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Murchison is an unusual world. When this star system was still young,
one of its gas-giant planets, Hebron, was knocked out of orbit and headed towards
its sun. It eventuall fell into a closer orbit, where it caught the young
planet Murchison as a moon. As a result, Hebron dominates the skies. Murchison
orbits the gas-giant once every 26 hours as well as spinning on its own axis.
While Murchison is slowly becoming tide-locked to the larger world, the
current combination of the two motions create considerable time confusion
for people not native to the planet. The sight of Hebron rising and setting,
the stars spinning about, and the planet's sun moving swiftly makes some
people physically ill--an affliction the natives call "The Murchison Muddle."
The SLDF built many important research stations on this unique planet,
basically to study time stress. These institutes were not heavily damaged
by the Amaris Civil War, and much information was left behind after
General Kerensky's Exodus. ComStar
researchers have recovered considerable
information about chrono-biopsychology, the study of time's effect on
people's emotional and physical condition.
Weather on Murchison is cold and dry. The average max-min temperatures range from about
70°F (21°C) to 37°F (3°C) on the lowland plains, and from 36°F (2°C) to -26° (-32°C) in the
alpine zones. Precipitation averages 4 in. (10 cm) at its base to 20 in. (50 cm), mostly as
snow along the crests of the mountain ranges. Due to the varied topography, precipitation can
and does differ
greatly in localized areas. Winds can blow most of the snow from
some areas, leaving little for trees like the Shielded-Pagoda (Contego Quinquiplicoequus)
at the treeline - 11,200' (3414m).
Thunder and lightning storms occur frequently in the high country. Winds are strong at the
crests, both summer and winter. The dry climate and high altitude make this planet a rare
environment. The rapid changes in elevation create abrupt habitat and species changes.
The soil quality is poor, and at its poorest in the alpine zone. This factor, combined with a
short growing season, results in sparse and delicate flora. In some regions, recovery
is still taking place from the SLDF's war against Amaris--further damage over the centuries
has not helped this any.
The geologic makeup for the majority of Murchison is of quartzitic sandstone and
granite bedrock. A large part of the soils on the slopes have been swept away by the
extreme conditions. Also present are extensive outcrops of dolomite (limestone), a very
ancient rock first laid down underwater 500 million years ago and then slowly uplifted
through time. Numerous fossils of this period can be found here, and it has been speculated
that one could have walked chest deep across the shallow sea located in the region
at that time. The dolomite is low in nutrients, but is of a higher moisture content than the
surrounding sandstone. Because these soil-types inhibit the growth of off-world plants, they
provide a competition-free arena for the slow-growing species of Murchison.
The most recent military action took place in November 3027 when two lances
from the shortlived Cartasia-Bree Alliance attempted to infiltrate and destroy
the Amphigean LAG garrison at the DCMS Castle Brian. In a phyrric victory,
the forces of the petty kindgoms managed to destroy both themselves and a company of the
Kuritan 'mechs in a cavern cave-in deep inside the castle. The
remaining two mercenary companies proceeded to raze parts of the Bree Citadel
before being ordered to stand down by the Draconis ISF. A replacement company has
recently been sent from Amphigean reserves on the planet Ashio, leading Davion Intelligence
to wonder what the DCMS finds so important about Murchison to maintain a full
battalion here.
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Major Political Factions:
Warning: While under the nominal control of the DCMS, the planet is rife with
political infighting, blockade runners, warlords, spies, terrorists, Yakuza and other criminal
elements. The general technology level of the planet is barely 21st Century, giving rise
to Murchison's popular nickname "The Scavanger's World."
Name: Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery
Capitol: The abandoned Star League Castle Brian
Population: 200,000
Military: 2 Union-class dropships, 1 Leopard-class dropship, 1 'mech battalion, 1 aero lance, 1 armor battalion, 1 infantry regiment
Description: Stationed in three parts of the planet, the DMCS splits its forces between
the Castle Brian, the Supply Base, and the Starport. While considered a "backwater" garrison
world, the DCMS is constantly on guard against sabotage and other acts of terrorism on
their facilities--with officers often engaging the challenges of the local warlords in single 'mech-on-'mech
Bushido duels. By way of comparison, the Amphigean mercenaries employed by the DCMS
are not so kind, preferring to rip into their prey with a pack-like mentality.
Name: Equatorian Neutral Zone
Capitol: Equatoria
Population: 1,340,000
Military: 2 tanks, 1 company jump-infantry
Description: Once the planetary capitol, the city and area around Equatoria found itself
too weak to survive the local infighting brought on by the Succession Wars. Declaring neutrality,
they cling to their walled city in the swamp and the vital ComStar HPG within. While recently damaged
in a failed attack by the Swordpoint Regime, ComStar has sent technicians and troops to
secure the area until repairs are completed. The city is a center for commerce on the planet,
helping to maintain what few trade routes are still in use. They have recently purchased
two Harper Heavy Tanks for added defence against further agressions.
Name: Kingdom of Bree
Capitol: Bree
Population: 580,000
Military: 1 armor lance, 1 battalion mechanized-infantry
Description: Once the most mighty kingdom on the continent, the people of
Bree sealed their own fate by joining with the Cartasians in their failed attempt
to take control of the continent by removing the DCMS threat in the Castle Brian.
Now just a minor power, it is only a matter of time before the region falls into
barbarism and is conquered by a stronger neighbor.
Name: Branor Territories
Capitol: Branorra
Population: 645,000
Military: Small navy, 2 'mechs, 1 aerofighter, 1 battalion infantry
Description: Sitting in the middle of the few non-desertified regions on Murchison,
the Branor military maintains the last wet-navy on the planet. Consisting of a few
small surface vessles and three ancient submarines, the Branor raid shipping all along
the coasts of both populated continents--secure in the fact that few of their neighbors
would risk sending their scant 'mech forces through the swamps to attack them.
Name: Cartasian Empire
Capitol: Cartasia
Population: 500,000
Military: 3 'mechs, 1 company mechanized-infantry
Description: Surrounded in what was once rich-farmland, the desert Empire
of the God-King Cartasia is quickly spreading its political overtures to anyone
who can assist them in expanding their territory into more furtile regions.
The recent setback of the Bree alliance may prove fortuitous to them, as the
Kingdom of Bree is now ripe for invasion.
Name: Republic of the Slopes
Capitol: Casteo
Population: 410,000
Military: 1 'mech, 3 tanks, 2 battalions infantry
Description: Once a center of high learning, the University of Temporal Psychology
at Casteo is now the seat of government for the most peaceful of the petty kingdoms
on the main continent. The military of the Republic is purely defensive, the population seemingly
unwilling to expend its machinery or personnel in futile attacks. This does not mean
that the military is weak however, they have fought off neighboring armies, warlords,
and off-world pirates many times in the past--each time coming back slightly stronger through
the use of captured equipment.
Name: Swordpoint Regime
Capitol: Dumas
Population: 450,000
Military: 1 lance 'mechs, 1 lance armor, 1 aerofighter, 1 batallion mechanized-infantry
Description: Easily the most ruthless of Murchison's petty kingdoms, this little
region is in and of itself interdicted by the mighty ComStar for the attack it formented
against the Class-B facility in Equatoria. The interdicion has done little to temper the
hot-headed nature of the leaders in Dumas, and the military seems to be readying itself
to strike out against one of its neighbors once again.
Name: Sabaku-Mizuumi Freehold
Capitol: Erol
Population: 463,000
Military: 2 'mechs, 1 lance armor, 1 company mechanized infantry, 1 battalion infantry
Description: A small but fanatic nation on the southern tip of the smaller continent,
the religious zealots of the Freehold hold their domination over the warlords of the region
by a single piece of lostech: a JU-Purifier. As long as the Freehold controlls the fresh-water
they will stay in power, as only isolation from the other kingdons have allowed them to survive
this long as a seperate entity. When the Purifier eventually fails this region will no doubt
devolve into chaos after a short and bloody coup.
Name: The Great Northern Tribe
Capitol: Hokujou
Population: 543,000
Military: 1 union-class dropship (immobile), 1 aerofighter, 2 tanks, 3 battalions infantry
Description: Escapees from the Sabaku-Mizumi, the settlers of this region repopulated
a ruined city from the Star Leage days--renaming it Hukujou "Going North." Fairly peaceful
and isolated, they suffer more from the remaining wildlife on the planet than any human
predators. The tribe a begun attempts to trade with the nations of the main continent in
home-built wooden vessels, but are being seriously hampered in their endeavours by the
pirate navy of the Branor Territories.
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