Difference between revisions of "Helm"
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| coord = -133.614 : -58.208{{e}} | | coord = -133.614 : -58.208{{e}} | ||
| stars = | | stars = | ||
| − | | class = K4IV<ref name=HB:HMp68>''Handbook: House Marik'', | + | | class = K4IV<ref name=HB:HMp68>''Handbook: House Marik'', pp. 68–69: "Helm"</ref><ref name=TtSHp4>''Touring the Stars: Helm'', p. 4</ref><ref name=TP:Tp3>''Turning Points: Helm'', p. 3</ref> |
| − | | recharge = 195 hours<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref name=EApm>''Empire Alone'', poster map</ref> | + | | recharge = 195 hours<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref name=EApm>''Empire Alone'', poster map</ref><ref name=TP:Tp3/> |
| − | | recharge stations = None<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | + | | recharge stations = None<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref name=TP:Tp3/> |
| planets = | | planets = | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The '''Helm''' system was home to at least one habitable world, '''Helm IV''', and as of June [[3152]] was located in the [[Clan Protectorate]] within the [[Free Worlds League]].<ref name=EAp78>''Empire Alone'', p. 78: "The Free Worlds League - June 3152 (Map)"</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==System Description== | ||
| + | Helm is located near the [[Tania Australis]] and [[Kolobrzeg]] systems. | ||
==Political Affiliation== | ==Political Affiliation== | ||
| − | + | {{div col|colwidth=25em}} | |
| − | * Late | + | * Late 2100s - [[Terran Alliance]]<ref name=TPOGc4>''The Price of Glory'', ch. 4</ref> |
| − | * [[2271]] - [[Stewart Confederation]]<ref name="HB:HMp16"/> | + | * [[2271]] - [[Stewart Confederation]]<ref name="HB:HMp16">''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 16</ref> |
* [[2293]] - [[Free Worlds League]]<ref name="HM(TFWL)p11"/> | * [[2293]] - [[Free Worlds League]]<ref name="HM(TFWL)p11"/> | ||
| − | * [[2571]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 24 | + | * [[2571]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 24</ref> |
| − | * [[2596]] - Free Worlds League<ref name="H:RWp158">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 158 | + | * [[2596]] - Free Worlds League<ref name="H:RWp158">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 158</ref> |
| − | * [[2750]] - Free Worlds League<ref name="ER:2750p37">''Era Report: 2750'', p. 37 | + | * [[2750]] - Free Worlds League<ref name="ER:2750p37">''Era Report: 2750'', p. 37</ref> |
| − | * [[2765]] - Free Worlds League<ref name="H:LoTV1p11>''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1'', p. 11 | + | * [[2765]] - Free Worlds League<ref name="H:LoTV1p11>''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1'', p. 11</ref> |
| − | * [[2786]] - Free Worlds League<ref name="FSW(SB)p24-25">''First Succession War'', pp. 24–25 | + | * [[2786]] - Free Worlds League<ref name="FSW(SB)p24-25">''First Succession War'', pp. 24–25</ref> |
| − | * [[2822]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 34 | + | * [[2822]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 34</ref><ref name="FSW(SB)p112-113">''First Succession War'', pp. 112–113</ref> |
| − | * [[2864]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 38 | + | * [[2864]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 38</ref> |
| − | * [[3025]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 42 | + | * [[3025]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 42</ref> |
| − | * [[3030]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 51 | + | * [[3028]] - Free Worlds League<ref name=RAM>''The Ram Has Touched the Wall''</ref> |
| − | * [[3040]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 133 | + | * [[3030]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 51</ref> |
| − | * [[3050]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Era Report: 3052'', p. 11 | + | * [[3040]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 133</ref> |
| − | * [[3052]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Era Report: 3052'', p. 25 | + | * [[3050]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Era Report: 3052'', p. 11</ref> |
| − | * [[3057]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 11 | + | * [[3052]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Era Report: 3052'', p. 25</ref> |
| − | * [[3058]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 54 | + | * [[3057]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 11</ref> |
| − | * [[3063]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 29 | + | * [[3058]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 54</ref> |
| − | * [[3075]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 64 | + | * [[3063]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 29</ref> |
| − | * [[3079]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Field Report: FWLM'', p. 17 | + | * [[3075]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 64</ref> |
| − | * [[3081]] - [[Stewart Commonality]]<ref name="J:FRp62">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 63 | + | * [[3079]] - Free Worlds League<ref>''Field Report: FWLM'', p. 17</ref> |
| + | * [[3081]] - [[Stewart Commonality]]<ref name="J:FRp62">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 63</ref> | ||
* [[3085]] - [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. vii: "Inner Sphere Map - [October 3085]"</ref> | * [[3085]] - [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. vii: "Inner Sphere Map - [October 3085]"</ref> | ||
| − | + | * [[3135]] - Marik-Stewart Commonwealth<ref name="ER:3145p10">''Era Report: 3145'', p. 10</ref> | |
| − | * [[3135]] - Marik-Stewart Commonwealth<ref name="ER:3145p10">''Era Report: 3145'', p. 10 | + | * [[3138]] - [[Lyran Commonwealth]] / [[Clan Wolf]] (from April)<ref name=TLCc15>''The Last Charge'', ch. 15</ref> |
| − | * [[3138]] - [[Lyran Commonwealth]] / [[Clan Wolf]] (from April)<ref>''The Last Charge'', ch. 15 | + | * [[3140]] - Clan Wolf (from May)<ref name=ER:3145p69>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 69</ref><ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 21: "Timeline of Events (cont.)"</ref> |
| − | * [[3140]] - Clan Wolf (from May)<ref name=ER:3145p69>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 69 | ||
* [[3142]] - [[Wolf Empire]] (from January)<ref name=ER:3145p69/> | * [[3142]] - [[Wolf Empire]] (from January)<ref name=ER:3145p69/> | ||
| − | * [[3145]] - Wolf Empire<ref name="ER:3145p39">''Era Report: 3145'', p. 39 | + | * [[3145]] - Wolf Empire<ref name="ER:3145p39">''Era Report: 3145'', p. 39</ref> |
| − | * [[3151]] - Wolf Empire<ref name=SFp103>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 103 | + | * [[3151]] - Wolf Empire / Free Worlds League (from August)<ref name=SFp103>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 103</ref><ref name=EAp40-41>''Empire Alone'', pp. 40–41</ref> |
| − | + | * [[3152]] - Free Worlds League<ref name=EAp78/> | |
| − | </ | + | {{div col end}} |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| + | ------------------------------------- | ||
==Helm IV== | ==Helm IV== | ||
{{InfoBoxPlanet | {{InfoBoxPlanet | ||
| − | | image = Helm Flag. | + | | image = Helm Flag.png |
| − | | caption = Planetary | + | | caption = Planetary Flag of Helm |
| name = Helm IV | | name = Helm IV | ||
| othernames = | | othernames = | ||
| − | | position = | + | | position = Fourth<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref name=TP:Tp3/> |
| − | | distance = 4.31 days<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | + | | distance = 4.31 days<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref name=TP:Tp3/> |
| − | | moons = None<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | + | | moons = None<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref name=TP:Tp3/> |
| − | | gravity = 0.95<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | + | | gravity = 0.95<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref name=TP:Tp3/> |
| − | | pressure = Standard (Breathable)<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | + | | pressure = Standard (Breathable)<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref name=TP:Tp3/> |
| − | | temperature = 30°C (Cold-Temperate)<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | + | | temperature = 30°C (Cold-Temperate)<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref name=TP:Tp3/> |
| − | | water = 58%<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | + | | water = 58%<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref name=TP:Tp3/> |
| − | | life = Reptile<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | + | | life = Reptile<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref name=TP:Tp3/> |
| continents = | | continents = | ||
| − | | | + | | colonized = |
| demonym = | | demonym = | ||
| language = | | language = | ||
| religion = | | religion = | ||
| − | | population = | + | | population = 15,000,000 (3028),<ref name=TP:Tp3/><br/>22,000,000 (3067)<ref name=HB:HMp68/> |
| − | + | | ruler = | |
| − | | political = | + | | political = [[Planetary Governor of Helm|Planetary Governor]] |
| commander = | | commander = | ||
| − | | capital = | + | | capital = Helmsdown<ref name=HB:HMp68/> |
| − | | hpg = B<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | + | | hpg = B<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref name=TP:Tp3/> |
| hpgrep = | | hpgrep = | ||
}} | }} | ||
===Planetary History=== | ===Planetary History=== | ||
====Early History==== | ====Early History==== | ||
| − | Helm was discovered and colonized during the late | + | Helm was discovered and colonized during the late [[twenty-second century]] by explorers operating from [[New Hope]] and [[Tania Borealis]].<ref name=TPOGc4/> |
| − | One of five worlds to be a part of the Stewart Confederation in 2271,<ref name="HB:HMp16" | + | One of five worlds to be a part of the Stewart Confederation in [[2271]],<ref name="HB:HMp16"/> Helm was suffering alongside the other worlds following the withdrawal of Terran authority, and by [[2288]] the Stewart Confederation was barely able to organize itself to order basic replacement parts for factories. The rise to power of [[David Genovese]] in [[2288]] marked a significant improvement in productivity across the Confederation, with his five-year rule as dictator making the state work more efficiently.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p10">''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 10: "A Fool And His Kingdom"</ref> Genovese was overthrown when forces from the Free Worlds League led by [[Juliano Marik]] invaded in [[2293]], following Genovese's rebuffing offers to join the League.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p11">''House Marik (The Free Worlds League)'', p. 11: "The Rule of 75"</ref> Helm and the other worlds of the Stewart Confederation were inducted into the League Parliament in [[2295]] when the Parliament declared the former Confederation to be a Province of the Free Worlds League.<ref name=PM>''House Marik (The Free Worlds League)'', p. 59: "Parliamentary Membership"</ref> |
====Star League==== | ====Star League==== | ||
In [[2532]], littoral pirates infesting the Yehuda Sea shorelines around Durandel were finally routed by a blue water squadron flagged by the ''Acero'', a [[Mauna Kea|Mauna Kea Command Vessel]]. Though successful, the pirates managed to sink the ''Acero'' in the final engagement.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 256: "Mauna Kea Command Vessel"</ref> | In [[2532]], littoral pirates infesting the Yehuda Sea shorelines around Durandel were finally routed by a blue water squadron flagged by the ''Acero'', a [[Mauna Kea|Mauna Kea Command Vessel]]. Though successful, the pirates managed to sink the ''Acero'' in the final engagement.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 256: "Mauna Kea Command Vessel"</ref> | ||
| − | In [[2743]], the [[ | + | In [[2743]], the [[Star League Defense Force]] [[Forty-second Engineering Brigade]] began construction on the [[Nagayan Mountain Castle Brian]] which would become one of the largest munitions dumps ever funded by the SLDF, boasting not only conventional weapons but also one of the [[Star League]]'s biggest single-site concentrations of tactical nuclear weapons. The stockpile was eventually joined by "Star League Field Library Facility, Helm, DE890-2699."<ref>''Era Report: 2750'', p. 58</ref><ref>''The Price of Glory'', p. 233</ref> |
| − | + | ====First Succession War==== | |
| − | + | At the dawn of the [[First Succession War]], [[Minoru Kurita (28th c.)|Minoru Kurita]] sent troops to raid Helm and commandeer the SLDF stockpile. Unable to find the matériel left behind by the SLDF, Kurita flew into a rage and ordered his forces to punish the people of Helm. Nuclear weapons rained down on the world, killing over 80% of the population and leaving huge swaths of the planet radioactive deserts. A few aerospace fighter bays located in some asteroids are the only remaining parts of the SLDF fleet base.<ref name=HB:HMp68/><ref>''First Succession War'', pp. 5–8: "Ghost Rain"</ref> | |
| − | At the dawn of the [[First Succession War]], [[Minoru Kurita (28th c.)|Minoru Kurita]] sent troops to raid Helm and commandeer the SLDF stockpile. Unable to find the matériel left behind by the SLDF, Kurita flew into a rage and ordered his forces to punish the people of Helm. Nuclear weapons rained down on the world, killing over 80% of the population and leaving huge | ||
| − | + | ====Fourth Succession War==== | |
The planet was best known for being the site of the discovery of the [[Helm Memory Core]] in [[3028]]. Helm was granted to the [[Gray Death Legion]] as their landhold. Fearing he discovered the Star League cache, Precentor [[Emilio Rachan]] of ComStar plotted to destroy the Legion's reputation and the unit. | The planet was best known for being the site of the discovery of the [[Helm Memory Core]] in [[3028]]. Helm was granted to the [[Gray Death Legion]] as their landhold. Fearing he discovered the Star League cache, Precentor [[Emilio Rachan]] of ComStar plotted to destroy the Legion's reputation and the unit. | ||
| − | Rogue elements from the Free Worlds League and [[ComStar]] attempted to manipulate the mercenaries into destroying the Memory Core, but were unsuccessful.<ref name=HB:HMp68/> Copies of the Helm Memory Core were taken to many universities across the [[Inner Sphere]], triggering the technological renaissance of the mid- | + | Rogue elements from the Free Worlds League and [[ComStar]] attempted to manipulate the mercenaries into destroying the Memory Core, but were unsuccessful.<ref name=HB:HMp68/> Copies of the Helm Memory Core were taken to many universities across the [[Inner Sphere]], triggering the technological renaissance of the mid-[[thirty-first century]]. |
Helm remains a largely agrarian world. Enough of the land has been decontaminated to grow food, and the events of [[3028]] returned the Yehudan Sea to its place on the surface. (The SLDF had locked the seawaters underground for some reason.)<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | Helm remains a largely agrarian world. Enough of the land has been decontaminated to grow food, and the events of [[3028]] returned the Yehudan Sea to its place on the surface. (The SLDF had locked the seawaters underground for some reason.)<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | ||
====Dark Age==== | ====Dark Age==== | ||
| − | Helm become a key battlefield during [[Operation HAMMERFALL]], the [[Clan Wolf]] and Lyran Commonwealth forces invading the [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]. In May | + | Helm become a key battlefield during [[Operation HAMMERFALL]], the [[Clan Wolf]] and Lyran Commonwealth forces invading the [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]. In May 3138, the [[Silver Hawk Irregulars]] after defending the world against the Wolf and Lyran forces, were finally defeated in the capital city, Helmsdown. Most of the Hawks attempt to surrender, but Wolf forces, led by [[Alaric Wolf]] slaughtered them to a man.<ref>''The Last Charge'', p. 135</ref> |
| − | Helm | + | The Lyran victory at the [[Battle of Helm (3138)]] was one of the last battles of the war. Most of the planet survived the battle undamaged, but Helmsdown did not: Wolf Clan forces bombarded and razed a portion of the capital.<ref>''The Last Charge'', p. 115</ref> |
===Military Deployment=== | ===Military Deployment=== | ||
| Line 112: | Line 115: | ||
* [[Light Keshik (Clan Wolf)|Light Keshik]]<ref name=FM:3145p171>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 171: "Clan Force Deployments - Wolf Empire"</ref> | * [[Light Keshik (Clan Wolf)|Light Keshik]]<ref name=FM:3145p171>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 171: "Clan Force Deployments - Wolf Empire"</ref> | ||
| − | === Geography === | + | ===Geography=== |
| − | + | [[File:Helm Planetary Map.png|right|450px|thumb|Helm World Map]] | |
Helm is a cold world on the outer edge of the habitable zone. More than half its surface is locked beneath glaciers kilometers deep. Vast stretches of what had once been ocean floor were dry and bare, with much of the world's water now locked in Helm's icecaps. Much of the land that remained is either mountainous or arid desert. Between the relentless, endless seas of ice to north and south, ice-capped mountains thousands of meters high girdled Helm at the equator. | Helm is a cold world on the outer edge of the habitable zone. More than half its surface is locked beneath glaciers kilometers deep. Vast stretches of what had once been ocean floor were dry and bare, with much of the world's water now locked in Helm's icecaps. Much of the land that remained is either mountainous or arid desert. Between the relentless, endless seas of ice to north and south, ice-capped mountains thousands of meters high girdled Helm at the equator. | ||
| − | The capital city of the planet is Helmsdown. Other notable locations include the ruins of the former capital city of Freeport, which was an SLDF logistical depot, and the | + | The capital city of the planet is Helmsdown. Other notable locations include the ruins of the former capital city of Freeport, which was an SLDF logistical depot, and the SLDF weapons depot that it eventually became. This weapons depot was combined with a [[Castle Brian]] complex under Nagayan Mountain.<ref name=HB:HMp68/> |
| − | === Planetary Locations === | + | ===Planetary Locations=== |
| − | * Helmsdown: | + | * Freeport: an urban area<ref name=HB:HMp68/> |
| + | * Helmsdown: township serving as the planetary capital city and spaceport<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | ||
* [[Nagayan Mountain Castle Brian]]<ref name=FM:SLDFp108>''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. 108</ref> | * [[Nagayan Mountain Castle Brian]]<ref name=FM:SLDFp108>''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. 108</ref> | ||
| + | * Newport: a modern metropolis on the shores of the ancient sea<ref name=HB:HMp68/> | ||
===Industrial Centers=== | ===Industrial Centers=== | ||
* [[Freeport Armorworks]]{{cn}} | * [[Freeport Armorworks]]{{cn}} | ||
| − | == Map Gallery == | + | ===Image gallery=== |
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Helm Planetary Map.png|Planetary map of Helm | ||
| + | Helm Flag.png|Planetary flag of Helm | ||
| + | Helm-Freeport area map.jpg|Illustration of the area around Freeport from ''[[The Price of Glory]]'' | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Map Gallery== | ||
<div class="system-map-gallery"></div> | <div class="system-map-gallery"></div> | ||
| − | == Nearby Systems == | + | ==Nearby Systems== |
<!-- NOTE: This table is automatically generated by BattleTechWiki:Project_Planets/Mapping, and any edits to this section may be overwritten at any time by a bot --> | <!-- NOTE: This table is automatically generated by BattleTechWiki:Project_Planets/Mapping, and any edits to this section may be overwritten at any time by a bot --> | ||
{|class="wikitable nearby-systems" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 1px solid black;" | {|class="wikitable nearby-systems" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 1px solid black;" | ||
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|} | |} | ||
| − | == References == | + | ==References== |
<references /> | <references /> | ||
| − | == Bibliography == | + | ==Bibliography== |
| − | + | {{div col|colwidth=25em}} | |
* ''[[Empire Alone]]'' | * ''[[Empire Alone]]'' | ||
* ''[[Era Digest: Dark Age]]'' | * ''[[Era Digest: Dark Age]]'' | ||
| Line 259: | Line 271: | ||
* ''[[The Last Charge]]'' (novel) | * ''[[The Last Charge]]'' (novel) | ||
* ''[[The Price of Glory]]'' (novel) | * ''[[The Price of Glory]]'' (novel) | ||
| + | * ''[[The Ram Has Touched the Wall]]'' (short story) | ||
| + | * ''[[Turning Points: Helm]]'' | ||
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]'' | * ''[[Shattered Fortress]]'' | ||
| − | + | {{div col end}} | |
Revision as of 10:23, 27 December 2023
 | This article needs to be updated with material from First Succession War (sourcebook) , Turning Points: Helm. Once these titles clear the Moratorium period, or if they already have, please consider revisiting this article and updating it with the new material. |
| Helm | |
|---|---|
← 3135 3151 | |
 | |
| System Information | |
| X:Y Coordinates | -133.614 : -58.208[e] |
| Spectral class | K4IV[1][2][3] |
| Recharge time | 195 hours[1][4][3] |
| Recharge station(s) | None[1][3] |
The Helm system was home to at least one habitable world, Helm IV, and as of June 3152 was located in the Clan Protectorate within the Free Worlds League.[5]
Contents
System Description
Helm is located near the Tania Australis and Kolobrzeg systems.
Political Affiliation
- Late 2100s - Terran Alliance[6]
- 2271 - Stewart Confederation[7]
- 2293 - Free Worlds League[8]
- 2571 - Free Worlds League[9]
- 2596 - Free Worlds League[10]
- 2750 - Free Worlds League[11]
- 2765 - Free Worlds League[12]
- 2786 - Free Worlds League[13]
- 2822 - Free Worlds League[14][15]
- 2864 - Free Worlds League[16]
- 3025 - Free Worlds League[17]
- 3028 - Free Worlds League[18]
- 3030 - Free Worlds League[19]
- 3040 - Free Worlds League[20]
- 3050 - Free Worlds League[21]
- 3052 - Free Worlds League[22]
- 3057 - Free Worlds League[23]
- 3058 - Free Worlds League[24]
- 3063 - Free Worlds League[25]
- 3075 - Free Worlds League[26]
- 3079 - Free Worlds League[27]
- 3081 - Stewart Commonality[28]
- 3085 - Marik-Stewart Commonwealth[29]
- 3135 - Marik-Stewart Commonwealth[30]
- 3138 - Lyran Commonwealth / Clan Wolf (from April)[31]
- 3140 - Clan Wolf (from May)[32][33]
- 3142 - Wolf Empire (from January)[32]
- 3145 - Wolf Empire[34]
- 3151 - Wolf Empire / Free Worlds League (from August)[35][36]
- 3152 - Free Worlds League[5]
Helm IV
| Helm IV | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Astrophysical | |
| System position | Fourth[1][3] |
| Jump Point distance | 4.31 days[1][3] |
| Moons | None[1][3] |
| Geophysical | |
| Surface gravity | 0.95[1][3] |
| Atmospheric pressure | Standard (Breathable)[1][3] |
| Equatorial temperature | 30°C (Cold-Temperate)[1][3] |
| Surface water | 58%[1][3] |
| Highest native life | Reptile[1][3] |
| History and Culture | |
| Population | 15,000,000 (3028),[3] 22,000,000 (3067)[1] |
| Government and Infrastructure | |
| Political Leader | Planetary Governor |
| Capital | Helmsdown[1] |
| HPG Class | B[1][3] |
Planetary History
Early History
Helm was discovered and colonized during the late twenty-second century by explorers operating from New Hope and Tania Borealis.[6]
One of five worlds to be a part of the Stewart Confederation in 2271,[7] Helm was suffering alongside the other worlds following the withdrawal of Terran authority, and by 2288 the Stewart Confederation was barely able to organize itself to order basic replacement parts for factories. The rise to power of David Genovese in 2288 marked a significant improvement in productivity across the Confederation, with his five-year rule as dictator making the state work more efficiently.[37] Genovese was overthrown when forces from the Free Worlds League led by Juliano Marik invaded in 2293, following Genovese's rebuffing offers to join the League.[8] Helm and the other worlds of the Stewart Confederation were inducted into the League Parliament in 2295 when the Parliament declared the former Confederation to be a Province of the Free Worlds League.[38]
Star League
In 2532, littoral pirates infesting the Yehuda Sea shorelines around Durandel were finally routed by a blue water squadron flagged by the Acero, a Mauna Kea Command Vessel. Though successful, the pirates managed to sink the Acero in the final engagement.[39]
In 2743, the Star League Defense Force Forty-second Engineering Brigade began construction on the Nagayan Mountain Castle Brian which would become one of the largest munitions dumps ever funded by the SLDF, boasting not only conventional weapons but also one of the Star League's biggest single-site concentrations of tactical nuclear weapons. The stockpile was eventually joined by "Star League Field Library Facility, Helm, DE890-2699."[40][41]
First Succession War
At the dawn of the First Succession War, Minoru Kurita sent troops to raid Helm and commandeer the SLDF stockpile. Unable to find the matériel left behind by the SLDF, Kurita flew into a rage and ordered his forces to punish the people of Helm. Nuclear weapons rained down on the world, killing over 80% of the population and leaving huge swaths of the planet radioactive deserts. A few aerospace fighter bays located in some asteroids are the only remaining parts of the SLDF fleet base.[1][42]
Fourth Succession War
The planet was best known for being the site of the discovery of the Helm Memory Core in 3028. Helm was granted to the Gray Death Legion as their landhold. Fearing he discovered the Star League cache, Precentor Emilio Rachan of ComStar plotted to destroy the Legion's reputation and the unit.
Rogue elements from the Free Worlds League and ComStar attempted to manipulate the mercenaries into destroying the Memory Core, but were unsuccessful.[1] Copies of the Helm Memory Core were taken to many universities across the Inner Sphere, triggering the technological renaissance of the mid-thirty-first century.
Helm remains a largely agrarian world. Enough of the land has been decontaminated to grow food, and the events of 3028 returned the Yehudan Sea to its place on the surface. (The SLDF had locked the seawaters underground for some reason.)[1]
Dark Age
Helm become a key battlefield during Operation HAMMERFALL, the Clan Wolf and Lyran Commonwealth forces invading the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth. In May 3138, the Silver Hawk Irregulars after defending the world against the Wolf and Lyran forces, were finally defeated in the capital city, Helmsdown. Most of the Hawks attempt to surrender, but Wolf forces, led by Alaric Wolf slaughtered them to a man.[43]
The Lyran victory at the Battle of Helm (3138) was one of the last battles of the war. Most of the planet survived the battle undamaged, but Helmsdown did not: Wolf Clan forces bombarded and razed a portion of the capital.[44]
Military Deployment
2765
2786
- Juggernaut[46]
3145
Geography
Helm is a cold world on the outer edge of the habitable zone. More than half its surface is locked beneath glaciers kilometers deep. Vast stretches of what had once been ocean floor were dry and bare, with much of the world's water now locked in Helm's icecaps. Much of the land that remained is either mountainous or arid desert. Between the relentless, endless seas of ice to north and south, ice-capped mountains thousands of meters high girdled Helm at the equator.
The capital city of the planet is Helmsdown. Other notable locations include the ruins of the former capital city of Freeport, which was an SLDF logistical depot, and the SLDF weapons depot that it eventually became. This weapons depot was combined with a Castle Brian complex under Nagayan Mountain.[1]
Planetary Locations
- Freeport: an urban area[1]
- Helmsdown: township serving as the planetary capital city and spaceport[1]
- Nagayan Mountain Castle Brian[48]
- Newport: a modern metropolis on the shores of the ancient sea[1]
Industrial Centers
Image gallery
Planetary map of Helm
Planetary flag of Helm
Illustration of the area around Freeport from The Price of Glory
Map Gallery
Nearby Systems
| Closest 44 systems (43 within 60 light-years) Distance in light years, closest systems first: | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tania Australis | 9.6 | Kolobrzeg | 13.1 | Merak | 14.8 | Stewart | 15.7 |
| Bedeque | 21.2 | Danais | 23.0 | Bainsville | 26.3 | Tania Borealis | 27.5 |
| Amity | 27.8 | Adhafera | 29.2 | Gallatin | 31.7 | Gannett | 31.9 |
| Bondurant | 32.0 | New Hope | 32.5 | Concord | 32.9 | Alkes | 33.2 |
| Lancaster | 34.9 | Grobin | 36.3 | Gniezno | 36.7 | Rasalas | 39.6 |
| Angell | 43.8 | Ariel | 44.1 | Autumn Wind | 44.7 | Kalidasa | 44.9 |
| Sheridan | 45.3 | Uhuru | 46.1 | Rochelle | 46.8 | Catroxx | 48.0 |
| Keystone | 48.1 | Nestor | 49.1 | McAffe | 49.3 | Washburn | 50.4 |
| Solaris | 52.4 | Aquileia | 54.4 | Szombathely | 55.1 | Savannah | 55.2 |
| Pardeau | 55.4 | Dickinson | 56.1 | Marik | 56.6 | Launam | 56.8 |
| August | 58.2 | Sarkel | 59.2 | Sterling | 59.3 | Oceana | 62.2 |
References
- ↑ 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 1.18 1.19 1.20 Handbook: House Marik, pp. 68–69: "Helm"
- ↑ Touring the Stars: Helm, p. 4
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 Turning Points: Helm, p. 3
- ↑ Empire Alone, poster map
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Empire Alone, p. 78: "The Free Worlds League - June 3152 (Map)"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Price of Glory, ch. 4
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Handbook: House Marik, p. 16
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 11: "The Rule of 75"
- ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 24
- ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 158
- ↑ Era Report: 2750, p. 37
- ↑ Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 11
- ↑ First Succession War, pp. 24–25
- ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 34
- ↑ First Succession War, pp. 112–113
- ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 38
- ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 42
- ↑ The Ram Has Touched the Wall
- ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 51
- ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 133
- ↑ Era Report: 3052, p. 11
- ↑ Era Report: 3052, p. 25
- ↑ Era Report: 3062, p. 11
- ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 54
- ↑ Era Report: 3062, p. 29
- ↑ Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 64
- ↑ Field Report: FWLM, p. 17
- ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 63
- ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. vii: "Inner Sphere Map - [October 3085]"
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 10
- ↑ The Last Charge, ch. 15
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Era Report: 3145, p. 69
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 21: "Timeline of Events (cont.)"
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 39
- ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 103
- ↑ Empire Alone, pp. 40–41
- ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 10: "A Fool And His Kingdom"
- ↑ House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 59: "Parliamentary Membership"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3075, p. 256: "Mauna Kea Command Vessel"
- ↑ Era Report: 2750, p. 58
- ↑ The Price of Glory, p. 233
- ↑ First Succession War, pp. 5–8: "Ghost Rain"
- ↑ The Last Charge, p. 135
- ↑ The Last Charge, p. 115
- ↑ Field Report 2765: FWLM, p. 17: "Regimental Status"
- ↑ First Succession War, p. 138: "First Succession War Deployment Table - FWLM"
- ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 171: "Clan Force Deployments - Wolf Empire"
- ↑ Field Manual: SLDF, p. 108
Bibliography
- Empire Alone
- Era Digest: Dark Age
- Era Report: 2750
- Era Report: 3052
- Era Report: 3062
- Era Report: 3145
- Field Manual: 3085
- Field Manual: 3145
- Field Report: FWLM
- Field Report 2765: FWLM
- First Succession War
- Handbook: House Marik
- Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1
- Historical: Reunification War
- Historical: War of 3039
- House Marik (The Free Worlds League)
- Jihad: Final Reckoning
- Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents
- The Last Charge (novel)
- The Price of Glory (novel)
- The Ram Has Touched the Wall (short story)
- Turning Points: Helm
- Shattered Fortress