Battletech first succession war pdf download

A SUCCESSION WARS ERA SOURCEBOOK

By 2821, the “Great Succession War” has ground to a halt, the participants seeking desperate respite and to forge a new peace and hope for mankind. Yet not everyone shares this ideal and soon secret machinations undermine the peace efforts and propel the Inner Sphere into a new round of violence. Soon brother will be set against brother and madness will reign once more: The Second Succession War. The Second Succession War covers the aftermath of the titanic First Succession War and the Great Houses efforts to survive before the machinations of Conrad Toyama propel them into a new round of blood-letting. Detailing the efforts to build a peace while preparing for a new war, this volume showcases the causes and consequences of the Second Succession War, as well as the politics and stresses between and within the Great Houses.

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SUCCESSION WARS ERA

CIVIL WAR ERA

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THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTENTIONS……………………………………………… 4 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………… 11 How To Use This Book…………………………………………… 11

CRUCIBLE………………………………………………… 12 Rise And Fall………………………………………………… Tribes………………………………………………………… Apocalypse…………………………………………………… Breathing Room……………………………………………

Conrad Toyama……………………………………………… 93 Raymond Karpov…………………………………………… 93

SECOND SUCCESSION WAR DEPLOYMENT TABLE…………………………………… 94 Armed Forces Of The Federated Suns (AFFS)……… Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF)……… Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS)……… Free Worlds League Military (FWLM)………………… Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces (LCAF)………… Major Periphery States……………………………………

12 12 13 15

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR (2825–2863)…17 War Renewed (2825–2830)…………………………… 17 The Commonwealth-Combine Front…………………………… The Combine-Suns Front………………………………………… The Suns-Confederation Front…………………………………… The Quiet Eagle……………………………………………………

Tightening The Screws (2830–2840)…………………

The Dragon Strikes: Black Wind, Red Wind……………………… Crossed Swords…………………………………………………… The Eagle Swoops………………………………………………… In The Manner Of A Fantasy………………………………………

20 21 23 31 31 31 35 39 44

RULES ANNEX…………………………………………

95 96 98 99 100 102

Special Case Rules……………………………………………… 102

Creating Second Succession War Scenarios………… 102 Before You Start………………………………………………… 102 General Rules…………………………………………………… 103 Random Assignment Tables…………………………………… 103

Technical Readout………………………………………… 113 GRF-1S Griffin…………………………………………………… 114 TDR-5L/5LS Thunderbolt………………………………………… 116 BLR-1D BattleMaster…………………………………………… 118

The Four-Front War: Operation Cookie Jar And The Comstar War (2837–2742)…………… 45 The Politics Of Succession (2835–2840)…………… 52 Advances And Reversals (2840–2850)……………… 55

Inner Sphere At War (Expansion)……………………… 120 Game Setup…………………………………………………… 120 Starting Setup………………………………………………… 120 Military Development Phase…………………………………… 122

The Steiner-Kurita Front………………………………………… The Davion-Kurita Front………………………………………… The Confederation’s Travails: A Three-Sided War………………… Marik Resurgent……………………………………………………

55 61 65 66 Running On Empty (2850–2860)……………………… 69 Regency And Revenge…………………………………………… 71 The Sixth, Seventh, And Eighth Battles Of Hesperus…………… 72 The Marathon Offensive………………………………………… 74 The Last Gasps (2860–2863)…………………………… 76 A New Peace …and Everything After (2863–)……… 77

Converting ISW Combat Commands to Other Systems…………………………………………… 122 Converting ISW Combat Commands to ACS Formations, Combat Units And Teams………………… Converting ACS Combat Teams To SBF Formations And Units……………………………………………………… Converting SBF Units To Battleforce, Alpha Strike And Total Warfare Elements……………………… Converting Back From Battleforce, Alpha Strike And Total Warfare To SBF And ACS………………

TIMELINE OF THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR… 80 LEGACY OF DESTRUCTION…………………………… 84

122 124 125 125

Technology And Research (Inner Sphere At War)… 126 Additions To Faction Abilities And Flaws……………………… Setup: Starting Technology…………………………………… Economics And Logistics Phase: Calculating Resource Points…………………………………… Economics And Logistics Phase: Research Technology………

The Losers…………………………………………………… 84 War Resumed……………………………………………………… 86

PERSONALITIES OF THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR (2830-2864)……… 88 Zabu Kurita ………………………………………………… Yoguchi Kurita……………………………………………… Roweena Kurita……………………………………………… Miyogi Kurita………………………………………………… Michael Davion……………………………………………… Peter Davion………………………………………………… Laurelli Liao…………………………………………………… Dainmar Liao………………………………………………… Charles Marik……………………………………………… Gerald Marik II……………………………………………… Philippa Marik……………………………………………… Melissa Nin…………………………………………………… Claudius Steiner…………………………………………… The Triumvirate……………………………………………… Elizabeth Steiner……………………………………………

94

126 126 126 126

Intelligence Operations (Inner Sphere At War)……… 129

88 88 89 89 90 90 90 90 91 91 91 92 92 92 92

Additions To Faction Abilities And Flaws……………………… Starting Setup: Starting Intelligence………………………… Order Writing Phase…………………………………………… Military Development Phase: Creating Special Operations Teams……………………………

129 130 130 131

Intelligence Operations Phase…………………………… 131 Resolving Intelligence Operations…………………………… Foreign Intelligence Operations……………………………… Special Operations……………………………………………… Counterintelligence Operations………………………………

131 136 138 142

Interstellar Communications (Inner Sphere At War)…143 Communications Technology………………………………… 143 Interdiction……………………………………………………… 144

Other Communication Methods………………………… 145 ISW Combat Command Conversion Tables…………… 147

2

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR Special Thanks Chris Hartford would like to thank: Ray and Randall for letting me finish this beast; Matt, Chris, Joel, Aaron, Johannes for all the extra work; Herb for setting the bar high in the 1SW volume; all the writers and artists who shaped the universe and created much of the information that appears here; and of course the players, without whom there’d be no game Dedication My COW friends for all the fun distractions as this book was coming to a close (which meant some very late nights and early mornings): John Shockley, Martyn Meeks, Theresa Nielsen, Michell Corydon, Elina Gouliou, Sharon Underberg, Andreas Okkels Nielsen, Richard Hardy, Mirella Machancoses López and Karolina Fairfax Factcheckers and Playtesters Matt Bear, Joel Bancroft-Connors, Rich Cencarik, Stephen A. Frabartolo, Keith Hann, John Haward, Johannes Heidler, Chris Marti, Mike Miller, Josh Perian, Andreas Rudolph, Eric Salzman, Paul Sjardijn, Geoff Swift, Elliotte Want, Chris Wheeler.

Find us online: [email protected] (e-mail address for any BattleTech questions) http://bg.battletech.com (official Classic BattleTech web pages) http://www.CatalystGameLabs.com (Catalyst web pages) https://store.catalystgamelabs.com (online ordering) Published by Catalyst Game Labs, an imprint of InMediaRes Productions, LLC PMB 202 • 303 91st Ave NE • E502 • Lake Stevens, WA 98258 ©2017 The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. BattleTech: The Second Succession War, BattleTech, Classic BattleTech, BattleMech, and ’Mech are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of The Topps Company Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the Copyright Owner, nor be otherwise circulated in any form other than that in which it is published. Printed in the USA.

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CREDITS Writing Chris Hartford Intentions Paul Sjardijn Rules Annex Ray Arrastia Joel Bancroft-Connors Randall Bills Keith Hann John Haward Johannes Heidler Chris Marti Geoff Swift Product Development Ray Arrastia Strategic Assistance Matthew Alexander John Haward Product Editing Aaron Cahall Phillip A. Lee BattleTech Line Developer Randall Bills Assistant Line Developer Ray Arrastia Production Staff Art Direction Brent Evans Assistant Art Director Ray Arrastia Cover Art Marco Mazzoni Design & Layout Ray Arrastia Illustrations Justin Adams Robert Atkinson Kevin McCann Aaron Miller Gerhard Mozsi Matt Plog Ryan Portillo Anthony Scroggins David White Maps Matthew Alexander Ray Arrastia Øystein Tvedten

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR

INTENTIONS Foothills of the Green Mountains Terra 15 May 2819

“I’m so relieved you could make it, Conrad. He’s really looking forward to seeing you.” Then why are you delaying me? “Damn shame, this business. Well, I shall not keep you.” Conrad nodded as he released the hand of his rival. Despite his better judgment, and despite the irritation of losing precious time, Conrad couldn’t help but feel some appreciation of Schwepps’ performance. He pushed it away. You’ve gotten far too good at this business, Herman. Conrad smiled sadly, and made his eyes smile as well. “Thank you, Herman. Your support means a great deal to me.” Schwepps nodded and went for a seat that his lowestranked sycophant relinquished. It seemed clear to Conrad that he wasn’t fooling Schwepps. But both of them were performing for the room, not each other. Conrad glanced at the audience, and noted only the expected amount of fawning over the heirapparent of ComStar. Good. No one knew.

The wooden chair on the porch creaked as Conrad shifted his weight. It was slightly chilly, and cooling down rapidly now that the sun had set. The forest around the cabin was alive with birds that had not yet retired and the sound of the wind passing through leaves. Many trees were still sparse, but he could see that the full majesty of the nature around him would be achieved within just a few days. It was easy to understand why his friend favored this area over any other on the planet, but Jerome would never see the coming summer. He would die this day. Or the next, if he was lucky. If I am lucky. The doctors had told Conrad that Jerome’s every moment now was pain. There was nothing that they could do, beyond reduce his “discomfort.” The shepherds of all Mankind’s knowledge, and we are helpless. The irony was bitter and painful. It made him feel empty, and old. All their work, all his work, and all they could do was to name the disease that was killing Jerome Blake. They’d been taken by surprise. The cabin’s door opened, and Michelle Dupreas walked out, closing the door behind her. “It’s your turn now, Conrad.” He sighed, then slowly rose to his feet. He thought he had hated the waiting, but realized he hated the sudden arrival of this moment more. Michelle was looking at him, and he returned her gaze. There was always something unsettling about her, as if she distilled some intimate truths from you just by looking. But he decided that she shared his pain. He wished he could say something to her that expressed the awareness that they finally had something in common. Despite his best efforts, the words remained out of his reach. He nodded instead, and then walked inside. The cabin’s interior had not changed at all since he last visited it, but it was busier with people than it had ever been. Several of Dupreas’ ROM agents feebly attempted to go unnoticed in various corners, their efforts aided to some degree by the massive egos of the men and women that occupied the sporadic and spartan furniture. Conrad almost smiled when he realized there were insufficient seats to accommodate all the members of the mighty First Circuit. The door to the master bedroom opened, and Herman Schwepps walked out. He smiled gravely and sadly at Conrad, and extended his hand as the two men approached in the narrow hallway. Decorum left him without options.

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sts The bedroom resembled the living room. Only the sparsest of accessories and furniture was present, including an elegant, if ancient, computer on a desk at the window. The I.V. stand looked too modern and out of place. The man who sat in the bed looked older and frailer than he had ever been. It wasn’t the man who trusted him to run a First Circuit HPG on Dieron. It wasn’t the man who convinced them that Terra needed to be conquered. It wasn’t the man who stood his ground when Successor Lords vowed to destroy him. This man looked… tired. “Ah! Good to see you, Conrad, my ancient enemy! Have you come to beg for absolution?” Conrad smiled at the joke, but it was difficult. “It is said that forgiveness is a creative force.” The leader of ComStar laughed, weakly. Jerome’s voice was no different from what it had been just two days prior, but there was a weariness that seemed alien to Conrad. Blake always seemed to possess an unending supply of energy and purpose. It had been infectious and inspiring, but its absence left a painful, blatant void. Here was a man who had accepted he had no tomorrow. “You know, I’ve been meaning to tell you, all this reading I’ve been doing has really been paying off.” Conrad moved about the room. The sparse dresser had a water pitcher on it made of Tharkan marble. Threats and gifts… He picked it up, pouring a glass, then placed the pitcher back down, more to the back of the dresser.

4

INTENTIONS “I finally found out what the name of the West River was!” Jerome continued pleasantly. “The Abenaki called it ‘Wantastiquet.’ Sounds wondrous, doesn’t it? It means ‘the source of the river.’ Not very poetic, but a damn sight more inspiring than ‘West,’ wouldn’t you say?” Conrad picked up a book from the bookshelf. Waters of the Lonely Way. He looked at the back cover as he finally spoke. “Certainly the word for it is more pleasant and melodic than what our crude English can manage.” He placed the book back on a different shelf. “A pity the Capellans have grown so cantankerous. I would have much preferred speaking Mandarin or Russian with greater frequency.” “Excellent choices! I have always been a bit partial to Japanese, especially when wielded as proficiently as you do!” “Domo arigato, sensei. Dieron was a demanding experience.” He adjusted an old, amateur picture of Lake Michigan. It showed a man and a boy fishing and waving towards the camera. “But you’ve always needed a challenge, Conrad. I suspected it then, and you’ve proven it countless times since.” Conrad sat down next to Jerome’s bed. He was grateful for Jerome’s efforts to make small talk, even if he knew it was all a smoke screen. It gave him time to block the cameras and listening devices in the room. But more importantly, it gave him time to absorb what his eyes had shown him. “That’s all of them, according to Dupreas.” “Good.” Jerome smiled, then sighed. “Conrad, it’s all going too fast, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry that we don’t get to spend more time on this.” “I should’ve been more aggressive when the seizures started to get worse. It’s always been attributed to your wounds from Dieron, but I should’ve realized it could be something new. I—“ “Oh, stop it, Conrad. I’ll not have you blame yourself for that. Besides, we passed the point where anything could’ve been done long before Saturday anyway.” Conrad let out a long sigh in the silence that followed. “I’m afraid, Jerome. I’d always believed you’d be around for years, decades even. I know we’ve been talking about a transfer for a little while now, but even then I thought you’d always stay within reach for advice.” Jerome nodded, but said nothing. “I fear I’m not ready. I fear that I’ll do it wrong, that I’ll make a horrible mess of it. I know we’ll see a lull in the fighting within the next few years, but the Houses barely understand how much they’ve lost. But when they do, their next war might start with Terra.” “It very well might. This war will not end any time soon, and it will get much worse before it all ends. This is what I believe: a BattleMech is not mankind’s greatest achievement, nor will it be your greatest weapon. Knowledge will be your greatest asset, and our neutrality will be our best shield. There will be many who will demand we act more. They’ll use Mordiki as an example.”

Conrad nodded in agreement. “Exposing the atrocities on Kentares was instrumental not only in getting the Federated Suns to fight, but also in breaking the morale of the DCMS. If that had stayed secret, Jinjiro would be walking on New Avalon by now.” “Likely he would’ve. And then Combine boots would march on Arcturus, Sian, and Atreus before long.” “And then there would be peace.” “No. Inevitably, war would return. That is the lesson of the last forty years, Conrad. We’re not ready. Mankind is not ready. We advanced too swiftly. We’ve gotten too good at war, but we haven’t matured any. There will always be those at the periphery of power who resent those at the center. Geographically or metaphorically. And there will always be those with power who abuse it, and harm those without it. “We’ve got to let it burn out, Conrad. Mankind needs an object lesson to realize what it’s capable of. And then we need to never forget. I thought for a while that the storm would pass swiftly, but look at how many worlds have been outright murdered. Look at how swiftly they have destroyed the very means to travel the stars, to purify water. It has to all burn out before we can expect them to learn. It took me too long to realize it. Kerensky saw it, but I just wasn’t ready to believe.” Kerensky. Conrad had been asking for years, but Jerome had always dodged the question. “Will the SLDF return once the Houses have beaten each other into submission?” It would be a prime moment to strike. Presuming Kerensky had managed to keep his force near full strength all those years, their prior numerical disadvantage would instead be met by beaten, depleted House militaries. Where the SLDF might have been able to defeat any single House in 2784, they could now flatten two with room to spare. Even their fleet would no longer be massively outnumbered. The prospect of a reborn Star League suddenly filled Conrad with hope, but it didn’t last long. “No,” Jerome grunted, adjusting himself and adding a fresh dose of pain medication. “Or rather, I don’t know. I admit I was quite angry with Kerensky and DeChavilier. I felt abandoned. You know as well as I do that Kerensky could have made a run at it as First Lord. When he didn’t, I held it against him. Then I wanted him to stay close, at least, so that he could intervene when the time was right. But after a few months of that, he told me I was a dreamer. The last messages we exchanged were… heated. I regret that. He was a good friend… “But I don’t know where he went, I don’t think anyone does. And I don’t believe he’ll return. He kept telling me it would take decades, centuries even. I just didn’t want to believe him, I wanted another Star League in my lifetime. If Kerensky is still out there, then we won’t see him any time soon, if things go according to his plan...”

5

Green Mountains

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR Conrad nodded. He wasn’t really surprised, but he’d hoped for a different answer. Jerome drank some water before continuing. The sound of his swallows seemed loud in the shielded, soundproof room. “Mankind will have to burn among the stars. And maybe then we can progress once again. We lost centuries of progress during the medieval period, and had to re-learn everything. But maybe now, we can have a shortcut. As long as ComStar remains a vault of knowledge, we may one day be able to teach Mankind when they are ready. “But any vault can be cracked. We will only succeed if we’re not worth the trouble. Right now, they only care about military threats. They still believe that our Silver Shield army is operational here on Terra. Hayes believed we could have taken other worlds, but as much as it pained me to say no, doing so would have just made us vulnerable. Our true mission is the eventual salvation of Mankind itself. Any lives we can save between then and now are incidental to this greater goal. Because we must last decades, or very possibly centuries, if we are to succeed.” “Easier said than done,” Conrad said with a shrug. “We may be blurring the lines between business and sovereignty more than pretty much any other company in history, but you’re asking us to outlast a storm that’s bigger than us. And while I agree that the ‘Combine boots everywhere’ conclusion to the war doesn’t make for fertile ground to rebuild, you’re still requiring us to intervene to keep the wars going. And we’ve agreed for years now that neutrality is absolutely critical to our survival.” Jerome shook his head. “You’re missing the point, Conrad. Mordiki wasn’t wrong because he acted. He was wrong because he acted openly. If we are to have a future as a species, we must mature as a species. We’ve had too many false starts over the centuries, so if billions must bleed and burn and die now, it’s our responsibility to ensure that cost isn’t wasted! We can’t let conflict die down too long until we’re absolutely sure that we can expect something better, rather than just more of the same. If that demands action on our part, so be it. It cannot compromise the ultimate mission. We have to embark on a long play here—a five-year plan won’t do. We need a five-hundredyear plan. Or more!” Conrad waited for a few moments before he spoke, letting the silence neutralize the emotion Jerome’s words had evoked. “All that’s execution. Details. It still doesn’t remove the fact that forces both inside and out will pull at us to get involved. That’s human nature. And an autocratic regime never survives the death of the autocrat. Our ideas will die with us, Jerome. They might die with you. I’m not sure I’m big enough to step in your footsteps.” “Nonsense, Conrad! You’re twice the leader I ever was, and I’m not telling you anything new there. I’ve merely been

Green Mountains

someone who took what he had in front of him, and did it. I wouldn’t have lasted this long except that I’ve constantly found myself stepping into a vacuum. First due to the war, then when suddenly I was the full and total extent of the Star League’s government, and then suddenly again when Kerensky left. I’ve always led because I pursue an idea that’s greater than me, not because I’m a good leader. Everything I’ve learned about leadership, I’ve learned from the people around me. Kerensky. Bishop. And you, Conrad. It comes natural to you, it’s a learned skill for me. And I’ve had it easy. I’ve never had to face a challenge from within. You will, but you’re up for it. You can lead people, and you’re at your best when you speak to them. My best ideas happen when I’m writing.” The Administrator leaned back. What his mentor said was true enough. He had been supplying advice for years to help him deal with the internal politics. But a key aspect of all of it was the cult of personality that had sprung up around Blake. He was brilliant, certainly, but he was now often regarded as someone who could do no wrong, whose judgment was impeccable. “There is still no guarantee that our mission survives me. Even if I do everything right, I could die a year from now, and all our sacrifices will be for nothing.” Jerome smiled. “I agree. So, I came up with a plan. I’ve actually been working on this for a little while now, ever since Ilsa Liao was kind enough to prove it might work. She certainly handed me enough ammo. There is only one thing that outlasts an autocrat. A religion.” “What?! You—” Jerome held up his hand, interrupting Conrad’s outburst. “Let me finish. We agree that we have a higher calling. But any such mission does not outlast an individual. The calling has to become bigger than any man or woman. And we’ve been slowly moving towards that for years now. As the Successor Lords are starting to realize how much they’ve lost, we have truly become the only hope of preserving the future. Our people are starting to believe in that.” “My God…‘ComStar is the only hope of preserving the future of human beings in the Inner Sphere.’ That was said… more than 10 years ago. How long…?” “It happened naturally, Conrad. In hindsight, I realized that we’d already been moving towards it even before Silver Shield. Even your little quip about ‘excommunication’ adds to the pile. But we have the beginnings of a religion, and we’ve had them for a long time. More often than not, our recruits feel a genuine calling. Only at the higher levels does the mongering and sycophancy kick in. We’re a proto-religion right now. But soon, you can turn it in to a full religion. “All you need is a saint.” Conrad jumped to his feet, and the flimsy chair fell back, clattering across the floor.

6

INTENTIONS “NO! I refuse! That’s…horrifying! I’ll not turn you in to some figurehead, some idol, some false god just to further this ridiculous agenda!” “Oh, stop it, Conrad. I’ve been a symbol for years now. But I haven’t been myself for most of my life. Always in the service of others, for the greater good. Meeting someone else’s expectations. I was a little genius, and my parents made sure I went to school. I graduated at sixteen, but I’ve had no life, and no love. All I’ve ever had was a career and a crisis.” Suddenly, Jerome’s face twisted in to an angry scowl. “Why should I care how I’m remembered, when I’ve barely lived at all?!” Conrad was taken aback by the intense bitterness of Jerome’s words. They’d never before spoken about such matters, and now his beloved mentor sat in front of him, shaking with frustration. There was a longing in his words, and a deep sense of loss. Before him was a man who was looking back at his life in these last few moments, and he did not like all that he saw. It was honest, but it was brutal. Conrad opened his mouth to say something conciliatory, but Blake stopped him with a gesture and a sigh. “My chance has come and gone, Conrad. But if one more sacrifice can be made useful, well, I believe that’s worth some slight discomfort on my part. Or yours.” The last was an order. Conrad was quiet for a long time, then he nodded. Jerome smiled, and opened the drawer to his bedstand. He pulled out two noteputers. “I’ve been working on this the last few months now. One’s got my actual journals, the ones I’ve kept for years now. The other is the new version you’re going to use. I’ve designed them to put everything that’s happened the last few years into a common perspective. I’ve even retroactively installed some predictions and hindsight-informed observations to give it a bit of a prophetic flavor, but the truth is that things have been happening the way Kerensky, and myself to a lesser degree, predicted anyway. These new journals are a bit unfinished and rough, I wasn’t expecting to need them this early. But they’ll still do the job, if you fill in some of the blanks. They’ll allow you to keep the mission alive when I’m gone. They’ll allow you to hoist up the idea of a Blake who never really existed, but who can act as an unassailable martyr. You’ll cash in on my cult of personality as well as the cultural reluctance to speak ill of the dead, and if you’re quick enough, you’ll have a religious organization.” Conrad couldn’t help but sound bitter. “That easy, huh? Make a farce out of my best friend, and gain power.” Blake deliberately ignored the sarcasm. “Well, it won’t be easy, that’s for sure. But it might work. You’ll have to deal with a few obstacles, though. Schwepps won’t have any of it, he’s too much a businessman, and these days, too much a politician. Dupreas will be on your side­—in fact, the efficiency with which

she’s been able to lock up the organization convinced me this was even remotely possible. Beyond that, it’ll depend on whether you let Schwepps gain power. You might have to make an example of him.” “He thinks he is your successor, you know?” “If this was a true business, he might very well have been. And you’ll have to be careful not to take things too far. Some people won’t stop you, even when you do go too far, and that will only empower the other side. The side of slow corruption and death. You’ll have to be careful selecting your successor.” “I certainly wasn’t expecting this conversation when I walked into the room. I might have stayed outside. Does Dupreas know?” “Bits and pieces. I know you can rely on her. I would’ve vetted more people, but this is all happening a bit soon, huh?” They both chuckled wryly. “Speaking of soon, there’s a problem you’ll have to deal with. My will specifies cremation, the ashes to be scattered over the Court.” “Done. I’ll do it myself. How’s that a problem?” “It won’t do to martyr me without a shrine, Conrad. You can’t spread my ashes. You’ll have to make a tomb for my corpse.” “Oh…God…” “Yes, and it’ll have to be real Roman Catholic saint stuff, too. You can’t hold back there, Conrad. You need the symbol. And it needs to be tangible.” “I’m still too much of a Protestant for that. I recognize that it’ll work, but it disgusts me. My God, the insanity of this conversation…” “Hang in there, old friend. I still haven’t told you about the Gabriel base, and why it took until 2802 to turn a profit. Or a few other things. But before we get to that, I want to repeat my prior warning. I’m making you play a very dangerous game, even if you succeed. Religions have proven themselves a wonderful blessing to mankind, and a terrible curse. All we want is something that’ll outlast the wars, but if we’re not careful, we’ll make a monster. There hasn’t been a true religious war in centuries, and if you prove too good at creating zealots, mankind might yet see another. You’ll have to try to keep it within certain limits to avoid escalations with terrible consequences.” sts Conrad leaned back in the flimsy chair. It creaked under his weight. Jerome had fallen asleep shortly after their conversation moved away from ancient secrets and manufactured false religion. They’d played music from someone called Eric Clapton, a song about spurned love with a long piano and guitar coda.

7

Green Mountains

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR They’d chatted about fishing for a few brief moments before Jerome wanted to take a nap. But now, Jerome had stopped breathing. His friend was dead. Conrad leaned forward, and sighed deeply. He felt his insides contract achingly with every breath. The pain of his loss was deep and sudden somehow. He felt truly alone for the first time. He cried. It wasn’t fair. It was too soon. They had talked in a way that they never had before, and it was almost as if they had grown closer in the last brief few hours than they had been in the preceding forty-three years. The pain receded slightly as he cried. He stopped, and cursed extensively at the ceiling. Then the enormity of what could happen next overcame him, and he felt panic settle in. It was impossible. It was insane. It would never work. He didn’t need to do this. He shouldn’t do this. It was too much for him. For anyone. He looked at the noteputers next to his dead friend. One journal was Jerome’s. The other belonged to Blake, a man he never knew. He got up, and checked a mirror to see if the signs of his tears were still visible on his face. He suddenly looked so much older. His vanity had long since become a casualty of time, but the face that looked back at him was far more tired than the one he saw this morning. The moment was so fragile. Like a bird in his hands. He could change everything for everyone right now with the smallest of physical efforts. Or he could, with an almost equally tiny amount of force, do nothing. And no one would even know. He walked back to the noteputers and picked one up, storing it in his coat. Inside the drawer was the sealed order Jerome had mentioned, which named him his sole successor. It might delay Schwepps long enough, especially if he bullied the First Circuit outside into confirming its authenticity immediately. He sighed, and picked up the other noteputer. The distance between him and the door would be his last few free moments. He looked down at his friend. “I give it a day, Jerome. No more. I’m a fraud, and they’ll know it.” He exhaled, and as the air left him, a new weight settled on his mind. He walked through the door. Conrad smiled grimly. Forgiveness was a creative force. But so was anger. He found comfort as his mind set itself on familiar problem-solving patterns. He loved effecting change. Every problem could be solved by just parsing it into smaller problems, which could be defeated in turn. Outside, the First Circuit would meet someone new and never seen before. They would meet Toyama, the tyrant. He knew each of them, and they would prove unable to resist him. The outcome known, it was now but a matter of implementation. sts

Green Mountains

8

INTENTIONS instigators. You and me both. If I do this wrong, they’ll name WarShips after me. Or BattleMechs.” “I’m… not sure this is still the right course. I can still walk away… and see what… happens.” His voice trailed off. He hated this weakness. He hated this uncertainty. He hated still feeling doubt after all these years. The price he had paid this last decade, over and over, the cost to him personally. The countless lives he had affected for the worse. The suffering caused by his hands. If he wavered now, all of that would become meaningless, an unpleasant footnote in history. But did that really justify more crimes? Humanity had been at war now for almost his entire life. He barely remembered what it felt like to be at peace. The current pause wasn’t peace, it was more like the moment just prior to mortal combat. When you looked at your opponent, and you both knew what you were about to do. There had been no real rapprochement between the Houses, no significant efforts to mend fences and re-establish a constructive relationship. There was just the sharpening of knives. Worlds without military use, but with dire needs, had been left to die. They could have been saved, but the price was building fewer BattleMechs, and everyone was focused only on the enemy. Not merely the Successor Lords themselves—even the public at large seemed content to let their countrymen die a slow death, writing them off as soon as their planet’s ability to sustain life was compromised. The distance between planets had proven sufficient to turn former cousins into faceless aliens, unworthy of life in some way. They had learned nothing. There had been no progress, no awakening, and no realization of what mankind was now blindly doing to itself. Conrad stood up and turned towards Blake. “I may never know whether this is the right decision. But I’ve only got one move to make, and to do nothing now is the greater evil. When a trillion decided to do nothing, at least I decided to act!” He turned to move away, but stopped himself. With a calmer voice, he continued. “If you’re just a symbol now, then let it be a symbol of change, and of improvement. Of the idea of humanity’s growth. Of us taking responsibility for all that we are capable of doing. If I can succeed in that, well, then praise be unto Blake. And let those who say it with actual sincerity be good people.” He began walking towards the exit. He powered on his communicator, and opened a channel. “Michelle. Pass the package along to Jeanette.”

Hilton Head Island Terra 11 June 2830 The Shrine was empty, closed off by some of Dupreas’ most trusted agents. Conrad had been here many times over the past few years, but always while presiding over some official function or religious holiday. The Shrine was filled to the brim then, and the rituals helped him stay detached from the absurd and the grotesque. At the center of the domed structure was Blake, the relic. Embalmed and preserved with a hideous process, the remnant of his friend looked slightly artificial, surreal, as if it was manufactured from plastics and fabrics. Conrad touched the glass nearest to the face and sobbed, once. It came forth almost like an involuntary cough, and he felt his sadness clench down painfully on his throat. Many described seeing the Blake relic as an uplifting, comforting experience. They would say it filled them with hope. But the preservation of his friend only brought back the memories of Jerome just after he stopped breathing. The memories of the sudden emptiness that had filled him, the enormity of which surprised him then, as it did now. Every time he really remembered that moment, he would struggle to not be absorbed by the extent to which he missed his friend and mentor. Why does it still feel this way after all this time? It was like the accusations that he and Blake were at odds, all those years ago. Tabloids and whispering enemies pounced on it, insinuating hate and dysfunction where there was none. It had hurt though. But it was nothing like the pain of the more recent cowardly whispers that claimed he had murdered Jerome. Those cut deep every single time. Why? He sat down with his back to the reliquary, next to the spot that had already been visibly polished by the knees of too many. The pumps that moved the fluids through the corpse whispered quietly. Blake’s Blood indeed… “I…” he felt stupid as his voice echoed quietly in the empty place. A voice that now commanded billions. Yet he felt only loneliness. He grunted and pushed through his emotions that had delayed him this long. “I am afraid, Jerome. The moment is here. I thought…I thought the moment was at your cabin, but…If I do nothing now, I think this fire will burn down to a smolder. Yet if I push…I think it might burn for another century. So far, my actions have been minor, little more than propaganda. I could’ve done… more. But I fear... I fear that we will be cursed for our plan. That history will see us not as saviors, but as

9

Hilton Head Island

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR

Hilton Head Island

10

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR

INTRODUCTION

ilKhan, Among the information made available by the Exarch is this entry, recovered by Gunslinger Eli Sender. The original document was a draft compiled by Paladin Constance McGuire nearly a century ago, but upon examination, I believe it would serve as a solid primer for our sibkos regarding the history of the Inner Sphere during our Exile. I have taken the liberty of reviewing the original Republic draft and now submit the complete document for your approval.

Some say war is not a series of discrete events, but rather a continuum, a never-ending state with only occasional aberrations of peace to mar its form. The Succession Wars, a nearconstant conflict spanning almost a quarter of a millennium, certainly fit that concept. The First Succession War, which ended in 2821, was the most brutal conflict in human history, while the Third was one of the longest by a significant margin. The Second Succession War is often forgotten, dismissed as less brutal than the conflict that preceded it and shorter than the one that followed. Such assumptions neglect the socio-political, economic and military events of the conflict. While external events drove the war’s grand events and campaigns, internal politics were key factors in several Houses; the battles between Charles Marik and Parliament, between Claudius Steiner and the Estates General, and between Roweena Kurita and her siblings. These conflicts hampered the war efforts of the respective Houses, exacerbating already perilous situations. The addition of a new player in the form of ComStar, thanks to a change in the order’s tactics under Toyama and his successors, also damaged efforts to rebuild and establish stability. The interdiction of Tharkad, and later of the Free Worlds League, made the Successor States take note of the power ComStar wielded. That the First Succession War was the most devastating military conflict in history is unquestioned, but such broad statements neglect much of the collateral damage that befell the Inner Sphere as a consequence of the fighting. Far more worlds died or were abandoned in the Second Succession War

—Loremaster Stephan Roshak

than the First, often a result of cascade-failures begun in earlier conflicts, exacerbated by new disasters and the collapse of the interstellar economy. Militarily, the Second Succession War began in a similar manner to the First: raiding gave way to large-scale operations. But by its end, the Successor States had lost the ability to bring war on broad fronts with dozens of regiments. Instead, raiding and small-scale operations became the norm, as the combatants lacked the manpower, material, and transport capacity to do anything more. That the devastation and horror that ensued did not convince people to give up on war entirely only highlights the conceit that man is his own worst enemy. — Paladin Constance McGuire, Geneva, Terra, 3150

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK The Second Succession War is the latest in a series of products that explore major but little-detailed conflicts in the past of the BattleTech Universe. This volume focuses on the second of the Succession Wars (which caused the earlier conflict once known as the “Great Succession War” to be retroactively designated the “First Succession War”). The Second Succession War builds on work found in The First Succession War, as well as the Historical: Liberation of Terra duology and Historical: Reunification War. As with those previous volumes, The Second Succession War is part sourcebook and part rulebook, allowing players to recreate key events of the war. Intentions, the introductory story, reveals how a secret conversation shaped the history of the Inner Sphere. Crucible provides a summary of the events that led to the Second Succession War, in particular the events of the First Succession War— the rise and fall of the Star League, Kerensky’s Exodus, and the ambitions and antagonisms of the Great Houses. The Second Succession War details the major events of the thirty-five-year conflict, covering key engagements on all fronts as well as the internal political machinations of each Great House. A Legacy of Destruction covers the aftermath of the Second Succession War and the attempts to broker peace while preparing for the next war. Personalities describes the histories and motivations of the House Lords and other notables of the conflict. The Rules Annex includes a number of items designed to aid play during the Second Succession War, including rules for generating forces representative of the era, as well as systems reflecting the impact of social and economic collapse.

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How to use this Book

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR

CRUCIBLE “My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time.” —Neville Chamberlain, speech outside 10 Downing Street regarding the Munich Agreement, 30 September 1938 “My simple demand Submit and I’ll spare your worlds From the Dragon’s claw” —Coordinator Jinjiro Kurita, haiku sent to the rulers of the other four Successor Houses, late 2829

RISE AND FALL

worlds crippled during the two conflicts ceased to be viable for human habitation. For some it was a slow decline, the population desperately clinging on to survival. For others, the end was sudden and lethal. Realizing the precariousness of their situation—and with most WarShips and strategic weapons exhausted and the means of replenishing them lost—the Successor States brought the era of mass devastation to a close. After another short pause, the Third Succession War would be markedly different in character, focusing on small-scale actions and the preservation of resources, and would span a stunning 160 years. Ironically, the uptick in manufacturing capacity and technological recovery at the end of that conflict and in the decades after the discovery of the Helm Memory Core allowed humanity to build new arsenals that would lead to the resumption of devastating warfare during the Blakist Jihad.

The Great Succession War was the most devastating conflict ever to embroil humanity, exceeding even the Age of War or the Word of Blake’s Jihad for ferocity and destruction. It grew out of long-simmering tensions and feuds among the human polity, held in check by the Star League for centuries until given vent with great ferocity in the wake of the Amaris Coup. Would such devastation have occurred had there never been a Star League and the Great Houses been left to their own bickering? Would war have erupted had the bulk of the SLDF opted to remain in the Inner Sphere rather than accompanying General Kerensky into exile? By the third decade of the twenty-ninth century, the initial fury of what would become the First Succession War was largely spent and the original pretexts for the conflict long abandoned. Humanity had not given up on its fratricidal conflicts, however—a few sought lasting peace, but others sought to undermine that process. In the end, the first half of the 2820s amounted to nothing more than a brief pause in the conflict; an opportunity for the belligerents to catch their breath, rest and re-arm, and plan for a return to warfare. Like the World Wars of old Terra, the resumption of open conflict in the form of the Second Succession War was largely inevitable. The First War had not settled matters, and it could be argued that the Second War was merely a continuation of the First, using the same equipment and tactics: terror and mass destruction. Politically, however, there were significant differences between the two conflicts. Most importantly, the five combatants of the First Succession War were joined covertly in the Second Succession War by a sixth faction in the form of ComStar. The Order had been active in the earlier conflict, but the death of Jerome Blake and the rise of Conrad Toyama—and later Raymond Karpov—to the Primacy heralded a more interventionist approach. ComStar shepherded the Successor States back toward war and embarked on direct action in some of the resulting conflicts. Other agents began to take an interest as well; Kerensky’s descendants, in the form of the Clans, began a long observation of the Inner Sphere and even took a direct hand in events. While the First Succession War had been hugely destructive, it was the Second that pushed humanity to the brink. The interstellar economy virtually collapsed, and many

Rise and Fall

TRIBES

Man is a social animal, and since the dawn of time we have grouped together, forming tribes that delineate between “them” and “us.” History is replete with the conflicts and consequences of this instinct, and mankind’s expansion to the stars was no exception. Many of the proto-states that emerged were built along nationalistic, ideological, or religious lines. When those states merged and became the Great Houses, and later the Successor States, those internal divisions remained. The Lyran Commonwealth is one example. The Commonwealth’s overriding culture stems from the old-Terran state of Germany, itself an amalgam of petty kingdoms. The constituent parts of the Commonwealth emerged from different cultural heritages—the Scots and Italians of the Federation of Skye, the Irish of Donegal and the Pakistani-Americans of Tamar. Throughout the Commonwealth’s history, these sub-cultures and their agendas warred with each other, and that friction occasionally manifested as conflict and rebellion. The other Successor States followed a similar pattern: the Scandinavian, Japanese and Arab heritage of the Draconis Combine; the Franco-British trappings of the Federated Suns; and the SinoRussian origins of the Capellan Confederation. The Free Worlds League was even more confused, mixing aspects of dozens of cultures (notably Spanish, Greek, Indian, Italian and Mexican).

12

CRUCIBLE The Star League, founded by Ian Cameron and Albert Marik in 2571 made the same mistake. It sought to bring together six nation states, each with its own internal conflicts, into a single pan-human society. Unsurprisingly, the League’s creation was not universally popular, and discontent within the member states rumbled for decades, while the Periphery states chose not to join at all. The newly-minted First Lord seized the resulting Reunification War as an opportunity to help unify the member states while bringing the recalcitrant Periphery into the fold. The Star League endured for the next 150 years, during which the promise of a pan-human society manifested in increased living standards—humans could expect to live to 110 years of age, with medical treatments available for a wide variety of ailments and injuries. Technology likewise increased exponentially; high-speed interstellar communication became feasible in 2630, and by the mid-twenty-seventh century, most of the Inner Sphere’s population had access to easy communication, in some cases in real-time, across the thousands of worlds of the Star League. It is hardly surprising that many look back on the Star League years as a golden era. The reality was more complex. Relations between and within the member states were fractious and a series of political and military incidents ensued—tribalism in action. The most serious conflicts became brush-fire wars, often prompting the intervention of the Star League Defense Force. The most serious of these incidents began in the 2760s, when the Periphery nations forcibly incorporated into the League rose in open rebellion. Attempts by the SLDF to restore order turned into bloody encounters and spread the League forces thin, prompting the young First Lord Richard Cameron to call on his friend and mentor, Stefan Amaris of the Rim Worlds Republic, for assistance in securing the core worlds of the Terran Hegemony. In hindsight, Amaris’ hand in igniting the Periphery rebellion was obvious. After positioning Rim Worlds forces around the Hegemony, he murdered the First Lord in December 2766 and usurped the Star League throne, birthing the Amaris Empire in place of the Hegemony. He failed to account for the determination of Commanding General Aleksandr Kerensky, who led a furious counter-assault first against the Rim Worlds Republic, and then against Amaris forces on humanity’s core worlds. After a long and bloody campaign, the SLDF succeeded in securing Terra in September 2779. Did the other tribes of humanity help? Some gave tacit support to the General’s operation, but most Council Lords stood on the sidelines and waited to see who would prevail, each driven by their own personal greed and ambitions. Following Amaris’ execution, they faced the need to name a new First Lord, but again put personal ambition ahead of the greater good. In October 2780, the Council Lords voted to disband the Star League, paving the way for the bloody Succession Wars that followed. Kerensky—stripped of his office and his role as Protector of the Realm in one of the Council’s final acts—could have pressed his own claim to the First Lordship. He chose not to do so,

opting instead to lead the SLDF into the void, an Exodus which would eventually lead to the formation of the Clans by his son, Nicholas. The departure of the SLDF made the First Succession War all but inevitable.

APOCALYPSE

The period between the death of Simon Cameron and the Amaris Coup were good years for the Great Houses. The Houses faced little restraint, and busily freed themselves of the military and fiscal limitations imposed by the Star League’s founders. To fuel their unchecked weapons build-up, the Council Lords placed an onerous tax burden on the League’s territorial states, filling their own pockets while fostering resentment in the Periphery. Their successful militarization, coupled with losses sustained by the SLDF in deposing Amaris, meant that Kerensky’s force could no longer claim dominance over the Inner Sphere. The departure of the SLDF for points unknown removed the damping rods over the Council Lords. With all five nations armed to the teeth, disaster was inevitable. It began when Minoru Kurita named himself First Lord on New Year’s Eve 2786, followed in short order by similar claims from the other House Lords. The land-grab that had been ongoing since the departure of the SLDF accelerated, and the Great Houses’ devouring of the Terran Hegemony’s carcass soon brought them into direct conflict. Even before Minoru’s official declaration of war, heated conflicts broke out on several fronts. Towne was the most notable of these early battles, a three-way clash in 2785 between the Federated Suns, the Draconis Combine, and the Capellan Confederation. The struggle was a disaster for the AFFS, eventually becoming known as the Towne Debacle. The battle for the Bolan Thumb began a full nine months before the Coordinator’s New Year’s Eve proclamation, and by early 2787 all of the major fronts were in flames. It remains unclear which nation first deployed strategic weapons, but by mid-2787 their use was commonplace, both in the form of ship-killer missiles and as counter-force/countervalue weapons on planetary surfaces. The Federated SunsDraconis Combine front saw particularly profligate use of weapons of mass destruction, as did the Free Worlds LeagueCapellan Confederation front, with Kenyon Marik ordering the use of thermobaric weapons against numerous Capellan worlds. The Ares Conventions, abandoned for a time during the Reunification War but tacitly followed by most militaries since that time, were utterly discarded. Civilian targets, hitherto off limits, became the focus of many attacks which sought to destroy the enemy’s ability and will to wage war. This abrogation of the Conventions was not a sudden development– the SLDF had been “flexible” in their enforcement throughout its history, and the war against the Usurper had been no-holdsbarred. As a consequence, the Successor States took their cues from that carnage, and showed little restraint when it came to their own conflicts.

13

Apocalypse

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR

THE RISE OF THE COMSTAR NEWS BUREAU Throughout the First Succession War, ComStar provided communications and broadcast services to the Great Houses. But in the years between the First and Second Wars, the First Circuit realized there was an entirely different tactic they could use to shape Blake’s Vision for the Inner Sphere. Rather than simply carrying the news, ComStar could report it, establishing their own impartial news-gathering and dissemination service. The concept, proposed by Precentor Barnard, Judy Cheny, was simple and elegant and played directly into Primus Toyama’s plans. By mid-2826 the ComStar News Bureau was broadcasting across the Inner Sphere via the ComStar network. Led by Precentor Cheny, CNB soon established itself as a valued source of unbiased news across the Inner Sphere, a counter to the spin-doctors and truth manipulators of each state. Some decried its brand of solid reporting and analysis as propaganda, or even worse, “fake news,” but CNB soon established a commanding market share. Efforts by the Draconis Combine and Capellan Confederation to censor CNB broadcasts soon ran afoul of the Order; a stern reprimand from the First Circuit made it clear that any interference with CNB would be regarded as a violation of the 2787 Communications Protocols. With the Interdiction of Tharkad fresh in their minds, the Great Houses relented. It is a great irony that the accusations of bias on CNB’s part were not without justification. While rarely straying into outright falsehood, shifting emphasis as to how a story played in one market could have a major impact on audience reaction. In effect, CNB became a major new tool in ComStar’s arsenal for shaping public opinion, one with Inner Sphere-wide reach that could be tailored to an individual world if needed. Toyama exploited this new capability mercilessly in the run-up to the Second Succession War, sensationalizing the “Chain Gang” raids and embarrassing the DCMS with stories about their inability to catch the Minnesota Tribe. CNB played up border tensions and troop deployments across the Inner Sphere, heightening tensions and fanning the fear of renewed conflict. Troops were redeployed to meet these threats, real and imagined, bringing the return to war ever closer. Behind the scenes, CNB also worked hand-in-hand with ROM, providing means to communicate with local agents and to disseminate information to ROM teams across the Inner Sphere. It was a combination of ROM and CNB efforts that provided details on ISF and DCMS operations to the Lyran Commonwealth’s Loki, and leaked details of several members of the Capellan House of Scions’ predilections to the MIIO, allowing them to blackmail the government officials.

Apocalypse

Many of the initial campaigns were intended as knock-out blows, though the sheer scale of the Successor States made such efforts impractical. The Federated Suns came the closest to ruin as the skill and ferocity of the DCMS carried House Kurita to within a jump of New Avalon. A lone assassin on Kentares ended both Minoru Kurita’s dream of dominance of House Davion and his life, and triggered one of the most brutal massacres of the Succession Wars. Had Jinjiro Kurita mourned his father’s death rather than avenged it, the Combine might have indeed prevailed. Instead, the horror of the Kentares Massacre became a rallying cry for the AFFS and furthered an animosity between the two nations that still resonates today. On paper, the Capellan Confederation seemed the most likely to succumb to predations by its neighbors. But with House Davion distracted by the Combine invasion, the Confederation seized the opportunity to reclaim the long-contested Chesterton worlds. They succeeded in expanding control over nearby worlds, but fell short of taking Chesterton itself. Faced with a resurgent AFFS, Chancellor Ilsa Liao opted to switch tactics and instead offered to support Davion’s claim to the post of First Lord--in exchange for Chesterton. Prince Paul rejected the offer out of hand and, despite being in the midst of planning a new assault on the Draconis Combine, instead launched a series of counter-invasions against worlds recently taken by the Liaos. On the Confederation’s other border, the Free Worlds League staged a broad offensive, pushing the CCAF back and launching drives toward Wazan, Corey, and long-contested Andurien. House Liao managed to reclaim some of their lost territory, but Andurien remained out of their reach. The Free Worlds League could have pushed the Capellans further, but large swaths of the FWLM were engaged against Lyran Commonwealth. The Steiners focused considerable pressure on the thorny Bolan Thumb, where fighting had raged even before the official commencement of hostilities, but also assaulted worlds around Solaris VII and Kalidasa. The League failed to hold the Bolan Thumb, but did maintain control over worlds at the base of the salient such as Ilion and Altoona, and widened their grasp to include Cavanaugh II and worlds around Dixie. Similarly, they threatened the Lyran drive around Kalidasa with their own push toward Shiloh. The conflict on the League border also occupied much of the LCAF High Command’s attention, leading to limited operations against the Combine. This allowed House Kurita to focus their attention against their Davion foes, but hardly meant the front was static. The Combine slowly pushed forward on a broad front around Tamar, and likewise made inroads into Skye. Not everything went the DCMS’ way, however; their efforts to seize Hesperus were bloodily repulsed, and the LCAF staged counter-invasions against Lambrecht and around Najha. Perhaps the most surprising military operation of the First Succession War occurred in 2788, when ComStar seized mankind’s homeworld using supposed “mercenary” forces. The move infuriated the Great Houses, but none were willing to breach the Communications Protocols they signed with former Star League Minister of Communications Jerome Blake a year earlier. As a result, ComStar retained unchallenged possession of Terra until the thirty-first century. If the Order’s use of “mercenary” troops angered the Great Houses, the truth behind the operation would have sent them running: the large force employed to take Terra comprised a number of SLDF divisions who had chosen not to take part in Kerensky’s Exodus and had instead sworn loyalty to Blake. Most of the troops stood down after the successful operation, but ComStar remained in possession of a massive array of Star League military technology—equipment that would be used to build the Com Guards. The First Succession War was not fought solely on planetary surfaces; the conflict also saw some of the largest fleet actions ever to occur in the Inner Sphere. The scale of battles like Skondia and Cholame rivaled the engagements of the Kerensky-Amaris conflict, and each cost the Great Houses a significant part of their precious WarShip

14

CRUCIBLE fleets. The loss of those behemoths left invasion forces exposed and removed the fire support they offered. With military transports now easy targets, all of the Successor States began co-opting commercial transports in order to enact even the most basic interstellar operations. This caused further commercial collapse and hastened the demise of numerous worlds that relied on interstellar commerce to survive.

BREATHING ROOM

THE MERCENARY REVIEW BOARD Another arm of ComStar, founded in 2789, was the Mercenary Review Board. Unlike the ComStar News Bureau, the board was not established as a political tool for the Order, but rather as a neutral arbiter to govern the sellswords whose use increased dramatically during the Great Succession War. While some mercenaries were honorable and dedicated, primarily those that had formerly been part of the SLDF, many displayed a lack of ethics and a willingness to work toward their own ends rather than those of their employers. A number of such units fled or turned coat in the early years of the Succession War, leading to a lack of trust in any hirelings. Coordinator Minoru Kurita raised his concerns about mercenaries in a discussion with Administrator Blake, suggesting the creation of a registry and administrative arm to police the contracts issued to such troops, and their behavior in the execution of their duties. Kurita intended this to be a multinational effort—possibly with himself at its head—and thus was surprised when Blake announced the formation of the Mercenary Review Board under ComStar’s authority a week later. While the Coordinator may have felt his idea was stolen, an accusation made by several of his warlords in later years, oversight of the contracts and behavior of mercenary troops by a neutral body was the only viable option. It was profitable, too; the Great Houses would pay a five percent commission for ComStar to administer their contracts, and the Order held the mercenaries’ payments in escrow, releasing the funds as the contract dictated—and withholding them if needed. Honest mercenaries benefited as well, since the MRB ruled as often in their favor as it did the Successor States. Though adjudication by the Board cost the troops some commission—another five percent—it soon proved a worthwhile investment. Of course, contracts were still offered outside of the Mercenary Review Board’s aegis, but Blake made it clear that those unsanctioned contracts would not be protected by the Board. Caveat Emptor!

By the end of the second decade of the twenty-ninth century, all of the combatants taking part in the First Succession War were exhausted, and the tempo of operations fell away markedly. By 2821, no major operations were underway; instead, a series of local cease-fires and treaties brought hostilities to a close. The states that remained were shadows of their former selves, their militaries were shattered and their economies in ruins. Whole worlds died, either as a result of military action or as a consequence of social and economic collapse. Many others were pushed to the brink, doomed to collapse during the Second Succession War and the centuries that followed. Could true peace have emerged from the aftermath of the Great Succession War? It seems unlikely. There was no clear victor and animosities had deepened during the conflict. Even without outside interference, it seems likely that the Great Houses would have eventually thrown themselves back into armed conflict. Though it would not become clear for many years, ComStar and its new leader, Conrad Toyama, actively sought to destabilize the Successor States. Many of the organization’s schemes were subtle: edited news in one state, a few lost messages in another, all leading to antagonism and a desire to settle scores. Other efforts were more direct, such as hampering a POW transfer or the leaking of incriminating intel to sour relations. Some schemes would be a long time brewing, notably the consequences of Jeanette Marik joining ComStar, but others were more swift and direct. The communications interdiction against Tharkad in 2823 came about in response to efforts by the Estates General to tax ComStar’s services, an attempt to demonstrate the power of the Lyran state against an extra-territorial corporation. Instead, ComStar’s response showed just how much power the Order held. The Commonwealth couldn’t govern effectively when the information flow into and out of the capital was frozen and had to be carried by JumpShip. The Commonwealth soon relented, cowed by the impact of interdicting even a single world. The other Successor States were put on notice that ComStar would not tolerate interference in its affairs. That resolve would soon be tested. The Successor States sought to rebuild after the carnage of the Great Succession War, but by emphasizing repairs to their militaries rather than their infrastructures or economies, overall improvements were limited. True peace never entirely manifested either, as low-level raiding, special-forces actions, and espionage continued throughout the inter-war period. Each nation sought to hamper the operations of their rivals and undermine their reconstruction efforts, usually covertly but occasionally through direct action such as sabotage or assassination. While 2830 is officially cited as the start of the Second Succession War, the Great Houses were at each other’s throats by the mid2820s. The Draconis Combine and Federated Commonwealth resumed hostilities in March 2825 with the “Chain Gang” missions, swiftly followed by a direct assault. House Kurita’s other front was never fully at peace, with several worlds repeatedly changing hands. The situation escalated such that by 2828 a de-facto state of war existed. House Liao sought to exploit the Federated Suns’ preoccupation with the Dragon to launch its own counterassaults in August of the same year, and the tragic consequences of that operation would re-ignite conflict between the two nations. Though all of this, and despite provocation on both fronts, House Marik’s Free Worlds League stood aloof. They resisted the urge to be drawn back into the conflict, even while preparing for it. ComStar decided to take a direct hand, using Jeanette Marik to give her brother, the Captain-General, little choice but to resume hostilities.

15

Breathing Room

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR

16

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR

THE SECOND SUCCESSION WAR (2825–2863) “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” —Albert Einstein “You know why Davion officers have spurs on their boots? So they can ride horses once the Federated Suns finally runs out of BattleMechs.” —Erik Raj, Monday Night Live, Donegal Broadcasting Company, 2852 The era of peace that followed the Succession War came to an end in the late 2820s, incidentally transforming the Succession War into the First Succession War in the process. As with the First Succession War (or Terra’s World Wars), the dates of the conflict varied significantly depending on the participants; some border conflicts, such as between the Lyran Commonwealth and Draconis Combine reignited in 2825, while others, such as the Federated Suns-Capellan Confederation conflict, resumed in 2828. Conversely, the Free Worlds League did not become embroiled in the general conflict until 2830, and as such this is the date most historians use to date the start of the Second Succession War. Some historians suggest that the First Succession War never truly ended and the period 2821–2825 was instead merely a period of retrenchment and rearming before the conflict heated up again, They instead suggest that the “Great Succession War” ran from 2787 to 2863. However, markedly different characteristics of the two phases of the conflict undermine this suggestion, reinforcing the idea of two distinct conflicts just as the low-tempo (and extremely

long) Third Succession War is distinguished from the Second despite the absence of a formal cessation of hostilities and a very brief (three year) interwar period.

WAR RENEWED (2825–2830)

The interwar was never entirely peaceful—each of the Houses suffered raiding by their neighbors and replied in kind. As early as 2825, the occasional raids had escalated into a continuous serious of military actions that were indistinguishable from the military campaigns that followed. Prior to that, a cold war of spies and special forces prevailed as each Great House sought to assess the damage to their enemies and identify any vulnerabilities they could exploit in the resumed hostilities they all presumed would happen. This covert war of spies was waged across the Inner Sphere, though most of the intelligence agencies were badly bloodied and their networks compromised by the housecleaning and internal security operations that accompanied the First Succession War. High-profile successes were few and far between, with disasters and confusion the order of the day.

IN DISTANT STARS As the First Succession War stumbled to a halt and the Inner Sphere breathed a few ragged breaths before launching into a second round of conflicts, the Clans continued their metamorphosis into the force we are familiar with today. Operation KLONDIKE took place in 2821 and early 2822, with Nicholas Kerensky’s Clans enforcing their will over the shattered remnants of the SLDF exiles. In many regards the Exodus Civil War, which culminated in Operation KLONDIKE, was even more brutal than the Succession War, with the use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons compounded by ethnic cleansing and other war crimes. In the Inner Sphere, the Great Houses prevailed even though they were bloodied by the conflict. In Clan space, little remained of society, and the survivors were malleable clay in Kerensky’s hands. The annihilation of Clan Wolverine in 2823 was the first major political event within the Clans and the only one—until late in the thirtieth century, at least—to possibly have had any impact on the Inner Sphere. The Minnesota Tribe incident is popularly linked to survivors of the Wolverines, though even today we have no definitive proof of this. Even more significant to the Clans were the events of 2834. A dispute with Clan Widowmaker evolved into a Trial of Refusal, and ilKhan Nicholas Kerensky suffered fatal wounds while refereeing the contest. The Clans were now deprived of Kerensky’s vision and authority, metamorphosing over the next “Golden Century” into the factionalized, militaristic society that returned to the Inner Sphere in 3050. —A Pocket History of the Inner Sphere, Terra Press, 3122

17

War Renewed

INNER SPHERE - 2830

Far Reach

Lyran Commonwealth Tamar Pact

2

4 Protectorate of Donegal

3

6

Sky e

8

5

11

Fed erati

10

on o f

9

7

Sentarus Von Strang’s Jápminboddu

Heidelburg Mearra

Battaraigi

Botany Bay

Várri

Last Chance Vargtass Zanbasa

Lackhove Erewhon

Windhoek Svalstad Ambrose Machapuchre

Vulture’s Nest

Golandrinas Beta VII

eM agu alh R as

Pesht Military District

r ilita itary

Distr ic

t

ict istr

n Mil

5

1

12

yD Diero

Rasalhague Military District Pesht Military District 10) Radstadt Prefecture 1) Kagoshima Prefecture 11) Trondheim Prefecture 2) Coudoux Prefecture 12) Tinaca Prefecture 3) Bjarred Prefecture Benjamin Military District 4) Pusht-i-rud Prefecture 13) Baldur Prefecture 5) Ningxia Prefecture 14) Xinyang Prefecture Galedon Military District 15) Kajikazawa Prefecture 6) Oshika Prefecture 16) Proserpina Prefecture 7) Matsuida Prefecture 8) New Samarkand Prefecture 17) Irurzun Prefecture Dieron Military District 9) Kaznejoy Prefecture 18) Kuzuu Prefecture 19) Ashio Prefecture 20) Chaville Prefecture 21) Addicks Prefecture

Wypoute

Hood IV

Kowloon

14

13

8

6

Galedon Military District 15 Benjamin Military District

17

18 20

9

7

16

19 21

Lushun

Canal

Elba

Helduza

Derby

Moriguchi

Anatolia Issaba

Fjernet

Sialkot

Slewis

Champadanga

Kerman

Ceram

Draconis March 1) Robinson Operational Area 2) Woodbine Operational Area Crucis March 3) Markesan Operational Area 4) Minette Operational Area 5) Chirikof Operational Area Capellan March 6) Kathil Operational Area 7) Taygeta Operational Area

3 4

Crucis March

6 5 7 Capellan March

Otisberg Shalaine

Wiltshire Sapienza

Halifax

Merlynpede

Lintz Aur

Radostov

Acrux

Shahr Kord

Hollabrunn

5 7

Epsilon

Schererville

Alorton

Kosciusko

Merton

Curaumilla

Eion

Hammer

Atzenbrugg

Trondheimal

Lummatii

Landfall

Kendall

Jubka

Melk

Revel

Turov

Hednesford

Futuna

Clipperton

Tapachula

1) Marik Commonwealth 2) Federation of Oriente 3) Principality of Regulus 4) Duchy of Andurien 5) Stewart Confederation 6) Duchy of Graham-Marik 7) Rim Commonality 8) Regulan Free States 9) Principality of Gibson 10) Abbey District 11) Duchy of Orloff

5 10

1

6 9

2 3

7

11

8 4

Isabela

Camlann Cree

Katlehong

Lesnovo

Cirebon

Mankova

Cerignola

Fieferana

Hindmarsh

Wilkes

Marathon

Howrah

Mauripur

Al Jubaylah

Sharqah

Campoleone

Stettin

Diass

Bismarck

Tematagi

Negushevo

Nullarbor

Vosloorus

Lengkong Tohelet

Olafsvik

Ellsworth

Fadiffolu Hiratsuka

Izmir

Za Pec

Atsugi

Romita Niops V Niops VI Niops VII

Keeling

Alta

Ankolika Hongqiao

Karachi

Goth Khakar

Paulinus

Gatchina

Ayn Tarma

Glevakha

Bayindir

Me

Payvand

Ruschegg

Ceará

Scheuerheck

Cranston Obrenovac Restitution

Eleusis

Bass

Vaka

Booker Marantha

Bethonolog Afarsin

Mangor

Thraxa Gallis

Gambilon

Lindenmarle

Vixen

Cano

Royal Foxx Tarol IV

Zelmag III

Palladix

Megarez

Luxani

Candiear

Kleinwelt

Techne's Revenge

Schmitt

4 5

6 1

2

Krimari Harminous

Herrmaz

1) Magistracy of Canopus 2) Taurian Concordat 3) Outworlds Alliance 4) Illyrian Palatinate 5) Lothian League 6) Tortuga Dominions

Nobel

Wildwood

Durabon

The Periphery

Bog

Skvorec

Saonara

Astrokaszy Ildlandet

Wisconsin

Rohinjan

Tellman's Mistake

Mondra

3

Mus

Cameron

Ngake

Sparta

Gibson

Corbeanca

Free Worlds League

Regulus

Wallis

Chagos

Jiddah

Ghaziabad

Harm Hellos Minor

Norfolk Tuamotu

Rzhishchev

Prato

Aitutaki

Faleolo

Mackenzie

Westover

New Galicia

Lahti

Ibarra Molokai

Karakiraz

Stotzing

Leximon

Lindassa Logan Prime

Mohács

Köln

Ionus

Alterf

Atreus Manihiki Trinidad Newcastle

Aconcagua

Kutludugun

Trasjkis Reykavis

Thirty Weight

Valil'yevskiy

Huntington

Lothario

Dr

Tongatapu

Cajamarca

Gran Panjang

Kogl

Dickinso

New Olym

Hódmezovásárhely

Sardis

Home

Washburn

Kirkenlaard

Laureles

Wolof

Bowang

Naissus Lepaterique

San Nicolas

Escobas

Loyalty

Tchamba

Tormentine

Hazeldean

Flychenia

Coriscana Campbelton

Zempoatlepetl

Ashburton

Chalouba

Schiedam

Tania

Bainsville

Spirit Paradise

Albert Falls

Gibraltar

Gannett

Rasalas

Midkiff

Vicksland

Eromanga

Sheridan

Ideyld

Shasta

Conakry

K

Danais Bondurant

McAffe

Esztergom

Mundrabilla

Kakada

Silver

Aylmer

Lordinax

Kilarney

Manotick

Concord

Gallatin Szombathely Autumn Wind

Zortman

Zebrenaski Loongana

Maxwell

Sackville

Illyria

Diamantina

Edmondson

Rexburg

Preston

Niihau

Simpson Desert

Maderas Sierra

Labouchere

Tamarind

Calchedon Dalcour

Uhu

Pingree Sterling

Szepes

Hell's Paradise

Saltillo

Togwotee

Thermopolis

Promised Land Griffith

Cerillos

Cascade

Colfax

Trellisane

Millungera Galisteo

Megrez

Alula Borealis

Nockatunga

Circinus Green Stone

Launam

Nestor

Ford

Loric

Hornir's Keep Bella I

Malazan

Iolas

1) Tikonov Commonality 2) Chesterton Commonality 3) Sarna Commonality 4) Capella Commonality 5) Sian Commonality 6) St Ives Commonality 7) Andurien Commonality

Giausar

Cavanaugh II

Penobscot

Poulsbo

Pardeau

Gienah

Pressby

Ilion

Zuhbehr Pencader

Khon Kaen

Hyde

Aigle

Dixie

Starshine

Madiun

Helbrent

Rahn

Senftenberg

Altoona Rochers

Timbiqui

6

Zwenkau

Tylarzka Zdice

Himmels

Fiann Dar-es-Salaam

Arcadia

Abramkovo

Son Hoa

Mariefred Eilenburg

Rajkot

Stantsiya

Sarpsborg

Gypsum

Kamenz

Bobruisk

Biloela

Teyvareb

Althastan

4

Soilihull Arganda

Bolan

Cardff

Calvados

Erdvynn

Capellan Confederation

Kitzingen

Finsterwalde Loburg

Maisons

Ilzra

Clinton

Drosendorf

Ellijay

Inchicore

Nightwish

Tr Eidsfoss

Uzhgorod

Zvolen

Medzev

Sierpc

Herzberg

Marsalle Binyang Danxian

Fu

Ciotat Aristotle

Aquavita

Buena

Al Jafr

H

Bjornlunda

Dresden

Nichol's Rest

Czarvowo

Duantia

Rosice

Revivim

Sarikavak

3

Halfway McKellan

Morrigan

Valloire Huesta

Jaumegarde

Chukchi III

Ukunela

Ayacucho

Choex

Gallery

Annwyn

Cruz Alta

Colinas

Turinge

New India

2

Smolnik

Zaprudy Carlisle

Premana

Mes

Callisto V Thuban

York Lancaster

Mezzana

Urjala Myrrdin

Tatopani

Tetersen

Duran

Dagda Rijeka

Chiavenna

Aberystwyth

Fallen Stars

Donegal

Graz

Stardawn

Lande

Milvano

1

Novara

Venaria

Enders Cluster (10)

Gibbs

Tharkad

Abejorral

Vendrell

Florida

Haggard

Eutin

Aiguebelle

Rapla

Karkkila Viborg

Albion

Nuneaton

Stellaris

Kitopler

Hinckley

Vihtijarvi

Calafell Enzesfled Batajnica

Mercedes

Stanley

Minderoo Noisiel

Pherk

Cameron

Alarion

Firenze

Coldbrook

Gillfillan's Gold

Zinal

Forkas Greenlaw

Quilino

Kaumberg

Kladnitsa Wingzar

Bayis II

Tiruppur

Kostinbrod

Eschenb

Westerstede

Horneburg

Reese Station

Kvistgard

Parvan Hunter's Paradise

Alma Alta

Vorzel

Richvale

Vermezzo

Timbuktu

All Dawn

Malacca

Upano

Pobeda

Saravan

Tapihue

Ciampino

Cumbres

Warrumbungle

Nuelson Minor

Akfata Virtue Pocologan

Harlez

Hamilton Dukambia

Incukalns Conley's Patch

Tsinan

Jatznik

Alekseyevka

Stirling Janina

New E

Coventry

Caledea C.M.O. 26

Triesting Sidon

Atocongo

Wrociaw

Kelang

Etiler

Ormstown Waypoint Viroflay

Timkovichi

Krievci

Storfors

Amminadav

Bountiful Harv

Santana

Biuque

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

Loxley

Chhaprauli

Sappir

Marisura

Beauvais

Zanderij Esteros

Arc-Royal Qarahta

Mahrah

Melilla

M

Beta Regulus II Sargasso New Capetown

Guatavita

Yeguas

Ludwigshafen

Goetville

Prydain

Baryshevo

Krung Thep

Qurayyat

Ceuta

Brooloo

Abbadiyah

Valabhi

Mississauga Great X

Ellengurg

Niangol

Langhorne

Rosetta

Cilvituk

Gatineau

Windsor

Recife

Tangua

Babae

Deia Blumenort

Australia

Qanatir

Lost

Synsstad Caldarium

Naco

Federated Suns

2

Timehri

Mkuranga

Jorvikland

Zwipadze

Nouasseur

Seven Lands Farcry Zefri

Manx Mahone

Khartoum

Tainjin

Ma'anshan Findal

Pasig

Adelaide

Miquelon

Ewanrigg

Millerton

Gorgon

Kookens Pleasure Pit

Chahar

Machida

Medellin

Abushiri

Strandfontein

Tsarahavana Kwangjong-ni

Aboukir

Blue Hole

Melissia

Kwangchowwang

Edirne

Jardangal

Meghy

Draconis March

Arluna

Anembo Mandaoaaru

Howick

Austerlitz

Malaga

Valladolid

Inarcs Baggville

Goat Path

Chapultepec

Jesenice

Trentham

Bucklands

Blackjack

Clermont

Zhongshan

Ferihegy

1

Winter Willunga Neerabup Swartklip

Malibu

Hot Springs Roadside

Kikuyu

Annunziata

Main Street

Elume

Oporto

Mogyorod

Pangkalan

Jerangle

Engadine

Lywick

Inner Surge

Biegga

Kolovraty

Dijonne Bremen

Black Earth

Newtown Square Montsegur

Viluisk

Megiddo

Draconis Combine 4

Wota

Herbania Arlanda

Mogabouti

Luanda

Dar Nebu

Renren

Barcelona

Melville

Gabenstad

Delagoa

3

Somerset

Bone-Norman

Awyron

Ubangi

Port Vail

10

Here Anywhere

Lokoja

Rypful

2

Gotterdammerung

Gwynedd

Salisberg

Quelimane

11

Vannes

Tordenskjold

Tamar Pact 1) Trellshire 2) Tamar Domains 3) Camlann Shire Protectorate of Donegal 4) Coventry Province 5) Alarion Province 6) District of Donegal 7) Furillo Province Federation of Skye 8) Kannon Shire 9) Virginia Shire 10) Rahneshire 11) Isle of Skye

1

Coopertown Trznadel Cluster

Ballad II Hardcore Kossandra's Memory Cresson

Novo Tressida

Bye's Ship

Cayuga Weistheimer

Crawford's Delight

Gettorf

Eagle Rest

Helvetica

Shipton

M

LEGEND

Beowulf

Paulus Prime Blackstone

Santander V

Elissa

Sigurd

Knutstad

Crellacor Gustrell

Butte Hold

Damian Thule

New Ålborg

Iron Land

Bensinger

Outpost

rk ula

Icar

Treeline

Chateau

Rodigo

Verthandi Csesztreg Harvest

Romulus Butler

Kirchbach

Vantaa

Denizli Apolakkia

Baker 3

Sevren

Stonarboi Antares

Dompaire Laurent

Colmar

Graus

Cusset

Sudeten

Morges

Deweidewd

A Place

Blair Atholl

Tamar Weingarten Memmingen

Perrot

Biota Montmarault

Dustball

vest

Koniz

Thannhausen

Hyperion Karston Wheel

Thun Galuzzo

Teniente Juazeiro

Sikkim

Mualang

Multan

Clearfield

Ningxia

Abiy Adi Linqing

Cyrenaica

Blueys

Kanto

Thimphu

Odawara

Shimoda

Huaide

Fallry

Enif Antallos (Port Krin)

Barahona

Soul

Hassi R'mel

Ulsan

Kilmarnock

Kokpekty

Ebensburg Sertar

Port Arthur

Hongor Takata

Unity

Asgard

Land's End Abagnar

Loysville

Nara

Caripare

Yamarovka

Tinaca Marawi

Pesht Meinacos

Emar

Espakeh

Tuscarawas

Irece Tuat

Alshain

Satalice

Pusht-i-rud Macksburg

Cheriton

Naikongzu

Kamarod

Qandahar

Matamoras

Maldonado

Itabaiana

Thessalonika Kaesong

Oyevaina

Hainfeld

Korramabad

Herndon

Labrea Outer Volta

Sheliak

Heiligendreuz

Hyner

Marshdale

Kempten

Gunzburg

Kobe

Rastaban

Benfled

Vorarlberg

Volders

Maestu Bessarabia

Byesville Wolcott

Bilma Soverzene

Radstadt

Ad Duwayd

Echo Seuta Bimyeong

McAlister

Corfu

Stanzach

Kandis

Moritz

Bangor Jeronimo

Luzerne

Casere

Goito

Bushmill

Skokie

Vulcan

Lonaconing

Caesaera

Duxfort

Brihuega

Brailsford

Algate Chorley

Jeanette

Hanover Savinsville

Nowhere

Slaithwaite

Chapineria Leyland

Sawyer

Chupadero Kabah

Schuyler

Courchevel

Spittal

Kufstein Engadin

Dell

Zoetermeer

eski

Basiliano

Svarstaad

Devin Parakoila

Hohenems

Ridderkerk

Leskovik

Jezersko

Pomme De Terre Predlitz

Ferleiten

Coudoux

Polcenigo

Vipaava

Christiania

Unzmarkt

Salford Caracol Stapelfeld

Brocchi's Cluster

Garstedt

New Sapporo Hartshill

Virentofta

55

Last Frontier Radlje

Gravenhage Altona

Wonju Bjarred

Almunge

Nykvarn

Rasalhague

New Sarum Ouagadougou

Turtle Bay

Ferranil

Dawn

Feltre

Mozirje

Kreller Evciler

Schwartz

Kiruna Trondheim

Hermagor New Oslo

Tarnby

Rockland

Jarett

Leoben

Liezen

Planting

Seiduts Twycross

Alyina

New Bergen

Bruben

Lovinac

Trell I

Waldorff

St. John

Jeju New Ceylon Idlewind

Constance

Svelvik Balsta

Alleghe

New Caledonia The Edge

Maxie's Planet

Derf

Cabanatuan Glabach

Pinnacle

Tovetine Susquehanna

Steelton Persistence

an

Rimward

Alfirk

Richmond

Holmsbu Skallevoll

Star's End

Toland

National capital

Map compiled by COMSTAR. From information provided by the COMSTAR EXPLORER CORPS and the STAR LEAGUE ARCHIVES on Terra.

Oberon VI Zertarum

District capital

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