Epsilon Eridani absorption into the Protectorate

[Colt Ward]

Epsilon Eridani is one of my favorite worlds after the 3050s.  One of the stars of the Chaos March area, the local SMM went over nearly completely into a independent planet military, its involved in the diplomacy of the region, and is home to Kressly Warworks which becomes a regional resource after Guerrero.  The Blakists had been courting them pretty much since the creation of the Chaos March though they got their hands burned when the covert actions in '62 came to light.  Some how before 18Feb66 the Word of Blake convinced the government of Epsilon Eridani, Duke Pierre Benton and probably KW that they should join the protectorate.  The Blakists already had Refield's Renegades on planet hired through a shell company, the Lone Star Regiment was supporting Protectorate operations, and the 1st (WoB) Division had arrived to help consolidate Protectorate control.  Epsilon Eridani itself had the former SMM mech regiment named the Eridani Guard, any KW security force (Bandersnatches, Lineholders, Chimeras, Brutus & Blizzards), and all the regional militias like the County Shu Volunteer Battalion or Duvic Palatine militia.

So part of what made me like the planet was the excellent Initiation to War, but it raises a question about the formation of the Protectorate and its later Militia Divisions.  The worlds that voluntarily (supposedly) joined the Protectorate had their own forces of varying degrees of material quality and experience.  Kressly became a big supplier of the Protectorate Divisions since its equipment fit with what was called for by Blakist planners . . . but Epsilon Eridani is not listed as having a Protectorate Militia though they typically had a mercenary unit stationed on planet for defense.

So what happened to the planetary forces (Guard), KW security, and the regional militias?  Where the Blakists letting the troops leave who did not want to fall in with the new regime?  Where they destroyed as part of the fighting against the AMC/Wolf Dragoons forces on planet from mid-67 until the attack on Outreach?  -Beta & Wolf Spiders vs 1st (Blakist) Militia Division (7 Level IIIs), Bronson's Horde, and maybe the Renegades.

[Frabby]

On 20/21 May 3067, the Lawyers, Guns, & Money fracas swept Epsilon Eridani and neutralized Redfield's Renegades and the Lone Star Regiment merc units (both in Blakist employ through mining firm fronts).

[Colt Ward]

They both lost about a battalion of machines from the fight between themselves though the Lone Stars got to salvage the field, but Beta Regiment fluff says they were fighting the 1st Division and the Blakist take over during that time as well . . . but as soon as the Renegades-Lone Star fight ended, the Lone Star Regiment was off to the Taurians.  So while Bronson's Horde and the 1st were probably battling the AMC force, its not like they could not have pulled in the Renegades at need- they show back up for Irian in '69 after going through a rest & refit period.

Still does not answer what happened to the Eridani Guard (which in '62 had two mech battalions on planet with 1 deployed) or the regional militias which fielded anywhere from a company to battalion of 2nd rate mechs along with battalions of comparable armor & infantry.  No Protectorate Militia Division was listed for them to form into to protect their home world.  With Epsilon E being a 'new' factory world for the Blakists and coming from a independent past, I have to wonder if that was intentional since it was positioned to be the supply for the Protectorate units.

[glitterboy2098]

the WoB had been making inroads with many of the worlds in that area even before the Conquest of Terra, as seen in the opening chapters of "Double Blind"  (which was set on New Home in early 3058. a chapter not long after has WoB characters discussing the upcoming conquest of terra, so we know those scenes were pre-conquest)

presumably the fighting between the mercs was used by them to help convince the planetary government that they couldn't rely on mercs for defense.


as for the guards, apparently their commander was the defacto government of the planet since 3057, so presumably if he was convinced to join the Protectorate, the Guards came with him. presumably they would have become the core of the world's Protectorate Militia

[Nav_Alpha]

Spotlight on Stone’s Trackers lists a Epsilon Eridani Protectorate Militia in Feb 3078.
Plus, there are quiet a few references to Jon Davion fading a pretty tough (but quick) fight in Epsilon E.

I would suggest that the lack of references to a Protectorate Militia in various sources is an oversight.

As for what happened to the old planetary guard and various militias, I’d say most of them got rolled into the Protectorate Militia. Those that resisted get crushed.
Why? Think of it this way - for years your world has been rocked by near constant civil war, piracy and petty warlords feuding.
Suddenly, the Word offers to fix all that. Oh, and build schools and fix the power plants.

[Colt Ward]

Spotlight on Stone’s Trackers lists a Epsilon Eridani Protectorate Militia in Feb 3078.
Plus, there are quiet a few references to Jon Davion fading a pretty tough (but quick) fight in Epsilon E.

I would suggest that the lack of references to a Protectorate Militia in various sources is an oversight.

As for what happened to the old planetary guard and various militias, I’d say most of them got rolled into the Protectorate Militia. Those that resisted get crushed.
Why? Think of it this way - for years your world has been rocked by near constant civil war, piracy and petty warlords feuding.
Suddenly, the Word offers to fix all that. Oh, and build schools and fix the power plants.

Actually, they were the atypical Chaos March world- they were stable and doing well in trade with the neighbors.  The novel covers a plot that blew up in '62 that involved a regional gov't using raiders as a catspaw- and a faction of Word of Blake was involved.  Odd to think of the novel's characters becoming part of the Protectorate Militia and getting crushed by Stone's coalition with survivors denied a place in defending their world into the future.  Sources seem to be conflicting about how the Protectorate divisions were treated after the dust settled- no war crimes trials like some mercs and the WoB regulars, almost like Confederate regulars after the Civil War was over.

[Nav_Alpha]

Epslion E was certainly a-typical for the Chaos March and multiple sources describe it as pretty much the best place to be in the March.
But the Word were/are the masters (no pun intended) of media manipulation and deception.
I imagine they spend years playing up the civil war, the duke getting older, political instability, who terrifying the neighbours are, etc.
As things go bad, people crave stability - and the Word knew how to offer it, while making the alternative look terrible.

I do think a lot of former Chaos March militias and such were probably either incorporated straight into the Protectorate Milita. Ie: World governor realises her world is going down the toilet, signs up to the expanding Protectorate. Her personal guard - and the various militias and regional house troops - all get a new uniform and new branding and become Protectorate Milita.
Either that, or they get killed in a series of “training accidents”. Hell, the Shadow Divisions made a name as killers of suspect PM.

That said, as the war turned - I’d say a lot of Milita went rogue.
Who knows, maybe Tybalt Kelly made it all the way through and ends up as Republic Standing Guard officer...

[Marveryn]

a possibility the militia ment is demiss and survive were sent into camps where they were "corrected' into help the word.  a few may had join stone when he escape.  Other possibilities they went underground after the blakiest took over.  The world may had surrender peacefully if the blakist brought enough guns to "encourage them" to join them.