Skondia

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Orbital view

File:Skondia Neighbors.png

225px

(References to Skondia)

Note: X and Y are coordinates (light years on XY plane) relative to Terra at (0, 0)

X: -31.80 Y: 55.52

Planetary Data

• Star Type: F6V
• Position in System: 2 (of 5)
• Number of Moons: 3 (Tadzio, Urian, Wilmot)
• Days to Jump Point: 14
• Surface Water: 77%
• Atm. Pressure: Standard (Breathable)
• Surface Gravity: 1.08
• Equatorial Temp: 50°C
• Highest Native Life: Birds

Era Specific Data

3130

• Governor: Hasani Saadiq
• Planetary Legate: Yegor Welvel
• Population: 2,671,000,000

Planetary Garrison

3025

• Barrett's Fusiliers

3050

• 10th Lyran Guards RCT

3067

• 6th Arkab Legion

Brief Planetary History

Skondia was settled for its abundant deposits of rare metals and minerals. Within a decade of the first colonists arrival, the first cities on Skondia were producing nickel alloy metals, titanium, and steel used in everything from silverware to fusion reactors.

First Succession War

In June of 2786, an unmarked freighter entered the Skondia system and passed through the Lyran picket lines unchallenged. Several dropships then detached from this vessel and began a hi-gee burn toward the planet. Once the ships were in orbit, a regiment of Draconis Combine BattleMechs attacked the planet catching the defenders by surprise. The Commonwealth ground forces focused their might on defending the major industrial centers waiting for an attack. However, the Combine troops began attacking civilians and population centers instead. When the Lyran troops moved to stop these attacks, the quicker Combine forces flanked their opponents, as well as dropped additional BattleMech forces from the still unchallenged dropships, seized the now undefended factories and destroyed them. The Kuritan troops were then able to withdrawal. This defeat was a major embarrassment to the Commonwealth High Command. However, the defeat lead to many reforms regarding system security and planetary defense. The quick victory also convinced then-Coordinator Minoru Kurita to focus his efforts against the Federated Suns as it was now seen as more dangerous than the Lyran Commonwealth.

In early 2787, the Draconis Combine returned to attack Skondia. This time they brought a major armada with them. After the humiliation of the previous attack, the Lyran Commonwealth had heavily reinforced the Skondia system. This resulted in one of the largest ship-to-ship engagements of the Succession Wars. The Kuritan fleet was able to penetrate the planetary defenses, off load their ground forces, and then re-engage the Lyran fleet. Of the nearly 300 ships and fighters that took part on the Lyran side of the battle, only about a 100 remained after the fighting. On the ground, Steiner forces performed well, but were unable to halt the Combine invasion. After four months of fighting, the system was securely in Combine control.

Third Succession War

Skondia was one of the four worlds targeted for liberation by the Lyran Commonwealth in Operation Freedom that began in February 2913. Though the fighting was long, Skondia was successfully retaken from the Draconis Combine.

Fourth Succession War

Skondia was invaded by the Draconis Combine's 14th Legion of Vega in 3029. This was part of Theodore Kurita's counter-assault named Operation Contagion during the last year of the Fourth Succession War. At the time, the planet was lightly defended with only five militia infantry regiments and two battalions of militia BattleMechs made up mostly of Chameleon training mechs with weapon refits. Most of the Lyran Mechwarriors were either retirees or young trainees. For their first engagement, the 14th Legion landed on top of an outpost named Fort Eagle which was defended by two infantry regiments. While fighting bravely, the defending units were no match for their opponents and were nearly wiped out. The Legion then hopped from city to city inflicting a considerable amount of damage while they crushed all resistance. Five weeks into the Legion's campaign, the LCAF's acting commanding officer, Colonel Mitch Freeman, ordered his ill-armed and inexperienced BattleMech battalions to engaged the Vegans near the town of Robes. Outnumbered and outgunned, The First & Second Battalions of the Skondia 'Mech Militia charged the Kuritan forces. The surprise attack inflicted heavy damage to two companies of the Vegan's BattleMechs. However, the Vegans quickly recovered, counter attacked and wiped out the two Skondian units to the last mech. With all organized resistance eliminated, the planet was once again taken over by the Draconis Combine.

Jihad

During the Jihad the Word of Blake captured the world and integrated it into the Word of Blake Protectorate. Eventually Clan Ghost Bear and Clan Snow Raven forces liberated the planet from the Blakists in September 3076. Though the Blakists had little hesitation in using weapons of mass destruction to destroy their enemies, for some reason they didn't employ them on Skondia.

Owner History

• 2340 - Federation of Skye
• 2341 - Lyran Commonwealth
• 2596 - Lyran Commonwealth
• 2750 - Lyran Commonwealth
• 2788 - Draconis Combine
• 3025 - Lyran Commonwealth
• 3030 - Draconis Combine
• 3040 - Draconis Combine
• 3052 - Draconis Combine
• 3057 - Draconis Combine
• 3062 - Draconis Combine
• 3067 - Draconis Combine
• 3072 - Word of Blake Protectorate
• 3130 - Republic of the Sphere
• 3136 - Independent World

Nearby Systems

Systems within 60 light-years (distance in light years) Closest systems first:
Alkalurops	14.47	Nusakan	15.21	La Blon	17.33	Atria	19.65	Sabik	20.69
Alphecca	21.45	Dromini VI	21.46	Ko	25.33	Lyons	25.59	Zebebelgenubi	28.43
Unukalhai	28.69	Skye	29.40	Balkan	30.77	Lone Star	32.13	Alrakis	38.26
Komephoros	38.78	Zollikofen	39.03	Menkent	39.07	Summer	42.14	Syrma	42.49
Kochab	43.422	Galatea	43.424	Muphrid	44.72	Rocky	45.86	Moore	46.02
Kessel	46.85	Lambrecht	47.31	Kimball II	48.08	Ryde	49.75	Marfik	50.93
Lipton	51.17	Imbros III	51.18	Chara	51.69	Dyev	52.22	Konstance	52.48
Haddings	53.79	Zavijava	55.83	Thorin	55.84	Baxter	57.64	Mizar	57.65
Chaville	57.67	Seginus	57.79	Yorii	58.16	Carnwath	58.17

Bibliography

• 20 Year Update
• Dark Age: Republic Worlds (3130)
• Field Manual: Updates
• Handbook: House Steiner
• Historical: Reunification War
• House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)
• House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)
• Jihad: Final Reckoning
• Jihad Hot Spots: 3076
• Jihad Hot Spots: Terra
• NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2
• Starterbook: Wolf and Blake