Starraze Rebellion

The Conflict

Prelude

Confederation Civil War

The seeds of the Starraze Rebellion were planted in 2002 EVT with the end of the Confederation Civil War, a three-way conflict which ripped apart the Sparnell Confederation based upon different interpretations of a Divination prophesy from the revered Valcore Oracle. Valcore Sil, leader of the winning faction, declared herself Fleet Admiral with support from Empress Rakethorne and promises her leadership would usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for the tattered remnants of the Confederation.   Initially, Valcore Sil appeared intent to keep her word. Time would prove otherwise.  

The Calm

Valcore Sil's initial actions included the creation of Sparnell Central Intelligence, an elite intelligence-gathering organization tasked with anticipating the moves of the Confederation's opponents, replacing the corrupt and disloyal Sparnell Intelligence Agency. She named her personal TAG leader of the new SCI, publicly declaring Selkirk Tallinah her most valuable asset and commending her unwavering support during the war.   The new Fleet Admiral also declared the long-held traditions of the Old Ways illegal, professing hope for a new Confederation, focused on supporting all of its members. This proclamation was met with much public rejoicing, although several of the older Sparnelli Families continued to practice the harsh traditions of the Old Ways behind closed doors, including the war-battered Selkirks.  

The Buildup

The softer Confederation was short lived. Struggling with retaining her power in the face of the domestic political maneuvering of her rivals, Valcore Sil made a series of decrees in the 2050s in an effort to redirect focus back to intergalactic strife and patriotic fervor. This began in 2052 EVT with a mundane announcement of major renovations to SAF Military Headquarters, but quickly escalated into an increased focus on the Sparnell Armed Forces in everyday life.   Sparnell Fleet Command was encouraged in 2053 EVT to set their sights once more on gaining personal and Family glory through the subjugation of neighboring Freehold planets, followed in 2054 EVT by changes to SAF Conscription, increasing enlistment to ten years while also lowering the age of conscription from eighteen to sixteen.   By 2058 EVT the formerly outlawed practice of Claiming was reinstated, encouraging conscripts to compete with each other for attention from the many Admirals and Vice Admirals of the SAF, seeking early removal from their training to join the active fleet directly.  

Family Politics

Valcore Sil's former allies protested these new developments, mostly in private. Many suspected Sparnell Central Intelligence of turning large portions of their resources toward rooting out dissent among Families, particularly given Vice Admiral Selkirk Tallinah's absolute loyalty to the Fleet Admiral, but this still did not stop the politics and grumbling behind closed doors.   The Valcore Oracle made a public proclamation against her daughter, reaffirming her own interpretations of her prophecies as requiring a kinder, more supportive Confederation. This only succeeded in straining relations between the Oracle and her daughter to the breaking point, with Valcore Sil making an uncharacteristic – and scathing – speech against her mother before cutting off contact entirely.  

Rebellion

The situation came to a head when in late 2090 EVT Chairman Starraze Louise, hero of the Confederation's Civil War and Valcore Sil's once-staunch ally, demanded an in-person audience with Empress Rakethorne to discuss the latest military developments. Valcore Sil refused, prompting Chairman Starraze to accuse the Fleet Admiral of foul play against the Empress, who had not been seen since her public support of Valcore Sil almost 90 years prior.   Starraze made one last appeal to the Families who had supported the Valcores in prior War, most notably the Selkirks and Margolds, before declaring his Family in open physical opposition to the Valcore Family.  

Open Rebellion

The Starraze Rebellion itself was fierce, lasting three days of intense fighting. The Chairman's experience from the Civil War granted him additional insight into Valcore's tactics, allowing him to hold her off and even thwart several of her TAG's attempts to infiltrate their position, sending Selkirk Tallinah back to the Selkirk reconstruction library on two separate occasions.   His luck ran out on 2090.01.13 EVT. Unable to convince the other Families to join them, the Starraze Family collapsed when the TAG successfully infiltrated Louise's position, Shattering him and leaving his forces in disarray.

Historical Significance