Thraxa

This article is about the planetary system. For the corvette, see Thraxa (Individual Pinto-class WarShip).
Thraxa
Thraxa 3151.svg
System Information
X:Y Coordinates−322.077 : −378.003[e]
Spectral classM1[1][2]
Recharge time202 hours[2]
Recharge station(s)Nadir[2]

System Description[edit]

Thraxa is located near the Mondra and Vixen systems.

Political Affiliation[edit]


Thraxa II[edit]

Thraxa II
Thraxa Flag.jpg
Astrophysical
System positionSecond[1]
Jump Point distance2.96 days[2]
Moons1 (Niobe)[2]
Geophysical
Surface gravity1.03[2]
Atmospheric pressureStandard (Breathable)[2]
Equatorial temperature22°C (Cool Temperate)[2]
Surface water80%[2]
Highest native lifeMammal[1][2]
History and Culture
Population12,300,000 (3025),[1]
19,100,000 (3067)[2]
Government and Infrastructure
Noble RulerDuke of Thraxa
HPG ClassNone (3025),[1]
B (3067)[2]

Planetary History[edit]

Succession Wars[edit]

In 2978, bandits from the Marian Hegemony fell afoul of a fifteen-year-old trap set on Thraxa II by an earlier garrison commander. In 2963, Sandrella Raventhir established a series of dummy installations in various rural areas of Thraxa intended to simulate the power consumption of a major industrial complex. Raventhir was drawing on tactics used a century before by General Anatoly Tansikoff of the Defenders of Andurien, who'd used a similar technique when the Free Worlds League had been under attack from the Capellan Confederation during a ComStar interdiction.[39]

While the dummy installation was condemned at the time for being a monumental waste of energy, it proved to be effective in 2978 when the Marian raiders were completely disorientated to find that they were conducting a night raid on a complex that did not exist, and before they had recovered the local defending BattleMech regiment was bearing down on them. Raventhir's plan was vindicated, although Sandrella had actually retired in 2975, three years prior to the raid.[39]

Thraxa had become almost entirely self-sufficient within a couple of generations of the planet being colonized,[2] with the population developing the local economy, building up a fur trade, a forestry industry, and branching into coal mining, textiles and wool, all originally intended to support the local population but all of which had become viable sources for export. The population were already known for being stubborn and individualistic, and it was considered appropriate by observers that Thraxa merited the Clayborne's Commandos as its defending garrison, given that the Commandos were one of the more experienced units within the Cassandra's Volunteers formation and had seen a greater share of victories against Marian forces and upstart mercenaries than most other combat units within the Magistracy.[1]

The Andurien/Canopian Alliance[edit]

Thraxa enjoyed increasing prosperity in the mid thirty-first century; the lucrative trade in furs, timber, coal and textiles had continued to improve with the Thraxian textile industry enjoying a boom after the breeding of a local strain of sheep in 3045 that produced particularly fine wool in abundance. However, Thraxa found itself in a state of increasing tension with the central government of the Magistracy, a result of the Andurien-Canopian war with the Capellan Confederation. Not only were the native Thraxians stubborn and independent, but the war made the population more convinced that if they wanted anything done, they should do it themselves, as the central government couldn't be trusted to do it for them.[2]

It was during this era that Ian Calderon, the third son of Protector Thomas Calderon of the Taurian Concordat, was killed and eaten by a Thraxian devourer while he was on a five-day leave pass from the Green Mountain Boys mercenary unit, who were stationed on Thraxa at the time.[2]

The Pirates' War[edit]

Directly involved in the Pirates' War of 30573058, Thraxa was one of a number of worlds to suffer repeated attacks and raids, and the legacy of this conflict lingered. The Duchess and the population of Thraxa remained firmly convinced that the Marian Hegemony was responsible for the attacks, despite the lack of absolute proof, and were equally convinced that the Hegemony couldn't be trusted when apparent attempts at a détente and rumors of enthusiasm for increased trade between the Magistracy and the Hegemony circulated in the late 3060s after Julius O'Reilly became Caesar. The general sentiment towards the Hegemony was summed up eloquently by the Duchess, who described the Marians as "pirates in togas."[40]

By 3067, the government of Thraxa had hired Markson's Marauders to supplement the Magistracy Cavaliers in defending against bandit attacks and to help compensate for the loss of several regiments from the Magistracy Armed Forces to duties within the Capellan Confederation as a part of the terms of the Trinity Alliance.[41]

The Jihad[edit]

During the Jihad, the Magistracy was occupied by the Word of Blake. The local government on Thraxa initially collaborated with the occupiers, but in late February/early March 3069 an operation was conducted by the Magistracy Intelligence Ministry with the aim of toppling the local government. Masking the launch of the operation was another covert operation, the insertion of elite MIM personnel onto Thraxa from outside the system. MIM hired Grandin's Crusaders, a small mercenary command in the employ of Interstellar Expeditions, to escort three Mark VII Landing Craft crewed by elite Canopian intelligence personnel to Thraxa, using two of the three landing craft as distractions to allow operatives from the third to deploy onto the planet via HALO jumps. The Crusaders' DropShip, the Tonnant, took minor damage during an engagement above the planet with elements of the planetary militia and mercenary units, at least one of which was identified by the Crusaders as being a unit impressed into service by the Word of Blake via the Company Store trap. Grandin subsequently learned of the operation against the local government, and his intelligence report to IE on the Thraxa operation was one of the first signs available to forces outside the Magistracy of an active resistance against the Blakist occupation.[42]

Post-Jihad[edit]

As the Jihad wound down, the Magistracy Cavaliers were allowed to return to their homeworld, Thraxa, as a reward for the loyalty they showed the Magestrix. The Cavaliers returned to being responsible for the protection of Thraxa and the nearby world of Vixen, and would clash repeatedly with III Legio of the Marian Hegemony as well as raiding parties from both Astrokaszy and the former Free Worlds League.[43]

Military Deployment[edit]

3025[edit]

3067[edit]

3079[edit]

- The unit was deployed across Thraxa and Vixen and was at 85% strength.

3085[edit]

  • First Battalion
  • Second Battalion
  • Elements of the Cavalier Armor Guard
  • Elements of the Cavalier "Mountain Men" Guard

Geography[edit]

Thraxa is a semi-arctic world.[1] Much of the northern landmass is tundra and remained so even after centuries of human habitation, a result of a deliberate conservation policy that keeps the tundra intact between cities and settlements. The mountains in the north attract serious climbers, who considered them a significant challenge despite numerous deaths and serious injuries in climbing attempts, and the winter storms that occur within those same mountain ranges are legendary. With rumors of killer blizzards and snow demons being popular, some believe that the blizzards are the manifestation of angry, vengeful spirits.[2]

Planetary Locations[edit]

  • Crescent Archipelago[2]

Local Flora and Fauna[edit]

Native to Thraxa are snow bears, tazqan, and the Thraxan Devourer. The tazqan are a herbivore that resembles the Terran caribou and roam the preserved tundra; highly prized for the smoky taste of the meat by the inhabitants of Thraxa, tazqan are also the natural prey for the snow bears, who are bold enough that they will forage in human settlements when the tazqan herds have thinned as a result of poor foraging. In contrast with these two land-dwelling species, the Thraxian devourer is a sea serpent larger than a Terran Great White shark that is both a very fast and agile swimmer and a ferocious carnivore. The devourer is well known for venturing into shallow waters and is a particular threat to those swimming or manning fishing boats off the Crescent Archipelago during the planetary summer.[2][47]

Map Gallery[edit]

Nearby Systems[edit]

Closest 20 systems (6 within 60 light-years)
Distance in light years, closest systems first:
Mondra 25.8 Vixen 31.8 Kleinwelt 47.3 Schmitt 55.0
Helios 57.0 Gambilon 58.7 Zelmag 60.9 Islington 62.0
Luxani 66.9 Astrokaszy 70.0 Marantha 74.2 Durabon 76.1
Coopertown 79.8 Ballalaba 83.5 Stettin 85.4 Palladix 86.5
Booker 86.8 Campoleone 89.0 Cerignola 91.9 Baccalieu 93.3

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 The Periphery, p. 103: "Thraxa"
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 98: "Thraxa"
  3. 3.0 3.1 Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 93
  4. Handbook: House Marik, p. 23
  5. Historical: Reunification War, p. 158
  6. Era Report: 2750, p. 37
  7. Field Manual: SLDF, p. xi: "Inner Sphere - [2764] Map"
  8. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 11
  9. Field Report 2765: Periphery, p. 35
  10. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 96
  11. First Succession War, pp. 24–25
  12. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2, pp. 122–123
  13. First Succession War, pp. 112–113
  14. Second Succession War, pp. 18–19
  15. Second Succession War, pp. 78–79
  16. 16.0 16.1 Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 96
  17. Handbook: House Marik, p. 42
  18. Handbook: House Marik, p. 51
  19. Historical: War of 3039, p. 133
  20. Era Report: 3052, p. 10
  21. Era Report: 3052, p. 22
  22. Era Report: 3062, p. 11
  23. Handbook: House Marik, p. 54
  24. The Periphery, Second Edition, p. 111: "Magistracy of Canopus & Tortuga Dominions"
  25. Era Report: 3062, p. 29
  26. Inner Sphere, p. 97: "Near Periphery Kingdoms"
  27. Handbook: House Marik, p. 56
  28. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 43
  29. Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 64
  30. Field Report: FWLM, p. 17
  31. Field Report: Periphery, p. 20
  32. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 62
  33. Field Manual: 3085, p. vii: "Inner Sphere - [3085]"
  34. Era Report: 3145, p. 10
  35. Era Report: 3145, p. 38
  36. Field Manual: 3145, p. VI: "Inner Sphere - [3145] Map"
  37. Shattered Fortress, p. 88: "Marian Blitzkrieg"
  38. Shattered Fortress, p. 102
  39. 39.0 39.1 The Periphery, p. 65: "Tactical Developments"
  40. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 82: "My Enemy, My Ally: The Marian Hegemony and the Circinus Federation"
  41. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 85: "Mercenary Commands"
  42. Total Chaos, p. 76: "Aftermath"
  43. 43.0 43.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 137: "Magistracy Cavaliers"
  44. The Periphery, p. 99: "Unit Deployment Table (as of 3025)"
  45. Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 68: "Mercenary Employment Table"
  46. Field Report: Periphery, p. 10: "Regimental Status"
  47. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 182: "Creatures"

Bibliography[edit]