Freeminders
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The Freeminders were a group of reformists from Clan Ghost Bear.
History
Origins
The Freeminders were one of the disident groups inside the Dominion, born in Vega after the occupation by the Bears' forces. Their members demanded greater freedom, the right to marry people of the Inner Sphere at their will, and a return to family principles. The new philosophy was led by a mysterious leader, the Underkhan or Ukhan. The Freeminders followed the teachings of an ancient book called The Final Codex, supposedly written by Nicholas Kerensky, the founder of the Clans. The book teached than the Clans' eugenesic practices and Trueborn's use was provisional, and it must be abandoned to a more natural and free society after their return to the Inner Sphere, renouncing to the eugenics program, and dissolving the caste system, to make the Clans join the Inner Sphere fully.[1]
The Freeminders eventually extendid through other nearby worlds, initially only in the civilian castes, but later to Omega Galaxy (Rasalhague Dominion) stationed on Vega. Eventually, Galaxy Commander Isis Bekker-Florala became the visible head of the movement, marrying a civilian from Vega. However, unlike the Motstånd resistance organization, they were pacifists, and they did not fade away.[2]
Expansion
The Freeminders' beliefs eventually extended through the Dominion. The Bears' opinions about them were divided: some warriors saw them as dezgra, while others tolerated them. Despite being forcibly rebuffed by the Dominion government, they grew in influence over time. Their establishment of a satellite state in the former Prefecture I, later known as the Vega Protectorate, initially caused some concern among the Bears. Isis Bekker’s defiance of her orders distressed many of her peers in the Dominion, though civilian members of the Council urged a light touch in dealing with the separatists. Since late 3136, that more enlightened approach has borne beneficial dividends for the Dominion. Soon after the Protectorate’s formation, the Bears began shipping off any and all Freeminders they could get their hands on. A massive influx of lower castes produced a boom in Vega’s economy, and the little statelet soon was reluctantly welcomed as a first-class trading partner for their parent Clan. The cautious approach the Bears took toward their wayward kin appears to have worked; the absorption of the Protectorate back into the Dominion—though with an unusual measure of semi-autonomy guaranteed by the Council—not only reflected their hands-off policy towards Vega, but also pointed to a possible shift in attitudes towards tighter Clan-Spheroid integration in the future.[3]
Dominion Civil War
The dawn of IlClan Era brought great hope to the Freeminders, which expected to spread their Final Codex to all Clans... but that hope died soon.[4]
The beginning of the Dominion Civil War, when fought began between Deniers and Joiners, eventually extended to the Protectorate. Despite this being one of the most peaceful regions of the Dominion, some warriors decided to erradicate the Freeminders. Star Colonel Albert Hall took command of Alpha Galaxy (Rasalhague Dominion) and led it to Vega, expecting to erradicate the Freeminders, but Issis bekker-Florala refused to engage them, and the combats were limited. Eventually, Galaxy Commander Lars Magnusson killed Hall and made peace with Isis Bekker, tasking her to keep peace in the Protectorate.[5]
References
Bibliography
- Dominions Divided (sourcebook)
- Era REport: 3145 (sourcebook)
- Trial by Chaos (novela)