Magistracy of Canopus 3058 Update

The Magestrix's planned Periphery-wide alliance never materialized, but the initiative did produce new diplomatic relations and trade agreements with several Periphery powers, including the Magistracy's powerful neighbor, the Taurian Concordat. In the wake of the Clan defeat at Tukayyid, the Magistracy focused increased attention on its diplomatic relations with the Concordat. On May 4, 3056, those efforts culminated in a treaty allying the two Periphery powers. In the treaty, the Concordat agreed to help the Magistracy build several new 'Mech factories. In return, the Canopians granted the Concordat favored trade status. The treaty also led to a joint Canopian-Taurian colonization effort, which has so far achieved only marginal success.

Interstellar Relations

The Magistracy of Canopus maintains diplomatic relations with nearly all Inner Sphere and Periphery powers, largely as a result of Magestrix Emma Centrella's commitment to diplomacy.

ComStar and Word of Blake

The Magistracy if the only Periphery realm with large numbers of both ComStar and Word of Blake personnel. The Word of Blake's continued effort to drive our Order from the Magistracy has produced massive communications delays, as their operatives refuse to send or relay messages from ComStar HPG stations. Recently, this campaign of intransigence culminated in the brutal assassination of several ComStar acolytes on the world of Harminous.

Despite such flagrant violations of internationally accepted conduct, ComStar remains committed to its mission in the Magistracy and will continue to use appropriate means to fulfill that mission. To this end, ComStar operatives will continue efforts to reclaim stations appropriated by the Word of Blake renegades. Additionally, ComStar will continue its policy of noncooperation with Word of Blake HPG stations and continue its drive to open new HPG stations on Magistracy worlds.

Free Worlds League

Relations between the Magistracy and the Free Worlds League remain strained at this time. Thomas Marik, though reputedly a peaceful man, has apparently grown disturbed at the growing power of the Magistracy, especially in light of its alliance with the Taurian Concordat. Despite assurances from the Magistracy, Marik seems unconvinced that the Canopian-Taurian alliance poses no threat to his realm.

Despite these conditions, trade between the two states remains healthy. Goods flow freely between Canopian and Marik worlds, and Canopian traders are a welcome sight in many Free Worlds systems. The populations of many planets withing the League, including Atreus itself, regard Canopian pleasure circuses highly.

Capellan Confederation

Mutual suspicion and animosity have colored relations between the Canopians and the Capellans throughout the history of the two realms. Although Emma Centrella's rise to power has eased tensions somewhat between the two nations, many Capellans still remember the Canopian-Andurien invasion of the Confederation in 3030 and remain hostile toward the Magistracy.

During the reign of Romano Liao, the Magestrix publicly denounced alleged Capellan human rights abuses. As a result, Romano prohibited any diplomatic contact with the Magistracy. After Romano's death and Sun-Tzu's rise to the Chancellorship, relations between the two realms slowly began to change. And when the Canopians announced their new alliance with the Taurians in 3056, Sun-Tzu quickly reopened diplomatic channels with the Magistracy.

Despite their diplomatic ties, both realms remain suspicious of one another. Sun-Tzu has repeatedly criticized the Canopian-Taurian alliance as a destabilizing, aggressive compact and has repeatedly informed the Canopians and Taurians that he will not tolerate any incursions into his realm. Meanwhile, the Magestrix has repeatedly expressed concern that the Confederation is supplying BattleMechs to Caesar Sean O'Reilly of the Marian Hegemony, although she has been unable to produce any evidence of such sales.

Despite its diplomatic ties with the Magistracy, the Confederation still maintains its long-standing prohibition against Canopian traders and pleasure circuses in Capellan space. This prohibition extends to Liao worlds captured by the Federated Commonwealth and those in the St. Ives Compact. Canopian leaders, however, have made only superficial efforts to stop the flow of Canopian goods and circuses into the Confederation. As a result of these policies, a thriving black market has evolved on Capellan worlds bordering the Magistracy, and smugglers have become common in these systems.

ROM analysts estimate that the Capellan black market in Canopian goods and services generates nearly 100 million C-bills per year. Despite this growing phenomenon, the Capellan government has made only halfhearted efforts to eradicate the market. Apparently, many of the smugglers who supply the market and the traders who deal in contraband provide considerable sums of money to the Capellan authorities in charge of border security. In return, they are allowed to operate without government interference.

In recent years, the Capellan-Canopian border worlds have also become favored exit points for Capellan dissidents fleeing the Confederation, as well as entry points for Magistracy Intelligence Ministry operatives infiltrating the Liao realm. Given these developments, it seems only a matter of time before the Capellans institute stricter border controls in these areas.

Federated Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance

The Magistracy maintains friendly relations with the Federated Commonwealth. In return for Commonwealth support of the Canopian-Taurian alliance, the Magestrix has granted Federated Commonwealth firms privileged trade status within the Magistracy. In turn, the Federated Commonwealth has invested heavily in the Magistracy and has promised future aid.

Despite the secession of the Lyran Alliance, the Magistracy has continued to do business with the Federated Commonwealth and maintained diplomatic ties with the distant Alliance.

Other Periphery States

Canopian relations with the Marian Hegemony remain highly strained. The Hegemony responded to the Magestrix's proposed Periphery alliance in 3051 by raiding nearly every realm within its reach. When Hegemony forces invaded the Lothian League, the tiny state pleaded for help from the Canopians. The Magestrix provided economic and medical assistance but declined to offer any military aid. This refusal caused the Magistracy to lose much of its influence in the League and its closest neighbor, the Illyrian Palatinate. Both the Lothians and the Illyrians accused the Magistracy of abandoning the League to the vicious Hegemony. Eventually the Magistracy did offer some covert military support, but not enough to prevent the Hegemony from conquering the Lothian League in late 3056.

Since then, we have learned that the Magistracy Intelligence Ministry attempted to assassinate O'Reilly at the war's close. Canopian agents had slipped on to the Hegemony capital world of Alphard and taken up positions near O'Reilly's palace. When O'Reilly returned to his home, the agents ambushed him. O'Reilly's guards defeated the agents, but not before they wounded the leader. Apparently, O'Reilly was unable to deduce the origin of the assassination attempt.

Despite Illyrian anger over the relative Canopian inaction during the war, the Palatinate continues to trade with the Magistracy, and Canopian firms have been quick to exploit the work force created by the large influx of war refugees to the tiny Scandinavian state.

The Magistracy enjoys friendly relations with the Outworlds Alliance. Though quite distant from each other, the two states have worked hard to foster cooperation and commerce between their populations. With few other allies, the Alliance prizes its relations with the Canopians. Reportedly, the Magestrix has expressed the hope that one day the Outworlds Alliance will join the Canopian-Taurian alliance.

Canopian delegates have received a warm welcome from the small Circinus Federation as well, but the two realms have yet to forge any solid diplomatic ties. This failure seems to be the result of the near-constant upheavals that currently plague the Federation.

Canopian relations with the young Rim Collection have also been warm, but not particularly productive. The Magestrix has promised any support she can to the new state, but many of the Collection's fiercely independent leaders regard such offerings with suspicion.

Despite setbacks and delays, the Magestrix has doggedly pursued her program of diplonatic initiatives aimed at uniting the Periphery states. Those endeavors have aided by the Canopians' position of relative strength, which seems likely to grow if the Magistracy remains on its present course.

Magistracy of Canopus Force Listing

(Deployment as of 3058)

Note that * denotes a new colony.

Commander: Magistrix Emma Centrella
Aides: Senior Colonels Holly Van Dame, Trisha Tellaverde, and Norbert Kingelt
Regular Mech Strength: 17 Regiments
Mercenary Mech Strength: 5 Regiments, 1 Battalion

Magistracy Royal Guards
  (CO: Colonel Vernyce Alkobar)
     Unit Name                  Experience    Regiments  Homeworld    
     Raventhir's Iron Hand       Veteran       1.00      Canopus IV
       (CO: Major Mariann Tudor)
     1st Canopian Cuirassiers    Veteran       1.00      Canopus IV
       (CO: Major Margaret Zachara)
     2nd Canopian Cuirassiers    Regular       1.00      Canopus IV  
       (CO: Major Joseph Wulf)

Chasseurs a Cheval
  (CO: Colonel Cynthia Evans)
     Unit Name                  Experience    Regiments  Homeworld    
     1st Canopian Light Horse    Regular       1.00      Megarez
       (CO: Major Darlene Ishora)
     2nd Canopian Light Horse    Green         1.00      Fanandir
       (CO: Major Ardie Germaine)
     3rd Canopian Light Horse    Regular       1.00      Adherlwin
       (CO: Major Betty Kadara)

Canopian Fusiliers
  (CO: Colonel Sandra Aupriz)
     Unit Name                  Experience    Regiments  Homeworld    
     1st Canopian Fusiliers      Green         1.00      Lindermarle
       (CO: Major Darlene McKinnon)
     2nd Canopian Fusiliers      Regular       1.00      Afarsin
       (CO: Major Rita Stoleburg)
     3rd Canopian Fusiliers      Green         1.00      Marantha
       (CO: Major William Sangrey)

Canopian Highlanders
  (CO: Colonel Oscar Long)
     Unit Name                  Experience    Regiments  Homeworld    
     Long's Light Lancers        Green         1.00      Dainmar Majoris
       (CO: Major Daniel Hale)
     McGraw's Marauders          Veteran       1.00      Dunianshire      
       (CO: Major Judith Wood)
     Nellie's Naughties          Green         1.00      Luxen
       (CO: Major Dorothy Skaw)

Harcourt's Destructors
  (CO: Colonel Kamala Rahman)
     Unit Name                  Experience    Regiments  Homeworld
     Harcourt's Aliens           Regular       1.00      Brixtana
       (CO: Major Sheila Joncas)
     Drummond's Destructors      Regular       1.00      New Abilene
       (CO: Major Alesha Lorre)

Ramilie's Raiders
  (CO: Colonel Newton Ramilie)
     Unit Name                  Experience    Regiments  Homeworld
     Command Battalion           Elite         0.33      Early Dawn
       (CO: Major Paula Nupen)
     Assault Battalion           Veteran       0.33      Early Dawn
       (CO: Major Nicholas Ramilie)
     Caesar's Cohorts            Regular       0.33      Lockton
       (CO: Major Worrell Orosco)

1st Screaming Eagles
  (CO: Colonel Paul Hokola)
     Unit Name                  Experience   Regiments  Homeworld    
     1st Battalion               Veteran       0.33     Booker
       (CO: Major Caroline Kenning)
     2nd Battalion               Veteran       0.33     Bass
       (CO: Major Thomas Raney)
     3rd Battalion               Regular       0.33     Bethonolog
       (CO: Major Kenneth Frear)

2nd Screaming Eagles
  (CO: Colonel Zarfina Warrick)
     Unit Name                  Experience   Regiments  Homeworld    
     1st Battalion               Regular       0.33     Gambilion
       (CO: Major Byron Tarkington)
     2nd Battalion               Regular       0.33     Palladix
       (CO: Major Christine Dankert)
     3rd Battalion               Green         0.33     Techne's Revenge
       (CO: Major Gilbert Webb)

Magistracy Cavaliers
  (CO: Colonel Kevin Thorn)
     Unit Name                  Experience   Regiments  Homeworld    
     1st Battalion               Green         0.33     Addhara
       (CO: Major Dillon Wentworth)
     2nd Battalion               Green         0.33     Thraxa
       (CO: Major Phil McCrakken)
     3rd Battalion               Green         0.33     Thraxa
       (CO: Major Dushann Frost)

1st Raventhir Footmen
  (CO: Colonel Mavis Cooper)
     Unit Name                  Experience   Regiments  Homeworld    
     1st Battalion               Green         0.33     Cate's Hold
       (CO: Major Devon Elnes)
     2nd Battalion               Green         0.33     Gallis
       (CO: Major Irene Bourcy)
     3rd Battalion               Green         0.33     Royal Foxx
       (CO: Major Holly Bradlund)

2nd Raventhir Footmen
  (CO: Colonel Geir Hedman)
     Unit Name                  Experience   Regiments  Homeworld    
     1st Battalion               Green         0.33     Candiear
       (CO: Major Craig Hill)
     2nd Battalion               Green         0.33     Borgan's Rift
       (CO: Major Joseph Effinger)
     3rd Battalion               Green         0.33     Kossandra's Memory *
       (CO: Major Winston Bush)

Mercenaries
     Unit Name                  Experience   Regiments  Homeworld    
     The Dragonslayers           Veteran       0.33     Unknown
       (CO: Colonel Kitiara Galland)
     Green Mountain Boys         Veteran       0.33     Detroit *
       (CO: Major Ethan Allen)
     Lethal Injection            Regular       0.66     Hardcore
       (CO: Colonel Ryan O'Neil)

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#include <stddiscl.h>

Will Day < wd@firstcircuit.net >
John Dutka < jdutka@pcnet.com >
Sep 23, 1996