System: St. Andre

From the moment it was colonized, St. Andre was at the forefront of interstellar politics. This was remarkable for a planet that was effectively a desert world. Most of St. Andre's two continents are covered in red desert.

On the northern continent of Ravensglade, the terrain is flat and featureless. Because Ravensglade is located above the arctic circle, it is cold and frozen for six months of the year.

Ravensglade produces petroleum and coal, as well as a small amount of uranium. Only a small portion of St. Andre's population lives on Ravensglade.

Most of the planet's population is located on Georama, the larger and more hospitable of the two continents. Situated in the southern and equatorial regions, Georama is a hot desert environment in contrast with its northern neighbor. The capital of St. Andre is Jerome, located on Georama. Originally a small commercial settlement, Jerome later became the planet's capital. It maintains a modest spaceport and sees to the harvesting and exporting of Andrean Ironwood, from the subtropical forests along the equatorial belt.

St. Andre's prestige comes from its early days, when Capella and the Sarna Supremacy were at war. Elite troops from St. Andre were used to aid the worlds Palos and Wei in 2305. It was on St. Andre that the leaders from the Sarna Supremacy, the Tikonov Grand Union, the Liao Protectorate, the Sian, and the St. Ives governments voted on and formed the Capellan Confederation in July 2366.

St.Andre's population was still less than 500 million in 2579 when the world was identified by Ian Cameron and Terrance Liao as a strategic site for one of the early Star League military bases. Industrial growth was rapid after this, with a large percentage of the planet's gross domestic product hinging on the supply and maintenance of several Star League facilities scattered across its habitable surface.

This age of prosperity ended, however, with the unprecedented brutality of the First Succession War. St.Andre, with its military facilities, its ship yards, its 'Mech factories, received special attention from several of the competing would-be First Lords. The surface of the world today is dotted with the scorched and charred ruins of cities obliterated during repeated raids and invasions.

By the end of the Second Succession War in 2863, scant industry remained on St.Andre. Those factories which survived were geared more to the necessities of survival than to those of war. St.Andre had, after all, a harsh climate, and a certain level of technology was necessary simply to preserve human life. The old Star League facilities have been obliterated. Some by repeated 'Mech attacks and firestorms and bombings, many by the radioactive hells unleashed by both strategic and tactical nuclear strikes. There were endless rumors of 'lostech' sites, places where half-magical, high-tech treasures of the Star League had been gathered safe from hostile marauders, and for many years St.Andre has attracted treasure hunters and speculators from across the Inner Sphere.

The planet became an object of Davion focus in 3007, when they sent the Dragoons to raid the megafactory of Seluk Electronics Ltd. Then, during the Fourth Succession War, Davion forces invaded and captured the planet. When the Federated Commonwealth split, the Capellan banner flew over St. Andre once again.

There are no functional factories located on this planet.