Starfall is a barren planet in the Fifth Sphere
About
After its discovery a few years ago, XH8- 211 (called Starfall by its inhabitants) has lived up to its initial low appraisal. Besides the ‘squatters’ occupying the planet’s barren surface, the world has been ignored by the GCPS at large, seemingly having no resources or indigenous population worthy of corporate exploitation. Until the world-quakes began.
Without warning, the planet was struck by massive tectonic shifts. Great rifts and chasms were torn into the planet’s surface - some large enough to swallow cities. As they weren’t official GCPS citizens, the inhabitants’ calls for aid fell on deaf ears. The cheap, prefabricated settlements that littered the planet’s surface were all but ruined by the quakes. Only the heavily fortified areas built by smugglers and pirates, using the planet as a staging ground, survived the onslaught. If it weren’t for one of the survivors having a relative in an up-and-coming mining corporation, Starfall would have perished ignominy with barely a mark on GCPS records.
The tectonic instability revealed the presence of several highly valuable minerals that had lain undetected below the planet’s surface. These would be costly to extract, but any success would yield profits magnitudes greater than the extraction expense. This information was not yet available to the wider GCPS, conveyed only by a frightened survivor to their distant cousin.
So it was that the Damrod Mining Corporation put in an immediate bid for Starfall’s exploitation and a certain Data Analyst received a promotion and a hefty pay increase for ‘innovative purchasing recommendations’.
The bid was accepted without competition and rights were transferred over to the DMC. Private military vessels began to land on the surface within minutes. Before mining operations could start, the locals would need to be dealt with - most would be offered employment in the new endeavour. Those who refused would be forced to leave at the point of a laser rifle. Much to the GCPS marines’ surprise, none of Starfall’s inhabitants could be found. Homes were left empty, fortifications had been broken into, and any supplies of note were conspicuous in their absence.
As the military forces regrouped to leave; satisfied that their task had completed itself; the reports flooded in. Ambushes, sabotage, gas attacks. The squatters were gone, but Starfall was far from unpopulated. The Veer-myn had come.
The Opposing Forces
The ruined planet of Starfall is owned by the GCPS, who have dispatched their private military to stake their claim. However, they aren’t the only ones who have a claim on this world. The Veer-Myn have risen, conquering the world by force and now stand ready to repel the would-be invaders. The scene is set for a desperate battle between two ruthless powers.
The Veer-myn
The force is lead by a towering Brood Mother, backed up by the brothers – Tharn and Skrat.
It was dark in the nest. That didn’t matter to the Veer-myn; they had always lived in darkness of one form or another. As various members of the brood scuttled around them, two armoured figures communicated in their race’s complex language.
<<Vermin! Upstarts! Trespassers! How dare they?!>> The first progenitor’s actions were aggressive and panicked.
<<Calm down, brother. They’re only humans. We’ve beaten them once, we can do it again.>> This one was much calmer, more precise.
<<Yes, we did defeat the surface-dwellers. This world is ours now! We fought and bled for Mother! And these…these…vermin think they can take our prize?! Our freedom?!>>
The second Progenitor sighed. His brother was getting too worked up. He was far less easy to manipulate when he was angry. He looked his raging brother in the eye and spoke.
<<These interlopers are nothing compared to our might. We will take the others and face the humans on the surface. Soon, we will gnaw on their bones and return to the gratitude of Mother.>>
The first Progenitor considered this for a moment. He turned to the grenade launcher mounted on his gauntlet and adjusted the aim slightly.
<<You are right. The humans will die. We go to the surface. We go to war.>>
The GCPS
The army is led by General Kleiner, who stands apart from the rest of his troops with his ornate sword and laser pistol.
General Kleiner took the cigar from his mouth. Officially, narcotics in the Damrod Private Military were banned, as they lowered the life span (and therefore profitability) of soldiers. Commanders did receive special privileges, however.
“Anything, Sergeant?” The woman he was addressing turned to her comrade, who was operating a communications unit. He shook his head.
“Nothing, sir,” she replied. Kleiner frowned. Not long ago, the radio had been awash with reports of attacks and request for aid: they were being hit and hit hard. Then, almost as quickly as the signals had started, they stopped. All that was left was a tense silence.
Around him were the soldiers of his personal command. There were other units active on Starfall, but they were no longer in direct contact. All he could rely on was what he could see; a couple of infantry squads, weapons teams, a Strider and Mule. The transport couldn’t carry them all; they would have to fight on foot.
They could contact the ships in orbit, but Kleiner had learned over the years to trust his instincts. Whatever was was attacking them was still on Starfall. If they contacted the ships, then the enemy might be able to launch the same attacks and take them – use the ships to leave the planet. That could not be allowed to happen.
If he and his force could make it back to the dropzone – an abandoned smuggler’s hole called Devil’s Run – then they could defend the landing routes from any attack and, maybe, make it off-world unscathed. He looked across to his troops.
“We’re moving out,” he barked, ”get tactical, marines!”
The Battle
As if by some silent command, the Veer-myn appeared, surrounding the marines in a matter of moments. Tharn smiled. The trap had been carefully set for the humans, now all that was left was to spring it.
Some of the humans had escaped the ambush. Skrat kicked one of his cousins for their failure. This world would not be lost so easily. They would regroup and break the humans’ lines with fire and hatred. This world belonged to the Veer-myn.
Kleiner felt like there should be a calm before the storm. A moment of import before the marines started defending the dropzone. There was no such pause; his troops fought a running battle against the aliens before taking up defensive positions and fighting to repel yet another wave of attackers.
Kleiner wrenched his energy sword free from another of the wretched creatures. All around him, the battle for Devil’s Run raged as storm clouds rolled overhead. There was an squeal of pain as one of his rangers scored a kill with his rifle.
The storm clouds broke. Kleiner was the only one to look up and notice. They were being caused by atmospheric displacement - a ship was descending. For a moment, he was relieved that the fleet in orbit was about to provide support, until he saw the vessel. It was too bulbous and smooth to be from the fleet and GCPS ships generally didn’t sport tentacles. Kleiner reloaded the cartridge in his pistol and readied himself.
This battle was nearly over, but the war was just beginning.
The Outbreak
Following the first skirmish, many more interested parties descended onto the planet. The following weeks of fighting resulted in a major conflict. Containment Protocols where issued.
Key Locations
LOCATION: Command Post Delta: When Damrod’s Corporation troops arrived on Starfall they quickly set up a series of Command Posts. The largest of these is Delta. On many planets it would be considered a village, perhaps even a small town. With the largest landing pads on Starfall it has quickly become the centre of fierce fighting, as different factions use the pads to land their Strike Teams.
LOCATION: Devil’s Run: Devil’s Run is a small spaceport primarily inhabited by smugglers and Rebs sympathisers. It’s usually hidden from the prying eyes of the GCPS (or they’re happy to ignore its more seedy side for their own gain). However, with the recent incursion by the Nameless, Devil’s Run is now overwhelmed by Strike Teams from the various interested parties on Starfall. Most of it lies in ruins, although there are pockets of intact districts – typically those used by Rebs to hide their resistance forces.
LOCATION: Mining Facility J28: Since arriving on the planet, Damrod Mining Corporation wasted no time in creating mining facilities to harvest the precious minerals uncovered by the earth tremors. These industrial facilities are full of conveyor belts and machinery used to excavate the resources under the planet’s surface. They make dangerous combat zones though, as the machinery makes perfect hiding places for enemy forces.
LOCATION: Fort Skar: Fort Skar started out as a small Marauder outpost but has increasingly grown in size. It’s heavily fortified with anti-air defences and barricades on the exterior. However, the work is shoddy at best as many elements are taken from the Marauder raids on passing craft or nearby planets.
The Nameless
At the heart of the Battle for Starfall was the Ul-Ug’urub’s cause to bring down the GCPS. If their incursion into GCPS went well, more would flock to their cause. If the mission went badly, the Federation back on their home worlds would have cause to stamp them out.
Following their campaign, the Nameless didn’t win the overall fight for Starfall but they came extremely close and had enough victories to rally other Nameless sects to their cause. The Federation’s effort to keep the Nameless as a peaceful race teeters on the brink. We can expect the Ul-Ug’urub to become more aggressive and expansionist in the future. Other, powerful Nameless creatures will be drawn to their banner.
The Plague
With the Nameless causing chaos on Starfall, it meant the Plague could run rampant. While the GCPS were getting ripped to piece by Magnumites or shot by Riflemen, the Plague were able to infect more victims. As a result by the end of the conflict, they controlled two key locations but were close to dominating in other areas too.
The Nameless themselves seem remarkably resistant so it’s likely these two factions will continue to fight for what remains of Starfall, while others make their desperate escape. With the Plague infection so prevalent on Starfall new strains are likely to appear, which will create new victims of this awful blight.
The GCPS
Despite not taking overall control of the planet, the GCPS came out on top in terms of the most overall victories and performance. They managed to hold two locations at the end of the campaign and performed consistently well throughout… thanks to some very dedicated GCPS Generals. Able to retreat from the planet, the Damrod Mining Corporation surely won't just leave their investment in alien hands.
Gallery
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Starfall Map
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