System: Oriente

Oriente is the most cosmopolitan of the Free Worlds. Early in the Exodus period, House Allison encouraged progressive ideas of science, arts, industry, and commerce. The level of sophistication resulting from having the best-educated populace in the Free Worlds is one thing that the ravages of the Succession Wars have not been able to destroy. Even so, no other world has so deeply felt the effects of the loss of technology and the destruction of industry. Estimates indicate that the standard of living has declined by more than half since the start of the wars. House Halas has considerable military accomplishments, which may be just what Oriente needs, given its vulnerability to Liao attacks. However, the Halases have shown little of the imagination of progressiveness that the Allisons used in making Oriente one of the crown jewels of the Inner Sphere.

With average temperatures slightly warmer than Terra, Oriente is a lush, green world of rolling grasslands, panoramic mountains, and tropical rainforests. Frequent Liao raids have damaged Oriente's manufacturing facilities, but have left the environment untouched.

Oriente has been raided so many times in the past that the citizens have become quite blasé about it. Invading MechWarriors find none of the panic they are accustomed to causing, as the populace simply avoids trouble by using well-practiced civil defence procedures.

Perhaps the most prestigious military academy in the Free Worlds League, the Princefield Military Academy served as the Grand Duchy of Oriente's principal military school for more than 750 years. Many of the League's most famous commanders began their careers at the academy, including Captain-Generals Janos and Anton Marik, and to this day many consider Princefield to be a finishing school for young nobles.

Entry to Princefield is theoretically open to all citizens of the League, but only those with the right political connections or funding are likely to gain admittance. Political orthodoxy takes second place to bloodlines and connections, and several times in the past Princefield has been at the core of troubles within the League. The LCCC ensures that a certain number of common-born but able candidates gain entry to the academy each year, but such students are often abused by their noble-born fellow students.