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[Prepared by Gardner Riis, Precentor of Rasalhague, 3050.]
In the late 23rd century, the people of the region created the Rasalhague Consortium, a joint government to oversee the further development of their worlds. The Consortium included all the varldherren or world lords, and members of powerful families. The highest government official was an elected Prime Minister. As the Consortium came into contact with neighboring states and associations, it evolved into the Principality of Rasalhague, headed by the Elected Prince.
The people of Rasalhague became known for their isolationism, being more concerned with expanding and developing their own worlds in a way least damaging to the environment. Despite Rasalhague's political neutrality, the Draconis Combine harassed it, attacked it, and eventually conquered the Principality in 2330.
After being incorporated into the Combine as the Rasalhague Military District, the region changed little. Though Combine leaders encouraged Asians to emigrate to the newly created district, these colonists never outnumbered the Scandinavian majority, nor were they able to dilute the native customs. Before the Fourth Succession War, the official language of the region was Kuritan Japanese, but the vast majority continued to speak Swedish. Even from the earliest days of Kurita rule, secret societies attempted to foment rebellions, but all failed because of the lack of coordination among rebel groups.
In 3029, the Lyran Commonwealth invited Rasalhague resistance leaders to a meeting on Tamar. The Tamar talks lasted for three weeks, during which time the rebels learned of the existence of the Tyr Regiment, a unit of assault 'Mechs sponsored and trained by the LCAF but manned by Rasalhagian exiles. The unit shared the name of the underground movement in the Rasalhague Military District. The secret regiment had made a stunning appearance on Kirchbach, prompting a revolt among the people. At the Tamar meeting, the Rasalhague resistance leaders coordinated plans for uprisings with projected LCAF invasions. Archon Katrina Steiner also signed the Intention of the Free Rasalhague Peoples, a document that recognized the Tyr as the official Rasalhague government-in-exile.
During the Fourth War, Tyr members provided the Lyran military with details on terrain, targets, and enemy location. Its members also undertook hundreds of commando missions deep behind enemy lines to disrupt DCMS communication and logistics. The Tyr BattleMech regiment played an equally important role in the Commonwealth's war effort.
The disgruntled Tyr members became even angrier when Lyran planetary administrators arrived on the conquered worlds. Under orders from Duke Selvin Kelswa of the Tamar Pact, they took over from the military administrators without acknowledging the Tyr or its claim to rule. In their frustration and anger, several extremist Tyr groups bombed government buildings on seven worlds in February 3031, injuring one planetary administrator. Despite objections by Commonwealth officials, Duke Kelswa reacted by ordering the arrest of the Tyr leaders, most of whom were on Tamar at the time. He then ordered mass trials, in which the Tyr leaders were convicted in a mockery of the Lyran judicial process.
By the time Archon Steiner learned of the situation, the trials were over. The Tyr leaders had been languishing in Tamar jails for a week while the aggressive Tamar Pact police forces brutally mishandled demonstrations and riots on the conquered worlds. Infuriated, the Archon freed the Tyr leadership, publicly berated the Duke of Tamar for overstepping his authority, and apologized to the Tyr in hopes of salvaging some good will.
The damage caused by Duke Kelswa could not be undone, however, and the Archon saw that the newly conquered Rasalhague worlds would never consent to join the Commonwealth. The best she could hope for was to continue negotiations with the Tyr so that the leaders of a new Rasalhague state would lean more toward the Commonwealth than toward the Draconis Combine.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Though the report by Precentor Riis does not acknowledge ComStar's role in bringing about an independent Rasalhague, he surely must know about it. As a close ally of Primus Waterly and the most powerful ComStar official in the area, Precentor Riis almost certainly played a key role in the arrangements, if not the actual negotiations, that gave birth to the Principality.]
When the Draconis Combine found itself fighting against its own people as well as the Lyran Commonwealth during the Fourth War, Kurita leaders began to look for a solution to the problem of Rasalhague resistance. They found one and it was ingenious. By supporting Rasalhague independence, the Draconis Combine simultaneously removed a thorn from its side, embarrassed the Lyran Commonwealth into giving up most of its captured worlds, and created a buffer state between the Combine and the newly formidable Lyrans.
That House Kurita would willingly give up so many of its star systems was a shock to the whole Inner Sphere, and it also left the Steiner government in a poor bargaining position with the Tyr. Archon Steiner felt obliged to turn over to the Free Rasalhague Republic most of the Rasalhague worlds the LCAF had captured during the Fourth War, though it infuriated the already-angry Duke of Tamar.
The withdrawal of Combine troops from its former Rasalhague Military District did not go smoothly. Many Combine soldiers refused to leave because of their violent disagreement with the decision to cede worlds to the FRR. Others refused to abandon citizens of Oriental heritage to the danger of backlash from the Scandinavians, a threat that became a reality. Other unit commanders felt that too many Kurita troops had died defending these worlds to now just give them up without a struggle.
Seeing this military insurrection as a direct challenge to his future rule of the Draconis Combine, Kanrei Theodore Kurita declared all disobedient units ronin, Japanese for "masterless." With Prince Magnussen's permission, he led a force of loyal regiments back into the Republic to battle the ronin units.
The Ronin Wars, as they became known, were a series of short, violent clashes between the ronin, which added up to about eight regiments, and the allied forces of the Rasalhague KungsArme (The Royal Rasalhague Army) and DCMS units led by Warlord Theodore Kurita. The KungsArme, just weeks old, received its baptism by fire defending its homeworlds and cities from ronin units, many of which were skilled and experienced. The KungsArme fought better than expected, due in part to assistance from Combine and Lyran officers present in the Republic to help build the military. On many occasions, these visiting officers stepped in to assume command of Rasalhague units against the ronin at a crucial moment.
Even more violent were the clashes between troops loyal to Warlord Theodore and the ronin, most of whom were led by officers loyal to General Marcus Kurita (banished from Luthien for a failed coup attempt) and Warlord Ivan Sorenson of the Rasalhague Military District, who was assassinated at the beginning of the ronin rebellion.
The Ronin Wars created a deep hatred for mercenaries among the FRR's citizens. Because of poorly negotiated contracts, some mercenaries refused to enter battle because they claimed the requirements of their contracts had already been fulfilled. Though the mercenaries were usually within their rights, the people did not see it that way. Ironically, the FRR later had to hire more mercenaries, some of whom made huge demands on the government, to combat growing pirate activity on the Republic's border with the Periphery.
The Ronin Wars ended with the withdrawal of the last DCMS regiment across the border into the Combine's new Alshain Military District in December 3035. For the first time in its short life the Free Rasalhague Republic was peaceful. Prince Magnusson turned from military to political concerns. Based largely upon the the former Principality of Rasalhague, the FRR government had a strong democratic element, which the Scandinavian majority deeply appreciated after the centuries of having their fate decided for them.
Still, many people took out their long resentment against everything and everyone Oriental in a burst of riots and lynchings. The government finally calmed the situation, and the whole matter is rarely mentioned today.
In 3044, Prince Magnusson requested and was granted another term in office. He has maintained a middle course between House Steiner and House Kurita, a policy that has allowed the KungsArme to grow stronger.
The KungsArme has recently been more active. Pirate activity along the Republic's Periphery border, always an annoyance, has increased so dramatically in the past five years that the government has had to resort to hiring even more mercenaries to protect part of its border.
The Elected Prince serves a ten-year term and is limited to two terms. The Riksforestandare is the political head of the Free Rasalhague Republic, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Rasalhague KungsArme and Chancellor of the Riksbank, the government's financial institution. The KungsPalace is home for the Elected Prince when he is in the capital city of Reykjavik on Rasalhague. The Elected Prince also has the use of several other homes, the most beautiful being the manor at Molnlycke.
The Elected Prince has a circle of advisors to assist him. The members of this Royal Cabinet are the leaders of major governmental departments, though the current Prince is fond of allowing close friends to participate in Cabinet meetings. Prince Magnusson claims to be directly descended from Norse kings of ancient well as the rulers of the old Principality. He alludes to it frequently, especially when hard-pressed to get a favorite piece of legislation through the Riksdag. This has led some to fear that he may attempt to overturn the limitation of two terms as Prince and make his title hereditary.
Varldherren are appointed world leaders. Each Varldherre has a different term of office, decided by the planetary government. Hertigs are men and women who have earned the trust and respect of the people. Most Hertigs do not have specific duties to perform, though they are expected to counsel the Varlherre on political matters and to attend sessions of the Riksdag.
The First Estate is composed of the realm's Varldherren and Hertigs. The director of the First Estate is the Landtmarskalk, or Marshal of the Lands. The Landtmarskalk also sets the Riksdag agenda, a potent responsibility. The post is considered second in importance only to the princeship in the Republic.
The Second Estate is composed of the FRR's planetary representatives. Each world elects five representatives to the Second Estate, giving rise to its popular name of the People's Parliament.
The Third Estate is composed of the head clergymen of the major religions in the FRR. When it comes to a vote on the important political or monetary bills, the Third Estate tends to follow the lead of the People's Parliament. On the other hand, the members of the Third Estate believe that moral, spiritual, and social questions are their domain, and often its rulings inspire legislation in the First or Second Estate.
The Fourth Estate is composed of the realm's most important business leaders. Those who control a company with a net worth over 100 million R-bills, or who own more than 10,000 hectares of land are invited to become members of the Fourth Estate.
The four Estates of the Riksdag meet in the immense and solemn Palace Hall. Sessions of the Riksdag normally begin on January 1 and continue until July 1, though crises have forced several emergency sessions.
In addition to the Riksdag. there are Provincial Riksdags on Skandia, Radstadt. and Rasalhague.
Despite his attempts to maintain support from all sides, Prince Magnusson's government is notable for the lack of Tyr members from the "Lyran Half," worlds conquered by the Lyran Commonwealth during the Fourth Succession War. Whether this is a coincidence or a deliberate snub is not known.
Those who oppose Prince Magnusson have formed the small Motsatt Stalining Parti, or Motpart for short. This party consists of members of the Riksdag who oppose the Prince on principle or who were once Tyr members from the Lyran Half.
The leader of the Motpart is General Christian Mansdotter, the ranking officer of the KungsArme and the Landtmarskalk of the Riksdag. Born and raised in the Lyran Commonwealth, Christian Mansdotter was an LCAF officer who requested and won the right to command the newly formed Tyr BattleMech regiment. The fame he won as regimental commander and his leadership skills should have made him the obvious choice for head of the new Rasalhague state, but then came Haakon Magnusson's bombshell treaty with the Draconis Combine.
Prince Magnusson could not simply ignore Christian Mansdotter's skills or his popularity, and so he appointed the general to command the KungsArme. The Riksdag appointed him Landtmarskalk in 3042, a post he still holds.
Mansdotter and the Motpart are suspicious of the Draconis Combine's motives for helping Rasalhague achieve independence. Fearing that the Kuritans will return one day to claim their lost worlds, the Motpart seeks closer relations with the Federated Commonwealth, even at the risk of provoking the Combine. For General Mansdotter and his followers, the Federated Commonwealth is the only guarantor of Rasalhague's independence.
Motpart members advocate a stronger military to defend against the Draconis Combine, while the Elected Prince is wary of expanding the KungsArme for fear of offending House Kurita.
Members of Motpart are vehemently opposed to this policy. They believe that trrying to appease powerful neighbors interferes with the only way of guaranteeing the continued existence of the Free Rasalhague Republic: strengthening the military and seeking out an alliance with the Federated Commonwealth, the state whose society and government is most like their own.
The Headquarters of the Rasalhague KungsArme is in the Citadel, the large military complex built by the old Principality and then expanded when the Draconis Combine took over. Regional headquarters are on Skandia and Radstadt.
General Christian Mansdotter is the Chief-of-Staff of the Command Council. The General is technically the aide to the Prince, who is Overbefalhavare, or Commander-in-Chief, of the KungsArme, but the Prince does not take an active interest in the military.
The General's immediate seconds are Generalmajor Margrethe Minuit, commander of RRA forces in Skandia Province, and General Gustaf Mannerheim, commander of RRA forces in Radstadt Province.
Pilots of 'Mechs are called Kavellrists, ancient Swedish for cavalry soldier. The Swedish word for Regiment is Regimente, Battalion is Bataljon, and Company is Besattning.
The KungsArme has trade agreements with the 'Mech manufacturers in the Draconis Combine and the Lyran Commonwealth. As a result, Rasalhague BattleMech regiments include machines common to both states, with a few BattleMechs on loan from ComStar. The sight of a Kurita Dragon fighting alongside a Lyran Zeus or a Kurita Panther to cover the advance of a Lyran Commando might be startling to outsiders, but it is a common one in the KungsArme.
There are 32 tank regiments, composed mostly of Hunters and Manticores, but also many Demolishers, Schrek PPC Carriers and Behemoths from Aldis Industries on Terra, During the Republic's first year, General Mansdotter contacted representatives of Aldis about buying a modest number of tanks. In response, Aldis offered to sell the FRR many of its best tanks at bargain prices and to send engineers to service them. The deal gave the KungsArme some of the best equipment in the Inner Sphere, while Aldis got the chance to analyze the performance of the latest tanks as they got their baptism by fire in the Ronin Wars.
The KungsArme has 97 infantry regiments, more than half of them mechanized, with hovercraft as the most common troop carrier. The training of infantry regiments is both heightened and hampered by the Republic's dee nationalism. While it instills pride in the Nordic majority, the resulting prejudice keeps many skilled soldiers buried in the rank and file because they happen to be of Oriental heritage.
There are 62 militia regiments in the KungsArme. The training of the militia regiments is apparently rather poor, probably because the KungsArme is young and concentrating on its frontline units.
Being barely a week old and only a few regiments strong, the KungsArme was obviously at a severe disadvantage against the ronin forces of the DCMS. Yet, the Rasalhague units showed themselves proud in instances such as the Battle for Predlitz, where Bravo Company, Second Battalion of the Tyr 'Mech regiment, defeated two ronin companies from the Eighth Rasalhague Regulars. In another incident, Charlie Company, Third Battalion of the First Kavalleri, stood up to a combined battalion of ronin armour and infantry outside the city of Thessal on Goito. The KungsArme also had help from military advisors from the Combine, many of whom stepped in and commanded Rasalhague units during the height of battle.
During the withdrawal of Lyran troops from captured Rasalhague worlds, several incidents occured between the more emotional members of both militaries. The most serious was the confrontation between Captain Schmelling's Company of the Eighth Donegal Guards and Bravo Company, Second Battalion, of the First Drakon 'Mech regiment.
It is the struggle against the Periphery pirates that has given the KungsArme most of its experience. Right from the start, pirates targeted Rasalhague worlds as easy targets. At first, the KungsArme could only protect vital cities and industries, depending on mercenaries to hunt down and punish the pirates. As the Arme has grown, so too has its ability to defend against pirate raids. The 'Mech regiments, in particular, have become adept at countering the tactics favored by Periphery scum. In small-unit actions of companies and smaller, the KungsArme is the equal of any Inner Sphere military.
Where the RAA's ability falls short is in larger, multi-regiment actions. With the exception of those who served in the Tyr regiment during the Fourth War, few in the Rasalhague military have experience with large-scale combat. General Mansdotter has attempted to remedy the situation by holding numerous military exercises, the latest against the Precentor Martial and the Com Guards.
The KungsArme's biggest problem is its negative attitude toward and poor treatment of mercenaries in its employ. To meet the threat of ronin units just after the creation of the FRR, Prince Magnusson knew he had to hire mercenaries to supplement his military capability. Ignoring General Mansdotter's experience with mercenaries, the Prince negotiated the contracts himself. Pressured by the worsening military situation and his need to conserve the new realm's monetary resources, he hired as many mercenary units as possible for the shortest possible contract periods.
The result was contracts that did not contain such standard agreements as the Emergency Action Clause, which obligates mercenaries to assist their employers in times of emergency, even if other contract obligations have been fulfilled. Thus did the KungsArme find itself high and dry in several crucial battles, calling in vain for mercenary assistance from a unit that had just carried out its orders and refused those not mandated by its contract.
Vinson's Vigilantes, for example, refused to come to the aid of the First Kavalleri because their contract stipulated that they were under no obligation to fight once peace was declared on Radstadt, which had occurred just days before. The incident created a hatred of mercenaries among the Rasalhagians, even though the ComStar Review Board later cleared the Vigilantes of wrongdoing. Despite their distrust, the FRR was again forced to hire mercenaries to help combat pirate activity along the Periphery. Some of the more unscrupulous mercenaries demanded, and won, huge contracts from the desperate Republic government, which deepened the hatred against mercenaries.
Because of these and other incidents, the FRR has taken its bit of revenge by making the lives of mercenaries as difficult as pssible. All mercenaries are confined to small military areas called reservations, which they are not allowed to leave without a gaggle of passes and papers. Though this protects the mercenaries from an unsympathetic population, it allows the government to force the mercenaries to buy supplies at exorbitant prices.
Benson and Bjorn, the Republic's second largest weapons manufacturer, is located on Spittal. It has expanded its line of personal weapons and armored vehicles to include the Axel (Swedenese for ax) Marks I and II. These are internal-combustion-engine versions of the not-exactly-secret Rommel and Patton designs of the Lyran Commonwealth.
The attempt to transform Amau Electronics' major plant at Silvaton into a manufacturer of military electronics as well as a producer of its many low-budget consumer items has been less successful.
Under Combine control, Swedenborg Heavy Industries, manufacturer of large industrial robots, was forever in debt and faced with almost constant labor troubles. Under FRR control, its factories have almost tripled their output. Reports that the firm will enter the military industry by constructing a 'Mech or AeroSpace facility on Kirchbach remain unconfirmed.
This nigtmare of red tape is one reason the government has begun to trade with other states. Indeed, trade with the Free Worlds League and the Federated Suns has been brisk over the years. Trade with the Federated Suns may be complicated in the future, however, as that realm becomes more closely joined with the Lyran Commonwealth.
In the streets and shops of the FRR, Swedenese is the tongue most often heard. A mix of Swedish and Standard Kurita Japanese, Swedenese has been slowly evolving ever since House Kurita seized control of the old Principality. Though difficult to learn because it requires a good knowledge of the two parent languages, it is amazingly rich and has produced a respectable body of literature.
The Lutheran Church-Radstadt Synad is the state religion of the FRR, yet only one-third of the people are active members. Other Christian religions, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism all have substantial numbers of followers. The Republic is also host to minor sects, including the One Star Faith and a growing curiousity called Modern Norse, which attempts to update the beliefs and customs of Scandinavia's ancient polytheistic religion.
While blatant racism has disappeared, a subtle bias against people or things Oriental still exists. Prince Magnusson and General Mansdotter have strenuously opposed racism, but people of Oriental heritage rarely achieve positions of importance.
Some Motpart members would like to oust Magnusson before he is to step down in 3054, but their numbers are small. If this seed of discontent takes a strong enough hold, it could lead to a civil war thatthe FRR is not likely to survive.
Nearly obliterated by Clan Wolf, Rasalhague is fortunate to have retained their six remaining worlds. Were it not for the efforts of Phelan Ward and the timely arrival of our Com Guard forces, the Republic would no longer exist. The Com Guard retain a sizeable presence on Tukayyid and large garrisons on the other Rasalhague worlds, but the Rasalhague command structure has no control over thse units. Information about these forces is available on a need-to-know basis only.
Commander: Generalmajor Margrethe Minuit
Aide: Overste Carl Sleipness
Regular Mech Strength: 3 Regiments, 2 Battalions
Mercenary Mech Strength: 1 Battalion
Unit Name Experience Regiments Homeworld
3rd Drakons Veteran 0.33 Ueda
(CO: Overste Joan Dahlstrom)
4th Drakons Veteran 0.33 Ueda
(CO: Overste Carl Sleipness)
2nd Freeman Regular 0.66 Dehgolan
(CO: Overste Rhett Weaver)
3rd Hussars Regular 0.66 Grumium
(CO: Overste Hjalmer Olsen)
2nd Kavalleri Regular 1 Tukayyid
(CO: Overste Signa Pegrem)
4th Kavalleri, 1st Battalion Regular 0.33 Al Hillah
(CO: Overste Jeffery Cizek)
4th Kavalleri, 3rd Battalion Regular 0.33 Orestes
(CO: Overste Dolores Gunderson)
The Black Outlaws Regular 0.33 Karbala
(CO: Major Edwina Forrest)
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Will Day < wd