Full Thrust - NAC Fluff (Part 2) - Text heavy

Continued from Part 1.

So, for me, what is the NAC? While the concept of a federal super state under the crown seems interesting, I can't see that it would work while still using the 'traditional' government of the UK. I don't consider that the American territories (or Canada) would willingly submit to a form of government such as that currently demonstrated by the UK Parliament. Especially not where there was not only a wasteful and unelected 'House of Lords' (currently the 2nd largest unelected parliament in the world, 2nd only to China) but also a heavy influence on government by an unelected royal family.

I also consider, for what it's worth, that Scotland would no longer be part of the United Kingdom probably by the 2020's. While technically still a 'United Kingdom' in that the Royal Family remains the titular head of state of a democratic Scottish nation, the 'UK' Parliament would represent much as it currently represents - London and Southern English interests. Just without the resources of Scotland to leech upon. Following this split however, I consider that while politically the Scottish and 'UK' governments would differ in approaches, the two nations would remain close friends and allies. In fact, within the timeline of the previous post, it would probably be Scotlands leaving of the Union that would have created the political instability which would have allowed the Spanish to feel they could seize Gibraltar in this time line (following a Yes vote in 2014). Scotland would remain in the EU following this event, and would benefit from being the only EU member nation to share a land border with the remainder of the UK. Leaving the EU would see London losing importance as a financial centre and possibly shift slightly the economic gravity of the remainder of the UK.

So lets have a look at how this could all come together - I've revised the timeline slightly in order to try and make the various idea's 'fit' in a rational way. Apologies if this time line is not flattering to your nation, it does fit as closely to the original timeline as I could make it (aside from a slight alteration for the 2014 entry - really because it made the loss of Gibraltar make sense).

2014: Scotland votes to leave the UK, causing the resignation of the UK Prime Minister - swiftly followed by the resignation of several of the leaders of the Unionist opposition parties.

Taking advantage of the political instability within the UK, just before Christmas Spanish forces occupy Gibraltar in a surprise and largely bloodless operation. These event force the ruling coalition into action. The right wing anti EU faction of the ruling coalition use Spain's actions to declare the UK's exit of the EU. This was largely due to the EU's response being deemed 'inadequade' by right wing politicians and press. It is clear to political observers in the UK that no action taken by the EU would have been deemed adequate. Despite declaring their withdrawal from the EU the process of leaving takes several years, as previously demonstrated by Icelands withdrawal. 

2015: The UK's ruling coalition eventually splits following threats by the secretary of State for Defence to use the UK's nuclear arsenal on Spain. Public uproar lead to a General Election being called and several more resignations.

Threats made by the ruling coalition to ignore the results of the Scottish Independence referendum are quickly forgotten in light of evidence of a substantial UK Government lead security services operation to undermine the referendum and undertake vote rigging. This evidence substantially damages the UK public's faith in the UK political system following indications that this was not the only election that such operations have been run.

Following the General Election the ruling party is forced into making substantial changes. This includes the introduction of proportional representation, the abolition of the House of Lords and a more federal approach to the remaining parts of the UK. This includes the establishment of a devolved English Parliament with similar powers to the existing Welsh and NI Assemblies.

2016: Scotland reverts to being an independent nation within the EU.

2018: The UK officially leaves the EU with the last negotiation being completed.

Australian/New Zealand forces 'liberate' French occupied New Caledonia. The EU threatens military retaliation. Both Britain and the USA offer military support to their antipodean relatives. The EU backs off.

2020: The worsening global security situation and the lack of faith in the military support available from European partners see several NATO nations, including the UK, increase their defense spending. For the UK, this means increased spending on the Royal Navy and the RAF. Both services have been reduced to the bare bones following decade after decade of cuts and the infusion of spending slowly begins to reverse some of the damage done.

In addition to this Canada, the USA, UK and Scotland form a defensive alliance separate to NATO. This alliance runs alongside the commitment to NATO, but involves closer working of the 4 English speaking nations. This leads, in time, to closer economic ties as the UK seeks to integrate more with it's western allies given it's position outside the EU. Scotland remains the entry point for the majority of UK goods into Europe due to friendlier trading terms than those offered by France and other EU countries.

2023: Creation of the EU sponsored Economic Union of African Republics (EUAR) in Central and Southern Africa. Arab African countries remain outside of the Union.

2027: With the situation in the Middle East and North Africa worsening by the week, and several nations (including an increasingly aggressive and expansionist China) taking an active interest in the conflict, the UK undertakes a substantial defence spending review. As a result investment is again increased, with more focus being placed on power projection and the fighting of a medium scale land conflict.

2032 The Gilderstein Foundation purchases an island off the Philippines, and with technical/financial support from Japan embarks on its research programme into FTL travel. Several Scottish Universities are heavily involved in the project.

2039: Indonesia invades and conquers Malaysia. UK naval presence is stepped up in the South Pacific in support of Australia.

2042: The EUAR follows the example of the EC and becomes a federal super-state – the Pan-African Union (PAU).

2045: Heavy fighting on the Sino-Siberian border as the Beijing Government presses long redundant border claims against a financially and politically bankrupt Russia.

2046: South Korea falls to a lightning strike by North Korea and China. US and South Korean forces that survived the initial onslaught are evacuated before the UN can debate the issue. Chinese veto's prevent any Security Council resolution being passed. A South Korean government in exile is formed in the USA and the US begin economic sanctions against China. Worldwide news media play constant images of US troops being evacuated via South Korean beaches.

Royal Navy ships join allied task forces in the Sea of Japan and East China Sea, interdicting ships travelling to or from Korea while aiding in the rescue of refugees attempting to flee the occupied South Korea.

Late in 2046 the Chinese retaliate against Western economic sanctions, using decades of investment and national debt purchasing as leverage against 'hostile' western nations. In addition the USA suffers from several damaging cyber attacks. This year see's the start of another global recession.

2047: A Beijing sponsored coup in Moscow results in the return of Communist government to Russia and several of the Commonwealth Republics. The Czar and a sizable military force flee to the Ukraine, who along with Byelorussia and the Baltic States remain free of the Communist shackle, as the EU intimates to Beijing that further Communist expansion West will not be tolerated, whatever the cost. The Communist states then create the Eurasian Union. The remaining Commonwealth States create the Romanov Hegemony, realising that divided they will be picked off by the Eurasian Union in time.

China launches an invasion attempt on the island of Taiwan. Support from the US, Japanese, Australian and British Royal Navy  (and air forces from these nations) first stall the invasion and then stop it. The remaining Chinese forces on Taiwan are forced to surrender after the complete interdiction of the Taiwan straight. This conflict sees the loss of the first US Navy carrier since WW2 as well as several other naval losses to western nations. The Chinese blue water navy ceases to exist in the seas around Taiwan, including the loss at sea or in port of all Chinese carriers.  Despite AEGIS cruisers and laser and rail gun armed US, Japanese and Royal Navy ships in support, Taiwan suffers serious damage to it's population centres and military following a constant conventional rocket and cruise missile bombardment. Nuclear weapons were not used as the USA clearly informed China that they would reply tenfold to any such attack on their ally.

China steps up economic warfare against it's 'western aggressors'. This includes using diplomatic influence with many of the nations comprising the Pan African Union. This was done in order to gather support in the UN and introduce further economic sanctions against Western nations.

2048: A 'North Korean' deep cover agent undertakes a cyber attack on the US stock exchange. This attack, alongside the detonation of a EMP device in the financial district of  New York, causes a major economic crash within the USA. The effects of this on the struggling world economy are severe. Dozens of national and international banks collapse.


Civil unrest in the UK due to increasing unemployment as well as several other social issues (not helped by the seemingly prosperous and successful Scottish 'Nordic Style' economy and social system just across the border) see's further social change within the UK. In an effort to reduce youth unemployment and stimulate the economy, National Service is re-introduced. Much of this service is military is style but aimed at 'New Deal' social projects. The UK armed forces retain voluntary recruitment, and numbers are swelled by National Services leavers who enjoyed the lifestyle. 

The UK is insulated slightly from the banking collapse as many multi national banks left the country following the withdrawal from the EU. Scotland follows the Icelandic model of dealing with banking collapse and the economy, helped by the large financial reserves from a substantial oil fund, bounces back within a few years. 

2049: The US economy collapses, followed by the Federal Government as President Amy Koslowski is assassinated in the bombing of the White House. General Parham declares the creation of a military government. Many states ignore the military proclamation, violently opposing the armed forces attempts to assume control. Some states face total civil collapse as religious tensions see the formations of local fanatical christian groups imposing their versions of religious laws - often by force.

2050: Canada and the UK respond to General Parham's request in 2050 to intervene and undertake peacekeeping operations in a strife torn USA. The Scottish Government provides humanitarian and technical support along with a small contingent of peacekeepers. While the armed forces of the three nations are in no way enough to secure the whole of the United States, they do deploy to areas where the fighting has been fiercest in order to provide barrier forces between opposing factions. A major part of this operation is the securing of the USA's nuclear, chemical and biological weapon stores in order to prevent these being stolen or used within the civil war.

Over the next few years, this intervention slows the pace of the civil war and allows peace negotiations to begin. Canadian and US forces deployed in Alaska prevent any opportunist attack from the communist Eurasian Union.

By 2052 Japanese, Australian and New Zealand forces are also involved in peacekeeping duties on the western seaboard of the former USA.

The US inspired Organisation of American States collapses and is replaced by the Brazilian/Argentinian dominated League of Latin American Republics. The LLAR intimates that it will use force to recover territories occupied by "Colonial Powers". The UK advises that it will use any weapons in its arsenal to protect its subjects in the Falkland Islands. The LLAR backs down.

The Philippines are conquered by Indonesia and assimilated into the new Indonesian Commonwealth.

Japanese naval units act to protect the Gilderstein Foundation’s installation from Indonesian aggression.

In response to the growing Indonesian threat, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and a number of South Sea Island states create the Oceanic Union.

2053: The Indonesian Commonwealth invades and conquers Burma and Thailand.

2054: Some of the US states least effected by the ongoing Civil War - specifically those on the Canadian border or North East of the former USA -  enter into closer economic alliances with Canada, Scotland and the UK. The number of states involved in these alliances gradually grow, even while internal political divisions see the forming of any unified civilian federal government fail. The US military, under the command of General Parham, continue to be the de-facto federal government. Continuing disagreements between state and military governments see the three allied governments becoming more and more involved as go betweens while offering technical support to the military government.

Gradually Canadian, Scottish and UK forces switch from being neutral peacekeepers to allies of the Parham military government. The pacification of the remaining 'independent' states continues.

2056: Elections are held in the states of the former US aimed at returning an individual capable or replacing General Parham and the Military Government. In a shock result, a former US Navy Admiral is returned. Admiral Dewsbury immediately enters into negotiations with the governments of Canada, Scotland and the UK. The initial aim is to continue the support available from the three allied nations. What develops from these discussions is a federal state. This maintains local government while electing a national senate. Initially the proposal is functionally similar to the operation of the EU. As 3 of the member nations already have the former British Royal Family as their head of state, a central point of the discussion is the name of the new nation and the continuation of the Royal Family as titular head of state. 

Referendums are arranged and held in each member nation and each state of the former USA. Several US states return only narrow majorities in favor of the proposal. Notably Texas and California return a majority of less the 1%, even after several recounts.

2057: Britain, Canada and the United States unite under the Crown and create the Anglian
Confederation. Admiral Dewsbury is appointed Lord Governor of the territory previously known as the United States of America.



The EU, concerned about the status of Scotland within this new nation and it's position within the EU at first takes the Scottish government to court. As Scots Law dictates that the people of Scotland are sovereign  and a legal referendum was held, the court finds in the Scottish Governments favor. In an emergency session of the EU parliament, and under heavy political pressure from the Eurasian Union, the EU votes to eject Scotland from the Union.

In the confusion of the end of the 2nd Civil War, the LLAR declares that the AC has no mandate to rule over the ex-Hispano-US peoples and decrees California, New Mexico and Texas as LLAR territory under foreign occupation and launches an invasion of these areas. The fifteen year War of the Americas starts.

2059 The Gilderstein Foundation’s L5 Lab disappears from orbit.

2062 The Foundation reveals the true nature of the disappearance of the L5 Lab.

The Islamic Federation and PAU clash in North-East Africa over water rights. The EU sponsor a peace initiative backed by a threat of force.

2063 The first trans-solar probe is launched to (and returns from) Barnard’s Star.

2067 The Gilderstein Foundation sends the first manned FTL mission out of the Solar System.

2069 Both the Anglian Federation and the EU launch FTL craft and begin the colonisation of space.

2070 With help from the EU, the Islamic Federation, the PAU and the Romanov Hegemony all launch FTL craft.

2072 The LLAR sues for peace in the War of the Americas and cedes all territories in North and Central America to the Anglian Confederation. The LLAR looks to space as a means of expansion.

The Eurasian Union launches its first FTL ship and renames itself the Eurasian Solar Union.

2075 The LLAR launch their first FTL craft, as does the Indonesian Commonwealth.

2096 Founding of "New Israel" on a garden world in the Epsilon Indi system.

2098 Conflict again between the Anglian Confederation and the LLAR as border clashes escalate into all out war. Within two years the LLAR loses all possessions on Earth. Survivors of the League government and its supporters flee to the small Brazilian colony on Santa Rico.

2099 First settlement of Albion by Anglian Confederation colonists.

2101 The struggling and unstable United Federal Europe finally disintegrates as Germany, Austria and several East European states agree the formation of the Neu Swabian League (NSL) in protest at continued French domination of the EC. In response, France and the remaining members of the EC (notably Italy and Spain) dissolve that organisation and reform as the Federal Stats Europa (FSE). Very soon, border incidents between the NSL and FSE about territorial claims on Earth and the other settled worlds intensify into open warfare. Initially the war goes well for the FSE as they overrun the NSL Inner Colony settlements of Trelleborg and Flensberg, followed by the taking of the Outworld colonies of Wittenberge, Kecel and Lienz after brave resistance from their colonial militias. On Earth, Baden Wurttemberg, Bayern and parts of the Rhineland swiftly fall to FSE armoured thrusts. Three years of intermittent warfare ends with an Anglian Confederation sponsored peace plan.



Ireland joins the Anglian Confederation as a member state following a brief referendum. Oddly, the nation remains technically a republic within the AC as this question was not asked.

2102 Further FSE advances into Germany falter as NSL forces under General Janos Matthias halt the FSE armour at the battle of Breznice. An attempted counter-thrust by NSL units is a bit of a non-event, only succeeding in regaining territory up to the Danube.

In late 2102 the Netherlands (which had been at best an unwilling "associate member" of the FSE since the EU's collapse) breaks all ties with the FSE; refusing an offer of alliance from the NSL, the Dutch reassert their independence and eject all FSE influences from their homeland and colonial possessions.

2103 While the FSE/NSL war on Earth and the Inner Colonies stagnates, the battles in the Outworlds intensify. The NSL launches commando raids and planetary assaults against a number of FSE colonies and bases, but with only limited success; while the hit-and-run strikes caused significant damage to many FSE installations, the NSL abilities to mount full-scale assaults proved sorely lacking.

2104 The treaty of Saarbrucken brings a conclusion to the FSE/NSL war, confirming territorial boundaries on Earth and the Inner Colonies and establishing spheres of influence in the Outworlds. The peace accord is sponsored by the UN and the Anglian Confederation, and although neither of the protagonists is really happy with the outcome they are both too economically weakened by the war to protest effectively.

2110 Air attacks by Indonesian Commonwealth forces herald the start of their war with the Oceanic Union over Papua New Guinea. The low-intensity war runs the Indonesians' way for much of the first year, as they manage to inflict a crushing defeat on the Oceanic 6^th Infantry Division at Aitape and go on to take the Long Islands, Admiralty Islands and establish a beach-head on the New Islands. The Indonesian advance is finally stopped in Southern Papua, at the battle of the Mouths of the Fly River. Generally a low intensity war, it is notable for the widespread use of Grav vehicles as major combat weapons for the first time on Earth.

2111 Oceanic forces seize the initiative and launch an assault on Indonesian territory with two armoured and three infantry divisions. Quickly taking Traigan, Jamdena and Timor, the Oceanic advance halts after the Battle of Ramang in the South Banda Sea, and the war enters another quiet phase and peace negotiations commence. Despite a rather half-hearted and ineffective attempt at a renewed offensive by the Indonesians late in the year, the war grinds to an inconclusive close.

2112 The Sydney Accord ends the Papua New Guinea War.

 2123 Islamic Federation and ESU forces clash on Earth as the ESU massacres many Muslims in an anti-Islamic pogrom on the Indian sub-continent. Most of the action is limited to cross-border raids and artillery duels; frantic UN diplomatic efforts prevent full-scale escalation. The Beijing government, appreciative of the fact that religious persecution has no place in the multi-cultural Union, deals harshly with the Hindu officials who sanctioned the pogrom.

2124 Expanding interests on the colony worlds and the difficulty of maintaining strong centralised control force some liberalisation within the ESU. Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia petition to join the ESU as "economic partners", considering themselves to have been poorly treated by the NSL.

2127 The balance of power within the ESU shifts away from Chinese domination as the Union government is moved from Earth to the mainly Russian-settled Nova Moskva.

One hundred years after the effective destruction of Israel by Arab terrorist groups, the Jewish government on the colony of New Israel renews the pledge of never-ending war against the anti-Zionists. To date this "war" has largely been the province of New Israeli Intelligence and Special Forces, but Rabbi Avraham Yoffe's public statement that the Jewish state would take each and every opportunity to avenge the destruction of their original homeland actually marked the start of Operation Jericho, during which New Israeli Interface and Airborne units assaulted and destroyed several Islamic bases on the Inner Colonies.

2128 LLAR mercenary forces (the San Deseado Interface Brigade), hired by the Indonesian Commonwealth to protect their installations on the disputed Caroline Islands, clash with New Anglian forces against the will of their employers. In a desperate attempt to conciliate with the Anglians, who are threatening retribution, the Indonesians execute the entire LLAR Brigade. Understandably furious at this, the LLAR strikes at the Indonesian settlement on Easter, marking the start of what becomes known as the "Mercenary War" (as both sides employ large numbers of mercenary and foreign volunteer contingents to complement their own limited forces). The next four years see a very scrappy and inconclusive war fought out, the only real winners being the bank balances of the various mercenary units.

The Islamic Federation and PAU clash over spheres of influence in space. The FSE enforces a peaceful solution.

2129 Dutch mercenaries of the Van Koost Armoured Legion, working for the Indonesians, recapture the Commonwealth's settlement of Easter, defeating LLAR regular forces and a Turkish mercenary unit in the process. A Swiss strike force employed by the LLAR in turn raids a major Indonesian logistics centre in Manila on Earth, but is repelled by the local forces and Japanese mercenary troops; the Swiss make use of nerve agents to cover their withdrawal, causing heavy casualties to the Japanese and bringing severe protests in the UN assembly.

2130 Shi'ite fundamentalists declare independence from the Islamic Federation on their Outworld settlements of Abu Haman and Sad Al Bari. Saudi attempts to regain control of these colonies fail as troops of the 2nd Islamic Legion sent to suppress the rebellion switch sides after landfall and join the fundamentalists under the banner of Mullah Saeed ibn Aamir. The two colonies declare the formation of the Saeed Khalifate and, in an effort to raise much needed hard currency soon begin to utilise their armed forces as mercenary units for hire. Over the next few years, the Khalifate's mercenaries are to earn themselves the reputation of being among the toughest units in Human space.

2131 Israeli and Islamic mercenaries clash with each on Easter despite both having been hired by the Indonesians; both forces' contracts are promptly revoked, and several Commonwealth Defence Ministry staff responsible for the hirings are severely punished for their lack of foresight.

2132 ESU and Anglian forces skirmish on Chi Draconis VII as both powers continue to expand their colonial settlement programmes. Over the next five years such "border skirmishes" become more frequent, especially in the minor colonies and Outworlds.

The Mercenary War is finally brought to an end with the signing of the Mercenary Charter on the Dutch-settled world of Freisland. The Charter, as well as finalising the LLAR/Commonwealth dispute with heavy reparations being paid by the Indonesians over the San Deseado Brigade incident, lays out a code to which all mercenary units and their employers are expected to adhere. All signatories to the Charter, which include most nations and blocs that either supply or employ foreign mercenary troops, agree not to hire any unit that does not comply with the terms of the code.

2133 Radical French separatists in the colony settlements of Bretonneux, Doullens and Compville declare unilateral independence from the FSE. Elements of the Colonial Legion - namely the 1e REP, 5th and 13th DBLC - are sent to quell the insurrection. Despite initial setbacks due to stronger rebel opposition than expected, the Legion troops are finally able to defeat the separatists' main forces; however, resentment among the populations remains high and the Colonial forces are drawn into a prolonged and dirty guerrilla war with remaining local troops.

2135 The Anglian Confederation moves its Parliament to Albion, which now has population almost as large as England thanks to massive immigration and engineered population growth programmes. The reigning monarch, King Charles V, divides his time between palaces in England, Vermont, Ottawa and Albion.

2136 The Anglian Confederation renames itself the New Anglian Confederation and revises its Constitution to include all related colonies as independent members.



Phew!

So, what then is the New Anglian Confederation? Having a look at a fan created star map available here, seems to indicate that the NAC has 13 'outworld' systems and a unknown number of 'inner' system colonies. The implication seems to be that 'inner' colonies may have mixed ownership of planets, moons, etc, within the system. It is also likely that planets in theses systems have separate colonies for different nations - perhaps on different continents, perhaps mixed. The UNSC take most interest in preventing conflict within these colonies.

The number of 'outworld' colonies does not, however, match my interpretation of the background. I think I would expect the NAC to have somewhere between 150 and 250 settled systems. Some of these systems might just be 'settled' because there is a refuelling station, moon colony, science station or a mining operation ongoing there. But I would still consider that with FTL being freely available, population issues on Earth, the 'frontiersman' attitude of many of the peoples of the confederation and the constant need for resources would mean that expansion would be rapid. I also consider that in the Tuffleyverse the proportion of habitable planets within a suitable tolerance of earth standard (whether this is with terraforming or not) is higher than it perhaps should be. Settling a new planet should not, in my version, be particularly hard - given the correct funding, equipment, etc. Travel distance is not a major factor in this setting - vast distances are not instantaneous, being more like long sea journeys with time spent after each short jump preparing the ship and crew for the next one. Also, as I will cover shortly, my view of the NAC is that corporate interests would also be able to claim colonies for themselves.

So, there we have a slightly revised timeline and a brief discussion on my view of the size of a large Tuffleyverse faction. Comments or thoughts are welcome. Next up I am going to look at the structure of the nation - working my way towards the military structure (my ultimate goal).