Kalidasa

Kalidasa
Kalidasa 3151.svg
System Information
X:Y Coordinates-105.763 : -23.051[e]
Spectral classG1Ia[1][2]
Recharge time185 hours[1][2]
Recharge station(s)Zenith, Nadir[1][2]
Planet(s)9[3]

The Kalidasa system was home to at least one habitable world, Kalidasa IV, and as of June 3152 was located in the Covenant Worlds in the Free Worlds League.[4]

System Description[edit]

Kalidasa is located near the Rochelle and Alkes systems.

Political Affiliation[edit]


Kalidasa IV[edit]

Kalidasa IV
Kalidasa Orbital View.jpg
Astrophysical
System positionFourth[1][2]
Jump Point distance9.75 days[1][2]
Moons2 (Carbons, Deons)[1][2]
Geophysical
Surface gravity1.1[1][2]
Atmospheric pressureThin (Breathable)[2]
Equatorial temperature56°C (Arid)[1][2]
Surface water67%[1][2]
Highest native lifePlant[1][2]
Landmasses3 (Kaleen, Kalima, Kumar)[2][3]
History and Culture
Population2,520,000,000 (3067–3152)[1][2][3]
Government and Infrastructure
Noble RulerBaron of Kalidasa
CapitalSakuntalem[2]
HPG ClassA[1][2]

Planetary History[edit]

Early Years[edit]

Kalidasa was apparently named in honor of the Great Poet Kalidasa.[26]

For many years Kalidasa was a hotspot between the Lyran Commonwealth and the Free Worlds League. Its strategic position between the two nations led to years of raids and assaults, the last of which occurred in 2997. During the late Succession Wars these raids tapered off, and instead the planet became an important cross-border shipping point. There are a dozen starports on the world, staffed by both League and Commonwealth customs inspectors. Naturally the legitimate trade is only one part of the system economy; a thriving black market is an open secret to the citizens. This trade is the cornerstone of the planet's economy, but there are also native light industry, mineral extraction, lumber, and refining operations as well.[1]

Star League[edit]

In the years prior to the fall of the Star League, Star League Defense Force troops defended the Quikscell Company complex in Port Royal from several attacks by raiders.[34]

Jihad[edit]

In late June 3070, the planetary government and military forces on Kalidasa switched their allegiance to the Word of Blake, bringing the world into the Word of Blake Protectorate; Kalidasa was one of six worlds to declare for the Blakists in the space of a week, pushing the Protectorate into Free Worlds League space.[23]

Gannon's Cannons were contracted by Mr. Askai to strike Kalidasa, defeat the Word's Third Division and, if possible, kill or capture Precentor Timothy Mayo. The unit accepted, and on July 3070 they struck the planet. The unit began raiding Blakist supply dumps, ambushing their patrols before locating Mayo and most of his force several days later. A pincer movement cornered the Blakist unit. When the mercenaries downed Mayo's Grand Crusader, the Blakists began fighting much more ferociously. The Blakists were wiped out at the cost of most of the mercenary unit. After capturing Precentor Mayo, the Cannons salvaged as much as they could before leaving.[35]

An important industrial world, Kalidasa would be occupied by the Blakists until mid-July 3077, when allied coalition forces spearheaded by forces from the Com Guards launched a combined assault on Kalidasa as a part of Operation SCOUR.[25] Kalidasa was liberated by elements from Group III of the Free Worlds League task force, led by the Com Guard Fourth Army on the 17th of July 3077, an event confirmed by the INN journalist Nigel Holmgren who presented a live broadcast from Kalidasa the next day. Holmgren had the opportunity to interview Commander Edith Byers, the "Kalidasa Ghost", leader of the resistance movement on Kalidasa. The initial Fourth Army landings saw them on the receiving end of friendly fire from the Kalidasa resistance movement - a group named the Bard's Champions - as a result of what Byers referred to as confusion and judgment clouded by fear. Holmgren's report intimated that the resistance had already driven the Blakists from Kalidasa when the Group III forces arrived, and that the Group III forces were initially believed to be a Word of Blake task force returning to recapture Kalidasa.[26]

The partisans who drove the Word of Blake off-world and the Coalition forces did not trust each other. Taking advantage of this, the Silver Hawks Coalition's Gryphons regiment arrived on the world to "support" the partisans.[2]

Dark Age[edit]

Kalidasa's independence ended shortly after the Blakist defeat as the planet was among those annexed by the nascent Republic of the Sphere during Operation GOLDEN DAWN.[36] The next half-century saw Kalidasa benefit from the prevailing peace and prosperity, but following the Blackout the planet regained its independence in 3135.[3]

Kalidasa briefly joined the reborn Free Worlds League around 3139 but soon fell to the Lyran Commonwealth during Operation HAMMERFALL, only to be conquered again by the newly established Wolf Empire shortly after. Although the Wolves governed Kalidasa leniently, its inhabitants remained League loyalists and kept up a steady stream of resistance challenges to their Clan overlords.[3]

IlClan era[edit]

In 3151, spurred by reports of the Wolf Empire's weakness after the majority of the Wolf touman left for Terra, League provincial forces engaged the Wolf garrison on Kalidasa intent on liberating the world. After multiple factions fought to a stalemate, Clan Sea Fox arranged for Kalidasa to pass under Covenant Worlds control in April 3152.[3]

Military Deployment[edit]

3050[edit]

3054[edit]

3059[edit]

3070[edit]

3079[edit]

3085[edit]

- The unit was at 70% strength, with 65% of their equipment featuring upgraded technology.

3145[edit]

Geography[edit]

Kalidasa has three continents named Kaleen, Kalima, and Kumar.[2][3]

Planetary Locations[edit]

  • Kalima (continent)
  • Sakuntalem: the rainy, lightly urbanized planetary capital[2][3]
  • Port Royal: a costal city with mild climate[2]
  • Westport: a heavily urban city with mild climate[2][47]

Industrial Centers[edit]

Image gallery[edit]

Map Gallery[edit]

Nearby Systems[edit]

Closest 56 systems (53 within 60 light-years)
Distance in light years, closest systems first:
Rochelle 10.8 Alkes 11.9 New Hope 12.3 Aquileia 18.0
Catroxx 20.0 Gniezno 21.8 Solaris 23.0 Amity 24.5
Alhena 24.8 Shiloh 25.2 Adhafera 28.2 Tania Borealis 29.5
Dieudonné 30.7 Zaniah 31.0 Stewart 31.9 Chertan 31.9
Wing 32.9 Kolobrzeg 33.3 Uhuru 34.9 Savannah 35.2
Dubhe 35.9 Remulac 36.4 Algorab 37.9 Phecda 38.0
Gacrux 38.9 New Kyoto 40.2 Concord 41.1 Wyatt 41.2
Merak 41.6 Bordon 43.9 Callison 43.9 Helm 44.9
Alchiba 45.4 Grobin 45.7 Danais 45.7 Nathan 46.6
Pardeau 47.4 Marcus 47.4 Rahne 48.5 Milton 48.8
Alphard 49.7 Vindemiatrix 49.7 New Dallas 50.8 Connaught 54.3
Tania Australis 54.3 Miaplacidus 54.9 Fianna 56.4 Zosma 57.0
Bedeque 57.5 Afleir 58.1 Cor Caroli 58.1 Marik 58.4
Alioth 59.7 Acubens 60.3 Alcor 60.5 Bondurant 61.3

Notes[edit]

Jihad Hot Spots: Terra records Commander Edith Byers as stating that Kalidasa was named for the "Great Poet Kalidasa".[26] It seems likely that this refers to the Fourth of Fifth century Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa.[48]

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 Handbook: House Marik, p. 72: "Kalidasa"
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 Objectives: Free Worlds League, p. 34: "Kalidasa"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Empire Alone, p. 108: "Kalidasa" planet profile
  4. 4.0 4.1 Empire Alone, p. 78: "The Free Worlds League June 3152" (Map)
  5. Handbook: House Marik, p. 16: "Free Worlds League Founding [2271]"
  6. Handbook: House Steiner, p. 13
  7. Handbook: House Marik, p. 24: "Free Worlds League after Age of War [2571] Map"
  8. Historical: Reunification War, p. 159: "Inner Sphere - 2596"
  9. Era Report: 2750, p. 37: "Inner Sphere - 2750"
  10. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - 2765"
  11. First Succession War, pp. 24–25: "Inner Sphere - [2786] Map"
  12. Handbook: House Marik, p. 34: "Free Worlds League after First Succession War [2822] Map"
  13. First Succession War, pp. 112–113: "Inner Sphere - [2822] Map"
  14. Handbook: House Marik, p. 38: "Free Worlds League after Second Succession War [2864] Map"
  15. Handbook: House Marik, p. 42: "Free Worlds League after Third Succession War [3025] Map"
  16. Handbook: House Marik, p. 51: "Free Worlds League after Fourth Succession War [3030] Map"
  17. Historical: War of 3039, p. 133: "Inner Sphere - 3040"
  18. Era Report: 3052, p. 11: "Inner Sphere [3050] Map"
  19. Era Report: 3052, p. 25: "Inner Sphere [3052] Map"
  20. Era Report: 3062, p. 11: "Inner Sphere [3057] Map"
  21. Handbook: House Marik, p. 54: "Free Worlds League after Operation Guerrero [3058] Map"
  22. Era Report: 3062, p. 29: "Inner Sphere [3063] Map"
  23. 23.0 23.1 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 48: "The Jihad In Review"
  24. Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 65: "Inner Sphere [3075] Map"
  25. 25.0 25.1 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 57: "The Jihad in Review"
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 47: "Mistaken Identity"
  27. Field Report: FWLM, p. 17: "FWLM Deployment Map [3079]"
  28. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 63: "Inner Sphere Map - [March 3081]"
  29. Field Manual: 3085, p. vii: "Inner Sphere Map - [October 3085]"
  30. Era Report: 3145, p. 10: "Inner Sphere - 3135"
  31. Era Report: 3145, p. 69: "Wolf Empire birth and growth [3140-3145]" (Map)
  32. Era Report: 3145, p. 39: "Inner Sphere - 3145"
  33. Shattered Fortress, p. 103: "Inner Sphere - 3151" (Map)
  34. Field Manual: SLDF, p. 109: "275th Mechanized Infantry Division"
  35. 35.0 35.1 Total Chaos, p. 90: "Binge, Purge, Flush"
  36. Field Manual: 3085, p. 16: "Operation GOLDEN DAWN" (sidebar)
  37. Field Manual: SLDF, p. 254: "SLDF - Free Worlds League Military Command Map"
  38. Field Report 2765: FWLM, p. 10: "Regimental Status"
  39. First Succession War, p. 138: "First Succession War Deployment Table - FWLM"
  40. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 108: "Unit Deployment Table"
  41. 20 Year Update, p. 57: "Free Worlds League Deployment Table"
  42. Objective Raids, p. 38: "Free Worlds League Deployment Table"
  43. Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 113: "Free Worlds League Deployment Table"
  44. Field Report: FWLM, p. 8: "Marik Commonwealth"
  45. Field Manual: 3085, p. 187: "RAF Deployment Table - 3085"
  46. Field Manual: 3145, p. 171: "Clan Force Deployments - Wolf Empire"
  47. 47.0 47.1 Handbook: House Marik, p. 132: "Kali Yama Weapons Industries Incorporated (KYAMIN)"
  48. Kalidasa Wikipedia entry

Bibliography[edit]