Outworld Coalition
Traditional name for the belligerent groups allied against the Imperium during the First and Second Frontier Wars. Commonly applied
to any alliance of powers threatening the Spinward Marches and
Imperial
territories spinward of the Great Rift.
The original Outworld Coalition was formed in the early 500s at the
instigation
of the Zhodani Consulate.
Vargr allegiances vacillated, but memories
of
the Imperial campaigns against certain Vargr states in the Corridor swayed some into
membership. Zhodane,
as the major partner, contributed
military aid and assistance (such as technicians and advisors).
While
some Vargr governments contributed personnel and naval units, other
Vargr
remained neutral or sided with the Imperium.
The initial history of the coalition was one of continuing struggle for
organization,
as the Zhodani were continually
occupied in
establishing Vargr governments, and then maintaining them in power.
The
intent was for the Vargr to raid the coreward edge of the Spinward
Marches, especially Regina and
Aramis subsectors, while the major thrust from
Zhodane
took Cronor and Jewell subsectors. The
Vargr portions
of the offensive failed dismally. Furthermore, the failure
resulted in a collapse of the coalition.
The internal Imperial upheavals (the Civil
War)
which followed the First Frontier War (it was just called the Frontier War then) exposed a continuing weakness in the
Imperium,
and the Outworld Coalition reformed after a hiatus of five years.
At
the appropriate moment, the reformed Coalition again attacked the
Marches,
this time taking portions of Jewell subsector. Although the Vargr
again
failed to take any territory permanently, their performance as a whole
was
considerably improved.
Traditionally, frontier wars in the Spinward Marches have involved
coalitions
of Zhodani and certain Vargr states. The Sword Worlds have also
joined
the coalition at times.
-IE ld