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OverviewPalanda Ire is a fascinating planet on the Orion arm. It supports a healthy and diverse natural ecosystem, and is the site of several large Imperial Combine cities.
The planet is terrestrial, however the terrain is strikingly unusual. Tidal rocks seen in close proximity to the city of Arroch were coloured purple-black on the outside, and had silvery interiors when blown apart by ordnance. It seems likely that these are in fact deposited metal-mineral amalgams which are precipitated continuously out of the sea, rather than geological formations which have been eroded from the continental shelf. A defensive wall across Arroch Bay is formed from blocks of a more conventional, dark-coloured stone, which was likely sourced from elsewhere on the planet. Arroch itself is surrounded by a naturally occurring wall of mountains, containing very high concentrations of minerals and metal ores. This high range protects the city from the megafauna roaming the mainland. Because of the presence of large quantities of rare earth minerals and metals, fabrication became a boom industry on Palanda Ire not long after it was colonised. Seeking to increase their margins by side-stepping transport costs, numerous companies invested in the development of the cities and sited their high-end fabrication operations on the surface. They have always guarded these facilities aggressively (→FSS). The ecosystem on Palanda Ire is robust and complex. The brackish, organic soup of the seas hosts a variety of life forms, some of which — such as weeds and barnacle-like shellfish — are similar to those found on Earth. Of more interest to most visitors however are the megafauna species. These are species of huge animals, many stories tall, which roam the plains and forests across the temperate ranges of the continents. Although few of them are predatory, their immense size makes them a hazard to human structures and facilities. Most cities are therefore sited to avoid direct contact. Megafauna safaris are big business on Palanda Ire, and the authorities are required to invest considerable resources in trying to control the number of unlicensed excursions. Those are of course incredibly dangerous. It is the level of collateral threat from the indigenous life, in combination with the difficulty involved in growing non-native crops, which causes Palanda Ire to miss out on class one status. |
Cities
Arroch
Arroch is a large coastal city located in a natural basin between a mountain range and a black beach. The site is in close proximity to vast deposits of naturally occurring, valuable materials, and developed quickly as a major machining town. Various companies from across the empire located their high-end fabrication sites here, and to protect their investments all of them contributed towards the city's mutual air defence systems.
Arroch is well-protected, both from aerial assault and from some forms of precision orbital strike. The same mountains which protect the city from the mainland megafauna also make it difficult to approach on foot or by ground vehicle. The only weak point is the beach, and three kilometres of defensive wall have been erected to close off this line of approach.
Because of its location and layout Arroch is limited in terms of expansion and development. Real estate now comes with a heavy premium.
Arroch is well-protected, both from aerial assault and from some forms of precision orbital strike. The same mountains which protect the city from the mainland megafauna also make it difficult to approach on foot or by ground vehicle. The only weak point is the beach, and three kilometres of defensive wall have been erected to close off this line of approach.
Because of its location and layout Arroch is limited in terms of expansion and development. Real estate now comes with a heavy premium.
Facilities
Because of the nature of the planet's indigenous life Palanda Ire has no starport. All transport between the surface and orbit must be carried out by ships no larger than freight shuttles.
The system has a gate and therefore a nexus, and the planet is protected by significant numbers of orbital defence platforms.
As described above, fabrication cities are generally protected by aggressive air defence systems. These are capable of intercepting high-velocity, high-yield ordnance, and would be capable of bringing down any ships within range, even carriers. Only a heavy bombardment could overwhelm these defences, which would result in the obliteration of the city in question. Any force intending to invade and occupy would need to do so from a position on the ground (→FSS).
Cities such as Arroch are protected by defensive walls. The wall across Arroch Bay was made from a dark grey stone, almost an astonishing forty metres deep, and its tiers were dotted with cellular pits containing auto-turrets and autonomous rocket launchers. The auto-turrets were able to roll forwards on rails, which allowed them to fire across the outer surface of the wall or down towards its base. The top of the wall was crenellated, with gimballed interception turrets similar to C-MADS providing cover from long-range ordnance such as carrier sabot rounds (→FSS).
The system has a gate and therefore a nexus, and the planet is protected by significant numbers of orbital defence platforms.
As described above, fabrication cities are generally protected by aggressive air defence systems. These are capable of intercepting high-velocity, high-yield ordnance, and would be capable of bringing down any ships within range, even carriers. Only a heavy bombardment could overwhelm these defences, which would result in the obliteration of the city in question. Any force intending to invade and occupy would need to do so from a position on the ground (→FSS).
Cities such as Arroch are protected by defensive walls. The wall across Arroch Bay was made from a dark grey stone, almost an astonishing forty metres deep, and its tiers were dotted with cellular pits containing auto-turrets and autonomous rocket launchers. The auto-turrets were able to roll forwards on rails, which allowed them to fire across the outer surface of the wall or down towards its base. The top of the wall was crenellated, with gimballed interception turrets similar to C-MADS providing cover from long-range ordnance such as carrier sabot rounds (→FSS).
Recorded Events
In April of 3745 ELC it was discovered that Voice had occupied at least one city on Palanda Ire. The entity had seized control of the city of Arroch, and was using the manufacturing base there to serve his own purposes (→ASTTS).
Soon afterwards Commander Operations laid out a plan for Operation Sabre, a joint Navy-MAGA operation intended to liberate the city, retake the fabrication sites, and put an end to Voice's activities there. The operation was conducted with some degree of success, however the discoveries made on the surface were deeply disturbing (→FSS).
Soon afterwards Commander Operations laid out a plan for Operation Sabre, a joint Navy-MAGA operation intended to liberate the city, retake the fabrication sites, and put an end to Voice's activities there. The operation was conducted with some degree of success, however the discoveries made on the surface were deeply disturbing (→FSS).
