Van Diemen

(Redirected from Van Diemen IV)
Van Diemen
Van Diemen 3151.svg
System Information
X:Y Coordinates-32.831 : -41.666[e]

The Van Diemen system was home to at least one habitable world and as of 3152 was located in the Augustine Alliance of the Free Worlds League.[1]

System Description[edit]

Van Diemen is located near the Talitha and Tyrfing systems and is less than 60 light-years from Terra. The system had at least four planets.[1][2]

System History[edit]

The Van Diemen system was colonized at sometime prior to 2271.[3]

Political Affiliation[edit]


Van Diemen IV[edit]

Van Diemen IV
Astrophysical
System positionFourth[18]
History and Culture
Populationapprox 1B[52]

Planetary History[edit]

Van Diemen was described as a mining colony with a representative government.[23][53]

Star League[edit]

During the reign of the Star League, Van Diemen would host a Castle Brian, a massive defensive fortress.[54]

The Fifth Army would liberate Van Diemen from the Amaris Empire in 2772 when the world was attacked as part of Operation CHIEFTAIN.[55]

While still technically a part of the Terran Hegemony, the Free Worlds League would peacefully annex Van Diemen in 2785 as the Hegemony began to fall apart.[56]

Second Succession War[edit]

Van Diemen IV was conquered by the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces in September 2838 while the Free Worlds League was under a communications interdiction imposed by ComStar. The loss of Van Diemen - after a battle that saw five battalions of House Marik troops and a regiment from the Fusiliers of Oriente destroyed - was one of the defeats that led to Captain-General Charles Marik being forced to capitulate to ComStar's terms for ending the interdiction.[19]

After the Capellan Confederation took Van Diemen in 2838, the Lyran Commonwealth would take the planet from them sometime before 2844. In 2844, the Free Worlds League would once again control Van Diemen as they retook the world from the Lyran Commonwealth.[20]

Third Succession War[edit]

In 2903, the Capellan Confederation was in control in Van Diemen. After a particularly wasteful aerospace battle against the Federated Suns that year, the Capellan Confederation would reach out to the Federated Suns for a temporary cease fire along their shared border. This cease fire would be called the Armistice of Van Diemen IV and signed by both parties in 2905. Though sometime before the armistice was signed, the Free Worlds League retook Van Diemen.[23][57]

In 2905, CCAF forces attacked Van Diemen. The Liao attack took the defending Marik forces by surprise, and the outer planets of the system fell before House Marik could mount a defense. A screen of Stingrays and Cheetah's was assembled at Van Diemen IV against the invading Liao DropShips. Drawing the enemy's fire, the Stingrays engaged the Liao fighters while the swift Marik Cheetahs evaded fighter cover and attacked the larger Liao vessels. By force of numbers, the Marik fighters destroyed two Liao Union-class DropShips when they entered the planet's atmosphere. As the rest of the Liao forces began landing operations, the Marik Stingrays moved toward the surface to stop them while the Cheetahs continued to fight the Liao ships in orbit, the Marik Stingrays fired at Liao fighters and DropShips on the ground, destroying three more heavy transports before the 'Mechs they carried could debark. As House Marik's defending ground forces deployed to meet their attackers the Stingrays returned to base and were refitted with bombs. When those fighters arrived back to the fray they supported their BattleMechs and infantry, forcing the Liao invaders to retreat. Nevertheless, the invasion force was still dug-in on the system's outer planets and the two warring Houses agreed to a hastily drawn-up treaty that called for trade concessions from the Free Worlds League in return for the Capellan Confederation's withdrawal from the system. House Liao claimed victory in the conflict, but House Marik's aerospace fighters clearly saved the Marik military from an embarrassing defeat.[2]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

Goaded by requests from Archon Katrina Steiner and First Prince Hanse Davion, and aided by advice from General Ardan Sortek of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns, Supreme Lord Pavel Ridzik of the newly-formed Tikonov Free Republic decided to launch an offensive against the Free Worlds League in the second quarter of 3029. Ridzik's offensive targeted four League worlds, one of which was Van Diemen IV. Van Diemen IV became a target when the Free Worlds League Military redeployed away the Marik Guard for a planned offensive against the Lyran Commonwealth; this redeployment prompted Ridzik to send the Fifth Republican BattleMech Regiment to conquer the world, not anticipating any particular problems. The Fifth was a green regiment formed from survivors and cadets, and had more trouble with the invasion than expected because Ridzik and his advisers were unaware that the FWLM had deployed four front-line armored regiments to Van Diemen IV to replace the Marik Guard. Both the League regiments and the Fifth Republican were unfamiliar with the terrain, but the Republicans eventually overwhelmed the tank regiments and seized the planet for the Republic.[58]

Operation GUERRERO[edit]

Van Diemen IV was invaded in the Free Worlds League's first wave of Operation GUERRERO by the Tenth and Twenty-third Marik Militia, the Third Oriente Hussars, and the First Sirian Lancers. The defending FedCom forces held out until Free Worlds League Military reinforcements arrived.[59]

The Jihad[edit]

The Word of Blake attacked Van Diemen IV in September 3069, breaking the Third Oriente Hussars as they did so.[41] Having been occupied by the Word of Blake, Van Dieman IV was targeted for liberation by the allied coalition assembled by Devlin Stone; coalition forces assaulted Van Dieman IV on the 1st of July 3076 as one of four planetary assaults on Protectorate worlds that took place simultaneously, with the other strikes targeting the Al Na'ir, Rio, and Rochelle systems.[60][61]

Military Deployment[edit]

3025[edit]

3038[edit]

3050[edit]

  • Third Republican[66]

3054[edit]

  • Third Republican[67]

3059[edit]

3067[edit]

  • Third Oriente Hussars[69]

3069[edit]

  • 3rd Oriente Hussars[41]

3145[edit]

Companies and Industries[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • The Tikonov Free Republic invasion of Van Diemen IV during the Fourth Succession War has been dated to June 3030 based on the detail given of the timings of the Republican offensive against Wasat in NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2[72] as the four planetary assaults appear to have been launched concurrently.

Map Gallery[edit]

Nearby Systems[edit]

Closest 80 systems (79 within 60 light-years)
Distance in light years, closest systems first:
Talitha 7.1 Tabit 13.3 Wasat 18.3 Hall 19.0
Irian 20.1 Acubens 21.4 Connaught 21.5 Hechnar 22.3
Blue Sava 25.2 Castor 26.1 Pollux 26.1 Devil's Rock 26.6
New Dallas 27.5 Mandal 28.0 Pliska 28.5 Outreach 30.5
Bordon 31.4 Graham 32.6 Miaplacidus 33.4 Alphard 34.2
Carver 34.5 Oliver 34.7 Berenson 35.1 Nathan 35.2
Chisholm 35.6 Zosma 35.8 Augustine 36.8 Marcus 36.9
Xi Ursae Majoris 37.9 Hamilton 39.7 Callison 39.9 Denebola 40.4
Remulac 40.4 Hsien 40.5 Capolla 40.8 Brownsville 41.1
Procyon 41.3 Zavijava 41.4 Tall Trees 41.9 Afleir 42.9
Elbing 43.7 Menkalinan 43.8 Dieudonné 45.2 Sirius 45.4
Dubhe 45.6 Saiph 45.8 Savannah 47.1 Avellaneda 47.6
Keid 47.8 Wyatt 47.9 Lipton 48.1 Kristiandsund 48.1
Chara 48.2 Tau Ceti 49.2 Myrvoll 49.3 Chertan 49.3
New Home 49.4 Belluevue 50.4 Thorin 50.5 New Canton 51.6
Wing 52.4 Sol 53.0 Rigil Kentarus 53.4 Bryant 54.1
Bernardo 54.2 Milton 54.5 Epsilon Eridani 55.1 Alchiba 55.7
Bonaire 55.9 Terra Firma 55.9 Nanking 56.5 Alhena 56.6
Haddings 56.7 Muphrid 57.1 Zurich 57.2 Aquileia 57.3
Marik 57.6 Phecda 57.8 Catroxx 58.3 Zollikofen 61.1

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Empire Alone, p. 78: "The Free Worlds League June 3152"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Technical Readout: 3025, p.154 F-90 Stingray
  3. 3.0 3.1 Handbook: House Marik, p. 16: "Free Worlds League Founding - [2271] Map"
  4. Handbook: House Liao, p. 13: "Capellan Confederation Foundation - [2366] Map"
  5. Handbook: House Marik, p. 24: "Free Worlds League after Age of War - [2571] Map"
  6. Handbook: House Liao, p. 25: "Capellan Confederation after Age of War - [2571] Map"
  7. Historical: Reunification War, p. 159: "Inner Sphere - [2596] Map"
  8. Era Report: 2750, p. 37: "Inner Sphere - [2750] Map"
  9. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - [2765] Map"
  10. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 104: "Rim Worlds Republic - [2767] Map"
  11. 11.0 11.1 Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 138: "Operation LIBERATION Wave 1 [July 2772 - December 2774]"
  12. 12.0 12.1 Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2, p. 118: "Digesting The Hegemony"
  13. First Succession War, pp. 24–25: "Inner Sphere - [2786] Map"
  14. First Succession War, p. 95: "Federated Suns Counteroffensives 2801–2818"
  15. Handbook: House Marik, p. 34: "Free Worlds League after First Succession War - [2822] Map"
  16. Handbook: House Liao, p. 31: "Capellan Confederation after First Succession War - [2822] Map"
  17. First Succession War, pp. 112–113: "Inner Sphere - [2822] Map"
  18. 18.0 18.1 Second Succession War, pp. 18–19: "Inner Sphere - 2830"
  19. 19.0 19.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 33: "At War With ComStar"
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 Second Succession War", p. 67: "La Reconquista"
  21. Handbook: House Marik, p. 38: "Free Worlds League after Second Succession War - [2864] Map"
  22. Handbook: House Liao, p. 39: "Capellan Confederation after Second Succession War - [2864] Map"
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 81: "Prince Joseph The Second"
  24. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. vii: "Free Worlds League Map - [3025]"
  25. Handbook: House Marik, p. 42: "Free Worlds League after Third Succession War - [3025] Map"
  26. Handbook: House Liao, p. 40: "Capellan Confederation after Third Succession War - [3025] Map"
  27. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 81: "Republican Offensive"
  28. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 94: "End Of The War"
  29. Handbook: House Marik, p. 51: "Free Worlds League after Fourth Succession War - [3030] Map"
  30. Handbook: House Liao, p. 49: "Capellan Confederation after Fourth Succession War - [3030] Map"
  31. Historical: War of 3039, p. 133: "Inner Sphere - [3040] Map"
  32. Era Report: 3052, p. 11, Inner Sphere - [3050] Map
  33. Era Report: 3052, p. 23: "Inner Sphere - [3052] Map"
  34. Era Report: 3062, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - [3057] Map"
  35. Handbook: House Marik, p. 54: "Free Worlds League after Operation Guerrero - [3058] Map"
  36. Handbook: House Liao, p. 60: "Capellan Confederation after Operation Guerrero - [3058] Map"
  37. Era Report: 3062, p. 29: "Inner Sphere - [3063] Map"
  38. Handbook: House Marik, p. 56: "Free Worlds League after FedCom Civil War - [3067] Map"
  39. Handbook: House Liao, p. 68: "Capellan Confederation after FedCom Civil War - [3067] Map"
  40. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 42: "Inner Sphere - [3067] Map
  41. 41.0 41.1 41.2 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 47: "The Jihad In Review"
  42. Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 65: "Inner Sphere - [3075] Map"
  43. Field Report: Clans, p. 29: "Terran Corridor/Clans Deployment Map - [August 3079]"
  44. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 63: "Inner Sphere - [3081] Map"
  45. Field Manual: 3085, p. vii: "Inner Sphere - [3085] Map"
  46. Era Report: 3145, p. 11: "Inner Sphere - [3135] Map"
  47. Era Report: 3145, p. 39: "Inner Sphere - [3145] Map"
  48. Field Manual: 3145, p. vi: "Inner Sphere - [3145] Map"
  49. Shattered Fortress, p. 62: "The Curtain Rises" - Van Diemen not explicitly named but appears as Republic territory in 3151 map
  50. Shattered Fortress, p. 103
  51. Empire Alone, p. 78: "The Free Worlds League - June 3152 (Map)
  52. Dark Age: 3136 LinkNet, p. 99: "Throwing in the Towel"
  53. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 74: "Representative Commonality"
  54. Field Manual: SLDF, p. 264: "Star League Defense Forces Terran Hegemony Defensive Installations"
  55. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 131: "Fifth and Twenty-Fourth Army Groups"
  56. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2, p. 118: "Digesting the Hegemony"
  57. BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction, p. 25: "Timeline 2905"
  58. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 80: "Free Worlds League Front"
  59. Shattered Sphere, p. 74: "Operation Guerrero, First Wave"
  60. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 22: "Timeline of the Jihad"
  61. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 56: "The Jihad In Review"
  62. 62.0 62.1 First Succession War (sourcebook), p. 138: "First Succession War Deployment Table - FWLM"
  63. 63.0 63.1 Second Succession War, p. 98: "Free Worlds League Military (FWLM)"
  64. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 108: "Unit Deployment Table"
  65. Historical: War of 3039, p. 138: "Deployment Table"
  66. 20 Year Update, p. 24: "Federated Commonwealth Deployment Table"
  67. Objective Raids, p. 18: "FedCom Deployment Table"
  68. Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 114: "Free Worlds League Deployment Table"
  69. Field Manual: Updates, p. 161: "Free Worlds League Deployment Table"
  70. Field Manual: 3145, p. 116: "Free Worlds League and Non-Affiliates Military Forces"
  71. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 127: "Irian Technologies"
  72. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 84: "Wasat"

Bibliography[edit]