The Annamite Expanse

07/04/5016U

Here, at the Annamite Line, at the fringes of Union space, the true frontier tries in vain to hold back the tide of progress and the inevitability of the utopian pillars. The last bastions of scum, villainy, assassins, mercenaries, pirates, and other unsavory organizations call this place their home... and for good reason. There is wealth to be made here. Unimaginable power, ripe for the taking. Whoever holds the Annamite Expanse holds power over Union.   Although it has not wholly incorporated this region of space, Union is certainly present and invested in the ongoings of the Expanse. Even in this limited capacity, ThirdComm Navy and Auxiliaries, DoJ/HR, FFTs, USB, UAD, and (allegedly) UIB all maintain an active and growing presence in the region. The groups that oppose Union's presence, violently or not, are all essentially gambling that someone else will hold the Expanse before Union completely annexes the region. Who will actually end up controlling the Expanse seems to be a subject of much debate among the region's citizens. As far as anyone can tell, it's a dead heat race.   The organizations that oppose Union annexation are many, though not all are willing to adopt an official stance against them. There is nearly as much to gain by working with Union as working against them after all. "The Big Four" all have a considerable presence in the Expanse. SSC in particular has a very vested, well-guarded interest in several of the planets within the line. The Armory was once the dominant military force within Annamite space, but it has since relaxed its hold on the region for a twofold purpose: to better focus its attention and resources on the Dawnline Shore and to extend an olive branch to Union in an effort to foster relations. HORUS, as in all places, operates ubiquitously in seemingly all reaches of the Orion Arm. The "Dead Cut" cell seems to be the most active cell in the region, at least publicly. IPS-N and the Albatross have seamlessly adopted their typical functions in the Expanse, preferring to stay away from the territorial politics and go about their business as usual.   Despite all of the complexities and varied agendas that exist within the Expanse, there is one thing that everyone knows for certain: a conflict is brewing. A war between Union and its opponents is near the boiling point, and the scales could be tipped in either direction. The time for neutrality is nearly over as both sides prepare themselves for action.