System: Alula Australis

Alula Australis was originally a Steiner world, but was conquered by Geralk Marik in 2458. Steiner forces attempted to retake the world in 2463, but were soon drawn into a stalemate. The introduction of the first Free Worlds League 'Mechs in 2470 turned the tide in favor of the Marik's troops. The independence celebrations lasted for over five weeks, during which more people were arrested for disorderly conduct than had been detained by the military police in the entire seven years of fighting.

Perhaps in memory of that conquest, the people of Alula Australis welcomed the opportunity for their world to be the site of the first full-scale BattleMech manufacturing centre in the Free Worlds. Unfortunately, this made them a prime target during all three Succession Wars. Four times the facilities have been destroyed: twice by House Steiner, once by House Liao, and once by House Marik to prevent them from falling into Steiner hands. After the forth destruction in 2947, Captain-General Brock Marik decide to relocate the facilities to Savannah, which is farther from the Steiner border.

This caused a considerable depression of Alula Australis's economy for half a century. The planet experienced a revival, however, when veins of rare earths and gemstones were discovered in the mountain ranges outside the planetary capital of New Horizon City in the late 2990s, and today these valuable exports form the basis for a mining and refining industry. The rare earths are being used in the chemistry industry located in the cities of Cirebon, Lengkong, and Mosiro.

All three of Alula Australis's major landmasses - Auroria in the northern hemisphere, Hume and Locke in the southern - boast major industrial centers. New Horizon City is located on the southern peninsula of Auroria, while Sturgeon, home to the planet's largest chemical corporation, AA PolyChem Unlimited, dominates the central Hubbes River Valley on Hume.

There are no functional factories located on this planet.