Rim Collection 3058 Update

In the first decade of its existence, conditions in the Rim Collection are slowly changing for the better. The confederated planets began trading grains and iron ore with the Federated Commonwealth in 3053, and the Lyran Alliance has announced its intention to continue trade relations. Planetary Councilman Roberts has begin trade negotiations between Gillfillan's Gold and the Free Worlds League, with the promise of extending all trading rights to the rest of the Collection if he succeeds. However, the immense degree of autonomy given to member worlds by the charter often slows the pace of government to a craw. Professor Moroney, seeing more possibilities for economic expansion with more centralized government control, is currently pushing for a temporary expansion of the president's powers. Councilman Roberts has emerged as the leading voice of the opposition; he and his supporters fear that any temporary change in the balance of power would become permanent, much to the council's disadvantage.

Militarily, Able's Aces has filled its part of the bargain admirably. Lacking the funds to buy large numbers of servicable BattleMechs, the Rim Collection still has only two BattleMech battalions; however, the Aces have trained several militia units on each of the six worlds to serve as a first line of defense against bandit raids. A few councilmen want the Collection to hire more mercenaries, but the Aces have stonewalled these efforts as unwanted encroachment on what they consider their turf. The Rim Collection is not yet rich enough to attract the attention of large numbers of pirates, but that could easily change within another decade or so. The pirate band known as Morrison's Extractors is the most dangerous of the Rim Collection's current enemies; the Extractors have raided outlying cities on Caldarium and Slewis with devastating effect.

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#include <stddiscl.h>

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