In both Star Fleet Battles Module C6 and in Module R4J, there are a number of "lost empire" and/or "Shadow of the Eagle" timelines offered, in which various scenarios are presented which enable the Paravians, Carnivons, and "early warp' Romulans to be a factor in the "modern" Alpha Octant setting.

In a similar fashion, I had a thought about such a "forgotten empire" timeline, concerning the Borak fleet previewed in Module E3 - which might, perhaps, one day be formally published along with the Peladine Republic in a would-be "Module C7".

Although, as I hope to explain in more detail later on, there could be scope here for a second new timeline proposal also, depending on the circumstances involved.

-----

In the historical timeline, the Hydrans and Borak made First Contact in Y70. Relations were cordial, for a time at least, as both species agreed to co-mingle in terms of establishing colonies on worlds suiting their respective atmospheric requirements. This changed in Y88, when the onset of paranoia among the Hydran admiralty-in-exile drove them to pre-emptively "deal with" the Borak fleet.

From this time forth, Borak ships existed only in the simulators - with the exception of the specially-constructed "civilian" ships used to pass off the Borak deception attempt against the Klingons and Lyrans in Y171. As part of this, the Hydrans provided an alternate history in which the Borak Star League existed as a more "traditional" empire, bordering the Hydran Old Colonies out in the "off-map" Delta Sector.

Crucially, the "deception history" was predicated on the idea that the Hydran and Borak colonies did not overlap; as in, the "deception" Borak held a discrete region of space, set apart from the areas under Hydran control. Which, not only cuts against the way things developed in the "historical" timeline prior to Y88, but also would have kept the Borak at a remove from the "on-map" empires of the Alpha Octant - at least until the Andromedan War.

-----

So, I propose an alternative.

Rather than keeping relations purely cordial (and focused on trade) as was the case historically prior to Y88, I suggest that the Hydrans and Borak begin a more thorough process of economic, military, and political integration from Y70 onwards - to the point that, at some point during the first period of Hydran exile, the two species form a "Hydran/Borak Commonwealth".

As a symbol of political unity, the Hydran King would assume the ceremonial title of "Head of the Commonwealth", presiding over a ruling council comprised of a mixture of Hydran and Borak representatives. Militarily, the Hydran and Borak fleets would develop integrated battle tactics, in preparation for a joint push to liberate Hydrax from the Klingons and Lyrans. Logistically, the Borak home world would become a "second capital", at which the Borak would continue to build ships of their own design. And economically, the combined economic output from Commonwealth space would have set portions assigned to each side, with the balance assigned one way or another on a case-by-case basis.

The first major test of this alliance would be in Y135, when a combined fleet of Middle Years Hydran and "Expansion" Borak ships would burst onto the map to drive the Klingons and Lyrans from the Hydran home world. From this point, a Borak presence on the Klingon and Lyran borders would be continuous - as would the presence of Borak settlers at "on-map" oxy-nitrogen worlds not already occupied by the Klingon and Lyran "exile species" left behind in Hydran space.

Technologically, things would progress much as they do in both Module C1 and in Module E3: with the Borak developing phaser cannons, the Hydrans developing hellbores and Stinger-2s, and so on and so forth.

While the Commonwealth would hold its own during the Four Powers War, the onset of the General War would see Hydrax fall to the Coalition, as was the case historically. At which point, the Hydrans and Borak would be faced with a key question: with only so many EPs being generated out in the Delta Sector, how much more cost-effective is it to replace the Old Colonies shipyard (511.321) with a new fleet yard, as opposed to using some of that money to pay for more Borak ships to be built at their pre-existing yards?

Although, there is another key factor here, in that the Borak do not have "wartime construction" ships: their "war cruiser" is, in fact, a refit of their "peacetime construction" light cruiser. While this means that there would be no "discount" to build a Borak CW in Federation and Empire terms (relative to the "true" war cruisers of most other Alpha Octant empires), the upshot would be that, once first-generation X-technology is made available, the Borak fleet could be more readily upgraded to X1-tech standards.

By the end of the General War, the Commonwealth would have liberated Hydrax once again - only to be faced with the "neutral" Vudar occupying three pre-war border provinces. Following this would be the arrival of Cordon Foxtrot of the ISC Pacification, to be followed in turn by the onset of the Andromedan invasion - in which, beyond the threat posed to the Borak home world itself, the danger of seeing the lines of communication being broken across Commonwealth space would be critical.

Even so, the potential would remain for a Commonwealth task force to take part in Operation Unity, where both Hydran and Borak ships might encounter the natives of the Lesser Magellanic Cloud - and, later on, arriving ships from the Omega Octant - for the first time.

-----

I should note that, as pointed out by Paul Franz in a recent podcast episode, an alternative option would be for the Hydrans to develop a less equitable relationship with the Borak - as in, to place them under similar limitations to those imposed upon the Vudar under the Klingon Empire.

In other words, this variant would see the Borak become a "satrapy" of the Hydran Kingdom, with similar economic and logistical rules to those provided for the "low" Vudar in F&E Minor Empires.

Although, while the Vudar are more limited in terms of their fleet deployments, I would still suggest that even this version of Borak/Hydran relations still account for Borak ships showing up on the Klingon and Hydran borders.

-----

In game terms, this concept would have an impact both in SFB (and FC) terms on the one hand, and on the F&E scale on the other.

Tactically, I find it interesting to consider the possibilities of joint Borak/Hydran squadrons against Klingon and/or Lyran opposition.

For example, the phaser cannon variant of the Borak CA would make for an interesting de facto heavy escort to a larger Hydran fleet carrier, despite the Borak not "historically" deploying Aegis fire control prior to the onset of X1-tech. Although a would-be war cruiser variant of this type (which does not exist in print as of yet) might be a more cost-effective option, "peacetime" construction aside.

While perhaps the Borak bombardment cruiser variants might partner well with a Hydran tug equipped with a fire support pallet, for use against Klingon or Lyran fixed installations.

-----

Strategically, one would have to add a "capital hex" in the Hydran off-map to represent the Borak home world and its surrounding colonies; draw up a Borak SIT, production schedule, and order of battle; and decide what way to handle the economics involved.

In the "Commonwealth" variant, I was suggesting that all Borak and Hydran economic output would be collected together. Then, a certain percentage would be set aside for the Hydrans, another for the Borak, and the rest left at the discretion of the Commonwealth player to assign as they see fit.

In the Vudar-esque "satrapy" variant, one might have to establish how many Hydran provinces (be they on- or off-map) have Borak colonies in them (to include any new colonies the Hydrans might permit the Borak to establish, akin to the expansion of the Vudar Enclave in the historical timeline), and then divide the output from those provinces (plus that generated by the Borak "capital hex") into two. Half would be given to the Hydrans as tribute (although the Hydrans might decide to re-invest some of their own income towards the Borak in turn), while the rest would be used to build a more modest Borak production schedule.

And once the long-awaited Andro War module is on the table for F&E, one might then be able to see how the Borak home defences - and those at the Old Colonies shipyard, for that matter - might face the ultimate challenge.

-----

In short, I consider the concept of a Hydran/Borak Commonwealth - or, if you prefer, the placing of the Borak Star League as a Vudar-esque satrapy of the Hydran Kingdom - as a way (or ways) both to bring the Borak into the "modern" era as a viable fleet, as well as to give it the opportunity both to combine forces with the Hydrans and to fight the Klingons, Lyrans, Vudar, ISC, and/or the Andromedans.

Tactically, this might lead to some interesting synergies in SFB or FC game terms. While, strategically, it would raise some interesting questions, both on the part of the Commonwealth itself and on behalf of their various enemies.

So, do any of you think that these porposed degrees of Hydran/Borak integration might be worth considering? Or do you have ideas of your own as to how best to create a viable "forgotten empire" timeline in which the Borak survive as a star-faring presence in the "modern" Alpha Octant?

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Friday, August 02, 2024 - 10:31 pm: Edit

I like the Borak and would love to see them better integrated into the SFU as a whole. Same is true for the Peladine. Problem with both of them is the sheer volume of SFU history around the Octant as it is.

Knee-jerk reaction is one of liking the idea, but that is just an emotional response right off the bat. I'll definitely be re-reading it a time or three before I can really give a respectable response.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Saturday, August 03, 2024 - 10:18 am: Edit

OR, after the GW return of the off Map Borak and Hydran forces, they used their offensive momentum to liberate the Vudar. The Vudar were then incorporated as a equal partner into the Hydran/ Borak/ Vudar alliance. The LDR considered joining but ultimately it's ruling politburo decided against the idea.

By Ken Kazinski (Kjkazinski) on Saturday, August 03, 2024 - 06:39 pm: Edit

One of the issues I see is that the Borak and Peladine are needed. If they are not the western empires that keep the Lyran and Hydrans in check, why wouldn't they have rapidly expanded westward and become the dominant economic powerhouse in both the delta and alpha quadrants.

An argument was made that if there were fleets/ships available they would have been moved into the alpha quadrant, but wouldn't this have left the western flank of the empire open?

Jeremy did a really nice map of what the delta quadrant looked like.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Sunday, August 04, 2024 - 11:35 am: Edit

Storm sector to the left and the ISC/ Andros eras,

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Sunday, August 04, 2024 - 11:49 am: Edit

Respectfully, Ken, if the Borak and Peladine are necessary to keep the Hydrans and Lyrans in check, doesn't that mandate having someone to the west of the Borak and Peladine to keep THEM in check?

For F&E players, doesn't that also eliminate the off-board survey areas for the Coalition? Since the Romulans have none and the Klingons are dependent on the Lyrans for theirs, it "Smells" of imbalance, unless we come up with peoples to keep the rest of the Alliance in check.

(Surviving Carnivron and Paravian perhaps? Also, I do know someone who used to post regularly on The Boards who, many years ago, came up with a race that were coreward of the Federation; I'd mention who and the race he created specifically, but if he's no longer involved, or just doesn't want me "Volunteering" him for something, I don't want to say whom.)

By Ken Kazinski (Kjkazinski) on Sunday, August 04, 2024 - 04:57 pm: Edit

If you look at the galaxy map Color Galaxy Map, the Epsilon quadrant is mostly a void and then you come to the Saragasso Storm sector.

This already boxes in both the Borak and Peladine to an empire that is 15 hexes by 12 hexes. Not as large at the Federation (18 hexes in diameter).

I am just pointing out that if there was nothing to stop the Lyran and Hydran from expanding into the Delta quadrant, why wouldn't they have used the time to become an economic powerhouse that rivals the Federation.

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Sunday, August 04, 2024 - 06:26 pm: Edit

Because their political structures didn't allow it.

Hydrans gotta Hydran, so they were always going to economically fight each other, so they always continuously sabotaged themselves.

The Lyrans are worse. The Lyrans as a whole would not have become more economically powerful. Instead, the Far Stars would have. At that point, the other would have ganged up on it and beaten it down. They can't allow any group to get too powerful, so they all serve as a limit on growth for the Lyran empire.

Honestly, in both cases, the empires should have been far more powerful. But they weren't because they were unable to cooperate. The presence or absence of the Borak and Peladine does not change that equation.

IMO YMMV AFAIK IANAL ETC

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Monday, August 05, 2024 - 11:42 am: Edit

I should note that, as of the most recent revision to GURPS Prime Directive, the Milky Way Galaxy map has been updated from the one shown here, not least in terms of how the Delta Sector is portrayed.

The Void which divides the Alpha Octant from the Sargasso Storm Zone has now been expanded across the Delta Sector, as far as the nearest edge of the Gamma Sector. This places a sharp barrier between the Hydran Old Colonies and the Borak home world on the rimward side of the Delta Sector on the one hand, and the Lyran Far Stars (to include the Peladine home world, the "leased" Klingon off-map territory, and what would have been the Carnivon Remote Ranges in the "Carnivon Empire" timeline from Module C6) on the other.

My understanding is that, in game terms, this was done so as to prevent the Lyrans and Hydrans from running into each other "off-map". But as a consequence, it also means that the amount of viable "real estate" out in the Delta Sector is much lower than how it might appear at first glance.

-----

Speaking of off-map real estate, the Pacification scenario in F&E ISC War includes the total number of survey points which had been gathered by the various Alpha Octant belligerents through the end of the General War.

It's worth noting that, if one converts the number of survey points gained by the Federation alone, this produces around twenty new off-map provinces in the Survey Area - the highest number for any General War participant.

The Hydrans and Lyrans do in fact have totals of their own, as do the Klingons operating in "leased" Far Stars territory.

Yet, even so, while it is possible to found colonies (of the kind which are prominent enough to appear in F&E game terms) in these areas, it takes much longer to establish the kind of industrial worlds which are so prominent in that game system. Or, indeed, to build up the kind of military infrastructure needed to defend all of these hastily-built colonies - not least once the Andromedan War later breaks out.

And while we don't yet know the specifics of what F&E Andro War has to say on the matter, I suspect that trying to hold on to all those new off-map provinces is going to be a major point of concern in the course of that particular war - as well as a cautionary tale against complacency, in terms of letting the lack of an active enemy border lull one into thinking the off-map zones offer a "free lunch" in terms of economic expansion.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Monday, August 05, 2024 - 11:11 pm: Edit

I'm not sure you can straight convert what F&E earns in off-map war provinces to be the equilevent to on-map peace provinces.

During war the empires are looking for specific things, easy to mine, easy to transport with as little effort as possible. They might ignore existing populations to mine resources in remote areas, ignore long term damage to the planet, etc.

The fact that you can only build a colony for every 5 off map provinces should be an indication of the intensity of the survey. Most on map provinces would hold at least one and possible two colonies.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Monday, August 05, 2024 - 11:11 pm: Edit

I'm not sure you can straight convert what F&E earns in off-map war provinces to be the equilevent to on-map peace provinces.

During war the empires are looking for specific things, easy to mine, easy to transport with as little effort as possible. They might ignore existing populations to mine resources in remote areas, ignore long term damage to the planet, etc.

The fact that you can only build a colony for every 5 off map provinces should be an indication of the intensity of the survey. Most on map provinces would hold at least one and possible two colonies.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Tuesday, August 06, 2024 - 07:42 am: Edit

IIRC, years ago said SVC said something like "in every hex there are perhaps a thousand places of interest."

So while a giant inhabitable planet might be interesting, from a F&E perspective a minor asteroid cluster with easy to get ores might be more important. I'm sure it take a LONG time to develop planets. Especially if the first thing you have to worry about is "where do I get food from."

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Wednesday, August 07, 2024 - 12:13 pm: Edit

On page 16 of the most recent GPD core rulebook, it's stated that each F&E map hex includes about 50 inhabited colonies (small c) that are tied to the owning empire's economic and logistical network.

This does not include the thousands (if not millions) of other star systems in each hex - many of whom might be under quarantine, or under Prime Directive protection (in the case of the Federation), or might be friendly independent worlds (such as Bisalia, again in Federation space) that are not integrated enough into the broader star-faring economy to appear in F&E terms in the "modern" era.

Although, according to GURPS Romulans, the number of active colonies (again, small c) in Romulan and Gorn space is lower than the average found in Federation and Klingon space. Part of this is due to their being fewer Romulans and Gorns to run such colonies, but also due to the much lower percentage of viable "open-air" (class-K/L/M/N/O) planets to be found in that part of the Alpha Octant.

Colonies - capital C - as outlined in (446.0) from F&E Planetary Operations would represent settlements on worlds of such importance as to warrant an "empire-level" focus on their establishment and development: beyond the myriad of lesser colonies in each on- or off-map province, yet still below what has been built up at the various industrial planets which exist by the onset of the General War.

Speaking of which, alongside the list of survey points provided in (625.542), there is data on the number and location of each Colony (again, capital C) to be found both on- and off-map by Fall Y185 under (625.597), as well as the number of on- and off-map yards and conversion facilities listed under (625.596).

Those were built under the assumption that the ones placed in off-map areas were relatively "safe" from enemy action - a concept that is set to be confronted in earnest once the Andros weigh in on the matter...