There are nine planetary systems where battles rage. And there’s Solaris VII, the entertainment capital of the universe, where ’Mechs slug it out for fame and fortune in front of throngs of rabid fans. But whatever prizes a Solaris jock wins, you itch for real-world fighting. Surely there’s a walk-on part in this war for a budding mercenary entrepreneur like you.

Location: Lyran Alliance Eaton is primarily a desert world, with sparse vegetation and craggy, rocky hills broken up by occasional areas of denser forest as well. Like many planets in the Inner Sphere, Eaton is currently wracked by civil war, with the Skye separatist movement agitating against the current government. The governer of the planet is offering excellent pay for missions against the rebels; unsurpringly, the rebels are hiring as well.

 

Location: Lyran Alliance Solaris VII mixes attributes from several entertainment centers of ancient Terra. When battling on Solaris, while you’re often fighting for your life, you are first and foremost entertaining the masses. Artificial battle environments are recreated in vast indoor arenas located in the heart of Solaris City. The districts around these arenas are bathed in artificial light from innumerable signs and advertisements. The businesses run 24/7 and anything can be found for a price. Compete in three famous battle arenas on Solaris – the Coliseum (Steiner Stadium), the Factory, and the Jungle – and all offer opportunity for budding MechWarriors to make a name for themselves.

 

Location: Federated Commonwealth Much of Halloran V resembles the tundra regions of Terra. With expanses of ice and snow a common sight, the planet is largely composed of mountainous terrain and forested regions. Oil rigs dot the coastline. The Transpax and Corvatti Corporations both have a number of facilities on Halloran V and frequently hire mercenary units for protection and escort duty. Recent reports place Burr’s Black Cobras on-planet, although additional employment opportunities may still be present.

 

Location: Lyran Alliance Hesperus II is the home of Defiance Industries, whose factories have been producing 'Mechs since the age of the Star League. Its mountainous landscape has been burnt and scored by savage fighting for control of the factory complex. The Gray Death Legion has recently finished a very costly campaign to keep the facilities in Lyran hands.

 

Location: Arc-Royal Defense Cordon (ARDC) New Exford lies dangerously close to the Clan Occupation Zones of both the Jade Falcons and Vlad's Wolves. The planet of New Exford is temperate to tropical by Terran standards and is home to numerous volcanoes and island clusters. Recently, a small force of Jade Falcons has landed on New Exford as part of a much larger push into the ARDC and Lyran Alliance.

 

Location: Chaos March Styk has long been a source of conflict between House Liao and House Davion. Currently the planet and its sister world Gan Singh have used the turmoil surrounding the Federated Commonwealth civil war to free themselves of the previous Davion-backed government, forming the independent Styk Commonality. However, there is serious concern about the stability of the newly-formed state. In terms of mercenary employment opportunities, Styk is rich indeed: Lindon's Battalion is one of several groups known to be on station, although recent reports suggest a Capellan offensive in force could be giving them some trouble. Both sides in the conflict are likely anxious to bolster their forces with some soldiers for hire.

 

Location: Federated Commonwealth The Talon/Wernke system boasts two planets of significance to the Federated Commonwealth. Talon, a relatively barren and rocky world, has numerous mineral deposits of considerable value. Wernke, a fertile agricultural planet, is well-matched to Talon, providing much-needed food and water resources. Kallon Industries has a substantial investment in the system, maintaining a 'Mech production facility on Talon.