Alfheim - Station 331

Planetary History
SLDF Medical Research Station 331 was built to help research cures to some of the deadliest and most contagious diseases and viruses known to the Inner Sphere. The decision was made to use a world in the deep periphery and to leave it off SLDF records in order to protect its research from enemy organizations. The only ones with knowledge of the facility were SLDF officials with high level security clearance.

The planet Torkra I was chosen for it's remoteness and earth-like conditions and for being a mostly arboreal planet, with very little fauna to worry about. However, during the survey, SLDF teams discovered the wreckage of several jumpships. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that a small fleet of settlers from the First Exodus had misjumped and crashed here. Survey teams were quickly pulled and replaced to with SLDF Recon in case the settlers were hostile. After several missions, it was determined that the settlers were still on the planet. They had not only adapted to the planet's higher gravity, but had regressed. They were now organized into primitive tribes with small villages scattered all across the planet. Feeling that the population should be left alone, the decision was made to put a station in orbit instead.

A prototype of the Oppenheimer Class station was put in orbit around the world, and a several SLDF ships were placed at it's disposal. These ships were to help with protecting the station should the need aside and to assist with whatever projects were needed. It was even equipped with a small HPG for emergency use. Only once a year would a cargo ship arrive from the Inner Sphere with supplies. The station have to learn be self sufficient and over time developed it's own food, water, and repair facilities in order to lessen the amount of supplies needed.

It wasn't until the Reunification War that priorities shifted. The station switched focusing on biological warfare. At first, into developing countermeasures, but as the war dragged on, the Program Head changed that to developing weapons. In the year 2589, station had not reported in. With the end Reunification War and the chaos of Amaris Civil War and the following Succession Wars, Station 331 was forgotten. The station was accidentally rediscovered by a Comstar Explorer Corps ship. The CSV Navi Aura found the SLS Agema Mittrei, a Bug Eye class surveillance ship, adrift around a uncharted system. The ship was powered down, it's reactor having gone offline to a minor malfunction that could have been easily prevented with maintenance. All of the ships doors and hatches were opened, when Comstar Teams explored further, they found the logs revealed that this was done on purpose. The captain had opened them to stop a mutiny by his senior officers. The sudden decompression and evacuation of their atmosphere either violently sucked the crew out into space, the captain included. The records never revealed the motivation behind the mutiny or the captain's extreme response.

Using the navigational information available, the CSV Navi Aura was able to jump into the Torkra system. There they found the SLS Vespidae, a Dart Class Light Cruiser, drifting heavily damaged, all aboard long dead. Its drive having been disabled, the ship was unable to jump out of the system. Further investigation revealed a what must have been a lucky shot or sabotage damaged the shielding, letting radiation flood through the ship. Even those lucky enough to get to escape pods died from the radiation poisoning unable to get far enough away fast enough. As the CSV Navi Aura moved farther in it found the wreckage of the SLS Actias Luna, another Bug Eye Class ship, savaged by what could have only been the SLS Vespidae weapons. Its debris was only 200,000 kilometers from Station 331. When the CSV Navi Aura came within 2000 km, the automated system within the station came on and transmitted a single message: VESUVIUS PROTOCOL ENABLED::CONTAINMENT BREACHED::DO NOT APPROACH

Comstar immediately went to work deciphering the meaning behind the message while moving more personnel to the system. Over time, it was learned that in the process of their research, the Project Head had managed to weaponize a version of hemorrhagic fever. Making it airborne instead transmitted by contact. When the other department heads realized he had taken their research and twisted it and was going to hand it over to SLDF Intel, a fight broke out.

In the process of that disagreement, the containment was breached and the virus began to move infect the station, quickly moving to the crews of the ships as well. Attempts to quarantine failed, even when marines from the ships were involved. Soon panic set in and two camps formed, those that didn't think they were infected wanting to leave and those that knew that they had to contain everyone, even it meant them dying. In the end, the fever was stopped at the station by the Vesuvius Protocol, a series of automated AI managed programs designed to purge the station with fire while keeping containment. The virus and every other living thing on the station was incinerated. After prolonged clean up efforts, Comstar was able to occupy the station and recover some of the research. They were also able to get the Vespidae and Agema Mittrei restored. Keeping the same secrecy, only the those with the highest clearance knew of the station now code named: Alfheim.

Jihad and Dark Ages

Alfheim remained a secret throughout the Succession Wars and the Clan Invasion. It managed to provide various cures and pharmaceuticals to the Inner Sphere

without the Houses knowledge. Only a small cadre of ROM agents, know only as Vafthruthnir, knew the source of the cures.

However, it was not immune to the influences of the Word of Blake. Years before the Schism, Demi-Precentor Voltaire Cros had become disillusioned with the leadership. Feeling that they were straying from what was Jerome Blake's true goal. Slowly, he would have scientists he knew understood this assigned to Alfheim. Eventually, he would manage to convert the Captain of the restored Vespidae as well.

When the Schism officially occurred, and the Word of Blake had revealed itself. Cross and his allies took the station. A brief conflict broke out, but Cros' follower quickly over powered any resistance. Being no match for the Vespidae, the Agema Mettris fled the system.

Voltaire Cros then began to experiment free of any ethical constraints. Those that did not join the Word of Blake willingly were subject to psychological treatments deemed barbaric and surgeries that were unnecessary. Teams were often sent to abduct inhabitants from the world below for inhumane tests. Everything from cybernetics to biological warfare. Nothing was off limits, anything that came to Cros' twisted imagination was tested.

When Gray Monday occurred and 80% of the HPGs were permanently disabled, most of the Inner Sphere turned on what was left of Comstar. Not having the strength to resist or rebuild after the Jihad, the remains were either disbanded or absorbed into House organizations. A good portion were forcibly seized by the Republic of the Sphere. It was at this stage Vafthrudnir began to put Operation Vargavinter into motion. This led to ROM Agent Antom Vasily and the 44th Com Guard remnants to Station 331 with the intent of retaking it from Cros.

Pretending to be WoB militia fleeing the Inner Sphere, the 44th Com Guard led by Adept Cynthia Knight was able to take the Vespidae and prevent the crew from scuttling her or communicating with the station. Using the same tactics, they were then able to board Station 331. However once onboard, they were discovered and what was supposed to be a quick operation turned into a bloody fight to the death.

Cros had managed to convert all working on his station into loyal and unquestioning fanatics. Even though the WoB scientists and guards had no real training or experience, they were suicidal in their defense. Whereas Adept Knight's troops had to be extra careful as to where they were shooting, the station's defenders showed no such restraint.

When it appeared that the Station was a lost cause Cros' fled to the planet surface and the fighting continued there. Cros' forces had long enslaved several tribes and used them for experimentation. Now, with Comstar forces pursuing him, they were used as human shields. It would take another week for Voltaire Cros to be captured and executed.

Present

Alfheim is currently being used to allow Comstar Remnants to regroup away from the Republic of the Sphere's reach. Under Demi-Precentor Finnegan Lockley's management, Station 331 has been retooled to act once again as a medical research facility and hospital, Comstar has also settled the planet in a few places. Still opting for a light touch, they maintain only a few small outposts. Survey missions move across the planet looking for resources, new flora and fauna, and unexploded munitions from the conflict with the Word of Blake.

These outposts also serve as trade posts to nearby tribes, helping them with medicine, and clean water. Most of the tribes are still wary, remembering how they were treated under the previous occupants. However a few tribes have started allowing for aid programs and other direct partnerships to begin.

Local Fauna
Torkra I is covered in dense forests comprised of giant tower-like trees (50m +) with light green leaves. In addition to the human tribes, there are semi intelligent light green pentapods living in the forests. Known for releasing a noxious fluid when threatened, so both groups stay away from each other.

The extreme temperatures are only found on the desert islands near the equator and the polar regions near the poles. Otherwise, most of Torkra I falls into a moderate climate range.

Recently a survey team has discovered that a few meters below the surface, there appears to be a planet-wide network of tunnels. Plans are currently underway to map and explore them.