Lyre Ascendant: Rise of the SteinPakt

==Description==
By the 3150s Clan Wolf stands on Terra. As the newly crowned IlClan, they seek to re-establish the Star League in the image of the Clans, specifically their vision thereof. Meanwhile their stepping stone, the Lyran Commonwealth lies in ruins. Split in half, bankrupt, and with a hollow shell of a military with which to defend themselves, the Commonwealth is barely holding together as a meaningful state. Yet, to look back but a few decades before the nation stood as one of the strongest in the Inner Sphere. The Commonwealth had recovered from the Blakist Jihad as few had. As the Blackout descended across the Inner Sphere, it and it's leadership set forth unflinchingly with an ambition seen by few. Unfortunately for the Lyran people, these machinations turned to ash in their mouths. Lyre Ascendant: Rise of the SteinPakt and the greater SteinPakt AU asks the question, what if they had not? What if the Lyre had stood Ascendant?
Set in a alternate universe where General Kerensky is killed on Terra instead of leading his people into the Deep Periphery away from Inner Sphere it's wars.
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This Sourcebook is an in-universe collection of in universe articles and reports alongside short stories and art all created by PlEGUY. Admittedly, this is a bit of shameless self service to raise up the creator's favorite faction in the setting in the face of consistent negative treatment in the IP holder's canon. There will be careful attempts to inject meaningful stakes, challenges, and intrigue to make this nothing more than one sided idealization, this is the creator's first foray into this kind of work. It is an in progress work and will see additions as they are completed with the intent of consolidating them in a more traditional PDF format upon the completion of the work.
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==Chapter Links==
Lyre Ascendant: Rise of the SteinPakt - Book 1 - Article List
From Father to Son	Attempt on Archon’s Life!-
==From Father to Son==
Son,
I received your “I told you so” on Ghost Night activity within the Commonwealth. It would seem your hunch was correct. Despite their claims of friendship and alliance, the Republic’s intelligence apparatus has been working to undermine our state. Most critically, as your report illustrates, repeated failures at restoring Lyran KF core and black water naval production following the destruction of the Jihad can be traced to Republican interference. Had the Republic contented themselves merely to impede our military production in support of their demilitarization efforts I perhaps could have understood. It would have been a severe breach of trust against we who have so earnestly cooperated with them in those efforts, but after the destruction the Sphere has witnessed, I could have understood. But in this, they have knowingly and intentionally harmed the people of the Commonwealth. That cannot be tolerated.
You did well with this investigation my son. Your cooperation with Lady von Texeiras and LIC to verify your suspicions is particularly commendable. I am very proud of you and your work. However, ultimately this entire endeavor was conceived on baseless suspicions. Had it not been for the accident over Gibbs there would have been no real reason to suspect the Republic’s activities. I know this must be overworn on you by now, but information is ammunition, and a bad round can be catastrophic. The weight of the Archonship is heavy and if you are to bear it, you must be ready. Our duty to the people of the Commonwealth requires that we act as carefully and competently as possible and not waste resources on wild goose chases or act on baseless feelings.
As part of your further development as a ruler I will be assigning you to my old stomping grounds in the Melissia Theater. Officially, you will act as an advisory attaché and representative of the Archon to the s. Indeed, you will be preforming those functions. However, you will have other tasks. See the attached documents on Violet Anchor. The Commonwealth’s naval strength cannot be allowed to languish any further. You will also be making frequent trips back to Tharkad in fulfillment of both tasks. This should allow you to continue pursuing certain opportunities. Don’t think your old man hasn’t seen where your eyes wander when you think no one else is looking.
Your loving Father,
Archon Adam Steiner
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=====Triad Tribune: News on all things Political, Governmental, and Royal February 6, 3127=====
==Attempt on Archon’s Life!-==
Today an otherwise quiet riverside community was awoken to a loud Lohengrin raid. Following an intense firefight operatives emerged from a middle-income housing complex. Eight detained individuals were taken away in Lohengrin armored vehicles and medical personnel of the 1st Royal Guards departed with seventeen casualties. Lohengrin representatives report that no uninvolved civilians were harmed. Three agents died in the firefight and two were taken to Yashruti Memorial Lutheran Hospital for treatment. Nine suspects died and three died en route to medical treatment. It is claimed that the raid proceeded as planned and agents achieved a desired level of swiftness and surprise. However, suspected individuals were heavily armed and well entrenched.
Representatives report this raid follows the discovery of a potentially lethal poison by the Diplomatic Corps in a meal ordered by Archon Andrew Steiner in the Liberation Street Fair last week. An investigation by Corps officials in cooperation with local and royal policing agencies led to individuals living within the raided complex. Officials declined to comment further on the matter including answers by the press regarding potential identities, intentions, or affiliations of the suspects.
Nonetheless, an assassination attempt on the Archon has been confirmed and who is responsible remains an open question. No groups or individuals have yet come forward to claim responsibility. Not even common offenders such as Freedom Now! The reigning Steiner’s rule has been generally well regarded by the people of the Commonwealth, especially by those residing here on the capitol. This has led many to wonder if a foreign actor could be responsible. In that direction too there are few answers. For all their failings, the Clans find this kind of action to be repugnant. Public statements made by the heir apparent make it unlikely that former states of the Free Worlds League would risk an action which would lead to her ascension. Archon Andrew’s negative opinion of the Republic has driven a worsening of relations with the state; however, the relationship between the Commonwealth and her neighbor remains amicable and cooperative and, like the League, the Archon’s death would result in leadership which would not benefit the Republic. Ultimately, no obvious answer to who may be responsible exists and we must wait for further information to be released by authorities.
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=== Virtue Cartographers Unlimited ===
== Updated Survey of the PressVille system –3091 ==
==== -System Layout- ====
The PressVille System is composed of five major orbital bodies. The inner four are terrestrial planets, and the outermost is a gas giant. There is an asteroid field between the inner planets and the gas giant, likely generated by debris affected by the giant’s gravity well. At the center of the system lies a class B star. The inner three planets are fairly typical and of little note. Bathed in the heat of the systems incredibly strong star, they are predictably scorched. Further details on their compositions can be found in Appendices B-G. Only the second of these planets has a small moon. See Appendices L-M. The real highlight of the system is PressVille itself. For a system with such an intense star, the planet is surprisingly well suited for life. It lies distant from its star and has a thick humid atmosphere which is both dense and reflective. It is still a relatively hot world, but it lies well within the limits of Terrestrial-like life. Of further note, surveys indicate the planet, and its single large moon, are rich in Germanium deposits. See Appendices H, I, N, & O. Like the inner planets, the asteroid belt, gas giant, and its many moons are typical and of little note. See Appendices J, K, &, P-W. 
==== -Societal Review- ====
Despite its hospitable climate, the planet of PressVille hosted little more than basic cellular life in its oceans. As mankind expanded outwards into space in the 23rd century it was noted as a particularly desirable candidate for colonization. Early colonies did incredibly well, and the Terrestrial life transplanted by them took easily to the planet. Though on the edge of human civilization and with little industry of its own outside of that used in resource extraction, the planet became a valuable member of the Rim Worlds Republic and a key supplier of shipbuilding industries for the nation. With the collapse of the Republic in the wake of the Amaris Civil War, the planet was abandoned to its own devices. It appears that in the events that followed, the planet, which had been oriented and dependent on interplanetary trade, suffered massive famine, economic depression, and near total societal collapse. Their barebones native industry left little in the way of institutional knowledge or tooling and civilization on the planet regressed to a pre-industrial state as it fragmented. In the centuries since the societies and cultures of the planet have developed a, though primitive, complex interplay of political systems. It seems that in the time since the last VCU survey the planetary societies have advanced somewhat and have reached a stage reminiscent to that which preceded Terra’s own industrial revolution. The continental power previously noted has collapsed and been surpassed by several seafaring powers. The planet and its history present a fascinating environment for anthropological studies. 
==== -Interplanetary Considerations- ====
Due to its habitability and germanium deposits, one might think PressVille would be a valuable cornerstone of regional interplanetary trade, industry, and politics. Were it nearly anywhere else in the Inner Sphere, it may well be. However, the shear distance from most human civilization, and the state of local advancement has left it relatively isolated. Pressville’s contact with extra solar entities is mostly relegated to explorers like VCU and pirates. Indeed, upon initially landing on the surface, the local inhabitants initially presumed VCU’s team to be the latter but seemed familiar with and easily accepted our own exploratory mission. Records indicate that even pirate raids are relatively uncommon compared to other inhabited systems in the region. They are aimed primarily at seizing slaves and foodstuffs. But the distant nature of the system and pre-industrial relative lack of agricultural output or ability to transport it to a central location which can be raided leaves PressVille undesirable even to pirates. Nonetheless, piracy does hamstring development of the system and the nearby region. While the germanium deposits might otherwise attract investment and industrial concerns once more its distance combined with the risk of piracy inhibits such interest. 
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== Appointment for Trillian ==
Trillian, 
I appreciate the interest you have expressed in serving the Commonwealth. I have reviewed your secretarial and administrative work for the Foreign Affairs office, and upon the recommendation of your cousin, I am assigning you as the political attaché to LCAF forces participating in the upcoming Operation Herbstmanöver. In this capacity you will be representing the civil concerns of the Commonwealth and myself. This is a significant increase in authority and responsibility over any of your previous tasks. I am thus going to subordinate you to Hauptmann General . You will technically be of equivalent authority to Leutenant General and Kommadore, but as junior among the command staff, I expect you to defer to not only their experience but also that of your inferiors. This will be a learning opportunity not only for yourself, but the entire operational group. 
I have attached to this letter documents to summarize the situation you will be entering, but it is by no means comprehensive. I don’t believe I need to tell you this, but I expect you to do preform your own investigations to prepare yourself. I must once more emphasize the weight of the duty to which I am assigning you, but I wouldn’t be doing so if I did not believe you up to the task. Make me proud my niece. 
Andrew Steiner, 
Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth 
== Summary contemporary relations between the Lyran Commonwealth Rim Collective. ==
=== Foreign Affairs Office ===
=== Updated November 7, 3131 ===
The Rim Collection can trace its roots to the Rim Republic of which its worlds were former members. With the dissolution of the Republic in the Commonwealth-Republic war and the destruction of the Star League Civil War and Succession Wars, these planets were left in a state of independence and relative poverty for centuries. In the mid 31st century, these worlds benefited from several charismatic figures, a sympathetic mercenary group, Abel’s Aces, and the downstream effects of the then ongoing economic and technological renaissance of the post succession war period. In possession of political will, military protection, and economic viability, the Rim Collection charter was signed, and a new state was formed in 3048. 
The then Federated Commonwealth at the time paid little notice. Declassified documentation indicates LIC launched a small investigation to verify that the Collection was not another mere pirate kingdom like the Marians or Circiniuns while local militias were temporarily placed on higher alert in anticipation of that potentiality. As the Collection showed themselves to be no such threat, they were quickly forgotten about by FedCom officials. Independent Lyran business interests showed much more interest. Even as most investors focused on regions like Tikonov and opportunities related to the Federated Commonwealth union, the region saw a slight influx of local investment and economic movement as trade began with the new state and felt piracy decreased. These positive effects intensified when the Collection’s government reforms in the 3060s pushed stronger more centralized economic and interstellar trade systems. 
Over the decades the Collection grew slowly but continuously. New planets joined the nation. Trade expanded across the periphery and to other nearby major powers. Its economy developed from simple substance level agrarianism, to the extraction and export of raw materials, and eventually fostering minor industrial efforts. Today these efforts have become sophisticated enough to output fusion power plants and primitive battlemechs. Even still the Federated Commonwealth, then Lyran Alliance, then Lyran Commonwealth officially paid little regard to the small state on its boarders. This changed in 3127. 
On the orders of Archon Adam Steiner, the Foreign Affairs Office began efforts to open official relations with the Collection. Through local trade corporations, permission to send an ambassadorial team were requested and subsequently accepted by the Collection. By December of 3128 an embassy was established in the capital city of Maroo to some minor fanfare from formerly Lyran immigrants to the region and their descendants. In 3130 the heir apparent, Mellisa Stiener arrived in the region for talks with the Collective’s President. The contents of those discussions are classified. A summary can be found in Collection Political Report 0005235879. The heir’s arrival was received well and was endearing to the Collection’s populace and elites. 
Since the establishment of the embassy confidence in the market has increased driving trade and investment in both the Collection and local Commonwealth worlds. Restrictions on high end and proprietary Lyran civilian and military manufactured goods both civilian and military have been lowered. Early signs indicate the Collective is taking advantage of that to expand their own industrial capabilities with Lyran tooling. Lyran experts have been hired by the Collective and nearby universities have seen an influx of applicants to the region. Most have been unable to attend due to cost, however, citing future market opportunities, the Marquis of Florida has granted scholarships to high preforming candidates to attend planetary academies. 
Military relations with the Collective have improved steadily since 3128. Late that year the Office of Mercenary Troops Liasons negotiated permission from Collection authorities to extend a pro bono offer of combat loss insurance to Abel’s Aces. In the following month, the LCAF and Collective signed a cooperative contract with the company for increased anti-piracy raids. In mid 3130 the Rim Collection Militia and Florida TMM conducted a cooperative military exercise on Stanley. That same year an agreement was signed with Melissa Steiner to allow Collection Militia personnel to attend the War College of Buena. 
Lyre Ascendant: Rise of the SteinPakt
Lyre Ascendant: Rise of the SteinPakt
Lyre Ascendant: Rise of the SteinPakt