a system one jump from Perth; Churchill admitted to CSC

2345 - Formation of the Churchill Defence League and unofficial part of the CSC Militia Forces

2346 - Founding of London Penal Colony on New Holland

2347 - Founding of Belfast Penal Colony on New Holland

2354 - Beginning of construction of the Manchester Penal Colony space station in orbit of New Holland

2355 - Security system is discovered, Queensland, the fourth planet, is selected as a Training World for the CMF and CDF

2358 - Small amount of population migration to Queensland is authorized by Congress but the world remains dominated by the military.

2360 - Manchester Penal Colony is completed in orbit of New Holland

2362 - Formation of Southern Cross Defence Force as more independent colonies are formed and require defence from sporadic but persistent raider groups.  SCDF supersedes the SCMF in training and equipment but the two work together on defence and law enforcement.

2365 - Founding of Dublin Penal Colony on New Holland

2372 - Founding of the Aberdeen Penal Colony on New Holland

2380 - Founding of the Glasgow Penal Colony on New Holland

2588 - Glasgow Penal Colony's facilities on New Holland are upgraded to build Danais Cargo DropShips to continue to assist the growth of the CSC.

2600 - Settlement of the Twin Planets (Apollo and Artemis, see below), with their admission to the CSC as the 11th and 12th member worlds.

2712 - SLDF Exploration vessel discovers Southern Cross which has expanded to encompass twenty-seven inhabited systems (and the Wastes).
           - Star League Embassy established on Perth

2715 - Small SLDF Garrison (1 Regiment) is assigned to the defence of the region

2718 - SLDF "lease" training area on Queensland for training of their troops a Battalion at a time.  This brings a small amount of rivalry from units of the CMF and CDF that use the rest of the world.

2720 - Unhappy at being superseded by the SLDF on defence and law enforcement the Churchill Defence League goes rogue from Churchill stealing two Aquilla-class Transport JumpShips and their militia weapons and equipment.

2721 - First official act of terrorism by the CDL against the SLDF Embassy on Perth - 10 people killed by a car bomb

2724 - Gateway is finally settled by the CSC

2743 - Increasing pirate raids in response First Lord Simon Cameron orders the formation of a new Corps for the Commonwealth of the Southern Cross Region.

2745 - LXXIII Corps is formed
        - Baron Kilmacrennan Traders (BKT) from the Lyran Commonwealth are hired to assist in moving Corps into area and keeping them supplied
        - Star League department of communications orders construction of HPG network on the CSC worlds and an extended DRUM network back to the Inner Sphere.
       - Construction begins in the Gateway system of two Recharge stations and a Bastion-class Space Station - TBC alternate to fleet command station

2747 - LXXIII officially arrives on station instantly goes on offence against raiders quickly ending the raids after a batch of heavy fighting.

2748 - Construction of Port Jackson on outskirts of Perth system including 2 habitats, an Unpressurized yard and a Capitol defence station.
        - Increased actions by CDL against SLDF and CSC Governmental facilities

2749 - Gaining support the 28th Support Squadron arrives to support SLDF naval and ground assets.
        - Joint SLDF/CSC effort to terraform the Sahara system into a three world system instead of the current barely inhabited world.
        - SLDF presence on Queensland increases dramatically much to the displeasure of the CDF.  Congress ignore the CDF complaints intending on fully supporting the relationship with the SLDF allows them full access to all facilities on Queensland.

2750 - Sahara Project fails to bring real results with both part terraformed worlds abandoned in their current state which is lethal to human life with an atmosphere that confuses most sensors.  These worlds are dubbed "The Wastes" unfortunately the world of Sahara often gets thrown in when these worlds are mentioned ruining that worlds reputation as well beginning a constant migration of people away from Sahara.

2750 - Port Jackson is officially operational

2751 - Simon Cameron dies
        - CDL become very active in Wastes area bringing the worlds to the attention of SLIC but they are almost impossible to pin down.
        - Formation of the Amaris Embassy on Perth

2754 - After a freak asteroid strike kills four SLDF troopers on Queensland the SLDF begin to deploy early warning satellites around the world to protect their units training and the local population.
        - just months after the satellite system is complete the entire 27th Battle Squadron is deployed to Queensland.  All 8 WarShips their attending DropShips and Aerospace Fighters engage a particularly large asteroid on the fringes of the system.  In a "battle" that lasts three days the SLDF force intentionally takes their time with the asteroid making firing passes, pincer movements and Battle-line attacks against it before shattering it into a thousand pieces with several nuclear tipped Capital Missiles.

2758 - formation of the Reserve Command by the SLDF Corps.  This command is designed to streamline relations with the CSC Armed Forces and provide the Corps with recruitment.
        - The SLDF's "epic" battle against the asteroid in the Queensland system becomes a hit Tri-Vid Movie across the Southern Cross Region taking several awards at many award ceremonies.

Periphery Uprising 2765 - SLDF Corps is almost recalled but they are attacked by a periphery rebel group numbering 2 Divisions.
        - A failed attack on the Gateway station by six rebel WarShips.  Four are completely destroyed while a fifth a Dart-class Light Cruiser is captured.

2766 - HPG facilities on Perth and Dunedin are upgraded to Class A stations while all others are rated as Class B.

Amaris Coup Kerensky recalls unit 2767 - unit ignores recall date fortifying their position after a new batch of pirate raids.

2768 - SLS Pensacola (Cameron), SLS Madison (Congress), SLS Kartheiser (Vincent), SLS Lecavalier (Vincent) and 12 JumpShips arrive at the Perth jump point.  The convoy is overdue by six months and every ship in the convoy has suffered heavy damage after being raided throughout the periphery region.  All of the ships require extensive refit before they can travel.  Rest of convoy (5 WarShips and 19 JumpShips lost) (priceless supplies and equipment lost, but enough remains to restore LXXIII Corp to 80% of TO&E strength)

2768-2784 - Sporadic contact with SLDF reestablished.  General Kerensky does not relieve or replace LXXIII Corps commander (Genera Philip Hunt).  No additional supplies arrive.

2769 - After years of rebuilding the Dart-class vessel captured from rebel forces in the Gateway system is relaunched as the SLS Southern Cross.

late 2783 - Representative of Kerensky arrives on Perth with orders for the Exodus.  General Hunt refuses the order to abandon the CSC.  This decision causes shockwaves throughout LXXIII Corps when it becomes public knowledge in 2785. 

2800 - 1 Squadron of WarShips filled with volunteers heads back to the Inner Sphere after not hearing from the Star League in seventeen  These WarShips arrive in the Lyran Commonwealth (where?) and are almost immediately attacked by Lyran forces.  They retreat into the Free Worlds League where they are again attacked 1 ship escapes (which one?) heavily damaged returning to the CSC as the First Succession War engulfs the Inner Sphere 2802.

2803- CSC Government and SLDF (now national) troops choose to isolate Southern Cross from Inner Sphere for duration of Succession Wars or for how long the Government chooses.  All civilian transports with data that would take them back to the Inner Sphere have their data scrubbed with that information only existing on Military vessels.  Inner Sphere and Periphery vessels that stumble over the CSC are seized.

2995 - Birth of Martin Knight on Dunedin.

3013 - Martin Knight is sentenced to life in prison at the New Holland Penal Colony for the murder of his parents

3021 - Martin Knight is released early from the New Holland Penal Colony after three terms of service at the dangerous Manchester Penal Colony mining Germanium.

3022 - after years as a terrorist organisation the CDL pulls off a major bank robbery on Perth local security and law enforcement down grade the organisation from Terrorist to Criminal.

3023 - Martin Knight turns up on Sahara and gets the attention of local CDL informants.

3024 - Martin Knight leads a CDL attack on the New Holland Penal Colony settlement of Glasgow stealing 3 Danais-class DropShips.  Following the raid the CDL are upgraded once more to a Terrorist Organisation.
                - Congress of the Southern Cross votes to end the Quarantine and tentatively begins to ready an expedition to establish contact with the Inner Sphere.