OBT Forum

Looking at masterarminas Project 3000 for the Taurians got me to expound on what is to come with the Marians who I am a bit partial too in the Periphery. Love to hear your thoughts on this foundational piece for the Hegemony.

Project Hercules

The Marian Hegemony had been maturing from Bandit Kingdom to legitimate Periphery nation since the dawn of the thirty-first century. Always seeking to arm itself with higher grade weaponry the Legions coveted BattleMech technology above all. While the Hegemony possessed many mineral-rich worlds it remained an industrial backwater with low educational standards. Manufacturing for several necessary high-tech components simply did not exist forcing them to import many items. Alphard Trading Corporation was the predominate business of the state with only two others (Marian Arms, Inc. and Hadrian Mechanized Industries) being involved in the arms industry.

   The 3rd Marik Civil War would bring untold opportunity to the realm sparking Project Hercules. Caesar Sean O’Reilly, himself a Mechwarrior, commenced the nationwide effort in early 3053 which personally contributed to. Generously offering Marian assistance to various warring parties on all sides of that internecine conflict the arms sales skyrocketed which attracted foreign investment. This burgeoning market far removed from the Clan front seemed ripe for future expansion which certain shrewd patrons recognized. Profits from these transactions encouraged much needed growth in that area with new companies being created and further development nearly guaranteed.

Key to the entire Hercules endeavor was the luring of weapon designers, engineers, and scientists from all over the InnerSphere. This effort was led by the Marian Directorate of Security (MDS aka Ordo Vigilis) who especially targeted those displaced during the recent chaos of the Free Worlds League breakdown. The Senate agreeing to open Marian lands to interstellar refugees displaced by the Clans and other InnerSphere conflicts providing many with a new start. Marik refugees were the single greatest influx but significant amounts of Taurians fleeing their Protector’s paranoia as well as former Tamarians looking for a distant relocation were also present.

Citizenship could be earned for those attracted by these friendly outreach efforts and for those not lured by promises of wealth and security there were other methods. Abductions by Marian raiders who engaged in scientific raids, outright theft, and intellectual slavery furthered these goals by all possible means. Finally, the Caesar’s Romanization Edicts were introduced to improve Marian educational standards which were previously almost nonexistent. Mandating English literacy and proper Hegemony social studies there were also minimal science and mathematics lessons for all. Schooling would reveal those talented enough for higher education which is perhaps the most ambitious part of these reforms.

   Sean intends to establish his own version of the New Avalon Institute of Science (NAIS) on Alphard he calls the Nova Roma Central Academy (NRCA). Planning is still underway on this crown jewel for this new Marian system of education which will include various regional facilities as well. For now, the Hegemony must rely on outsiders for this all to work but in the future the nation could eventually become self-sufficient. In the meantime, construction on the Hercules MechWorks continues with the Alphard Trading Corporation and Marian Arms partnering on the creation of this project.