TBntG-3 Chpt 62

=The Bull and the Genie=
==Chapter 62 - Book III - The Clan Invasion==
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==Stories of the Aftermath==
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Headlines of change
===Luthien Holds Elections!===
The former capital of the Draconis Combine, Luthien, held its first democratic elections this month. While the UMC continues to occupy local space, this marks another stage in the transition of the former worlds of the Draconis Combine to full self government, following the move to transfer civil law enforcement to local governmental forces. 
 
The elections were held with little disorder, save for some small demonstrations, both by the traditionalist party, demanding a restoration of the combine and the Anarchist party, seeking a full dismantling of the "Illegitimate" government. 
 
When asked about the position of the Occupational Government on such demonstrations, General Mary Cheng stated that: "So long as demonstrators are peaceful, and respect the rights of others, it is not our place to suppress them." She then pointed out that her homeworld had seen worse demonstrations over a bad referee call during a football game, which brought some laughter from the assembled press.
 
Currently, the Social Democrats appear in the lead to take over the transitional government, with the Liberal Party right behind them. It is anticipated that once the government is secure and the UMC forces are withdrawn, Luthien will enter into negotiations to officially end the conflict, as the legitimate and popularly elected government.
 
Plans for a loose cultural and economic union between former Combine worlds are popular, but the exact form they will take remains uncertain…
 
New York Times, March 3062
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===Alpheratz joins the Hegemony!===
As part of the Hegemony's drive to incorporate former worlds of the Outworlds Alliance, Alpheratz's referendum agreed to the articles of the Hegemony, by a 4-1 margin. Although this does little to change government on the ground, it will allow the world to take part in the increasingly prosperous Hegemony economic network, which is also heavily connected to some independent worlds of the former Draconis Combine… 
 
For reactions from Wynn's Roost, see page 4…
The Rooster's Cry! June 3070
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===Marsden's Marauders defeated!===
The notorious pirate band, Marsden's Marauders was destroyed Tuesday, not long after the completion of the local jump tracking network. A multinational effort, the involved forces included UMC, Clan Federation (Nova Cat), and Taurian units. All jump and dropships were captured or destroyed. This marks the end of the last major pirate band with independent transport assets in the Inner Sphere and near Periphery. 
 
Tharkad Daily, March 3075
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===Great Reform Bill Passed!===
Today, Archon-Prince Victor-Steiner Davion put his signature to the Great Reform Bill. Representing years of often heated debates, the Bill, it must be said, satisfies nobody but is acceptable to everyone. The creation of a House of Nobles and Commoner House, while bearing some similarity to the old government, invest far more power among non-nobility, most notably the ability to Veto any budget that does not meet with their approval, although the House of Nobles and Archon-Prince retain the ability to submit budgets, and propose bills independently or with a simple majority, where the Commoner House needs a 2/3rds majority to send up independent legislation to the House of Nobles.
 
Most importantly, although it may seem irrelevant to the children who grew up in peace, the Commoner House now has the sole power to declare war, upon a request by the Archon-Prince, formally besting the question of war making with the popularly elected Commoner House. 
 
"The vast majority of dying is done by those without titles—so let us give them the say in whether or not their deaths are necessary," Prime Minister Katherine Steiner-Davion stated. As an amusing side note, when asked by a reporter from the Marsdon High School paper if she had privately discussed affairs with her brother, she confessed that the best way to avoid civil war at the dinner table was to leave politics at the front door.
Journal of Infectious Diseases, June 3077
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===Brisbane Fever declared extinct===
Using techniques pioneered in the end of Eyerot, Brannis medical professionals, along with efforts from the Magistracy, Terra, Concordat, along with assistance supplied by Clan Scientists, successfully developed both a vaccine and retroviral treatment for the "Scourge of Brisbane." Today, with no cases being detected in the last five years, the Brisbane Virus Association, in cooperation with the IRC, declared the virus "Functionally extinct" although vaccination still remains mandatory across the Concordat…
 
Journal of Infectious Diseases, June 3077
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===Union of Sovereign States treaty signed===
New Dallas
 
Representatives of The Federated Commonwealth, Free Worlds League, Capellan Confederation, Taurian Concordat, Magistracy of Canopus and the Clan Federation, signed the treaty declaring the Union of Sovereign States, and establishing common trade and economic standards across human space. Notably, unlike the old Star League there is no position like that of the old First Lord, a chairman being appointed from local educational professionals for limited terms. 
 
Perhaps the single most unique part of the agreement, although cynics wonder how long it will be hold is the renunciation of aggressive warfare, and the forced transfer of territory without the "Freely expressed consent of the inhabitants." 
 
That being said, a number of comedians have pointed out that we are at least one for two in attempts to establish a league that has not ended up in a genocidal conflict…
 
The domed capital is already in use, as terraforming work on New Dallas is expected to take decades at the least. The fact that the windows of the Great Hall look out into the wind blasted remains of the old capital is not, one should think, unintended…
 
The Samantha Chronicle, December 3079
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==="Smart Materials?" Nanotech based systems promise immense changes…===
A demonstration of new materials technology held on New Avalon showed that the Federated Commonwealth isn't just the economic juggernaut of the Inner Sphere, but drive technological developments as well. The exhibit of the first "workmech with no joints" proved highly popular among visitors to the 12th annual Technology Festival. While not truly "nanotech" the flexible joints were fabricated by nanotech, indicating that a revolution in materials technology may be at hand…
 
Popular Science, December 3080
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===Inner Sphere Exceeds Star League Era GDP!===
For the first time since the fall of the Star League, the Inner Sphere now exceeds the highest GDP of the old Star League. While human space in toto has exceeded the Star League's GDP for some time, this represents a powerful moment for historians and economists alike, symbolizing that the Inner Sphere is no longer recovering from the fall of the Star League, but has moved beyond it, not simply in economic terms, but in terms of how many individuals possess advanced degrees…
Economic Times, February 3081
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===The last "Circle of Equals?" ===
Today on the world of Rasalhague, the last official "circle of equals" occurred, between Star Captain Louis Richton and Star Colonel Mary Williams. It concluded with Mary Williams' victory at 11:50, local time, just before the ban came into force. The changes have taken some time, and been incremental (see page 21: Clan military's adopting conventional promotion guidelines), but today, the Rasalhague Dominion, that hybrid nation of Ghost Bear, Wolf and Inner Sphere citizens, officially ended the place of the clan's trial by combat in their legal system. The move was not without anger, and more than a few businesses and groups keep a place for private trials, (see: Why you need to know chess if you're going to deal with Clan business people, LINK), but most observers noted that even among younger Clan members, especially those who have served with UMC forces, the practice of deciding policy matters by fights was seen as increasingly uncivilized, as well as presenting a barrier to further moves towards membership in the USS. 
 
This marks the end of official trials in the Inner Sphere, although they still exist in the Clan Homeworlds. The Clan Federation actually ended trials earlier as many former citizens of the Marian Hegemony, saw them as similar to the gladiatorial games many slaves were forced to participate in…
 
The Journal of Political Analysis, February 5th, 3085
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===Civil War in Clan Space!===
Massive civil conflicts have broken out in Clan Space, with the rumored use by WMDs. While press has not been permitted to attend the deliberations, evidence indicates that a move to a truly immense peacekeeping operation is underway, with the UMC First, Seventh and Eighth Fleets, representing over 200 combatant ships and six hundred support vessels, along with four corps of troops have been called up for readiness… This represents the largest military movement since the fall of the Combine…
 
Tharkad Review, June 10th, 3087
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===The Sixty Righteous Dragons Honored on Kenteres IV.===
"One would never think that soldiers of the DCMS would ever be honored on Kenteres IV, but here we are. The Sixty Righteous Dragons were interred, physically or in spirit, in a small monument. After years of research, each one of the selected individuals was confirmed to have assisted in shielding or protecting civilians during Jinjiro's slaughter, and were themselves later executed, often after torture, by the Combine, with their families, in many cases, being sent to prison or placed in the unproductive class as retaliation." 
 
"The Combine claimed to stand for honor," Republic President Gregor Chen stated, "And yet it could tolerate none who would stand for righteousness, or who would not bow before the idols of the Combine and Coordinator. Today, it is buried in the past, and not an honored past, but one serving as a warning to our students and children. But here, with permission by the people whose families suffered the full tithe of terror from the Combine, we inter those who held their honor—the highest honor— close. The honor that only comes from protecting the innocent and telling the dictator that power does not grant you moral authority. It just grants you power. To my own people, this stands as a warning, for had there been more than sixty righteous soldiers, Jinjiro would never have risen. So we must always remember that our honor is bound up in one simple question: When we are commanded to do evil, do we bend our heads, or do we hold them up high, and say: no." 
 
Speech as printed in Somerset Daily, July 4th, 3090.
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