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Carrillian Assembly history
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Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1993 22:40:53 -0400
From: curtis@sbcs.sunysb.edu (Curtis Peer)
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To: tne-pocket@ocf.Berkeley.EDU
Subject: Carrillian Assembly history
Cc: curtis@sbcs.sunysb.edu
Hello, this is John Bogan again.
I've finally finished a preliminary CA history for background
purposes. Comments, suggestions, and corrections are hereby
solicited.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CARRILLIAN ASSEMBLY
(as it affects Aoreriyya)
Prior History: May have seen some Saie activity, but no settlement
until Solomani came seeking to make colonies beyond the bounds
of the Terran Confederation.
A number of worlds were either raided by or host to a succession
of Reaver warlords during the Long Night. Most inhabited systems
were forced to pay tribute to the Iltharan Empire during its
height. Rintarna, an "old Solomani" colony, joined the Iltharans
voluntarily, considering it as an improvement over constant raids.
The perception of Rintarna as Iltharan collaborators set into
motion political and cultural forces that even affect the
Assembly of the 1100's.
517: Political and economic frictions between several worlds in
the Drexilthar, Fahinar, Urlaggash, and Drinsaar subsectors
threaten to errupt into war. The Imperium, with growing political and
economic concerns in the rim-trailing quadrant of Reaver's Deep,
encourages a peaceful settlement, with the implication that
if Imperial economic intrests are overly disrupted, it will
send a fleet to put down the troublemakers. A series of
conferences are held in the relaively neutral location of the
Carrillian Belt.
519: A majority of the worlds involved in the conferences work
out an agreement to unite to solve many of the problams and
to avoid being defeated by either their more powerful neighbors
or the Imperium. These worlds draw up the Articles of Assembly,
the constitution of the Carrillian Assembly. A few worlds
involved in the disputes, most notably Rintarna, feel the
Articles were written so as to exclude them (a largely correct
assumption), and withdraw from the Conferences. With a new,
united Assembly and the spectre of Imperial action, these worlds
back down from any military solution to their problems, and
become more politically insular.
Notable political trends prior to 1100:
The Assembly is rule by the Council of Justice, with the
High Justice as head of state. Over it's circa-600 years,
two general factions (with names varying over the years) have
dominated the Assembly. The larger, which controlled it for
most of it's history, is labeled the "Conservatives", which
mainly concentrated on keeping the Assembly stable, basically
prosperous, and playing the Imperials and Solomani against each
other so that they would not use Assembly space as a sparring
ground (much-- this includes intelligence wars as well as shooting
ones)
The other faction, the "Expansionists", have controlled the
Assembly between 2 and 5 times prior to 1100, depending on which
historians you ask and how they define "control". This group has
been typified by its agressive foreign policy and attempted
empire-building, as well as increased civil control by the
government. [according to Wildstar, Grendal has had at least one
run-in with the Assembly in at least one of it's expansionist
phases. Apparently this accounts for the Imperial client-state
relationship]
Foreign Relations prior to 1100:
IMPERIUM: While formed at the instigation of the Imperium, the Assembly
could never be properly called a client state. Its members came together
more in resistance to Imperial influence than in support of it.
Relations have varied over the years, with the Assembly sometimes
favoring the Imperium, sometimes the Solomani, sometimes asserting
a strict neutrality and independence. The best description for the
bulk of the time would be "weak Imperial client".
SOLOMANI: When the Solomani first began separating from the Third Imperium,
between 704 (Solo. Autonomous Region) and 871 (Confederation established),
the Assembly was initially sympathetic to the Solomani, as yet
another group bullied by the Imperials. However, with the rise
of Solomania as integral to the Confederation`s ideology,
and with the border region becoming a constant source of intrigue,
the Assembly came to regard the Solomani as just another bully to keep
an eye on.
For most of time since the founding of the Confederation, relations
have been similar to those with the Imperium, soft or neutral in
either direction. The Assembly's main goal has been to have the
Big 2 take their fight somewhere else. Due to the Confederation's
courting of Rintarna, however, the Assembly has more often sided
with the Imperium.
A special mention must be made for the Solomani Rim War (990-1002),
when some of the far border skirmishes and flanking actions near
Assembly space were to big for the Assembly to do anything about.
The Assembly declared neutrality in the conflict, but rather than
get in a fight with either power should it try gas-giant refuelling
in an Assembly system, the Assembly permitted refueling at OUTER
gas giants in specified systems (not so coincidently the systems
most likely to be used by either side) so long as they did not
interfere with regular system traffic (none near those GGs) and
did not approach the main world.
RINTARNA: No one in the Assembly today thinks of Rintarna as "Iltharan
collaborators", that's old history. What they _can_ do is give
a laundry list of assorted snipes by and difficulties with Rintarnans
since then. Relations with Rintarna has varied from cooperative to
hostile, with one or two quickly settled shooting incidents.
Aside from itself, Rintarna also had an effect on relations with
the Imperium and the Solomani, since relations with either often
depend on their current relations with Rintarna.
OTHERS: Gralyn, Grendal, the Lanyard Colonies, and anybody else
depends on what the persons writing them have in mind.
Otherwise assume "amicable".
EVENTS SINCE 1100:
1104: The latest incarnation of the expansionists comes to power under
High Justice Daldreem. Initial attempts to push their program through
the Council of Justice fails by a narrow margin.
1105: Daldreem declares a state of emergency, assumes dictatorial
powers, and has enough support in the assorted political and
economic power centers to pull it off. Taxes (on non-supporters)
and the Assembly Peacekeepers (the military) are expanded bit by bit.
1107: Massive structural failure of the sea habitats on Sarrad kills over
99% of its population.
1109: The "Starport Massacre" of civilian protesters by Peacekeepers
crystalizes the Ildrissarian resistance, and Ildrissar revolts from
the Assembly.
1107-1110: Drenslaar is pressured to join the Assembly, but the rebellion
on Ildrissar diverts any attempt to compel union. Yarhfahl is
occupied to provide a staging ground for operations on Ildrissar.
1112: Daldreem offers the Dakaar Corporation (which had been both rebuilding
Sarrad and selling ships and guns to the Ildrissar rebels) a closer
relationship, most notably reduced tariffs and choice mining locations,
in return for its help in defeating the rebels. As this was worth
far more than what even the rich rebels were paying, Dakaar agreed.
With intelligence provided by Dakaar, and the reduction in fresh
supplies for the rebels, the Assembly Peacekeepers and their
hired mercenary units were able to break the back of the rebellion.
Ildrissar returns to the Assembly under martial law.
1113-1115: Pressure for Drenslarr to join the Assembly resumes, but from
experience gained in the Ildrissar rebellion, the Assembly opts for
slow, inexorable economic pressuer, rather than military force.
In this period a terrorist movement, apparently expatriate
Ildrissarans, targets Expansionist political and military figures and
facilities.
Political resistance to Daldreem's government grows. While no world
or surface nation openly rebells, it is clear that some are quietly
stocking supplies in preparation for an opportunity to do so. With
his support slipping as he tightens his grip, Daldreem searches for
some cause to unify the Assembly behind him. He plays up the
"foreign threat", linking the terrorist attacks with Rintarna, and
fabricating some random attacks so the public will blame the terrorists,
and by extension, Rintarna.
The Assembly's relations with the Imperium in this period are
cordial, but neutral. Relations with the Solomani are cordial, but
cool, and deteriorating due to renewed Solomani attempts to promote
the Solomani Cause on Rintarna.
Circa 300-1116 intelligence operatives note that something
important has happened within the Imperium, and by 20-1117 it becomes
clear what that was-- the assassination of Strephon.
1117: ca-90-1117 news also arrives of Dulinor's declaration on Dlan, and
that a major armed conflict is brewing in the Imperial core. Seemingly
instantly, Solomani forces are on the move and fighting takes place
in Imperial systems near Assembly space. On 152-1117 a Solomani
tanker squadron, apparently in great haste, invoked the Assembly's
Rim War-era neutrality declaration (after all, the Rim War never
officially ended) and proceeded to refuel at the outermost gas giant
of the Rothman system (2829). The moons of that GG had seen some
developement during the last century, however, including several
large mining installations and a supplementary naval station.
The station commander directed his SDB's to repel the invading
forces, but the tanker escorts destroyed both the SDB's and damaged
the naval station. Before any ships could arrive from the main
naval base deeper insystem, the Solomani had refueled and jumped out.
During the Solomani Rim War, the Assembly's neutrality was partly due
to a relative ebb in it's military strength at the time. In 1117, the
Assembly was several years into a military buildup, with perhaps the
strongest force in it's history, and had a leadership desparate for
a unifying cause. Therfore, amid slogans of "Remember Rothman!",
Daldreem declared war on the Solomani Confederation, trusting that
the Solomani's attention would be forced to remain fixed on the Imperial
forces. The Imperium, for it's part, was quick to assist this minor
ally as best it could, given that the Assembly's naval strength
was large enough and advanced enough to complicate the Solomani's
situation, though not enough to survive a prolonged fight with
main battle fleets. The Imperium also encouraged it's clients in
Reavers' Deep, such as the Principality of Caledon and the
Confederacy of Duncinae, to funnel supplies to the Assembly to
assist the war effort.
1118: The Assembly's strategy during 1117 and 1118 was one of agressive
defense of its systems with occasional raids on Solomani supply
ships and facilities. As Solomani forces were reduced to provide
ships for more critical battles to trailing, Imperial (and, eventually,
Daibei) forces reoccupied most of Urlaggash Subsector which the
Solomani had pushed through, and were making use of Assembly naval
facilities, which had not been destroyed by Solomani forces as
Imperial facilities had been. With the Solomani pushed back somewhat,
Daldreem's support was rose again, and he organized an "Assembly
Expeditionary Squadron" to further take the war to the Solomani.
1119: The Squadron, acting in concert with Federation of Daibei fleets,
weakens Solomani hold on worlds in Fahinar Subsector, and adjoining
subsectors in Daibei, Dark Nebula, and Magyar subsectors, acting
primarily as commerce raiders and occasionally taking on light
naval units.
1120-1122: The Squadron continued to be successful as the Solomani could
rarely spare the forces to hunt it down successfuly, being occupied
with a series of see-saw battles with Daibei forces. The Assembly
was in the process of organizing a second Squadron and Peacekeeper
forces to occupy nearby Solomani worlds when new Reaver bands,
acting under Solomani letters of marque, forced the Assembly to
turn those resources back to home defense. The Assembly did
occupy three Solomani worlds in Fahinar subsector, however, though
with some logistical strain.
A brief confrontation with Rintarna occured in 1121, when a force
was sent there to dissuade suspected Rintarnan support for raiders
that had been hitting the Assembly and Daibei. It was met by an
unexpectedly strong showing of Rintarnan SDB's and Monitors, and
backed off without shots being fired.
By 1122, it was clear to Admiral Yim, commander of Solomani Naval
Operations for the spinward half of the Reavers' Deep-Daibei front
that his was the only command to have actually lost SOLOMANI
territory to the enemy, and would not have the resources to
retake it anytime in the forseeable future. He collected a number
of fleets to make some hammering, destructive raids into the
Assembly and Daibei, and prevent them from exploiting his
weakened position.
1123: Early in this year, Yim's raids took place, battering Daibei forces
and devestating the Assembly. All major military bases were attacked,
and particular attention was paid to industrial centers in the
Carrillian Belt and on Lanixohn. Political and military command
centers were also targeted, and hit hard.
HARD TIMES: Yim's Raids killed High Justice Daldreem and a large portion
of the Assembly leadership from all factions. Major industrial
plant was in ruins, millions were dead, and Lanixohn's entire
ecosystem was dying off from the aftermath of the raids.
The Assembly was taken out of the war instantly, and what was
left tried to pick up the pieces.
The resorts of Drinsaar effectively held the only remaining
intact source of all Assembly records, plans, and other official
documents in databases designed to permit working vacations for
Assembly officials. Drinsaar was interdicted to all unauthorized
traffic to protect these resources. Moving them to Carrill was
deemed too risky considering the growing political instability
within the Carrillian Belt.
With the Assembly navy severely weakened by the Raids and the
supply problems they caused, the Navy reduced its role to protecting
Drinsaar, suppressing the growing resistance movements in the Carrill
Belt, and maintaining the link between the two systems. Effectively
abandoned, the spinward portions of the Assembly were left to fend
for themselves against the new Reavers.
During this time Rintarna vigorously expanded its economic
sphere, including the nearby Assembly worlds of Lanixohn and Esokhi.
As Rintarna's navy was fresh and undamaged, the Assembly was
unprepared to take exception to this in a military way. As long
as there were no interference with Assembly Navy ships and
the interdiction of Drinsaar was not contested, the Assembly was
all too happy to have these two drains on its remaining resources
protected by its former enemy.
Ildrissar reasserted its independence as soon as it could.
1131?: The Virus sweeps through assembly space and really cocks things up.
Comments? Clarifications? Conflicting information?
John H Bogan
P.S. Where in Aoreriyya would the "organized raiders" hitting Daibei
have come from. I was thinking of two sources offhand:
1) The Dakaar Corporation ("we listed those ships as 'missing' weeks
ago! They were part of a raid on Virash? Sorry to hear it.<grin>)
2) Rintarna, not so much 'from' it as 'supported' by it. after some
very flimsy laundering at Drellesarr or someplace, all those pirated
goods seem to be showing up in respectable places on Rintarna....