Solaris
- This article is about the Solaris system. For the boxed set for duelling on Solaris VII or for the Solaris Games as such, see Solaris VII: The Game World and Solaris Games.
This article needs to be updated with material from First Succession War (Source Book). Once these titles clear the Moratorium period, or if they already have, please consider revisiting this article and updating it with the new material. |
Solaris | |
---|---|
← 3135 3151 | |
System Information | |
X:Y Coordinates | -122.31 : -7.02[e] |
Spectral class | K1V[1] |
Recharge time | 185 hours[1] |
Recharge station(s) | Zenith/Nadir[1] |
Planet(s) | 7+[1] |
Contents
Overview
Solaris is a system on the Lyran border to the Free Worlds League. Its planet, Solaris VII, is famous throughout the whole Inner Sphere for its BattleMech fights, which are operated there as a sport in the Solaris Games.
On the fourth planet is a large mining colony.
The Gaming World
- see also: Solaris Games
Solaris VII is known across the galaxy for its 'Mech fights. Gamblers place exorbitant amounts of money on longshot bets, and fortunes are won and lost daily. Solaris City, in particular, hosts six major arenas and numerous MechWarrior stables. Every year there is a Grand Tournament, which culminates with the naming of the year’s champion (notable champions include Gray Noton and Kai Allard-Liao). However, the games were all but suspended following the breakout of inter-House hostilities within Solaris City in 3063, resulting in numerous casualties and precipitating the FedCom Civil War.
Template:InfoBoxPlanetStandard
Solaris City
The capital and beating heart of the Game World, Solaris City is the home of the movers and shakers of Solaris VII. The city, which is home to some five million people, is divided into six districts and, with the exception of the International Zone, each of those is considered property of one of the five Great Houses. They are the Black Hills (Davion), Cathay (Liao), Silesia (Steiner), Montenegro (Marik), and Kobe (Kurita). Each of the districts hosts a Class Six arena, where the top twenty MechWarriors battle each year to determine the championship. Residents of the sectors are actually still considered citizens of their respective nations, so Solaris City finds itself the home of many individuals who are persona non grata in their home nations, but still wish to remain citizens. Because of this phenomenon, the residents of Solaris City are often unrepresentative of the people from their parent nation.
Solaris City is ringed by a suburb known as Xolara, which itself is surrounded by Burgton. To the northeast is Roland Fields, while Bracken Swamp is to the southwest. Many native Solarans live in these suburbs, while Rasalhagians tend to live in Xolara. Periphery natives often call the outer suburbs home.
International Zone
The International Zone is governed by Solaris' central authority and primarily serves as a transportation and general utilities hub, in addition to various tourist attractions. The main spaceport is located in the International Zone, offering access to the mass transit system which criss-crosses the entire city. The Solaris Police Department is known for its professionalism and incorruptibility, though they are often unwelcome in other zones, while the Solaris Times provides a full listing of upcoming fights and their associated spreads. The local class-A HPG station falls within the purview of the International Zone.[2]
Black Hills
The House Davion sector is a study in contrasts, with the uphill mansions butting against the slums of the Lowlands to the east. The local police department is well-staffed, including a lance of light 'Mechs for civil disturbances. Popular points of interest include the Sun and Sword Hotel, the Silver Swan restaurant and Running Fox Country Club, though the biggest draw for tourists is the Boreal Reach arena, the most popular of the five Open Class arenas.[3]
Montenegro
The House Marik sector was originally an abandoned industrial zone when it was given over to them during the Reconstruction period, and while it has rebounded since then echos of that past remain with large areas of ruined factories and slums. This past was incorporated into the sector's Open Class arena, The Factory, built out of a decrepit manufacturing complex and numbering among the most popular of the open arenas. The zone's nightlife is another attraction, with establishments like Hanger 66 and The Riever drawing tourists and locals alike. The imposing Marik Tower implies a strong, central authority in the zone but, mirroring the League's politics, reticent provinces maintain their own offices separate and in defiance of this ordnance. Crime is rampant thanks to the most inefficient of Solaris City's independent police forces.[4]
Kobe
The House Kurita sector existed in something of a limbo for most of its history, after Urizen Kurita turned his back on Solaris City in response to SLDF Gunslingers turning the tide against Kuritan ronin in the First Hidden War. Kobe was finally recognized by Theodore Kurita in 3056, revitalizing the sector's economy as it could once again (legally) broadcast matches in the Combine. The sector's slums are tastefully hidden behind tall trees and hills, allowing tourists to visit the open-air Kobe Theater, stay at the Hotel Dragon or relax in the War Memorial Park without being offended by such sights. In competition with Monenegro's for second-most popular open arena is Ishiyama, a man-made mountain which looms over Solaris River.[5]
Cathay
The House Liao sector has a reputation for the highest standards of living in Solaris City, as well as for the criminal activity of the local triads. The highlands contain most of the sector's middle and upper class housing, as well as attractions like the Cathay Arms hotel and Sesame Inn restaurant. The Open Class arena known as The Jungle is an imposing pyramidal structure and central attraction in Cathay, though given the surrounding neighborhoods the required level of security often makes the arena's parking lot feel like an armed camp. The Maze and Rivertown neighborhoods along the riverfront are no-go zones for the sector's police force.[6]
Silesia
The House Steiner sector is known for its fashionable Upper East Side and the luxurious condos of the Riverfront District. That the Riverfront has minimal police protection and abuts the poor districts of Cathy, yet boasts one of the lowest crime rates in Solaris City, has resulted in some theories that the local criminal organizations recognize it as "neutral territory." Steiner Stadium is one of the few arenas which allows its audience to view 'Mech matches live rather than on closed-circuit tri-vids, a result of the arena's unique lostech weapons barrier. Just as famous is Thor's Shieldhall sports bar, where the reigning Solaris Champion is given the seat of honor on the champion's dais in the exclusive Valhalla Club.[7]
Geography
Solaris VII is the largest planet in the system and is a rainy, water-rich world consisting only of two continents.
Greyland, which is heavily populated, owns large lakes and wide rivers. It features a vast taiga in the north and open grassland in the south, separated by large coniferous forests in the middle. The climate in the center of the continent, the location of Solaris City, is wet and cool. The rainy season there lasts almost all year in contrast to the temperate climate of the south coast.
Equatus, the second continent, is dry and mountainous.
Local Fauna
History
Early Time
Solaris VII has always been a highly industrialized world and, as such, was a natural choice for BattleMech factories and testing areas. At the time of the Star League, competing BattleMech manufacturers began to let their new models fight each other in front of highly-placed Star League representatives to encourage the purchase of the 'Mechs; the first fight took place between a Phoenix Hawk and a Sentinel in 2695. It was not long until the Events were broadcast on the planet and bets were placed on the outcomes of the fighting in a serious way. Mercenaries used Solaris as a training ground and the Gunslingers and Ronin used the world as a neutral place for their bitter fighting during the First Hidden War. The popularity of the fighting grew steadily and, at the time of the Amaris Coup, Solaris was already famous for its duels, some of them shown around the Inner Sphere.
The Succession Wars
Originally a world of the Free Worlds League, the planet suffered in the early throes of the Succession Wars. At the outbreak of fighting, Solaris turned to the Lyran Commonwealth during the First Succession War. However, a Marik fleet in retaliation bombed the planet with nuclear weapons.[9] In the subsequent Succession Wars Solaris also suffered severe devastation, including the near-destruction of Blue Shot Weapons in 2928.
In 3002 the LCAF struck down a major Marik offensive on Solaris. [10]
The duels on Solaris suffered from this only in the beginning because of the lack of idle MechWarriors due to the wars. Until 2800 the world had recovered from the stagnation again, mainly because the concept to build five BattleMech arenas in Solaris City, each of them representing one of the Great Houses, in which the Warriors of the Successor States should fight for the honor of their nation. Leading to the first real Solaris Championship in 2812. Since then, the championship is held every year.
Fourth Succession War
In October 3028 the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces repositioned a number of frontline units as the Free Worlds League Military launched Operation Dagger. One of the units repositioned were the Thirty-second Lyran Guards, who were relocated to Zaniah, leaving Solaris guarded by the Tenth Skye Rangers. The LCAF strategic intent wasn't to prevent a League invasion, but rather to make invading forces pay more dearly for any gains and slow the progress of any breakthrough.[11]
Solaris Riots
Just prior to the outbreak of the FedCom Civil War in 15 August 3062, friction between Davion- & Lyran-Loyalists heated into city wide riot in streets of Solaris City. ComStar garrison forces had been transferred off the planet at command of the LAAF Archon.
The FedSuns-aligned Solaris citizens and MechWarriors formed alliances to fend off with the Archon-Princess Katrina Steiner-Davion loyal Stables. These group formed after the two factions' quasi-champions Michael Searcy & Victor Vandergriff fought their championship match in the Steiner Stadium, which spilled over into the streets. The factions made an alliance between stables and cooperatives forming makeshift battalions fighting through the city. LAAF Peacekeepers, 32nd Lyran Guards,[12][13] failed to contain the fighting (with their commanding officer dead) and were consolidated with Steiner Loyalist forces. It was not until champions Searny and Vandgriff fought yet again in the darkened ruins of the Steiner Stadium did the initial fighting end in their mutual annihilation of each other.
Fighting between the two factions briefly ended, however the fighting would continue occasionally for several more years.[14] LAAF High Command later dispatched the 17th Arcturan Guards to reinforce the peace and also to keep the fighting from flaring up.[15]
Jihad
The Word of Blake invaded Solaris suddenly on the 16th of June 3068, taking advantage of both the chaos caused by the war between the Free Worlds League and the Skye and Bolan Provinces of the Lyran Alliance, as well as the absence of the Com Guards detachment previously assigned to Solaris but which had been recalled to take part in the disastrous Case White operation.[16][17] The Blakists referred to the invasion as Operation SHOWTIME,[18] and while the Word of Blake forces initially managed to escape being identified, the sheer number of free agents and stables on Solaris quickly led to an underground resistance movement[16] which came to be known as the "Solaris Home Defense League".[19]
Following the occupation of Solaris the Solaris Home Defense League engaged in months of low-level resistance.[20] Initially, the resistance suffered from a lack of resources - particularly ammunition, weaponry and the transport capabilities to move either ammunition or weapons. In June 3070 the resistance used a number of Savior Repair Vehicles as transport vehicles to move several platoons of infantry and Dispossessed MechWarriors into position to launch raids on a number of Blakist supply caches located throughout the International Zone. Having captured important quantities of ammunition, parts and BattleMechs, the resistance then used the Saviors to move the supplies out of Blakist territory. Although two Saviors were hit badly enough by Blakist infantry to trigger internal ammunition explosions, the CASE systems aboard the vessels protected both the embarked resistance fighters and much of the supplies.[18] The local yakuza families came to an agreement with the SHDL to provide equipment and ammunition.[21][22]
The level of resistance activity changed dramatically on the 3rd of May 3071, when Home Defense League forces launched a daring assault on Solaris City itself, securing the International Zone. This was just the beginning of a campaign to recapture the entire city, and the Home Defense League managed to push the defending Blakist forces out of Solaris City by the 11th of June, although not before the planetary HPG had been destroyed by the retreating Blakists.[20][23]
In August 3071, the Word of Blake forces launched a blitzkrieg-style assault on the International Zone, reclaiming control of the zone on the 17th. It took until the 15th of October for the Solaris Home Defense League to push the Word of Blake forces back out of the city and into the Reaches.[24][25][26][23] The Word of Blake forces would finally concede control of Solaris and leave the world on the 11th of December 3071.[26][27][28]
Post-Jihad Era
In 3079 only one company on Solaris was capable of continuing to design and build anything other than RetroTech 'Mechs; the Vining Engineering and Salvage Team. Based out of the city of Xolara on Greyland, Vining were busily recruiting experienced and skilled personnel from other firms as the Jihad drew to a close.[1]
While the bulk of the Lyran Alliance's Skye Province joined the Republic of the Sphere shortly after the signing of the Republic Formation Treaty, the Lyran government insisted on retaining Solaris within the Alliance. Despite the nearly total devastation of Solaris' military industrial base, the Lyran government was loathe to interfere with the fact that the industry rebuilding on Solaris in the wake of the Jihad focused on supplying the arenas; the arenas were enough of a financial boon to render them the preeminent Lyran interest, even ahead of the military production.[29]
Military Deployment
2786
3025
3028
3038
- Thirty-second Lyran Guards[34]
3050
- Thirty-second Lyran Guards RCT[35]
- Fifty-sixth Division of the ComGuard[36]
3054
- Thirty-second Lyran Guards RCT[37]
3062
- Fifty-sixth Division[38]
3067
- Fifty-sixth Division[39]
3079
- - At this point in time the Third Lyran Guards were deployed across Solaris and Rahne. The 3rd was at 75% of full strength, with 90% of their equipment featuring upgraded technology. The 3rd Lyran Guards preferred to avoid Solaris City and the chaos that surrounded it, instead camping and patrolling on the more sparsely-populated Equatus continent.
- Planetary Militia[1]
- - The Planetary Militia was still rebuilding at this point, and was formed from a mix of surviving members of the pre-Jihad Solaran security forces and elements of the Solaris Home Defense League which formed the bulk of the resistance to the Word of Blake. The Planetary Militia had the unenviable task of patrolling and securing the badly damaged Solaris City and surrounding areas as reconstruction efforts continued.[1]
3085
3145
Industrial Centers
- Doctor Géné Lyndon
- Blue Shot Weapons
- Innovative Design Concepts
- Norse-Storm Technologies Incorporated
- O'Neil BattleMechs
- Omnitech Industries
- Silver Wyrm, Ltd.
- Solaris Arms
- Vining Engineering and Salvage Team[1]
Political Affiliation
- 2271 - Inhabited world [43]
- 2341 - Inhabited world [44]
- 2571 - Free Worlds League [45]
- 2596 - Free Worlds League [46]
- 2750 - Free Worlds League [47]
- 2765 - Free Worlds League [48]
- 2786 - Free Worlds League [49]
- 2822 - Lyran Commonwealth [50]
- 2864 - Lyran Commonwealth[citation needed]
- 3002 - Free Worlds League [51]
- 3025 - Lyran Commonwealth[citation needed]
- 3030 - Lyran Commonwealth[citation needed]
- 3040 - Federated Commonwealth [52]
- 3052 - Federated Commonwealth[citation needed]
- 3057 - Lyran Alliance[citation needed]
- 3062 - Lyran Alliance[citation needed]
- 3067 - Lyran Alliance[citation needed]
- 3079 - Lyran Alliance [53]
- 3130 - Lyran Commonwealth [54]
- 3135 - Lyran Commonwealth [55]
- 3145 - Wolf Empire [56]
Nearby Planets
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Objectives: Lyran Alliance, p. 29, "Solaris VII"
- ↑ MechWarrior's Guide to Solaris VII, p. 70-72
- ↑ MechWarrior's Guide to Solaris VII, p. 72
- ↑ MechWarrior's Guide to Solaris VII, p. 73-74
- ↑ MechWarrior's Guide to Solaris VII, p. 73
- ↑ MechWarrior's Guide to Solaris VII, p. 72-73
- ↑ MechWarrior's Guide to Solaris VII, p. 74
- ↑ A Time of War Companion, p. 130, "Advanced Creatures - Vodnik"
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 90, "Solaris VII"
- ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 18, "Timeline Of The Antons Revolt"
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 63, "Overview"
- ↑ FedCom Civil War (Sourcebook), p. 183, "Deployment tables" - Unit status between 3062 & 3064
- ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 83, "32nd Lyran Guards" - Information about the unit failure to keep riots from getting out of control.
- ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 21, "Brief information on fighting in Solaris in 3062".
- ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 57, "17th Arcturan Guards" - Unit arrival it taking over lead of the garrison on Solaris.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 45, "The Jihad In Review"
- ↑ Total Chaos, pp. 59, 100
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Technical Readout: 3145 Mercenaries, p. 24, "Savior Repair Vehicle"
- ↑ Total Chaos, p. 100
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 16, "Timeline of the Jihad"
- ↑ Blood Price
- ↑ Total Chaos, p. 71
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Total Chaos, p. 101
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 17, "Timeline of the Jihad"
- ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 49, "The Jihad In Review"
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 50, "The Jihad In Review"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 20, "Timeline of the Jihad"
- ↑ Total Chaos, p. 102
- ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 85, "Bolan Province"
- ↑ First Succession War (Source Book), p. 138, "First Succession War Deployment Table - FWLM"
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 117, "Unit Deployment Table"
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p.45, "Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG"
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p.44, "Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG"
- ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 137, "Deployment Table"
- ↑ 20 Year Update, p. 27, "Federated Commonwealth Deployment Table"
- ↑ ComStar (sourcebook), p. 85, "Com Guards Deployment Table"
- ↑ Objective Raids, p. 19, "FedCom Deployment Table"
- ↑ Field Manual: ComStar, p. 126, "ComGuard Deployment Table"
- ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 98, "Com Guards Deployment Table"
- ↑ Field Report: LAAF, p. 12, "Lyran Guards Regimental Status"
- ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 107, "Deployment Table - 3085"
- ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 171, "Clan Force Deployments - Wolf Empire"
- ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 16, "Free Worlds League Founding [2271]"
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 13,
- ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 24, "Free Worlds League after Age of War [2571] Map"
- ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 158, "Inner Sphere - 2596"
- ↑ Era Report: 2750, p. 37, "Inner Sphere - 2750"
- ↑ Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 11, "Inner Sphere - 2765"
- ↑ First Succession War (Source Book), pp. 24-25, "Inner Sphere - [2786] Map"
- ↑ First Succession War (Source Book), pp. 112-113, "Inner Sphere - [2822] Map"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3025 Revised p.146
- ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 133, "Inner Sphere - 3040"
- ↑ Field Report: LAAF, p. 19, "Lyran Alliance Armed Forces Deployment Map - August 3079"
- ↑ Map of the Inner Sphere 3130
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 10, "Inner Sphere - 3135"
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 39, "Inner Sphere - 3145"
Bibliography
- A Time of War Companion
- 20 Year Update
- Blood Price
- ComStar (sourcebook)
- Era Report: 2750
- Era Report: 3145
- FedCom Civil War
- Field Manual: 3145
- Field Manual: ComStar
- Field Manual: 3085
- Field Manual: Lyran Alliance
- Field Manual: Updates
- Field Report: LAAF
- First Succession War
- Handbook: House Marik
- Handbook: House Steiner
- House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)
- Historical: Brush Wars
- Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1
- Historical: Reunification War
- Historical: War of 3039
- Illusions of Victory
- Jihad: Final Reckoning
- Jihad Hot Spots: 3076
- Map of the Inner Sphere 3130
- Mappack: Solaris VII
- NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1
- Objective Raids
- Objectives: Lyran Alliance
- Solaris VII: The Game World
- Technical Readout: 3025 Revised
- Technical Readout: 3145 Mercenaries
- Total Chaos
- Warrior: En Garde