Hoff

Hoff
Hoff 3151.svg
System Information
X:Y Coordinates264.176 : 36.654[e]
Spectral classG4III[1][2]
Recharge time185 hours[1][3]
Recharge station(s)Zenith[1][2]

The Hoff system was the location of at least one habitable world, Hoff IV, and as of 3152 was located within the the Draconis Combine.[4][5][6]

System Description[edit]

Hoff is located near the Bettendorf and Sakhara V systems[7] and consists of at least four planets orbiting a class G64III primary. As of 3025, a recharge station was in place at the system zenith jump point. They system lies Spinward from Terra.[1][2][6]

System History[edit]

The Hoff system was colonized during the First Exodus from Terra[8] and had joined or been annexed by the Federated Suns by the end of the Age of War.[9][10]

Political Affiliation[edit]


Hoff IV[edit]

Hoff IV
Hoff.jpg
Astrophysical
System positionFourth[1][2]
Jump Point distance7.96 days[1]
Moons1 (Spad)[1]
Geophysical
Surface gravity0.95[1]
Atmospheric pressureStandard (Breathable)[1]
Equatorial temperature25°C (Temperate)[1]
Surface water73%[1]
Highest native lifeMammal[1][2]
History and Culture
Population117,438,201 (3021),[1]
1,263,000,000 (3025, apocryphal)[50]
Government and Infrastructure
Noble RulerDuke of Hoff[2]
HPG ClassB[1][2]
HPG RepresentativePrecentor Lothec Trive (3025)[2]

Hoff IV, more commonly known simply as Hoff, is the fourth planet in the system and has a single moon named Spad.[1][2] Hoff IV was also home to at least one notable manufacturing complex.[51]

Hoff was an agricultural planet until it developed advanced industry prior to the Succession Wars. When the wars came, the planetary industry was crippled, leaving it on a level equal to nineteenth century Terra.[1]

Planetary History[edit]

Star League[edit]

At some time during the reign of the Star League, an unnamed facility would be built on Hoff. This facility's purpose is unknown, but was the storage place for the plans to the Devastator BattleMech. The existence of this site would be lost until its rediscovery in 3023.[52]

First Succession War[edit]

Hoff was invaded during the first half of the major invasion into the Federated Suns launched by the Draconis Combine in May 2787.[17] Hoff was liberated by the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns in 2816, as part of the third and final major AFFS counteroffensive of the First Succession War against the Draconis Combine.[18]

Third Succession War[edit]

For more information, see Battle of Hoff (3023).

In 3019 the New Avalon Institute of Science decided to place several research facilities on Hoff, with one particularly at the Friden Aerospace Park. The Friden Aerospace Park, a small spaceport on Hoff's northern continent, had been abandoned for a long time prior to the NAIS restoring and refurbishing the facility. The facility would play a crucial role in the rediscovery of several technologies including Double Heat Sinks and the development of the Super Wasp and Super Griffin BattleMechs into prototype stage. Coordinator Takashi Kurita of the Draconis Combine would learn of these developments and was determined to seize these new technologies. Though the Combine was unsure of the precise location of the facility.

In 3023, the Seventeenth Galedon Regulars would attack Hoff. Later in April that year, Wolf's Dragoons, now in the employ of the Draconis Combine, would send forces to join the Combine troops. They sent their Epsilon Regiment under the command of Colonel Baxter Arbuthnot and the famous Black Widow Company under the command of Natasha Kerensky.[53] Defending the world were the Eridani Light Horse and the Dahar Draconis March Militia.[53]

While the Dragoons were not successful, Takashi Kurita was pleased. They had been able to acquire some information from the site and the Federated Suns operations there had been definitely halted which would cause many delays.[54]

At some time in 3023, an excavation team rediscovered the plans for the Devastator BattleMech in an uncovered Star League base built centuries before.[52]

After the Dragoons' raid, Hoff was heavily reinforced by the AFFS, and the Park was reopened again; ComStar believed that Team Banzai were testing a variant of the Hatchetman BattleMech at the facility in 3025.[2]

Combine Invasion of 3144[edit]

Hoff would fall to the Draconis Combine in their invasion of the Federated Suns in 3144.[55]

Military Deployment[edit]

2864[edit]

3000[edit]

3021[edit]

  • Eridani Light Horse (elements)[1]

Planetary Locations[edit]

  • Azure Stone Mesa[58][59]
  • Brand Valley Sector
    • Alonzo Mine Region
    • Flint: Mining Town
    • Kethrin River[60]
  • Clatsop Province[61]
    • Aram's Ravine
    • Johnson's Farm: Agricultural center[62]
    • Proud's Ridge
  • Hiakru-Weller Training Facility:[1]
  • Hornwald Sector[60]
  • Unnamed Star League facility[52]

Industrial Centers[edit]

Image gallery[edit]

Notes[edit]

In Tales of the Black Widow Company, it is noted that the year is 3022 when the Black Widows clash with the Eridani Light Horse on Hoff. However, the later Wolf's Dragoons states that it is 3023 when the Dragoons enter the Draconis Combine's employ and attack Hoff. As the sourcebook came after the Tales book, this article is written to show that information.

Map Gallery[edit]

Nearby Systems[edit]

Closest 40 systems (39 within 60 light-years)
Distance in light years, closest systems first:
Bettendorf 10.9 Sakhara 12.7 Tallmadge 13.0 Crossing 15.2
Benet 21.5 Dahar 22.5 Fairfield 26.4 Glenmora 26.7
Franklin 29.1 Allerton 29.5 Nouveau Toulouse 31.4 Ballentine 31.5
Lima 33.3 Harrow's Sun 34.5 New Ivaarsen 37.3 Courtney 37.3
Swales 38.2 Bergman's Planet 38.3 Lucerne 40.4 Turkalia 41.3
Wapakoneta 41.6 Sauk City 41.7 New Aberdeen 42.2 Royal 42.3
Elidere 42.3 Emporia 43.8 McComb 46.8 Barlow's End 48.2
Misery 49.4 Rochester 50.1 Thestria 50.8 Tishomingo 52.3
Maynard 53.0 Robinson 53.4 Waunakee 57.5 Gandy's Luck 58.1
DeWitt 58.8 Marlowe's Rift 59.1 Charleywood 59.5 Le Blanc 60.0

References[edit]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction, p. 87: "Planet Profile"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 202: "Hoff"
  3. Dominions Divided Poster Map
  4. 4.0 4.1 Era Report: 3145, p. 39: "Inner Sphere Map - [3145] Map"
  5. 5.0 5.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. VI: "Inner Sphere - [3145] Map"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 ”Dominions Divided”, p. 75, “Draconis Combine & Federated Suns June 3152” (Map)
  7. 7.0 7.1 Era Report: 2750, p. 37: "Inner Sphere - 2750"
  8. 8.0 8.1 Handbook: House Davion, p. 18: "Federated Suns at their Founding [2317] Map"
  9. 9.0 9.1 Handbook: House Davion, p. 48: "Federated Suns after Age of War - [2571] Map"
  10. 10.0 10.1 Handbook: House Kurita, p. 31: "Draconis Combine after Age of War - [2571] Map"
  11. Handbook: House Kurita, p. 18: "Draconis Combine Founding" - [2319] Map
  12. Historical: Reunification War, p. 159: "Inner Sphere - [2596]" Map
  13. Field Manual: SLDF, p. xi: "Inner Sphere - [2764] Map"
  14. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - [2765] Map"
  15. Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 29: "Federated Suns Armed Forces Deployment Map - [2765]"
  16. Field Report 2765: DCMS, p. 25: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery Deployment Map - [2765]"
  17. 17.0 17.1 First Succession War, p. 44: "Draconis Combine-Federated Suns Front 2786-2796"
  18. 18.0 18.1 First Succession War, p. 98: "The Davion Counter-Offensives"
  19. Handbook: House Davion, p. 54: "Federated Suns after First Succession War - [2822] Map"
  20. Handbook: House Kurita, p. 43: "Draconis Combine after First Succession War - [2822] Map"
  21. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2, p. 122: "Inner Sphere - [2822] Map"
  22. Handbook: House Davion, p. 60: "Federated Suns after Second Succession War - [2864] Map"
  23. Handbook: House Kurita, p. 53: "Draconis Combine after Second Succession War - [2864] Map"
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 The Hand that Feeds
  25. House Davion (The Federated Suns), foldout: "Federated Suns - [3025] Map"
  26. Handbook: House Davion, p. 70: "Federated Suns after Third Succession War - [3025] Map"
  27. House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), foldout: "Draconis Combine Map - [3025]"
  28. Handbook: House Kurita, p. 64: "Draconis Combine after Third Succession War - [3025] Map"
  29. Handbook: House Davion, p. 71: "Federated Suns after Fourth Succession War - [3030] Map"
  30. Handbook: House Kurita, p. 66: "Draconis Combine after Fourth Succession War - [3030] Map"
  31. Historical: War of 3039, p. 133: "Inner Sphere - [3040] Map"
  32. Handbook: House Davion, p. 76: "Federated Suns after War of 3039 Map"
  33. Handbook: House Kurita, p. 68: "Draconis Combine after War of 3039 - [3040] Map"
  34. Era Report: 3052, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - [3050] Map"
  35. Era Report: 3052, p. 23: "Inner Sphere - [3052] Map"
  36. Handbook: House Kurita, p. 71: "Draconis Combine after Operation REVIVAL - [3052] Map"
  37. Era Report: 3062, p. 11: Inner Sphere - [3057] Map
  38. Handbook: House Davion, p. 78: "Federated Suns after Operation Guerrero - [3058] Map"
  39. Era Report: 3062, p. 29: Inner Sphere - [3063] Map
  40. Handbook: House Davion, p. 82: "Federated Suns after FedCom Civil War - [3067] Map"
  41. Handbook: House Kurita, p. 74: "Draconis Combine after FedCom Civil War - [3067] Map"
  42. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 42: "Inner Sphere - [October 3067] Map"
  43. Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 65: "Inner Sphere - [3075] Map"
  44. Field Report: AFFS, p. 21: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns Deployment Map - [August 3079]"
  45. Field Report: DCMS, p. 21: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery Deployment Map - [August 3079]"
  46. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 63: "Inner Sphere Map - [March 3081]"
  47. Field Manual: 3085, p. 127: "Inner Sphere Map - [October 3085]"
  48. Era Report: 3145, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - [3135] Map"
  49. Shattered Fortress, pp. 102–103: "Inner Sphere Map - [3151] Map"
  50. MechWarrior (1989 Video Game) (apocryphal)
  51. 51.0 51.1 Experimental Technical Readout: Succession Wars, Volume 1, p. 4
  52. 52.0 52.1 52.2 Technical Readout: Succession Wars, p. 182: "Overview"
  53. 53.0 53.1 53.2 Wolf's Dragoons, p. 29: "The Hoff Campaign"
  54. Wolf's Dragoons, p. 30
  55. Era Report: 3145, pp. 38–39: "Inner Sphere - 3145 Map"
  56. Second Succession War, p. 94: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  57. Field Manual: 3085, p. 160: "Deployment Table - 3085"
  58. '"Technical Readout: 3025, p. 54
  59. Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, 54
  60. 60.0 60.1 60.2 60.3 60.4 Tales of the Black Widow Company, pp. 38–39: "Queen's Gambit Accepted"
  61. Wolf's Dragoons, p. 30: "Battle Heats Up"
  62. 62.0 62.1 Tales of the Black Widow Company, pp. 40–41: "The Better Mousetrap"
  63. Technical Readout: 3025, p. 116

Bibliography[edit]