Author Topic: The Flight of Icarus (The FWL 3063 - 3130) (Read 4570 times)

Molossian Dog IIC · « **on:** 06 March 2013, 16:58:17 »

Introduction:

Hello ladies and gentlemen,

we all know of and excitedly await what we use to call "the first time jump" here on the forums. The point where the plot leaves the Jihad Era behind it and goes forth to the Dark Age, about 65 years later. Considering the collapse of the FWL during the period and the hints provided by the Dark Age novels of a possible reunion, this timeline is naturally of special interest for us Marik fans.

Simplistic as I am I wondered what exactly did change in the balance of power within the League during this, yet, unexplored period of the BattleTech history. (or rather: future) There have been numerous detailed and deliberate posts by the community picking up what the novels revealed and theorising about the gaps in our knowledge. I wanted to assist in that cheerful guesswork.

I could not hope to match the breadth of knowledge of many a contributor, but I have paint at my command. So I made maps. To be more specific I merged maps. Tackling with one of the former provinces at a time the maps show the political borders of 3130 and, superimposed, the pre-Jihad borders. I also listed what information I could gather about the major military industries that were left after the ravages of the years 3067-3085 and what they produced.

My intention is to visualize the geo-strategic (or is that stellar-strategic?) power shifts during the time-jump, like a before/after image and to help to make an educated guess about the industrial might of each former member-state during that time.

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I am far from done with this project. I have completed the map of Regulus and look forward to fill in the rest step by step. Be lenient with me.

I would like to point out that I gathered information from what sources I could. Of course, I tried my best to give an overview that is as complete as possible, but I certainly cannot vouch for canon-icity. If you see something that you think is an error, please tell me so.
I also noted where I leapt to conclusions. Feel free to correct me.

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Molossian Dog IIC · « **Reply #1 on:** 06 March 2013, 16:58:39 »

The Principality of Regulus (3063) / The Regulan Fiefs (3130)

Molossian Dog IIC · « **Reply #2 on:** 06 March 2013, 16:58:59 »

Placeholder Marik Commonwealth

Post under construction. [##]

Molossian Dog IIC · « **Reply #3 on:** 06 March 2013, 16:59:19 »

Placeholder Duchy of Oriente

Post under construction. [##]

Molossian Dog IIC · « **Reply #4 on:** 06 March 2013, 16:59:47 »

Placeholder Duchy of Andurien

Post under construction. [##]

Molossian Dog IIC · « **Reply #5 on:** 06 March 2013, 17:00:13 »

Placeholder Rim Commoniality

Post under construction. [##]

UnLimiTeD · « **Reply #6 on:** 06 March 2013, 17:42:27 »

Now that looks like some mighty complex project.
Good luck with it.
Also, the Regulan map looks darn compromising.

martian · « **Reply #7 on:** 07 March 2013, 02:47:52 »

Gibson is a dead world in 3130. That's why it is not on the 3130 map. So I suggest you delete it from your map.

Kotetsu · « **Reply #8 on:** 07 March 2013, 03:06:10 »

Technically, if he's going to list everything that was discontinued between 3063 and 3130, Gibson should be listed... with a large black list of what got whacked... (I want my Cicadas... :'( )

martian · « **Reply #9 on:** 07 March 2013, 03:25:56 »

Quote from: Kotetsu on 07 March 2013, 03:06:10

Technically, if he's going to list everything that was discontinued between 3063 and 3130, Gibson should be listed... with a large black list of what got whacked... (I want my Cicadas... :'( )

Well, then he should add to every single item date "from-to". And some 'Mechs produced on Gibson were not available to FWL anyway.

Molossian Dog IIC · « **Reply #10 on:** 07 March 2013, 03:29:22 »

@Gibson

Former production sites that are completely out of business will only be marked with their circles blackened out on the map (in the next version). Discontinued series will only be listed for remaining production sites to show their waxing/waning importance.
And as Gibson is still on the 3130 map I chose to let it where it is.

martian · « **Reply #11 on:** 07 March 2013, 03:59:48 »

Quote from: Molossian Dog IIC on 07 March 2013, 03:29:22

And as Gibson is still on the 3130 map I chose to let it where it is.

May I ask what's the source of the 3130 map?

Molossian Dog IIC · « **Reply #12 on:** 07 March 2013, 06:58:37 »

You may, but considering I started this almost a year ago and had a long hiatus from BT I cannot answer with certainty. I remember browsing through a lot of DA/AoD stuff back then to gather what infos I could get about the new eras. To retrace my steps would be a major effort that wouldn´t enhance the result in any way.

If you want to point out that Gibson is dead, I am aware of that. As far as I know it wasn´t repopulated during 3085-3130 either. But this is not the point.

It was a former production site and an important one. Even if it would not have appeared on the map I would have added it. As previously stated the intention is to give an impression of what the FWL powers had before the Jihad in terms of industry and territory and what they most likely have in the Era of the Republic. Leaving out Gibson would have skewed the picture.

Kotetsu · « **Reply #13 on:** 07 March 2013, 16:03:05 »

Trust me, it's not inhabited. I do believe one of the things on the old DA/AoD site mentioned that the Regulans have a fleet sitting at the jump points with orders to shoot to kill anyone who is not one of theirs.

Molossian Dog IIC · « **Reply #14 on:** 07 March 2013, 16:12:35 »

Quote from: UnLimiTeD on 06 March 2013, 17:42:27

...
Also, the Regulan map looks darn compromising.

The question that gave me the idea to start this project was "What the heck do the Regulans have left?" So, yes, things look pretty dire for our friendly neighbourhood madmen.

Quote from: Kotetsu on 07 March 2013, 16:03:05

Trust me, it's not inhabited. I do believe one of the things on the old DA/AoD site mentioned that the Regulans have a fleet sitting at the jump points with orders to shoot to kill anyone who is not one of theirs.

Might be. But habitation was not a factor for me, at least not a primary one. At this moment I have no reliable infos on what Gibson produces, if anything. But I kind of expected the Regulans to rummage for what might be left among the glowing ruins. It would have been unusually sloppy not to do so.

Sidenote: Finally I decided how to handle former production sites. I will only list what type of unit they produced, not the specific chassis. See the map key.

Next update will be a bit slow in coming. I guess 1-2 weeks at least.

GreekFire · « **Reply #15 on:** 12 March 2013, 09:36:09 »

Very nice! Tagging this for future interest.

GreekFire · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 March 2013, 09:43:57 »

Oh, and I know this is a production map, but I just noticed that Keeling seems to have been wiped out/evacuated/depopulated at some point between 3079 and 3130.

Dunno why, but when in doubt - blame the blakists.

Alex Keller · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 March 2013, 16:44:32 »

I like seeing Gibson there. It gives me perspective.

Degman · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 March 2013, 07:15:34 »

Great work!

Looking forward for more O0

SCC · « **Reply #19 on:** 18 March 2013, 18:12:50 »

The Principality of Regulus seems to a bit concentrated in the middle of the weight scale, their 'Mechs weight 50, 65, 70 and 75 tons

Colt Ward · « **Reply #20 on:** 18 March 2013, 23:03:36 »

Well, remember they are importing equipment from the Lyrans . . . which have some pretty decent lights for scouting and they originated the 'Wall of Steel' doctrine.

When you add what they could be importing from Andurien (Aero & Moltke) they have a very solid force . . . with just two problems. The Regulans are supposed to love the Trebuchet, so where might they be getting some in the future? And who is selling them battle armor?

What about the independent BM worlds around them such as Kendall or Emris, which fell under Oriente influence but still can sell to Regulus. Hmm, Emris produces Kopis . . . buyer Regulus!

SCC · « **Reply #21 on:** 19 March 2013, 02:59:35 »

There's something missing from that map: Where are the Regulians getting their nukes?

Kotetsu · « **Reply #22 on:** 19 March 2013, 03:53:10 »

I think the Regulans managed to have their hands on the largest part of the old FWL nuke stockpile. And possibly the only production site.

St.George · « **Reply #23 on:** 19 March 2013, 05:09:40 »

the only one I've heard of.nice lil'work here,have to keep my eyes open for more. ;D