Outworlds Alliance 3058 Update

A New Start

True to his word, President Mitchell Avellar returned to his people two months later with a series of governmental initiatives and trade packages known as the Long Road Program. Designed to gradually reverse the nation's economic decline and breathe new life into its minimal industrial base, the Long Road Program addressed multiple solutions simultaneously. Building on the increased level of education and literacy fostered by ComStar's work toward an agreement that would allow Alliance-owned business groups to rebuild, reopen and/or improve existing Davion mining and manufacturing enterprises with the goal of creating new jobs for Alliance citizens, who were now better qualified to perform those roles. Though each Davion company may work out the specific details of its individual agreement, the main provision of the settlement between the governments calls for the Federated Commonwealth companies to provide sufficient capital to jump-start the operation and to sacrifice a minor percentage of the business's output. In return, the Alliance partner provides the work force, operating capital, and delivery to all purchasers.

Determined to give his people a tangible sign of his commitment to raising their standard of living, Avellar arranged to mint new currency. He declined to uses his own likeness as the central image, however, choosing instead a picture of the sun emerging from a cloud to remind the citizens of the realm that there was hope for their future. Mitchell also pledged a substantial percentage of his family's personal fortune to funding government-run manufacturing and mining concerns. He intends for this initiative to create new jobs and foster a national income, another effort to improve the nation's economy. Several other factors also currently serve to boost the income of the Alliance: the recently issued currency named the escudo is gaining wider-spread use; the BattleMech games on Lushann enjoy growing acceptance as a less expensive but equally entertaining alternative to the Solaris games; and several spices unique to Alliance worlds have come into greater demand throughout other Periphery realms and the Capellan Confederation.

Though President Avellar's business principles are sound and his advisors and the Executive Parliament agree with his proposed solutions, much of what he is trying to do has been repatedly delayed by the Alliance's painfully slow democratic process. Because the Parliament must approve all internal and foreign policies by unanimous vote, even the smallest reform requires lengthy deliberation and debate - and Mitchell Avellar's suggested reforms are substantial. Presiden Avellar also blames himself for some of the delays, admitting that his relative youth has caused some to question his credibility and the wisdom of his plans. His only effective response to such naysayers is to point out that he was raised practically from the cradle to assume leadership of the Outworlds Alliance, and there is no one better suited to do so. Though he hopes that his people will eventually accept his leadership on faith and on his good record, he recognizes that he might be forced to accept the assistance of media coaches to establish his credibility outside his realm.

Continuing Opposition

Led by Barnabas Hyard, chairman of the planet Baliggora, the Separatists believe that the Alliance can no longer exist as a cohesive state. This group advocates dissolving the realm and allowing the settled worlds to succeed or fail on their own, obviously trusting that individual planets will conduct their own affairs more efficiently than a central government. Though this organization boasts a devoted following of the disaffected, Huard himself lacks the charisma and leadership skills necessary to forge the Separatists into an effective political force. Until such a leader rises to the fore, this group will remain nothing more than a very vocal club of dissatisfied citizens.

In marked contrast to their traditional views, a growing number of Alliance worlds currently believe that President Avellar's reformation policies do too little for the Alliance Military Corps. Probably as a result of their exposure to our Order's philosophies regarding the deterrent value of a strong defensive force, these worlds are calling for a rapid military build-up and for immediate acquisition of Star League technology. Though counseling the wisdom of establishing a solid economic base before investing in a stronger military, Avellar's words seem to be falling on deaf ears.

Interstellar Relations

Because the Outworlds Alliance never gave much effort to maintaining communications with Inner Sphere powers other than those directly on its doorstep, Katherine Steiner-Davion's move to separate the newly christened Lyran Alliance from the Federated Commonwealth has had very little effect on the Periphery state. If not for Victor Steiner-Davion's willingness to authorize otehrs in his administration to conduct negotiations with the Periphery realms, however, this internal problem could have seriously delayed President Avellar's recovery plans.

Offering another major boost to the Outworlds Alliance's meager industrial base, the Draconis Combine recently began to subsidize increased production of aerospace fighters. The one military asset the Alliance continually supported regardless of the competence of the realm's leader, the aerospace industry remained in place and ready to implement renewed and expanded production schedules as soon as opportunity allowed.

Other Periphery Realms

Unable to offer much in the way of economic aid at present, the Magistracy of Canopus nonetheless has pledged to provide such support as soon as possible. In the emantime, the Magestrix gladly schedules the Canopian pleasure circuses for regular stops in the Alliance, events which always boost the local economy and raise the citizen's spirits.

Of the other nearby Periphery worlds, only the tiny Mica Majority possesses what can kindly be called an organized government, and Alliance merchants regualrly stop at this three-world realm to trade for the precious metals mined on the asteroids orbiting all three planets.

The nearby world of Antallos, more commonly known as Port Krin, poses a major problem for the Outworlds Alliance. President Avellar would like nothing more than to establish diplomatic relations with this pirate haven, for doing so would eliminate his realm's most constant and damaging enemy. Needless to say, no single person or band of pirates has been able to gain the upper hand on this brutal, corrupt world, and so Port Krin continues to serve as a convenient base from which bandits conduct their devastating raids against the planets of the Outworlds Alliance. Though the Alliance Military Corps is willing to mount an attack against Antallos, the probable consequences of their failure to subdue the entire planet are too terrible to risk.

The populations od Dneiper, Milligan's World, and Prinis Prime, the three Alliance worlds closest to Antallos, have gradually abandoned their holdings in the face of repeated bandit raids. The people who stubbornly refuse to give up their homes and lands are nearly self-sufficient and long ago ceased to feel any loyalty to the Alliance government.

Pirate attacks continue to represent the greatest source of trouble, both political and economic, that the Outworlds Alliance faces, and at the moment they must try to conquer that particular challenge alone.

ComStar and Word of Blake

Steady enrollment figures and the marked lack of Word of Blake factions in this Periphery realm may be traced to the same reason - the people of the Periphery have always been independent thinkers. We have always assumed that a certain percentage of our members were not true believers in the words said to belong to Jerome Blake, and though willing to follow the rules of our Order, members who came to us from the Periphery often fell into that pragmatic percentage. ComStar personnel stationed in the Periphery were chosen specifically for their ability and willingness to take initiative when necessary and for their flexibility when dealing with native populations. Even if they adhered to former ComStar doctrines to the letter, they were eminently sensible and better able to adapt to the new direction than other adepts and acolytes.

ComStar's Periphery outposts have taken on new importance since the Draconis Combine has invested in revitalizing the Explorer Corps. The HPG stations in the Outworlds Alliance, like similar stations elsewhere in the Periphery, now serve as launching points for ships in search of Clan homeworlds. This increased activity, of course, provides new jobs for locals living near the ComStar stations.

Outworlds Alliance Force Listing

Commander: President Mitchell Avellar
Aide: Senior Chairman Maurice Avellar
Regular Mech Strength: 3 Regiments
Mercenary Mech Strength: 2 Battalions

Unit Name                        Experience   Regiments  Homeworld    
The Alliance Borderers
  (CO: Chairman Fitzroy Candly)
     1st Battalion               Regular       0.33      Ramora
       (CO: Chairman David King)
     2nd Battalion               Regular       0.33      Coraines
       (CO: Chairman Ross Hibler)
     3rd Battalion               Green         0.33      Mitchella
       (CO: Chairman Russell Potter)
The Alliance Grenadiers
  (CO: Chairman Janet Rice)
     1st Battalion               Veteran       0.33      Praxton
       (CO: Chairman Cynthia Rice)
     2nd Battalion               Regular       0.33      Baliggora
       (CO: Chairman Wayne Girance)
     3rd Battalion               Regular       0.33      Ferris
       (CO: Chairman Irene Simonson)
Avellar Guards
  (CO: Chairman Douglas Carmichael)
     1st Battalion               Regular       0.33      Sevon
       (CO: Chairman Ginna Maynor)
     2nd Battalion               Regular       0.33      Alpheratz
       (CO: Chairman Michael Nielson)
     3rd Battalion               Green         0.33      Alpheratz
       (CO: Chairman Robert Timborski)
Spade's Brigade
  (CO: Captain Janey Spade)      Green         0.11      Jordan Wais
Bammer's Bunch
  (CO: Captain Harrison Bammer)  Green         0.11      Rudolpho
Golden Boys
  (CO: Major Charice Kush)       Regular       0.22      Lushann
Spade's Brigade
  (CO: Captain Amanda Huggins)   Regular       0.11      Loparri
Spade's Brigade
  (CO: Captain Seymore Hares)    Regular       0.11      Tellman IV

Comstar, BattleTech, MechWarrior, `Mech, BattleMech and select information provided in these web pages are Registered Trademarks of FASA Corporation. BattleTech is Copyright © 1996 FASA Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Usage here is not with permission and should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights and trademarks.