MOD:WCU:BelisariusGroup

The Belisarius Group is a conspiracy within the Confederation's military with two goals:

• Military coup to take over the government
• Use the Genetic Enhancement Program to prepare humanity for its next war.

The first goal is known to all of the conspirators, whereas the second goal is kept a secret to all but the highest level of the conspiracy.

At first, Admiral Whittaker leads the genetic enhancement project. After his death, Rear Admiral Tolwyn assumes command.

Background

Miruts Bikina joins the Free Republic of the Landreich Navy. He racks up a series of impressive victories and rises quickly through the ranks. [FC]

The Belisarius Group, including highly placed officers like DuVall and Murasaki (recent recruits at the time of False Colors), is formed. Their goal is to stage a military coup, replacing the post-Battle of Earth civilian government which they view as ineffective (in fact, they were also concerned at the prospect of losing the power they had accumulated should there be peace). They form a secret wing of the Confederation's security forces, designated Y-12.

After the end of the war, the Belisarius Group may have realigned its priorities ("may have" because this information comes from Tolwyn in False Colors, who may or may not have been lying, and most likely was doing both). Some members of the BG had gone along with the group's goals because they did not wish to see humanity destroyed, but with the Kilrathi threat removed, no longer saw a reason to stage a coup. Other members simply wanted to take power, even though their original rationale was gone. Several members of the group were purged, including, perhaps, [[MOD:WCU:Whittaker|Whittaker]. It is unclear whether Whittaker was killed by Y-12 because he did not wish to stage a coup in peace time or for other unknown reasons.

(Indeed, it is hard to see why Whittaker should be killed because he knew of the Genetic Enhancement Program and told Tolwyn about it--as such, it would not make sense that he would need to be purged in the shakeup of the Belisarius Group after the destruction of Kilrah. Perhaps he got cold feet.)

In truth, the Belisarius Group is only a distraction, created as a cover for an even more sinister conspiracy seeking to use the Genetic Enhancement Program to forcibly prepare humanity for the next war.

Tolwyn and the Belisarius Group

After the Battle of Earth, Adm. Whittaker visits his old friend RAdm. Tolwyn, informing him of the existence of the Belisarius Group and The Project. Whittaker asks Tolwyn to read Nietzsche to understand the truth of the program. Apparently, 35 years of war had burned away Tolwyn's belief in the goodness of mankind; all that was left was a belief that to survive, humans must cross above, must become the Overman.

When Tolwyn describes these events in False Colors, he mixes truth and untruth together. Although he may have initially opposed the Belisarius Group, it is also possible that he agrees to participate in the planm aware that mankind is not ready to fight the Nephilim.

After this conversation, Tolwyn begins a rushed deployment of the Behemoth weapons platform (a project he inherited when he was assigned to the Weapons Development Office). His goal here is unclear. When he described these events to Jason Bondarevsky, he stated that he opposed the Belisarius Group, and he accelerated the program in order to end the war before the coup could take place. If Tolwyn had been a part of the conspiracy all along, then it is possible he wished to end the war quickly in order to advance to the next stage of the conspiracy--the Genetic Enhancement Program. [FC]

Plot to Renew Hostilities with the Kilrathi

The Belisarius Group seeks to stir hostilities between the Kilrathi and the frontier Human worlds in order to build up the militaries of the Landreich and Union of Border Worlds. Later, after arms have been built up, the Genetic Enhancement Program, the conspiracy within the Belisarius Group, wishes to spark a fight between human worlds from which the new, genetically enhanced humans could emerge and take power.

The events of False Colors take place within this context--the Belisarius Group stirs hostilites between the Hralgkrak province and the Landreich while isolating the Landreich from the Confederation. Kruger has been busy building up the Landreich's military and wishes to repair the lost ship Karga for his military. The Belisarius Group wishes to intervene because they do not want the balance of power to tip decisively toward either the Landreich or the Kilrathi.

RAdm. Tolwyn returns from his final court martial appearance. He finds a voice message from agents of the Belisarius Group, claiming that they are responsible for his acquittal. This is Tolwyn’s signal that he must strengthen the Free Republic of the Landreich position in order to ensure the success of The Project. Tolwyn contacts his nephew, Maj. Tolwyn, and asks him to resign his commission to serve with the Free Republic of the Landreich Navy. [FC]

The Belisarius Group plans to support an invasion of the Free Republic of the Landreich by Kal Shintahr Ukar dai Ragark lak Haka. The move will make martyrs of the human colonies, leading to a renewed war with the Kilrathi and another chance for a military takeover of the government. [FC]

[Balthazar System] The Belisarius Group has The Guild launch a raid on the Free Republic of the Landreich Outpost. President Kruger insists that the attack must have been launched by the Kilrathi, though evidence to the contrary is ultimately discovered. [FC]

2670.185

Adm. Richards contacts RAdm. Tolwyn to ask if he would be interested in serving with the Free Republic of the Landreich Navy. Tolwyn rebuffs Richards, believing he will receive a more important assignment in the near future. The two continue to discuss the plan in the ensuing months. Tolwyn recommends that Richards contact Jason Bondarevsky as a candidate for his operation. [FC]

2670.196

David Whittaker is killed by Y-12 agents. His death makes RAdm. Geoffrey Tolwyn head of The Project. [FC]

2670.275.1310

[VIP Lounge, Moonbase Tycho, Luna, Sol System] Adm. Richards and Jason Bondarevsky meet with RAdm. Tolwyn. They discuss the situation between the Free Republic of the Landreich and Kal Shintahr Ukar dai Ragark lak Haka. Tolwyn, aware that he must strengthen the Landreich’s military pursuant to his plans for The Project, agrees to take a leave of absence and sign on with the Landreich. [Detailed: FC, pp.43-56]

2670.292.1642

[Presidential Palace, Newburg, Landreich, Landreich System] President Kruger meets with Commissioner Williams. The meeting ends with Williams angrily storming out of Kruger’s office, threatening that the Terran Confederation is willing to deploy forces to the Landreich Sector in order to prevent a conflict with Kal Shintahr Ukar dai Ragark lak Haka. Afterwards, Kruger meets with RAdm. Tolwyn, Adm. Richards and Jason Bondarevsky, who have just arrived from the FRLS Thermistocles. He briefs Tolwyn and Bondarevsky on the existence of the crippled KIS Karga, and his plan for Goliath Project. Tolwyn and Bondarevsky are given Free Republic of the Landreich Naval commissions. [Detailed: FC, pp.73-82]

Capt. Jason Bondarevsky requests that Lt. Harper be assigned as his aide. The request is granted. [FC]

2670.317.1108

[Operations Planning Center, FRLS Independence, Vaku VII Orbit, Vaku System] RAdm. Tolwyn confides in Adm. Richards about the Belisarius Group. Richards reluctantly agrees to go forward with Goliath Project. Tolwyn, Richards and Capt. Bondarevsky meet with Murragh Cakg dai Nokhtak, who agrees to help them retrieve his uncles command codes from the derelict KIS Karga. [Detailed: FC, pp.207-212]