Gael's Grinders (merc)      Green               Reliable       Hsien               Cappellan Confederation
(1 company)
(CO Captain Louise Holley)

Dendeez Guards               Green               Fanatical      Hsien               Dendeez Province
(1 regiment conventional)
(CO Lieutenant Colonel Peter Angel)

When Hanse Davion struck at the Capellan Confederation in 3028 using the combined might and wealth of the newly announced Federated Commonwealth and began the conflict known as the Fourth Succession War, the planet hsien, along with several other worlds, was temporarily cut off from its parent realm, the Capellan Confederation. When Pavel Ridzik, a top commander in the military of the Confederation, turned traitor to his nation and convinced those separated worlds to join him in forming the Tikonov Free Republic, Davion spared the fledgling nation his bloody conflict. Shortly after the end of the Fourth Succession War, Tikonov voted to join its fortunes to the might of the Federated Commonwealth. Hsien remained peaceful after the war and eventually gained a limited prosperity as House Steiner encouraged its lumber and canning industries. The Marik-Liao invasion abruplty ended the planet's slow economic growth.

The unit stationed on Hsien at the onset of the invasion was the Second F-C RCT, a unit considered fanatically loyal to House Davion. Though determined to hold the world against the Liao assault, the Second RCT quickly fell to the First and Second Regiments of McCarron's Armored Cavalry. Marshel Irene Thome led the Second in a retreat offworld to Elgin, where she hoped to refit and resupply and return to Hsien. Unfortunately for the Second, the Free World's League mercenary unit Swann's Cavaliers, sent to aid the Capellan rebellion on Elgin, destroyed all of the Second but the command lance.

As soon as the units of McCarron's Armored Cavalry established the rule of Capellan governor Robert Thomay, they moved on to a new assignment. Their departure gave Baron Luis Montong V, the scion of the only family on Hsien of noble rank, the courage to reject Hsien's "upstart government" and declare his continuing loyalty to the Federated Commonwealth.

When Governor Thomay traveled to the island continent of Chone to meet with Baron Montong and enlist that powerful man's support for the new government, the baron treated the governor with great respect. He pledged to the governor the loyalty of his people and his personal cooperation, thereby guaranteeing Hsien's complete subjugation to House Liao. When the Capellan turned to leave, the baron drew his laser pistol and shot Governor Thomay in the back, then ordered his troops to throw the governor's entourage in prison. Baron Montong then proclaimed that, regardless of the decision the rest of the planet chose to make, his holdings still belonged to the Federated Commonwealth and that his loyalty remained with the Archon Prince.

The remaining populace of Hsien quickly severed all connection to Montong and most fully supported the new Capellan governor elected a short time later, though only one month after Baron Montong's declaration the province of Dendeez seceded from the Capellan government. All three realms continue to exist, though they plague each other with daily skirmishes. The time and energy the respective governments devote to devising outrageous and complex trade compacts have slowed the exchange of goods to a trickle, but the situation is not yet critical. Though Baron Montong sends repeated pleas to Archon Prince Steiner-Davion for assistance in his efforts to smash the two rival realms, Prince Victor has not answered those requests. The balance of power on Hsien seems likely to remain stable for the foreseeable future.

THE CAPELLAN VIEWPOINT

"Long before the Davion Fox crushed half the life from the glorious Capellan Confederation in the Fourth Succession War, the people of Hsien embraced the prosperity and peace provided by their Liao leaders. Years of rule by the Federated Commonwealth did little to diminish my people's love for the Confederation and never succeeded in dulling our desire to return to the Capellan fold. Though we once again bask in the illumination of the Chancellor's wisdom and might, the Dendeez government refuses to accept the return of that good life and persists in its poor efforts to mimic the workings of true government.

"Foremost in its failings is the Dendeez government's complete inability to uphold its agreements with other nations. One of the few issues which that inadequate body successfully addressed is its promise to desist broadcasting anti-Capellan sentiments into Capellan territory. Their pathetic appeals have no effect and serve only to prove the Dendeez government untrustworthy, which will damage the province's chances of successful reintegration with our benevolent government.

"Of course the radio broadcasts represent only a trivial annoyance, but it is the principle of the thing. They agreed to stop sending the signals and yet continue to do so. As loyal subjects of the Confederation that must inevitably erupt as a result of blatant disregard of legally binding agreements. We will not shrink from the opportunity to herd our wayward brethren back to the comfortable and caring arms of the Capellan Confederation."

THE DENDEEZ VIEWPOINT

"The Dendeez Province is only interested in stabilizing its own economy and reaching self-sufficiency. Clearly, as our realm remains the only part of Hsien with an active industrial base, our resources make an attractive target for our paranoid, ambitious neighbors. The Capellan governor forces us to waste human resources better devoted to rebuilding the homes and industries damaged in the Capellan attack than on defending against their misplaced aggression, which they justify with half-truths and deliberate misinterpretations. We need our realm's men and women in the factories, in the fields, and on the boats of our fishing fleets more than we need them patrolling our borders.

"We have no interest in or time for attempts to conquer other realms. Though Baron Montong regularly declares his intention to invade and squash both the Dendeez Province and the Capellan realm, Governor Venten seems content to ignore the Baron's more obvious military threat and instead to bully us. I sincerely hope that the governor's threat of starting a conflict is nothing more than a scare tactic. I dread the idea of our Guardsmen dying for no better reason than to topple the governor's palace."

BARON MONTONG'S VIEWPOINT

"You are both very stupid. Believe you me, the Federated Commonwealth will not just sit back and let every James, Roland, and Harry who wants a personal fiefdom to carve little pieces out of that great empire. Prince Victor will send someone to teach you all a lesson, and when he does, my BattleMech forces will lead the charge to end your petty kingdoms."

GAMEMASTER SECTION

Yuri and Nikoli Ridzik, twin sons of the famed Capellan general Pavel Ridzik, used their extensive network of contacts to raise a small army when the Sarna March began to collapse. The Ridzik brothers took their force to Hall, where they kept it hidden from the prying eyes of Emperor Baranov. By the end of 3058, the two brothers will have a force strong enough to challenge the self-styled emperor.

Led by Nikoli, the Ridzik army will conquer and overthrow Emperor Baranov and other rival factions on Hall and establish the world as the new capital of the reborn Tikonov Free Republic. With Hall firmly in their grasp, the Ridzik brothers plan to gather more troops so that they can invade the nearby worlds of Elgin, Hsien, and possibly Tall Trees. Both Yuri and Nikoli have their father's gift for military strategy and will put it to excellent use in the field. They are determined to make their new Republic permanent, and will not trade their independence for alliance with any Successor State.