Editing Hesperus

{{InfoBoxSystem
| image               = Hesperus_3151.svg
| caption             = Hesperus [[#Nearby_Systems|nearby systems]]
| name                = Hesperus
| coord               = -123.603 : 46.734{{e}}
| stars               = 
| class               = F2IV<ref name="O:LAp28">''Objectives: Lyran Alliance'', p. 28: "Hesperus II"</ref><ref name=JTPHIIp3/>
| recharge            = 173 hours<ref name="O:LAp28"/>
| recharge stations   = Zenith, Nadir<ref name="O:LAp28"/><ref name=JTPHIIp3/>
| planets             = 5<ref name=TDT>''The Dying Time'', ch. 5 (PDF edition p. 50): Hesperus V is described as the system's "fifth, outermost planet."</ref>
}}

==System Description==
The system is best known for the massive 'Mech factories on '''Hesperus II'''. Other named planets in the system include the barren Hesperus III<ref name="O:LAp28"/> and Hesperus V, which was mentioned to have several large, rocky moons including Hesperus V Gamma.<ref name=TDT/>

==System History==
The '''Hesperus''' system was mentioned to feature shipyard facilities<ref>''Operation Excalibur'', p. 177 (PDF edition)</ref> and an ''[[Olympus]]''-class recharge station<ref>''Operation Excalibur'', p. 220 (PDF edition)</ref> at the zenith [[jump point]], which may be referring to one and the same.

Because of its immense strategic value, the Hesperus system was the site of many battles over the centuries. (See [[Hesperus#The Battles for Hesperus II|The Battles for Hesperus II]] below).

==Political Affiliation==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[2271]] - Inhabited world<ref name="HB:HMp16">''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 16</ref>
* [[2340]] - [[Federation of Skye]]<ref name=HBHS13>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 13</ref>
* [[2341]] - [[Lyran Commonwealth]]<ref name=HBHS13/>
* [[2571]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="HB:HSp25>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 25</ref>
* [[2596]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name=HRWp158>''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 158</ref>
* [[2750]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="ER:2750p37">''Era Report: 2750'', p. 37</ref>
* [[2764]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="FM:SLDFpvii">''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. vii: "Inner Sphere - [2764] Map"</ref>
* [[2765]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="H:LoTV1p11>''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1'', p. 11</ref>
* [[2786]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="FSW(SB)p24-25">''First Succession War'', pp. 24–25</ref>
* [[2822]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="HB:HSp36">''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 36</ref><ref name="H:LoTV2p122">''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2'', pp. 122–123</ref><ref name="FSW(SB)p112-113">''First Succession War'', pp. 112–113</ref>
* [[2835]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="HKp64">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 64: "Jinjiro's last years"</ref>
* [[2864]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="HB:HSp40">''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 40</ref>
* [[2957]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="HKp84">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 84: "Decline and Fall"</ref>
* [[2990]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name=StD>''Seal the Deal''</ref>
* [[2998]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name=EW>''Endless War''</ref>
* [[3019]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name=WDp24/>
* [[3025]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="HB:HSp47">''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 47</ref>
* [[3030]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="HB:HSp56">''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 56</ref>
* [[3040]] - [[Federated Commonwealth]]<ref name="HB:HSp59">''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 59</ref><ref>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 133</ref>
* [[3050]] - Federated Commonwealth<ref name="ER3052p11">''Era Report: 3052'', p. 11</ref>
* [[3052]] - Federated Commonwealth<ref name="HB:HSp61">''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 61</ref><ref name="ER3052p23">''Era Report: 3052'', p. 23</ref>
* [[3057]] - [[Lyran Alliance]]<ref>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 11</ref>
* [[3063]] - Lyran Alliance<ref>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 29</ref>
* [[3067]] - Lyran Alliance<ref name="HB:HSp70">''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 70</ref><ref name="J:FRp43">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 43</ref>
* [[3070]] - [[Word of Blake Protectorate]] (from February)<ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 24</ref><ref name="J:FRp48"/>
* [[3075]] - Lyran Alliance<ref name="JS:TBDp64>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 64</ref><ref name="JHS3076p55"/><ref name="J:FRp53"/>
* [[3076]] - Lyran Alliance<ref name=TFoH:GP>''The Fires of Hell'' - ''Gathering Players''</ref>
* [[3079]] - Lyran Alliance<ref>''Field Report: LAAF'', p. 19</ref>
* [[3081]] - Lyran Alliance<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 63</ref>
* [[3085]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. vii: "Inner Sphere Map - [October 3085]"</ref>
* [[3135]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="ER:3145p11">''Era Report: 3145'', p. 11</ref>
* [[3145]] - Lyran Commonwealth<ref name="ER:3145p39">''Era Report: 3145'', p. 39</ref><ref name="FM:3145pVI">''Field Manual: 3145'', p. VI: "Inner Sphere - 3145"</ref>
{{div col end}}

-------------------------------------
==Hesperus II==
{{InfoBoxPlanet
| image               = Hesperus II Flag.jpg
| name                = Hesperus II
| othernames          = 
| position            = Second<ref name="O:LAp28"/><ref name=JTPHIIp3/>
| distance            = 18.75<ref name="O:LAp28"/><ref name=JTPHIIp3/>
| moons               = 1 (Hesperus II-Alpha)<ref name="O:LAp28"/><ref name=JTPHIIp3/><ref name=HBS88-89>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 88–89: "Planet Profile"</ref>
| gravity             = 1.01<ref name="O:LAp28"/><ref name=JTPHIIp3/><ref name=HBS88-89/>
| pressure            = Standard (Breathable)<ref name="O:LAp28"/><ref name=HBS88-89/><ref name=JTPHIIp3/>
| temperature         = 85°C (Jungle)<ref name="O:LAp28"/><ref name=JTPHIIp3/><ref name=HBS88-89/>
| water               = 40%<ref name="O:LAp28"/><ref name=JTPHIIp3/><ref name=HBS88-89/>
| life                = "Reptile"<ref name="O:LAp28"/><ref name=JTPHIIp3/> (see text)
| continents          = 4 (North Whitman, South Whitman, East Barrens, West Barrens)<ref name=JTP/>
| colonized           = 
| demonym             = 
| language            = 
| religion            = 
| population          = 55,000 (3025),<ref name=HBS88-89/><br>55,000 (3068),<ref name=JTPHIIp3>''Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II'', p. 3: "Hesperus II (3067)"</ref><br>345,600 (3079)<ref name="O:LAp28"/>
| ruler               = [[Duke of Hesperus II]]
| political           = 
| commander           = 
| capital             = Maria's Elegy<ref name="O:LAp28"/><ref name=JTP>''Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II'', p. 4</ref><ref name=OE>''Operation Excalibur'', pp. 148–150 (PDF edition)</ref>
| hpg                 = A (3067),<ref name=JTPHIIp3/><br>A (3079)<ref name="O:LAp28"/>
| hpgrep              = [[Precentor]] [[Hjalmer Curtis]] (3025)
}}
===Planetary History===
====Age of War====
During the mid-[[twenty-third century]], Hesperus II was briefly home to a Pope of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], who ruled from the planet's archiepiscopal palace during a Papal schism<ref>''House Marik (The Free Worlds League)'', p. 76</ref>

By the [[twenty-fifth century|mid-twenty-fifth century]] Hesperus II was jointly held by the [[Terran Hegemony]] and the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. Although the Hegemony had set up a manufacturing facility on-planet for its [[BattleMech|new war-changing weapon]], the Lyrans were unable to acquire the schematics or other technology related to the ''[[Mackie]]''. The [[Lyran Intelligence Corps]] did, however, manage to infiltrate one agent who acquired maps and pictures of the assembly lines.<ref name=PB>''Prometheus Unbound''</ref>

This intelligence, meager though it was, enabled Colonel [[Simon Kelswa]] to acquire the ''Mackie''&#39;s blueprints through more direct means. On 7 February [[2455]], Kelswa and his team of twenty-five commandos launched [[Operation Prometheus]], fighting their way into the Hesperus factory and making off with enough information for [[House Steiner]] to become the second of the [[Great House|Great Houses]] to field BattleMechs.<ref name=PB />

====Star League Era====
During the [[Star League era]] Hesperus II was perhaps best known for the BattleMech factory owned and operated on the planet by [[Witten Industries]], a Star League manufacturer. This was far from the only industrial concern on the planet, however; in addition to the Witten Industries plant, Defiance Industries had a well-established mining operation on the planet.<ref name="FM2765:LCp12"/>

====The Battles for Hesperus II====
With the [[Lostech|technological decline]] that resulted from the Star League's collapse and the [[Succession Wars]], Hesperus II's Star League-era factories became an important asset for the Lyran Commonwealth (now sole owner of the planet following the Hegemony's collapse). Consequently Hesperus II witnessed numerous attacks by foreign powers over the next three and a half centuries.

=====First battle=====
The first attack came in [[2787]], when House Kurita launched [[Operation BROKEN BLADE]], a massive attack that destroyed the orbiting shipyards but failed to overcome ground defenses. The attackers withdrew in January, having suffered more casualties than they had dealt out.<ref name=HBS50>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 48: "Attacks on Hesperus II"</ref><ref>''Broken Blade''</ref>

=====Second battle=====
In April [[2788]], under the codename of [[Operation BRASS RING]], light and fast forces from the [[Federated Suns]] under the command of [[Rear Admiral]] [[Milton Hayes]] attempted to rush the factories, raid them for supplies and destroy as much as they could. They were spotted in time for the defenders to repulse them.<ref name=HBS50/>

=====Third battle=====
{{Main|Third Battle of Hesperus II}}

In March [[2789]], the Free Worlds League attempted an attack with [[WarShip]]s, using an unusual approach vector. However, the Lyrans had reinforced the planetary garrison with two cruisers, the [[Granite (Individual Aegis-class WarShip)|LCS ''Granite'']] and [[Endeavor (Individual Aegis-class WarShip)|LCS ''Endeavor'']], just days before. A naval battle evolved where the heavily damaged ''Granite'' wound up ramming the [[Devastator (Individual Soyal-class WarShip)|FWLS ''Devastator'']], causing both ships to crash on the planet. The remaining League fleet, including the cruiser [[Skulker (Individual Soyal-class WarShip)|FWLS ''Skulker'']], withdrew.<ref name=HBS50/>

===== Fourth battle =====
Between 2831 and 2836, House Kurita attempted an attack against the 'Mech factories on Hesperus II that was easily repulsed by the defenders.<ref name=HBS58>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 58</ref><ref name=HKp57>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 57: "Military Realities"</ref>

===== Fifth battle =====
In [[2837]], House Kurita attacked Hesperus II yet again, while its veteran defenders had been replaced with inexperienced units due to an upcoming offensive against House Marik. The Kurita attackers easily pushed the defenders back to the 'Mech factories, but could not overcome the fortified defensive positions and pillboxes there. After two weeks, the Steiner defenders broke the siege with 'Mech reinforcements fresh off the production lines and forced the Kurita invaders off-world.<ref name=HBS58>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 58</ref>

===== Sixth, Seventh and Eighth battles =====
{{Main|Siege of Hesperus II (2853)}}
The Draconis Combine laid siege to Hesperus II and attempted to destroy the Defiance 'Mech factories in [[2853]]<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 62–64</ref> in what is often regarded as a revenge for the death of Coordinator [[Yoguchi Kurita]] at the hands of a Steiner assassin; however others point out that the massive and intricately planned operation must have been prepared long before.

The first part of the offensive saw Hesperus II blockaded by a massive fleet of [[WarShip]]s, heavily armed [[DropShip]]s and [[aerospace fighter]]s that encircled the planet and blocked main [[jump point]]s, preventing supplies or reinforcements from being shipped in.

Five months later they launched a ground offensive that aimed at wearing down the cut-off defenders in a war of attrition. House Steiner managed to break the blockade by reactivating the [[Tharkad (WarShip class)#Named Vessels|LCS ''Invincible'']] from [[Tharkad]]. An unexpected battalion called "The Force of Last Resort" raised from barely trained recruits in 'Mechs fresh from the production lines stalled the Kurita advance on the factory site and set them up for orbital bombardment from the ''Invincible'', vanquishing the Kurita attack force.

The entire campaign became known as the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Battles for Hesperus II. House Kurita lost more than half of their ground units, fighters and DropShips and all of their blockading WarShips. House Steiner suffered massive losses, too: The [[Tenth Skye Rangers]] and the [[Ninth Arcturan Guards]] regiments were permanently disbanded and the LCS ''Invincible'' was lost to a misjump when it tried to return to Tharkad. One 'Mech assembly line had been destroyed, but it was back to working order within a year.

=====Ninth battle=====
In [[2957]], units from two Kurita regiments dropped directly on top of the 'Mech production facilities, bypassing most of the defending forces. Although more than half of the dropping 'Mechs were destroyed on mountain slopes and most were scattered in the mountainous terrain, a sufficient number of attackers landed within the industrial complex to cause considerable damage and slash production capacity by half. Those who died in the raid were posthumously awarded the [[Glory of the Fallen Samurai]] banners. The damage would take 20 years to repair. This caused a severe lack of spare parts and hampered the [[LCAF]] considerably for years.<ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 75</ref><ref name="HKp84">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 84: "Decline and Fall"</ref>

=====Tenth battle=====
In [[2997]], Marik forces raided an isolated supply depot on the planet, but were repulsed by the [[Fifteenth Lyran Guards]] under the command of then [[Colonel]] [[Katrina Steiner]].<ref name=HB:HSp78>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 78</ref> This attack was [[Janos Marik]]'s first military adventure, conceived to test the strength of the reinvigorated FWLM against the Lyrans. Although the attack was repulsed, the FWLM was noted for markedly improved overall performance.<ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 9</ref>

=====Eleventh battle=====
Relying on the Tenth Battle for Hesperus II indicating that no other attack was to be expected soon, the Commonwealth drew three defending regiments from Hesperus II for an attack on [[Kalidasa]] which got bogged down. The Free Worlds League seized the opportunity to launch another attack on Hesperus II with four 'Mech regiments. They were (narrowly) repulsed by the [[Eridani Light Horse]], but only after the Light Horse's Twenty-first Striker Regiment purposely disobeyed orders from their incompetent ranking Commonwealth officer.<ref name=HB:HSp78/>

The near-loss, combined with the unsuccessful and bogged-down offensive against Kalidasa, was a political disaster for Archon [[Alessandro Steiner]] and set him up for being ousted by his niece Katrina.

=====Twelfth battle=====
In early 3000, House Kurita stepped up its efforts again and dropped three 'Mech regiments and support on Hesperus II. It fell to the First Support Company of the Eridani Light Horse to hold open a spaceport so that Steiner reinforcements could be deployed.<ref name=HB:HSp78/>

Although the attack was repulsed, the Eridani Light Horse felt they had finally suffered enough from incompetent Lyran officers. When their contract ran out later that year, they went to work for the [[Federated Suns]] instead.<ref name = hhsp79>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 79</ref>

=====Thirteenth battle=====
In [[3019]], House Marik sent [[Wolf's Dragoons]] on a deep penetration raid that eventually aimed for Hesperus II. Lyran intelligence learned of the plan through a traitor, and reinforcements were rushed to Hesperus, including the veteran [[Twenty-fourth Lyran Guards]], the [[Third Royal Guards]], and the [[Hsien's Hotheads]] and [[Hansen's Roughriders]] mercenary commands.

Initially, the Lyran troops tried to separate [[Wolf's Dragoons]]. When [[Colonel]] [[Jaime Wolf]] ordered his orbital reserves into action, the Lyrans consolidated their forces along the Erewhon River. Despite several attacks (including a night attack), the Dragoons could not break the strong positions of the Steiner defenses and were thrown back every time. However, [[Natasha Kerensky]] of the Dragoons' [[Black Widow Company]] discovered a weak point in the Steiner defenses. She advanced along a seasonal river ford, Tanda's Crossing, which was guarded only by a single lance of 'Mechs. Their path was blocked just in sight of the [[Defiance Industries]] '[[Mech]] factories by Hansen's Roughriders. Even the arriving reinforcements of the Dragoons' Delta and Gamma regiments failed to dislodge the Roughriders' heavy 'Mechs.

[[Wolf's Dragoons]] and the defending Steiner forces suffered tremendous losses during the campaign. The Dragoons were forced to make yet another supply run. However, due to their professionalism during the campaign and their fierce determination, their reputation grew further, convincing [[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]] [[Katrina Steiner]] to negotiate a contract with the Dragoons.

The Lyran losses included the Twenty-fourth Lyran Guards, which was almost destroyed during the defense.<ref name=WD>''Wolf's Dragoons Sourcebook''</ref>

=====Fourteenth battle=====
In [[3028]], [[2nd McCarron's Armored Cavalry|Barton's Regiment]] of the [[McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] [[mercenary unit]] staged a quick and narrow objective raid against the [[Kincaid Defiance Industries]] plant on the North Whitman continent of Hesperus II that was successful despite heavy resistance from the [[Blackhearts]] and the [[Twenty-sixth Lyran Guards]], combined with relentless aerospace fighter attacks.<ref name="MAC">''McCarron's Armored Cavalry'', p. 9</ref> The official version was that KDI's owner [[Simon Kincaid]] was a black market dealer who had taken several millions [[C-bill]]s from McCarron's Armored Cavalry but failed to deliver the promised goods, invoking the wrath of the notorious mercenary unit and thus provoking this grudge raid against his firm.<ref name="MAC" /> The truth, which is not publicly known, is that Kincaid's firm was secretly building prototype [[Double Heat Sink]]s for the Federated Suns (made possible by the [[FedCom Accords]]). Kincaid had embezzled a significant share of the production and sold it to the Capellans. When the [[Lyran Intelligence Corps]] threatened to uncover his activities, he delayed their investigation long enough to arrange for his safe extraction in a staged raid, providing the Confederation with the blueprints in return. It is implied that Kincaid provided the means by which the attacking DropShips could safely approach the heavily guarded world.<ref>''Proprietary''</ref>

=====Operation EXCALIBUR=====
In [[3057]], [[Field Marshal]] [[Brandal Gareth]] enacted a rebellion code named [[Operation EXCALIBUR]] with the intent of creating his own nation state with Hesperus at its heart. The [[Free Star Republic]] would last a mere six days before it was destroyed.{{cn}}

=====Fifteenth battle=====
{{Main|Fifteenth Battle of Hesperus II}}
The Fifteenth Battle of Hesperus II was the pivotal battle of the [[Federation of Skye#FedCom Civil War and another Rebellion|Third Skye Rebellion]], during the [[FedCom Civil War]] (in [[3065]]). Representing the Free Skye forces were the [[Twenty-second Skye Rangers]], the [[Fourth Skye Rangers]], the [[WarShip|WarShips]] ''[[Fox (WarShip class)#Named Vessels|LAS Illustrious]]'' and the ''[[Fox (WarShip class)#Named Vessels|FCS Indefatigable]]''. Defending the planet on behalf of the Lyran Alliance were the [[Gray Death Legion]], the [[15th Lyran Guards|Fifteenth]] and [[Thirty-sixth Lyran Guards]], and the [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]], a corporate military unit. In orbit was the WarShip [[Avalon#Named Vessels|FSS ''Simon Davion'']]. Early in the campaign, the ''Illustrious'' was destroyed but the ''Simon Davion'' was captured by the Free Skye forces, giving the invaders a decisive advantage in orbit. After initial skirmishing, the two Skye regiments lifted off, only to drop directly on the target factory, leaving the divided defenders in a desperate position. Orbital bombardment by the Free Skye forces destroyed an [[Hyperpulse Generator|HPG Station]], killing hundreds of civilians, and dealt tremendous damage to the Fifteenth Lyran Guards. When the [[Thirty-second Lyran Guards]] joined the attack in support of Free Skye, the campaign appeared lost for the loyalists. The Gray Death Legion spent itself holding off the Rangers, losing most of its troops and its commander, Colonel [[Lori Kalmar|Lori Kalmar Carlyle]]. The Thirty-second Lyran Guards had lost their own commander, however, and were now plagued by dissent. The Twenty-second Rangers were shattered, while the Fourth and Seventeenth Rangers were mauled. The pro-Skye [[Fourteenth Lyran Guards]] arrived with Maria Esteban in command, inflicting heavy losses on the Thirty-second Guards. Despite all of this, the loyalists still held the massive Defiance Industries factory while the rebels had been ravaged, demoralized and had lost the element of surprise. The Fourth Skye Rangers abandoned the battle, returning to Skye. Esteban made one last push for the factory, neutralizing much of the Defiance SPF and reaching the gates of the legendary facility. Loyalist [[battle armor]] units, however, managed to regain control of the situation, and the Free Skye forces, facing a suddenly resurgent SPF and Fifteenth Lyran Guards, were forced to retreat. When General [[Caesar Steiner]] arrived with the pro-Lyran [[Second Donegal Guards]], Esteban and her forces surrendered.<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 146–147, 163–164, 177–178</ref><ref>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 68</ref><ref>''The Dying Time''</ref>

=====Sixteenth Battle=====
======Word of Blake Invasion======
{{Main|Operation STEEL HAMMER}}
From March [[3068]] until early [[3070]], the [[Word of Blake]] ran [[Operation STEEL HAMMER]], a series of heavy raids against the planet's defenders. The first raid fell between the 14th and 17th of March [[3068]], coinciding with raids on [[Coventry]] and [[Donegal]]; the three raids all featured support from Blakist [[WarShip]]s or [[Pocket WarShip]]s.<ref name="J:FRp45">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 45: "The Jihad In Review"</ref>

In the first phase, the [[16th Division (Word of Blake)|Sixteenth]] and [[22nd Division (Word of Blake)|Twenty-second Divisions]] conducted extensive raiding against the planet's defenders which began in [[3068]].  Over the course of approximately two years, elements of the [[Light of Mankind]] were inserted on the planet, using the raids as a cover.

In [[3070]], a Blakist invasion force arrived in the form of the [[38th Division (Word of Blake)|Thirty-eighth Division]] and the [[Fortieth Shadow Division]].  This force was escorted by the ''[[Lola III]]'' Class Destroyer, [[End of Wisdom|WoBS ''End of Wisdom'']], and a reinforced [[Level II]] of [[Pocket WarShip|Pocket WarShips]]. The invasion's escort fleet overwhelmed and destroyed the Lyran ''[[Fox (WarShip class)|Fox]]''-class corvette [[Melissa Steiner (Individual Fox-class WarShip)|LAS ''Melissa Steiner'']], effectively blockading the planet.  The two divisions landed on Maria's Elegy and the Defiance Industries factory complexes. At the same time, the Light of Mankind teams enacted their long-awaited mission objectives, sabotaging defensive systems and assassinating key personnel. The Fifteenth Lyran Guards, who had also been infiltrated, failed to mount a strong defense and suffered horrendous casualties. The unit was forced to withdraw under heavy fire toward the factory's interior, with [[Gina Ciampa]], the Fifteenth’s commander, leading the last-ditch effort to barricade the South Gate. Though she tried to destroy her own 'Mech to close the entrance, Tau infantry was able to stop her and promptly executed her, seizing the gate. With only fourteen days of fight, Hesperus II was first conquered by an outside power.

During the Word of Blake occupation, the Word brought in Terran technician that upgraded and improved factory production on Hesperus II, and used the planet as a resupply/refit stronghold and a base for forces conducting strikes into their the Lyran Theaters of operations.<ref name=JTPHIIp5/>

======Coalition Assault======
{{Main|Sixteenth Battle of Hesperus II - Coalition Assault}}

In the first two weeks of November [[3074]], Coalition forces led by [[Devlin Stone]] launched an assault against the defending Word of Blake forces, determined to recapture the planet after the successful defense of [[Skye]] earlier in the year. The coalition forces, which included elements from Skye, [[ComStar]] and [[Clan Wolf]], took on three Word of Blake Divisions; the battle for Hesperus II lasted for weeks, with the last Blakist fortifications around Maria's Elegy finally being shattered on the 20th of December.<ref name="JHS3076p55">''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 55: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp53">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 53: "The Jihad In Review"</ref> Badly mauled, these units withdrew from the planet.  It is speculated that survivors of the Fortieth Shadow may have gone to ground to conduct sabotage efforts against the planet's controllers. However, the Word of Blake rendered many of their improvements to the factories unusable through sabotage before leaving.<ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', pp. 103–104: "40th Shadow Division unit profile".</ref><ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 24: "Operation: Steel Hammer" - History of Hesperus occupation up to 3074.</ref><ref name="J:FRp48">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 48: "The Jihad In Review"</ref><ref name=JTPHIIp5>''Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II'', p. 5: "The Battle for Hesperus II"</ref>

====Post-Jihad and Dark Age Era====
Despite the damage inflicted on Hesperus II by the Blakists during the final battle for control over the planet, the Defiance Industries plant remained the largest single military producer for the Alliance in the years immediately after the Jihad.<ref name="J:FRp85A">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 85: "Bolan Province"</ref><ref name="J:FRp85B">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 85: "Coventry Province"</ref> The Lyran government was keen to rebuild the industrial capacity of the plants as the Jihad closed, and opened up Hesperus II by encouraging what may be the first population boom via immigration in the history of the world. While this was still accompanied by tight security controls, the restrictions were nothing like the paranoid security measures and travel restrictions that had served for most of Hesperus II's history.<ref name="O:LAp28"/>

=====3145 Battle=====
{{Main|Battle of Hesperus II (3145)}}
The latest battle for Hesperus II began on 3 January [[3145]] when a joint [[Clan Jade Falcon|Jade Falcon]]–[[Clan Hell's Horses|Hell's Horses]] force led by Khan [[Malvina Hazen]] landed on the planet. Archon [[Trillian Steiner]] had received word of the impending attack from [[Loki (Intelligence agency)|Loki]] agents but the weakened [[LCAF]] lacked the means to repulse the invasion themselves. Instead, Archon Steiner implemented a different stratagem: she ordered Loki to leak word of the invasion to Khan [[Alaric Ward]], correctly guessing that he'd react by mounting a counterinvasion of his own.

A day after Hazen's force landed, warriors from the [[Wolf Empire]] reached Hesperus. The LCAF had withdrawn most of its garrison by this point and the remaining Commonwealth troops evacuated after putting up minimal resistance, leaving the [[Eridani Light Horse]] and several smaller mercenary commands to face Malvina's wrath. Many mercenaries reacted to this revelation by attempting to surrender to the Clanners, only to be slaughtered, while the Light Horse's attempt to escape was foiled by the [[Raptor Keshik]]. The few surviving Light Horse escaped into the mountains, only to be hunted down to the last soldier by the sadistic Falcons.

The subsequent Wolf assault upon Hazen's forces resulted in nearly two months of stalemate. An impatient Malvina finally mounted a last-ditch attempt to seize the factory on 23 February, ordering that her [[Nuclear Weapons|nuclear weapons]] be ready for use in case of failure. Then Khan [[Beckett Malthus]] made an assassination attempt on Malvina, putting her into a coma and throwing the entire force into confusion as orders for retreat were broadcast. It was then that the LCAF's counterblow landed. While the Clans had been bogged down, Archon Steiner gathered a liberation force at nearby [[Canonbie]]. The fresh LCAF units dropped onto enemies already tired and demoralized, and within a week had routed both Clan forces.<ref name="ER:3145p28-29">''Era Report: 3145'', pp. 28–29: "Archon's Trial"</ref>

Politically, the aftermath proved significant to both Trillian Steiner and Malvina Hazen. The LCAF victory over two infamous Clan foes aided Steiner in strengthening her shaky hold on the throne. Alaric Ward shrugged off his defeat and even congratulated Steiner on her victory; his main objective, it would seem, was simply to keep Malvina from taking the planet's factories. As for the Chinggis Khan herself, she remained in a coma for months before emerging to brutally repay Malthus for his treachery in a [[Trial of Grievance]], and learned that her Hell's Horses allies were using the defeat as a chance to extract themselves from her brutal rule.

The cowardly abandonment of the Eridanis by the Lyrans in the battle made small mercenary units unwilling to sign contracts with the Commonwealth, as doing so was seen as suicide.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp. 176 </ref>

===Military Deployment===
{{columns-start|num=3}}
====2755====
* [[Ninth Tamar Marines]] (as the [[Ninth Hesperus Guards]])<ref name="FM2765:LCp12"/>

====2786====
* [[Eleventh Hesperus Guards]]<ref name="FSWp139">''First Succession War'', p. 139: "First Succession War Deployment Table - LCAF"</ref>

====2821====
* [[Fourth Hesperus Guards]]<ref name="FSWp139"/>
* [[Sixth Hesperus Guards]]<ref name="FSWp139"/>
* [[Ninth Hesperus Guards]]<ref name="FSWp139"/>
* Eleventh Hesperus Guards<ref name="FSWp139"/>

====3000====
* [[Eridani Light Horse]]<ref name=HB:HSp78/><ref name = hhsp79/>

====3019====
* [[Twenty-fourth Lyran Guards]]<ref name=WDp24>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 24: "Blood And Iron"</ref>
* [[Third Royal Guards]]<ref name=WDp24/>
* [[Hsien's Hotheads]]<ref name=WDp24/>
* [[Hansen's Roughriders]]<ref name=WDp24/>
* [[Fifteenth Lyran Guards]]<ref name=WDp24/>
* [[Sixth Lyran Guards]]<ref name=WDp24/>

====3025====
* [[Sixth Lyran Guards]]<ref name=HS119>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 119: "Unit Deployment Table"</ref><ref name="NAIS4SWp44">''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', p. 44: "Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG"</ref>
* [[Fifteenth Lyran Guards]]<ref name=HS119>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 119: "Unit Deployment Table"</ref><ref name="NAIS4SWp44"/>
* [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]]

====3028====
* Sixth Lyran Guards<ref name="NAIS4SWp44"/>
* Fifteenth Lyran Guards<ref name="NAIS4SWp44"/>
* Defiance Self-Protection Force
{{column}}
====3038====
* [[Third Davion Guards]] [[RCT]]<ref>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 136: "Deployment Table"</ref>
* Fifteenth Lyran Guards RCT<ref>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 137: "Deployment Table"</ref>
* Defiance Self-Protection Force

====3050====
* Fifteenth Lyran Guards RCT<ref name=20YU27>''20 Year Update'', p. 27: "Federated Commonwealth Deployment Table"</ref>
* Third Davion Guards RCT<ref name=20YU27/>
* Defiance Self-Protection Force

====3054====
* Fifteenth Lyran Guards RCT<ref name=OR19>''Objective Raids'', p. 19: "FedCom Deployment Table"</ref>
* Third Davion Guards RCT<ref name=OR19/>
* Defiance Self-Protection Force

====3061====
* Fifteenth Lyran Guards RCT<ref name=SS48>''Shattered Sphere'', p. 48: "Lyran Alliance Deployment Table"</ref>
* [[Thirty-sixth Lyran Guards]] RCT<ref name=SS48/>
* [[Hesperus Militia]]

====3067====
* [[Second Donegal Guards]] RCT<ref name=FMU177>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 177: "Lyran Alliance Deployment Table"</ref>
* Fifteenth Lyran Guards RCT<ref name=FMU177/>
* Thirty-sixth Lyran Guards RCT<ref name=FMU177/>

====3068–3070====
* Fifteenth Lyran Guards RCT<ref name=JTPHIIp7>''Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II'', p. 7: "Fifteenth Lyran Guards RCT [Lyran Alliance] (March 3068–February 3070)"</ref>
* Defiance Self-Protection Force<ref name=JTPHIIp7/>
* Hersperus Militia<ref name=JTPHIIp7/>
{{column}}
====3079====
* [[Fifth Lyran Guards]] RCT<ref>''Field Report: LAAF'', p. 12: "Regimental Status"</ref>
:- The unit was operating at 60% strength, with 75% of their equipment featuring upgraded technology.
* Hesperus Militia<ref name="O:LAp29">''Objectives: Lyran Alliance'', p. 29: "Hesperus II"</ref>{{ref label|militia|More Info}}

====3085====
* Fifth Lyran Guards RCT<ref name=FM:3085p107>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 107: "Deployment Table - 3085"</ref>
* [[First Skye Jaegers]]<ref name=FM:3085p107/>

====3144====
* Hersperus Militia<ref name="ER:3145p28-29"/>
* Third Royal Guards (one company)<ref name="ER:3145p28-29"/>
* [[Eridani Light Horse]]<ref name="ER:3145p28-29"/>
* Several small mercenary units<ref name="ER:3145p28-29"/>

====3145====
* [[Schachtebich Jägers]]<ref name="TRO:3145LCp40">''Technical Readout: 3145 Lyran Commonwealth'', p. 40: "GTD-20S Götterdämmerung"</ref>
* [[Fourth Royal Guards]] RCT<ref name=FM:3145p133>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 133: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces - Donegal Province"</ref>
* [[Twenty-third Arcturan Guards]] RCT<ref name=FM:3145p133/>
{{columns-end}}

===Geography===
[[File:Hesperus II Planetary Map.png|right|450px|thumb|Planetary Map of Hesperus II]]
The planet is formed by four continents, North and South Whitman, and East and West Barrens, with numerous islands and archipelagos that dot the world's shallow oceans resemble a blasted wasteland or untamed jungle. The Barrens are completely inhospitable to human life, overrun by badlands, jungles too thick to explore, and creatures that have never been cataloged.<ref name=JTP/>

Hesperus II has four major continents and innumerable small island chains and archipelagos in its shallow oceans. The landmasses offer extreme conditions, either untamed jungle or blasted wastelands noted as being extremely mountainous and crisscrossed with canyons. Only the North Whitman and South Whitman continents on the northern hemisphere offer tolerable living conditions, particularly at an altitude of 3000 or more meters where the atmospheric pressure is closer to 1 bar (as opposed to 3 bars and more in the jungles) and the ambient temperature is around 30° Celsius (as opposed to 80 and more in the jungles).<ref name=OE/> The other two continents, situated in the equatorial region, are collectively called the Barrens, or East Barren and West Barren. They are completely inhospitable, featuring both barren wastelands and jungles too thick to explore to this day.<ref name=JTP/>

The planet is home to the [[Defiance Industries]] [[BattleMech]] factory in the Myoo Mountains that dominate the South Whitman continent. This is the largest BattleMech factory in the [[Lyran Commonwealth]], and is in fact the largest remaining BattleMech factory in the entire [[Inner Sphere]]. It has been attacked numerous times by the other Houses and other forces. Though damaged multiple times all but the Word of Blake have failed to actually take over and occupy the facilities. Not only do the attackers have to worry about the planet's defenders, but the terrain is unforgiving as well.

South Whitman features the Melrose Valley complex, stretching across nearly 1,000 km of the Sulden Uplands (with [[Doering Electronics]]), and the heavily terraced mountain slopes of Maria's Elegy, the capital largest city on Hesperus II and also the location of the spaceport, and the [[HPG]] station at the spaceport. These are the only regions with fertile soil suitable for cultivation, but more arable land is not needed considering the planet's tiny population. The city of Maldon is also nearby (although it was described as "on the far side of the planet").<ref>''The Dying Time'', ch. 5 (PDF edition p. 45)</ref>

The only notable site that is not located on South Whitman is the [[Kincaid Defiance Industries]] complex on North Whitman.<ref name=JTP/> A miniature fortress, Kincaid Defiance Industries is an ammunition and parts manufacturer of minor importance; the facility was briefly used as a manufacturing site for prototype [[Double Heat Sink]]s in conjunction with the [[NAIS]] in the late 3020s, until the Fourteenth Battle of Hesperus II in which the facility was attacked.<ref>''Proprietary'' (short story)</ref>

Fusion plant works are mentioned out on the Tatyana Archipelago.<ref>''Operation Excalibur'', p. 155 (PDF edition)</ref>

In the [[twenty-ninth century]], an expedition into the Hesperan swamps set out north from Point Vallejo, never to return.<ref name=OE/> It is unclear if 'Point Vallejo' is a minor town or just a landmark.

The population of the planet has always been small, mainly the employees working in either factory.<ref name=HS168>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 168 (PDF p. 170): "A Brief Atlas" – Hesperus II entry</ref> It has been noted that this planet's population is small mainly because of centuries of paranoid security and travel restrictions.<ref name="O:LAp28"/>

A clear sky on Hesperus II was said to be patches of violet sky showing here and there through roil of blue, purple, white and yellow clouds, and the sun is a dazzling pinpoint of diamond blue-white light. Hesperus II has a slower rotation than Earth. Local time has twenty-five hours divided into eighty minutes.<ref name=OE/>

===Planetary Locations===
* South Whittman (continent)
:* Erewhon River<ref name=WDsp24>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 24: "River of Swords"</ref>
::* Tanda's Crossing: a narrow ford over the Erewhon River<ref name=WDsp25>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 25: "River of Swords"</ref>
:* Maria's Elegy: capital city, located in Melrose Valley<ref name=JTP/>
::* Fort Defiance<ref name=TFoH:GP/>
:* Maldon<ref name=JTP/>
:* Mount Defiance
:* Morningstar Spaceport
:* Myoo Highlands
:* Myoo Mountains
:* Tallowrand: a city<ref name=EW/>
* Sulden Uplands
:* Melrose Valley
* Point Vallejo

===Industrial Centers===
* [[Defiance Industries]]<ref name="FM2765:LCp12"/>
* [[Doering Electronics]]{{cn}}
* [[Witten Industries]]<ref name="FM2765:LCp12">''Field Report 2765: LCAF'', p. 12: "Hesperus Guards"</ref>

===Local Fauna===
In the [[twenty-sixth century]], terraformers had introduced genetically modified plants, animals, and microbes to the planet but were only partially successful.<ref name=OE/>

In the equatorial region, native sulfur-metabolizing life has adapted to living at over 80° Celsius and atmospheric pressure exceeding three bar. Xenobiologists arbitrarily classified the highest (known) native life forms as "reptilian" because of certain recognizable features—scaly hides, claws, flat heads with toothy jaws and questing, air-tasting tongues.<ref name=OE/>

Due to the extreme conditions which are intolerable for humans, the jungles and swamps can only be accessed in special exploration vehicles such as ExplorerMechs, though fewer than thirty percent of those venturing there ever returned. The expedition that had set out from Point Vallejo in the twenty-ninth century was described as the last one (as of [[3057]]). Consequentially, the biosphere in the deep valley, equatorial region and oceans remains largely unexplored.<ref name=OE/>

-------------------------------------
==Hesperus III==
{{InfoBoxPlanet
| image               = 
| name                = Hesperus III
| othernames          = 
| position            = Third<ref name="O:LAp28"/><ref name=JTPHIIp3/>
| distance            = 
| moons               = 
| gravity             = 
| pressure            = 
| temperature         = 
| water               = 
| life                = 
| continents          = 
| colonized           = 
| demonym             = 
| language            = 
| religion            = 
| population          = 
| ruler               = 
| political           = 
| commander           = 
| capital             = 
| hpg                 = 
| hpgrep              = 
}}
===Military Deployment===
====3079====
* [[Hesperus Militia]]<ref name="O:LAp29"/>

===Geography===
The planet is a barren world with a very hot climate.<ref name="O:LAp29"/> The planet's environment is considered inhospitable, and this makes difficult to deploy infantry in anything other than battle armor or heavy exosuits, has forced to rely as result on [[combat vehicle]]s.<ref name="O:LAp29"/>

==Image gallery==
<gallery>
Hesperus II Planetary Map.png|Planetary Map of Hesperus II
Hesperus II Flag.jpg|Planetary flag of Hesperus II
</gallery>

==Notes==
* {{note|militia}} Given the capture of Hesperus II by the Blakists during the Jihad and the many close calls that the various industries have had throughout history, the local defending LCAF forces and the [[Defiance Self-Protection Force]] on Hesperus II are augmented by elements of the militia from Hesperus III. Based out of the Melrose Valley on South Whitman, the militia contingent from Hesperus III is deployed on a rotating basis; the inhospitable environment makes it difficult to deploy infantry in anything other than battle armor or heavy exosuits, and as result the militia forces serving in each rotation are invariably vehicle based. This places the militia close to the [[Doering Electronics]] plant.<ref name="O:LAp29"/>

* In ''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)|Wolf's Dragoons sourcebook]]'', Hesperus is referenced as having two moons. This was later overridden by newer information.<ref name=WDsp25a>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 25: "On the Verge of Victory"</ref>

==Map Gallery==
<div class="system-map-gallery"></div>

==Nearby Systems==
<!-- NOTE: This table is automatically generated by BattleTechWiki:Project_Planets/Mapping, and any edits to this section may be overwritten at any time by a bot -->
{|class="wikitable nearby-systems" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 1px solid black;"
! colspan="8" | Closest 36 systems (35 within 60 light-years)<br>Distance in light years, closest systems first:
|-
| class="lessthan30" | [[Caledonia]]
| class="lessthan30" | 9.9
| class="lessthan30" | [[Trent (system)|Trent]]
| class="lessthan30" | 14.0
| class="lessthan30" | [[Lamon]]
| class="lessthan30" | 16.0
| class="lessthan30" | [[Canonbie]]
| class="lessthan30" | 20.5
|-
| class="lessthan30" | [[Laiaka]]
| class="lessthan30" | 24.2
| class="lessthan30" | [[Carsphairn]]
| class="lessthan30" | 28.5
| class="lessthan30" | [[Alkaid]]
| class="lessthan30" | 29.5
| class="lessthan30" | [[Sarpsborg]]
| class="lessthan30" | 29.8
|-
| class="over30" | [[Vindemiatrix]]
| class="over30" | 30.9
| class="over30" | [[Fianna]]
| class="over30" | 31.6
| class="over30" | [[Eidsfoss]]
| class="over30" | 32.3
| class="over30" | [[Arganda]]
| class="over30" | 33.0
|-
| class="over30" | [[Algorab]]
| class="over30" | 34.1
| class="over30" | [[Furillo]]
| class="over30" | 34.4
| class="over30" | [[New Kyoto]]
| class="over30" | 35.0
| class="over30" | [[Gladius (system)|Gladius]]
| class="over30" | 37.4
|-
| class="over30" | [[Ciotat]]
| class="over30" | 41.6
| class="over30" | [[Rahne]]
| class="over30" | 41.7
| class="over30" | [[Clinton]]
| class="over30" | 42.9
| class="over30" | [[Seginus]]
| class="over30" | 44.2
|-
| class="over30" | [[Zaniah]]
| class="over30" | 44.3
| class="over30" | [[Chaffee (LC)|Chaffee]]
| class="over30" | 45.5
| class="over30" | [[Bjornlunda]]
| class="over30" | 49.3
| class="over30" | [[Laurieston]]
| class="over30" | 49.8
|-
| class="over30" | [[Halmyre Deans]]
| class="over30" | 51.5
| class="over30" | [[Gacrux]]
| class="over30" | 51.7
| class="over30" | [[Alcor]]
| class="over30" | 52.0
| class="over30" | [[Solaris]]
| class="over30" | 53.8
|-
| class="over30" | [[Jaumegarde]]
| class="over30" | 54.2
| class="over30" | [[Glengarry]]
| class="over30" | 55.7
| class="over30" | [[Kochab]]
| class="over30" | 57.6
| class="over30" | [[Nekkar]]
| class="over30" | 58.0
|-
| class="over30" | [[Pardeau]]
| class="over30" | 58.1
| class="over30" | [[Enkoping]]
| class="over30" | 58.4
| class="over30" | [[Hyde]]
| class="over30" | 58.8
| class="over60" | [[Mariefred]]
| class="over60" | 60.4
|-
|}

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[Broken Blade]]''
* ''[[The Dying Time]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 2750]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3052]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3062]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3145]]''
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)|FedCom Civil War]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: SLDF]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Field Report: LAAF]]''
* ''[[Field Report 2765: LCAF]]''
* ''[[The Fires of Hell]]'' (in: ''[[A Time of War]]'')
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Marik]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Steiner]]''
* ''[[Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1]]''
* ''[[Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2]]''
* ''[[Historical: Reunification War]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)]]''
* ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]''
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3076]]''
* ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''
* ''[[Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II]]''
* ''[[McCarron's Armored Cavalry (scenario pack)|McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]''
* ''[[NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[Prometheus Unbound]]''
* ''[[Proprietary]]''
* ''[[Shattered Sphere]]''
* ''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)|Wolf's Dragoons]]''
{{div col end}}

[[Category:Systems|Hesperus]]
[[Category: Federated Commonwealth Systems]]
[[Category: Federation of Skye Systems]]
[[Category: Independent Systems]]
[[Category: Lyran Alliance Systems]]
[[Category: Lyran Commonwealth Systems]]
[[Category: Word of Blake Systems]]