Outer Planets Alliance

“	Living in the tradition of Al Capone and Hamas, the IRA and the Red Martials, the OPA was beloved by the people it helped and feared by the ones who got in its way. Part social movement, part wannabe nation, and part terrorist network, it totally lacked an institutional conscience.	„
	— Leviathan Wakes

The Outer Planets Alliance (OPA) first started as a loosely affiliated network borrowing or associating under a core common ideology of Belter independence and was not until after the opening of the Sol gate that it became a recognized, sovereign nation representing the system's Belt and outer planets.

The OPA's history began as a variety of Belter collectives formed from labor unions and activist groups fighting for the interests of the inhabitants of the Belt, but as time went on even pirate factions, crime syndicates, insurgent cells, flocked under its banner. Many criminal and pirate elements such as the Loca Greiga and Golden Bough Society that adopted the OPA name did so not necessarily out of solidarity with the Belter cause but mostly out of convenience to use as cover for their illicit enterprises, extortion rackets, and other illegal activities. When under a decentralized structure, OPA factions differ in their methods. While some OPA factions like Dawes OPA and Tycho Station OPA believe in legitimizing Belter independence through peace and diplomacy, others like Black Sky and Inaros OPA believe that change could only be enacted through violence, leading some factions of the OPA to be labeled as terrorist organizations. As such, many of its members had a history of direct conflict with the Earth-Mars Coalition. Its logo is a split circle and distinct factions have cells based at every station in the Belt including two major sites Tycho Station and Ceres Station.^[1] Before the events of the Slow Zone Incident, the OPA was described as either a sociopolitical movement, according to people sympathizing with Belters, or a terrorist network, according to the inner planets. Because of its decentralized structure and the range of activities by groups claiming affiliation before their official independence, both descriptions have more than a little basis in fact. The statement that the OPA decentralized negates the assertion that it has a headquarters.

As various factions of the OPA operated in the Sol system up to the events of the Ring formation, the OPA eventually started to resemble a loose confederacy largely due to the leadership under Fred Johnson and Anderson Dawes. Still mostly decentralized, leaders of different types of OPA factions often came together to discuss decisions and strategy following major events in the system, enabling a level of organization and consensus to emerge among Belters.

It serves as the primary protagonistic faction of The Expanse, but doubles as one of its primary antagonists.

History

Eros Incident

“Welcome to the future” — Spoilers for Leviathan Wakes follow.

While the OPA consists of various cells and associated movements, such as the student group Far Horizons Foundation, by the time Leviathan Wakes takes place, {{Multichar|Fred Johnson} has attempted to organize those he holds influence with into a provisional government and retain the chief administrative position.

When Earth withdrew from Ceres, the Outer Planets Alliance announced the inclusion of Ceres among official OPA-held real estate.

A group of about one hundred soldiers under the command of Fred Johnson, with the help of the crew of the Rocinante and Miller ^{Books • TV}, are able to take over Thoth Station, the managing station for the Eros Project.

Later, in an attempt to give Miller more time to convince the protomolecule-infected Julie Mao ^{Books • TV} to drive Eros into Venus, Jim Holden ^{Books • TV} has Fred reroute the UN nuclear missiles headed for Eros, and then store them after the crises is over.

After the events of the Eros incident, Fred Johnson, representing the OPA gave a speech at the peace conference on Ceres.

“Break on through” — Spoilers for Abaddon's Gate follow.

Fred Johnson converts the Nauvoo generation ship into the Behemoth as the OPA's battleship and sends it into the flotilla to join the investigation of the ring.

“Catching fire” — Spoilers for Nemesis Games follow.

Taking advantage of the growing frustration among the Belter population and using his access to the military resources he barters with Winston Duarte to retain, Marco Inaros is able to influence many powerful OPA faction leaders to join him in the Free Navy. As the war continues, those leaders become disillusioned by his constantly changing promises.

“An old enemy returns” — Spoilers for Persepolis Rising follow.

After the events of Babylon's Ashes and leading into Persepolis Rising, the OPA evolved and gave way for the Transport Union as part of the settlement of affairs following the war; however, when the Laconian Imperial Navy came to take control, the various factions re-emerged especially the most violent ones. Many of the varied OPA factions managed to unite under Saba's leadership in order to escape Medina.

Pre-Independence

While the OPA consists of various cells and associated movements, such as the student group Far Horizons Foundation or Anderson Dawes faction, by the time The Seventh Man takes place, Fred Johnson ^{Books • TV} has attempted to organize those he holds influence with into a provisional government and retain the chief administrative position.

Independence

As the Sol Gate formed, the Outer Planets Alliance, now declaring itself as the independent sovereign state of the Belt, played a pivotal role in the Slow Zone Incident. The newly formed Outer Planets Alliance Navy sends a fleet to join the UN and MCR mission to the opened Ring Gate. Fred Johnson converts the generation ship, LDSS Nauvoo into the OPAS Behemoth as the OPA's battleship and sends it into the flotilla to join the investigation of the ring and the slow zone.

Following the conclusion of the Slow Zone Incident, the Behemoth was converted into Medina Station, which served as a traffic control station and supply hub for the Ring Space.

Free Navy Conflict

After the devastating attacks on Earth and Mars, Marco Inaros stages a coup and civil war in the Belt, attempting to replace the existing OPA leadership.

Transport Union Era

After the defeat of Inaros and the end of the Free Navy conflict, the Transport Union is founded by the OPA, UN, and MCR, and is headed by Camina Drummer.

Factions

Although recognized by the general populace and media of Earth and Mars as a cohesive group, the OPA contains many groups and factions, all on varying points on the political spectrum.

Fred Johnson represents the largest faction, achieving a form of legitimate recognition by the United Nations and the Martian Republic.

Marco Inaros ^{Books • TV} represent the Free Navy, a faction favoring Belt independence from interference and taxation by Earth and Mars.

A violent terrorist-like faction is called Black Sky.

Known factions

Faction	Leadership	Areas of Operation	Notes
Tycho Station OPA	Fred Johnson ^{Books • TV}^[2]^[3]	Tycho Station, Behemoth, Medina Station ^{Books • TV}	Part of the OPA Council^[4]
Ceres Station OPA	Anderson Dawes ^{Books • TV}^[2]^[3]	Ceres Station, Behemoth, Medina Station ^{Books • TV}
Zig Ochoa's OPA	Zig Ochoa	Ceres Station	Opposition group on Ceres^[2]
Kelso Station OPA	Unknown	Kelso Station	Publicly condemned Free Navy^[5]
Rhea OPA	Unknown	Rhea	Publicly condemned Free Navy^[6]
Voltaire Collective	Rosenfeld Guoliang ^{Books • TV}	Nauvoo ^{Books • TV}
Maruttuva Kulu	Unknown		Nonviolent near-collaborationist^[3]
Black Sky	K. Nikil, Black Sky OPA Leader	Tycho Station, Ceres, Pallas, Hygiea	An extremist faction that used drones for terrorist attacks^[7]^[8]
Inaros OPA^[9]	Marco Inaros ^{Books • TV}		Would go on to form the Free Navy
Tres Copains^[9]	Unknown
Union OPA^[7]	Unknown
Golden Bough Society (Books)	Unknown	Ceres Station	(Book Only faction) Openly criminal organisation^[3]^[7]. Claims to be OPA, but denied by other OPA factions.
Golden Bough (TV)	Unknown	Unknown	(TV Only faction) A significant faction of the OPA. Although more extremist was willing to work with OPA Navy prior to joining Free Navy.
Matar Kubileya	Unknown	Vicinity of Ceres
Ostman-Jazinski OPA	Aimee Ostman	Unknown	Militant branch of the OPA that was responsible for a significant number of attacks on Inner Planets military targets.
Glapion Collective	Unknown	Unknown	A business front for the OPA which owns and operates ships in the Belt.

OPA Navy

Main article: OPA Navy

The OPA Navy was an attempt by the Tycho Station OPA and Anderson Dawes' OPA as the most legitimate factions of the OPA to create a navy. Before a navy was established the independently owned gunship Rocinante was hired for anti-piracy missions^[10]. Ships operated as a part of this navy are given the lettering OPAS before the ship name (Outer Planets Alliance Ship).

The Navy began with the commandeering of the adrift generation ship Nauvoo and converting it into the battleship Behemoth. After the Slow zone incident, the Behemoth was converted into Medina station^[11].

Tycho station despite being a civilian shipyard was used to build several gunships for use as a part of the OPA Navy. Three of these ships were under construction shortly before the Free Navy Conflict and were described as large, bulky, and functional as well as shaped like a sledgehammer^[12]. These ships would be the first in a custom-built OPA Naval fleet that would form an armed defensive force.

At the beinging of the Free Navy Conflict these Tycho built ships were still being constructed leading to the Corvette-class frigate Rocinante ^{Books • TV} being hired by Fred Johnson for the conflict. During this time an official OPA crew served onboard alongside the main crew of the Roci.

Known ships/stations

Designation	Class	Faction	Notes
Nauvoo/ Behemoth/ Medina Station	Generation ship/ Behemoth-class/ Spin station	Tycho Station OPA/ Anderson Dawes' OPA/ OPA Navy
Rocinante	Corvette-class	Independently owned	Operated under contract for OPA on many occasions.
Callisto's Dream	Heavy freighter	Tycho Station OPA	supplied Medina Station.
Scopuli	Transport ship	Anderson Dawes' OPA	Captured by Protogen and used as bait to destroy Canterbury.
Guy Molinari	Transport ship	Tycho Station OPA
Talbot Leeds	Transport ship	Tycho Station OPA	Sent teams to plant nuclear weapons onto the surface of infected Eros
Weeping Somnambulist	Transport ship	Tycho Station OPA
Desiderata of Bhagavathi	Unknown	Carlos Walker OPA
Jammy Rakshasa	Unknown	Goodfortune OPA	Docked at Tycho Station during high level OPA meeting during Free Navy Conflict^[13]
Giambattista	Converted water-hauler	Ostman-Jasinzki OPA
Torngarsuk	Unknown	Al-Dujaili OPA	Destroyed by Free Navy during Free Navy Conflict.


Designation	Class	Faction	Notes
Nauvoo/ Behemoth/ Medina Station	Generation ship/ Behemoth-class/ Spin station	Tycho Station OPA/ Anderson Dawes' OPA/ OPA Navy
Rocinante	Corvette-class	Independently owned	Operated under contract for OPA on many occasions.
Tynan	Gunship	Anderson Dawes' OPA/ OPA Navy	Captained by Klaes Ashford. Later came under control of Drummer pirate fleet outside of the OPA.
Gatamang Feronte	Gunship	Tycho Station OPA/ OPA Navy	The Gatamang Feronte was the first purpose built Gunship of the OPAS, and was under construction at Tycho Station.
Scopuli	Transport ship	Anderson Dawes' OPA	Captured by Protogen and used as bait to destroy YVother\|Canterbury}}.
Guy Molinari	Transport ship	Tycho Station OPA