The Lafeyate Legions

Political Composition- Fascist Stratocratic Totalitarianism

Head of State – First Consul Lord Imperator

Capital – Legerlin Click Here!

Currency – Marq’

Soldiers per Capita – 8/100

Average Lifespan – 82

Noun- Legion

Adjective- Legion, Lafeyate, Laffy (informal)

War Cry- “For land, legion, long live Lord Lovat!”

Background

A collection of nations that once warred amongst themselves, the Lands of Lafeya were over time subject to the control of many foreign powers. Exploitation by the Federation was in particular brutal and fostered bitter resentment due to disparities of wealth distribution. Composed of many small nations of many racial and culture differences it was believed with these diverse divisions that unification was impossible. That was before Lord Salidarus Lovatva.

Rise, Fall, and Resurgence

Through power politics and a successive series of dramatic military victories Salidarus achieved unity and established for Lafeya a national identity. The establishment of a grand army culled and integrated from all territories of this new nation served to mitigate the minor sectarian divisions. As government control became increasingly centralized so did Salidarus Lovatva came to be called “Lord Lovat”. An ideology emphasizing the strength of will was soon propagated. Social programs were instated that helped billions. In the era’s enthusiasm great public works and infrastructure projects helped further this pride. However lain in the people’s hearts was a deep seated desire, that was vengeance for oppression by the Federation.

So did a third of the stars rise in rebellion. Lord Lovat aligned his Legions with the Sinturian Empire against the Federation. The war was met with great initial successes and the Federation seemed destined to fall. However with the death of the Sinturian Empire’s Emperor, civil war erupted and Sinturia withdrew from the war to settle their domestic disputes. The Legions left alone to fight against the Federation the outcome was no longer certain. Though the leaders of Lafeya were arguably more talented and skilled, the resources of the Federation ensured plentiful replacements and reinforcements against them. In desperate battles of attrition, the Federation eventually exhausted the war materials and leaders of the Legion. Defeated the Lafeya would be humiliated further as the Federation demanded exorbitant reparations for their costs in the war thereby stunting recovery. Federation policy then sought to penalize Lafeya for the war rather than address the root causes of the conflict. The Federation’s callousness would only turn to regret later. The question of what to be done with the land of Lafeya however fell again to the wayside. Domestic issues would soon absorb the Federation’s attention.

In light of previous war it seemed strange that the Federation would permit the reformation of a Lafeyate Legions. However tensions with its longer standing enemy the Sinturian Empire compelled the Federation to allow a severely limited Lafeyate state to be. Cumulating cost of occupation of the unruly lands Lafeya also influenced this fateful decision as did the economic depression that gripped both nations after the war. In the open the Lafeyate leadership pretended to acquiesce in becoming a mere satellite for the Federation. Lord Lovat’s overtures and speeches within the Federation seemed to reinforce this notion and played upon the Federation’s confidence. In secret and in violation of previous treaties Lord Lovat rebuilt his armies and formed a pact with the Sinturian Empire. Lord Lovat’s tours of the Federation also convinced many Federate border states to contemplate secession before the second war. The growing power of the Lafeya was seen instead as extension of Federation power rather than the threat it was becoming.

Technology

Once excellence and quality were the emphasis of Lafeyate technology however the Federation’s mass production capabilities by quantity proved overwhelming. The very same sophistication and intricacy that was strength became a liability as war materials became stretched thin. It is said that in the first war the Legions were defeated not on the field of battle but from the factories of the Federation.

With lessons learned from the previous war much of Legion weaponry is now designed with utility and ease of construction in mind. Following and improving upon factory models of the Federation, but with logistical limitations Lafeyate engineers reinterpreted such plans to their own needs and to overcome weakness by alternate strengths. Lafeyate arms manufacturers came to favor brute fire power and reliability over accuracy and refinement. Lafeyate tank technology outpaces and outclasses their Federate counterparts in size and power albeit at the cost of accuracy and mobility.

Aware of their technical shortcomings with their standard weapons, Lafeyate soldiers employ a great deal more electromagnetic and other countermeasures. Forcing their enemies to fight on an equalized technological level, the Legion focuses on overpowering their foes with natural ability, brawn, and larger caliber guns. Concurrent with Lafeyate ideology the attention of the Lafeyate military was the superior training of troops rather than reliance on technology. In its space fleet the Lafeyate Legions retains the largest number of “Anchor Head’ type jamming ships.

The mysterious defection of scientific genius Oseth Ishiji from the Federation proved to be a windfall for Legions. Free of ethical and moral restrictions their scientists diligently work towards building more and more inventive and destructive killing machines. It is believed behind the deceptively simple designs given to common Legionnaires are wonder weapons in wait, weapons that may yet revolutionize warfare.

Power Politics

Aside from external defense the military arm of the Legions contribute to the internal security of their regions. With a wide array of warlike principalities a continual military presence is needed to keep order until power may be centralized. The threat of force alone has cowed many territories into surrender.

More promises than threats, in a literal sense the Legions also enforce the Law of Lafeya by means of military action. If love for the Legion cannot be secured than fear is viewed as an equally valid means of control. Provinces resisting beyond reason are harshly punished in afterward when all open opposition has been stamped out. Lafeyate commanders are known to accept surrenders late citing delays in communications. The extra time is often used to enact retribution for previous costs in casualties. Depending on the severity whole cities have been leveled.

Newly conquered/liberated territories undergo period of military supervision until local leaders can be replaced. Under Lord Lovat’s policies replacement leaders are drawn from distant provinces as insurance against insurrection by destabilizing established local power bases. The removal of corrupt leaders and a merit based rewards has led droves citizens to join the Legions. Promotions coming swiftly in wars has perpetuated a sense of social mobility never before experienced.

Typical Planetary Development/Composition

For better or worse, the Lands of Lafeya are diverse. Industrial centers feature heavy urban planning owing to fascist philosophy. Existing at the same time as those models of efficiency are planets in utter chaos almost anarchic. Changing rapidly political power shifts have led some planets to languish while others flourish. With the rise of Lord Lovat, order and stability has begun to be established on the frontiers.