Somerset
(References to Somerset)
Note: X and Y are coordinates (light years on XY plane) relative to Terra at (0, 0)
X: -159.37 Y: 428.74[e]
Contents
Planetary Data
Era Specific Data
2380
- Population: 750[1]
Planetary History
Somerset was settled in the late 2370s by refugees of Scots-Irish descent, who had been forced to flee their original colony worlds three times; leaving the war between the Stewart Confederacy and the Free Worlds League behind to settle on York and Lancaster in 2305, the settlers were threatened with invasion or annexation by the Protectorate of Donegal in 2346 and chose to leave both worlds behind. The settlers colonized the world of Loxley, further out towards the Periphery than either York or Lancaster, only to be discovered by the Lyran Commonwealth in 2378 and attacked when they refused to join the forces of Archon Robert Marsden. Only one in ten of the colonists escaped Loxley, a bare 1,500 people, and by the time discovered the single world orbiting an orange-red K5 star they named Somerset, half of those 1,500 people were dead of starvation or sickness.[1]
Rim Worlds Republic
Somerset was a part of the Apollo Province of the Rim Worlds Republic and was conquered by the Lyran Commonwealth during the 2773-2775 Republic-Commonwealth war.[2]
Little Kingdom of Somerset
During the the First Succession War, Archon Richard Steiner had set up a number of Small Kingdoms inside the Commonwealth. One of them was Little Kingdom of Somerset, which was one last ten remaining kingdoms to remain by end of the Third Succession War. During this time Gregory Uther, Archonette of the Somerset Little Kingdom, attempted to assassinate returning Duke of Somerset. However, this plot was uncovered and Uther was himself killed by LIC agents on-orders from Archon.[3]
Prior to the start of the Third Succession War, the descendants of Simon Borge-Steiner settled on Somerset.[4]
Clan Jade Falcon Invasion
In May of 3050, Somerset was targeted by Clan Jade Falcon during the second wave of conquests in Operation Revival. The space port was initially defended by the Somerset Academy Training Battalion which was utterly annihilated by Vau Galaxy's 94th Strike Cluster. Surviving FedCom troops that had retreated to the planet, which included the 8th Arcturan Guard RCT and the 2nd New Ivaarsen Chasseurs, counter-attacked. The FedCom troops and the Falcons fought a 12-hour battle outside the town of Hollyfield. In end, both FedCom formations were wiped out, leaving the 94th victors of Somerset.[5]
Somerset was also the site of the second victory of the AFFC over Clan forces.[4] Though forced to leave the world, the information gained by this strike proved invaluable for later strikes against Barcelona and other systems held by the Jade Falcons.[6]
Ice Hellion Invasion
During the Ice Hellion invasion of 3071-3072, Somerset was invaded by Clan Ice Hellion's Beta and Zeta Galaxies. A month after losing the planet, Clan Jade Falcon dispatched its Gamma Galaxy to the world. During the fighting in July, a heavy naval battle between Clan WarShips occured in which both Clans lost a ship; the Jade Falcons lost the CJF Lightning Strikes and the Ice Hellions lost the CIH Taney. Gamma Galaxy's efforts resulted in the Falcons reclaiming Somerset.[7][8][9]
Notable Planetary Sites
- Military Academy of Somerset - A small war college dedicated to training Lyran MechWarriors and AeroSpace Fighter Pilots. In 3025, the Academy was commanded by Leutnant-General Reginald Heathers.[10] By the time the Lyran Commonwealth joined the Federated Commonwealth the Academy had a armed training battalion, the Somerset Academy Training Battalion.
- Somerset Space Port - Located outside the town of Hollyfield, this is the planet's main space port for the planet. The port was the site of Clan Jade Falcon's trial of possession against FedCom troops that had retreated to the planet.[11]
Garrisoning Military Force
3050
3079
Owner History
- ca. 2376 - Independent [1]
- 2571 - Rim Worlds Republic [14][15]
- 2596 - Rim Worlds Republic[16]
- 2750 - Rim Worlds Republic [17]
- 2775 - Lyran Commonwealth [2]
- 2822 - Lyran Commonwealth [18]
- 2864 - Lyran Commonwealth [19]
- 3025 - Lyran Commonwealth [3][20]
- 3030 - Lyran Commonwealth [21]
- 3040 - Federated Commonwealth [22]
- 3050 - Clan Jade Falcon [5]
- 3052 - Clan Jade Falcon [23]
- 3067 - Clan Jade Falcon [24]
- 3071 - Disputed world (Clan Ice Hellion/Clan Jade Falcon) (June-July)[7][8][9]
- 3079 - Clan Jade Falcon [7]
- 3130 - Clan Jade Falcon [25]
Notes
The Periphery, 1st Edition indicates that the refugees were forced to leave Loxley in 2378, and discovered Somerset in 2376. Given that it's impossible for them to have travelled back in time to discover Somerset, and that Robert Marsden became Archon in 2378, the 2376 date would appear to be incorrect, but given the age of the 1st Edition Periphery sourcebook and errors quoted anecdotally by current line developers and writers within this book, determining an accurate date for Somerset is unlikely.[1]
Nearby Planets
Planets within 2 jumps (60 light-years). Closest planets first:
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 The Periphery (1st Edition), p. 13, "Inner Sphere Politics"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 37, "The Republic-Commonwealth War"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 55 - The Little Kingdoms - Somerset Little Kingdom gets a brief description.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Era Report: 3052, p. 12, "Of Myths and Reality" sidebar
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 39 - Somerset - May 3050, Jade Falcons conquest of Somerset.
- ↑ Era Report: 3052, pp. 13-14
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, pp. 29-29, 31 - Brief details on fight in June-July for Somerset, Post-Ice Hellion Invasion map shows world still a Jade Falcon world.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 16, "Timeline of the Jihad"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 49, "The Jihad In Review"
- ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 126 - Somerset Military academy gets a brief discription in the original Source book for 3025.
- ↑ Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 39 - Somerset Space Port site of Falcon's battle to take the planet.
- ↑ 20 Year Update, p. 25 - "Federated Commonwealth Deployment Table"
- ↑ Field Report: Clans, p. 15, "Clan Jade Falcon Deployment Status"
- ↑ Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 18, "Rim Worlds Republic after Age of War [2571]"
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 25, "Lyran Commonwealth after Age of War [2571]"
- ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 158, "Inner Sphere Map [2596]"
- ↑ Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 25, "Rim Worlds Republic At the Fall of the Star League [2750]"
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 36, "Lyran Commonwealth after First Succession War [2822]"
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 40, "Lyran Commonwealth after Second Succession War [2822]"
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 47, "Lyran Commonwealth after Third Succession War [3025]"
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 56, "Lyran Commonwealth after Fourth Succession War [3030]"
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 59, "Lyran Commonwealth after War of 39 [3040]"
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 61, "Lyran Commonwealth after Clan Invasion [3052]"
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 70, "Lyran Commonwealth after FedCom Civil War [3067]"
- ↑ Map of the Inner Sphere 3130
Bibliography
- 20 Year Update
- Field Report: Clans
- Handbook: House Steiner
- Handbook: Major Periphery States
- Historical: Reunification War
- House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)
- Jade Falcon Sourcebook
- Jihad: Final Reckoning
- Jihad Hot Spots: 3076
- Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents
- Map of the Inner Sphere 3130
- The Periphery (sourcebook)