The Islamic Federation: Bringing the Sixteenth Century To A Planet Near You!
This history of the Islamic Federation is based on that found in the GZG rulebooks, with some unofficial interpretation of my own.
- 2027 - The State of Israel is destroyed by terrorist attacks employing nuclear and biological weapons. Saudi Arabia and Egypt, seeing an opportunity to turn world opinion to their benefit, pledge to bring rogue Arab nations under control. They launch attacks against Libya, Yemen and Iraq.
- 2043 - From Morocco to Pakistan, the Arab states have either joined or surrendered to the Saudi/Egyptian alliance. A unified government is formed for al-Itiheed al-Islami--the Islamic Federation.
- 2062 - Federation forces engage Pan African Union formations in a dispute over water rights in northeastern Africa. The Eurasian Solar Union imposes an official truce. Low intensity fighting continues, with guerrilla and special forces from both sides raiding along the border.
- 2070 - The Federation builds its first interstellar vessel with the assistance of European Commonwealth contractors. Islamic colonies are soon founded on several of the Core worlds.
- 2075 - The IF purchases survey data from an enterprising EC company and lays claim to the planets which it names Arabiya Jadid and Misr Jadid.
- 2123 - An overzealous ESU governor launches an anti-Islamic pogrom in the Indian sub-continent. The IF protests with limited military action, cross-border shelling and raids. UN diplomatic efforts prevent full-scale escalation, and the ESU executes the official who initiated the massacres.
- 2127 - New Israeli special forces begin launching attacks on IF facilities in the Core worlds.
- 2128 - IF and PAU forces fight several significant actions in a dispute over outer colonies. Pressure from the FSE brings about a truce, but the basic problem is unresolved.
- 2130 - Led by Mullah Saeed ibn Amir, Shi'ite radicals on the colonies of Abu Haman and Sad al Bari revolt and declare independence from the Islamic Federation. A Federation division is sent to control the situation, but a cabal within the division staff arranges the murder of the senior officers after planetfall and the division switches sides. The Federation is militarily overextended due to mercenary commitments, continuing tension on the PAU border, and the risk of further Shi'a subversion; the government decides that suppressing the rebellion would cost more than it is worth. The IF officially recognizes the Saeed government, and salvages what it can of the situation by pressing for "self-determination" by the Muslim colonies of the PAU.
- 2137 - 2142 The First Solar War
- 2145 - 2157 The Second Solar War. The IF takes advantage of the opportunity to expand at the expense of the overextended PAU.
- 2163 - Islamic fundamentalists murder the Sa'udi royal family and seize power in New Riyadh. Loyalist forces fight a two year civil war, but the NAC eventually withdraws support and the counterrevolution collapses.
- 2165 - The Third Solar War.
- 2173 - IF-sponsored agents assassinate ESU and NAC diplomats at the Sumani IV peace conference. The agents' origin is successfully concealed; the NAC and ESU blame each other for the attack, leading to the continuation of the Third Solar War.
Note: dates are Anno Domini for convenience. The IF, of course, counts dates from the Hegira, so AD2195 is in the sixteenth century AH.
The most significant point about the Islamic Federation is the internal infighting. Most functions are divided between several different groups--for example, the army consists of the Guard, the Regulars and the local militias, and there are at least eight agencies involved in intelligence and security. The Sultan plays off one faction against another, while the ministers (viziers or wazirs) and provincial governors (emirs) continually plot against each other and the Sultan, always seeking to expand their own power and independence. They will pull together in the face of a foreign attack; however, they take up their feuds again the instant the danger is past.
On this site:
- Islamic Federation Naval doctrine
- IFN ship designs, from ash Shaulah stingboats to Arabiya superdreadnaughts.
- Tables of Organization for an Independent Infantry Battalion, a Rifle Company and the Fedayeen special operations troops and Death Commandos
- Common vehicles of the Islamic Federation forces
- Islamic Fed 25mm figures by Ground Zero Games (35K jpeg)
- Army and Navy uniforms and ranks
- ...and more!
