Difference between revisions of "Towne"
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{{PlanetOverhaul|phase=0}} | {{PlanetOverhaul|phase=0}} | ||
| − | {{Update Needed| | + | {{Update Needed|[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]}} |
''(References to [[Special:Whatlinkshere/Towne | Towne]])'' | ''(References to [[Special:Whatlinkshere/Towne | Towne]])'' | ||
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| coord = 69.21:8.02{{e}} | | coord = 69.21:8.02{{e}} | ||
| stars = | | stars = | ||
| − | | class = F8IV<ref name= | + | | class = F8IV<ref name=DARWp69>''Dark Age: Republic Worlds (3130)'', p. 69, "Towne World Profile"</ref> |
| recharge = | | recharge = | ||
| recharge stations = | | recharge stations = | ||
| − | | planets = 5<ref name= | + | | planets = 5<ref name=DARWp69/> |
}} | }} | ||
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| caption = Orbital view | | caption = Orbital view | ||
| name = Towne | | name = Towne | ||
| − | | position = 3<ref name= | + | | position = 3<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| − | | distance = 12 days<ref name= | + | | distance = 12 days<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| − | | moons = 1 (Conan)<ref name= | + | | moons = 1 (Conan)<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| day = | | day = | ||
| − | | gravity = 0.97<ref name= | + | | gravity = 0.97<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| − | | pressure = Standard (Breathable)<ref name= | + | | pressure = Standard (Breathable)<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| − | | temperature = 40°C<ref name= | + | | temperature = 40°C<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| − | | water = 72%<ref name= | + | | water = 72%<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| − | | life = Mammals<ref name= | + | | life = Mammals<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| date = | | date = | ||
| − | | year = 3130<ref name= | + | | year = 3130<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| − | | ruler = Renee Oscar (Governor)<ref name= | + | | ruler = Renee Oscar (Governor)<ref name=DARWp69/><br>Jonathan Jurik (Planetary Legate)<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| − | | capital = Port Howard<ref name= | + | | capital = Port Howard<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| − | | population = 647,819,000<ref name= | + | | population = 647,819,000<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| USIIR = | | USIIR = | ||
| hpg = | | hpg = | ||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
==Planetary Description== | ==Planetary Description== | ||
| − | '''Towne''' is a slightly cooler Terra-like world, which is geologically young and active. The planet boasts good mineral and lumber wealth. | + | '''Towne''' is a slightly cooler Terra-like world, which is geologically young and active. The planet boasts good mineral and lumber wealth. Towne is slightly smaller than Terra but denser; the many active volcanos and other geological activites continue to give the impression that the world is bigger than it actually is.<ref>''Hearts of Chaos'', p. 120, "Towne's smaller, denser than Terra, but its activities makes planet appear bigger".</ref> Possessed of large mountains, deep oceans and a diverse ecosphere, the epitome of the native lifeforms on the planet are the Eiglotherium, a giant, shaggy, six-legged creature.<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| − | The planet has five landmasses (continents), which | + | The planet has five landmasses (continents), which were named for various aspects of ancient science fiction author, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Howard Robert E Howard] and his fiction-fantasy book series, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan_the_Barbarian Conan the Barbarian]. The Conan mythos was also the source of the name given to Towne's moon, Conan.<ref>''Heart of Chaos'', p. 119 - origin of planet's names for its landmasses and moon.</ref> Its continents are names: Hyborian, Krom, Fetryl, Howell, and Gherst.<ref>''DA Republic Worlds'', p. 69, "Towne" - Landmasses name and planetary description.</ref> Towne has abundant deposits of metallic ores, particularly copper, although the majority of the deposits are located under the various planetary oceans.<ref name=DARWp69/> |
===Local Fauna=== | ===Local Fauna=== | ||
| − | *[[Serpent siren]] (unconfirmed) | + | * [[Serpent siren]] (unconfirmed) |
| + | * Eiglotherium<ref name=DARWp69/> | ||
==Notable Locations== | ==Notable Locations== | ||
| − | *Port Howard - located in Circle Bay on the western coast of Hyborian mainland, its was first city estisblished on planet. The city is home of the planetary capital and Towne's major spaceport, Prince John Spaceport.<ref>''DA Republic Worlds'', p. | + | *Port Howard - located in Circle Bay on the western coast of Hyborian mainland, its was first city estisblished on planet. The city is home of the planetary capital and Towne's major spaceport, Prince John Spaceport.<ref>''DA Republic Worlds'', p. 69 Towne - details of the city of Port Howard on Towne.</ref> |
| − | *Kale Bay - Second largest city on planet, this settlement is | + | *Kale Bay - Second largest city on planet, this settlement is located on the continent of Gherst in the southern lattiudes of Towne.<ref>''DA Republic Worlds'', p. 69 Towne - details of the city of Kale Bay on Towne.</ref> |
==History== | ==History== | ||
===Discovery and Settlement=== | ===Discovery and Settlement=== | ||
| − | The planet was discovered scientific community on Terra prior to the invention of the [[Kearny-Fuchida Drive]]. | + | The planet was discovered by the scientific community on Terra prior to the invention of the [[Kearny-Fuchida Drive]]. Scientists used digitally-aligned orbital telescopes which it made possible to spot Terra-sized worlds in other systems, including Towne. |
| − | Towne's actual colonization efforts started | + | Towne's actual colonization efforts started with a private concern. C. Augustus Pons, a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plankton plankton] magnate from [[Terra]], backed and paid for Towne's late [[twenty-second century]] settlement effort. The eccentric trillionaire was a fan of author Robert E. Howard. He had the planet's moon named for the adventurer, Conan, and the largest continent named after the Hyborian lands Conan had traveled. Pons also named the planet's main city Port Howard after the author. |
| − | + | The first wave of settlers to arrive on Towne had come from the North American continent on Terra. These colonists continued to name various parts of the planet after aspects of Howard's fantasy world, but later settlers didn't.<ref>''Hearts of Chaos'', pp. 119-120, "Planet's discovery, colonization and unusual naming practice origin".</ref> | |
===Early Eras=== | ===Early Eras=== | ||
| − | + | While under administration of the [[Terran Alliance]] Towne was a proprietary colony, with shareholders in charge of the planet. These shareholders prevented the rapid industrialization that occrued during the preparations being made elsewhere for the what became known as the [[Outer Reaches Rebellion]]. This constraint along with shareholder's desire to prevent over-industrialization also preserved the planet's unusual landmark names as well. With Towne's mineral wealth located beneath its oceans it was less desirable to corporate mining concerns, preventing it from being target of raids.<ref>''Hearts of Chaos'', pp. 120-121, "Planet's tid-bits of history of the planet leading to the Towne Succession War events".</ref> | |
| − | In [[2317]] Towne was last target of one of | + | In [[2317]] Towne was last target of one of Terran Hegemony [[Director-General]] [[James McKenna]]'s campaigns bring worlds under the aegis of his newly-formed nation.<ref>''The Star League'', p. 17, "Terra's Errant Flock"</ref> |
===The Towne Debacle=== | ===The Towne Debacle=== | ||
| − | In [[2783]] | + | In [[2783]] First Prince [[John Davion]] of the [[Federated Suns]] dispatched forces to claim the Towne. At the time, with the Hegemony's collapse, the planet was viewed by the Federated Suns as one few worlds seen worth the effort of securing. Towne had a number of valuable supplies in warehouses and Hegemony industries, as well as providing a path for the Federated Suns to potentially claim [[Terra]]. Towne was taken without opposition. Davion garrisoned the world with elements of the [[Fifty-sixth Avalon Hussars]] and 123rd Aero Interceptor Wing. |
| − | The Draconis Combine and Capellan Confederation sent raiding forces against Towne in Febuary of [[2785]] at the same time. | + | The Draconis Combine and [[Capellan Confederation]] sent raiding forces against Towne in Febuary of [[2785]] at the same time. These raiding forces successfully relieved the planet of its valuables. Due to local bureaucratic issues, the garrison's response was ineffectual, and feuding between commanders meant that the garrison had been unsure of which force to tackle first. By the time any response was given, the damage was done. With the prospect of further raids in the future, this caused the garrison to request reinforcements. Later in December of the same year, the Draconis Combine had figured out the weakness of Towne's garrison force, and dispatched the [[Fifth Dieron Regulars]] ahead of a large invasion force to claim the planet. By the time AFFS forces had arrived to reinforce the beleaguered garrison, the world had been claimed by the Combine as its own.<ref>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 60, "The Towne Debacle" - Towne change over after the fall of the Hegemony.</ref><ref>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 55, "Timeline: First Succession War" - Dates of the Kurita/Capellan Raids and Towne's capture noted.</ref> |
===Return to Davion Control=== | ===Return to Davion Control=== | ||
| − | + | Towne was given a legal document known as the ''Towne Charter'' which granted the planet's citizens the right to form organized and armed militia groups. The Charter was a gift from the late First Prince John Davion, intended for the planet's citizens who conducted a guerilla war against the occupation by Draconis Combine and Liao toops.<ref>''Hearts of Chao'', pp. 113,121 - Towne Charter that grants people right bare arms legally by long ago Prince John Davion.</ref> | |
| − | Towne was | + | In [[2876]] Towne was one of the targets of the military campaign instigated by First Prince [[Carl Davion]] to retake worlds taken the [[Draconis Combine]]. Although he died in effort on [[David]], his campaign reclaimed Towne in progress.<ref>''Handbook: House Davion'', pp. 61-62, 70, "Second Succession War Map & Pendragon, Third Succession War Map" - Towne still Combine world in 2864, but was noted as targeted world Prince Carl's campaign. Town is shown as part of FedSuns as of 3025.</ref> |
===Black Dragon Invasion=== | ===Black Dragon Invasion=== | ||
| − | In middle of [[3057]], the Federated Commonwealth was sundered by [[Operation Guerrero|Free Worlds League/Capellan Confederation | + | In the middle of [[3057]], the Federated Commonwealth was sundered by [[Operation Guerrero|the Free Worlds League/Capellan Confederation invasion]] of the [[Sarna March]]. With the seccession of Lyran side of the Commonwealth, Towne's garrison forces were stripped to a barebones presence. |
| − | In January of [[3058]], the [[ | + | In January of [[3058]], the [[Fifteenth Dieron Regulars]] led a six-regiment invasion force to take possession of the planet. Frontline units, considered renegades by the [[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery]], were supported by [[Kokuryu-kai|Black Dragon]]-raised regiments staffed with Yakuza thugs. The invasion, which Towne Planetary Chairman, Howard Blaylock, arranged, quickly took control of capital city of Port Howard. On Towne at the time was the mercenary unit known as the [[17th Recon|Seventeenth Recon Regiment]], who had been hired by [[Chandrasekhar Kurita]] to reinforce the planet's weakened militia forces. |
| − | + | Those defenders stationed in the planetary capital were forced into hiding in the rural regions of Hyboria. The mercenaries would manage to build up number of local resistance groups with the aid of the Popular Militia. Together, they managed conduct a low-level guerrilla war, which withered down the occupying Black Dragon forces. By April after the Planetary Chairman's execution of a number of Seventeenth Recon Regiment officers and threats against their children, the Seventeenth launched what became known as the Battle for Port Howard. As 'Mechs of the Seventeenth Recon fought Black Dragon 'Mechs, a commando team lead by [[Leutnant|Lt. JG]] [[Cassie Suthorn]] penetrated the city Administration Building and freed the Seventeenth's dependents. The battle ended when Suthorn managed to capture the invasion's commander and had him commit ritual suicide. The death of the invasion commander ended the conflict on Towne.<ref>''Heart of Chaos'', - Snapshot of events on Towne from novel.</ref> | |
===The Jihad=== | ===The Jihad=== | ||
| − | During the [[Jihad]] the [[Word of Blake]] added Towne to the [[Word of Blake Protectorate]]. | + | During the [[Jihad]] the [[Word of Blake]] added Towne to the [[Word of Blake Protectorate]]. In January [[3075]] the [[Opacus Venatori]] were active on Towne; while the events around their activity on Towne were unclear, the Blakist unit did find and destroy all of the rebel forces that the [[Black Widow Company]] had inserted onto Towne the year before.<ref name="JHS3076p36">''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 36, "Chasing Shadows"</ref> |
As a part of [[Operation SCOUR]], the allied coalition invasion of the Protectorate, Towne was raided for reconnaissance information by allied scouts on the 12th of February [[3077]]. The scouts confirmed that not only were there more than two regiments of [[Word of Blake Militia|Protectorate Militia]] forces on Towne, but there was also a limited but functioning SDS network protecting the world, and that the Blakists were using a large [[DropShip]] facility on the planet to convert civilian vessels into [[Pocket WarShips]].<ref name="J:FRp56">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 56, "The Jihad In Review"</ref> | As a part of [[Operation SCOUR]], the allied coalition invasion of the Protectorate, Towne was raided for reconnaissance information by allied scouts on the 12th of February [[3077]]. The scouts confirmed that not only were there more than two regiments of [[Word of Blake Militia|Protectorate Militia]] forces on Towne, but there was also a limited but functioning SDS network protecting the world, and that the Blakists were using a large [[DropShip]] facility on the planet to convert civilian vessels into [[Pocket WarShips]].<ref name="J:FRp56">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 56, "The Jihad In Review"</ref> | ||
| − | The information on the facilities constructed on Towne by the Word of Blake was obtained by [[Captain]] [[Ross McKinnon]] and the [[Fox's Teeth]], who would return with Group I of the Federated Suns task force as a part of SCOUR in April 3077. The Word of Blake had heavily fortified their DropShip facility, located deep within a mountain range on the continent of Howell, and protected it with formidable defenses, including capital missile launchers. This became the site of the fiercest struggle during the campaign to liberate Towne, with the Blakists nearly defeating the combined forces of Group I - believed to consist of the [[ | + | The information on the facilities constructed on Towne by the Word of Blake was obtained by [[Captain]] [[Ross McKinnon]] and the [[Fox's Teeth]], who would return with Group I of the Federated Suns task force as a part of SCOUR in April 3077. The Word of Blake had heavily fortified their DropShip facility, located deep within a mountain range on the continent of Howell, and protected it with formidable defenses, including capital missile launchers. This became the site of the fiercest struggle during the campaign to liberate Towne, with the Blakists nearly defeating the combined forces of Group I - believed to consist of the [[Third Free Worlds Legionnaires]], [[Fifth Crucis Lancers]] and [[Fifteenth Arcturan Guards]].<ref name="JHS:Tp36">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 36, "Tragedy On Demeter"</ref> The defenses proved to be almost as tough as one of the [[Castle Brian]] complexes created during the era of the [[Star League]], and drove the coalition troops to desperate measures; Princess Regent [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]] personally authorized the use of orbital bombardment to crack the fortifications, and the ''[[Fox (WarShip)|Fox]]''-class [[WarShip]] [[Indefatigable|FSS ''Indefatigable'']] moved in response.<ref name="JHS:Tp37">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 37, "The Tale Of Towne"</ref> |
As the ''Indefatigable'' moved towards Towne, it triggered another layer of defenses in the system that the various DropShips of Group I had failed to trigger; even as the Fox's Teeth were making a dangerous raid on the surface of the planet to disable the capital missile launchers there, hidden missile launchers within the system targeted the ''Indefatigable''. Launch platforms disguised as ore processing stations within the Towne asteroid belt launched dozens of missiles, inflicting heavy damage on the ''Indefatigable'' and nearly stymied the liberation effort. As it was, the ''Indefatigable'' managed to make it to orbit and bombard the Blakists defenses, allowing Group I to take the planet. The campaign took four weeks from start to finish, and while the 15th Arcturan Guards were ready to deploy on their next operation on the 22nd of April, the other elements of Group I would continue to rebuild on Towne for some time.<ref name="JHS:Tp37"/> | As the ''Indefatigable'' moved towards Towne, it triggered another layer of defenses in the system that the various DropShips of Group I had failed to trigger; even as the Fox's Teeth were making a dangerous raid on the surface of the planet to disable the capital missile launchers there, hidden missile launchers within the system targeted the ''Indefatigable''. Launch platforms disguised as ore processing stations within the Towne asteroid belt launched dozens of missiles, inflicting heavy damage on the ''Indefatigable'' and nearly stymied the liberation effort. As it was, the ''Indefatigable'' managed to make it to orbit and bombard the Blakists defenses, allowing Group I to take the planet. The campaign took four weeks from start to finish, and while the 15th Arcturan Guards were ready to deploy on their next operation on the 22nd of April, the other elements of Group I would continue to rebuild on Towne for some time.<ref name="JHS:Tp37"/> | ||
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===Dark Age=== | ===Dark Age=== | ||
| − | With the liberation of the Word of Blake Protectorate, Towne and along with other former worlds of the Protectorate | + | With the liberation of the Word of Blake Protectorate, Towne and along with other former worlds of the Protectorate became part of the [[Republic of the Sphere]] in [[3081]].<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', Republic Armed Forces Deployment Map - October 3085 - Towne shown in the newly formed Republic of the Sphere.</ref> The abundant mineral deposits on Towne continued to form the base of Towne's economy during the [[Dark Age]], although other substantial industries on Towne included cattle ranching and hardwoods. The nature of the economy of Towne saw regular imports of industrial 'Mechs, particularly those associated with construction, mining and forestry. Despite centuries of conflict Towne remained a ruggedly beautiful world; the majority of the population continued to live on the northern continent of Hyboria and the southern continent of Gherst, while Krom - located at the south pole - the northern island continent of Howell and the temperate southern continent of Fetryl remaining sparsely populated at best. While Port Howard remained the planetary capital and the site of the Prince John Spaceport, the water-port city of Kale bay on Gherst was the second-largest city on the planet.<ref name=DARWp69/> |
| − | In August [[3133]] the [[Stormhammers]] rebel faction launched a raid on Towne. The leader of the raid, [[Jasek Kelswa-Steiner]], had assistance from [[Lohengrin]] in modifying a number of [[Garrot|Garrot Superheavy Transports]] that the Stormhammers had seized from the [[Skye]] militia. The modifications made the Garrots resemble Skystar Freight Helicopters, ubiquitous civilian cargo haulers. The Stormhammers used these modified helicopters to infiltrate commandos into the Prince John spaceport, seizing the facility easily. The destruction of a sizable number of Skystars in future years may well | + | In August [[3133]] the [[Stormhammers]] rebel faction launched a raid on Towne. The leader of the raid, [[Jasek Kelswa-Steiner]], had assistance from [[Lohengrin]] in modifying a number of [[Garrot|Garrot Superheavy Transports]] that the Stormhammers had seized from the [[Skye]] militia. The modifications made the Garrots resemble Skystar Freight Helicopters, ubiquitous civilian cargo haulers. The Stormhammers used these modified helicopters to infiltrate commandos into the Prince John spaceport, seizing the facility easily. The destruction of a sizable number of Skystars in future years may well have been a result of the Stormhammers raid on Towne.<ref name="TRO:3145Mp12">''Technical Readout: 3145 Mercenareis'', p. 12, "Garrot Superheavy Transport"</ref> |
==Planetary Garrison== | ==Planetary Garrison== | ||
| Line 108: | Line 109: | ||
===3057=== | ===3057=== | ||
*[[17th Recon Regiment|Seventeenth Recon Regiment]] (on loan) | *[[17th Recon Regiment|Seventeenth Recon Regiment]] (on loan) | ||
| − | *[[Own's Fusiliers]] ( | + | *[[Own's Fusiliers]] (Combined-Arms Force) |
| − | -Note: Less two | + | -Note: Less than two [[companies]] of BattleMechs, mixed with infantry, armor and a few [[aerospace fighters]]<ref>''Hearts of Chaos'', pp. 101-102, "Surviving local troops on Towne after FedCom's forces withdrew from the planet".</ref> |
===3075=== | ===3075=== | ||
| Line 134: | Line 135: | ||
* [[3063]] - Federated Commonwealth <ref>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 29, "Inner Sphere Map [3063]"</ref> | * [[3063]] - Federated Commonwealth <ref>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 29, "Inner Sphere Map [3063]"</ref> | ||
* [[3072]] - [[Word of Blake Protectorate]] <ref>''Starterbook Wolf and Blake'', p. 13 Word of Blake Protectorate's 3072 Map - Towne shown to be part of the Blakist Protectorate as of 3072.</ref> | * [[3072]] - [[Word of Blake Protectorate]] <ref>''Starterbook Wolf and Blake'', p. 13 Word of Blake Protectorate's 3072 Map - Towne shown to be part of the Blakist Protectorate as of 3072.</ref> | ||
| − | * [[3130]] - [[Republic of the Sphere]] <ref name= | + | * [[3130]] - [[Republic of the Sphere]] <ref name=DARWp69/><ref name="MotIS3130">''Map of the Inner Sphere 3130''</ref> |
* [[3135]] - Independent World <ref name=ER:3145p11>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 11, "Inner Sphere Map - [3135]"</ref> | * [[3135]] - Independent World <ref name=ER:3145p11>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 11, "Inner Sphere Map - [3135]"</ref> | ||
* [[3145]] - Draconis Combine <ref name=ER:3145p39>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 39, "Inner Sphere Map - [3145]"</ref> | * [[3145]] - Draconis Combine <ref name=ER:3145p39>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 39, "Inner Sphere Map - [3145]"</ref> | ||
Revision as of 08:01, 19 November 2014
 | This article needs to be updated with material from Jihad Hot Spots: Terra. Once these titles clear the Moratorium period, or if they already have, please consider revisiting this article and updating it with the new material. |
(References to Towne)
| Towne | |
|---|---|
← 3135 3151 | |
| System Information | |
| X:Y Coordinates | 69.21:8.02[e] |
| Spectral class | F8IV[1] |
| Planet(s) | 5[1] |
Note: X and Y are coordinates (light years on XY plane) relative to Terra at (0, 0)
Template:InfoBoxPlanetStandard
Contents
Planetary Description
Towne is a slightly cooler Terra-like world, which is geologically young and active. The planet boasts good mineral and lumber wealth. Towne is slightly smaller than Terra but denser; the many active volcanos and other geological activites continue to give the impression that the world is bigger than it actually is.[2] Possessed of large mountains, deep oceans and a diverse ecosphere, the epitome of the native lifeforms on the planet are the Eiglotherium, a giant, shaggy, six-legged creature.[1]
The planet has five landmasses (continents), which were named for various aspects of ancient science fiction author, Robert E Howard and his fiction-fantasy book series, Conan the Barbarian. The Conan mythos was also the source of the name given to Towne's moon, Conan.[3] Its continents are names: Hyborian, Krom, Fetryl, Howell, and Gherst.[4] Towne has abundant deposits of metallic ores, particularly copper, although the majority of the deposits are located under the various planetary oceans.[1]
Local Fauna
- Serpent siren (unconfirmed)
- Eiglotherium[1]
Notable Locations
- Port Howard - located in Circle Bay on the western coast of Hyborian mainland, its was first city estisblished on planet. The city is home of the planetary capital and Towne's major spaceport, Prince John Spaceport.[5]
- Kale Bay - Second largest city on planet, this settlement is located on the continent of Gherst in the southern lattiudes of Towne.[6]
History
Discovery and Settlement
The planet was discovered by the scientific community on Terra prior to the invention of the Kearny-Fuchida Drive. Scientists used digitally-aligned orbital telescopes which it made possible to spot Terra-sized worlds in other systems, including Towne.
Towne's actual colonization efforts started with a private concern. C. Augustus Pons, a plankton magnate from Terra, backed and paid for Towne's late twenty-second century settlement effort. The eccentric trillionaire was a fan of author Robert E. Howard. He had the planet's moon named for the adventurer, Conan, and the largest continent named after the Hyborian lands Conan had traveled. Pons also named the planet's main city Port Howard after the author.
The first wave of settlers to arrive on Towne had come from the North American continent on Terra. These colonists continued to name various parts of the planet after aspects of Howard's fantasy world, but later settlers didn't.[7]
Early Eras
While under administration of the Terran Alliance Towne was a proprietary colony, with shareholders in charge of the planet. These shareholders prevented the rapid industrialization that occrued during the preparations being made elsewhere for the what became known as the Outer Reaches Rebellion. This constraint along with shareholder's desire to prevent over-industrialization also preserved the planet's unusual landmark names as well. With Towne's mineral wealth located beneath its oceans it was less desirable to corporate mining concerns, preventing it from being target of raids.[8]
In 2317 Towne was last target of one of Terran Hegemony Director-General James McKenna's campaigns bring worlds under the aegis of his newly-formed nation.[9]
The Towne Debacle
In 2783 First Prince John Davion of the Federated Suns dispatched forces to claim the Towne. At the time, with the Hegemony's collapse, the planet was viewed by the Federated Suns as one few worlds seen worth the effort of securing. Towne had a number of valuable supplies in warehouses and Hegemony industries, as well as providing a path for the Federated Suns to potentially claim Terra. Towne was taken without opposition. Davion garrisoned the world with elements of the Fifty-sixth Avalon Hussars and 123rd Aero Interceptor Wing.
The Draconis Combine and Capellan Confederation sent raiding forces against Towne in Febuary of 2785 at the same time. These raiding forces successfully relieved the planet of its valuables. Due to local bureaucratic issues, the garrison's response was ineffectual, and feuding between commanders meant that the garrison had been unsure of which force to tackle first. By the time any response was given, the damage was done. With the prospect of further raids in the future, this caused the garrison to request reinforcements. Later in December of the same year, the Draconis Combine had figured out the weakness of Towne's garrison force, and dispatched the Fifth Dieron Regulars ahead of a large invasion force to claim the planet. By the time AFFS forces had arrived to reinforce the beleaguered garrison, the world had been claimed by the Combine as its own.[10][11]
Return to Davion Control
Towne was given a legal document known as the Towne Charter which granted the planet's citizens the right to form organized and armed militia groups. The Charter was a gift from the late First Prince John Davion, intended for the planet's citizens who conducted a guerilla war against the occupation by Draconis Combine and Liao toops.[12]
In 2876 Towne was one of the targets of the military campaign instigated by First Prince Carl Davion to retake worlds taken the Draconis Combine. Although he died in effort on David, his campaign reclaimed Towne in progress.[13]
Black Dragon Invasion
In the middle of 3057, the Federated Commonwealth was sundered by the Free Worlds League/Capellan Confederation invasion of the Sarna March. With the seccession of Lyran side of the Commonwealth, Towne's garrison forces were stripped to a barebones presence.
In January of 3058, the Fifteenth Dieron Regulars led a six-regiment invasion force to take possession of the planet. Frontline units, considered renegades by the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery, were supported by Black Dragon-raised regiments staffed with Yakuza thugs. The invasion, which Towne Planetary Chairman, Howard Blaylock, arranged, quickly took control of capital city of Port Howard. On Towne at the time was the mercenary unit known as the Seventeenth Recon Regiment, who had been hired by Chandrasekhar Kurita to reinforce the planet's weakened militia forces.
Those defenders stationed in the planetary capital were forced into hiding in the rural regions of Hyboria. The mercenaries would manage to build up number of local resistance groups with the aid of the Popular Militia. Together, they managed conduct a low-level guerrilla war, which withered down the occupying Black Dragon forces. By April after the Planetary Chairman's execution of a number of Seventeenth Recon Regiment officers and threats against their children, the Seventeenth launched what became known as the Battle for Port Howard. As 'Mechs of the Seventeenth Recon fought Black Dragon 'Mechs, a commando team lead by Lt. JG Cassie Suthorn penetrated the city Administration Building and freed the Seventeenth's dependents. The battle ended when Suthorn managed to capture the invasion's commander and had him commit ritual suicide. The death of the invasion commander ended the conflict on Towne.[14]
The Jihad
During the Jihad the Word of Blake added Towne to the Word of Blake Protectorate. In January 3075 the Opacus Venatori were active on Towne; while the events around their activity on Towne were unclear, the Blakist unit did find and destroy all of the rebel forces that the Black Widow Company had inserted onto Towne the year before.[15]
As a part of Operation SCOUR, the allied coalition invasion of the Protectorate, Towne was raided for reconnaissance information by allied scouts on the 12th of February 3077. The scouts confirmed that not only were there more than two regiments of Protectorate Militia forces on Towne, but there was also a limited but functioning SDS network protecting the world, and that the Blakists were using a large DropShip facility on the planet to convert civilian vessels into Pocket WarShips.[16]
The information on the facilities constructed on Towne by the Word of Blake was obtained by Captain Ross McKinnon and the Fox's Teeth, who would return with Group I of the Federated Suns task force as a part of SCOUR in April 3077. The Word of Blake had heavily fortified their DropShip facility, located deep within a mountain range on the continent of Howell, and protected it with formidable defenses, including capital missile launchers. This became the site of the fiercest struggle during the campaign to liberate Towne, with the Blakists nearly defeating the combined forces of Group I - believed to consist of the Third Free Worlds Legionnaires, Fifth Crucis Lancers and Fifteenth Arcturan Guards.[17] The defenses proved to be almost as tough as one of the Castle Brian complexes created during the era of the Star League, and drove the coalition troops to desperate measures; Princess Regent Yvonne Steiner-Davion personally authorized the use of orbital bombardment to crack the fortifications, and the Fox-class WarShip FSS Indefatigable moved in response.[18]
As the Indefatigable moved towards Towne, it triggered another layer of defenses in the system that the various DropShips of Group I had failed to trigger; even as the Fox's Teeth were making a dangerous raid on the surface of the planet to disable the capital missile launchers there, hidden missile launchers within the system targeted the Indefatigable. Launch platforms disguised as ore processing stations within the Towne asteroid belt launched dozens of missiles, inflicting heavy damage on the Indefatigable and nearly stymied the liberation effort. As it was, the Indefatigable managed to make it to orbit and bombard the Blakists defenses, allowing Group I to take the planet. The campaign took four weeks from start to finish, and while the 15th Arcturan Guards were ready to deploy on their next operation on the 22nd of April, the other elements of Group I would continue to rebuild on Towne for some time.[18]
The SDS system in the asteroid field around Towne was subsequently determined to be a prototype of the Dragon's Breath Multiple Capital Launch System equipped with conventional missiles, rather than the nuclear weapons later systems would deploy. The successful activation of the SDS network in the Towne system and the damage inflicted on the Indefatigable would turn out to be an unusually successful performance for the SDS system, with later systems inflicted less damage on average.[19]
Dark Age
With the liberation of the Word of Blake Protectorate, Towne and along with other former worlds of the Protectorate became part of the Republic of the Sphere in 3081.[20] The abundant mineral deposits on Towne continued to form the base of Towne's economy during the Dark Age, although other substantial industries on Towne included cattle ranching and hardwoods. The nature of the economy of Towne saw regular imports of industrial 'Mechs, particularly those associated with construction, mining and forestry. Despite centuries of conflict Towne remained a ruggedly beautiful world; the majority of the population continued to live on the northern continent of Hyboria and the southern continent of Gherst, while Krom - located at the south pole - the northern island continent of Howell and the temperate southern continent of Fetryl remaining sparsely populated at best. While Port Howard remained the planetary capital and the site of the Prince John Spaceport, the water-port city of Kale bay on Gherst was the second-largest city on the planet.[1]
In August 3133 the Stormhammers rebel faction launched a raid on Towne. The leader of the raid, Jasek Kelswa-Steiner, had assistance from Lohengrin in modifying a number of Garrot Superheavy Transports that the Stormhammers had seized from the Skye militia. The modifications made the Garrots resemble Skystar Freight Helicopters, ubiquitous civilian cargo haulers. The Stormhammers used these modified helicopters to infiltrate commandos into the Prince John spaceport, seizing the facility easily. The destruction of a sizable number of Skystars in future years may well have been a result of the Stormhammers raid on Towne.[21]
Planetary Garrison
2783
3050
3057
- Seventeenth Recon Regiment (on loan)
- Own's Fusiliers (Combined-Arms Force)
-Note: Less than two companies of BattleMechs, mixed with infantry, armor and a few aerospace fighters[24]
3075
3085
- Republic Standing Guard[26]
-Local combined arms planetary garrison forces.
Owner History
- 2596 - Terran Hegemony [27]
- 2750 - Terran Hegemony [28]
- 2765 - Terran Hegemony [29]
- 2783 - Federated Suns [30]
- 2785 - Draconis Combine [30]
- 2885 - Draconis Combine [31]
- 3025 - Federated Suns [32]
- 3030 - Federated Suns[citation needed]
- 3040 - Federated Commonwealth [33]
- 3050 - Federated Commonwealth [34]
- 3052 - Federated Commonwealth [35]
- 3057 - Federated Commonwealth [36]
- 3063 - Federated Commonwealth [37]
- 3072 - Word of Blake Protectorate [38]
- 3130 - Republic of the Sphere [1][39]
- 3135 - Independent World [40]
- 3145 - Draconis Combine [41]
Nearby Planets
Planets within 2 jumps (60 light-years). Closest planets first:
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Dark Age: Republic Worlds (3130), p. 69, "Towne World Profile"
- ↑ Hearts of Chaos, p. 120, "Towne's smaller, denser than Terra, but its activities makes planet appear bigger".
- ↑ Heart of Chaos, p. 119 - origin of planet's names for its landmasses and moon.
- ↑ DA Republic Worlds, p. 69, "Towne" - Landmasses name and planetary description.
- ↑ DA Republic Worlds, p. 69 Towne - details of the city of Port Howard on Towne.
- ↑ DA Republic Worlds, p. 69 Towne - details of the city of Kale Bay on Towne.
- ↑ Hearts of Chaos, pp. 119-120, "Planet's discovery, colonization and unusual naming practice origin".
- ↑ Hearts of Chaos, pp. 120-121, "Planet's tid-bits of history of the planet leading to the Towne Succession War events".
- ↑ The Star League, p. 17, "Terra's Errant Flock"
- ↑ House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 60, "The Towne Debacle" - Towne change over after the fall of the Hegemony.
- ↑ Handbook: House Davion, p. 55, "Timeline: First Succession War" - Dates of the Kurita/Capellan Raids and Towne's capture noted.
- ↑ Hearts of Chao, pp. 113,121 - Towne Charter that grants people right bare arms legally by long ago Prince John Davion.
- ↑ Handbook: House Davion, pp. 61-62, 70, "Second Succession War Map & Pendragon, Third Succession War Map" - Towne still Combine world in 2864, but was noted as targeted world Prince Carl's campaign. Town is shown as part of FedSuns as of 3025.
- ↑ Heart of Chaos, - Snapshot of events on Towne from novel.
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 36, "Chasing Shadows"
- ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 56, "The Jihad In Review"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 36, "Tragedy On Demeter"
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 37, "The Tale Of Towne"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 86-87, "Dragon's Breath Multiple Capital Launch System"
- ↑ Field Manual: 3085, Republic Armed Forces Deployment Map - October 3085 - Towne shown in the newly formed Republic of the Sphere.
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Mercenareis, p. 12, "Garrot Superheavy Transport"
- ↑ House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 60, "The Towne Debacle" - original FedSuns garrison force.
- ↑ 20 Year Update, p. 19, "Federated Commonwealth Deployment Table"
- ↑ Hearts of Chaos, pp. 101-102, "Surviving local troops on Towne after FedCom's forces withdrew from the planet".
- ↑ Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 103 - 1st and 2nd Protectorate Militia units noted (Notation they do exist and how they are named. No fluff).
- ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 184 Republic Standing Guard - Section regarding the Republic Standing Guard makes clear each world gets a unit. This would include Towne.
- ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 159, "Inner Sphere - 2596"
- ↑ Era Report: 2750, p. 37, "Inner Sphere - 2750"
- ↑ Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 11, "Inner Sphere - 2765"
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 59, "The Towne Debacle"
- ↑ House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 76, "Good Plan, Unexpected End"
- ↑ House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 209, "Federated Suns - Map"
- ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 133, "Inner Sphere - 3040"
- ↑ Era Report: 3052, p. 11, "Inner Sphere - 3050"
- ↑ Era Report: 3052, p. 23, "Inner Sphere - 3052"
- ↑ Era Report: 3062, p. 11, "Inner Sphere Map [3057]"
- ↑ Era Report: 3062, p. 29, "Inner Sphere Map [3063]"
- ↑ Starterbook Wolf and Blake, p. 13 Word of Blake Protectorate's 3072 Map - Towne shown to be part of the Blakist Protectorate as of 3072.
- ↑ Map of the Inner Sphere 3130
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 11, "Inner Sphere Map - [3135]"
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 39, "Inner Sphere Map - [3145]"
Bibliography
- 20 Year Update
- Dark Age: Republic Worlds (3130)
- Era Report: 2750
- Era Report: 3052
- Era Report: 3062
- Era Report: 3145
- Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1
- Historical: Reunification War
- Historical: War of 3039
- Handbook: House Davion
- Hearts of Chaos (Novel)
- House Davion (The Federated Suns)
- House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)
- Jihad: Final Reckoning
- Jihad Hot Spots: 3076
- Jihad Hot Spots: Terra
- Map of the Inner Sphere 3130
- Technical Readout: 3145 Mercenaries