Timbuktu Collective

The Timbuktu Collective formed after the merger of the Rim Collection with breakaway Lyran worlds from the Timbuktu Theater. Probably one of the youngest “new nation” of the Inner Sphere, the Collective believes they have a bright future ahead of them. The only real threat to their sovereignty would be the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces turning against them. Two former worlds of the Collection, Caldarium and Slewis, are pressured to rejoin them, while Ormstown is trying to join them directly. Minor conflicts with the Rim Territories pop up infrequently.

Timbuktu Collective Culture

The Timbuktu Collective’s culture is based on their opposition to the Lyran Commonwealth. The original Rim Collection saw themselves as a “reborn” Rim Worlds Republic, as a democratic nation. Political families run the Collection since the mid-3060s, but it is still more democratic than most Inner Sphere states. The few worlds pride themselves on this quite a bit.

The formation of the Timbuktu collective continues this tradition. The new worlds are happy to separate themselves from the monolithic Lyran bureaucracy. There are, however, some “teething problems” have come up as those new worlds have a much larger population than the Rim Collection had. The capital moving to Timbuktu, as the largest worlds in the Collective, is also a point of contention for a few.

Trade

The Collective has been trading mostly food (grains, luxury foodstuff and livestock) with the Free Worlds League and Magistracy of Canopus. This grew with the Sea Foxes making routine trips to the Collective, buying some rare minerals from them as well. Their main import is advanced farming equipment, IndustrialMechs and military equipment. The trade balance within the Collective exploded with the inclusion of the new Lyran worlds. This brings great wealth to Collective, but has attracted the attention of local pirates.

Timbuktu Collective Military Assets

The Collective’s military force is rather limited now, with investment being required to keep it growing. The arrival of Vedet Brewer and his First Hesperus Guards gave a big boost to the Collective Armed Guards, with a group of battle-hardened veterans capable of training their troops. The main military assets of the Collective are the First and Second Timbuktu Guards, formed from former militia regiments.

Timbuktu Guards

The First is decently armed and equipped, formed from the former Lyran Florida Timbuktu Theater Militia forces. Unfortunately, their capacity to mobilize is limited due to a lack of JumpShips in the area. The recent purchase of 2 Merchant-class “jolly rogers” by the Timbuktu government will help them in this endeavor in the future.

The Second Timbuktu Guards was formed after the First crushed pirates on Sapienza, recovering a massive amount of salvage, including a few functional DropShips. While they currently have more personnel than equipment, the Second is being armed rapidly by buying surplus equipment from Clan Sea Fox, Quikscell and StarCorps Lyran.

Able’s Aces

The mercenary outfit Able’s Aces has served the Rim Collection for close to a century. While not officially a state military force, many consider them to be part of the CAG. Colonel Mitchell Able holds 2 votes in the Collection Council, one for his position as commander of the Able’s Aces and one for “commanding the military”. This is being threatened by Vedet Brewer’s arrival in the Collective. Vedet’s experience gives him an edge in term of becoming the commander of the general military in the eyes of many members of the Collective.

Production

Rim Motors (internal) is the main military manufacturer in the Rim Collection, producing a number of tanks under license (ranging from the Scorpion, Vedette, Pike and Partisan). Since the mid-3080s, they also have been producing some light BattleMechs, originally the Locust, Wasp and Stinger (all to Succession Wars standards with minor modification and modernizations). A primitive Commando was built by the facility, but in the mid-3130s, Rim Motors was able to build both the 1B and 4H design.

Rim Motors has been building ferro-fibrous armor recently, which is what they have “reskinned” most of their machines with the new alloy. Recent investments led to the opening of a new production line for Medium Mechs, with an agreement being signed with Robinson Standard BattleWorks to start production of the Watchman in early 3152.

Current National Data

Timbuktu Collective Demographics

Affiliation: Independent
Population: 3.9 billion (3149)
Population growth rate: 1.2 percent
Self-Sufficiency Index: 89 percent

Leaders
President Samura Desgrave
Archon-In-Exile Vedet Brewer
Military:
Regiments: 2

First Hesperus Guards (1 regiment)

Able’s Aces (Mercenary regiment)

Controlled worlds: 17

Capital: Timbuktu