“Steel Lilies” (Gallic: “Lys en Acier”) is a separatist pro-royalist movement comprised predominantly of miners, ex-military, and other civilians of Languedoc who grew to become discontent with the rule of the Minarchy in the system, and with the Confederacy regime overall.
Following the collapse of the Kingdom of Gallia, the border system of Languedoc was abandoned and forgotten by New Paris. Provisional times saw a tremendous decrease in business activity in the region, major businesses retreating to more stable New Paris and taking their assets with them. Underfinanced gendarmerie became even more corrupt and less willing to counter the criminal activity in the region that was growing day by day. Yet the local populace still looked with slim hopes in the future, expecting changes with the end of interregnum.
However, their hopes were met with silence: no relief package or other forms of help arrived from the central government. The distrust and dissatisfaction prompted Quillan to join the Minarchy of Provence as a protest against both the Republic and the Duchy. The Minarchy, nevertheless, did not aid the dire situation. The result of lack of political insight of Languedocans was de facto falling under the rule of Unione Course clans whose interest was not reviving the crucial to Quillan mining industry but expanding Nox trade. New jobs were not created, the cultural and social life was in disarray, and hopes were gradually fading.
Things briefly changed with the emergence of the local employer, Montluc Advanced Engineering, that started during the provisional times and managed to expand over time. Focused on Languedoc, MAE created badly needed jobs and invested money in local infrastructure. Corporation’s head, Baron Fabian Montluc was also discontent with the local state of affairs and before long mobilised own corporate resources and local sympathisers into a political force “the Progress League of Quillan” that saw secession from the Minarchy and entering the Confederation as a sovereign entity. The increasing prosperity of Languedoc, promises for the better future, and political activity of the nobility of old mixed with baron’s propaganda evoked the nostalgia for prosperity and stability of Kingdom’s times and shifted a significant share of the local populace to pro-royalist stance.
The Parisian Assembly was not content with such developments. Marine Nationale cracked hard on the upstart corporation, forcing the latter to exile from Languedoc and taking most of its assets away from Languedoc. This move, alongside with the brutality shown by the gendarmerie and the army during subduing the protests against the exile of MAE gathered even more people under the anti-Confederacy banner. Left again with no jobs or prospects for the future, many miners, teachers, engineers, and others now filled with radical anti-government sentiments joined up with the retired or decommissioned royal soldiers to finally show their teeth to the Minarchy and the Confederacy and openly revolt against the illegitimate in their view regime. Thus “Steel Lilies” were born.
Whether feeling nostalgic about the days of the Kingdom or simply resenting the rule of the Confederation, “Steel Lilies” grew closer to pro-royalist stance, favouring either the return of King or re-organisation of Languedoc into a sovereign entity with its own monarch akin to the idea of a Barony suggested by Fabian Montluc. “Lilies” as the symbol of Gallic centuries-old monarchy, and “steel” as the manifestation of the hard labour of the miners and industrial workers of Quillan and their determination to bear arms for the future, “Steel Lilies” are seen by some as the antipode of the Maquis.
The movement managed to obtain a range of miner ships and with the help of ex-military tailor them to combat objectives, as well as personal arms for fighting planetside. Conveniently, a few ex-employees of MAE with radical were left the access to Kerguelen Fabrication Facility that now serves as a fortified base of operations for the “Steel Lilies” where most of the stolen spacecraft and arms are kept.
Now, the "Steel Lilies" will stop at nothing to bring about their version of reality that Languedoc deserves, and eliminate those who stand in their way.
Objectives:
Secession of Languedoc from the Confederacy of Gallia;
Establishment of an independent entity in Languedoc with a monarch at the head (return of Baron Montluc or other noble).
Operational objectives:
Secure the means of existence;
Establish Molybdenum mining operations and find the buyer;
Find diplomatic and financial support;
Crippling the Confederacy presence within the system.
Area of Interests:
Languedoc (Home system) - High interest
Dauphine and Provence (Directly connected and within Gallic cluster) - Medium interest
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