Shiloh

Shiloh
Shiloh 3151.svg
System Information
X:Y Coordinates-88.149 : -4.964[e]
Star namesOne[1]
Spectral classA8V[2][1]
Recharge time169 hours[2]
Recharge station(s)None (3067)[2]
Planet(s)4[2][1]

The Delta Taurus system is also known as the Shiloh system after its primary one habitable world, Shiloh IV, and as of June 3152 was located in the Wolf Empire.[3]

System Description[edit]

Shiloh is located near the Alhena and Phecda systems.

Political Affiliation[edit]


Shiloh IV[edit]

Shiloh IV
Shiloh Flag.jpg
Astrophysical
System positionFourth[2][1]
Jump Point distance25.77 days[2]
MoonsNone[1]
Geophysical
Surface gravity1.11[2][1]
Atmospheric pressureStandard (Breathable)[2][1]
Equatorial temperature55°C[2][1]
Surface water15%[2]
Highest native lifePlant, 10%[2][1]
History and Culture
Colonized2138[4]
Demonym(s)Shiloan[44]
Main Religion(s)Exituri[4][44]
Population1,000,000 (3025),[45]
1,000,000 (3067),[2]
3,067,000 (3130)[1]
Government and Infrastructure
Political LeaderBlessed Leader Elena Kubayshev (3025–3067)[45][46]
Planetary Governor
Military CommanderLegate Martin Walter (3130)[1][47]
HPG ClassB[2]
HPG RepresentativePrecentor Ilsa DeSuevo (3025)[45]

Planetary History[edit]

Early History[edit]

The low level of resources on Shiloh—including water—made the planet an unappealing choice for colonization efforts during the First Exodus from Terra, but the planet attracted the attention of a religious group known as the Exituri. The Exituri were a secretive religious sect whose beliefs blended together a mix of elements from various different faiths including Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and even Paganism. Ideological reasons drove the Exituri to choose to leave Terra early in the Exodus, and the order colonized Shiloh, creating a theocratic society known as the Bhagavad-Gita based on their religious precepts. Although Shiloh became a member of the Federation of Skye region of the Lyran Commonwealth during the Age of War, the planet remained largely isolated, taking little active role in interplanetary politics. Limited to the most primitive methods for both industry and farming by their religious tenets, the small population supported itself as best it could, and the little trade the locals engaged in consisted largely of exporting local handicrafts in exchange for water.[1]

Star League Era[edit]

The local population was notable for its strong religious beliefs and antitechnology stance during the Star League era, and even at the height of the Star League the local Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces garrison found it a constant struggle to avoid fighting with — or mingling with — the local population.[48] During the Star League era mining operations had been conducted on Shiloh, extracting rare stone crystals known as Shuksam and Mirst from the Fald Plains region of Shiloh.[49]

First Succession War[edit]

Shiloh was one of a number of Lyran Commonwealth captured by the Free Worlds League between 2786 and 2790, as the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces began to crack under the pressure of continuing efforts to annex the Bolan Thumb while also attempting to maintain a defensive posture against both the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery and the Free Worlds League Military.[13]

Second Succession War[edit]

Shiloh was conquered by the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces August 2838 while the Free Worlds League was under a communications interdiction imposed by ComStar. The loss of Shiloh was one of the defeats that led to Captain-General Charles Marik being forced to capitulate to ComStar's terms for ending the interdiction.[17]

Third Succession War[edit]

The Free Worlds League finally gained control of Shiloh in 2917, after the planet had been the target of numerous raids and invasions conducted by the Commonwealth and the League throughout the Succession Wars. Despite numerous rebellions launched by the population against the hardline theocratic government, the leadership of the Exituri maintained almost complete control over the planet during the Succession Wars, preaching that their Divinity no longer recognized mankind because of mankind's increasing dependence on the tools of science and warfare, condemning the evils of advanced technology. This condemnation extended to all the Great Houses, whom the Exituri held responsible for all of the tragedies experienced by the human race, not just the more recent Succession Wars.[1]

In 2955, the Commonwealth launched a raid for a supply cache located in the city of Randersville. The Arcturan Guards found themselves pinned while trying to regain control of a supply cache within the city. Seeing this, several Stinger LAMs belonging to the LCAF changed to fighter mode and landed in the center of the city. Once there they converted to 'Mech mode and searched for the cache. With the supplies taken, they changed to Air 'Mech and blasted through the Marik lines.[50]

Shiloh was raided by the Tenth Skye Rangers in the 3010 Battle of Uhuru; accompanying the Rangers was the mercenary unit Snord's Irregulars, following a request from Cranston Snord to join the raid. Snord's interest in Shiloh was the rare stone crystals mined during the Star League era, and given his reputation as a troublemaker, the Rangers were happy to allow the Irregulars to spend their time scouting the Fald Plains. Snord did identify a shuksam deposit after a few weeks, but had to fight a running battle with League forces to successfully extract a quantity of the crystals.[49]

The Jihad[edit]

The Word of Blake managed to secure full control over the government of Shiloh by nonviolent means, occupying the world and incorporating it into the Protectorate in July 3068.[32] Blakist agents had been subverting the ancient Exituri government for years prior to the Jihad, and within months of the Jihad beginning the Blakists washed away the Exituri rule. Replacing the absolute theocratic government of Shiloh with their own technotheocray, the Blakists were able to shape the Exituri youth (like Noe Bilat) into a new kind of fanatical grouping, dedicated to the causes of chaos and death. The Blakists were soon using Shiloh as a training ground for MechWarriors and commandos, and the planet became a favored location for Blakist "reeducation camps."[1]

It was in the Shiloh system on 22 August 3070 that two Word of Blake WarShips—the Aegis-class heavy cruiser WoBS Impetuous and the Black Lion-class battlecruiser WoBS Xanthos[51]—were destroyed in an ambush staged by rebel WarShips,[52] specifically the Eagle-class frigates FWLS Galahad and FWLS Lancelot and the Agamemnon-class heavy cruiser FWLS Menelaus.[53]

Allied coalition forces including elements from Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolf liberated Shiloh as a part of Operation SCOUR on 10 June 3077.[35] Shiloh was liberated by forces from the Lyran front of Operation SCOUR; Shiloh was considered significant enough that the front commander, Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner, assigned two complete Groups to the attack on the world. In addition to the Protectorate Militia forces, the Blakists had also moved the Sixth Free Worlds Legionnaires and a contingent from one of the Shadow Divisions onto Shiloh; as a result, when the Lyran front forces landed, the Com Guard First Army suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Manei Domini. The Manei Domini used civilians as unwitting suicide bombers, and as the Com Guard forces reeled, used the advantage to drive the attacking forces back off Shiloh.[34]

Following the retreat from Shiloh, forces from Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon worked together, initially using one of Shiloh's moons as a rallying point; the two Clans set aside their traditional rivalry and antagonism to execute a combined drop onto the main Word of Blake base of operations on Shiloh. They then held the drop zone in the face of Blakist counterattacks and two tactical nuclear strikes, allowing the remaining Lyran forces to land. The successful liberation of Shiloh was announced in a news broadcast by Myra Kellison of Tharkad Media Associates on 18 July 3077, who hailed the remarkable situation of rival Clans working together to protect Lyran forces against a common enemy as a tantalizing sign of hope that a peaceful coexistence between opposing factions may be possible.[34]

Dark Age[edit]

The incorporation of Shiloh into the Republic of the Sphere effectively marked a rebirth for the planet, driven by the Republic government establishing economic initiatives to bolster the planetary economy, and the arrival of new residents. The local government was rebuilt in the image of the Republic, although various Exituri sects were still present on Shiloh, even if they were no longer able to exercise control over the government.[1]

Abandoned by the Republic government when Fortress Republic was enacted, Shiloh became an independent world or part of an entity dubbed the "Shiloh Alliance"[39] until it was conquered by Clan Wolf in 3141. The Wolves made no distinction between Exituri and non-Exituri in assigning Shiloans to Clan castes, and this prompted the Shiloans to undertake a campaign of sabotage which was halted only when the Wolves cut the world's water rations. The Exituri bided their time, believing they would eventually claim absolution and divine retribution would smite the Wolves.[40]

IlClan Era[edit]

In the months following the Wolf touman's disappearance after conquering Terra, Shiloh grew restless until news of Amity and Concord's fall to the Silver Hawk Irregulars spurred a planet-wide uprising. In November 3151 rioting Shiloans successfully seized control of the precious desalinization plants that were their primary water source. Harsh reprisals from the Wolves culminated in the death of the leader of the Exituri's largest sect, triggering widespread violence that claimed many lives on both sides. Ultimately the Wolves defused the crisis by arranging a deal with the Exituri: exemption from the caste system and a return to their way of life, in exchange for token monitoring by Wolf paramilitary forces.[40]

Military Deployment[edit]

3039–3040[edit]

  • Gryphons (from October 3039)[56]

3050[edit]

3054[edit]

  • Third Sirian Lancers[58]

3056[edit]

3077[edit]

3145[edit]

Geography[edit]

Shiloh is a windy, arid and nearly barren world. With relatively little surface water present on the planet, what surface water does exist takes the form of numerous scattered lakes, seas and interconnecting rivers. The climate the planet, combined with the lack of resources, made it a relatively unappealing world for colonization.[1]

Planetary Locations[edit]

  • Blessed Lake: a lake or small sea located in the northern hemisphere[1]
  • Chatham Plains[59]
  • Feld Plains[citation needed]
  • Randersville: the planetary capital city, located on the north shore of Blessed Lake[1]

Map Gallery[edit]

Nearby Systems[edit]

Closest 64 systems (64 within 60 light-years)
Distance in light years, closest systems first:
Alhena 11.1 Phecda 14.1 Wing 14.2 Gacrux 15.8
Chertan 17.1 Zaniah 19.2 Dubhe 20.8 Wyatt 21.2
Alchiba 21.5 Aquileia 22.9 Dieudonné 24.6 Milton 25.0
Kalidasa 25.2 Callison 27.5 Rochelle 27.8 Marcus 31.1
Catroxx 31.5 Algorab 32.6 Cor Caroli 32.9 Vindemiatrix 33.7
Solaris 34.2 Alioth 34.8 Alcor 36.4 Afleir 36.9
Alkes 37.1 Remulac 37.5 New Hope 37.5 Bordon 37.9
Zosma 38.4 New Dallas 39.0 New Kyoto 41.2 Mizar 42.2
Savannah 42.5 Gniezno 42.9 Carsphairn 44.7 Haddings 48.0
Amity 48.3 Nathan 48.9 Connaught 49.0 Castor 49.1
Adhafera 49.3 Denebola 50.4 Tania Borealis 51.1 Uhuru 51.5
Galatea 52.0 Alphard 52.3 Alkaid 52.3 Devil's Rock 53.0
Caledonia 53.4 Syrma 53.5 Summer 53.6 Lipton 55.5
Rahne 55.6 Stewart 56.3 Oliver 56.4 Zavijava 56.5
Menkent 57.1 Pollux 57.6 Miaplacidus 57.9 Acubens 58.2
Lamon 58.4 Kolobrzeg 58.5 Fianna 59.1 Tabit 59.8

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 Dark Age: Republic Worlds (3130), p. 197: "Shiloh"
  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 Handbook: House Marik, p. 72: "Planet Profile"
  3. 3.0 3.1 Empire Alone, p. 78: "The Free Worlds League June 3152" (Map)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 51: "Secret Society"
  5. Handbook: House Marik, p. 16: "Free Worlds League at their founding in [2271]"
  6. Handbook: House Steiner, p. 13: "Lyran Commonwealth Founding [2341]"
  7. Handbook: House Steiner, p. 25: "Lyran Commonwealth after Age of War [2571]"
  8. Handbook: House Marik, p. 24: "Free Worlds League after Age of War [2571] Map"
  9. Historical: Reunification War, p. 159: "Inner Sphere Map [2596]"
  10. Era Report: 2750, p. 37: "Inner Sphere - 2750"
  11. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - 2765"
  12. First Succession War, pp. 24–25: "Inner Sphere - [2786] Map"
  13. 13.0 13.1 First Succession War, p. 62: "The War of Raids: House Steiner's Succession War"
  14. Handbook: House Steiner, p. 36: "Lyran Commonwealth after First Succession War [2822]"
  15. Handbook: House Marik, p. 34: "Free Worlds League after First Succession War [2822] Map"
  16. First Succession War, pp. 112–113: "Inner Sphere - [2822] Map"
  17. 17.0 17.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 33: "At War with ComStar"
  18. Handbook: House Steiner, p. 40: "Lyran Commonwealth after Second Succession War [2864]"
  19. Handbook: House Marik, p. 38: "Free Worlds League after Second Succession War [2864] Map"
  20. Handbook: House Steiner, p. 47: "Lyran Commonwealth after Third Succession War [3025]"
  21. Handbook: House Marik, p. 42: "Free Worlds League after Third Succession War [3025] Map"
  22. Handbook: House Steiner, p. 56: "Lyran Commonwealth after Fourth Succession War [3030]"
  23. Handbook: House Marik, p. 51: "Free Worlds League after Fourth Succession War [3030] Map"
  24. Handbook: House Steiner, p. 59: "Lyran Commonwealth after War of 39 [3040]"
  25. Historical: War of 3039, p. 133: "Inner Sphere - 3040"
  26. Era Report: 3052, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - 3050"
  27. Handbook: House Steiner, p. 61: "Lyran Commonwealth after Clan Invasion [3052]"
  28. Era Report: 3052, p. 23: "Inner Sphere - 3052"
  29. Era Report: 3062, p. 10: "Inner Sphere Map [3057]"
  30. Handbook: House Marik, p. 54: "Free Worlds League after Operation Guerrero [3058] Map"
  31. Era Report: 3062, p. 29: "Inner Sphere Map [3063]"
  32. 32.0 32.1 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 45: "The Jihad In Review"
  33. Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 65: "Inner Sphere - 3075"
  34. 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 29: "Shiloh Falls"
  35. 35.0 35.1 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 57: "The Jihad in Review"
  36. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 63: "Inner Sphere Map - [March 3081]"
  37. Field Manual: 3085, p. 127: "Inner Sphere Map - [October 3085]"
  38. Era Report: 3145, p. 10: "Inner Sphere - 3135"
  39. 39.0 39.1 Wolf Hunters, ch. 6
  40. 40.0 40.1 40.2 Empire Alone, pp. 48, 50: "Religious Exemption"
  41. Era Report: 3145, p. 39: "Inner Sphere - 3145"
  42. Era Report: 3145, p. 69: "Wolf Empire birth and growth [3140-3145]" (Map) - Shiloh added to Wolf Empire between 3142 and 3145
  43. Shattered Fortress, p. 103: "Inner Sphere - 3151" (Map)
  44. 44.0 44.1 Empire Alone, p. 48
  45. 45.0 45.1 45.2 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 160 (PDF p. 162): "A Brief Atlas" – Shiloh entry
  46. Interstellar Players, p. 74
  47. Dark Age: Republic of the Sphere, p. 18: "Prefecture VIII"
  48. 48.0 48.1 Field Report 2765: LCAF, pp. 18–19: "Skye Rangers"
  49. 49.0 49.1 Cranston Snord's Irregulars, pp. 26–27: "Operation Road Runner"
  50. Technical Readout: 3025, p. 126 "STG-A5 STINGER LAM"
  51. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 128: "Captured Ships"
  52. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 48: "The Jihad In Review"
  53. Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, pp. 108–109 and Blake Ascending, pp. 268–269: "Fleet Advisory: Shiloh"
  54. First Succession War, p. 139: "First Succession War Deployment Table - LCAF"
  55. First Succession War, p. 138: "First Succession War Deployment Table - FWLM"
  56. 56.0 56.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 140: "Free Worlds League Military"
  57. 20 Year Update, p. 57: "Free Worlds League Deployment Table"
  58. Objective Raids, p. 38: "Free Worlds League Deployment Table"
  59. 59.0 59.1 59.2 Assumption of Risk, ch. 34
  60. Field Manual: 3145, p. 170: "Clan Force Deployments - Wolf Empire"

Bibliography[edit]