Tabloid New Galactic Order? The 'Northern Alliance' is changing the shape of galactic affairs.

Voren Dhur

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New Galactic Order? The 'Northern Alliance' is changing the shape of galactic affairs.

In the space of just a few months, the north-eastern region of the Free World's Alliance (FWA) has gone from being an unremarkable chain of isolated worlds to a defensive pact and military redoubt against the expanding Sith Empire. When Senator Clément of New Alderaan (FWA) headed to Lothal for the first time in years, the Lothalites pulled out all the stops, making their new ally welcome, and just a few months on, the two of them walked into a meeting room with representatives of the largest manufacturers of warships in the Galaxy. At the same time meetings took place with Secretary Carrick (ISC), and even an as of yet unnamed Jedi Knight. Lothal, New Alderaan, and even Mon Cala had gone from relative silence to forging a new alliance to check the Sith Empires power in the northernmost reaches of the Galaxy.

Lothal and New Alderaan are no longer trying to stay neutral in the competition between the Sith Empire and the so-called 'Free Galaxy'. They have firmly staked out their position. It looks as if the political roadmap of relations in the region, will now pit the 'Northern Alliance' firmly against the Empire.

The new alliance is all about mutual interest. Lothal wants lasting protection against the rising Sith Empire, something the ISC could not provide to those who would not join their movement as full members, so Lothal and Mon Cala appear to have stepped in - ready to share technology, strategic resources and more. Mon Cala and New Alderaan seem to be looking beyond the FWA itself, and certainly beyond the New Republic, to a new coalition of like-minded partners to police their shared regional space. Critics are left to wonder what possible strength the three worlds could bring to bear against an entire Empire, but the new coalition appears adamant that it shall be able to stand its ground, no matter the cost. From what we can see, the three worlds appear to be expanding their political support as well, beyond their region, amping up the rhetoric against the Empire, and effectively burning down the bridges between their alliance, and the Sith.

'The relationship has deep foundations, rooted in shared values and a long history of partnership, we are confident it can weather the storm,' says one Lothalite source. A vital revelation, this means that the relationship does not depend on those who forged it in its immediacy, it shows that defence and cooperation between these three planets extend beyond the lifespan of the people whose ink wetted the deals.

It's also true that the worlds have a degree of shared aspirations in the region, with New Alderaan and Lothal both having suffered immensely under the imperial yoke in the past, and Mon Cala having a streak of independence that never hides its face. This erstwhile alliance can only serve to stabilise those friendships, it will be a lasting feature of the galactic policy of each planet, the clearest example of a regional tilt in their approach to self-governance.

With the tabling of a resolution regarding sanctions against the Sith Empire also being debated in the Galactic Senate as well, this appears to have been a well-manufactured proposal, with neither New Alderaan, Lothal or Mon Cala boasting of significant imports to the Imperial space. Analysts argue that this move by Lothal is intended to signal to the Empire, and the wider galaxy, that the region no longer views deference to the Empire as a requirement to do business. It has been viewed as sabre-rattling, an attempt to make it clear that the region is not cowed by the Empires recent moves.

Despite this, the Empire remains a military juggernaut, with its hallmark attack being a standard bombardment, whilst its Empress and political functions protest that their 'New Empire' is one of peace and stability. It is easy to see why, in the face of such a baffling approach, the three worlds have huddled closer together. What started as a shared fear that their worlds could be next, morphed into a military alliance in everything but name.

The attraction to the deal is obvious. With an Empire that seems to take delight in firebombing worlds, at one's doorstep, the choices are clear, and were communicated publicly by the Sith themselves, submit, or die. Whilst this does fly in the face of their 'peaceful agenda', it makes their priorities easy to understand, and the alternatives plain to see; defend yourself.

All of this remains deeply controversial. 'With the Senator for New Alderaan basically telling the people of Felucia to join the FWA, or their army simply would not leave, we are left wondering what the real reason for the build-up is,' says one source. 'It is a political decision to build up a fleet and then to station troops on another planet - they are overstretching, they are shouting in the face of a dragon.' It is a common view outside of the alliance, many look at the group and asks if they could actually hold their own if it came down to it.

But this is the region of the galaxy where the future is being shaped.

The Sith Empire is on the march, both in the technological space and physically. Planets looking the other way will soon find themselves left behind as the Imperial war machine spurs technological and economic growth. Indeed, an important part of any alliance against the Sith in this region must surely enable them to compete in other ways - economic cooperation for sure. One consequence of this change in tempo is already being played out in the Galactic Senate, the sanctions being proposed by Lothal would serve to reduce the Empires growth.

We can expect, therefore, other groups such as this to form. Already the relationship between Senator Starros and Senator Kang has been broached in the press, with other Senators having supported the sanctions as well.

Perhaps of greater interest than those bonds, is the cooperation between the three planets, and the ISC and Jedi, who have been spotted in the region ever more of late. Whether this is an implicit encouragement from the ISC for the group of three, remains to be seen. However there is considerable overlap now between the various political and planetary movements emerging, and Lothal seems to be at the heart of them all - Senator Starros seems to be a busy man indeed, and the Sith are in his sights.

When the Senate vote comes to its end later, we shall see how far his reach extends, and how deeply seated the mood against the Sith Empire has become. Will the ISC extend their support to the measure, or will any of their members break ranks from their normally durasteel bound voting bloc? With Starros having met with the ISC Secretary of Defence, where he is rumoured to have broached a military alliance between his world and the ISC, will this translate into an agreement on sanctions, where an agreement on defence cooperation could not have been met?



But the Siths recent behaviour - in particular regarding Ferrerre and Denon - has seen the wider galaxy demanding more action, and a tougher line. Whilst this toughening has occurred, and continues to grow, in the north of the FWA, it has manifested itself in open war between the NR and Sith, the ISC appears to have kept silent.

The northern alliance has its advantages with this but carries also huge risks. With a small population and limited military potential, New Alderaan and Lothal lean heavily on the experience and skills of Mon Cala, potentially the lynchpin in the alliance. Politically, Lothal brings a lot to the table, whilst economic clout stems from New Alderaan entirely. All in all, the loose collection of planets is all too easy to shatter when the stresses of war are applied.

The influential Mon Cala strategist, Widase, has been spotted on Lothal in recent weeks, prompting rumours that he is attempted to spread the strategic skills of his people a little further, reducing the risk to the alliance should a member world fall. However, this takes time, making the next few months dangerous indeed.

'It's hard to imagine the group surviving a full invasion, without exceptionally high casualties,' one source remarked.

The Siths rate of expansion means that war could come to the planets sooner rather than later - just after the alliance's first ships roll off the production line. This leaves them with little time to prepare, to plan, and ultimately, makes the prospect of a battle harder, the outcome much harder to predict.

Spokespersons for the alliance have been very ambiguous as to how they see the future, bogging down questions posed to them in logistical answers; ignoring the direct answers to whether or not they think in the short term, that the alliance could hold its own. Despite this, it continues to develop, forming a redoubt in the northernmost reaches of the galaxy, a check against Sith expansion in the region, that could shape the future of the wider area, for decades to come.

~ Voren Dhur

Mentioned - @The Good Doctor @Nefieslab @Darasuum @Eccles @FineDiningSet
 
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