Highspire

Highspire
Highspire 3151.svg
System Information
X:Y Coordinates100.289 : -119.184[e]
Spectral classF9V[1][2]
Recharge time180 hours[1][2]
Recharge station(s)None[1][2]

The Highspire system was the location of at least one habitable world, Highspire II, and as of 3151 was located in the Sarna Commonality of the Capellan Confederation.[3]

System Description[edit]

The Highspire system is located near the Bell and Foot Fall systems[4] and consists of a class F9V primary orbited by at least two worlds.[2]

System History[edit]

The Highspire system was colonized during or shortly after the First Exodus from Terra[5] and was a member of various minor nations prior to the formation of the Capellan Confederation.[6][7]

Political Affiliation[edit]


Highspire II[edit]

Highspire II
Highspire Flag.jpg
Astrophysical
System positionSecond[1][2]
Jump Point distance11.19 days[1][2]
Moons1 (Peak)[1][2]
Geophysical
Surface gravity0.99[1][2]
Atmospheric pressureStandard (Breathable)[1][2]
Equatorial temperature38°C (Tropical)[2][2]
Surface water78%[1][2]
Highest native lifePlant[1][2]
History and Culture
Population1,234,000,000 (3067)[1][2]
Government and Infrastructure
Noble RulerDuchess of Highspire
CapitalCrescent[2]
HPG ClassB[1][2]

Highspire II - more commonly known simply as Highspire - is the second planet in the system and has a single moon named Peak.[2]

Planetary History[edit]

Early History[edit]

One of a multitude of independent worlds within the Capellan Zone after the withdrawal of the Terran Alliance, Highspire was occupied by pirates during the late 2280s, who managed to subjugate the population until a combined force from the Capellan Hegemony and the Sian Supremacy cooperated to liberate the planet... unfortunately, provoking the nearby Sarna Supremacy as they did so.[5][8]

Highspire went on to become one of a number of client states that joined the Capellan Hegemony in the 2280s and 2290s, and presented the Hegemony with a number of problems - the most significant of which was that Highspire bordered both the Sarna Supremacy and the Tikonov Grand Union, both of which took a dim view of having a Hegemony province so close to their own borders.[11] As one of the Hegemony's border worlds, Highspire was subject to heavy attacks from Kluanian pirates in 2305, during the war between the Hegemony and the Sarna Supremacy. Hired by the Sarna Supremacy, the pirates inflicted heavy damage on a number of Capellan border worlds, forcing the Hegemony to constantly redeploy troops to defend its worlds rather than continuing to stage attacks on Sarna.[9]

At some point after the Hegemony/Supremacy war, Highspire became a part of the Chesterton Trade Federation, but by 2357 the Supremacy had absorbed the Trade Federation, including the world of Highspire. In July 2357 a large force from the Federated Peacekeeping Forces - the armed forces of the Federated Suns - landed on the former Chesterton world of Bell and claimed it in the name of the Federated Suns, with Prime Minister Reynard Davion also demanding that the Supremacy cede the worlds of Chesterton and Highspire to the Federated Suns.[10][40] The Supremacy had no choice but to comply;[10] however, while the Federated Suns easily occupied Chesterton, Highspire remained free.[12]

Third Succession War[edit]

Battle of Highspire (3012)

Fourth Succession War[edit]

By the time of the Fourth Succession War, Highspire was a study in contrasts; mixing on the planet were some of the lowest elements of the Capellan underworld, including such elements as the largest single enclave Thuggee cultists, and some of the highest-ranking Capellan nobility, drawn by Highspire's connection to the Liao family.[1]

Tasked with defending Highspire at the onset of the Fourth Succession War were the Northwind Highlanders, making Highspire a heavily defended border world; despite this, Highspire fell easily to the AFFS. The Northwind Highlanders had been persuaded to abandon their posts in exchange for being allowed to return to their traditional home planet, Northwind, depriving Highspire of most of its seasoned defenders; this made it easy prey for the First Bell Training Battalion.[1]

The date of the AFFS occupation would be celebrated with solemn ceremonies by much of the population - particularly from the servitor caste - under the name of Liberation Day, commemorating the surrender of the planet to the Federated Suns.[1]

Civil War Era[edit]

Following Highspire's reclamation by the Confederation from the Chaos March, Kali Liao had worked to gain the personal loyalty of the Thuggee cult on the world. The Thuggee zealots had pledged themselves to her service, and Kali would use the zealots and supplies of a deadly nerve agent to launch the Black May attacks within the St. Ives Compact in May 3062, claiming thousands of lives.[41]

By the closing stages of the Civil War the resurgent Capellan nobility tended to confine themselves to the city of Crescent, an opulent, wealthy city located within the southern hemisphere of Highspire and close to the equator. This kept them away from the bulk of the population of Highspire; the heaviest population concentration is based around the Chu-li mountain range, a 900 km range of mountains also believed to be the location of a number of Thuggee base camps. Also associated with the Thuggee cells operating around the Chu-li mountain range are rumors of a large underground complex used by the Thuggee for rituals, possibly including sacrificial rites. Kali Liao also maintained a palace close to a fully functioning starport located within the foothills of the Chu-li range.[1]

At this point Highspire was known to be a major exporter of fine timber and woodwork across the Sian and Victoria Commonalities as well as the Federated Suns. While the Maskirovka was attempting to stamp out the export trade with the Federated Suns, a trade which had grown substantially during Highspire's thirty-year tenure in the Sarna March, the Maskirovka had managed to have very little effect on the illicit black market for timber exports, which was apparently booming at the time.[1]

Rumors existed indicating that by the eve of the Jihad, the Chu-li mountain range had been the site of a significant amount of military construction work, possibly a part of the general military buildup within the Liao Commonality following the end of the war between the Confederation and the St. Ives Compact.[1]

The Jihad[edit]

On the 25th of August 3071 a combined task force of Rabid Foxes and regular units from the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns launched a punitive raid on Highspire in retaliation for earlier attacks on Chesterton. The AFFS force was reportedly destroyed by two hybrid Thuggee-Manei Domini formations - the Rakshasa and the White Tigers - operating as "Warrior Houses".[42][43]

Capellan Death Commandos arrested Duchess Kali Liao on Highspire on the 30th of November 3073, transporting her back to Sian where in late December she was presented to Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao and charged with collaborating with the enemy and treason.[44][45]

In 3079 Highspire is the site of one of the CCAF Duchy Regional Training Centers that trains Vehicle crews and Unarmored Infantry.[2]

Military Deployment[edit]

3025[edit]

3038[edit]

3111[edit]

3145[edit]

- At this point in time, the unit was at 80% of full strength with a "B" equipment rating.

Geography[edit]

Highspire has a single continent named Chu-Li.[2]

Planetary Locations[edit]

  • Crescent: the planetary capital city.[2]

Industrial Centers[edit]

Image gallery[edit]

Map Gallery[edit]

Nearby Systems[edit]

Closest 72 systems (69 within 60 light-years)
Distance in light years, closest systems first:
Bell 10.1 Foot Fall 10.9 Plataea 13.2 Undra 13.6
Mandate 13.8 Moravian 15.8 Remshield 20.9 Ashkum 21.5
Shipka 21.9 New Macao 23.0 Foochow 24.5 Aosia 25.2
Jonathan 26.1 Menkib 26.7 Axton 27.5 Matsu 27.8
Zaurak 27.9 Menkar 28.8 Westphalia 29.4 Heligoland 29.5
Lee 33.3 Acala 34.3 Kek 34.4 Valexa 35.1
Tianamon 35.4 Wei 36.4 Tsingtao 36.6 Lacadon 37.2
Hunan 37.2 Angelsey 39.1 Perkasie 39.2 Algot 39.2
St. Andre 39.3 Anaea 41.1 Tecumseh 41.5 New Athens 41.9
Goshen 42.2 Vintru 43.4 Kaifeng 43.6 New Aragon 43.7
Sakhalin 44.6 Truth 45.8 Lhasa 46.6 Genf 46.9
Cammal 47.1 Oli 48.4 Tsitsang 49.5 Palos 49.9
Halloran 50.3 Demeter 50.4 Chesterton 50.5 Ulan Batar 51.9
Conwy 52.9 Mytilene 53.5 Poznan 53.5 Shensi 53.6
Gallitzin 54.2 Ares 55.0 Minnacora 56.3 Farwell 56.5
Everett 56.8 Achilles 56.9 Almach 57.6 Sarna 57.7
Caria 57.8 Buchlau 58.8 Staffin 59.1 Paches 59.2
Hurgh 59.3 Gahral 60.9 Tedibyhr 60.9 Orbisonia 61.5

References[edit]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 Handbook: House Liao, p. 75: "Highspire"
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 Objectives: Capellan Confederation, p. 13: "Highspire"
  3. 3.0 3.1 Shattered Fortress, p. 103: "Inner Sphere - 3151" (Map)
  4. 4.0 4.1 Era Report: 2750, p. 37: "Inner Sphere - [2750] Map"
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 13: "Capturing the Markets"
  6. 6.0 6.1 House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 14: "Seeds of Destruction"
  7. 7.0 7.1 House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 24: "Friends and Other Enemies"
  8. 8.0 8.1 Handbook: House Liao, p. 12: "Timeline: Capellan Zone"
  9. 9.0 9.1 House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), pp. 14–15: "The Capellan-Supremacy War"
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Handbook: House Davion, p. 22: "Pushing Towards Confederation"
  11. 11.0 11.1 Handbook: House Liao, p. 17: "Capellan Confederation Founding - [2366] Map"
  12. 12.0 12.1 Handbook: House Liao, p. 13: "Timeline: Capellan Zone 2367"
  13. Handbook: House Liao, p. 25: "Capellan Confederation after Age of War - [2571] Map"
  14. Historical: Reunification War, p. 159: "Inner Sphere - [2596] Map"
  15. Field Manual: SLDF, p. vii: "Inner Sphere - [2764] Map"
  16. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - [2765] Map"
  17. First Succession War, pp. 24–25: "Inner Sphere - [2786] Map"
  18. Handbook: House Liao, p. 31: "Capellan Confederation after First Succession War - [2822 Map]"
  19. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2, pp. 122–123: "Inner Sphere - [2822] Map"
  20. First Succession War, pp. 112–113: "Inner Sphere - [2822] Map"
  21. Handbook: House Liao, p. 39: "Capellan Confederation after Second Succession War - [2864] Map"
  22. Handbook: House Liao, p. 40: "Capellan Confederation after Third Succession War - [3025] Map"
  23. Handbook: House Liao, p. 49: "Capellan Confederation after Fourth Succession War - [3030] Map"
  24. Historical: War of 3039, p. 133: "Inner Sphere - [3040] Map"
  25. Era Report: 3052, p. 10: Inner Sphere - [3050] Map
  26. Era Report: 3052, p. 22: Inner Sphere - [3052] Map
  27. Era Report: 3062, p. 10: Inner Sphere - [3057] Map
  28. Handbook: House Liao, p. 60: "Capellan Confederation after Operation Guerrero - [3058] Map"
  29. Era Report: 3062, p. 29: "Inner Sphere - [3063] Map"
  30. Handbook: House Liao, p. 68: "Capellan Confederation after FedCom Civil War - [3067] Map"
  31. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 43: "Inner Sphere - [3067] Map"
  32. Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 64: "Inner Sphere - [3075] Map"
  33. Field Report: CCAF, p. 21: "Capellan Confederation Armed Forces Deployment Map - [August 3079]"
  34. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 63: "Inner Sphere - [3081] Map"
  35. Field Manual: 3085, p. vii: "Inner Sphere - [3085] Map"
  36. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 81: "Operation DIVINE RIGHT and Operation MAGNUS [October 3111 - May 3113]" (Map)
  37. Era Report: 3145, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - [3135] Map"
  38. Era Report: 3145, p. 39: "Inner Sphere - [3145] Map"
  39. Field Manual: 3145, p. VI: "Inner Sphere - [3145] Map"
  40. House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 27: "The War Leader"
  41. Handbook: House Liao, p. 65: "Standing Firm"
  42. Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 17: "Timeline of the Jihad"
  43. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 49: "The Jihad in Review"
  44. Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 38: "Timeline of the Jihad"
  45. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 52: "The Jihad in Review"
  46. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 105: "Unit Deployment Table"
  47. Historical: War of 3039, p. 136: "Deployment Table"
  48. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 86: "Capellan Crusades Deployment Tables"
  49. Field Manual: 3145, p. 45: "Capellan Confederation Armed Forces Deployment Table - 3145"

Bibliography[edit]