Terracap Confederation 3058 Update

World Name: Terra Firma

Time to Jump Point: 6 days

Recharging Station: Nadir

Recharge Time: 9 days

ComStar Facility Class: B

Noble Ruler: Unknown

Political Leader: Unknown

World Name: Capolla

Time to Jump Point: 14 days

Recharging Station: None

Recharge Time: 14 days

ComStar Facility Class: B

Noble Ruler: Unknown

Political Leader: Unknown

The Terracap Confederation consists of the worlds of Terra Firma and Capolla. Both former Terran Hegemony worlds were captured by the Capellan Confederation in 2785, and they remained under Liao rule until the Fourth Succession War, when they were captured by the Federated Commonwealth. Both worlds sustained diverse economies, with industries including interstellar commerce, high technology manufacturing, and agriculture. In addition, Capolla contains numerous sources of ores and other raw materials. Both the Liao and Davion governments granted Terra Firma and Capolla considerable autonomy, and the populations of both worlds lived in relative peace and prosperity for hundreds of years.

However, that peace was broken in 3057, when Liao-backed guerilla movements began staging hit-and-run attacks on the Lyran units that garrisoned the worlds. However, these movements achieved little success even after many members of the garrison units left following the creation of the Lyran Alliance. The balance of forces on Terra Firma and Capolla shifted drastically, however, with the arrival of the Blackhearts, a mercenary group allegedly contracted by Free Worlds leader Thomas Marik to support the Liao-formented rebellions. Backed by the mercenaries' 'Mechs, the Liaoist guerillas succeeded in defeating the remaining Lyran garrison units.

The guerilla victories on both worlds proved short-lived, however, apparently for two reasons. First, the movements received little popular support on either planet. Second, the vicious fighting polarized the populations of Terra Firma and Capolla, leading to the formation of guerilla groups supporting the FedCom cause. Neither the Liao nor FedCom loyalists were strong enough to defeat the other, however, and both planets fell into anarchic civil wars. The battles raged for weeks, then months, further deepening the animosity of all factions, until any type of settlement seemed impossible.

The inhabitants of Terra Firma and Capolla seened destined to suffer years of bloodshed until a new mercenary unit - the Fist of Mokal - landed on Terra Firma. Despite the mercenary unit's infamous record on Sheratan, a separatist faction on the planet formed an alliance with the Fist. Bolstered by the strength afforded their side by the mercenaries' 'Mechs, the separatist troops easily defeated their opponents within three weeks. In return for their help, the mercenaries were designated as the planet's standing army. Within days, the new government of Terra Firma sent a contingent of troops and Fist 'Mechs to Capolla to aid a separatist movement that had requested help. A few days later, the leaders of Terra Firma and Capolla proclaimed the creation of the Terracap Confederation and announced their intention to follow a policy of non alignment with any Great House. Despite the new governments' requests for diplomatic recognition, no Inner Sphere power has yet recognized the Confederation as a sovereign state.

The fighting has left both Terra Firma and Capolla devastated. On Terra Firma, only two of the planet's thirty-six spaceports remain operational. On Capolla, only one spaceport of twenty-one is open to traffic. These operational spaceports - located near each planet's largest cities - are guarded by garrisons of the Fist of Mokal. Both planets' manufacturing facilities and cities contain vast tracts of rubble, and precious farmlands have been burned. Only Terra Firma's vast forest - the Okeenog Woodlands - and Capolla's numerous jungles escaped the devastation.

Like the Saiph Triumvirate, the Terracap Confederation is struggling to survive. Aside from FedCom operatives stirring up a certain amount of trouble on Terra Firma, Terracap faces no particularly strong outside threat, but it may succumb to a thorny internal problem.

The Terra Firma government is run by the bullies and thugs of the Fist of Mokal. When the separatists on Terra Firma first allied with the Fist, they believed they could use the mercenaries to gain power and then persuade them to leave. Instead, the mercenaries took control of the planet. The supposed request from Capolla for the mercenaries' aid was simply a pretext to assume control of that planet. Initially, the war-weary inhabitants of Terra Firma and Capolla welcomed the military regime, thankful for its successful efforts to restore order. That sentiment began changing, however, soon after the military government announced a state of emergency and revoked essentially all private rights. Faced with the task of revuilding the entire infrastructure on both planets, the new government began drafting citizens into work brigades. On Capolla, the government also took control of nearly all of that planet's ore mines. These actions, as well as severe shortages of food and other basic necessities, have led some Liao and FedCom loyalists to set aside their mutual distrust and begin waging a joing guerilla war against the military government. The government has reacted by rounding up hundreds of suspected guerilla sympathizers and creating paramilitary death squads to assassinate its critics.

Capolla's leaders have finally had enough; they have pooled their limited resources and are hiring mercenaries to destroy the Fist of Mokal 'Mech company stationed on their world. The Capollan government is also preparing for probably retaliation by Terra Firma if they manage to accomplish their goal. Desperate to remain free, the Capollan government is considering opening negotiations with the Federated Commonwealth in the hopes that the presence of Federated Commonwealth troops will guarantee the planet's safety.

The Terracap Federation hires few mercenaries, and only units desperate for work take Terracap contracts. Any unit with better choices available will avoid having to deal with the Terracap government's instavility and the probability of incurring the wrath of the Fist of Mokal for poaching on their turf. Units hired by the Terracap Confederation can expect to see all sorts of problems, from absent supplies to conflicting orders to aggression from the Fist of Mokal. Assignments from the Terracap Confederation vary wildly, and often turn into different missions virtually overnight. This state of affairs is ripe for contract disputes that can easily turn violent.

Within six months, the Capollan government will have enough troops to crush the company of Fist 'Mechs and free up the mines. When the remaining Fist of Mokal forces travel to Capolla to wipe out the government, they will walk into numerous traps laid by the Capollans to stop them. Unable to complete their task, the Mokal will return to Terra Firma. Capolla will enjoy brief freedom, but pirate attacks and raids by Mokal forces will soon topple the Capollan government and reduce the world to anarchy.

Defending Forces

Unit Name                       Expernce     Homeworld       Faction 
Jeffrey's Own                   Veteran      Terra Firma     Terracap Confederation
  (CO: Major William Jeffreys)
  (1 company)
The Fist of Mokal               Veteran      Terra Firma     Terracap Confederation
  (CO: Captain Rocco Valdez)
  (1 company)                                     
Deliah's Gauntlet               Regular      Capolla         Terracap Confederation
  (CO: Captain Deliah Finn)
  (1 company)