[spoiler]"There are always possibilities," Spock said, and it's certainly something that could happen. I'll note that winning a trial for an enclave on a Clan-held world is a far different matter from taking territory from non-Clan forces. They tend not to take such things in stride, and it would definitely escalate beyond a simple trial. In an actual fight, the Scorpions would mop the floor with the Territories, but then the Empire would be left vulnerable. It's not a short trip between the two. Now, if the Seekers get themselves into trouble digging for some relics or other, there might be a reason to send in the troops. It was kinda their fault the Crusade happened when it did, somewhat prematurely for Khan Scott's liking, so there's also precedent for that! (And Seeker Galaxy got tuned up hard in the Crusade.) The Scorpions are sporting at least seven Galaxies, which is pretty significant. It's eight if the PGCs are lumped together into Grunt Galaxy again.
Rather than military conquest, though, a mercantile operation to peel them off from Lyran or Sea Fox suppliers could spark a bigger conflict between the Empire and worthy foes...[/spoiler]
Hmm...
[spoiler]I took a look at the maps in
First Succession War in order to try and figure out which Rim Territories systems had which Rim Worlds Republic system names - and it turns out that a number of these systems had been part of the short-lived Finmark Free Republic. So there's an added bit of history there to dig up, so to speak.
But then, there is another detail of note. During Operation REVIVAL, the invading Clans were mainly focused on the crimes of the Usurper when they showed up in former RWR systems, to the chagrin of the conquered populace. However, despite everything, the Great Father himself had considered the "post-Amaris" Rim Worlds to be under Star League protection. He was
not pleased about the opportunism displayed by the Lyrans during Operation ALMARIC, though any effort to follow up on this was pre-empted by the Exodus. (Over in the
Empires Aflame timeline, settling this "unfinished business" would lead the Terrans and Lyrans to co-sponsor the creation of the Rim Federation.)[/spoiler]
So, [spoiler]if the Scorpions were to show up in Rim Territories space - in whatever capacity - they could portray themselves to the locals as the (belated) executors of Kerensky Senior's wishes towards them. What said locals might think of it all, however, is another matter...[/spoiler]
And another thing: [spoiler]if there is going to be a greater degree of contact between the Scorpions and the Council of Six Clans - or is it seven now, with the return of the Smoke Jaguars? - might there be a Trial of Position to see if threads like this one should stay here, or possibly be moved "back" to the Clan sub-board?[/spoiler]
