CCCIIISSSAAA YYYeeeaaarrr iiinnn RRReeevvviiieeewww 333000222333 CISA – Year in Review – 3023 is © 3023 by the Centre for Interstellar Strategic Analysis. Any comments should be directed to your nearest CISA office, located on most major worlds. Making sense of that which is not readily apparent NOTE TO THE READER This is a background document to the fan fiction story The Other Option – Kapteyn’s First Strike. You can find the story on the fan fiction boards of the BattleTech site. I started the story in 2009 and found the need to sort out all the background material, so that I did not start contradicting myself as I wrote the story. This is the first result of that effort and one for each year of story time will follow, each a lot simpler and smaller than this beast. This is not BattleTech canon material in any way, shape or form, it is part of an Alternate Universe setting for the purpose of gaming out and writing a What If scenario for the 4th Succession War. If you have serious issues with the events described here, I don’t care, it’s an Alternate Universe, things are different here, if you want canon, read canon, if not, I really hope you enjoy this. If, on the other hand, you find general errors, or have ideas, or thoughts about the work, I am more than happy to chat away over email and answer your questions and discuss ideas. I can be reached at [email protected] SPECIAL THANKS Special thanks must go to both Alan Brundage (Jaim_Magnus) and Jon (Takiro – master of the Shattered Dawn site) for there efforts in helping with what we have started calling the Kapteyn Universe, a name that I expect will change. Alan has been a great sounding board for future story ideas and to bounce random thoughts off, some of which must have been a little disturbing. John has gone out of his way to blast out dozens of mercenary commands or let me use the Shattered Dawn units, something that has made my life a hell of a lot easier. BlackTigerActual has also been nice in lending the Black Tigers to the universe, although I did not promise to be gentle with them. Thanks must also go to my new Fiancé, Andrea, who puts up with the combination of BattleTech and Rugby ruling much of my time. Additionally, thanks to anyone reading this or the story and to those who have taken the time to write a few words of encouragement on the boards as the story progresses. The following people have been of invaluable assistance in getting this game up and going and have assisted greatly in improving the system and the methods of implementing it. Rules and Technical Assistance Jason Wiser, “Panzerfaust150”, Bruce Jensen, “Kwic” Although all the players have made suggestion here and there, the input of Jason and Bruce has been invaluable in the ongoing improvement and refining of the SL system. Jason’s step up to co‐GM was also a life saver and allowed me to again partake in a normal life. Bruce has also been pottering away with game aids, such as the excellent repair function amongst, hopefully, other automated function. Play Testing Jason Wiser, “Panzerfaust150”, Nathan Baxter “Valles”, Jason Fraser, “VhenRa”, Michael Brown, “Drakensis”, Dan Waugh, “Coriendal”, Chris Marti "Alex Knight", Glen Millar “Rainbow 6”, Robert Johnson, “Chaosextreme”, Eugene Klopper, “Centurion03”, Xavier Lugherini, “Ice Hellion”, Andrea Hamann “Fiancé”, Glenn Miller, “Rainbow 6”, Bruce Jensen, “Kwic”, John Almond, “Col. Chiang”, Christopher Damour and Tony Crum. Thanks Again ‐ Matt CISA – YEAR IN REVIEW 3023 Table of Contents THE YEAR IN REVIEW 3023......... 6 Introduction .............................................................6 The Inner Sphere ......................................................6 The Periphery ...........................................................6 Mercenaries .............................................................6 Growth in Military Production Since 3000 ................6 THE STATES OF 3023 ..................... 7 Lyran Commonwealth ............................................10 Major Changes.................................................................. 10 Economics ........................................................................ 10 Military ............................................................................ 11 Conclusions ...................................................................... 12 Draconis Combine ..................................................13 Major Changes.................................................................. 13 Provinces.......................................................................... 13 Economics ........................................................................ 13 Military ............................................................................ 13 Conclusions ...................................................................... 15 Federated Suns.......................................................16 Major Changes.................................................................. 16 Economics ........................................................................ 16 Military ............................................................................ 16 Conclusions ...................................................................... 18 Capellan Confederation..........................................19 Major Changes.................................................................. 19 Economics ........................................................................ 19 Military ............................................................................ 19 Conclusions ...................................................................... 21 Free Worlds League................................................22 Major Changes.................................................................. 22 Economics ........................................................................ 22 Military ............................................................................ 22 Conclusions ...................................................................... 25 ComStar..................................................................26 Major Changes.................................................................. 26 Economics ........................................................................ 26 Military ............................................................................ 26 Conclusions ...................................................................... 30 Taurian Concordat..................................................31 Major Changes.................................................................. 31 Economics ........................................................................ 31 Military ............................................................................ 31 Conclusions ...................................................................... 32 1 CISA – YEAR IN REVIEW 3023 CISA – YEAR IN REVIEW 3023 Magistracy of Canopus ...........................................35 Major Changes.................................................................. 35 Economics ........................................................................ 35 Military ............................................................................ 35 Conclusions ...................................................................... 35 Outworlds Alliance .................................................36 Major Changes.................................................................. 36 Economics ........................................................................ 36 Military ............................................................................ 36 Conclusions ...................................................................... 36 Oberon Confederation............................................39 Major Changes.................................................................. 39 Economics ........................................................................ 39 Military ............................................................................ 39 Conclusions ...................................................................... 39 Marian Hegemony..................................................40 Major Changes.................................................................. 40 Economics ........................................................................ 40 Military ............................................................................ 40 Conclusions ...................................................................... 40 Circinus Federation.................................................42 Major Changes.................................................................. 42 Economics ........................................................................ 42 Military ............................................................................ 42 Conclusions ...................................................................... 42 Lothian League and Illyrian Palatinate....................43 Major Changes.................................................................. 43 Economics ........................................................................ 43 Military ............................................................................ 43 Conclusions ...................................................................... 43 Tortuga Dominions.................................................44 Rim Collection ........................................................44