System: Marcus

A heavy world with an oppressive atmosphere and mountains squashed into mere rolling hills, Marcus was nonetheless an irresistible morsel in the early days of exploration, thanks to its abundance of radioactive and industrial mineral resources. Originally part of the Terran Hegemony, where its industries boomed and the planet even became the site for Orguss Industries, a prominent Star League-era BattleMech manufacturer, this world suffered during the Amaris crisis.

The Usurper’s troops, seeking to augment their nuclear and BattleMech arsenals, forced much of the population to work on expanding the uranium mines throughout Wahryn, its southern continent, and enforced a tripled production rate at the BattleMech plant. This was sustained for over five years of occupation, and by the time of the liberation over three million natives of Marcus had died in the mines and factory plants.

The fall of the Star League left the world with little hope of recovery until the Free Worlds League claimed it, but as an industrial border world, Marcus became the target for raids and invasions launched by the nearby House Steiner. The Orguss plants and many of the supporting industries were left devastated by centuries of raids and invasion attempts, devastating the planetary economy and infrastructure.

By the closing years of the thirtieth century, this endless decline had spawned a worldwide attitude of apathy, and the locals viewed war and death as little more than a logical outcome of their existence. By 3016 this sense of nihilism had achieved the point where a new cult — the Way of Arme, which teaches its followers that solace may be found in one’s “Culmination,” or suicide — had formed around it. This suicide cult created a brief stir throughout the League and nearby Lyran worlds, but attrition among its membership virtually assured its quick passing.

During the Fourth Succession War, Marcus briefly changed hands, becoming a protectorate of the Federated Commonwealth, but was reclaimed by House Marik during the Marik-Liao invasion of 3057, after a particularly brutal battle.

The capital city of Zotikos stands on the northern continent of Montezumia, and is host to the planet’s primary spaceport.

There are no functional factories located on this planet.