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Anyway, here's an idea for a timeline where aliens do exist - and are dragged into the politics of the Inner Sphere, turning the humans into invaders. (E.g. a reverse Clan Invasion with aliens):
It is a few centuries after the Dark Age. The disruption of the HPG Network has changed a lot, but some things stayed the same.
The Houses still exist, though some split apart, somet o disappear, some to fusion with other splinters of other houses, some remaining stable. The Clans still exist, with similar changes - maybe the most important change is that it's definitely no longer Clan vs Houses.
These groups have formed larger, governing bodies.
The Republic of the Sphere reformed, smaller now, more aggressive then before, but still a democracy. Other sets of alliances are build around former Houses. There is the Periphery Union, something akin to the European Union or the African Union. Several smaller Kingdoms spanning multiple stars or just a single star system.
The Star League is now an organization similar to Old Earth's United Nations.Not a government, but a way for governments to work out agreements and resolve conflicts.
And there are many of these conflicts. After centuries of war, resources are harder to acquire then ever. Everyone is looking for untouched worlds with sufficient resources. Old rivalries have been maintained.
The Republic has recently annexed several minor worlds, supposedly for their own protection from raiders, and moved against minor kingdoms to "liberate" the people inside them. Its neighbours are worried. But the Republic is not the only one acting in this manner.
Several Clans are disappointed with their state, they wish to regain control and influence. Other Clans oppose, and are happy witht he status quo. The Houses vie for control over several worlds with economical manipulation, but it's only a matter of time one of them loses too much to not decide to take up arms.
So far, everything is in a state of proxy wars. A Cold War, if you will. But it's only a question of time until something flares up that will not be local anymore.
What also changed is Comstar. The great HPG Network failure also lead to significant changes for ComStar. THeir failure to avoid or deal with this catastrophe made them lose a lot of power, and so it brough apart in smaller groups. ComStar still exists, but it's no longer the only player on the block. For example, there is Hyperstar and Stellarwave, two rivaling "companies", so tos peak, but also smaller players. The change wasn'T all bad - being forced to deal with the core of Comstar powerbase, Comstar and its successors became innovate again. HPG devices became much smaller than ever before, with more efficiencies. Many major planets can now afford to be continually networked with each other, with unique opportunities for trade and
espionage.
A major advancement has also happened in space travel. The newest jump ships can jump more often and further than ever before. Smaller ships then ever before can now perform jumps, opening up new opportunities for even small scale traders to roam the galaxy.
In this time, something new is at the horizon. Human explorers have now reached far beyond the Inner Sphere or the Periphery, and discovered intelligent alien life. Very few know of this now. But plans have been set in motion to use this new discovery.
Comstar is manipulating events again. They do not wish another war in the Inner Sphere. They fear that things would turn uglier than ever now, especially since they do not control interstellar communication anymore.
They have set a few human colonies at the borders of alien space - and are working to provoke the aliens to an attack - an attack vicious and brutal enough to enrage every citizen in the Sphere. An attack that they will declare as a clear sign of an impending invasion, an invasion that will unite the Sphere against a common enemy. And not just that - a war entirely inside Comstars sphere of influence, a war were they can gain first access to new technology and gain technological superiority once more.
The Aliens themselves are not all that they seem to be. ComStar learned a lot, but not enough. They have indeed technology that the Sphere has never seen. Not necessarily superior, but ... different. They aren't just one alien race - they are several. Not exactly united, but also at peace for now.
The technology ComStar is interested in are their Jump Gates - permanent jump points between two locations on planetary surfaces, used to transport people and goods - and troops, of course. ComStar hopes this technology will finally give it an advantage over its competitors, if it can capture some of these. What they didn't see yet is that this is not the only superior jump technology the aliens have - mechs with jump capability is another.
If the Inner Sphere really decides to fight these aliens, it will be a tough fight.
And is ComStar's belief that it will unite the Sphere true in the first place?
How will these Aliens react? Will they unite, or will they split apart?
Edited by MustrumRidcully, 20 February 2013 - 05:42 AM.
