View source for Mirach

===Planetary History===
====Early History====
Mirach VII was originally settled to take advantage of the large amounts of minerals and metal ores that were simply lying on the surface of the world. Easy access to these minerals rapidly boosted the planet's economy.<ref name=DARWp83/> During the early twenty-third century the Terran Alliance was waning, leading the Tikonov Union to occupy Mirach as part of a campaign that also netted the Union the nearby worlds of [[Algol]], [[Rio]], [[Ruchbah]], and [[Tybalt]].<ref name="HL(TCC)p20"/> Although Mirach was notionally an independent world on the border of the Tikonov Grand Union and the Marlette Association in the late twenty-third and early twenty-fourth centuries, Mirach was claimed by both states at the end of the twenty-third century, and at some point between 2302 and 2306 the Marlette Association annexed the world along with several other border worlds.<ref name="HL(TCC)p21"/>

A campaign was launched by Tikonov forces in late 2308 to conquer the various worlds the Marlette Association had captured, but the Tikonov forces hadn't captured Mirach by the time the campaign ended, following the death of the commanding officer, General [[Diana Chinn]].<ref name="HL(TCC)p22">''House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)'', p. 22: "Diana's War"</ref> Despite this, by the time [[Reynard Davion]] came to power in the Federated Suns, the Tikonov Grand Union had gained control of Mirach. In [[2344]] Reynard Davion used two Federated Suns task forces to stage demonstrations of strength around Mirach to keep the attention of the Grand Union and its armed forces on Mirach; Reynard then used this distraction to launch a highly successful attack on [[Almach]], another world that had been contested between the Tikonov Union and the Marlette Association.<ref name="HD(TFS)p26">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 26: "The War Leader"</ref> By the time the [[Capellan Confederation]] formed in [[2366]], the Grand Union had lost control of Mirach to the Federated Suns.<ref name="HB:HLp17"/>

These frequent raids prevented most heavy industry from forming on the world's two continents: Musasalah and Ventrale. The world's capital city is Cingulum.<ref name=DARWp83/>

====Star League Era====
Mirach served as a supply world for the [[Star League Defense Force]]'s [[Second Army (Star League)|Second Army]], particularly [[IX Corps (Star League)|IX Corps]].<ref>''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. 48</ref> In [[2783]], the Federated Suns annexed Mirach.<ref name="H:LoTV2p118"/>

====First Succession War====
Mirach was invaded during the first half of the major invasion into the Federated Suns launched by the Draconis Combine in May [[2787]].<ref name="FSWp44"/> In 2795, following the appointment of [[Sandol Quinn]] as regent to [[Ilsa Liao]], the [[Capellan Confederation Armed Forces]] launched an invasion of the Federated Suns intended to capture the politically significant [[Chesterton]] system. Planned by Quinn, the operation was intended to take advantage of the AFFS' continuing focus on trying to resist the massive [[Draconis Combine]] invasion of the Federated Suns, which stood poised to capture [[New Avalon]] itself. The first worlds to be targeted were [[Caselton]] and Mirach; in April 2795 Quinn used elements of the [[Northwind Highlanders]] and the [[Fourth Tau Ceti Rangers]], both SLDF units turned mercenary, to attack the two worlds. The defending forces were a mix of AFFS regulars and militia forces, and had suffered for years from broken supply chains while deploying a large part of their strength in efforts to aid forces still fighting on worlds occupied by the Combine. As a result, the defenders quickly crumbled in the face of the assault, and by August 2795 the CCAF had rotated in line regiments to hold both worlds, freeing up the Highlanders and Rangers to launch invasions of [[Demeter]] and [[Farwell]].<ref name="FSWp81"/> In 2810, the AFFS returned to Mirach, attempting to recapture the planet during two years of conflict in the systems around Chesterton.<ref name="FSWp98">''First Succession War'', p. 98: "The Davion Counter-Offensives"</ref><ref name="FSWp93">''First Succession War'', p. 93: "Far Enough: The Confederation-Suns Front"</ref>

====Jihad====
The [[Word of Blake]] conquered Mirach during September [[3069]] and incorporated it into the Word of Blake Protectorate.<ref name="J:FRp47">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 47: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

In [[3072]], the [[Protectorate Militia]] of the planet helped when a Scale-9 earthquake struck the Mandinka region of Mirach.<ref name=Mirarch/>

AFFS forces landed on Mirach as well as the nearby worlds of [[Caselton]] and [[Schedar]] on 2 December [[3076]] and attempted to liberate the world. The AFFS forces were unsupported by the allied coalition assembled by [[Devlin Stone]], and the assaults were quickly slowed by the defending forces; it was reported that the assault was planned and launched by rogue elements within the AFFS command, explaining the lack of support from the coalition.<ref name="JHS:Tp23">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 23: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp56">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 56: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

====Dark Age====
The [[Blackout]] did not treat Mirach well. The collapse of the [[HPG]] network, central to Mirach's planetary as well as interplanetary communications,<ref name=TRoPc10/> caused an economic crisis that rippled through all planetary industries. Mining suffered immediately, leading to layoffs and losses across many businesses. Minister of Information [[Elora Rimonova]] worsened the resulting unrest, using official broadcasts to agitate against the government and spread conspiracy theories. Amidst this crisis, the [[Mirach Business Association]] covertly formed its own armed force, arming [[IndustrialMech]]s in case of emergency.<ref>''The Ruins of Power'', ch. 2-3</ref>

On 22 November [[3132]], raiders attacked Mirach.<ref name="ED:DAp10">''Era Digest: Dark Age'', p. 10: "Dark Age Timeline"</ref> The raiders struck at a number of industrial sites located on the Ventrale continent, but were easily defeated by the [[First Cossack Lancers]] - an elite militia unit - particularly after a series of unfortunate accidents befell the raiders. Although the identity of the raiders was never proven, the general sentiment among the population was that they had been hired or employed by [[Jacob Bannson]], who had taken an interest in the planet.<ref name="ED:DAp6"/><ref name=TRoPc2>''The Ruins of Power'', ch. 2</ref>

That December, [[Citizens for Tomorrow]], a secessionist pro-[[Federated Suns]] group, made its first public appearance.<ref name=DAINNp155>''Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN'', p. 155: "Citizens for Tomorrow Gathers on Towne"</ref>

In April [[3133]], Elora's efforts to undermine the government grew bolder. She ordered a series of assassinations, eliminating planetary heir [[Dale Ortega]] and his girlfriend [[Hanna Leong]], while keeping Legate [[Calvilena Tortorelli]] under her influence. Eventually, on 3 May, intending to hand the planet to the [[Steel Wolves]], Elora had Tortorelli launch [[Mirach Coup Attempt (3133)|a military coup]]. In the face of opposition from Governor [[Sergio Ortega]]'s loyalists and the Mirach Business Association - the latter led by All World Comm's [[Marta Kinsolving]], paid by Ortega to replace Mirach's communications system - it collapsed within ten days. Elora was stripped of her position and exiled on one of Mirach's moons, while Tortorelli remained legate in name only, his role handed off to Ortega loyalist [[Manfred Leclerc]].<ref name=TRoP/>

Weakened, Legate Tortorelli could not prevent Bannson from acquiring All World Comm in [[3135]].<ref>''Dark Age: LinkNet Articles (3136)'', p. 59: "Stockwatch"</ref>

====ilClan Era====
After the establishment of [[Fortress Republic]], Mirach joined the Federated Suns, at least on paper, but saw to their own defense. Around 3150, they suffered a devastating attack by raiders suspected of Republic origins, who struck the defending Home Guard hard. This forced them to contract a [[mercenary]] unit to protect them, the [[Eridani Light Horse]]'s Eleventh Recon Battalion. For more than a year, they protected the planet while the planetary militia rebuilt. In [[3151]], when the Home Guard had finished rebuilding and the Eleventh's contract was to end, the planet was the site of a meeting of several Eridani Light Horse factions. A battle ensued when another faction tried to kill Colonel [[Amelia Donovan]], the Eleventh's leader. They failed, and almost all groups united under her command before departing, making Mirach their home base.<ref>''Strong as Steel'' in ''No Greater Honor'', pp. 254–298</ref>