BARD PAPER: GAIL2014

Regency Wilds Overview

by Pete Gray

The Regency Wilds are the area most familiar to Denebian intelligence and patrol personnel. Comprising the worlds of Lamas, Antra and Atsah subsectors, it contains a number of predominantly Imperial culture worlds of mixed human/vargr populations. Many of these same worlds came under concerted attack by various Vargr states during the early years of the Imperial Civil War, as these invaders took opportunistic advantage of the withdrawal of Imperial fleets from Corridor and the Domain of Deneb's subsequent isolation.

Several worlds along the Deneb/Tuglikki interface were overrun by forces from the Assemblage of 1116, which was created specifically to attack the Denebians. The Assemblage failed to make much headway into Lamas or Pretoria, but its corsairs inflicted heavy economic damage by preying on vital shipping and attacking isolated ground targets in lightning raids. The Assemblage was finally destroyed by Virus, after its fleets and leadership were killed in the Battle of Ashes against superior Regency forces. Worlds in trailing Atsah were conquered by forces by the Dzarrgh Federate, and were picked clean by their overeager corsair hirelings. Most of these worlds were liberated by the coming of Virus, and in many cases their human populations were able to partially or completely Abandon these worlds with Regency assistance. Those populations that stayed had a front row seat as the progression of Virus utterly destroyed their former conquerors, leaving not one corsair group alive by 1143.

In the short period between the completion of the Abandonment and the Rape of Trin, the surviving worlds were left to their devices. Early viral intruders destroyed most of the region's starports and those remaining communities on worlds that were naturally inhospitable to life. In the wake of the Rape of Trin, the senior Denebian leadership decided that the four parsec frontier they had erected was too thin to deter committed viral opposition, and naval and RQS sweeps began the laborious process of recontacting those worlds within five parsecs of the Frontier terminator. The groundwork for such missions was done covertly by the RQS, with jump trained agents surreptitiously observing the locals for months before contact teams of agents and diplomats would openly approach governments deemed friendly or at least not overly hostile.

Many of Atsah's worlds had already fallen back into near barbarism, the result of repeated Vampire attacks by several fleets found at the trailing end of the Vanguard Way, the J-1 route that connects Atsah, Ian and Khouth subsectors. Most of these worlds were under the control of dictators and warlords that used their stockpiles of leftover advanced weaponry to cow their populations into obedience. Dubbed Technologically Elevated Dictators, or TEDs by RQS, their bully boy tactics were severely damaging the future prospects of recovery. Antra and coreward Lamas had suffered less damage, but their lower populations meant that most worlds would eventually succumb to demographic collapse. On Rroerruerz/Antra, however, a deranged human technician calling himself Tutankhamen after an ancient Solomani despot, used a strain of human friendly Virus to reactivate the worlds largely automated military, which he used to enslave the now mostly Vargr population to do his bidding. RQS covert action personnel eliminated the threat he posed in a multi-stage operation, which set the precedent for limited intervention into the affairs of some of the worst ruled mini-states of the region.

Recovery

To effect long term survival of both Atsah and Antra, the Denebians launched a two prong plan to assist the populations of these benighted worlds, to recover their economies and some of their living standards, and to win their hearts and minds when, not if, the Regency reexpanded into surrounding space. While the Regency could have launched numerous military operations to overthrow local despots and reclaim these worlds from the onset, their resources were already stretched to the breaking point by having to defend what territory they did hold, a situation exaceberated by the wrecked infrastructure of the region, and the possible specter of local insurrection on top of the threat of Vampire attack. With the Regency decades away from being strong and confident enough to recover these worlds outright, a more limited strategy of war and recovery by proxy was approved by the First Regent.

Surviving free traders in both subsectors began to receive substantial assistance from RQS agents. In addition to naval deep space sweeps that gradually attrited the trailing vampire fleets, these groups received maintenance and trade from the reclaimed naval base at Errogel/Atsah. Eventually limited trade between specially vetted and inspected RQS factors and these trader coalitions was permitted. For the most part traders brought in high value goods like precious metals, gemstones and certain salvage items in high demand; in return they recieved so called "high payoff" technologies for their home communities, investment credits and hard currency to increase the home purchasing abilities. The two main collectives, the "Iron Butterflies" of Atsah, and the "Souk" of Antra, eventually became the main economic lifelines of the various TEDs that dominated both of their home areas, giving the Regency soft power leverage over these dictators, whereby peaceful trade embargos replaced hard military operations in most cases. Additionally the build up of a unified economic front in both subsectors permitted the laying of groundwork for future expansion, as the network nature of both collectives enabled them to coordinate their industrial efforts beyond the reach and communication of various warlords.

In case economic efforts did not suffice, the Regency dusted off the ancient "small war" doctrine. As opposed to the "big war" concept of intervention espoused by the Imperial Marines, with its insistence upon the annihilation of the enemy, or their coercion into surrender by the intimidating amount of firepower that Marine units carried, the small war doctrine is built around more limited and less bloody means of accomplishing the same objective. Under this doctrine, smaller forces were used for precision strike against enemy military infrastructures only. As one marine commander aptly put it, "To topple governments, not mountains" through the wasteful military force of antebellum units. Contrary to details published elsewhere (such as Regency Vehicle Guide) more was accomplished through targeted strikes in conjunction with diplomatic efforts than by the specter of massive Marine intervention. Most small war forces were originally Spec Ops and Marine Jump units used against a small number of especially aggressive or deadly TEDs in the period of 1140-1152. After this time Regency Ranger Training Cadres and the Navy's Task Force 543, trained the forces of friendly TEDs to take over patrol and deterrence roles. These forces were restrained by "they started it first" rules of engagement that limited them to reacting to aggressive actions by opposing forces. After the recontact of Corfinium in 1151, a ready supply of Regency friendly mercenary troops became available for these operations, a role which the Corfinium Corps and their later Corvine allies took to enthusiastically.

Progress

This carrot and stick method has had noticeable results. However the success has been more economic than military. The overall standard of living has increased, if not to Pre-Collapse levels, than at least to a comfortable degree. Both free trader collectives are widely accepted in their home territories, and have increasing economic and political clout and power overall. Militarily, early successes have given way to long term cold wars on worlds such as Ivora/Atsah and Rroerruerz/Antra between Regency friendly regimes and entrenched dictatorial governments. The lack of political representation among local populations, and the often soiled democratic credentials of friendly warlords has stymied advances, and more time and energy has been wasted trying to consolidate previous military victories. It has been more productive for free traders to buy out these dictators with money and chicanery.

Through both lingering loyalty and nostalgia, and the untiring efforts of the RQS, its allies, and Denebian Missionaries, several worlds are firmly under our influence. In Antra these include the worlds of Djaelervangak, Cilnodan, Rroerruerz, Bangwe, Tchien and Haggard. Contrary to previous written reports the Regency friendly Khankael League on Djaelervangak has all but destroyed the sociopathic cult that arose during the Collapse. This government shares its name with another government on Rroerruerz; indeed they are descended from the same Assemblage of 1116 political faction. However the latter group is vehemently Anti-Regency, and is opposed by the Llaegaerz League, a coalition of prewar Vargr and human communities, including the Stormy Federation, the home nation of the Souk FTC. In Atsah the worlds of Dophkah (the home of the Iron Butterflies), Errogel, Wal-ta-ka, Port Comfort, Gampin, Corfinium and Zerderu are predominantly friendly to us, and we have significant sympathy on Doho, Atsah and Ivora. Other friendly worlds include Hysyl/Usani, Newpenton/Geniishir, Nibel/Namidshur, and the worlds of Qi'iri and Gila in Lamas.

With the reopening of the Regency Frontier in 1202, economic recovery of these worlds is expected to commence in the very near future. Already it appears that Nibel and Errogel will be the center of reexpansion, the former because of its hospitability and small, scattered native population, and the latter for its visible naval presence and well preserved infrastructure. New starports are being built for Bangwe, Port Comfort and Gampin; plans for additional facilities are being executed on Doho and Newpenton. Ivora remains strongly hostile to recolonisation, and rumors of a Corfinium led invasion are rampant, though uncomfirmed.

The Future

The transition from backward dictatorial states to modern memberworlds of the Denebian mainstream is expected to take about ten years. Because of strong commercial ties, and the steady flow of people Passing between the Regency frontier and the Wilds, the locals are better accustomed to modern society than their neibhors further out in Corridor. The short time of severance between local communities and the blanket of naval security created less disruption in services, and enough living memory of the technological past has been preserved to ease the future shock of younger generations over the last twenty years. Current priorities include: the continuing transformation of warlord governments and the most repressed communities into more moderate forms. Restoration of local education, health and security infrastructures. Reconstruction of interstellar governments and communication systems. Expansion and legitimisation of Denebian security presence, and the subsequent reconstruction of buildings and recruitment of personnel to present and man local governmental institutions.