System: Clayborne II

[3035] Perhaps encouraged by LIC operatives, the Circinus Federation chose the tail end of 3035 to resume their raiding against the Free Worlds. The Trinity worlds bore the brunt of these raids, the most significant of which was against Sierra. Although considered outsiders by the native population, the Fifth Oriente Hussars fought valiantly despite the dishonorable tactics employed by the invaders. A counter-raid against Clayborne II that leveled several military facilities (and the palace of a petty lord) convinced the Circinians to cut back on their attacks.

As the Federated Commonwealth fed unit after unit into the meat grinder of the Clan Invasion, individuals began to realize that following their orders was effectively a death sentence. Several soldiers ordered to the front banded together and fled to the Periphery. Calling themselves “Reed’s Brew” after their commander, Burly Reed (and his legendary affinity for alcohol), this handful of deserters made their way to the Circinus Federation, where they immediately found work bolstering the Black Warriors.

The Brew was happy for the most part with their assignment to Clayborne II, with the sole difficulty being the lack of adequate beer. Quite vocal about this drawback, Burly Reed was finally told by one of his many bartenders in 3056 that if he was not satisfied, he should go and brew his own – which is exactly what Reed did.

By 3060, “Reed’s Beer Brew” had become the most purchased beer in the Circinus Federation. Though still legally under contract to the Federation, Reed’s mercenaries became more of a corporate entity, providing security to Reed’s own massive brewery and the nearby cities at their leisure and enlisting more soldiers to protect their modest facilities elsewhere.

There are no functional factories located on this planet.