Editing History of the Lyran Commonwealth

{{Update Needed|[[First Succession War (sourcebook)]]}}
[[Image:House Steiner Logo.jpg|thumb|right|Crest of House Steiner]]

:''This article details the history of the '''''Lyran Commonwealth'''''. For more information, see [[Lyran Commonwealth]].''

===Founding===
[[File:Lc-2341.png|thumb|right|Map of the Founding States, [[2341]]]]
The [[Lyran Commonwealth]] was founded in [[2341]] through the merger of three mercantile alliances, the [[Tamar Pact]], [[Federation of Skye]], and [[Protectorate of Donegal]].<ref name=founding>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 14: "False Start: Reign of the Nine"</ref><ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 14: "The Three Who Would Become One"</ref> The three nations were trading partners whose respective specialties complemented each other well.<ref name=HHS12 />

The merchant princes realized the need for a larger nation and mutual defense because of the rise of large nations on their borders, the militaristic [[Draconis Combine]], mercantile [[Free Worlds League]], and powerful [[Terran Hegemony]]. Nonetheless, it was his nation's discovery of the [[Rim Worlds Republic]] that led [[Kevin Tamar]] to call a summit with his two neighboring leaders, [[Thomas McQuiston]] of Skye and [[Simon Marsden]] of Donegal in [[2339]].<ref name=HS11>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', pp. 11–12: "Hegemony, Prosperity, and Foundation"</ref> They quickly agreed on the need to merge, but had trouble settling how to rule the nascent realm. It was Tamar's idea to model the government after classical Greek city-states, with a council of nine archons, including one Archon Basileus.<ref name=HHS12>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 12–13: "Foundation of the Lyran Commonwealth"</ref>

The leaders also agreed to adopt the Greek lyre as their emblem. This crest inspired the name of their union, one which privileged none of the founding alliances over the others, Lyran Commonwealth.<ref name=HS11 /><ref name=HHS12 />

===Crisis and Coup===
The years after the Commonwealth's founding were not kind to the new nation or its people. It took five years to name the nine archons, but the council could not agree upon a leader. The Draconis Combine began a buildup of troops that threatened an invasion. The failure of the leadership to properly integrate the three separate economies created serious financial woes.<ref name=founding /> After twenty-five years of economic crisis and military uncertainty, the people had taken to the streets in protest. There was little trust in the new nation and there was tension to secede from all three founding alliances. Into this breach strode [[Robert Marsden]]. In August [[2375]], Marsden seized power in a populist coup, declaring himself Archon Basileus. He created a representative body made up of one person from each world, which swore him in. With the support of the military, Marsden brought resisting worlds to heel.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 14–17: "Rebirth: The Marsden Coup"</ref>

Archon Marsden leaned on his strength and instituted a series of reforms in the financial sector, including the establishment of a new, nationwide currency and negotiating a trading relationship with the Terran Hegemony. It took fifteen years, but the Lyran economy recovered. Marsden poured the wealth of his nation into its military, giving it the strength to oppose the Combine.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 17: "The Commonwealth Recovery"</ref>

The military High Command launched an unprovoked assault on the Free Worlds planet of [[Promised Land]] in [[2395]]. Weeks later, a heart attack killed Archon Marsden. The feared military takeover was averted when the High Command asked Marsden's brother, [[Alistair Marsden|Alistair]], to lead the Commonwealth. Though reluctant to do so, Alistair agreed. He became the second Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 17: "Alistair's Ascension"</ref>

===Age of War===
The [[2398]] conflict between the Free Worlds League and [[Capellan Confederation]] that sparked the [[Age of War]] led Archon Alistair to order a buildup of the Lyran military. Years of peace dulled the Archon's efforts to keep the nation on alert, and no action was more at fault than his own marriage to [[Katherine Steiner]] in [[2405]]. The entire nation was taken aback when the Draconis Combine led its first major offensive into the Commonwealth on 1 January [[2407]]. The thrust surely seemed to be headed for the capital world, [[Arcturus]].<ref name=HHS18>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 17–18: "Age of War"</ref>

The Kurita invasion swept aside the ill-prepared Lyrans, and even the High Command's efforts to blunt the assault failed. Scorched earth tactics barely slowed them down. Embarrassed and enraged, Alistair dismissed the High Command and took control of the national defense personally. He rallied his troops and was able to halt the Combine at [[Morningside]], one jump away from Arcturus.<ref name=HHS18 />

With the seat of government in such a precarious position, Alistair invoked war powers to move the capital. Bureaucrats and representatives hustled to the now centrally located world of [[Tharkad]]. Alistair's wife [[Katherine Steiner]], a professor at Tharkad University, oversaw the construction of the new capital.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 18: "Relocation"</ref>

In [[2408]], Archon Alistair headed to the Skye region to oversee the defense there, hoping that his presence would also help heal the rift between Donegal and Skye. At the head of a large number of troops, a group split off to execute a heavy raid on [[Vega]], which Alistair had learned was being used as a staging area. The raid was perhaps the most successful military endeavor in the Commonwealth's history; munitions stores, [[DropShip]]s, and spaceports were in flames. Alistair traveled to [[Menkent]] to assist the defenders there against a Kurita raid. Three days after arriving on Menkent, Alistair was killed in combat.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 18: "Death and Rebirth: The Steiner Dynasty"</ref>

====House Steiner====
Alistair's widow Katherine pressed her claim to become Archon and, with the support of both Tamar and Skye, was confirmed by the Estates General in April 2408 over three other claimants. She reverted to using her maiden name, choosing to be called "Katherine Steiner", inaugurating the rule of House Steiner over the Lyran Commonwealth. She assigned [[Fatima]]'s Duke [[Devon Reynolds]] (whom she would later marry) to lead the [[LCAF]], allowing her to focus on domestic matters. She formed the Commonwealth Council, an advisory body, the Commonwealth Scout Corps to explore space, replaced the lyre with the Steiner fist as the emblem of the nation, and began instilling Germanic culture throughout the Commonwealth. Katherine created a new noble class with Teutonic titles, used German as the official language, and encouraged the [[kroner]]'s establishment as the nation's currency. Katherine was a party to the [[Ares Conventions]], and signed them in [[2412]].<ref name=STtH>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 18–19: "Steiner Takes the Helm"</ref>

Katherine encouraged colonization of worlds within the Commonwealth's territory and spearheaded economic assistance plans to help the nation recover from war. These programs helped right the economic ship but also enriched House Steiner.<ref name=STtH />

In the meantime, the Commonwealth warred with the [[Free Worlds League]]. In [[2416]] the Commonwealth attempted to capture the world of [[Dieudonné]]; this prompted the Free Worlds League Parliament to recall [[Peter Marik]] to serve as [[Captain-General]], and Peter's short but aggressive campaign saw the League capture several border worlds, including [[Rochelle]] and the semi-independent world of [[Amity]]. The war ended in an armistice in [[2418]], but in [[2420]] the Commonwealth attacked the League again, capturing Amity and [[Danais]] in part due to the appointment of [[General]] [[Joseph Stewart]] as Captain-General following Peter Marik's refusal to serve in the post while constrained by the League's [[War Powers Act]].<ref name="HM(TFWL)p15">''House Marik (The Free Worlds League)'', p. 15: "Struggle Between Marik and Parliament"</ref>

The 2420 campaign ended with the Lyran forces routing the Free Worlds League forces in the [[Concord]] system, in part because the bulk of the LCAF was occupied with fighting the Draconis Combine; if not for the campaign on the Combine border, the Commonwealth would likely have been able to seize a dozen more League worlds.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p15"/> The lull only lasted until [[2427]], when Lyran forces landing on [[Bolan]], as well as capturing [[Dixie]] and [[Kamenz]] while the League Parliament struggled to find someone suitable and willing to take up the post of Captain-General. [[Terrence Marik (25th c.)|Terrence Marik]] accepted the post after the War Powers Act was repealed and launched attacks to try and recapture the worlds, but despite campaigns in [[2427]] and [[2432]] that destroyed significant numbers of LCAF units, he couldn't recapture Bolan or Kamenz.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p16">''House Marik (The Free Worlds League)'', p. 16: "Struggle Between Marik and Parliament"</ref>

With the appointment of [[Peter Marik II]] to the post of Captain-General in [[2441]] events turned in favor of the League, with Peter recapturing Bolan and Kamenz in 2441, followed by [[Halfway]] and [[Smolnik]], potentially putting the League in a position to target [[Tharkad]] itself.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p16"/> The powers traded worlds, but the League's seizure of the Bolan Thumb had put the Commonwealth at a strategic disadvantage.<ref name=STtH /> Peter was able to build on this by passing laws that allowed the civilian population of worlds captured by the Free Worlds League to join the League as citizens, which prevented the predicted mass exodus of populations off captured Lyran worlds, and instead saw those worlds become productive members of the Free Worlds League.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p16"/>

====The BattleMech====
In [[2445]], Katherine abdicated the throne after thirty-seven years as ruler. She was succeeded by her son, [[Alistair Steiner]].<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 19: "Turning the Tide"</ref> Alistair inherited a militarily weak nation that was losing ground against both of its aggressive neighbors. Alistair tasked the LCAF with a mission that required them to succeed where the [[Lyran Intelligence Corps]] had failed for a decade: steal the specifications for the [[Terran Hegemony]]'s new war machine, the [[BattleMech]]. A [[2455]] commando raid on the Hegemony's BattleMech production facility on [[Hesperus II]], a world jointly held by the Hegemony and the Commonwealth, got them what they needed. Alistair ordered secret facilities built on [[Alarion]] and [[Coventry]] to produce this fearsome new weapon.<ref name=TT>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 19–20: "Turning the Tide"</ref><ref>''Prometheus Unbound (Proliferation, Part II)''</ref>

Lyran 'Mechs made their first appearance in battle in [[2459]], halting an advance by [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Geralk Marik]], literally crushing the man known as "the Bloodthirsty" under the heel of a Lyran 'Mech on [[Loric]]<ref name=TT /> — although not before he had already captured the worlds of [[Bella I]] and [[Alula Australis]].<ref name="HM(TFWL)p16A">''House Marik (The Free Worlds League)'', p. 16: "Tenure of Geralk Marik"</ref> The battle showed off the might of the Lyran 'Mechs but also clued the Terrans in to the fact that their technology had been stolen. They hit the Lyrans with trade restrictions, but declined to take military action. Alistair's gamble had paid off. Before the other nations could field BattleMechs of their own, Alistair sent the LCAF on the offensive in [[2463]]. Known as the Long March, the four-year offensive reversed many of the Commonwealth's territorial losses.<ref name=TT /> Lyran BattleMechs helped the Commonwealth recapture Bella I and [[Cavanaugh II]], but the Lyran campaign against the League bogged down on Alula Australis, and in [[2470]] the League fielded its own BattleMechs on Alula Australis, turning the tide in favor of the League.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p16A"/>

Archon Alistair was assassinated in [[2467]], ushering in the era of Lyran history known as The Dark Years. Alistair was succeeded by his eldest son [[Michael Steiner (25th c.)|Michael]]. Hoping to improve the morale of the nation, Michael and his brother [[Steven Steiner|Steven]] were married in a double ceremony. Unfortunately, their goal was undermined by the suicide of their sister, Tatyana.<!--Not to be confused with the thirtieth-century Archon of the same name--> An earthquake in Tharkad City killed Michael's bride and a number of Estates General representatives less than a month later. As the nation focused on disaster relief and grieving, the Draconis Combine struck at [[Nox]]. General Steven commanded the troops, but Michael raced to the front anyway. In his grief, he abdicated as Archon in favor of Steven and took command of troops on Nox. The [[Battle of Nox]] was the first major battle between BattleMechs and claimed the life of the former Archon four years after his abdication.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 20–21: "The Dark Years"</ref>

====Civil War====
[[File:Margaret_Olsen.jpg|right|thumb|Margaret Olson]]
Steven Steiner was unprepared to be Archon. He was indecisive and inexperienced, and his wife [[Margaret Olson]] largely ruled in his stead. Unfortunately for the Lyrans, Olson relied heavily on mystics, gurus, omens, portents, and superstitions. The weak, ineffective leadership allowed the nobility to seize more power, so, when Steven died, Duke [[Samuel Natash]] of Tamar and [[Connor Gilderoy]] of Skye backed her for Archon. The Estates General refused to confirm Olson and convinced [[Robert Steiner]], illegitimate son of the late Tatyana, to stand for the throne. The trio fled Tharkad to consolidate their power. In late [[2503]], the Estates General declared for Robert. Civil war was inevitable.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 21–22</ref>

Robert tried to capture Olson quickly, but she fled to [[Skye]]. Surging on a groundswell of public support, Robert captured Skye after a two-month battle, though Duke Natash's forces managed to spirit both Olson and Duke Gilderoy away to [[Tamar]]. Robert's troops caught up with them four months later. Tamar was ready for him, though, with fresh troops and well-prepared defenses. Robert's exhausted forces were no match. Now April [[2505]], a [[Terran Hegemony]] mediator arrived to negotiate a peaceful settlement. After only a day, the mediator gave up and left Tamar. As Robert's troops prepared for their final battle, Duke [[Nels Reynolds]] of [[Fatima]] arrived with fresh troops for Steiner. The combined might of Steiner and Reynolds spelled the end for Olson and the rebel Dukes. Finally confirmed as Archon in [[2506]], Robert Steiner stripped the holdings and titles of Tamar and Skye from their families and awarded them to two loyal families, the Kelswas and the Lestrades, respectively. Robert advocated for peace and shifted the LCAF to a defensive footing, though that didn't stop them from conquering [[Megrez]] in [[2508]].<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 22–23: "Civil War" and "Aftermath"</ref>

Robert abdicated in favor of his son and heir [[Craig Steiner|Craig]] in [[2528]]. An assassination attempt in [[2529]] prompted him to modify the throne room to allow for two BattleMech guards. Craig largely continued his father's attempts to rule peacefully, going so far as to sign the [[Treaty of Megrez]] in [[2531]], which called for the Terrans to garrison peacekeepers on all worlds contested between the Commonwealth and the Free Worlds League. Archon Craig's business loan policy, coupled with migration from densely populated worlds in the Federation of Skye to newly settled Protectorate of Donegal worlds, created an economic boom and increase in industrial output. Craig also created the Commonwealth Supreme Court, sharing some of his power with the judicial body. In [[2554]] Craig named his niece, Chief Justice [[Tracial Steiner]], as his heir. He died in [[2555]]. The Age of War officially ended the following year.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 23: "Golden Years"</ref>

===Star League===
[[File:Viola_Steiner-Dinesen.jpg|thumb|right|Viola Steiner-Dinesen]]
[[File:Lc-2571.png|thumb|right|The Lyran Commonwealth in [[2571]]]]
On 25 May [[2558]], Tracial signed the Tharkan Accords, which pledged the Lyran Commonwealth to the nascent [[Star League]]. Unbeknownst to her, the decision was secretly driven by Captain-General [[Albert Marik]], who had funded pro–Star League factions of the Estates General and bribed or manipulated many of the Archon's key advisors.<ref>''House Marik: The Free Worlds League'', p. 20</ref> Tracial spent the rest of her reign advocating and preparing her nation for the creation of the League. She died on 6 January [[2570]], inaugurating the rule of her daughter, [[Viola Steiner-Dinesen]]. Viola signed the [[Star League Accords]] in Geneva along with the other House Lords on 9 July [[2571]].<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 23–24</ref>

The growing pains of joining the League were apparent almost immediately. The Commonwealth spread the tax burden out to each planet equally. The increased taxation was not much of a burden to highly populated and industrialized worlds, such as Skye, but was a serious problem for poorer or less well-developed systems. This culminated in the [[Main Street Tax Revolt]] of [[2573]], which saw rioting and strikes in several worlds on the Coventry Province [[Periphery]] border, centered on [[Main Street]]. Viola opted not to send in the military. Instead, she invited the leader of the "Rich Worlds Coalition", Duke [[Carlo Lestrade]], to have a debate. The Archon's proposed reform carried the day and the Estates General, endearing her to the common person. With reform passed, the revolt ended.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 24: "Period of Adjustment"</ref>

====Reunification War====
{{Main|Reunification War}}
House Cameron had never been shy about their intention to unite all of humanity under their banner. It was no surprise when the Star League began to rattle their sabers in the direction of the [[Periphery]], four nations who refused to join the League. A series of incidents led to [[First Lord]] [[Ian Cameron]] issuing the [[Pollux Proclamation]] in [[2575]], which threatened the Periphery states with war if they did not join the Star League peacefully. All four nations refused.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 26: "The Reunification War"</ref>

The war against the [[Rim Worlds Republic]] was codenamed "[[Operation MAILED FIST]]". President [[Gregory Amaris]] was actually pro-Star League, but his administration had been toppled in late 2575 and replaced with a provisional government, which refused entry into the League. The Star League, already at war with the [[Taurian Concordat]] and [[Magistracy of Canopus]], gathered eighteen [[Star League Defense Force]] units, nine from the [[Free Worlds League Military]], and three from the LCAF. The SLDF planned a campaign they thought would take about five years and hinged on driving directly for the Rim Worlds capital of [[Apollo (system)|Apollo]]. Archon Viola, who did not support the invasion, convinced them to change the plan to include a broader offensive to reduce the number of Republic troops available to counterattack into the Commonwealth.<ref name=OMF>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 26–27: "Operation Mailed Fist: The Commonwealth Front"</ref>

When they entered the fight in [[2584]], Viola led the Lyrans personally, leaving her heir, Archon-Designate [[Kevin Steiner-Dinesen]], to rule with the assistance of the Dukes of Skye and Tamar, [[Aldo Lestrade I|Aldo Lestrade]] and [[Selvin Kelswa II|Selvin Kelswa]], respectively. The career military officer saw the offensive bog down badly, with the coalition making virtually no progress after eight years. Poor worlds suffered under the strain of supporting the campaign.<ref name=OMF /><ref>''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 152</ref>

At home, Kevin attempted to lower taxes in [[2589]] to appease those who were suffering under the strain. Pressure from the Star League forced him to reverse his decision, which prompted criticism, especially from the Estates General Steering Committee. On 13 July [[2591]], Kevin was kidnapped. Suspicion immediately centered on Dukes Lestrade and Kelswa, especially after they fled Tharkad. When Viola received word on 10 September, she saw red. The Archon assaulted the [[Twenty-fifth Skye Rangers]] and [[Tamar Tigers]]. Her guard was drawn into the fight and over one hundred Lyrans were dead before SLDF troops could intervene and stop her "Day of Rage". Archon Viola was badly wounded and lay in a coma for a month.<ref name=Rage>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 27–28: "Crisis at Home: Day of Rage"</ref>

The SLDF released the Archon to deal with her internal crisis. She returned to Tharkad to find the LIC cleared the Dukes of all wrongdoing, instead fingering Speaker Graf [[Henry Gram]]. The Archon arrived at the Government House with LCAF and LIC operatives just as Gram was able to break the filibuster and pass a bill to secede from the Star League. The Archon and her Loyalist forces seized the Government House, crushed Gram under the foot of her ''[[Warhammer]]'', and disbanded the legislative body. Viola attempted to make amends, but the rift between House Steiner and Skye and Tamar became irreparable.<ref name=Rage /><ref>''Historical: Reunification War'', pp. 56–57: "Henry Gram"</ref>

Viola reinstalled her son as her regent and returned to the front. On 24 March [[2595]], Archon Viola led her command into the inner defense of the provisional government on Apollo and was severely wounded. The Republic government surrendered on 3 September [[2596]].<ref name=Rage />

====Star League Years====
[[File:Michael_Steiner_II.jpg|thumb|right|Archon [[Michael Steiner (27th c.)|Michael Steiner II]] at age 75 in [[2750]]]]
{{Main|Amaris Civil War}}

The [[twenty-seventh century]] was a golden age for mankind and the Commonwealth, which prospered under the free trade of the Star League thanks to its industrial and economic might.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 28–29: "Rise and Fall of the Star League"</ref>

The beginning of the end came in [[2741]] when a "pirate" attack resulted in the massacre of 500 Lyrans on [[The Edge]]. The bandits, who used [[BattleMech]]s, were tracked back to [[Butte Hold]] and were determined to be mercenaries in the employ of [[House Kurita]]. On Terra, Archon [[Michael Steiner (27th c.)|Michael Steiner II]] confronted [[Coordinator]] [[Takiro Kurita]], and both nations rattled sabers by shuffling around troops on their border. The supposed pirate raids continued for ten years, prompting First Lord [[Simon Cameron]] to embark on a Sphere-wide goodwill tour in [[2750]]. Tragedy struck when an accident with a mining robot resulted in the First Lord's death.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 30</ref>

Commanding General [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] ruled as Regent for [[Richard Cameron]], who was eight years old when his father was killed. President [[Stefan Amaris]] of the Rim Worlds Republic ingratiated himself to the young heir. The Council Lords levied heavy taxes on the Territorial (Periphery) States and increased the sizes of their military forces, both edicts that were technically illegal because they lacked Kerensky's signature. For their part, the Lyrans raised thirteen new BattleMech regiments. When Cameron came of age in [[2762]], his first edict called for the disbanding of the House armies. The ridicule he earned for it isolated him further from everybody, save Amaris. The [[New Vandenberg Revolt]] signaled a full-scale rebellion in the Periphery (except for the Rim Worlds). Kerensky sent SLDF troops to quell the revolts, allowing Amaris to garrison Hegemony worlds with Republic troops. In [[2766]] Amaris' long plan came to fruition; he assassinated every Cameron he could find and took the Terran Hegemony in a coup, then declared himself Emperor of mankind.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 30–32</ref>

[[File:Robert_Steiner_II.jpg|thumb|right|Archon [[Robert Steiner II]] in [[2766]]]]
General Kerensky quickly extricated the SLDF from the rebellious Periphery states and converged on the Rim Worlds Republic. His troops conquered the nation and used its industry to rebuild. None of the House Lords openly supported Kerensky's offensive on the Hegemony, though a few, including Archon [[Robert Steiner II]], allowed him to stage from their nations. Robert's decision not to openly support Kerensky made him very unpopular among his own people. Droves of Lyrans left to the Republic to pledge themselves to Kerensky's cause. At great cost, the SLDF troops were able to liberate the Hegemony and Terra.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 32–34</ref>

When Kerensky abandoned the Periphery in [[2772]] to liberate the Hegemony, the Commonwealth moved in to garrison the Rim Worlds Republic. They found pockets of resistance and some military forces still loyal to Amaris. Over one hundred LCAF regiments secured and pacified the Republic in an undeclared war.<ref name=HB:HSp34>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 34: "The Taking of the Rim Worlds Republic"</ref>

Following the liberation of [[Terra]], the Council Lords assembled in [[2780]], but could not agree on which of them should accede as First Lord. They stripped Kerensky of his title of Protector of the Realm and appointed [[Jerome Blake]] to rebuild the shattered [[HPG]] network. The Lords declared the League disbanded in [[2781]]. Shortly after this announcement, Archon Robert contracted pneumonia and died, leaving his sister [[Jennifer Steiner|Jennifer]] to succeed him. Each of the House Lords prepared for war, including by trying to hire SLDF and Rim Worlds troops on as mercenaries or House troops. In [[2784]], rather than wait for his forces to be bought away, Kerensky led eighty percent of the SLDF into exile, removing the last barrier to bloodshed.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 34–35: "Dawn of the Succession Wars"</ref>

===First Succession War===
[[File:Lc-1sw-2822.png|thumb|right|Map of the Lyran Commonwealth after the First Succession War]]
{{Main|First Succession War}}
The Commonwealth went on the offensive to begin the [[First Succession War]], so named because the House Lords were ostensibly fighting over which of them would become First Lord. In May [[2785]] LCAF troops attacked [[Bolan]], then controlled by House Marik, in response to reports of a troop buildup there. The [[FWLM]] forces lost, but used nuclear weapons and scorched earth tactics to deny the Lyrans any substantive advantage from their conquest. This signaled the beginning of a different kind of war, one that ignored the [[Ares Conventions]] in favor of total war.<ref name=FSW>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 35: "First Succession War"</ref>

The Draconis Combine distracted House Steiner with a raid on [[Bone-Norman]]. Remembering their "bandit" raids of years past, the LCAF redeployed to the Periphery border to counter the threats. The DCMS then struck at [[Skondia]] in [[2786]], devastating the planet and running circles around the Lyran defenders. [[Coordinator]] [[Minoru Kurita (28th c.)|Minoru Kurita]] decided that the Lyrans were too weak to even pose a challenge for his troops, so he turned them on the [[Federated Suns]]. The Lyrans matched their rivals in securing worlds of the collapsed Terran Hegemony. In December, Minoru declared himself First Lord. Though she believed that the Star League was dead and gone, Archon [[Jennifer Steiner]] made the same assertion.<ref name=FSW /><ref name=37T>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 37: "Timeline: The Commonwealth and the First Succession War"</ref>

The Commonwealth traded worlds with the Combine and Free Worlds over the course of the war. Archon Jennifer Steiner was killed in action in [[2791]] on [[Styx]]. She was succeeded by her son [[Richard Steiner (29th c.)|Richard]]. In [[2811]], the Commonwealth defended against a Marik assault on [[Poulsbo]]. The Lyran victory forced the Mariks to abandon the Bolan Thumb. By [[2812]], commerce was at a standstill and the economy was in shambles. Even the Estates General found it too difficult to convene due to a lack of JumpShips, forcing Speaker [[Timothy Aths]] to disband the legislative body. The Commonwealth and League began peace talks in [[2820]], and those talks were formalized with the [[Bella Accords]]. No formal treaty was signed, but the conflict with the Combine ground to a halt in [[2821]], signaling the end of the First Succession War.<ref name=37T />

===Interwar Period===
After reigning for thirty years, Archon Richard Steiner's nation was broken. They had lost thirty star systems, a greatly reduced military that was barely operational, dozens of major industrial facilities wrecked, a mostly destroyed navy, greatly diminished capacity to produce JumpShips, and shipping that was so thoroughly disrupted that basic supplies that made worlds habitable were difficult to come by. Richard called the Estates General to session and presented them with a plan for reconstruction that focused on heavy industry first. To deal with the worlds conquered from the Rim Worlds Republic decades earlier, Richard created [[Archonette]]s. Each Archonette hailed from a world that was wealthier than those within one jump and had total authority over the nobility and bureaucracy of that region to coordinate the reconstruction of those worlds, ensuring that each receive a balanced number of supplies. Once each world in the region was able to at least provide for itself, the Archonette's job was done and he or she would be rewarded with a land grant and title on an interior world.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 39: "Second Succession War (2830-2864)"</ref>

Richard was succeeded by his son [[Marcus Steiner|Marcus]] in June [[2823]]. Marcus released all transports that had been conscripted for military service, though he required that each one deliver supplies to three needy worlds. Marcus opened up House Steiner's coffers to help industrial centers of national importance move from border systems to interior worlds, an opportunity few passed up on. Marcus' major error in rebuilding was a tax on [[ComStar]]. Then [[Primus of ComStar|Primus]] [[Conrad Toyama]] countered by shutting down the [[HPG]] on [[Tharkad]]. After a [[Exclusion of Tharkad|year of blackout]], Marcus relented and rescinded the tax.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 39: "Reconstruction"</ref>

===Second Succession War===
[[File:Lc-2sw-2864.png|thumb|right|Map of the Lyran Commonwealth after the Second Succession War]]
{{Main|Second Succession War}}
The Draconis Combine's first action of war after 2821 came in [[2825]] and became known as the [[Chain Gang Missions|Chain Gang raids]]. The Combine equipped criminals with poor BattleMechs to raid the Lyrans, intending to set back reconstruction. The Commonwealth waited for further assaults, but none came. The LCAF sent their own raids in [[2826]] and [[2827]], to which the DCMS responded. Tensions on the Free Worlds League front were increased after failed prisoner exchange talks broke down and the Commonwealth delegate was killed.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 39: "Preludes to War"</ref>

The Combine launched an invasion on multiple fronts on 14 March [[2830]], and House Marik did the same later that year. The [[Second Succession War]] was just as brutal as the first, with total war the name of the game. In [[2843]], Archon Marcus contracted meningitis on [[Loric]] and returned to Tharkad. With no heir, his wife, [[Melissa Nin]], declared her intention to become Archon. This claim was shortly followed by a similar one from [[Claudius Steiner]], CO of the [[Second Lyran Guards]]. When Marcus passed away, the Estates General, led by Speaker [[Harlan Dinesen]], declared Nin to be Archon in [[2844]]. Five months later, the Second Lyran Guards and Claudius Steiner assaulted Tharkad City and defeated the defending forces. Both Nin and Dinesen were captured, charged with high treason, and executed. Claudius dismissed the Estates General and declared himself Archon, ruling with an ever-tighter grip. Claudius neglected the borders, allowing the Combine and League to launch assaults. The nation breathed a sigh of relief when he died in [[2849]].<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 42</ref>

The Estates General met again and created a regency council for nine-year-old [[Elizabeth Steiner]], Claudius' daughter. The council consisted of her mother [[Rebecca Morgan]], Speaker [[Henry DeCalidore]] of [[Furillo]], and Duchess [[Ilysa Aten]] of [[Skye]]. The [[Triumvirate Regency|Triumvirate]] ruled when the Lyrans successfully defended [[Hesperus II]] from the DCMS in [[2853]]. Elizabeth became Archon in her own right in [[2859]], overseeing the end of the Second Succession War in [[2863]]. Again, the Lyran state was damaged, its economy in downturn, and industries in need of repair.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 42–45</ref>

===Third Succession War===
[[File:Lc-3sw-3025.png|right|thumb|Map of the Lyran Commonwealth after the Third Succession War]]
{{Main|Third Succession War}}
The LCAF underwent a partial demobilization that was halted when the Combine invaded in March [[2866]]. The unprepared Lyran military did not even attempt to relieve the defenders, instead setting a defensive line behind the worlds already occupied by the DCMS. The Lyrans declared war on the Free Worlds League after a failed assassination attempt on Archon Elizabeth.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 45–46: "The Kurita Blitz"</ref>

The League attacked in earnest in [[2869]], meeting with limited success because the Lyrans were distracted by the swift moving Kurita war machine. The Mariks were unable to take full advantage because they were also distracted, but by the Capellan Confederation.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 49: "The Free Worlds Front"</ref>

The Third Succession War saw a major strategic shift in the way the war was prosecuted. The general decline of all of the [[Successor States]] resulted in a reduced overall technological level, including the inability to create the factories that produced BattleMechs. Rather than risk being unable to prosecute the war, the five powers unofficially returned to the [[Ares Conventions]]. Weapons of mass destruction were eschewed, JumpShips and factories were fought over instead of destroyed, and fresh water was as important as germanium.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 48: "The Return of 'Civilized' Warfare"</ref>

The Combine advanced steadily against the LCAF, taking world after world in the Isle of Skye. The DCMS drove towards Skye itself, taking [[Ryde]] and [[Skondia]] in the 2880s, then [[Freedom]] and [[Zebebelgenubi]] in the 2890s. In [[2895]], the Draconians invaded Skye. Though it took the use of a nuclear weapon, the Lyrans ejected the Kurita invaders, who changed their focus and drove for Tamar.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 46: "The Combine Front"</ref>

Succeeding his late mother, Archon [[Eric Steiner]] expanded conscription and planned an offensive campaign.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 46, 48</ref> In [[2913]], at the head of the [[Third Royal Guards]] on Freedom, Eric was killed in combat. He was succeeded by his daughter [[Tatyana Steiner (30th c.)|Tatyana Steiner]]. Throughout the Third War, the Lyrans continued Eric's strategy of attacking when they had the strength.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 48–49: "Operation Freedom"</ref>

Also in 2913, the Free Worlds invaded [[Loric]], but were rebuffed by the LCAF. The Lyran counterassaults failed until a traitor was exposed. A League sympathizer, [[Hauptmann]] [[Mikhail Tertren]] of the Strategy and Tactics Division hindered the LCAF's actions against the FWLM until he was ousted in [[2937]]. The League again invaded Loric in [[2971]]. It took intervention from a relief force organized by Archon [[Giovanni Steiner]] that included elements from the [[Eridani Light Horse]] to break the FWLM invasion force.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 49</ref>

Giovanni's death in [[2980]] cleared the way for [[Alessandro Steiner]] to take the throne. Steiner ordered deep raids against the Free Worlds on the Capellan border. The surprise strikes delivered a military success that was of questionable benefit to the Commonwealth. Alessandro stretched his military thin to strike back, primarily at the Combine, inviting the Free Worlds to invade [[Hesperus II]] twice in the late 2990s.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 51</ref>

Alessandro's plan to win back the hearts of his subjects was known as "Concentrated Weakness", which called for reserve troops massing on the Free Worlds border and advancing. The strategy was successful, but fueled dissent on interior worlds that had been stripped of protection, inviting deep raids. Calls to replace Alessandro focused on his niece [[Katrina Steiner]] as his replacement.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 52: "Concentrated Weakness"</ref> In [[3004]], Katrina disappeared, only to resurface on Tharkad two years later. The FWLM did indeed launch a series of deep raids on key Lyran worlds, who were unable to mount an effective defense because of their denuded garrisons. The Estates General voted no confidence in Alessandro, who stepped down on 22 July [[3007]], allowing Katrina to accede to the throne.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 53: "Katrina's Coup"</ref>

====Peace Proposal====
As Archon, one of Katrina's first actions was to reverse Alessandro's "Concentrated Weakness" policy, rotating garrison units back to their posts. The LCAF had ground down after almost 140 years of constant warfare, reducing them to raids and defensive campaigns. Katrina took advantage of the slow military situation to reassign JumpShips to civilian activities, including humanitarian missions.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 53: "Dawn of the Federated Commonwealth"</ref>

Seeking to formalize the end of hostilities, Katrina sent her now famous Peace Proposal to her four peers. They all rejected the document, but [[First Prince]] [[Hanse Davion]] of the [[Federated Suns]] was intrigued that she was willing to reach out at all. They began discussing an alliance, resulting in the [[Federated-Commonwealth Alliance Document]], which was signed by Katrina and Hanse in May [[3022]]. While this was public knowledge, a secret provision betrothed Hanse to Katrina's daughter, Archon-Designate [[Melissa Steiner]]. In time, the two nations would be joined under Katrina's grandchild.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 53, 55: "Peace Proposal"</ref> In response, the remaining three Great Houses joined together in a looser alliance known as the [[Concord of Kapteyn]].<ref name=HHS55>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 55: "Military Readiness"</ref>

Though Katrina's Peace Proposal was never accepted by any power, nor was any similar document signed, [[3025]] was acknowledged as the end of the Third Succession War.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 55</ref>

===Alliance===
Partly as a way of fostering union between allies and partly as a way of masking troop buildups, the LCAF and [[AFFS]] participated in joint military exercises, known as Operations Galahad and Thor. Though the Suns troops were clearly superior, the training benefited the Lyrans and laid bare the rationale behind Archon Katrina's efforts to rid the LCAF of "social generals" who attained their positions through contacts and influence rather than battlefield prowess.<ref name=HHS55 />

====Fourth Succession War====
[[File:Lc-4sw-3028.png|thumb|right|Map of the Lyran Commonwealth after the Fourth Succession War (3025)]]
{{Main|Fourth Succession War}}
On 20 August [[3028]] Archon-Designate Melissa Steiner married Hanse Davion in a ceremony on [[Terra]]. The wedding was attended by the leaders of the five Great Houses and their entourages. It was at the reception that the other leaders learned they were at war. While Hanse presented Melissa with the traditional slice of cake, he informed her of his wedding gift when he said: "Wife, in honor of our marriage... I give you the [[Capellan Confederation]]!"<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 55: "Fateful Union: The Fourth Succession War (3028&mdash;3030)</ref><ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 236</ref>

=====Combine Front=====
The stage was set for the LCAF to invade the [[Draconis Combine]]. The AFFS launched a devastatingly successful assault on the Capellans. [[Wolf's Dragoons]] occupied Kurita attention in the [[Galedon Military District]]. The Free Worlds League was still recovering from the [[Marik Civil War (31st c.)|Marik Civil War]]. The [[DCMS]] was shuffling troops around, as had become routine for them after the end of the Third Succession War.<ref name=HHS57>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 57: "The Combine Campaigns"</ref><ref name=Conv>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', pp. 42–43: "Convincing the Archon"</ref>

The strength of the Lyran military advanced into the Draconis Combine under the command of General [[Nondi Steiner]], Katrina's sister. Well over one hundred regiments of troops netted the Lyrans dozens of worlds, most of which the Combine had conquered in earlier decades and centuries. The Lyrans were forced to abandon the campaign when the Kuritans captured interior Isle of Skye worlds that threatened [[Skye]] itself, leading to internal dissension from [[Free Skye]] and their supporters. Unable to retake those border worlds, the Archon lacked the political support to continue the offensive.<ref name=HHS57 />

Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG was more than just a military invasion, however. The Lyrans utilized Rasalhagians who wanted to declare independence and form their own nation. The Archon recognized Tyr separatists as a legitimate government, and, in turn, these individuals provided vital local intelligence and worked behind Draconian lines to sabotage defenses.<ref name=Conv /><ref name=20Y>''20 Year Update'', pp. 45–46</ref>

=====League Front=====
House Marik was initially content to sit out the fight, but pressure from their erstwhile allies, Houses Liao and Kurita, led to an invasion with no purpose or objective. The LCAF gave ground, but held the FWLM off from doing any serious damage. The League was caught off guard when the fledgling [[Tikonov Free Republic]] launched an invasion of the Free Worlds. Woefully out of position to deal with this new development and fearful of a Lyran counterassault, [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Janos Marik]] ordered withdrawal.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 57: "The Free Worlds Campaign"</ref>

=====Aftermath=====
When the war ended on 10 January [[3030]], the Commonwealth had been enlarged by 171 inhabited star systems, 13 from the Free Worlds, 51 from the Combine, and 107 the Suns conquered from the Capellans that legally became part of the Lyran Commonwealth as Hanse Davion's wedding gift. The war created a corridor of worlds that linked the Lyran Commonwealth with the Federated Suns, allowing for the birth of the [[Federated Commonwealth]].<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 58: "Growing Pains: Fourth War Aftermath"</ref><ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 12: "Peace and War"</ref>

The way in which the Lyrans used the Rasalhagians to contribute to their successes against the Combine came at a price, however. No independent Rasalhagian nation had been created, in large part because [[Rasalhague]] itself was still under the Combine's control. Indeed, Tamar Pact Duke [[Selvin Kelswa III|Selvin Kelswa]] tried to take control of the Rasalhagian worlds that were promised to Tyr, damaging Lyran relations with the freedom fighters. In an astute move, newly promoted ''[[Gunji-no-Kanrei]]'' [[Theodore Kurita]] recognized the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] in [[3034]], forcing Archon Katrina to do the same. This move swiftly deprived the Lyrans of much of their hard-fought conquests and created a buffer state between the Combine and the Commonwealth. Resentment of the decision led to public demonstrations, which led to AFFS units using heavy-handed measures to keep the piece, which led to resentment of Suns troops on Lyran worlds and, by extension, resentment of the alliance. The protests were especially concentrated in the Isle of Skye, which had a large number of AFFS units acting as garrisons. This "Skye Crisis" was only quelled by the direct intervention of Duke [[Ryan Steiner]], an act that elevated his profile.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 58</ref><ref name=20Y />

====War of 3039====
[[File:Lc-3040.png|thumb|right|Map of the Lyran Commonwealth after the War of 3039 (3040)]]
{{Main|War of 3039}}
Just before the Federated Commonwealth launched a new invasion in [[3039]], Katrina Steiner abdicated as Archon in favor of Melissa. The expected invasion of the Draconis Combine, delayed by internal problems that included the Skye Crisis, finally got off the ground. The creation of the Rasalhague nation meant that the allied nations had a narrow front to engage the Draconians on, so much of the invasion was initiated from the Suns half. Field Marshal Nondi Steiner again commanded the Lyran invasion. LCAF forces quickly found that Theodore Kurita had molded the DCMS into a more effective fighting force than it had been during the Fourth War, and the Kurita forces fielded advanced Star League-era technology (they later found out that the DCMS was gifted this tech by [[ComStar]] in exchange for recognizing Rasalhagian independence). The surprise, coupled with a counterattack against the Suns and a commando raid that killed many members of the LCAF invasion command staff, was enough to convince Hanse and Melissa to halt the invasion in early [[3040]]. The short war exposed the lack of cohesion between the two military formations, leading the rulers to further integrate their armed forces into one whole, which resulted in the creation of the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth]] in [[3042]].<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 58, 60: "3039: A Nation Stumbles" and "The Return of Kerensky"</ref>

[[File:Fedcom.gif|right|thumb|Crest of the Federated Commonwealth]]

====Clan Invasion====
[[File:Lc-3052.png|thumb|right|Map of the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth after the Clan Invasion (3052)]]
Unknown to the Inner Sphere, the descendants of Aleksandr Kerensky created a society of their own, divided into twenty [[Clans]]. The Clans never suffered the technological degradation of the Succession Wars; in fact, they had even more advanced weaponry than the Star League fielded. When the [[ComStar]] [[Explorer Corps (ComStar)|Explorer Corps]] vessel ''[[Outbound Light]]'' was captured by [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]], it gave the [[Crusader Clans]] the ammunition they needed to convince the [[Warden Clans]] to invade the Inner Sphere.<ref>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', pp. 17–18: "The Go Vote"</ref><ref name=HHS62>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 62: "The FedCom and the Clans"</ref>

In [[3050]], four Clans invaded the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth, the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]], and the Draconis Combine. The Lyrans faced [[Clan Jade Falcon]] and [[Clan Wolf]] in the [[Tamar March]]. On [[Trell I]], FedCom heir [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] had to be evacuated from the planet in advance of a Falcon invasion. He had his revenge, however, when he helped plan a counterstrike against the Falcon garrison on [[Twycross]]. Correctly guessing that the Clans were garrisoning their worlds with lower-quality commands, the assault nonetheless ran into the front-line [[Jade Falcon Guards (Clan Jade Falcon)|Falcon Guards]], which they were able to overcome thanks to a heroic stand by heir to the [[St. Ives Compact]] [[Kai Allard-Liao]].<ref name=HHS62 /><ref>''Era Report: 3052'', pp. 14–15, 24: "Timeline of Events: 3050-3052" and "Federated Commonwealth"</ref>

The Inner Sphere gained a respite in [[3051]] when a Rasalhagian aerospace pilot [[Tyra Miraborg]] rammed her vessel into a Clan [[WarShip]]. Unknown to her, she struck the bridge of the Wolf flagship ''[[Dire Wolf (Individual Sovetskii Soyuz-class WarShip)|Dire Wolf]]'' with the leader of all the Clans, [[ilKhan]] [[Leo Showers]] aboard, resulting in his death. The leaders of the Clans had to return to Clan space to elect a new ilKhan, a process that took almost a year. During the so-called [[Year of Peace]], the Inner Sphere leaders and their heirs met on [[Outreach]] at the invitation of [[Jaime Wolf]] of [[Wolf's Dragoons]]. There, he revealed that the Dragoons were not just a [[mercenary unit]], but a scouting force dispatched by the Clans that had turned their backs on their origin. This made him uniquely positioned to provide intelligence on the invaders.<ref name=ER3052p15>''Era Report: 3052'', p. 15</ref><ref name=HHS62 />

On Outreach, Prince Hanse Davion struck a nonaggression pact with ''Gunji-no-Kanrei'' Theodore Kurita, freeing up the best AFFC units to move to the Clan front. Hanse also convinced Free Worlds League Captain-General [[Thomas Marik]] to produce and sell refit kits to the powers facing the Clans, which upgraded their [[BattleMech]]s with Star League-era technology. In order to convince Marik to do this, Hanse offered to treat Thomas' son and heir [[Joshua Marik|Joshua]] for his leukemia at the [[New Avalon Institute of Science]].<ref name=ER3052p15 />

The Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth lost dozens of worlds from [[Here]] to [[Orkney (LC)|Orkney]], including Tamar. The Tamar March was reduced to a thin strip of border worlds by the time the [[Com Guards]] forced the fifteen-year [[Truce of Tukayyid]] on the Clans in [[3052]]. Hanse Davion died of a heart attack, leaving Melissa Steiner to rule the Commonwealth.<ref name=FMLA12>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 12: "Unity and Discord"</ref><ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 62: "Tukayyid and its Aftermath" and "Tragedy and Discord"</ref>

====Steiner-Davion====
[[File:Victor Steiner-Davion ER3052.jpg|thumb|right|Victor Steiner-Davion in 3050]]
With the invasion suspended, the Isle of Skye again began agitating for independence, though Archon Melissa was able to keep her nation together. As part of her plot to rise to power, [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] had her mother assassinated in [[3055]]. Melissa's death meant the accession of Victor as Archon-Prince of the Federated Commonwealth, a role the war hero did not think he was ready for. Though she publicly supported him, behind the scenes, Katherine helped fuel the whispers that Victor had been responsible for his mother's death. He unwittingly lent credence to those voices when he ordered the assassination of Duke Ryan Steiner to cut off the head of [[Free Skye]] and end Skye's second full-on rebellion. With public sentiment turning against the Archon-Prince, his little sister's plan went into full swing.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 63</ref><ref name=FMLA12 /><ref name=FCCW14>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 14–15: "Mistakes and Missteps"</ref>

===The Lyran Alliance===
[[File:Lyran_Alliance_Logo.png|thumb|right|Crest of the Lyran Alliance]]
====Genesis====
The Lyran Alliance was created 18 September, 3057 when [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] (or Katrina Steiner, as she preferred to be called) invoked Emergency Powers and seceded the Lyran half from the [[Federated Commonwealth]].<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 63–64: "The Lyran Secession"</ref> She used her brother's apparent duplicity and the war that followed as her rationalization. To prevent the [[Free Worlds League]] from discontinuing supplies for the war against the [[Clans]] to the rest of the [[Inner Sphere]], [[Victor Ian Steiner-Davion]] had [[Operation Doppelganger|substituted a double]] in place of Thomas' son, [[Joshua Marik]], since the boy had died of leukemia despite his treatment in the [[New Avalon Institute of Science]].  When Thomas was informed of the deception, [[Operation Guerrero|he launched a war]], allied with [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] and his [[Capellan Confederation]], to retake worlds he lost to Victor's father, [[Hanse Davion]], in the [[Fourth Succession War]].  Victor directly controlled the half of the [[Federated Commonwealth]] formerly known as the [[Federated Suns]], while Kathrine was his regent in the half formerly known as the Lyran Commonwealth.  Thomas sent a message to Kathrine reassuring her that he had no quarrel with her, and accordingly would not attack any of her worlds, though he would understand if she sided with her brother and would bear no ill will.  Instead, Kathrine decided to give Victor no support and to effectively sever her half of the realm and christen it the Lyran Alliance. Katherine recalled Lyran units garrisoning the [[Sarna March]], resulting in the no-man's-land [[Chaos March]].<ref name=FMLA13>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 13: "Death and Rebirth"</ref><ref>''Era Report: 3062'', pp. 13–15, 33: "Operation Guerrero" and "Lyran Alliance"</ref><ref name=FCCW14 />

Almost immediately, however, there was opposition. Victor still had supporters in Lyran half of his realm, the most powerful of whom was [[Morgan Kell]]. Kell used his title as Duke of [[Arc-Royal]] and his position on the [[Clan Jade Falcon]] border to create what was effectively an independent state known as the [[Arc-Royal Defense Cordon]]. Grand Duke Morgan Kell paid lip service to Archon Katherine, but ran his affairs to his own liking. The ARDC became a haven for military units, House and mercenary alike, that did not approve of Katherine's secession and maintained loyalty to Archon-Prince Victor.<ref name=HHS65>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 65</ref><ref name=FMLA13 />

====Jade Falcon Incursion====
The creation of the ARDC seemed fortuitous, because in [[3058]] [[Clan Jade Falcon]] launched an invasion. This invasion, however, was initially confused for a pirate raid as it came from a vector that originated in the [[Periphery]], not the Clan Occupation Zones. This was compounded by the fact that Archon Katherine was on a secret diplomatic mission to the Clans, so her chief advisers, General of the Armies [[Nondi Steiner]] and [[Tormano Liao]] had to deal with the problem in her name while maintaining the secrecy of her absence.<ref name=HHS65 /><ref name=FMLA13 /><ref name=ER33>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 33: "Federated Commonwealth"</ref><ref name=BOC6>''The Battle of Coventry'', p. 6: "Proving Grounds"</ref>

The invasion was led by Khan [[Marthe Pryde]] herself and, while the Lyran leaders did not know it at the time, her goal was simply to blood her warriors. Because life in the [[Inner Sphere]] was more peaceful than that of the [[Clan]] Homeworlds, her warriors did not have the same battle-hardened edge of other Clan warriors. In addition, the tremendous losses of the [[Refusal War]] forced her to give warrior status to some ''[[sibko]]'' members before they were ready, as well as allowing more [[freeborn|freebirth]] warriors in [[Clan Jade Falcon Touman|the Clan's ''touman'']] than normal. Marthe also needed to make her Clan look powerful in the eyes of the other Clans so that they would not attack the Falcons or call for [[Trial of Absorption|Absorption]]. Because of this, she decided to execute a series of raids that penetrated deeper and deeper into Lyran space, rather than initiating a more traditional offensive across a broad front.<ref name=HHS65 />

By the time the Falcon assault force landed on [[Coventry]], most [[Inner Sphere]] observers were of the belief that the Falcons intended to cross the Tukayyid Truce line and reignite the Clan Invasion, with themselves already in possession of a hefty head start. With this in mind, the Lyrans decided to make a stand at the important industrial world of [[Coventry]], a mere two jumps from [[Tharkad]] and barely above the truce line. In the meantime, Archon Katherine returned with news that she had signed a secret pact with Khan [[Vlad Ward]] of [[Clan Wolf]]. She had been captured by Vlad during a naval battle that her Lyran flotilla had happened upon, and the two leaders negotiated a mutual defense agreement aimed at [[Clan Jade Falcon]], with whom they both shared a border. In order to improve the defense of [[Coventry]], the Lyrans hired elements of [[Wolf's Dragoons]] as well as the [[Waco Rangers]]. The intense enmity between the two [[mercenary]] commands led to a lack of command cohesion that threatened the defenders.<ref name=HHS65 /><ref name=BOC6 /><ref>''The Battle of Coventry", p. 9: "Relief at Last"</ref>

Also around the same time, a large wargame was scheduled with participants from around the [[Inner Sphere]] at [[Tukayyid]]. When Prince Victor got wind of the Battle of Coventry, he decided to divert the massive force there in order to stop the Falcons. Katherine allowed the erstwhile Archon-Prince to come at the head of the expeditionary force because she hoped that he would be killed in the fighting and she could take over the [[Federated Commonwealth]]. In addition, while Khan [[Phelan Kell]] could not spare a detachment of his Wolves for the fight, he did lend Victor Star Captain [[Ragnar Magnusson|Ragnar]], the captured son of [[Free Rasalhague Republic|Rasalhague]] Prince [[Haakon Magnusson]]. Victor landed with his force amid reports that [[Clan Wolf]] had launched an invasion of the Falcon Occupation Zone. Though Khan Pryde recognized the need to defend her territory, Clan honor dictated that the Falcons stay until they won. On the advice of Ragnar, Victor and [[Caradoc Trevena]] (one of the few officers who had led a successful campaign against the Falcons) offered Khan Pryde ''[[Clans#Language|hegira]]'', the privilege of a defeated enemy to leave unmolested. Khan Pryde, eager to extricate her forces from the battle, accepted the offer. Archon Katherine was furious, however, as it denied her the opportunity to see Victor dead in battle.<ref>''Malicious Intent''</ref><ref name=FMLA13 /><ref name=ER33 /><ref>''The Battle of Coventry'', pp. 12–13</ref>

====New Star League====
[[File:Katherine Steiner-Davion ER3062.jpg|thumb|right|Katherine Steiner-Davion in 3060]]
The cooperation fostered from this venture led the [[Inner Sphere]] leaders to desire further cooperation against the [[Clans]]. Archon Katherine, in the spirit of the Battle of Coventry, offered for [[Tharkad]] to be the site of the summit that came to be known as the [[Whitting Conference]]. The leaders of all the [[Inner Sphere]] powers were present at the Whitting Conference, and they decided to fight the [[Clans]] by giving them their objective: the resurrection of the [[Star League]]. The new [[Star League]] Council also decided to take the fight to the [[Clans]] by [[Trial of Annihilation|annihilating]] one of them. While Archon Katherine argued for that Clan to be the Jade Falcons, the decision was made to attack [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] instead, because they were more powerful and a defector had provided [[ComStar]] with a route to the Smoke Jaguar capital of [[Huntress]].<ref>''Grave Covenant''</ref><ref name=FMLA13 /><ref name=HHS66>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 65–66: "The Second Star League"</ref><ref name=ER33 />

Lyran units participated in [[Operation Bulldog]]. The Tenth Lyran Guards also accompanied Prince Victor on his followup mission to help the [[Task Force Serpent]] forces that assaulted [[Huntress]].<ref>''Prince of Havoc''</ref><ref name=HHS66 />

====FedCom Civil War====
[[File:Lc.3067.png|thumb|right|Map of the Lyran Alliance after the FedCom Civil War (3067)]]
Katherine took advantage of Victor's absence to usurp her sister's regency of the [[Federated Commonwealth]], which necessitated her presence on [[New Avalon]]. She left Nondi Steiner as her regent on [[Tharkad]] in the meantime. When [[Arthur Steiner-Davion]] was presumed dead after the stadium he was giving a speech in was bombed in [[3062]], Victor decided that he could not stand idly by and placed the blame for Arthur's death on Katherine. He also called on anybody who resisted Katherine's rule to arms and began a bloody civil war. This conflict lasted until [[3067]].<ref name=FMLA13 /><ref name=HHS66+>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 66–68</ref>

Damage to the LAAF was not as great as what occurred to the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]]. This was mostly due to the fact that most Lyran units were united in their support of Katherine, and most of the units that did not support her moved to the ARDC. Despite this, major conflicts did break out on some worlds, such as [[Dalkeith]]. It would be three other events that caused damage to the Alliance.<ref name=FMU>''Field Manual: Updates'', pp. 164–165: "Pebbles and Avalanches"</ref>

First, Victor was on [[Mogyorod]] at the time of his declaration. From the first, he planned to cut a swath through the Alliance, into [[Federated Commonwealth]] space, and ultimately to [[New Avalon]]. He quickly ran afoul of [[Adam Steiner]] on [[Newtown Square]], then was harassed by General [[Maria Esteban]]. Victor did eventually break through to the FedSuns, but not before securing important worlds like [[Coventry]] and [[York (LC)|York]] for his cause. After he received news of the death of his lover, [[Omiko Kurita|Omi Kurita]], Victor retreated to [[Muphrid]] and mourned for her for a year before finally pushing on to [[Tikonov]].

Secondly, [[Clan Jade Falcon]] launched an invasion in [[3064]]. Khan Pryde sought to take advantage of Lyran distraction by actually making real gains for her Clan this time. The invasion unified elements of the Lyran people, and they came together to fight the Falcons. Loyalist General [[Adam Steiner]] and hero of the Allied cause General [[Archer Christifori]] jointly led the defense and counterassault. While the Lyrans retook [[Blackjack (system)|Blackjack]] (though its infamous private military academy had been dismantled), the Falcons were able to capture the theater headquarters of [[Pandora]]. History repeated itself as [[Clan Wolf]] launched an invasion of Falcon territory, and both Lyran and Falcons sought an end to the conflict. In a unique arrangement, the borders were left as they were occupied, and the world of [[Blair Atholl]] became a jointly held world intended to be a sort of live-fire training ground for the Falcons. The Blair Atholl Agreement ended the invasion in [[3065]].<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 68: "The Jade Falcon Incursion"</ref><ref name=FMU />

Third, [[Skye]] Province attempted to secede from the Alliance. Skye Province (and the [[Isle of Skye]] before it) had been a hotbed of discontent, but, with Duke [[Robert Kelswa-Steiner]] imprisoned, his chief military adviser [[John Dundee]] attempted to formally break away. Maria Esteban went over to [[Free Skye]] and led a new unit known as the [[Skye Guard]]. Skye forces were able to secure the provincial capital of [[Skye]] and the theater headquarters of [[Freedom]], but Esteban did not have sufficient forces to wrest the all-important industrial world of [[Hesperus II]] from the Lyrans. With that defeat, the rebellion collapsed and the Skye forces were vanquished.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 68: "The Third Skye Rebellion"</ref><ref name=FMU />

Even though the Alliance was relatively quiet, and the Loyalists were on the run in the [[Federated Commonwealth]], [[Nondi Steiner]] still held power on [[Tharkad]]. [[Morgan Kell]] convinced [[Peter Steiner-Davion]] to come out of his self-imposed exile on [[Zaniah]] III and fight for the throne. Peter led a pan-Lyran coalition to [[Tharkad]] that was composed of national regiments, a Skye Ranger unit, mercenaries from the ARDC, and [[Phelan Kell]] with some of his [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile|Wolves]]. The Battle for Tharkad was hard-fought, but, after Peter secured his alma mater the [[Lyran Alliance Armed Forces#Nagelring|Nagelring]], he was able to take the fight to the capital itself and defeated his great-aunt Nondi in single combat amid the bitter street to street fighting. With her death, resistance collapsed and Peter was acclaimed Archon by the Estates General in [[3067]] after Victor officially abdicated in his favor.<ref>''The FedCom Civil War''</ref><ref name=HHS66+/><ref name=FMU />

====Word of Blake Jihad====
[[File:Peter Steiner-Davion HBHS.jpg|thumb|right|Archon Peter Steiner-Davion in 3067]]
[[3067]] saw the return of the Whitting Conference to [[Tharkad]]. Despite that, Peter announced his intention to pull out of the League, citing financial constraints. His sentiment was echoed by [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion|Prince-Regent Yvonne]] of the [[Federated Suns]]. Chancellor [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] was more scathing in his absentee remarks, but he also announced his intention to pull the [[Capellan Confederation]] out of the [[Star League]]. First Lord [[Christian Månsdottir]] admitted the provisional members, including the [[Taurian Concordat]] and [[Word of Blake]], and called for a vote of no confidence in the hope that such a vote would succeed and the other members could force them back in. The measure did have the required majority, however, and the [[Star League]] disbanded once more. The [[Word of Blake]], however, was not content. A radical element placed a great deal of hope of their interpretation of a prophecy that included the Star League. They attempted to force the Lyrans and FedSuns back into the League with a show of force around their capital worlds.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'' and ''Blake Ascending'', p. 25</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', pp. 12–13 and ''Blake Ascending'', pp. 172–173: "The Star League Failure"</ref><ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', pp. 9–10: "Dawn of the Jihad"</ref> This failed, however, and they lashed out in a brutal war that lasted for fourteen years and engulfed all of humankind.

The first shots of the [[Jihad]] were fired at [[Tharkad]]. The Word had salvaged and restored the [[LCS Invincible|LCS ''Invincible'']], a ''[[Tharkad (WarShip class)|Tharkad]]''-class [[WarShip]]. The Blakists had secretly brought the vessel as a gift to the Alliance but turned it on the Lyran capital when the Star League disbanded. The powerful WarShip bombarded Tharkad City from orbit on 5 December 3067, striking a nuclear power facility which catastrophically melted down. This was followed by a traditional ground invasion consisting of approximately a division of Word troops.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'' and ''Blake Ascending'', pp. 43–45</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 12 and ''Blake Ascending'', p. 172: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

The Blakists attacked the Lyrans savagely and repeatedly because they desired control of the Lyrans' massive industrial base. Worlds such as [[Tharkad]], [[Coventry]], [[Hesperus II]], [[Donegal]], and [[Alarion]] suffered tremendously. In the meantime, the Blakists sought to expand their [[Blake Protectorate]] at the expense of Lyran worlds including [[Thorin]] and [[New Earth]]. To keep the Lyrans off balance, they manipulated the [[Sirian Concordance]] and Duke of Skye [[Robert Kelswa-Steiner]] to create a regional war between provinces of the Alliance and the League.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'' and ''Blake Ascending'', p. 50: "The Archon has Failed Us!"</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070''</ref><ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 10: "Early Tactics"</ref>

On 27 September [[3071]], Archon Peter Steiner-Davion abdicated the throne in favor of Adam Steiner, seeking to deny the Blakists the symbolic victory of keeping the Archon bottled up on a capital under siege.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 48: "Abdication"</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 17: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> This seemed to be the incentive Adam needed to liberate Tharkad, doing so at the head of a force composed of [[LAAF]] troops, [[Kell Hounds]], [[Wolf's Dragoons]], [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]] warriors, and a small Clan Jade Falcon contingent. After the liberation of the capital world in 12 January [[3072]], Adam transferred the Archonship back to Peter.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', pp. 70–71: "Reflections of Hell"</ref><ref name=JHS621>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 21: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

In January [[3073]], a meeting of delegates from many Inner Sphere powers took place on [[Arc-Royal]]. The assembled delegates argued over who to blame for the Jihad, with some pointing the blame and [[ComStar]] and even Victor Steiner-Davion personally. The summit was cut short when liberated POW and former commander of the [[Circinus Federation]]'s [[Black Warriors]], Colonel [[Fritz Donner]] exploded, killing and wounding several delegates, including aide to General Adam Steiner, [[Leutnant-General]] [[Sabine Steiner]]. The bombing stalled efforts to coordinate a response to the Word's Jihad.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 118: "Breaking Story: Bombing Hits Allied Summit in Old Connaught!"</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 26: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 51: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

[[File:Adam Steiner MM.jpg|right|thumb|Archon Adam Steiner in [[3076]]]]
Archon Peter traveled to [[Tukayyid]] in the fall of 3073 to meet with [[Devlin Stone]] and other Inner Sphere leaders and envoys to coordinate efforts against the Blakists.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 34: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> In the process of leaving Tukayyid, Peter was fatally wounded by a Blakist assassin. On his deathbed, Peter named Adam as his heir. Within two weeks, the Estates General confirmed Adam Steiner as Archon. In his first act, Adam promised to maintain Peter's commitment to Stone's alliance.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 38: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref>According to ''[[MechWarrior: Technology of Destruction]]'', the [[Brotherhood of Cincinnatus]] gained enough power and influence to depose [[Peter Steiner-Davion]] as Archon and put in his place his cousin, General of the Armies [[Adam Steiner]] as part of a plan to put a "pure" Steiner onto the throne. The plan was discovered by Adam and he had the order purged and their headquarters on [[Gacrux]] destroyed as a result of their betrayal.</ref>

Following the fall of [[Terra]] in [[3078]], Devlin Stone created the [[Republic of the Sphere]]. Like the Combine and Suns, the Lyran Alliance allowed Stone to retain the worlds of the Blake Protectorate for his nation, and even ceded some border worlds to the nascent nation, including Skye (though the Lyrans retained Hesperus).<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', pp. 61, 84</ref>

=====Free Worlds Front=====
{{Main|Operation Broken Fist}}
On 24 December 3067, the leader of the Sirian Concordance, General [[Helen Thrall]] was assassinated. Early reports placed the blame on Lyran agents from Skye.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'' and ''Blake Ascending'', pp. 45–46: "Skye Assaulted!"</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 13 and ''Blake Ascending'', p. 173</ref> Less than two months later, on 4 February [[3068]], a Free Worlds League WarShip appeared in the Skye system and launched an assault, including ground forces in the colors of the [[Sirian Lancers]]. They were ejected two days later. This action prompted Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner to declare war on the Free Worlds League.<ref name=JHS307015>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 14 and ''Blake Ascending'', p. 174</ref> Three weeks later, Margrave [[Caesar Steiner]], commander of the [[Cavanaugh II Theater]] was assassinated with early reports pointing to agents from the League. On 1 March, [[Bolan Province]] joined Duke Robert in declaring war.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 15 and ''Blake Ascending'', p. 175: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name=JS />

The first Lyran units made landfall in Free Worlds space on 10 March 3068.<ref name=JHS307015 /> The League forces counterattacked under Marshall [[Jeremy Brett]] beginning in July 3068.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 17 and ''Blake Ascending'', p. 177: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> League forces invaded the Alliance, but Captain-General Thomas Marik recalled forces loyal to him, giving Skye the opportunity to reclaim their occupied systems. On 25 October [[3069]] Marshall Brett called for a ceasefire, which was accepted by Duke Umayr of Bolan on 2 December. Bolan forces pulled off of occupied League worlds by the end of the month.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', pp. 20–22: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> Skye never signed a ceasefire agreement, though combat operations ground to a halt by [[3071]].<ref name=JS>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', pp. 21–22</ref>

=====Clan Jade Falcon Front=====
With the LAAF distracted by the League and the Blakists, Clan Jade Falcon again sought to exploit the situation. They invaded [[Graus]] in October 3068.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'' and ''Blake Ascending'', p. 105: "Cry Havoc"</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 10: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 46: "The Jihad in Review"</ref> When the Falcons saw just how weakened the Lyrans were, they invaded in force.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 22 and ''Blake Ascending'', p. 182</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 45 and ''Blake Ascending'', p. 205: "Avengers Fall Back"</ref> By [[3070]], even former allies [[Clan Wolf]] joined in attacking Lyran worlds.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 84 and ''Blake Ascending'', p. 244</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', pp. 15–16: "Calculating Clans"</ref><ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 47: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

The Lyrans first succeeded in slowing the Falcon advance on [[Zanderij]] in the summer of [[3070]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 24: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 48: "The Jihad in Review"</ref> In April [[3071]], the Falcons (under assault by [[Clan Ice Hellion]]) sued for peace.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 37: "Falcon Envoys on Arc-Royal?"</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 15: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 49: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

=====Word of Blake=====
In February 3068, the Word of Blake reinforced their invasion force on Tharkad, signaling their intent to take and hold the Lyran capital. In mid-March, the Blakists launched invasions of the important industrial worlds of Donegal, Coventry, and Hesperus II. In June, the Blakists conquered [[Solaris VII]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', pp. 15–16 and ''Blake Ascending'', pp. 175–176: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

In March [[3069]], Lyran forces attempted to run the blockade of Tharkad, but failed. The following month, Blakist naval forces attacked [[Alarion]], defeating the defenders of the Lyran naval yards. Word forces captured what vessels they could, though the LAS ''[[Fylgia]]'' escaped, and unleashed a biological agent that poisoned the biosphere of the planet, eventually rendering it uninhabitable.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', pp. 14–15</ref>  In September, Blakist forces raided [[Summer]], destroying the planetary capital with a thermonuclear weapon. They continued on to Skye, attacking in early October. The Skye forces are able to eject the invaders, thanks in no small part to the presence of the ''Fylgia''.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', pp. 19–20: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> In December, the Word attacked [[Glengarry]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 21: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

In February [[3070]], the Word finally wore down the Lyran defenders and took possession of Hesperus II and Donegal. The Word failed to assassinate General of the Armies [[Adam Steiner]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', pp. 22–23: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

In December [[3071]], the Blakists abandoned their campaign for Solaris VII.<ref name=JHS620>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 20: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> Following the liberation of Tharkad in January 3072, [[Precentor Martial of ComStar|Precentor Martial]] Victor Steiner-Davion led a coalition of LAAF, Com Guard, and [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]] forces in the liberation of Donegal in February.<ref name=JHS621 /> Word forces responded by attacking [[Arc-Royal]] in March, though they were defeated both in space and on the planet's surface.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 22: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

In February [[3074]], Blakist troops attacked the provincial capital of [[Bolan]]. They annihilated the capital city, sending the ruling family into flight. In March, a coalition of LAAF and Clan Jade Falcon forces liberated [[Coventry]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 48: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> The Word again assaulted Skye in June. They also returned to Bolan in July, occupying a portion of the planet. In mid-July, coalition forces under the command of Devlin Stone ejected the Word of Blake troops. In September the Word withdrew from Bolan, though they took thousands of people with them.<ref name=JHS652>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 52: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> Devlin led coalition forces to liberate Hesperus II from November-December 3074.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 55: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

In June [[3075]], a joint force of LAAF-FWLM troops liberated [[Poulsbo]] and [[Khon Kaen]] from Circinian forces under the command of Word of Blake.<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 34</ref>

In July [[3076]], coalition forces under the command of Devlin Stone invade the [[Blake Protectorate]]. [[Operation SCOUR]], the plan to militarily dismantle the nation built by the Word begins in [[3077]]. The Lyran front, under the command of Duke [[Robert Kelswa-Steiner]], sees its first liberated systems in late January. In early May, many Lyran officers are assassinated by [[Manei Domini]], resulting in Leutnant-General [[Thomas Hogarth]] ascending to command of Group III. A January [[3078]] assault on [[Phecda]] left Duke Robert wounded, who names his son [[Gregory Kelswa-Steiner|Gregory]] as commander.<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', pp. 56–58: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

The invasion of [[Terra]] started in the summer of 3078 direct command of Stone.<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 59: "The Jihad in Review"</ref> Eight LAAF 'Mech regiments contributed to the assault, and both Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner and General Thomas Hogarth commanded battlegroups.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 96</ref> Terra was formally surrendered to Stone's Coalition on 26 December 3078.<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 60: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

=====Home Front=====
With Tharkad occupied and Skye going its own way, many Lyran worlds were left to fend for themselves. In some places, pro-democracy movements began and led to violent insurrection.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 19</ref> [[Democracy Now]], led by [[Kalvin Strauss]] advocated for true democracy in Alarion beginning in [[3071]], after Alarion was devastated by the Blakists. The organization was headquartered on [[Novara]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 33: "Arming the Electorate"</ref><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 12: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> A faction of Democracy Now led by [[Lindon Ashley]] turned violent in March, when the organization led an open rebellion on [[Enzesfled]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 13: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> The nobles on Enzesfled put out an urgent call for help, to which the planetary guard on [[Kaumberg]] responded. Even as the Kaumberg Planetary Guard landed in May, [[Batajnica]] and [[Calafell]] were beset by revolts, with more systems falling under unrest into the summer.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', pp. 16–17: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> On 21 December, assassins killed Kalvin Strauss, though an attack on Lindon Ashley failed.<ref name=JHS620 /> Ashley returned in March 3072 to take up the reins of Democracy Now on Novara.<ref name=JHS621 /> In May, Ashley called for the secession of Alarion Province from the Lyran Alliance, then publicly contracted [[Eriksson's Einherjar]] as his private army in June.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', pp. 22–23: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

To sidestep the lack of central leadership in the event that national authorities again became incapacitated, Archon Peter brought back Archonettes from the reign of Richard Steiner in the early [[twenty-ninth century]]. To foster rebuilding, in August 3072 Peter established Archonettes around [[Arcturus]], [[Inarcs]], [[Halfway]], and [[Kaumberg]]. He named General of the Armies Adam Steiner the Archonette of Tharkad and himself the Archonette of Arcturus.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 94: "Return of the Archonettes"</ref><ref name=JHS623>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 23: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

Kaumberg Archonette [[Erich Sheridan]] put his new powers to use quickly, all but declaring war on Democracy Now ten days later.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 94: "Declaration of War"</ref> The Kaumberg Planetary Guard attacked the [[Democratic People's Army]] on Novara in August 3072, though Ashley escaped.<ref name=JHS623 /> Following the battle, the KPG began training other forces to improve the defenses of the Kaumberg Archonette.<ref name=JHS652 />

Ashley returned to the limelight over two years later, leading a Democracy Now contingent on [[Virtue]].<ref name=JHS652 /> The re-formed DPA attacked [[Akfata]] and [[Vermezzo]] in February [[3075]], toppling both ruling families. The beginning of the end for Ashley came when Democracy Now supporters killed thousands in a bomb attack on [[Ferihegy]] in March, sparking a public backlash. The scattered KPG came together to hunt down DPA forces on Akfata and Vermezzo in April. Akfata was liberated in May, though the forces on Vermezzo impacted thousands using scorched earth tactics to keep the KPG at bay. The KPG attacked Virtue in August 3075, supported by the mercenary unit [[Kirkpatrick's Invaders]]. DPA forces held out for two weeks, after which Lindon Ashley was finally taken prisoner.<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', pp. 53–54: "The Jihad in Review"</ref> In early [[3076]], Ashley his top five lieutenants are tried and summarily executed for crimes against the Alliance.<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 55: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

As a result of the destruction waged against the Lyran military industrial base by the Word of Blake during the Jihad, the Lyran armed forces had turned to the civilian sector to pick up as much of the supply shortfall as possible; this had resulted in a number of civilian industries retooling to produce defense matériel, including [[RetroTech]] [[BattleMech]]s. These industries began to return to civilian manufacturing in the post-Jihad era, although a number kept their militarized lines going, primarily so that they could sell their products to groups outside the Alliance, or to mercenary bands. There was much speculation that the damage wrought on the war efforts of the LAAF as a result of incompetent Social Generals interfering in the distribution of matériel during the first half of the Jihad would result in a long-needed internal reform of the Alliance military; learning the lessons taught by a military which had been forced to rely increasingly on midlevel officers to lead for so much of the war.<ref name="J:FRp83B">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 83: "The Supply Chain"</ref>

In August [[3077]], forces from the [[Buena Archonette]] assaulted Free Worlds League planets, sparking rebuke from Tharkad and [[Tamarind]]. In January 3078, Duchy of Tamarind ruler Duchess [[Therese Marik]] demanded that Archon Adam Steiner intervene in the Buena Archonette's assault so that Tamarind can contribute forces to SCOUR.<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', pp. 57–58: "The Jihad in Review"</ref> In late summer [[3079]], the Lyran forces seized seven worlds, prompting Adam to forbid any further attacks.<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 60: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

The Arcturus and Buena Archonettes were dissolved in February [[3081]], with Buena becoming the new capital of what had been Alarion Province. Inarcs and Kaumberg Archonettes initially refused to stand down.<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 39: "Inarcs Prepares for Showdown" and "Kaumberg Archonette Defies Call to Stand Down"</ref><ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 61: "The Jihad in Review"</ref> This was symptomatic of the dispersal of authority caused by the loss of central control during the Jihad. In addition to the Archonettes, the Estates General took on more day-to-day authority, acting more like the Free Worlds League Parliament and less like an advisory body. Even secret societies such as the [[Brotherhood of Cincinnatus]] wielded power behind the scenes.<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 86: "The Political Landscape of the Lyran Alliance"</ref>

By [[3083]], Archon Adam Steiner had had enough. A fleet that included the powerful LAS ''[[Yggdrasil (Individual Mjolnir-class WarShip)|Yggdrasil]]'' WarShip jumped into the Inarcs system, demanding the surrender of Duchess [[Tamari LaRue]]. A quick but decisive battle resulted in the capture of Duchess LaRue. She was put on trial and executed for treason. Though their angered simmered, no Archonette again refused the Archon's call to stand down.<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', pp. 94–95: "Reclaiming Authority"</ref>

===Lyran Commonwealth once again===
On 5 January [[3084]], Archon Adam Steiner announced that the Lyran Alliance was renamed "Lyran Commonwealth" since the [[Federated Commonwealth]] reverted to its usage of [[Federated Suns]].<ref>''Touring the Stars'', p. 55: "Volume XXVIII: The Mailed Fist&mdash;The Commonwealth Today"</ref><ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 94: "General Review"</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: 3085'', p. 60</ref>

===Blackout===
In [[3132]] unknown agents sabotaged or destroyed enough [[hyperpulse generator]] stations to take down interplanetary communications, forcing the people of the Inner Sphere to communicate by JumpShip courier. This instability set off an era of strife, especially within the [[Republic of the Sphere]]. Landgrave [[Jasek Kelswa-Steiner]], heir to Skye, formed the [[Stormhammers]] around a group of Republic soldiers loyal to him with the goal of returning the Isle of Skye to the Lyran Commonwealth.<ref>[http://bg.battletech.com/?page_id=1641 BattleTech.com Dark Age Timeline]</ref><ref name=EDDAp19>''Era Digest: Dark Age'', pp. 19-20: "Stormhammers"</ref> The Stormhammers became part of the [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces]].<ref>''Masters of War'', p. 239</ref><ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 14: "Demagogues and Dissidents"</ref>

====On the Offensive====
[[File:Melissa_Steiner_3143.png|thumb|right|Archon [[Melissa Steiner II]] in [[3143]]]]
Archon [[Melissa Steiner II]] had other things on her mind, however. She was worried that the Free Worlds League successor states would turn a greedy eye to the Commonwealth. She dispatched her cousin [[Trillian Steiner]] (granddaughter of Peter Steiner-Davion) to [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]] to have them negotiate with [[Clan Wolf]] to have the Clan relocate to the border with the former League states.<ref>''Masters of War'', pp. 39–44</ref> When Wolf [[Khan]] [[Seth Ward]] agreed to the plan,<ref>''Masters of War'', p. 62</ref> [[Alaric Wolf]] countered by proposing an invasion of the remnants of Prefecture IX of the Republic of the Sphere, which they hit in January [[3137]], to distract from their real objective.<ref>''Masters of War'', pp. 70–72, 82–100</ref><ref>''Era Report: 3145'', pp. 17–18</ref>

The Commonwealth launched preemptive invasions of the [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]] and [[Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey]] in July 3137 under the command of Duke [[Vedet Brewer]] of [[Hesperus II]].<ref>''Fire at Will'', p. 68</ref> This invasion, known as [[Operation HAMMERFALL]], met with success — by December, LCAF forces under the command of [[Roderick Frost]], the grandson of Adam Steiner, had captured [[Tamarind]].<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 23</ref> The two nations signed a ceasefire, though Captain-General [[Fontaine Marik]] refused a peace agreement.<ref>''Fire at Will'', pp. 279–282</ref> The invasion of Marik-Stewart went much more slowly, in part because Captain-General [[Anson Marik]] resurrected the [[Silver Hawk Irregulars]], who frustrated the invasion force with guerrilla tactics.<ref>''Fire at Will'', pp. 138, 142–143</ref><ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 23</ref>

By February [[3138]] Clan Wolf had joined the invasion of the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth.<ref>''The Last Charge'', p. 13</ref> Communication issues between the LCAF and Wolf forces slowed the advance, but a joint operation conquered [[Stewart]] and Captain-General Anson Marik was killed in the final battle for the world.<ref>''The Last Charge'', pp. 159–178, 284–285</ref><ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 24</ref>

====On the Defensive====
As a check against the Wolves, Archon Melissa Steiner ensured that Lyrans transports were responsible for ferrying lower-caste Wolves to their new homes. When a Watch agent uncovered the plot, the Wolves realized they had been tricked, signed a truce with the reborn Free Worlds League, and launched an assault against the Commonwealth in [[3140]].<ref>''A Bonfire of Worlds'', ch. 4, pp. 7–10; ch. 5, pp. 8–13; ch. 7, pp. 8–13</ref> An attempt on the archon's life on 22 February [[3141]] showed how unpopular Melissa's rule had become. A military coup installed Vedet Brewer as the new archon a month later. The new ruler was only able to turn the tide against the Wolves when he installed mercenary [[Anastasia Kerensky]] as the commander of the Wolf front. In January [[3142]], the Wolves established the [[Wolf Empire]] and declared an end to combat operations.<ref>''A Bonfire of Worlds'', ch. 11, pp. 11–14, 19-23; ch. 12, pp. 12–13, 32–34</ref><ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 26</ref>

The LCAF shuffled troops around, intent on reinforcing their new border. In doing so, however, Archon Brewer refused to shore up the nation's border with the Falcons. In June 3142, Clan Jade Falcon launched an assault, along with their [[Clan Hell's Horses]] allies, aimed at joining their Occupation Zone with a swath of worlds they claimed in what had been The Republic. The Falcons utilized three main thrusts aimed at [[Melissia]], [[Coventry]], and The Republic. The efforts of the [[Kell Hounds]] and Clan Wolf-in-Exile barely slowed them down. The Falcons skipped over Coventry and struck at their real target, Tharkad.<ref>''A Bonfire of Worlds'', ch. 13, pp. 2–9</ref><ref>''Era Report: 3145'', pp. 26–27: "Tharkad in the Crosshairs"</ref>

Seeing self-proclaimed "Chinggis Khan" [[Malvina Hazen]] as an abomination who was destroying the ways of the Clan, and fearful that they might be powerful enough to conquer [[Terra]], the Wolves resumed assaults on the Commonwealth to blunt the Falcon drive for Tharkad beginning in early [[3143]]. On [[Smolnik]] in February, Galaxy Commander Alaric Wolf defeated Anastasia Kerensky and captured her. The combined might of the LCAF, Clan Wolf-in-Exile, and the [[Kell Hounds]] was not enough to stave off full-scale invasion by three Clans. Alaric Wolf's task force jumped into the Tharkad system on 2 July 3143, precipitating the restoration of Melissa Steiner to the position of archon. Battle began on 17 July with the Wolves under Alaric's command engaging the defenders near Tharkad City even as Jade Falcons dropped onto other areas of the planet. The Wolves bottled up the defenders in the crowded city, opening the way for Elemental forces to kill Archon Melissa Steiner. Nonetheless, Wolf forces did not attempt to hold the Lyran capital, which forced the Falcons to also abandon the fight. Alaric returned to the Wolf Empire, secured a [[Bloodname]], and was acclaimed Khan of Clan Wolf. After these events, he publicly revealed that he was actually the child of Katherine Steiner-Davion and announced his claim to the throne. Not long after this, Katherine Steiner-Davion met her demise - she was killed by her own son, Alaric Wolf, after she ordered him to kill Anastasia Kerensky.<ref>''A Bonfire of Worlds'', ch. 13, pp. 22–28; ch. 14, pp. 2–7, 11–24; ch. 15, pp. 5–10, 34–37, 41–52</ref><ref>''Era Report: 3145'', pp. 27-28</ref>

[[File:Trillian_Steiner_3145.png|right|thumb|Archon [[Trillian Steiner]] in [[3145]]]]
Despite Alaric's claim, Trillian Steiner was confirmed as Archon. As she directed the rebuilding of the LCAF, mercenary units raided the Falcons, not allowing them to get comfortable on their conquered worlds. Forced into action, Khan Hazen invaded Hesperus II. Warned of the invasion, Lyran forces pulled off-world and gathered for a counterattack while the Wolves jumped in to deny their enemies the important factory world. The seeming abandonment of Defiance Industries almost prompted another military coup, but it was headed off by General of the Armies [[Roderick Steiner]]. The LCAF forces waited for the Clan troops to exhaust themselves against each other, then returned to liberate the planet.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', pp. 28–29</ref> This was a close brush with rebellion for Archon Trillian Steiner, as margraves Gareth Dinesen of [[Melissia Theater]] and [[Diego Widmer]] of [[Timbuktu Theater]]<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 56: "Factions: Lyran Commonwealth"</ref> were vehemently opposed to the LCAF's seeming abandonment of Hesperus II - although their dissension ultimately amounted to little, Trillian was given a grim reminder of the disillusionment of some of her generals, particularly Dinesen, who continued to agitate against what he saw as Trillian's unsuitability for the Archonship.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 100: "Gareth Dinesen"</ref>

In February of [[3146]], the Free Worlds League attacked the Timbuktu Theater in retaliation for Operation HAMMERFALL. By May, the FWLM had taken four worlds, including the former regional capital of [[Bolan]].<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', pp. 19–20: "At the Lyrans' Side Door".</ref> No LCAF troops were committed to counter the League invasion. On the 7th of July, after an uproar at the lack of an LCAF response, General Diego Widmer publicly accused Archon Trillian Steiner of an inability to protect Buena Province, declaring that the Province was seceding from the Lyran Commonwealth to form the new Buena Collective. The Collective immediately began strengthening its position, annexing [[Loburg]] (and its BattleMech production facilities) on the 27th of July. Widmer entreated a number of nearby worlds to join the Buena Collective, nearly persuading [[Urjala]] to secede from the Commonwealth before the [[Florida Timbuktu Theater Militia]] were deployed to enforce martial law on the planet. Nonetheless, by the end of 3146, the Buena Collective controlled ten planets and was enjoining more to break with the Lyran Commonwealth, eroding the Archon's authority.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 25: "Antisocial General"</ref>

Initially silent on the matter of the Buena Collective, further damaging her public image, Archon Trillian sent the LCAF to respond to respond to "Warlord" Diego Widmer's activities on the 6th of June [[3147]]. The LCAF was able to take [[Valloire]] from the Collective, but an attack on Ayacucho turned into a stalemate as the Florida Timbuktu Theater Militia and nascent Second Collective Guards failed to deal each other a knockout blow.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', pp. 42–43: "Challenging the Archon"</ref>

This stalemate would see a shift early in the following year with the arrival of Task Force Kingbreaker — a mixed force created for the purpose of killing the Buena Collective in its crib. On the 6th of January [[3148]] Kingbreaker effectively routed the Collective opposition on Ayacucho, inducting a number of surrendered Buena forces into its ranks as it became clear that Widmer was conscripting civilians en masse, whether or not they agreed with the secession from the Lyran Commonwealth.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', pp. 47–48: "Chemotherapy - Ayacucho"</ref>

Following that initial success, Kingbreaker made planetfall on Buena on the 24th of January. Kingbreaker's CO, Colonel John Nelson, ordered his soldiers to disable rather than kill Collective soldiers wherever possible — while maintaining the LCAF's public image, these tactics slowed Kingbreaker's progress against the Third Collective Guards and [[Buena War College Training Battalion]]. Kingbreaker was unable to take Fort Buena (the site of the [[War College of Buena]]), and Nelson ordered a fighting withdrawal, when the Training Battalion unexpectedly turned on the Third Guards — the confusion allowed Kingbreaker to regroup and advance to take Fort Buena, and soon the rest of the planet. In the after action report it was concluded that the Training Battalion was largely comprised of War College recruits who were completing their studies at the time of the secession, and still remained loyal to the Archon.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 48: "Chemotherapy - Buena"</ref>

By the end of the month, the LCAF had taken Ayacucho, Buena and Luego. The Kingbreaker auxiliaries made up of Collective defectors were the vanguard for a successful capture of Luego, and on 30 January Widmer was taken prisoner. In March, per official order from Tharkad, Widmer was executed for high treason, putting an end to the Buena Collective.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 49: "Chemotherapy - Buena"</ref>

However, no sooner was the Buena Collective dealt with than an even worse enemy of the Lyran Commonwealth emerged — Clan Jade Falcon. General of the Armies Roderick Steiner personally assumed command of the defense — on the 15th of February, Jade Falcon forces descended on Coventry, using the same drop point that they had used during their incursion into Lyran territory in 3058.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 49: "The Falcons Advance"</ref> Over the next two months the Falcons ploughed relentlessly over the planet, caring little for collateral damage and indeed deliberately levelling the historic city of Whitting, where the Second Star League had been formed. Per the orders of the Chinggis Khan, the city was razed to the ground, leaving thousands of civilians dead. The [[Second Royal Guards]] and [[Fifteenth Arcturan Guards]], led by Jasek Kelswa-Steiner, arrived on Coventry to reinforce the Lyran lines, but disaster struck when he was killed in action after his ''Templar'' was destroyed by Jade Falcon forces.

However, Kelswa-Steiner's death — although tragic — galvanized the faltering LCAF. Inch by inch, they began pushing back the Falcons, and by the time the fighting reached the St. William Spaceport, Galaxy Commander Stephanie Chistu disobeyed the Chinggis Khan's orders to deploy nuclear weapons and instead challenged Roderick Steiner to a duel to decide the invasion. Roderick defeated Chistu but refrained from killing her, instead offering her ''hegira'' in a mirror of the events of 3058. Attacks on the Jade Falcon OZ by Clan Wolf-In-Exile forced the Falcons to abandon their attack on the Commonwealth in favor of defending their own holdings, and by April 3148 Coventry was secure.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', pp. 50–51: "The Falcons Advance"</ref>

The Commonwealth would not get a chance to catch its breath, however, when further secessionist activity in June of 3148 demanded the LCAF's attention. On the 24th, Tharkad was officially informed of the formation of a new "[[Timbuktu Collective]]", formed from the eponymous planet as well as [[Coldbrook]], [[Halifax]], [[Hinkley]] and [[Wiltshire]].<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 48: "Timbuktu Collective Formed, Florida TTM Absorbed"</ref> Much like the business of the Buena Collective, initially the LCAF could not afford to mount any real response as they were already stretched to breaking point by the Buena secession and the Jade Falcon invasion. Other matters also required the LCAF's urgent attention, particularly the threat of further Jade Falcon aggression and increased pirate activity in Buena Province.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 90: "Dissidents and Breakaway States"</ref> Not until September 3150, after the Timbuktu Collective seized [[Pocologan]] and [[Viborg]], did Lyran High Command consider a response. Rather than redeploy committed LCAF troops, the Archon sent word to Duke Vedet Brewer who was still living in self-imposed exile on [[Alekseyevka]] since his deposition from the Archonship. Archon Trillian was hopeful that the summons might convince Brewer to come in from the cold, but instead the wayward Duke took his First Hesperus Guards and moved coreward towards the Melissia Theater, pursuing his own unknown agenda. With this lack of response from the LCAF, public perception increasingly swung towards the view that Archon Steiner was losing her ability to manage the Lyran Commonwealth.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 91: "Dissidents and Breakaway States"</ref>

Through October, LIC reported a massing of a great Jade Falcon war host at [[Cameron]], with Malvina Hazen in personal attendance. Believing their target to be Donegal, the LCAF redeployed a defensive force to that planet, but the anticipated attack never came. Instead, the Chinggis Khan took her forces away from the Lyran Commonwealth altogether. LIC were unable to determine her destination — not long afterwards, it would become apparent that her target was the Republic of the Sphere, and Terra.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 90: "The Falcons Gather"</ref>

===ilClan Era===
The Commonwealth would continue to suffer internal issues through the start of the ilClan Era. As 3150 dragged on, the Timbuktu Collective and its recent ally the [[Rim Territories]] began a campaign of raiding into the Florida and Bucklands Theaters. Archon Trillian again attempted to contact Vedet Brewer for aid, although he had disappeared into the Melissia Theater not long before. On the 29th of December he reappeared on [[Adelaide]] and made his own attack into the Jade Falcon Occupation Zone. A month later his forces attacked Jade Falcon-occupied Melissia, expecting to fight the Jade Falcons there — instead he found that the civilians of the planet had overthrown their Clan oppressors and declared their own independence after the majority of the Jade Falcon ''touman'' had departed for Terra. However, a coalition of pro-Lyran nobles had executed a counterrevolution not long afterwards, seeking a return to the Commonwealth fold. Rather than commit his forces to one side or the other, Brewer waited until the strife on the planet reached a fever pitch before offering himself to the people of Melissia as an alternative to the chaos. Given the presence of his elite First Hesperus Guards, the planet yielded to his authority. In March of 3151, Brewer gave a speech announcing the creation of his own independent nation, the [[Vesper Marches]], and invited all Lyrans who longed to escape Steiner incompetence to join his bold new project.<ref>''IlClan'', p. 112: "The Absent Duke"</ref>

Matters on the other side of the Commonwealth also deteriorated. [[Sapienza]], a Lyran system on the border with the fledgling Timbuktu Collective, came under attack from a large and well-equipped pirate band on the 3rd of January 3151. Instead of simply looting the settlements and moving on, the pirates systematically moved across the planet, spreading shocking violence as they went. As before, no LCAF deployment to that region of space was immediately available, and relief for Sapienza only came when Timbuktu Collective military jumped in on the 28th of January. The commander of the Collective Armed Guards forces offered support to Sapienza, if they would consent to join the Collective — the planet's rulers quickly agreed, and the CAG deployed in force and routed the pirates. Word of this momentous event reached nearby planets, two of them petitioning to join the Collective not long afterwards.<ref>''IlClan'', p. 111: "Further Assimilation"</ref>

[[File:Vedet Brewer TamarRising.png|thumb|Duke Vedet Brewer]]

With the Jade Falcon threat neutralized after their attempt at the ilClanship took them away from Lyran space (indeed, no sign of the Jade Falcon ''touman'' had been seen since November 3150)<ref>''IlClan'', p. 112: "Lights On, No One Home"</ref>, Archon Trillian Steiner appointed Kommandant [[Ludwig Steiner]] as Margrave of the Florida Theater on 27 March, 3151. The former post of Diego Widmer had been left intentionally vacant since 3148, with Trillian moving the province seat from Buena to York.<ref name=EA23>''Empire Alone'', p. 23</ref> Ludwig set about consolidating his new jurisdiction, redefining Florida Theater's boundaries to include several new planets, including Buena. Ludwig then relocated his theater headquarters to Buena. Notably, Ludwig placed more emphasis on protecting Buena Theater from aggression by the Free Worlds League than on returning the Timbuktu Collective to Lyran control.<ref>''IlClan'', p. 112: "Prize or Punishment?"</ref>

The Archon then turned her attention towards the former Jade Falcon Occupation Zone. After Vedet Brewer's exodus towards Melissia in late 3150, a relative calm had materialized on the Commonwealth's spinward border. With still no sign of Malvina Hazen, Trillian began to suspect that the Mad Falcon was preparing for a major push at either Tharkad or Terra. In response, the Archon directed the LIC to increase its reconnaissance in the JFOZ, and prepared the LCAF to strike in that direction. The LIC, and particularly [[Loki (Intelligence agency)|Loki]], launched [[Operation BLACK ICE]] a wave of guerrilla campaigns across former Jade Falcon worlds which armed and incorporated local anti-Clan resistance organizations to destabilize the provisional Jade Falcon administrations with frightening efficacy.<ref>''Tamar Rising'', pp. 19–20: "For the Children"</ref>  By February of 3151, reports had begun to trickle back to Tharkad that many Jade Falcon worlds, notably including Arcturus, lay practically undefended.<ref>''Tamar Rising'', pp. 20–21: "Held Breath"</ref> Roderick Steiner ordered several probing attacks into the JFOZ, appointing Leutnant-General [[Francine Ross]] as overall field commander. Ross led her personal unit, [[Seventeenth Arcturan Guards]], to [[Guatavita]] in May, where they made a disturbing discovery - that world, and several of its neighbors, had been captured by the [[Malthus Confederation]]. Determined not to leave Lyran worlds in the hands of gangsters, Ross demanded the Confederation's surrender of Guatavita - although the Confederation's enforcers attempted resistance, they were no match for the Seventeenth Arcturus Guards, and Ross liberated the planet in short order.<ref>''Tamar Rising'', p. 22: "Nice Planet You've Got Here"</ref>

[[File:Sarah Regis TamarRising.png|thumb|Sarah Regis, Governor-General of the Tamar Pact]]
Ludwig Steiner made his move on the League in May of 3151, dispatching the [[Eighth Lyran Regulars]] to retake [[Bolan]]. The Regulars, who had spent many years as Bolan's garrison, forced out the [[Eighth Free Worlds Guards]] with help from a pro-Lyran populace who were eager to return to Commonwealth rule.<ref name=EA33>''Empire Alone'', pp. 33–34: "A Goodwill Gesture"</ref> The Commonwealth then named Bolan capital of a new Bolan province, moving the seat from York.<ref>''Empire Alone'', p. 78: Map of the Free Worlds League and surrounding systems</ref>

At the same time, Vedet Brewer's speech announcing the creation of the Vesper Marches reached Tharkad. Although enraged at Brewer, Trillian had yet again to contend with the fact that the LCAF was simply too depleted and spread too thin to effectively respond. Once more, the Commonwealth was unable to respond to the formation of a hostile power on its own borders.<ref>''Tamar Rising'', p. 22: "Ghost from the Past"</ref>
[[File:Callandre Kell TamarRising.png|thumb|Callandre Kell, Grand Duchess of Arc-Royal]]
Nor would Vedet Brewer's machinations be the only such threat that would emerge near the Commonwealth's spinward border in 3151. After word that Arcturus was undefended had reached Tharkad, the [[Twenty-Sixth Arcturan Guards]] under the command of Hauptmann-General [[Sarah Regis]] were authorized to investigate the planet firsthand, and the Twenty-Sixth quickly discovered that the Jade Falcon warrior caste had been absent for months, and the Arcturan citizens had overthrown the Clan administration themselves. Regis, having by now learned of the formation of the Vesper Marches, mobilized the Twenty-Sixth in force and landed in triumph on Arcturus, being welcomed by the populace after assuring the new planetary government that her and her soldiers simply wished to visit family. Regis also learned that a famine had gripped the planet since the disintegration of the Jade Falcon supply lines, and promptly invited the Arcturans to share of the Twenty-Sixth's food stores.<ref>''Tamar Rising'', pp. 24–25: "Tamar Rising"</ref>

Regis dispatched elements of her troops to reconnoiter the surrounding worlds, learning that their situations mirrored that of Arcturus. Herself a staunch Arcturan patriot, Regis decided that she could not conscience returning her homeworld and other worlds like it to the Commonwealth which had abandoned it to the Clans. In August of 3151, she announced the resurrection of the [[Tamar Pact]]. The Twenty-Sixth Arcturan Guards (soon to become known as the [[First Tamar Jagers]]) quickly annexed [[Blue Diamond]], [[Kelenfold]] and [[Borghese]].<ref>''Tamar Rising'', pp. 25–27: "Tamar Rising"</ref> Again, Trillian Steiner could do little more than fume at the defection of her troops and the formation of another breakaway state in what had once been Lyran territory.<ref>''Tamar Rising'', p. 26: "Rediscovering Pride"</ref>

Furthermore, an attempt was made to contact the Kell Hounds during their adventures in the JFOZ, but it did not go the way that Archon Trillian must have hoped. Callandre Kell had begun to reunite the Kell Hounds after their calamitous defeat on Timkovichi in [[3142]] that had almost meant the total destruction of the unit.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 22: "Timeline of Events: 3142"</ref> Since that time, Kell had been working to rebuild the Kell Hounds and shape them into a punitive instrument against the Jade Falcons, and by 3151 the Hounds were in fighting shape and ready to take on the Falcon defenders of Arc-Royal.<ref>''Tamar Rising'', p. 33: "New Life Around a Dead World"</ref> The Hounds secured the [[Santana]] system after learning that it had been abandoned to its fate by the departure of Malvina's horde - after ensuring that the planetary situation was stable, Callandre Kell swiftly moved on to Arc-Royal, wresting it from its fanatical Jade Falcon defenders after a long and bitter campaign.<ref>''Tamar Rising'', pp. 35–37</ref>

Having seen firsthand the devastation that Arc-Royal had suffered and the indifference from Tharkad that it had endured, Kell resolved not to simply return it to the Lyran state which had neglected it for so long - instead, she and her command staff decided to launch a bold new project to liberate formerly Lyran worlds that had been taken by the Jade Falcons and were beyond the aid of the Commonwealth. By October 3151, this project would become known as the [[Arc-Royal Liberty Coalition]], with Callandre Kell serving as its Grand Duchess.<ref>''Tamar Rising'', p. 38: "The Brotherhood of Arc-Royal Kells?"</ref> The ARLC attracted support from beleaguered anti-Clan resistance movements and mercenary units eager for action, and by May 3152 had grown to include the worlds of [[Sargasso]], [[Zanderij]] and [[Great X]].<ref>''Tamar Rising'', pp. 70–71: "Lighting the Spark of Freedom"</ref>

By June of [[3152]], Archon Steiner had finally managed to respond to the formation of the ARLC, sending Grafina [[Anje Kelswa]] to negotiate with Grand Duchess Kell for the repatriation of the ARLC into the Lyran Commonwealth. Following a pattern that the Archon must, by this point, have been growing accustomed to, Kell flatly refused to subordinate her independent territory to the Commonwealth which had left the ARLC's worlds to the tender mercies of the Jade Falcons.<ref>''Tamar Rising'', p. 74: "Lessons of History"</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
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* ''[[The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)|The Battle of Coventry]]''
* ''[[Blake Ascending]]''
* ''[[A Bonfire of Worlds]]''
* ''[[The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky]]''
* ''[[Dawn of the Jihad]]''
* ''[[Empire Alone]]''
* ''[[Era Digest: Dark Age]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3052]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3062]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3145]]''
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)|FedCom Civil War]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Lyran Alliance]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Fire at Will]]''
* ''[[Ghost War]]''
* ''[[Grave Covenant]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Steiner]]''
* ''[[Historical: Reunification War]]''
* ''[[House Marik (The Free Worlds League)]]''
* ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]''
* ''[[IlClan (sourcebook)|IlClan]]''
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3070]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3072]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3076]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
* ''[[Malicious Intent]]''
* ''[[Masters of War]]''
* ''[[MechWarrior: Technology of Destruction]]''
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* ''[[Touring the Stars]]''
* ''[[Warrior: Riposte]]''
{{div col end}}

[[Category:History|Lyran Commonwealth, History of]]