Free Space Conflict

"We will not stand idly while Earth reaps the benefits of our work. We will not slave for the materials so she can continue to waste. We will stand against her gluttony, and we will win." -Emmanuel Dvash

Conflict Type

Battle

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Liberation

Before the 2260s, all systems were considered to be under the government of Earth. These colonies were managed by the Earth Space Forces (ESF) and operated under martial law. As the populations grew, it became increasingly apparent there was a need for some form of local government and so Earth authorized some level of autonomy; the ESF however remained as overseers. Tensions continued to escalate until the Colony Separatist Movement started on Nuebel and eventually forced Earth to accept their secession.

Desperation

After the first colonies seceded, Earth maintained a strong presence in the regions. At the time, their economies were reliant on Earth for trade who took advantage of the fledgling systems, imposing massive import tariffs. After some years, the tariffs proved more harmful than the trade with was worth and the systems stopped sending resources to Earth. The Sol system was depleting resources rapidly and couldn't afford the loss of extrasystem goods. They threatened to invade and began seizing ships travelling between the other systems.

Retaliation

Nuebel again spawned a new movement, this time under its own government, and created the Outer-System Alliance (OSA). Nuebel united three other systems under the common goal of defending their sovereignty. Their military force however was less than half of what was present from Earth. The OSA mostly harassed the ESF, performing extremely close flybys or passing through no-fly-zones. They also escorted trade vessels around ESF "checkpoints". No actual casualties would occur until they Battle of the Line.

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Was the Mona Lisa present at the Free Space Conflict?!?!

"The Free Space Conflict was the result of zealos politicians thinking they could use their militaries to get their way. The Free Space Pact is proof otherwise." -the Rogue

The Battle and Aftermath

The Battle of the Line began in the space between Nuebel and Valei. The battle started after a warning shot that was fired by the ESF accidentally struck a cargo vessel as it exited its warp. OSA returned fire and the battle ignited. Within 15 minutes over twenty thousand rounds of various sizes of ballistic ammunition were expended with over 50 vessels destroyed or disabled and more than 400 killed and several hundred injured. While in terms of monetary and lives, the OSA suffered a loss, but the following political backlash of the incident forced Earth to bend to the outer-systems terms, leading to the signing of the Free Space Pact.