Help with starting a war in a new universe

[Pulp Hero]

I'm writing a new universe in which the main story is a civil war of the primary human empire.

The war is between the loyalist's to the old government who are pushed out to the very outermost colonies and the revolutionary government, which now controls the interior planets.

I want the loyalist government to be reminiscent of the Statship Troopers book government and the revolutionary government to be a capitalist democracy (ala the Viridian government in Void) controlled primarily by corporations.

I need help on creating the beginning of the war. So far I have this idea; the government is creating many new colonies and expanding the empire. People in the core are not very happy about that because it is causing a lot of hardship for them. A terrorist attack of a biological nature causes a huge disease outbreak and the government is (somehow) faced with a choice of either saving lots of core people or even more colony people. They choose colony people and the corporations on earth step in, help the core people, and with lots of popular support topple the government.

Basicly:
1.Terrorist bio attack
2.?
3.Coup

So, help.

[Zixinus]

The revolutionists were behind the bio attack and placed a well-staged propaganda campaign berating the incompetence and stupidity of the government to the core people?

Basically, do you want ideas for a bloodless or bloody coup? Both have mayor implications.

[Pulp Hero]

The revolutionists were behind the bio attack and placed a well-staged propaganda campaign berating the incompetence and stupidity of the government to the core people?

Yes. The corporations and major planners behind the attack hired a third party to execute the attack and cause a lot of panic. They then went in with a propaganda campaign and made themselves the heroes rescuing people from the "incompetent" government.

Basically, do you want ideas for a bloodless or bloody coup? Both have mayor implications.

As bloddless as possible. A few riots, maybe, but no fighting in the streets or drawn out conflict.

[Darth Ruinus]

Wait, how many people were on the colony worlds versus the core worlds? Because if there were more on the core worlds (which I think would make sense) and they saved the colony worlds, then it does sound like the government is incompetent or the colony worlds are (for some reason) more valuable.

[Pulp Hero]

I haven't entirely figured this plot out yet, so I will freely admit a lot of this probably doesn't make much sense at this point. I am posting to see what input other people have.

The three pillars are :
1. Government with far reaching colonies
2. Terrorist attack
3. Split into two factions

Everything else is very mutable right now.


I say this because another forum I posted this at is just slamming me for being a retard rather than posting any real input.

[Darth Ruinus]

I haven't entirely figured this plot out yet, so I will freely admit a lot of this probably doesn't make much sense at this point. I am posting to see what input other people have.

The three pillars are :
1. Government with far reaching colonies
2. Terrorist attack
3. Split into two factions

Everything else is very mutable right now.


I say this because another forum I posted this at is just slamming me for being a retard rather than posting any real input.

Hell, I'm not making fun of your lack of detailsm (I posted a story idea that had no plot or sense a while back)

Im just saying, that if the government did save the colonies that have less people, it could lend further credence (using this word right?) to the idea that they are incompetent or that the colonies where more usefull in some way but the core worlds dont know,

or something like that, its your story after all.

[Zixinus]

Well, you need a point of tension between the two groups to begin with, which the terrorist attack pulls to the tipping point, rather then create it.

Key points of course will be corrupted politicians elected, control of media and the like. First minor suggestion campaign, preferably before the terrorist attack happens. It does not have to be a massage that is reinforced by attack, but destroyed.

Why does Bush's name keep popping up in my head?

[Darth Ruinus]

Well, you need a point of tension between the two groups to begin with, which the terrorist attack pulls to the tipping point, rather then create it.

Suggestion: You said you wanted a Starship Troopers like government right? Well, some tension could come from the fact that only veterans, firefighters, police, weapon testers etc etc could vote, while people who never where any of those things cant vote, and they are frustrated because of their lack of voice in government and the government keeps getting them into wars or whatever.

[Pulp Hero]

Okay.

The government is in a cold war with an alien government. It keeps expanding colonies out on the rim and creating large forward military outposts. Lots of government money is going into this military buildup, as well as lots of corporate money/product being forcibly taxed.

People who are not allowed to vote see this as a waste, especially since the alien government is not at war with them and is publicly being very goody-goody.

You have all sorts of protests and riots about the arms buildup, especially the military buildup on earth.

A terrorist group (possibly aided by outside forces) gains access to a ballistic missile station used for defense against orbital threats and fires the missile at a populated area.

The government gets all sorts of fallout for the attack and support for it on earth goes to near zero. A mid level military commander quits and joins the revolutionary groups, a pogrom against government supporter begins and all government troops and personnel either join or get killed.

[Darth Ruinus]

A terrorist group (possibly aided by outside forces) gains access to a ballistic missile station used for defense against orbital threats and fires the missile at a populated area.

A populated area that had alot of anti-war protesters maybe?

Though again, these are just suggestions, and I like the general idea of your story, it intrigues me.

[Pulp Hero]

A populated area that had alot of anti-war protesters maybe?

I don't think people would be stupid enough to think the government would do that. Unless you mean something else?

Though again, these are just suggestions, and I like the general idea of your story, it intrigues me.

Thanky. Sadly this isn't even the main focus of the story, just the background for the war.

[Darth Ruinus]

I don't think people would be stupid enough to think the government would do that. Unless you mean something else?

I dontknow how to write political intrigue, but, I guess the terrorist/revolutionaries could have been secretly forging various government actions, making it seem like the government WOULD do something like that.

Or, you can make it so that the government has been known to do nasty things like this before, I mean, you said it yourself, they are at war with aliens that dont seem to be doing much damage and perhaps the government is using excessive force on them.

Thanky. Sadly this isn't even the main focus of the story, just the background for the war.

I like the backstory then.

[Zixinus]

Tell us about the aliens.

[Zixinus]

In fact, tell us how do you plan trade, both technologically and politically. Trade is a very important key when it comes to politics, control trade and control politics. Corporates control trade. When things go their way, they grip lessens and people are happy at the corporate's expense. When there is pressure againts them, their grip tightens. A trade or economic embargo of some sort is very likely to happen if you want people to support a coup.

[Teleros]

Im just saying, that if the government did save the colonies that have less people, it could lend further credence (using this word right?) to the idea that they are incompetent or that the colonies where more usefull in some way but the core worlds dont know, or something like that, its your story after all.

Consider a situation whereby the newer colonies are populated by people chosen by our Starship Troopers government - ie they're likely to be loyal to it. The richer, more prosperous core worlds would've "gone soft" by comparison. Thus when the coup happens, it'd make sense for the government to be forced to the younger colonies: they may lack all the infrastructure there (although they have enough to hold out presumably - or perhaps won over more of the armed forces), but at least they've got the support of the locals.

[Darth Ruinus]

Tell us about the aliens.

Well he said this was backstory, so, it doesnt seem like he has to explain the exact workings of the war, the aliens, and the human-alien relationships beyond "they were at war, the humans were picking on some nice aliens" unless that part is some of the main story.

[Pulp Hero]

The aliens figure in a bit more, because an important counter attack by the loyalist government is at a revolutionary military site located on an alien planet. So I will work on some more pre-war information about them.

I am thinking that I am going to go with the terrorist type attack via anti-orbit defense system. My only unknown is who is financing the terrorist attack.

It has got to be somebody with deep pockets, either corporate or military, because the attack is carried out primarily by an amoral mercy posing as a terrorist.

[avatarxprime]

Ok, how about this:

Those who go the the colonies automatically get the right to vote (due to the inherent risks involved) and are constantly receiving the first reports of these aliens. Said aliens might be good for now, but they are certainly weird, making the colonists feel uneasy around them and support military build-up. They would also of course support any kind of legislation that would aid in the development of the colonies, thus making the colonies nice and supporting further growth and dissent between them and the core world citizens. The government being what they are of course natrually throw more support behind the colonies as a result.

Now there is political turmoil. Core world citizens feel that the government no longer represents them, colonies feel that the citizens of the core world don't understand what is really going on and are pampered in their security and the government is stretched in trying to support all sides and maintain oppresive control over media and public opinion for the Alien Cold War.

Your rebellion can easily be seen as a crystallization of this feeling of "the government doesn't represent us anymore" resulting in the attack against a civillian area on Earth that has been made to look like it was by the government being the final straw (not that there shouldn't be back and forth between the terrorists and the government before hand with mounting civillian casualities, creating further strain). The bulk of the populace revolts against the government and the politicians flee to the receptive colonies.

Hope that helps.

[bilateralrope]

Im just saying, that if the government did save the colonies that have less people, it could lend further credence (using this word right?) to the idea that they are incompetent or that the colonies where more usefull in some way but the core worlds dont know, or something like that, its your story after all.

Consider a situation whereby the newer colonies are populated by people chosen by our Starship Troopers government - ie they're likely to be loyal to it. The richer, more prosperous core worlds would've "gone soft" by comparison. Thus when the coup happens, it'd make sense for the government to be forced to the younger colonies: they may lack all the infrastructure there (although they have enough to hold out presumably - or perhaps won over more of the armed forces), but at least they've got the support of the locals.

Well, they could of sent their more loyalist troops to the bases out there because those troops are more willing to attack should the order be given.

[Zixinus]

Many mayor wars have two things in common: economics and the right people in the government losing control. In this case, it is possible that the government financed too much colonies at once, in hope to build a strong presence againts the aliens.
That's what pops up in my head it least.