History of the Outer Colonies
Extracts from: History of the Outer Colonies
(Port Stanley free press, 3066)

1. Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Origin and Founding

2. Battle of Port Stanley (2790-94): Fighting for Survival

3. A new start: Birth of the Council of 11

4. Shattered Dreams: arrival of the Minnesota Tribe

5. Quantum-Tech Industries: Peace through overwhelming firepower

6. Flames of War: The Clan invasion

7. Out of the frying pan, into the fire: End of the Clan threat and the FedCom Civil War

8. Deadliest of Enemies: Dealing with the Clans

9. A friend in need is a friend indeed: Allies and Enemies

Part 1: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
(Origin and Founding)

"Here's everything I know about war: somebody wins, somebody loses, and nothing is ever the same again."
Unknown SLDF Sergeant

The worlds that now make up the Outer Colonies started out as a base of operation for the SLDF, during the Reunification war.

The first base was founded on the world of Port Stanley in 2553 and a Castle Brian Fortress was built. Soon extra buildings and fortifications where added and a relatively insignificant base became a thriving metropolis in its own right. Other bases sprang up on the surrounding worlds, ranging from agricultural communities to R&D facilities tasked with keeping the SLDF one step ahead of the local worlds. It was at this point that work on the Clark Orbital station began.

Port Stanley became one of the largest SLDF base in the Periphery, second only to New Vandenberg.

When word reached the General Kerensky in May of 2767 of Stephan Amaris’ betrayal and the slaughter of the House of Cameron, he made peace with the Periphery states he had been sent to bring to heal, and headed back to Terra, leaving the SLDF bases under the protection of the 7^th Armoured Division, with orders to hold the worlds until he sent for them or came back.

The General left behind vast stores and hundreds of BattleMechs, Vehicles, Fighters, DropShips, JumpShips and Warships. Although it is true that these war machines where not necessarily top-of-the-line by Star League standards, they where much more advanced than anything the local systems could field and the 7^th Armoured was able to extend its influence to cover over a dozen worlds.

They stood guard and waited for orders from home.

After General Aleksandr Kerensky had avenged the House of Cameron by crushing Amaris in 2784 and it became clear that the Star League was going to fall apart as the Council Lords thought over the First Lords throne, the Port Stanley garrison was all but forgotten.

This was the time that General Kerensky decided upon the course of action that became known as Operation Exodus. Orders were sent to the 7^th Armoured Division to dismantle the R&D and Manufacturing centres on the worlds they controlled, load up what supplies and equipment they could and to bring them with them on the Exodus.

It goes without saying that the loyal troops of the 7^th would have followed this order, but fate intervened.

It is not know to this day what caused the order to be delayed, but it was not delivered until two years after General Kerensky had left. Missions sent to try and find the General and his followers failed: the 7^th found it’s self an army without a General or a home, defending an area of space that no-one laid claim to but themselves.

Deciding to follow the essence of the orders, the SLDF troops severed all ties with the Inner Sphere and covered their tracks to make it look like they had left with Kerensky: the HPG relay stations linking Port Stanley to the Inner Sphere where taken off-line and mothballed. Patrols were set to guard the enclave from the power-hungry Council Lords and other who would use the technological treasure-trove to their own ends.

More missions where sent to find General Kerensky: disguised a merchant ship’s, SLDF crews scoured the area of space along Kerensky’s last known course, but nothing was ever found.

Over night, the uneasy peace that had stopped the numerous hostile powers in the region for attacking the scattered Star League outposts ended. With only a single division of troops and a handful of outdated Warships left to try and defend two dozen planets, the remaining High Command ordered the withdrawal of all troops to just two worlds: Port Stanley and New Jersey.

Port Stanley was always the more likely target: the extensive production facilities in and around Fox Bay, and the shipyards in orbit, made the world strategically important to anyone who hoped to control the region. For this reason, the bulk of the ground forces where deployed on Port Stanley, mainly around the cities of Fox Bay, and the planetary capital, San Carlos.

The first attack came in early 2789, and was easily beaten back in orbit, but cost two Warships destroyed, five more damaged. It also proved that the orbital defence system was inoperative. More raids followed, until one nation launched an all out invasion at the end of January, 2790.

Despite the best effort of the ships in orbit, the invaders were able to land two brigades on planet, facing an almost identical number of defenders.

The fighting around San Carlos centred on the planetary defence headquarters buried under Mount Longdon and the nearby Port Howard spaceport. These were defended by a mix of armour and infantry, supported by the vast array of static weapons emplacements embedded in the mountain.

The battles in and around Fox Bay was a different matter entirely: both sides used BattleMech's almost exclusively, and in roughly even numbers. The flat, open sub-arctic tundra surrounding the city allowed for fast, high mobility warfare: both sides reputably charged each others lines, looking for a weakness.

Days became weeks, weeks months, until finally the defenders won what had become a battle of attrition: the sprawling factory complexes outside Fox Bay provided an unending supply of spare parts and ammunition. The cities large civilian population, many of who worked at the same factories that built the BattleMech's, were often more than capable of piloting them.

With orbital re-supply out of the question due to complete air supremacy by SLDF warships in orbit, the invaders were forced to sue for terms, before finally being forced off world.

With the battle over, the true cost could be counted: over three hundred BattleMech's lay strew across the continent of Fitzroy, almost two thirds of them from the attacking force. Over a hundred SLDF pilots were killed or injured, along with almost a hundred more militia and civilian volunteers. Large parts of Fox Bay had been badly damaged in the fighting, but the irreplaceable factories were relatively untouched by the fighting.

Ever vigilant, the 7^th waited for General Kerensky’s return.

Part 2: Battle of Port Stanley (2790-94)
(Fighting for Survival)

"Requested items: One Mark V ECM unit, 1000 meters of fullerene cable, one low yield nuclear warhead.
Stated purpose: surprise birthday party for foreign dignitary."

OCDF Special Operations Service requisition form, 2795

Over night, the uneasy peace that had stopped the numerous hostile powers in the region for attacking the scattered Star League outposts ended. With only a single division of troops and a handful of outdated Warships left to try and defend two dozen planets, the remaining High Command ordered the withdrawal of all troops to just two worlds: Port Stanley and New Jersey.

Port Stanley was always the more likely target: the extensive production facilities in and around Fox Bay, and the shipyards in orbit, made the world strategically important to anyone who hoped to control the region. For this reason, the bulk of the ground forces where deployed on Port Stanley, mainly around the cities of Fox Bay, and the planetary capital, San Carlos.

The first attack came in early 2789, and was easily beaten back in orbit, but cost two Warships destroyed, five more damaged. It also proved that the orbital defence system was inoperative. More raids followed, until one nation launched an all out invasion at the end of January, 2790.

Despite the best effort of the ships in orbit, the invaders were able to land two brigades on planet, facing an almost identical number of defenders. The fighting around San Carlos centred on the planetary defence headquarters buried under Mount Longdon and the nearby Port Howard spaceport. These were defended by a mix of armour and infantry, supported by the vast array of static weapons emplacements embedded in the mountain.

The battles in and around Fox Bay was a different matter entirely: both sides used BattleMech's almost exclusively, and in roughly even numbers. While the invaders used a several different designs, the defending SLDF units used mainly Orions and Battlemasters. The flat, open sub-arctic tundra surrounding the city allowed for fast, high mobility warfare: both sides reputably charged each others lines, looking for a weakness.

Use of the 1T variant Battlemasters provided the defenders with considerable firepower and thick armour, allowing them to withstand attack after attack. Entire battalions of Battlemasters acted as mobile reinforcements, often force-marching for hours to get to the site of an attack and plug any gaps in the line.

Days became weeks, weeks became months and months became years, until finally the defenders won what had become a battle of attrition. The sprawling factory complexes outside Fox Bay provided an unending supply of spare parts and ammunition, while the cities large civilian population, many of who worked at the same factories that built the BattleMech's, were often more than capable of piloting them. With orbital re-supply out of the question due to complete air supremacy by SLDF warships in orbit, the invaders were forced to sue for terms, before finally being forced off world.

With the battle over, the true cost could be counted: over three hundred BattleMech's lay strew across the continent of Fitzroy, almost two thirds of them from the attacking force. Over a hundred SLDF pilots were killed or injured, along with almost a hundred more militia and civilian volunteers. Large parts of Fox Bay had been badly damaged in the fighting, but the irreplaceable factories were relatively untouched by the fighting.

When it was decided to erected a memorial to those killed and injured in the fighting, the battle damaged head of a Battlemaster was selected as a fitting tribute.

Part 3: A New Start
(Birth of the Council of 11)

“Democracy may be only a few steps removed from Anarchy, but at least it's not as loud...”

The Right Honourable Helena Q. Stark, inauguration speech, 3060

To govern the ten worlds they now controlled, the SLDF troops set up democratic governments: each world elects a representative to serve for 6 standard-years. These representatives became the core of the government. Each planetary representative attends the assembly hall on Port Stanley to represent their world in the Council of 11, the central governing body that is responsible for deciding on that mater concerning the Colonies as a whole.

This de-centralised government has more power then it seams.

The 11^th member of the Council is the commanding officer of the OCDF, who casts the deciding vote in case of a tiebreak. There are several guidelines in place to keep any of the Council members from gaining too much power: the lessons learned with the fall of the Star League where put to good use.

It is hoped that the Council of 11 is as open to the populace as is possible and is fully accountable to the people of the Colony worlds. Strange as this form of government may seam, it’s worked for 300 years with no major trouble.

Part 4: Shattered Dreams
(Arrival of the Minnesota Tribe)

"If everything seems to be going well, then you have obviously don't know what's really going on."

Murphy

In 2832 the ‘Minnesota Tribe’ reached the planet of Rorke’s Drift, a small agricultural world on the edge of what was by then called The Outer Colonies. Upon finding that they where descended from Kerensky’s followers, the Council welcomed them with open arms.

They’re where some questions about the vale of secrecy they kept them selves in and they seemed worried that the Outer Colonies where also descended from SLDF units.

When the truth of what had become of Kerensky’s followers became known, the Council was shocked and appalled at the harsh measures that the General’s son Nicholas had imposed, a vote on what to do: make contact with the Clans, or stay apart and see what happened.

The vote was unanimous: The Clans would be left alone unless they changed their ways. The last hopes of the 7^th Armoured being able to join their fellow SLDF officers in exile died and Kerensky’s personal standard, a flag that had flown over the original Port Stanley Castle Brian for over 70-years was lowered to half-mast, where it remains to this day.

The Minnesota Tribe was granted the world of Rorke’s Drift, and withdrew into there own community, shunning outside contact for any but the most important reasons. It is believed that this was as much to defend the Outer Colonies as the Minnesota Tribe: had the other Clans become a where of their location, they would have fallen on them to finish the job they had started in 2823.

Part 5: Quantum-Tech Industries
(Peace Through Overwhelming Firepower)

"Our business is war.
Business is good."
Unknown QTI Executive

In 2914, the Council of 11 decided that the red tape that surrounded selling old and surplus Mech’s to the Periphery worlds that surround the Outer Colonies, thus providing us with an extra layer of protection, was too much to bear. Several ideas where discussed and in the end Quantum-Tech Industries was created to act as a go-between for the selling of military hardware to friendly states and, covertly, to curtain elements of the Inner Sphere.

This act, although dangerous, was hoped that the technological decline could be, if not stopped, then slowed. Although Q.T.I. is technically an independent company, it is owned lock, stock and barrel by The Outer Colonies government.

The largest privately owned corporation in the Outer Colonies is the monolithic Hark Corporation, but they have no involvement in military development or manufacture, preferring to remain in the civilian sector.

Part 6: Flames of War
(The Clan invasion)

"Put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry."

Valentine Blacker

(1728-1823)

When the Clan’s invaded the Inner Sphere in 3049, the largest fleet of Outer Colonies ships ever assembled prepared to depart. Inelegance missions departed to the War-Zone so we could decide whose side we would be on: Clan or Inner Sphere.

When we heard that the Clan’s had not changed since the attempted destruction of Clan Wolverine (The Minnesota Tribe to us), we prepared to defend the Successor States from those we had hopped to someday call comrades. Some units assigned to the expedition requested reassignment: the thought of going up against the descendants of General Kerensky’s army was a bitter pill to swallow.

Hundreds of Warships, JumpShips and DropShips where sent to Rockall and from there towards the Rim Collection. Thousands of Mech, Fighters and Vehicles, some not used since the end of the Reunification War, were loaded into cargo DropShips and made ready for use by the armies of the Successor States.

Just as the Task force, codenamed ‘Operation Shield’, was about to enter the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth, ComStar was able to defeat the Clan in the battle of Tukayyid.

The OCDF took a step back and recalled the fleet to Rockall. With the Clan threat temporarily halted, the Outer Colonies Security Council decided to hold-off and see what happened next: The question as to whether to reveal our existence to the rest of the Universe hanging heavy over their heads like the Sword of Damocles.

Part 7: Out of the frying pan, into the fire
(End of the Clan threat and the FedCom Civil War)

"A person usually has two reasons for doing something: a good reason and the real reason."
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

After Operation Bulldog, the Security Council decided to send a diplomatic mission to the re-formed Star League: we had hopped that we could help rebuild the shattered Inner Sphere and bridge the gap between the Star League and the Clans.

As ever, the best-laid plans can go wrong: the Davion Civil war erupted and the mission was changed to one of inelegance gathering.

Information was collected that supported Victor Davion’s claims and the time to take a stand had come. The decision of the Security Council was to end the Davion Civil war and re-stabilise the Star League. To this end, we started to ship fast amounts of supplies to the edge of the Inner Sphere. From there they would make contact with Victor Davion and offer him help.

The Star League would be safe again and the Outer Colonies could emerge from their self-imposed exile after more than 300-years.

Alas, this plan failed: a ComStar Explorer Corps JumpShip had stumbled on the fleet as it lay at rest in a system 30-light years from Outworlds Alliance. The ship was able to jump-out and send a HPG message before it was forced to surrender. By then it was too late, the word was out: here be Warships!

Explaining where you got some Star League area Mech’s from is one thing, explaining 20 Warship’s is another. In an effort to advert a disaster, very little was reviled: we admitted to having a few factories capable of producing Star League-level tech and expressed a willingness to sell it to certain interested parties.

Part 8: Deadliest of Enemies
(Dealing with the Clans)

"The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy."
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Trade agreements with Clans Ghost Bear, Snow Raven and Diamond Shark granted the Outer Colonies access to the latest in advanced technologies developed since Clan Wolverine was forced to cut and run, and helped them gain intelligence on Clan operations and intents.

Most of this was kept secret, but some was sent to third party’s who could get it to the various intelligence agencies of the Successor States without drawing any attention.

The Clan’s grew more and more interested in the Outer Colonies, fascinated by the concept that small fraction of the old Star League still survived. More and more pressure was placed on our diplomats to allow the Clans access to the Colonies, including their coordinates, population base and technological advances.

This all came to a head in 3065 when Clan Wolf suggested that the Outer Colonies should become a protectorate of the Clans.

The reaction from the Minnesota Tribe was understandably negative, a feeling that was echoed by the rest of the Council of 11: the Clans had fallen too far from the ideals of General Aleksandr Kerensky and had taken the teachings of his misguided son to heart.

Clan Wolf’s offer was politely, but firmly, turned down: the Outer Colonies would remain independent until such time as the reborn Star League proved itself, and only then would we rejoin the rest of humanity.

    This angered the Clans, and they have made many attempts to learn the true location of the Outer Colonies, by both covert and overt means. So far all of these seem to have been stopped, but several Clan JumpShips have been spotted near our boarders over the last few years. Many believe it is a question of when, not if, they finally uncover our hiding place.

    The question of just what they will do when this happens remains unanswered.

Part 9: A friend in need is a friend indeed
(Allies and Enemies)

"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The increasing instability within the reformed Star League and the brewing Davion Civil War led to the signing of several treaties in 3060-61.

First was with the Royalist Alliance, a small but relatively technologically advanced nation founded in 2791. Although much closer to the Inner Sphere than the Outer Colonies (the Royalist Alliance borders the Lyran Alliance), the Royalist Alliance had managed to keep itself out of the Succession Wars by hiding its true strength and knowledge. The first treaties were trade agreements, including the sale of several obsolete OCDF warships from the Nomad Station Anchorage, then the supply of a more advanced Warrior class Battleship to serve as the Flagship for the Alliance fleet.

Later came a trade agreement with the Britannic Coalition, a smaller, younger nation located coreword of the Royalist Alliance. They were not interested in purchasing military equipment, the Outer Colonies main export, but they were interested in heavy construction and engineering equipment and information, something the Hark Corporation was willing to supply, at a price.

With two friendly nations closer to the Inner Sphere, the Outer Colonies stepped up shipments, establishing a duel Command Circuit as far as Hunters Paradise. This cut the journey time from a year to a matter of days. The Hark Corporation purchased the orbital station above Hunters Paradise, and refitted it with extensive R&R faculties for the crews making the long run between the military outpost at Fort Dixie and the Inner Sphere.

In 3065, mutual defence and assistant treaties were signed between the Outer Colonies, Royalist Alliance and Britannic Coalition. One part of this agreement pledged the OCDF and Quantum-Tech Industries to upgrade the Coalition’s shipyard in the Newcastle system and providing picket ships, in exchange for maintenance time from JumpShip’s making the journey from Hunters Paradise into the Inner Sphere.

All this hard work looks in jeopardy; in late 3068, and unknown force began attacking both the Royalist Alliance and the Britannic Coalition, using Mech’s and paint schemas of the other nation. The Outer Colonies originally wanted to keep out of this situation, but this proved to be impossible when the raiders started painting their units in OCDF colours, and using BattleMech’s built by Quantum-Tech Industries and sold to the Inner Sphere.

On the 31^st of August, 3068, protesters armed with hunting rifles opened fire on the Outer Colonies embassy on Coalition capital world of Britannia. Although they were fended off by the diplomatic protection detail, the situation was fast approaching crises point, and the decision was made to evacuate the Ambassador and the entire staff to a Hark Corporation DropShip at the Westminster spaceport, having first destroyed all their communication and navigation data and equipment, in accordance with the Cole Protocol.

Two BattleMech’s of the spaceport garrison took the arrival of the high speed convoy as a sigh of aggression, and tried to intercept them before they reached the waiting DropShip. The diplomatic protection detail fended the two Mech’s off with the bare minimum of force, before boarding the DropShip and boosting for orbit, and a waiting OCDF surveillance ship disguised as a merchant JumpShip at the Zenith Jump Point.

The situation remains unresolved.

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