Well it is one of the longer lasting 'break-away' states. It does stick around for almost 60 years, albeit at a 1/3 of its original size.
Of all the things we could trade for, I really would like to get some of those retro-tech SparrowHawks. There perfect for us!
Also considering the number of 'hidden' SLDF bases there are, I wonder if the never-constructed SLDF fleet yard in the Filtvelt system was just just that, or maybe a cover story to keep it hidden... Though I would prefer a 'mech factory to a ship yard. The Suns would come calling in all about 2 seconds flat for a shipyard...