I figure a timeline might be of assistance here:
3025: Operation Doppelganger takes place, Third Succession War ends. The Trell I affair leads to the formation of the Gray Death Legion. Marco Polo trading fleet enters Periphery space. First contact with Outworld’s Alliance and destruction of several small pirate groups. Com Star and most IS nations become aware of their existence.
3026: Operation Galahad takes place. Union naval and Marine forces, in cooperation with OA, DC, and FS forces invest and invade Antallos. Operation Flypaper, using superior Union naval technology results in the destruction or capture of over 50 pirate jumpships during this period. Approximately 25 of these ships are transferred to the Outworld’s Alliance. Intelligence reports regarding the Union Navy’s advanced technology and high level of training and skill among Marine forces cause the Federated Suns, Draconis Combine, and Lyran Commonwealth to all reduce military operation against each other, while attempting to develop strategies for possible later conflicts against more advanced forces. While Antallos isn’t completely suppressed, the destruction of the infrastructure needed for piracy drastically reduces periphery predation.
3027: Operation Thor takes place. Union Cluster officers, brought to Terra via command circuit, meet and have a series of high level discussions with the First Circuit. The ultimate outcome is a secret agreement that no Union warships will enter the Inner Sphere, nor lend their power to Inner Sphere forces. The status of dropships is left unclear, perhaps because Comstar was not aware of just how powerful many Union parasite warship designs were. In addition, the Union agreed, to not attempt to break Comstar’s HPG monopoly in the Inner Sphere. Further discussions were tabled, due to massive arguments among Comstar officials. AT this point, the Comstar Technology initiative begins, funneling extensive support into Terran R&D efforts.
3028: Federated Commonwealth unofficially formed, Gray Death Legion discovers Helm Memory Core, Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner marry. Thomas Marikpromotion, During this period, there is a rise in skirmishes but curiously, no further action. Maximilian Liao orders further investigations into the new arrivals to the inner sphere, seeking a way to use them against the Federated Suns. Refitting of the Quatre Belle shipyards commences under a consortium of periphery businesses.
3029: Katrina Steiner and Hanse Davion jointly renounce, for themselves and their heirs, the First Lordship of the Star League. The FWL and Draconis Combine make no response to this, although they do not follow. The Capellan Confederation declares that this is an act of secession on the part of the two states. Wolf’s Dragoons leaves the Draconis Combine’s employment and relocates to the Outworld’s Alliance. This produces a great deal of internal conflict, with the complex “agreement” declaring the Dragoons to be part of the Union military for a limited period fooling nobody. The Dragoons split their time between working with the Alliance and Union forces as Opfor and engaging in energetic counter piracy operations. In addition, messages are sent to drop points for the Clans, Wolf hoping that the new developments would prove the Warden position correct. First jumpship cores laid down at the Quatre Belle Shipyards. A Comstar delegation begins to journey to the Union Cluster, leaving automated HPG stations behind to permit real-time communication. The death of the Primus of Comstar leads to a massive internal conflict, with Jacob Winters being appointed as a compromise candidate nobody likes Myndo Waterly starts covert communications with Liao, promising covert aid in dealing with the Union Forces.
3030:, Draconis Combine receives Star League BattleMechs from ComStar, The reasoning is primarily that increased industrial developments from the Helm Core and civilian tech transfer from the Macro Polo mission is benefitting the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth and the Draconis Combine needs assistance in order to remain competitive—and if need be, be used against a potential invasion from the Union. , Theodore Kurita named Gunji no Kanrei, The Draconis Combine, like the Lyran Commonwealth and Federated Suns, start to focus on combined-arms tactics, although the traditionalists in the Combine hamper the effort. The first prototype infantry powered armor for general use fielded by Comstar, though it is far inferior to Union Marine armors. Wolf’s Dragoons and a number of other forces engage in a six month anti-piracy campaign in the Tortuga cluster. Once again, Union space dominance allows for the capture or destruction of most pirate jump and dropships, while ground forces engage and destroy pirate forces. Most leaders, following traditional Union protocol, are executed for crimes ranging from slavery to mass murder. Dame Murderess Extraordinaire Paula Trevaline’s hanging was broadcast far and wide, as a lesson to any other would be pirates. A combined force from the Alliance and Concordat maintain a garrison to protect the remaining citizens from any future attempt to restore pirate dominion over the area.
During this period, the dramatic reduction of piracy leads to increased interstellar commerce between periphery states. Although not all affiliated with the Union, the navy’s habit of engaging in aggressive antipiracy sweeps, leads to many pirates relocating. Attempts to form coalitions of pirates to “teach them their place” simply create more targets for the Union. The attempted raid on Dante in 3031 is one such example, where 12 pirate dropships were destroyed or captured by the Union Battleship Intolerant.
3031” Andurien succeeds from the FWL alliance and enters into an alliance with the Canopians. However, without the damage of a major conflict, the FWL soon presses both powers unmercifully. By the end of the year, its military savaged, Canopos is driven out of Andurien, with FWL forces advancing into Periphery space. Several terrorist attacks occur, inflaming passions, though they will later be found to be the work of Myndo Waterly’s covert agents. The Detriot Conference is convened in December to attempt to resolve the situation. Kyalla Centrella expects that the potential invasion of her realm will lead other periphery realms and the Union forces to assist her. She is disappointed, as the Union and Outworlds Alliance had a far different goal in mind. In return for not invading the Magistracy, the Union would assist the FWL in setting up a civilian jumpship yard, paid for by Canopian reparations, combined with a treaty formalizing their agreement to accept war guilt for the invasion. The subsequent political fallout leads to the rise of Emma Centralla, the young, but politically astute child of Kyalla.
Most importantly, the Detroit Conference sees the Taurian Concordat, Outworlds Alliance, Magistracy, and a number of smaller states form the Periphery Economic Development Zone. This agreement committed to the free passage of people, reduction of punitive tariffs and the formation of a single, periphery wide, development bank. As a final measure, Wolfs Dragoons passed out of the service of the Union and entered the service of the PEDZ, working for anti-piracy and opfor training for militia units. The “Minutemen” series of fuel-cell powered combat vehicles enter production, providing an economical defense option for many small worlds.
3034: Quatre Belle facility is fully online, now producing eight, Jumpships every 6 months, with eight more slips scheduled to be brought online by 3038. By the terms of the agreement, these jumpships are shared between the OA, Canopus and the Concordat. Mule II production starts on Taurus, while the production of advanced water filtration systems continues to find a market in the periphery and inner sphere alike. Major piracy has almost been completely suppressed in the regions bordering the OA and Concordat, with many pirates seeking to escape by heading to the old RWR regions, leading ot a slight uptick of piracy. However, the reduced conflicts between the great houses, especially given the build up for the aborted 4th succession war, leave abundant units free for pirate hunting operations. Outworlds Reorganization Act is proposed, creating a stronger executive, although still leaving member worlds with a great deal of autonomy. This leads to massive political conflict, including demonstrations on Alpharatz, however, the undoubted economic benefits of House Aveller’s acts see the act being more popular than it would otherwise be. Wrynn’s Roost re-enters the Alliance as an observing member, although retaining full autonomy.
3035: Bomb kills Janos and Duggan Marik and wounds Thomas Marik, Duncan Marik named Captain-General, Readjustment Act of 3035 passed. Michael Hasek Davion, Maximilian Liao, and Myndo Waterly meet secretly at the end of the year. Later transcripts make it plain that none of the participants were dealing entirely fairly with the others. However, Waterly suggested that Michael and Maximilian could drastically increase their power, by Michael moving against the throne, either to take it or to become an independent state in the aftermath of the soon to be assassination of Hanse and Melissa Davion. The attack (by suborned ROM and Maskirovka agents), which would be pinned on the Taurian Concordat. The Capellan Confederation and Hasek’s new domain would split the remains of the Concordat between them,with Waterly providing intelligence indicating that the Concordat was far weaker than it was assumed to be. Those documents were in fact, falsefied. Later interrogations and evidence indicated that Waterly expected the coup to turn into a massive conflict in the Federated Suns, which would see the alliance with the Commonwealth shatter, even as the Draconis Combine and Free Worlds would take advantage of the weakened powers. A full scale conflict would once again leave Comstar as the primary neutral body within the Inner Sphere, damage the ongoing economic revolution and secure her political position. Later events would prove the weaknesses of such an over complex plan, leading directly into the Final Succession War. HPG chain to the Union Cluster completed, giving the Inner Sphere its first “live” look at the Cluster.
Later 3035. The Federated Suns, Lyran Commonwealth, Draconis Combine and Free Worlds League hold high level talks. The Confederation isn’t invited due to their stance on the Federated Sun’s “secession from a corpse” as Hanse Davion mentions. The meeting involves the decision to abandon the long-standing (albeit unofficial) ban on the construction of new warships, in the face of the possible threat presented by the Union. It is agreed that observers will be allowed to ensure that no surprise attacks are launched on local enemies, and that any new construction will remain at least 15 light years away from any border regions, unless previous arrangements are made. After this meeting, the Federated Suns starts design work on a corvette and a carrier based on the New Syrtis class, while the Draconis combine focuses on dismantling the single Samarkand class carrier left, and building an updated Cruiser class warship. Working independently, both nations come to the same conclusion—direct ship to ship engagements with the Union are likely to go poorly, so they focus on carriers and swarms of fighters.
3036: Trade Factor Yvonne meets with the president of Wrynn’s Roost, and a new orbital transfer port is established, as well as a recharge station. Although lower tech than most of the Inner Sphere, the world does have a well educated population, making it ideal for further development of the former Outworlds Wastes. A low tech (age of war), style factory for fixed fusion power plants is established, helping develop the rgion while providing the Roost with a low tech, durable, but highly demanded export item.
3037: A spate of terrorist attacks by the Taurian Reunification League occur in the bordering Federated Suns region, with Duke Hasek proclaiming that they are a sign of the weakness of the current Prince. The skill associated with these attacks is far greater than previous attacks by radicals, leading to a MIIO investigation to determine who is supporting them. The TDF put on high alert. As a method to reduce tensions, the Union Fleet deploys a cruiser squadron to Samantha, as a way of reassuring the Taurians that their capital world will be protected. Suborned agents within the Federated Suns provide falsified documentation claiming that this is actually a preparation for an attack.
Late 3037— The dropship Hanse and Melissa Davion were using is sabotaged, supposedly by the TRL, critically injuring Hanse Davion, although Melissa escapes. Based on Davion’s verbal and written orders, Melissa takes over as regent for Victor. (age 7). Aware of the suspicions of the MIIO regarding the TRL, she orders a full alert, but refrains from attacking into Taurian space.
3038—Federated Suns Civil War commences. Michael Hasek Davion declares himself the rightful First Prince, claiming that Melissa had cooperated with the TRL in order to take over the throne for her mother, and prepares to launch his bid for the throne, while also striking against the Taurian “criminals” with the aid of suspiciously well-equipped Capellan forces. Capellan forces invest both Brisbane and New Vandenberg. In a spectacularly dramatic example of bad PR, Maximilian Liao uses his position as “First Lord” and specifically references the Pollux Proclamation in his speeches regarding the assault on the Perfidious Taurians. Protector Thomas Calderon requests assistance from the other members of the PEDZ, which although not bound to provide military assistance, promptly do so, including two full regiments from the Magistracy, and the First Alliance Air Regiment. Furthermore, the suppression of piracy in the region allowed for a concentration of forces not seen in decades. This proves problematic for Liao forces. Hasek Davion’s forces encounter resistance from militias and loyal units. Melissa specifically refuses assistance from the Lyran Commonwealth to avoid handing her enemies a tool they can use against her. The Union Fleet, does not directly aid, not yet, but deploys cruisers to core worlds on “Friendship visits” which free up Taurian forces to move against the invaders.
3039: Hanse Davion recovers enough to make public speeches, although he leaves the day to day management of affairs in his staff and Melissa’s hands. His return, despite claims’ that he is a double, go far to undercut any popularity Hasek has outside of his immediate domain. In addition, the Laio offensive into the Concordat stalls with New Vandenberg and Brisbane failing to fall—later, it is learned that while the Union did not directly engage enemy forces ,most TDF and allied aerospace forces had been provided with tactical FTL com systems and Union ECM and Sensor systems, allowing them to outmaneuver the more numerous Liao aerospace forces, even though those forces included a large number of Star League era models. By order of the Primus, ROM launches an investigation, and starts unravelling Waterly’s plot by the end of the year. The point of failure of her plan (as opposed to her co-conspirators), was her expectation that both the Draconis Combine and Free Worlds League would take advantage of the confusion to attacked the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth. In this, she seriously underestimated the concern both powers had regarding the Union.
3040: Katrina Steiner dies. Hanse Davion recovers and takes over day to day management of the civil war. Hasek Davion’s forces are compressed into an ever smaller area, centered on New Syrtis. The Capellan invasion, already stalled is reversed when Wolfs Dragoons, concentrated into one, single formation, deploy with the TDF and strike deep within Confederation Space. Capellan forces on New Vandenberg are forced to surrender by July, while the Brisbane invasion force holds out until the end of the year. On November 5th, Hasek Davion is killed by an unknown party, (later, it is found to be part of the ROM operation to eliminate Waterly’s power base). By December, offers of clemency and disunion among Hasek’s subordinates, coupled with his son’s open declaration of loyalty lead to most resistance collapsing. Hanse Davion then sends an HPG message to Maximilian Liao, where he, along with the double that almost replaced him, congratulate Liao on his achievements and mention that they look forward to discussing events with him on Sian—now that the Federated Sun’s and Lyran Commonwealth are no longer distracted. Unknown to Liao, who pins his hopes on assistance from other nations, Hanse has offered the FWL a large portion of the Confederation for certain future considerations. The only other possibly Ally, the Draconis Combine, has written off the Confederation due to Takashi’s fury over Liao’s overly complex plans and subsequent failure.
3041: Nuclear bombing of TDF forces on Brisbane. The source of the weapon remains unknown, with everything from a false flag by the Union to ROM agents being called out, but it had the impact of infuriating the Taurians, though fears of Taurian “nuke mania” were proven baseless, perhaps due to the fact that the tactical nuclear weapon had been targeted on a Taurian logistics base and no civilians were harmed. However, whatever the origin of the weapon, it doomed the Confederation, as the Union Cluster Navy entered the battle. Although it refrained from any orbital bombardment operations, the total space dominance it brought to the battle ensured that the CCAF was unable to regain the initiative. A number of CCAF and affiliated mercenary units were caught in space, being forced to surrender or destroyed without their mechs ever able to fire a shot. On November, Comstar announced the tragic death of the courageous Myndo Waterly, killed while investigating a deep conspiracy that had been providing advanced technology to Hasek and the CCAF. Her role in preserving Comstars’ neutrality was praised and a week of mourning declared at all Comstar installations. (In truth, she and her associates had been arrested, interrogated and quietly executed).
3043: The Combined offensive by the TDF, Federated Suns, Lyran Commonwealth and Free Worlds League effectively dismembers the Confederation, with nearly 60 percent of its worlds ending up taken. Sian falls at the end of the year, with only a broken Maximilian Liao sitting on the throne, demanding that Hanse recognize his position. He will end out his final years in an insane asylum. Romano Liao and the rest of the household fled to their ancestral holdings, along with the tattered remains of the CCAF. Comstar, in November 3043, declares the rump Confederation under their protection, unveiling a number of Comguards units. Although still the Confederation in name, in truth the Liao’s have no power, and are subject to the decisions coming from Terra, while Comstar benefits from the larger population base. Occupied with digesting the remains of the Confederation, and in the Federated Suns and Concordat’s case, recovering from the conflict, none of the powers contest Comstar’s decision. On December 25th, during the Christmas Day celebrations, the FWL announces that it forever renounces the throne of the Star League. Takashi is heard to mention that the timing was in poor taste—he waits until January 1st of 3044 to declare that “The Dragon has no need of a corpse’s throne”. It is with this declaration that the conflict is officially named: The Final Succession War, ending over two-hundred years of bloodshed in the name of the Star League. Comstar makes no official statement, but the renaming of Unity City to the “Unity City Historical Monument and Museum Complex” makes their stance clear enough.
In addition, the Periphery, in its analysis of the conflict, determines that more coordination would be needed in the case of future challenges. The PEDZ is joined by the Periphery Treaty Defense Force, a multi-national body designed to ensure that future conflicts will see a more coordinated result. In addition to developing a more unified training doctrine, the Union Navy provides the PTDF with a number of fast-charge jumpships, allowing it to more effectively cover the vast spaces of the Periphery.
