Styk Commonality 3058 Update

World Name: Styk

Time to Jump Point: 4 days

Recharging Station: Zenith

Recharge Time: 11 days

ComStar Facility Class: B

Noble Ruler: Unknown

Political Leader: Unknown

World Name: Gan Singh

Time to Jump Point: 13 days

Recharging Station: None

Recharge Time: 12 days

ComStar Facility Class: B

Noble Ruler: Unknown

Political Leader: Unknown

The worlds of Styk and Gan Singh comprise the defensive alliance known as the Styk Commonality. Both worlds were sttled during the late twenty-second century, during one of the early waves of migration from Terra. Styk's impressive industrial base and the rich farmland and natural resources of Gan Singh made the worlds valuable members of the Tikonov Grand Union. In 2366, Styk, Gan Singh, and the other worlds of the Tikonov Union joined the Capellan Confederation in response to growing Davion aggression. Styk later became an important center of trade and industry for the Confederation. Both worlds were captured by Federated Commonwealth forces during the Fourth Succession War. Much of Styk's famous Tao Mechworks was destroyed by fleeing Liao forces at that time, but within a few years the Federated Commonwealth had rebuilt the facility.

Under Melissa Steiner-Davion's rule, both Styk and Gan Singh received generous aid to rebuild their economies, and the populations of both worlds seemed to adjust well to the rule of the Federated Commonwealth. Following the Archon's death, however, the Federated Commonwealth's Davion rulers saw the first stirrings of anti-Commonwealth terrorism begin in the mid 3050s. By 3057, both worlds were experiencing frequent bank robberies and shoot-outs between terrorists and planetary authorities. On Styk, Commonwealth troops had even become the target of frequent bombings.

Then in September 3057, Archon Katrina Steiner-Davion announced the formation of the Lyran Alliance and invited all Lyran military units to return to Steiner space. Shortly after this announcement, Styk's defenders - the Third Donegal Guards - abandoned the planet. Despite Styk's strategic importance, the Federated Commonwealth did not replace the troops. Within days of the Guards' departure, the planetary government disintegrated.

Following the fall of Styk's Federated Commonwealth governor, most observers expected Styk's new government to assume a pro-Capellan stance. This assumption was bolstered when the new regime sent a contingent of unidentified mercenaries in its employ to aid the anti-Commonwealth rebellion on nearby Gan Singh. Following the success of that action two weeks later, the new rulers of Styk and Gan Singh surprised observers by announcing the creation of the independent Styk Commonality. Within days the fledgling alliance had applied for and received diplomatic recognition from New Avalon and Atreus.

The future of the Styk Commonality appears uncertain. Styk itself boasts a large number of commercial spaceports and industrial facilities, including the Tao Mechworks. These assets are complemented by Gan Singh's vast supply of raw materials and agricultural capacity. In addition, the Commonality's location facilitates convenient trade with the Free Worlds League and the Federated Commonwealth. How the Commonality plans to defend those assets remains unknown, though unidentified mercenary groups are currently stationed on both Styk and Gan Singh. Little beyond their size is known of these units.

Styk is a heavily industrialized world that supports a medium-sized population. The majority of this population lives in several large cities located on the planet's nine continents. These land masses cover 22 percent of Styk's surface; salwater oceans cover the rest. Gan Singh supports a slightly smaller population. The planet's northern and southern seas contain four temperate continents of rolling hills, and two large tropical continents are located near Gan Singh's equator. Farmlands cover nearly 85 percent of these tropical areas and approximately 45 percent of the temperate lands. About 80 percent of the population live in medium-sized cities located in the temperate continents.

Despite its precarious position between the Free Worlds League and the Capellan Confederation, the Styk Commonality has a good chance of remaining a viable state. The separatist forces that overthrew the pro-Liao rebels are well-funded by Richard Humphreys, fifth son of the deceased Duchess Catherine Humphreys of Andurien. The Humphreys family has taken advantage of events in the Chaos March to stir up additional trouble, supporting planets and alliances that are most likely to cause problems for Thomas Marik and Sun-Tzu Liao. As hereditary rulers of the Duchy of Andurien, the Humphreys family is bitterly opposed to the alliance between the League and the Confederation and will do whatever they can to unravel it.

The Commonality's lack of regualr forces is a problem that will continue to plague the alliance for some years. The Styk Academy of War, currently under construction, will be delayed indefinitely due to a lack of adequate instructors and other factors; therefore, the Commonality cannot expect to train soldiers except to serve in infantry units. In addition, to gain a badly needed influx of cash, the Tao Mechworks factory on Styk pledged 100 percent of its production to the Federated Commonwealth for the next two decades. However, Archon Prince Victor is considering granting the Commonality a percentage of this yearly production in exchange for an oath of fealty and a promise that the Commonality government will hire troops to harass nearby Liao-held worlds. Like the Sarna Supremacy, the Styk Commonality highly regards its mercenary forces and pays them their due. Not interested in conquest for the present, the Commonality government uses its hired soldiers to protect its borders and guarantee the safety of its mercantile fleet. Most assignments offered by the Commonality are defensive, though sometimes the Commonality government sends mercenary troops to accompany commercial trading vessels.

The Commonality government has begun trading with the troubled Saiph Triumvirate and the worlds of the League's Zion province. It refuses to trade with the Capellan Confederation, but also does not intend to mount direct aggression against that House. For the immediate future, the Commonality plans to keep a low profile and wait to see how events shape up in the Chaos March.

Depending on the gamemaster's choice, the government of the Styk Commonality may be receiving covert aid from Thomas Marik, Victor Davion, or both. Both leaders benefit by denying Sun-Tzu access to the Tao Mechworks on Styk, and the Commonality also serves as a buffer between the Capellan Confederation and the Free Worlds League. Both leaders may also be attempting to deny Katrina Steiner-Davion an opportunity to ally with the Commonality worlds. Thomas Marik would prefer to aid the Commonality covertly to avoid jeopardizing his strategic alliance with Sun-Tzu Liao, and Victor would choose the same course because his limited supply of JumpShips does not permit him to aid the Commonality openly. The Commonality is also one of the few locations in the Chaos March where Sun-Tzu's Zhanzheng de guang guerillas wield little influence following the rebellions on the planets.

Defending Forces

Unit Name                     Expernce         Homeworld     Faction 
Assorted Merc Units           Green-Regular    Styk          Styk Commonality
  (2 battalions)
Assorted Merc Units           Green-Regular    Gan Singh     Styk Commonality
  (1 battalion)