Devil's Rock

Devil's Rock
← 3135
3151
Devil's Rock 3151.svg
Devil's Rock nearby systems
(Map Legend)
System Information
X:Y Coordinates-36.193 : -15.302[e]

The Devil's Rock system was home to at least one habitable world and as of 3151 was located in the Wolf Empire.[1]

System Description[edit]

The Devil's Rock system was located close to the Castor and Pollux systems.[2][3][4]

System History[edit]

The Devil's Rock system was settled during the First Exodus from Terra and became an independent system after the Demarcation Declaration.[5]

Political Affiliation[edit]

Devil's Rock[edit]

Devil's Rock

According to Jack Ramsey who grew up on Devil's Rock, the planet is "hot most of the time" and the air is not breathable; people live in domed cities. There are three continents. Also mentioned are vast volcanic fields on Ash (Ash being capitalized implies it may be the name of one of the continents) of nothing but basalt, heated by water springs underneath, and a desert two or three times as large as the Terran Sahara.[43]

Planetary History[edit]

Early History[edit]

Having become independent as a result of the Demarcation Declaration, Devil's Rock was subsequently added to the resurgent Terran Hegemony; whilst some worlds joined the Hegemony during its early years as a result of diplomatic and trade incentives, many more were conquered in "campaigns of persuasion" launched by Director-General James McKenna, the first of which began in 2316 and ended with the capture of Towne in 2317. Devil's Rock was one of the worlds added to the Hegemony during or around the time of this first campaign of persuasion.[44][45][46]

By the end of the Reunification War, the Devil's Rock system was a member of the Tyrfing Province of the Terran Hegemony.[11]

Devil's Rock was a mostly unremarkable world. With an economy based on trade it possessed a large number of spaceports across the planet's surface. In addition to legitimate trade, criminal organizations also settled the world. Though many controlling factions attempted to destroy these black market operations, none were successful.[47]

Star League Era[edit]

In one of the few recorded instances on a Terran Hegemony world, Devil's Rock was the target of a sizable bandit force. They were attempting to raid a munitions dump located in the Hades Mountains. The newly created Eighty-first BattleMech Division defeated the bandits without a single casualty. Thus earning the nickname "The Devils of Devil's Rock."[48]

In January 2775, Stefan Amaris redeployed large numbers of Amaris Empire Armed Forces to a dozen worlds, including Devil's Rock. AEAF units had used weapons of mass destruction regularly against Star League Defense Force units throughout the Hegemony Campaign, predominantly to either damage the SLDF units targeted or to strike at civilian targets to prevent the SLDF from obtaining resources and supplies. In this case, Amaris' orders were different: he intended to create scorched wastelands that Commanding General Aleksandr Kerensky would have no choice but to try and clear, whilst saddling the SLDF with huge numbers of sick and starving civilians. The AEAF units deployed to Devil's Rock and the other eleven worlds due to be abandoned by Amaris launched large-scale WMD attacks with one purpose: to ravage the worlds, preventing them from sustaining either their human populations or their various industries... to create wastelands.[15]

The AEAF tactic was both brutal and brutally effective. Kerensky deployed twelve corps of SLDF personnel into Amaris Empire space, and each discovered the same horrific situations. Forced to deploy the SLDF reserve into action, by February Kerensky had almost a hundred SLDF divisions either on the twelve ravaged worlds or en route to them, trying to provide aid to the populations and to clear up what damage they could.[15] Devil's Rock fell within the operating area of Task Force Commonwealth, and the Second Army Group deployed to try and assist the population.[49] The devastation wreaked across Devil's Rock and the other worlds bought Amaris time; for several months Kerensky was unable to resume offensive operations because of a lack of resources, and ultimately the Commanding General had no choice but to call on the Capellan Confederation, Lyran Commonwealth and Federated Suns to provide relief where they could.[15]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

Following the sudden invasions of several League worlds by the Tikonov Free Republic and a daringly successful invasion of Callison by mercenaries employed by the Lyran Commonwealth in mid-3029, Captain-General Janos Marik found himself in the midst of an unanticipated crisis. In addition to the conquest of Callison, LCAF communications traffic and movements had spiked sharply, creating the impression of an impending offensive against the League. Faced with what he believed to be the plausible threat of a large-scale attack aimed at the region of the League near Terra, Janos was more concerned with saving the six or seven assorted BattleMech regiments present within the region than he was with retaining the worlds, as he believed that the offensive would most likely be aimed at snipping off the corner of the League closest to Terra - and to both the Federated Suns and the Tikonov Free Republic. Devil's Rock was one of the systems abandoned by Janos, who would learn later that he had been deceived by an effective campaign of smoke and mirrors arranged by the Commonwealth General of the Armies, Edward Regis, to deter the League from launching an invasion of the Commonwealth while the LCAF was heavily committed to its invasion of the Draconis Combine.[50][51][27]

Operation GUERRERO[edit]

Devil's Rock was invaded in the second wave of Operation GUERRERO by the Third Free Worlds Guards. The defending Planetary Militia rapidly bogged down the Marik forces in a harsh fight, but eventually the invaders crushed all organized resistance.[52]

Jihad[edit]

On 31 October 3081, Republic of the Sphere-affiliated forces attempted to ambush surviving elements of the Forty-ninth Shadow Division and the notorious Opacus Venatori Precentor, Berith, at the location known as the Gates of Hades on Devil's Rock. The Republican forces were acting on information provided by the intelligence operative known as Damocles, who accompanied them into battle; the ambush was actually the result of intelligence planted by Berith, who was determined to kill Damocles. In this, Berith succeeded; having goaded Damocles into a berserk, suicidal rage, three Opacus Venatori BattleMechs combined their fire on the charging Com Guard agent when he charged, and then three Asura battlesuits latched onto the cockpit of Damocles's Crockett and incinerated him.[53] The Blakist forces then retreated in good order, leaving the remaining Republican forces alive. During the ambush, Berith referred to Damocles as "Stryker".[54]

The Dark Age[edit]

As of 1 January 3135, Devil's Rock was one of the few Republic worlds with a functioning HPG.[55]

The Republic of the Sphere research project known as the Rhodes Project which developed the Colossal-class tripod BattleMechs was based on Devil's Rock during the Dark Age[56] as part of the Republic's work on RISC technologies.[57] Anticipating that Devil's Rock would be in the first wave of planets to be attacked by the Wolf Empire in the event of an invasion of the Republic, the Republic Armed Forces augmented the standing garrison on Devil's Rock with a company of tripod Ares superheavy BattleMechs, as well as rigging both the BattleMech factories and their power stations with powerful demolition charges to be used if they were at imminent risk of capture.[58]

Military Deployment[edit]

2821[edit]

3055[edit]

3145[edit]

Planetary Locations[edit]

  • Forest City: capital city[62]
  • Faust City[41]
    • Lucifer's Pit: A bar active as of 3134.[41]
  • Gates of Hades: location of a notable battle during the Jihad[54]
  • Hades Mountains: location of a munitions dump during the years of the Star League[48]

Companies and Industries[edit]

Map Gallery[edit]

Nearby Systems[edit]

Closest 84 systems (82 within 60 light-years)
Distance in light years, closest systems first:
Castor 4.5 Pollux 4.7 Oliver 9.4 Tabit 13.4
Graham 13.6 Denebola 13.8 Zosma 14.8 Zavijava 15.6
Xi Ursae Majoris 15.9 Afleir 19.5 Talitha 19.5 New Dallas 21.4
Lipton 21.8 Hechnar 22.1 Marcus 22.7 Chara 22.8
Callison 26.4 Thorin 26.5 Van Diemen 26.6 Tau Ceti 30.0
Haddings 30.3 Connaught 30.9 Carver 31.2 Procyon 31.4
Muphrid 31.8 Wyatt 31.8 Bordon 32.4 Milton 33.5
Dubhe 34.4 Sirius 34.4 Zollikofen 35.4 Alchiba 35.9
Hall 36.5 Alioth 37.0 Rigil Kentarus 37.8 Menkent 38.3
Outreach 38.3 Chertan 38.5 Acubens 38.9 Wing 39.3
Sol 39.3 Keid 39.6 Mizar 40.3 Cor Caroli 40.3
Dieudonné 40.4 Phecda 40.6 Killbourn 42.1 Summer 42.2
Irian 42.4 Wasat 42.5 New Home 43.5 Remulac 44.1
Rocky 44.5 Brownsville 45.1 Nathan 45.9 Yorii 46.1
Alhena 46.3 Alphard 46.9 Mandal 49.1 Miaplacidus 49.3
Bryant 49.4 Caph 51.3 Capolla 51.3 Blue Sava 51.6
Pliska 51.7 Chisholm 51.9 Galatea 52.4 Shiloh 53.0
Savannah 53.5 Altair 53.6 Aquileia 53.7 Epsilon Eridani 54.9
Lyons 55.6 Gacrux 56.6 Dieron 57.0 Hsien 57.2
Asta 57.4 Catroxx 58.6 Nusakan 58.6 Syrma 58.6
Alcor 58.6 New Stevens 59.3 Imbros 60.0 Berenson 60.2

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Shattered Fortress, p. 103: "Inner Sphere - 3151" (Map)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Era Report: 2750, p. 37: "Inner Sphere - 2750"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Era Report: 3145, p. 38: "Inner Sphere - [3145] Map"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. vi: "Inner Sphere - [3145] Map"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Handbook: House Marik, p. 16: "Free Worlds League Founding [2271]"
  6. ↑ Handbook: House Kurita, p. 18: "Draconis Combine Founding - 2319"
  7. ↑ Handbook: House Liao, p. 17: "Capellan Confederation Foundation [2366]]"
  8. ↑ Handbook: House Liao, p. 25: "Capellan Confederation After Age of War [2571]]"
  9. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 25: "Lyran Commonwealth after Age of War [2571]"
  10. ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 24: "Free Worlds League after Age of War [2571]"
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Historical: Reunification War, p. 159: "Inner Sphere - 2596"
  12. ↑ Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - 2765"
  13. ↑ Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 104: "Rim Worlds Republic - [2767] Map"
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 138: "Operation LIBERATION Wave 1 [July 2772 - December 2774]"
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2, p. 33: "Planets on Fire"
  16. ↑ First Succession War, pp. 24–25: "Inner Sphere - [2786] Map"
  17. ↑ First Succession War, p. 76: "Free Worlds League–Lyran Commonwealth Front 2786–2796"
  18. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 36: "Lyran Commonwealth after First Succession War [2822]"
  19. ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 34: "Free Worlds League after First Succession War [2822]"
  20. ↑ Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2, pp. 122–123: "Inner Sphere - [2822] Map"
  21. ↑ First Succession War, pp. 112–113: "Inner Sphere - [2822] Map"
  22. ↑ Second Succession War, pp. 18–19: "Inner Sphere - 2830"
  23. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 40: "Lyran Commonwealth after Second Succession War [2864]"
  24. ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 38: "Free Worlds League after Second Succession War [2864]"
  25. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 47: "Lyran Commonwealth after Third Succession War [3025]"
  26. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 56: "Lyran Commonwealth after Fourth Succession War [3030]"
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Handbook: House Marik, p. 51: "Free Worlds League after Fourth Succession War [3030]"
  28. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 133: "Inner Sphere - 3040"
  29. ↑ Era Report: 3052, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - 3050"
  30. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 61: "Lyran Commonwealth after Clan Invasion [3052]"
  31. ↑ Era Report: 3062, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - 3057"
  32. ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 54: "Free Worlds League after Operation Guerrero [3058]"
  33. ↑ Era Report: 3062, p. 29: "Inner Sphere - 3063"
  34. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 70: "Lyran Alliance after FedCom Civil War [3067]"
  35. ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 56: "Free Worlds League after FedCom Civil War [3067]"
  36. ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 41: "Inner Sphere Map - [October 3067]
  37. ↑ Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 64: Inner Sphere [3075] Map
  38. ↑ Field Report: FWLM, p. 17: "Free Worlds League Military Deployment Map - August 3079"
  39. ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 63: "Inner Sphere - March 3081"
  40. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. vii: "Inner Sphere Map - [October 3085]"
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 Daughter of the Dragon, Prologue
  42. ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 10: "Inner Sphere - [3135] Map"
  43. ↑ Blood Avatar, ch. 23 (print edition p. 123)
  44. ↑ The Star League, p. 16: "Terra's Errant Flock"
  45. ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 18: "Free Worlds League Founding [2271]"
  46. ↑ Handbook: House Kurita, p. 18: "Draconis Combine Founding [2319]"
  47. ↑ Total Chaos, p. 241
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Field Manual: SLDF, p. 181: "81st BattleMech Division"
  49. ↑ Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2, p. 40: "Task Force Commonwealth"
  50. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 87: "Conclusion"
  51. ↑ Handbook: House Marik, p. 42: "Free Worlds League after Third Succession War [3025]"
  52. ↑ Shattered Sphere, p. 74: "Operation Guerrero, Second Wave"
  53. ↑ Total Chaos, pp. 241–242: "Devil's Rock"
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 Jihad: Final Reckoning, pp. 78–79: "Chaos Undaunted: Scrap Iron"
  55. ↑ Era Digest: Dark Age, p. 4: "Functional Republic HPGs as of 01 January 3135"
  56. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 136: "Behind the Wall"
  57. ↑ Technical Readout: 3145: Republic of the Sphere, p. 2: "Introduction"
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 Technical Readout: 3145 Republic of the Sphere, p. 46: "ARS-V1 Ares"
  59. ↑ First Succession War, p. 138: "First Succession War Deployment Table - FWLM"
  60. ↑ ComStar, p. 85: "Com Guards Deployment Table"
  61. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 144: "Republic Armed Forces - Hastati Sentinels"
  62. ↑ Shattered Sphere, p. 74: "Operation Guerrero, Second Wave"
  63. ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Republic of the Sphere, p. 7: "Simian Battle Armor"
  64. ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Republic of the Sphere, p. 9: "Centaur Battle Armor"
  65. ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Republic of the Sphere, p. 44: "PSD-V2 Poseidon"
  66. ↑ Technical Readout: 3145, pp. 18, 25, 182, 184
  67. ↑ Experimental Technical Readout: Republic, Volume 3, pp. 11, 33: Triskelion "Introduction and development info for the Triskelion.

Bibliography[edit]

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