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{{quote|''Consider this though. Many sons could mean a division of the Federated Suns. You have seen it before. The destruction that comes when brother pits himself against brother can shred an empire that no outside force has ever been able to dent.''|Maximilian Liao and Justin Allard at Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner's wedding in 3028}}
 
{{quote|''Consider this though. Many sons could mean a division of the Federated Suns. You have seen it before. The destruction that comes when brother pits himself against brother can shred an empire that no outside force has ever been able to dent.''|Maximilian Liao and Justin Allard at Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner's wedding in 3028}}
  
The '''Federated Commonwealth Civil War''' (otherwise known as the '''FedCom Civil War''' or abbreviated '''FCCW''') was one of the most devastating wars to take place in the [[Inner Sphere]]. It lasted from [[3062]] until [[3067]] and destroyed hundreds of regiments from both of the former [[Federated Commonwealth]] states, namely the [[Federated Suns]] and [[Lyran Alliance]]. In addition to these two primary combatants, many others were also involved in the Civil War.  The [[Draconis Combine]] and [[Free Worlds League]] were dragged into the fighting, the [[Capellan Confederation]] and [[Clan Jade Falcon]] took advantage of the situation to gain territory at the expense of the two warring states, and numerous mercenary units took part in the conflict on both sides.
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The '''Federated Commonwealth Civil War''' (otherwise known as the '''FedCom Civil War''' or abbreviated as '''FCCW''') was one of the most devastating wars to take place in the [[Inner Sphere]]. It lasted from [[3062]] until [[3067]] and destroyed hundreds of regiments from both of the former [[Federated Commonwealth]] states, namely the [[Federated Suns]] and [[Lyran Alliance]]. In addition to these two primary combatants, many others were also involved in the Civil War.  The [[Draconis Combine]] and [[Free Worlds League]] were dragged into the fighting, the [[Capellan Confederation]] and [[Clan Jade Falcon]] took advantage of the situation to gain territory at the expense of the two warring states, and numerous mercenary units took part in the conflict on both sides.
  
 
The very nature and scope of this conflict make it difficult to summarize. This was not a traditional war with waves and fronts. Rather, fighting tended to break out between garrisoned units assigned to the same world, often resulting in extended fighting with neither side emerging as the undisputed victor. In some cases, reinforcements were sent to help capture important worlds (as was the case with [[Tikonov]], [[Kathil]], and [[Dalkeith]]), only to find that the other side had done the same, creating "meat grinders" as neither side was able to secure an advantage for any length of time. In a few cases, military leaders like [[Victor Steiner-Davion]], [[Maria Esteban]], and [[Tancred Sandoval]] were able to assemble task forces from the few units that were not embroiled in the conflict, but these were usually employed to take a single objective rather than create a military front. Even in areas where there were no line units, fighting still took place between local militias, though these events often went undocumented.
 
The very nature and scope of this conflict make it difficult to summarize. This was not a traditional war with waves and fronts. Rather, fighting tended to break out between garrisoned units assigned to the same world, often resulting in extended fighting with neither side emerging as the undisputed victor. In some cases, reinforcements were sent to help capture important worlds (as was the case with [[Tikonov]], [[Kathil]], and [[Dalkeith]]), only to find that the other side had done the same, creating "meat grinders" as neither side was able to secure an advantage for any length of time. In a few cases, military leaders like [[Victor Steiner-Davion]], [[Maria Esteban]], and [[Tancred Sandoval]] were able to assemble task forces from the few units that were not embroiled in the conflict, but these were usually employed to take a single objective rather than create a military front. Even in areas where there were no line units, fighting still took place between local militias, though these events often went undocumented.
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Victor, as the eldest child, stood poised to take over both nations from his parents after their deaths, but his next eldest sibling, [[Katherine Steiner-Davion|Katherine]], schemed to take control. It was she who had had their mother Melissa assassinated in [[3055]], three years after their father's death, making Victor Archon-Prince of the [[Federated Commonwealth]]. She further manipulated events by playing up her Lyran nationalism, often leaving the "Davion" off of her surname, and took to referring to herself as "Katrina," after her maternal grandmother. These small actions paid dividends after the [[Second Skye Revolt]], when Victor permanently moved his court to [[New Avalon]], leaving Katherine as his regent on [[Tharkad]]. Katherine took advantage of the [[Operation Guerrero|Liao-Marik Invasion of 3057]] by invoking Emergency War Powers and seceding the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth from her brother's realm and recalling all traditionally Lyran units to within traditional borders. In doing so she gave Marik his objective, causing him to end his offensive. This situation led to the creation of the [[Chaos March]] and forever sundered the Federated Commonwealth. Katherine called her new nation the [[Lyran Alliance]], as she claimed that her brother had forever sullied the term "Commonwealth."
 
Victor, as the eldest child, stood poised to take over both nations from his parents after their deaths, but his next eldest sibling, [[Katherine Steiner-Davion|Katherine]], schemed to take control. It was she who had had their mother Melissa assassinated in [[3055]], three years after their father's death, making Victor Archon-Prince of the [[Federated Commonwealth]]. She further manipulated events by playing up her Lyran nationalism, often leaving the "Davion" off of her surname, and took to referring to herself as "Katrina," after her maternal grandmother. These small actions paid dividends after the [[Second Skye Revolt]], when Victor permanently moved his court to [[New Avalon]], leaving Katherine as his regent on [[Tharkad]]. Katherine took advantage of the [[Operation Guerrero|Liao-Marik Invasion of 3057]] by invoking Emergency War Powers and seceding the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth from her brother's realm and recalling all traditionally Lyran units to within traditional borders. In doing so she gave Marik his objective, causing him to end his offensive. This situation led to the creation of the [[Chaos March]] and forever sundered the Federated Commonwealth. Katherine called her new nation the [[Lyran Alliance]], as she claimed that her brother had forever sullied the term "Commonwealth."
  
Victor initially made no moves to reclaim his territory. As a result, when he prosecuted the reborn [[Star League]]'s war against [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]], he left the Commonwealth open to Katherine. She manipulated their younger sister [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion|Yvonne]] into giving her the regency of the Commonwealth. When Victor returned from [[Clan]] space in [[3060]], he came back to the [[Inner Sphere]] a leader without a nation. At the time, Victor refused offers of support to reclaim his throne and instead succeeded [[Anastasius Focht]] as the [[Precentor Martial of ComStar]]. He used the role to vote against Katherine's attempt to become the First Lord of the Star League in [[3061]], leading to her losing the election but otherwise made no attempt to move against her. Regardless, the nature of the Katherine's assumption of power and Victor's return had the effect of slowly polarizing the populace in the Federated Commonwealth.
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Victor initially made no moves to reclaim his territory. As a result, when he prosecuted the reborn [[Star League]]'s war against [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]], he left the Commonwealth open to Katherine. She manipulated their younger sister [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion|Yvonne]] into giving her the regency of the Commonwealth. When Victor returned from [[Clan]] space in [[3060]], he came back to the [[Inner Sphere]] a leader without a nation. Though Victor did not want to lead a civil war against his sister, he no longer had a choice.
  
 
===Ignition===
 
===Ignition===
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On the planet of [[Odessa]], the ruling Count was told to begin a program of cracking down on dissenters. It was hoped that Christifori would land on the planet and try to destroy the Lyran forces on-planet. Coinciding with the plan, the elite mercenary unit [[Snord's Irregulars]] was on-planet pending the signing of a new contract with the Lyran Alliance. A trap was planned to set the two sides against each other, which would fulfil the Lyran goals of destroying Christifori and shaming the Irregulars into signing a new contract. Both units fought hard and suffered heavy losses until evidence of the plan was discovered. The Irregulars and Christifori joined forces and destroyed the other Lyran mercenaries on the planet and captured Odessa. The Irregulars still declined to sign a contract with Prince Victor, though Christifori proposed another idea to keep Snord's Irregulars from rejoining the Alliance. He offered them a contract with [[ComStar]], guarding a planet right next to the border against [[Clan Jade Falcon]].
 
On the planet of [[Odessa]], the ruling Count was told to begin a program of cracking down on dissenters. It was hoped that Christifori would land on the planet and try to destroy the Lyran forces on-planet. Coinciding with the plan, the elite mercenary unit [[Snord's Irregulars]] was on-planet pending the signing of a new contract with the Lyran Alliance. A trap was planned to set the two sides against each other, which would fulfil the Lyran goals of destroying Christifori and shaming the Irregulars into signing a new contract. Both units fought hard and suffered heavy losses until evidence of the plan was discovered. The Irregulars and Christifori joined forces and destroyed the other Lyran mercenaries on the planet and captured Odessa. The Irregulars still declined to sign a contract with Prince Victor, though Christifori proposed another idea to keep Snord's Irregulars from rejoining the Alliance. He offered them a contract with [[ComStar]], guarding a planet right next to the border against [[Clan Jade Falcon]].
  
Realizing that her public opinion was dropping even amongst her normally loyal Lyran subjects, Archon Katherine quietly ordered the elimination of the popular, bizarre and extremely critical artist [[Reginald Starling]]. Reginald Starling was the pseudonym of [[Sven Newmark]], one of [[Ryan Steiner|Ryan Steiner's]] former top aides and (except Katherine herself) the only living person who knew that Katherine had ordered the assassination of her mother. Her [[Loki (Intelligence agency)|Loki]] agents assassinated Starling, but he left evidence for his lover (a secret agent working for Victor) that ultimately led her to proof of Katherine's vile actions. However, this evidence was deemed not definitive enough to sway Katherine's supporters, so the agent came up with a plan to pretend that Reginald Starling was still alive and underground. Victor hoped this would cause a nervous Katherine to attempt to destroy further evidence, leading Victor's agents directly to it.
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Realizing that her public opinion was dropping even amongst her normally loyal Lyran subjects, Archon Katherine quietly ordered the elimination of the popular, bizarre and extremely critical artist [[Reginald Starling]]. Reginald Starling was the pseudonym of [[Sven Newmark]], one of [[Ryan Steiner]]'s former top aides and (except Katherine herself) the only living person who knew that Katherine had ordered the assassination of her mother. Her [[Loki (Intelligence agency)|Loki]] agents assassinated Starling, but he left evidence for his lover (a secret agent working for Victor) that ultimately led her to proof of Katherine's vile actions. But the evidence was not enough, so the agent came up with a plan to pretend that Reginald Starling was still alive, just underground. Victor hoped this would make Katherine so nervous that she would try to destroy further evidence, leading Victor's agents to it.
  
 
=== Middle Stages: 3064-3065 ===
 
=== Middle Stages: 3064-3065 ===
 
The main theaters of the war were concentrated around the main manufacturing planets of both the Alliance and the Suns. The fighting on planets such as [[Kathil]] became veritable meat grinders for both sides, chewing up any units sent into the fray. Victor's conquering armies swept through the Lyran Alliance, taking many worlds from Katherine's followers. However, Victor's leadership was almost cut short by a near defeat of his forces on [[Halfway]] which left his forces badly battered. General [[Maria Esteban]]'s combat force (formed by regular units and militias) had set up a trap.
 
The main theaters of the war were concentrated around the main manufacturing planets of both the Alliance and the Suns. The fighting on planets such as [[Kathil]] became veritable meat grinders for both sides, chewing up any units sent into the fray. Victor's conquering armies swept through the Lyran Alliance, taking many worlds from Katherine's followers. However, Victor's leadership was almost cut short by a near defeat of his forces on [[Halfway]] which left his forces badly battered. General [[Maria Esteban]]'s combat force (formed by regular units and militias) had set up a trap.
  
Victor stepped back from the fighting, to join the next [[Whitting Conference]] on [[Marik]]. He successfully persuaded [[Thomas Marik]], head of the [[Free Worlds League]], that Katherine was a very dangerous person. Thomas allowed Victor's participation under one condition: That he would only speak out, if Katherine herself brought up the topic of the FedCom Civil War. [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] followed his agreement with Katherine in an unexpected manner, as he abstained from the vote for the next Lord of the Star League. She indeed brought up the FedCom Civil War and tried to present herself as willing to negotiate with Victor, thus portraying herself as a caring goodhearted diplomat and Victor as a warmonger. At this point Victor demanded to be heard and Thomas Marik granted his wish. Victor stated that Katherine had killed their mother, but that he had no hard evidence, just like Katherine had no hard evidence for her misrepresentations of Victor. Eventually Katherine was not elected but she had her revenge as well. She hired an assassin who killed [[Omiko Kurita|Omi Kurita]], the love of Victor, to break his spirit. Upon hearing the news of his success, Victor had a nervous breakdown and suffered from depression for almost a year.
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Victor stepped back from the fighting, to join the next [[Whitting Conference]] on [[Marik]]. He successfully persuaded [[Thomas Marik]], head of the [[Free Worlds League]], that Katherine was a very dangerous person. Thomas allowed Victor's participation under one condition: That he would only speak out, if Katherine herself brought up the topic of the FedCom Civil War. [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] followed his agreement with Katherine in an unexpected manner, as he abstained from the vote for the next Lord of the Star League. She indeed brought up the FedCom Civil War and tried to present herself as willing to negotiate with Victor, thus portraying herself as a caring goodhearted diplomat and Victor as a warmonger. At this point Victor demanded to be heard and Thomas Marik granted his wish. Victor stated that Katherine had killed their mother, but that he had no hard evidence, just like Katherine had no hard evidence for her misrepresentations of Victor. Eventually Katherine was not elected but she had her revenge as well. She hired an assassin who killed [[Omi Kurita]], the love of Victor, to break his spirit. Upon hearing the news of his success, Victor had a nervous breakdown and suffered from depression for almost a year.
  
 
The offensive of Victor's combat group (which had conquered the heavy industrialized planet [[Tikonov]] in a surprise attack) came to a standstill and they returned to [[Thorin]] and [[Muphrid]]. Only with the help of [[Kai Allard-Liao]] and [[Isis Marik]] was Victor convinced to refocus on the present. His combat group finally returned to Tikonov, reinforcing his troops.
 
The offensive of Victor's combat group (which had conquered the heavy industrialized planet [[Tikonov]] in a surprise attack) came to a standstill and they returned to [[Thorin]] and [[Muphrid]]. Only with the help of [[Kai Allard-Liao]] and [[Isis Marik]] was Victor convinced to refocus on the present. His combat group finally returned to Tikonov, reinforcing his troops.
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===Late Stages: 3066-3067===
 
===Late Stages: 3066-3067===
By 3066, the war had become more of a battle of attrition across both of the afflicted realms, as Prince Victor's forces advanced against Archon Katherine's Lyran troops, and began to plan attacks on the respective capitals of both of the realms. It was decided that Victor himself would lead the attack on the Davion capital world of New Avalon, where Katherine and seven regiments of elite loyalist troops awaited the inevitable assault on the capital world. While Victor was tempted to just go for the kill with all of his available forces, he and his advisers realized that the conflict could not end until Nondi Steiner was defeated on Tharkad. They needed a political figurehead, someone Victor could trust that would be accepted by the Lyran people. Morgan Kell went to the desert planet [[Zaniah|Zaniah III]] in early 3067, where [[Peter Steiner-Davion]] was hiding, living among monks. He wanted to stay out of the cruel political games that were so common in the Inner Sphere. But in the end, Morgan Kell persuaded Peter that he had to return for the good of the Lyran people.
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By 3066, the war had become more of a battle of attrition across both of the afflicted realms, as Prince Victor's forces advanced against Archon Katherine's Lyran troops, and began to plan attacks on the respective capitals of both of the realms. It was decided that Victor himself would lead the attack on the Davion capital world of New Avalon, where Katherine and seven regiments of elite loyalist troops awaited the inevitable assault on the capital world. While Victor was tempted to just go for the kill with all of his available forces, he and his advisers realized that the conflict could not end until Nondi Steiner was defeated on Tharkad. They needed a political joker, someone trustworthy to Victor and to the Lyran people. Morgan Kell went to the desert planet [[Zaniah|Zaniah III]] in early 3067, where [[Peter Steiner-Davion]] was hiding, living among monks. He wanted to stay out of the cruel political games that were so common in the Inner Sphere. But in the end, Morgan Kell persuaded Peter that he had to return, for the good of the Lyran people.
  
In early 3067, the attack on New Avalon commenced, with Prince Victor leading a gigantic assault force to the planet. After a long and costly [[WarShip]] battle above the skies of New Avalon, Victor's forces emerged triumphant and landed on the planet, joining with a task force already there under the command of Field Marshal [[Tancred Sandoval]]. The fighting commenced immediately upon landing and continued for several grueling months against Katherine's elite troops. Victor's forces, although nearly losing at one point, were bolstered by veteran troops (the [[Davion Light Guards]] and others) brought to New Avalon by [[Ardan Sortek]]. Those reinforcements pushed back Katherine's forces until they finally reached the Davion Palace. Katherine waited too long to flee and in the end Victor's forces blocked all escape routes. Confident that she would find a way to talk herself out of this situation in any court, Katherine ordered the surrender of her forces through former Marshal of the Armies [[Jackson Davion]]. On April 20th, 3067, the Second Battle of New Avalon ended in victory for Allied forces under Victor Steiner-Davion.
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In early 3067, the attack on New Avalon commenced, with Prince Victor leading a gigantic assault force to the planet. After a long and costly [[WarShip]] battle above the skies of New Avalon, Victor's forces emerged triumphant and landed on the planet, joining with a task force already there under the command of Field Marshal [[Tancred Sandoval]]. Immediately upon landing, the fighting commenced, and went on for several grueling months against Katherine's elite troops. Victor's forces, although nearly losing at one point, were bolstered by veteran troops (the [[Davion Light Guards]] and others) brought to New Avalon by [[Ardan Sortek]]. Those reinforcements pushed back Katherine's forces until they finally reached the Davion Palace. Katherine waited too long to flee and in the end Victor's forces blocked all escape routes. Confident that she would find a way to talk herself out of this situation in any court, Katherine ordered the surrender of her forces through former Marshal of the Armies [[Jackson Davion]]. On April 20th, 3067, the Second Battle of New Avalon ended in victory for Allied forces under Victor Steiner-Davion.
  
Simultaneously, Prince Peter arrived on Tharkad along with troops representing the whole spectrum of the Lyran Alliance, including regular units, Skye loyalists, the [[Kell Hounds]], and forces of [[Clan Wolf in Exile]]. Peter not only battled for a planet, he tried to truly represent the Lyran Alliance to the population of Tharkad. Accordingly, the [[Avalon Hussars|Avalon Hussar]] regiment in his combat group never saw battle. They successfully pushed back Nondi Steiner's forces until they reached the Tharkad palace. There, in an urban area, Peter and Nondi Steiner met in a direct fight, where he killed her with a shot to the cockpit on April 2nd, 3067.
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Simultaneously, Prince Peter arrived on Tharkad along with troops representing the whole spectrum of the Lyran Alliance, including regular units, Skye loyalists, the [[Kell Hounds]], and forces of [[Clan Wolf in Exile]]. Peter not only battled for a planet. He tried to truly represent the Lyran Alliance to the population of Tharkad. Accordingly, the [[Avalon Hussars|Avalon Hussar]] regiment in his combat group never saw battle. They successfully pushed back Nondi Steiner's forces until they reached the Tharkad palace. There, in an urban area, Peter and Nondi Steiner happened to end up in a direct fight, where he killed her with a shot to the cockpit on April 2nd, 3067.
  
 
With Katherine's surrender to Victor's forces on New Avalon, and Peter taking control of Tharkad, the FedCom Civil War had come to an end.
 
With Katherine's surrender to Victor's forces on New Avalon, and Peter taking control of Tharkad, the FedCom Civil War had come to an end.
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===Consequences of War===
 
===Consequences of War===
The immediate consequences of the war were the definitive rupture of the Commonwealth, widespread destruction, and significant attrition of the belligerent militaries. The former Commonwealth was devastated, as the conflict touched hundreds of worlds, with conservative estimates indicating that 80% of FedCom worlds experienced fighting. Tens of millions died, and damage was in the tens of trillions of C-bills. Over three-quarters of the military forces of both the Lyran Alliance and Federated Suns were involved in the fighting, and few suffered minor casualties. During the conflict two entire generations of soldiers were effectively sacrificed.<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 179</ref> The far reaching consequences, however, were much more devastating: the damage suffered by the two kingdoms caused their new leaders to choose to leave the Second Star League, dissolving it, which triggered the Blakist orbital bombardment of Tharkad, the earliest stage of [[Word of Blake Jihad]].
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The immediate consequences of the war were, obviously, the definitive rupture of the Commonwealth. The former Commonwealth was devastated, as the conflict touched hundreds of worlds, with conservative estimates indicating that 80% of FedCom worlds experienced fighting. Tens of millions died, and damage was in the tens of trillions. Over three-quarters of the military forces of both the Lyran Alliance and Federated Suns were involved in the fighting, and few suffered minor casualties. During the conflict two entire generations of soldiers ended up being sacrificed.<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 179</ref> The far consequences are much more devastating: the damage suffered by the two kingdoms was the reason which their new leaders choose to leave the Second Star League, dissolving it, and triggering the Blakist orbital bombardment of Tharkad, the earliest stage of [[Word of Blake Jihad]].
  
 
==Images==
 
==Images==

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