OBT Forum

If you want a big change, historically, then it can't be a 'the king is dead, long live the king'-scenario.

I'm laid up with a knee injury, but consider ànother civil war,  maybe another Canopian-assisted insurrection on the Liao border.  Then beat them up before the league rescues them.

I don't believe there's actually an overlap between the Duchy of Andurien and the former Magistracy worlds.

A civil war would require at least two candidates. I'd recommend starting with two Marik contenders - Isis and Therese perhaps - and then have disillusionment set in with the Humphreys looking to break away again with the Canopians getting involved. Meanwhile Oriente and Regulus both put their own candidates forward, one or both not being a Marik.

In addition to not all declaring themselves at once, give them all slightly different goals: Isis is married (literally) to the Capellan alliance. The 'Captain-General of the Andurien-Canopian Alliance' wants independence. Therese wants to maintain neutral-to-friendly FedCom relations so the FWL can keep gouging them with arms sales. The Cameron-Jones want to cut the rest of the Inner Sphere free to sink or swim, building up the FWLM to take advantage when everyone else is exhausted. The Halas want to keep Sun-Tzu from putting a puppet in as Captain-General but would be more than happy to get rid of him if Isis had a child they could use as a puppet on Sian...

This means you have several different flavours to work with and by having them not all declare at once, the narrative shifts as each does.

Now to the Provincial Players, I don't know about any of them claiming to be Captain-General but I think there would be a developing trend that insists that non Mariks be considered for that election. The people of the League just don't trust House Marik anymore.

So first up Oriente which is able to reunite with its former territories fairly easily. This includes the Protectorate and more significantly Orloff. With 16 Mech regiments and several high officers (Selim Halas) pledged to Christopher Halas they are a formidable power. I see them staying to themselves consolidating their power and being a powerful anti-Liao force. Corrine/Paul they'd deal with the most as Corrine is currently deployed along the border and she is the anti liao candidate. Would they eventually support her??

Regulas gets the Hussars (5 regiments) but little else in the way of support. They are trying to put back together the old Pricipalty but just don't have the strength to do it by force of arms alone. Some worlds are rabidly independent and the area they are trying to retake is massive. So I don't see dreams of grandeur for the Captain-Generalcy but more of a regional aggressor. I think they'd back a call to end the crisis and remove the Marik exclusivity from leadership.

Andurien is all of a sudden left in a vacuum and will likely soon be under attack by Isis forces. Again I see them as trying reunite with former Andurien world's politically and defend themselves from Liao aggression. I have 3 regiments of FW Legionaires pledging themselves to the Duchy along with 2 merc regiments. Again for the territory they have to defend it is a lot. Many units up and leave creating gaps. Corrine must make a quick decision with this issue quickly? Stay and fight the Liao incursion or return home with loyal forces to press her claim. Either way she has to work with Andurien or cut bait.

Last of the big 4 provinces is Tamarind led by Therse Marik and Marshal Jeremy Brett. 5 regiments of the FWLM pledge themselves including mercenary regiment. Again i have them consolidating and being concerned with Lyran or more aptly Circinus aggression. There is a smaller but well organized Isis drive from there. With Jeffrey also coming in from the Illyrian Palantine they need to make a decision too. I don't see Therse claiming the throne rather playing her own regional role. Tamarind is more important to her than Atreus.

Then there are other provinces who are doing there own thing. More regional powers at best they represent a general trend to regionalism rather than federalism under Thomas.

Maybe a drive to get the powers of the Captain-General rescinded return to parliament control the FWL is supposed to believe in it

Have one or more drive towards an "honest" goal of giving true power to parliament

Thanks for the feedback guys.

This is still an idea in development but playing of my alternate universe it all begins in 3052.

Aziz Seized [July 14, 3052] - The ball gets rolling when this would be renegade is placed her under arrest by the Captain-General rather than being welcomed with opened arms. Cameron St. Jamais who accompanied Aziz escapes and goes underground vowing revenge. Word spreads via a hidden HPG message to all true believers to gather on Circinus and not journey to the League.

Seed of Doubt [August 1, 3052] (Cameron St. Jamais announces that Thomas Marik is not who claims to be and will release evidence confirming that statement if Aziz is not released)

Assassination [October 6, 3052] (After months of debate and calls to have Aziz testify before Parliament the Captain-General and his Precentor prisoner are killed in a dramatic bomb blast shortly before their scheduled appearance)

Minister-General [October 7, 3052] (Paul Marik takes on the role of Regent and acting head of state calling for all legitimate heirs to forth to present their claim)

The big two sides in this little drama as I see it would be Isis/Sun Tzu versus Paul/Corrine. I doubt either would be as egalitarian as supporting Parliament but there is a third side as I see it called the Provincials led by Christopher Halas. The Duke of Oriente supported Thomas return and with little faith in either of the big two I see him recalling his forces and advocating for regional rights over the federal government. He is supported in this regional stance by Therese Marik and the Regulans who have their doubts about a strong central power.

Many other independent worlds join forces as rival Mariks via for control forming some new Provinces in a very different FWL.

My dark horse candidate from the Periphery (Jeffrey Marik) would likely be your best shot to be a Parliamentarian.

What do you think?

Been awhile since I posted here but I wanted to update you guys after some research I did today that determined this conflict would indeed be known as the Third Marik Civil War. Please correct me if I am wrong but here is what I have deduced.....

1st - Elise vs Oliver. Fought during the Hidden War period of the Star League for five years (2729-2734) between an increasing tyrannical Elise (who most believed mad) and Oliver this conflict between Mariks over the Captain-Generalcy failed to achieve any big changes. Elise's son Bertram would go on to rule the League after a negotiated settlement.

2nd - Janos vs Anton. This brother versus brother conflict lasted from 3014 to 3015 and involved the Wolf Dragoons as we all know. Ultimately Anton who was backed by Maximillian Liao was unsuccessful in unseating his brother Janos.

This would make this event the Third although there are other internal wars fought by the Free Worlds League which include the Scourge of Death (Selaj Rebellion) and the Andurien Secession (3030s) they are not Marik struggles for control of the Free Worlds League which I would ultimately say this is.

Jeffrey Byrd Marik
Mother & Father: Helen Montecuccoli & Martin Marik
Date of Birth: April 7, 3015
Birthplace: Dormuth, Marik
Education: Marik Family Training (in Exile on Illyria, 3019-3033)
Experience: Freebird Enterprises (3033-present)
      MP from Kendall (3042-present)

   Born during Anton’s Rebellion, or the 2nd Marik Civil War as it is now called, to Helen Montecuccoli and Martin Marik. Jeffrey’s birth was kept secret for state security during these chaotic times which seemed a prudent precaution given the assassination of his mother and father in 3018. Sent away by his grandfather Janos to safeguard him and provide House Marik with an heir in the event of further familial strife. The infant under the pseudonym Byrd, his guardian (Sean Higgins), and a small retinue established themselves on Illyria soon afterward. Trained in the traditional Marik arts from that time till his majority Jeffrey became a skilled Mechwarrior operating a Rifleman who never knew his true identity.

   In 3033 he founded Freebird Enterprises as a commercial security firm which began as a single BattleMech lance. This venture coincided with a boost in merchant traffic into the Periphery after the 4th Succession War which was facilitated by the lostech recovery of the time. However, less than a year later the Circinians attempted to annex the Palatinate which touched off a short but brutal war. The Freebirds received a baptism by fire during this conflict where they assisted Illyrian Militia and Thor’s Arms in overcoming the invaders. Jeffrey wisely invested windfall profits from this service into several other commercial ventures further diversifying his business. Frequently travelling the Anti-Spinward (aka Trailward) Periphery with his expanding trading company Jeffrey visited numerous exotic locales amassing a fortune.

   Jeffrey returned to the Free Worlds League in 3041 and established a base of operations on Kendall. Renowned as an adventurer he reestablished himself with little difficulty as a citizen of the realm by birth. [NOTE: Complicity by SAFE, ROM, and/or some other unknown agency is heavily suspected in his background story holding up to the scrutiny that followed] His romantic relationship with Helen Montcalm (daughter of the Countess) and ever-growing wealth quickly attracted the attention of Kendall’s political elite who saw to his Parliamentary appointment on Atreus the year after his arrival. Over the next years he built up powerful alliances within the unaffiliated worlds of the League which included Speaker Li Weaver of Bowang. By the end of the Clan Invasion his political star was on the rise and his commercial ventures reached from the Free Worlds League across the March Worlds and Marik Expanses all the way to the distant Axumite Providence granting Jeffrey many resources to call upon.

   While helping to resettle displaced Rasalhagians in the Illyrian Palatinate his Marik origins were revealed to him. [NOTE: Trivid recording of Captain-General Janos Marik was presented to Jeffrey by Sean Higgins and it along with his verified DNA are conclusive proof of his true identity] Faced with a bleak situation Jeffrey assembled his allies and vowed to make things right for everybody. Gathering four BattleMech regiments together on Reykavis thanks to his impressive wealth and mysterious associates surprised many analysts who are now pouring over all available evidence. These loyalists, mercenaries, expatriates, and volunteers hailed from all over the Free Worlds and the vast expanse navigated by Freebird Enterprises. The Free Worlds League media has dubbed Jeffrey the Dark Eagle for his long shot chances in the 3rd Marik Civil War against his more recognized cousins, Isis and Corrine (Paul) Marik.