OBT Forum
General BattleTech => Alternate Universe => Topic started by: Takiro on June 30, 2024, 04:53:11 PM
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We know what happened to Kerensky and his descendants in canon but let’s for the sake of this discussion say that the Clans don’t happen. Instead, in this thought experiment I'd like to discuss what a Star League in Exile (or the Exodus Planetary Council if you prefer) would look like and what changes might have to occur in order for it to endure. The following is what I think but I'll leave it up to you to expound on your vision.
An aging Protector Aleksandr Kerensky acts to establish a new Unity Council early in the 2790s as old allegiances began to revive. This successor to the High Council represents each of the old Great Houses which once constituted the great Star League. Carefully selecting candidates who best represent a united Star League in Exile government he successfully co-opts much of the growing opposition. Kerensky and his heirs naturally will serve as representatives of the Terran Hegemony on the Council as well as the Protector. The only other two candidates I have in mind are Raymond Sainze for the Draconis Combine and Kailen Steiner for the Lyran Commonwealth. Sainze is the epitome of the samurai culture while Steiner is the closest thing to a legitimate heir to the Lyran throne. I don't have faithful representatives of the Federated Suns, Capellan Confederation, and Free Worlds League yet but I will list them as they come to mind and I'm open to suggestions. Also, I'd like to add a seventh member of the Council representing Spacers and the Periphery. I figure these Outsiders who live on the fringes of the Star League in Exile would make some sense, but I see resistance here. Distrust of the Periphery probably still remains high and I'd imagine few of their denizens actually made the journey with the SLDF so their numbers would be quite low. However, I feel like there was always a movement to add a Council seat to represent them. Spacers give us that chance as they are a nomadic lot and could perhaps be led by a figure like Janos Grec to establish together with any loyal Periphery denizen a new Councilor.
Secondly, after the establishment of the Council I'd hit on military reformation. It is said that the SLDF was reduced from 2 million and half a million (one-quarter). I still have to do the math on this first great demobilization which of course makes sense but it gave me an idea especially with all the discontent it created. If we establish a new 13 to 12 ratio from that original 25% we can get a get number for 'House militias' to defend and police their own populace. Each 'House' would receive 2% of the League's overall defense budget to fill out their own army and navy as they see fit. Again, the aim of this would be to mollify critics who could be remilitarized in 'House units'.
Third, get an effort going to keep an eye of the InnerSphere in order to report back on the Succession Wars. Be a boon for propaganda if you could show your populace the mess that they've left behind.
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This is interesting, are you going be adding more to this?
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Absolutely Wrangler, but I am hoping to get some input. Any ideas??
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Not sure if they would try to emulate the Great Houses
What made the Star League really was its Army and Navy (the Defence Force itself) its what the Clans drew down on when they formed
I think a "Star League in Exile" would perhaps be split along army/navy lines they were mostly armed forces that left along with their families and some other civilians
What destroyed Aleksandr Kerensky's initial landing force was a split along house lines (they held onto their heritage), much like the Republic when the Blackout happened people fell on what was familiar.
I think the only thing that would keep a "Star League In Exile" together would be to drive down on what united them their Defence Force and the common goal they all held
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Alot of good points DC, how would you address the old heritages of the Exiles?
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I'm not sure the problem is their loyalties are to the Defence Force but they cannot all stay enlisted, they need people to build homes and sow fields that sudden change in lifestyle is what causes the tensions
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No doubt that is why I was going to explore targeted de and remobilization as well as the installation of a new High Council to mollify these malcontents.
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My guess is that you should take some governmental similarities from the United Citizen's Federation of Starship Troopers.
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My guess is that you should take some governmental similarities from the United Citizen's Federation of Starship Troopers.
That is a great idea!
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I looked up your suggestion.
https://starshiptroopers.fandom.com/wiki/United_Citizen_Federation (https://starshiptroopers.fandom.com/wiki/United_Citizen_Federation)
I'd almost call it a Stratocracy (Military government) which does fit the SLDF in exile. Granting Citizenship to all those that served in the SLDF and hence a voice in a new government would mollify some concerns I'd wager.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratocracy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratocracy)
What would you call this new government? The New Star Alliance??
Would Kerensky want his successor elected by a Council? A Legacy provision might do for exemplary service. You wouldn't have any other aspects of Neo Feudalism from the InnerSphere?
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Can't see it being called anything but the Star League in Exile to be honest.
Oh and for the Periphery representative to the new High Council i'd recommend Phillip Drummond, former officer in the Amaris Dragoons who switched loyalty to General Kerensky and believes in the ideals of the SLDF.
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Excellent idea, thanks R6!
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No worries Tak, interested to see where you take this.
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Well, if we added a dash of both ideas somewhat Star League and somewhat Martial Federation? I see legacy meaning a lot to the Exiles and it would make sense establishing a link to the past but also enshrining military service as a pillar of this new society.
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Makes sense, not sure about the eternal exile though, could see the SLDF returning to the inner sphere at some point, still with the clan tech I guess, but using standard SLDF organisation.
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My guess is that you should take some governmental similarities from the United Citizen's Federation of Starship Troopers.
That would be a great idea, initially the majority get but over time it is only those who served that can rule very Clans but with a Starship troopers twist
As for the name Star League in Exile does have one issue for me it's got the name Star League in it.
I know they are the Star League Defence Force but calling themselves the Star League screams having a First Lord which could bring tensions which is why I think Kerensky should make an announcement: The Kerensky Proclimation
"My fellow citizens of the Star League we have come a long way. We have turned our backs on the petty differences of the Succession Lords to focus our Defence Force on its primary objective: Peace.
The Defence Force was created to protect humanity from wars that would bring it to the edge of destruction, wars that only madmen could envisage. We, together, defeated the Usurper and we together travelled to these Pentagon Worlds which we call our own.
With this Proclimation I and the members of the High Command have decided that there will be no First Lord for our Defence Force until we return to our rightful place defending Terra.
However ours is an Army and Navy without an enemy. We can tame these Pentagon Worlds but what next you may ask? Why serve? With this decree I write into law that everyone that can hear my voice today is eligible to be a Star League citizen and going forward all members of the Star League Defence Force will be considered Citizens with all the rights attached.
I have also ordered that our Army and Navy create Exploratory Divisions. These will explore deeper into the Periphery and discover more worlds for us to exploit and colonies. We will also continue to do what our Defence Force was created to do and defend our people by patrolling the Exodus Road and nearby Periphery realms. All threats to our population will be dealt with severely as we are the Star League Defence Force and this is OUR Star League.'
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I see 10 Divisions (or unit of appropriate strength) all with WarShip support
5 to defend the Pentagon Worlds and any nearby mining systems or moons. These would rotate in assignment every year to two years so no one builds loyalty to one posting or another
3 to explore the Kerensky Cluster we know it was discovered early but not explored until the Clans arrived. These would swap with those in the Pentagon Worlds regularly
1 to patrol the Exodus Road with an aim of destroying any Succession Lords patrols/pirate parties. Gathering intelligence is key. Every two years this unit would rotate with one that is on the Pentagon worlds.
1 to patrol the Periphery between the Pentagon and the Lyran Commonwealth same orders as those on the Exodus Road.
Each division is commanded by a member of the High Command who answers to the Commanding-General
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Not bad DC. I'd like to go a little farther with these Kerensky Remnants and address the 'Successor Lords' which perhaps news (intelligence ops) could bring the Pentagon Worlds. 'The former High Lords of the Council have been infected by the Usurper's nightmare of violently seizing power over the entire Human Sphere by force of arms. We know first-hand that this tyrannical delusion is fool hearty in the extreme as no one can be forced into eternal bondage.' Needs more I know but it is escaping me right now.
I still have to run the numbers on the canon demobilization.
And just what do citizens have the ability to do? Do they vote on Kerensky's successor for example? A new High Council or legislative body? What are the benefits of citizenship?
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I sort of envisioned the Intelligence, Signal and Special Forces all to be involved in the two forces facing the inner sphere. I could see them pushing as close to the Inner Sphere as they dare so Intelligence gathering will be well up there (scaring with the population with Succession War stories is a nice idea)
As for citizens the military rule but you need people who can run trade, medical, manufacturing, housing, education, law enforcement, prisons and courts. I think Citizens would be high in these industries. They could also own land and maybe have unrestricted access to travel off world without that your stuck at home
I wouldn't go with elections if it's a military government then command passes by rank but Citizens could run advisory boards on all walks of life and run the day to day civilian side of things
Basically think the Clans (which is what a military government with citizen warriors is...) we're creating a Star League version of the Clans (which I only really realized when I wrote that last bit)
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Basically think the Clans (which is what a military government with citizen warriors is...) we're creating a Star League version of the Clans (which I only really realized when I wrote that last bit)
How about The Star Citizen's United Federation? That way it sounds like they have created something that not only serves tribute to the past but also heralds the future.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QZSrZmF8FYUEiq6tHlIdp9kYkh2CXPdS/view (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QZSrZmF8FYUEiq6tHlIdp9kYkh2CXPdS/view)
This could serve as a way of having it be simultaneously similar yet different from the OTL Clans
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I'm almost in favor of something like the Neutron Stars, White Dwarves, or Stellar Remnants to describe this rump Star League state.
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I'll leave that to you since I've no idea what any of those are ;D
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I hear ya Dragon Cat, I am thinking outloud.
The Terran Supremacy stuff is intriguing namar. I'm aiming to pull directly from the SLDF.