Mala orbits one star of a far-reaching binary pair, Darlene Alpha and Darlene Beta. The worlds of this two-star system do not intersect one another, and only close observation proved that the two stars were actually binary.
Mala has one continent and two large islands. The continent, Sword Hilt, is covered with forests, steep mountain ranges, and dark swamps. Its most striking feature, however, are the sink holes near its east and west coasts. The result of collapsed limestone caverns more than two kilometres deep, these sinkholes allow smaller mining firms to excavate deeply without the expense of sending down long mining shafts.
East of Sword Hilt is Ikmen, Mala's largest island. Mountains run along its southern coast, and deep forests surround more mountains to the west and north. Earthquakes are common in the area between the two mountain ranges, often causing extensive damage to the beautiful city of Valhalla. Despite the intensity and frequency of these quakes, Ikmen's people remain, rebuilding when necessary.
The Isle of Peter is dominated by thousands of acres of open parks and protected forest reserves. This lightly populated island is also home to Sharrod, Mala's capital. Because of extensive war damage recently suffered by Sharrod, the Parliament had to temporarily shift operations a few kilometres westward to the small city of Brankman.
Early History[]
The first four colonies on Mala all failed, succumbing to attacks by packs of giant hunter bears and other natural dangers. Then, in 3240, the Baufrin-owned Madoshi Cartel backed a colony set up to operate several small copper-smelting operations on Barstow, orbiting Dalene Beta. Because of Barstow's thin atmosphere, large domes were built to house the miners and their families. Barstow remained the focal point for development, but the Madoshi Cartel set up a well-defended relaxation center for its miners on the more hospitable, otherwise unoccupied Mala. With several productive copper mines in operation, the Madoshi Cartel was finally pressured to accept Commonwealth membership. To give the cartel added political power, they requested and received limited representation for Mala's tiny but self-sufficient base in the Commonwealth's House of Lords and Commons.
The Commonwealth stationed a large garrison force on Barstow to protect the mining operations, and these troops also enjoyed the R&R on Mala. Despite the natural dangers, Mala's facilities expanded over the years into a colony of several thousand.
With the prosperity of its mining operation, the cartel set up terraforming stations on Barstow. Transformation of the world was abruptly cut off with the outbreak of Snow Plague. The loss of life was so great that entire cities on Barstow lacked the manpower to continue functioning. The less-populated Mala suffered less and its original cities, near present-day Sub Hain, recovered more quickly.
In 5010, another disaster was poised to strike when the Commonwealth received advance word that Darlene was the next system on the KessRith agenda. They determined to muster all available forces in a desperate stand against the KessRith.
After ten weeks, the Commonwealth was forced to admit defeat and flee. The KessRith, bombarding the last pockets of resistance on Barstow, hit several of the terraforming stations' fusion reactors. The reactors erupted in towering columns of flame, laying waste to more than a third of the world and igniting its painstakingly distilled oxygen. The KessRith bombardments had destroyed centuries of effort.
The few thousand who remained on Mala survived the KessRith invasion of Shannedam because the invaders were unaware of their existence. The colony's leaders ordered the people to disperse and hide in the wilderness. When the KessRith arrived, they found nothing of interest and left.
KessRith ships passed through the system from time to time, but paid no heed of Mala. As time passed and the hunter-bears were themselves hunted into extinction, the Humans and Baufrin of Mala thrived. By 6350 the planet had a population of more than 20 million on Mala, living in small, hidden communities.
With the passing years, the Malans began to produce armaments in underground factories. They even constructed a fleet of warships, based on technology now centuries old. In 6550, Mala was fully armed and ready to face the KessRith, should they dare to return.
The same year, the KessRith fleet rendezvoused in the supposedly empty Darlene Alpha system, where they suddenly encountered more than 35 ancient cruisers. These ships swept through the KessRith flotilla, destroying its flagship and killing millions of troops still in their transports. Twelve hours later, the remnants of the KessRith flotilla fled from the system.
Mala's fleet eventually linked up with Henders, Wuj, and Ku Crassus, forming the nucleus of a new Commonwealth Navy and driving the KessRith from the county. One dark era had come to an end, but an even darker storm loomed on the horizon.
Recent Events[]
TOG's invasion immediately affected Mala. Refugees from Mysia and Grosianus were evacuated there, settling in relocation camps near Vahalla and Dorsi. Some began mining Sword's Hilt's sink-holes.
The Royal Navy constructed a shipyard orbiting Mala. When TOG invaded Shannedam IV, this shipyard became crucial to Interceptor support of the Dukedom capital. Realizing this, TOG destroyed the facility in 6829, losing two of its prized battleships in the effort.
Since that time, the Royal Navy has built a smaller shipyard over Mala. The current invasions on Wuj and Ku Crassus have suddenly placed Mala at the front line of the TOG advance. The newly formed 49008th Battleship Squadron gives the Royal Navy a strong presence in the system.
In late 6830, the 3044th Interceptor Wing, which was exacting a high price from the weekly TOG raiders, finally weakened. The wing was disbanded and regrouped with the 901st Renegade Strike Wing to form the new Fifty-fourth Renegade Escort Wing (The Red Tornadoes).
TOG raids have struck mostly at civilian targets on Mala, attempting to shatter the planet's morale. Cetor, Valhalla, Shik, and Sharrod have all been damaged by orbital bombings. Many of the ground factories have been destroyed, though some have gone underground as during the KessRith occupation of Shannedam County.
The people of Mala endure the weekly attacks, determined to prevail. Because of their location so close to four contested worlds, they expect a TOG assault any time. Trained to defend their world, they will fight to the end to do so.
Planetary Timeline[]
3240
First successful colony on world.
4331
World admitted to CW.
4993
Snow Plague hits.
5010
KessRith attack sister world, destroying its terraformed environment, but ignore Mala.
6350
Population reaches over 20 million.
6550[1]
KessRith fleets rendezvous in system, unaware of Mala's military power. KessRith flotilla is crushed.
6829
TOG destroys new shipyard orbiting Mala; loses two battleships in the process.
6830
Weekly TOG raids become a part of life.
- ↑ Incorrectly labeled in sourcebook as 6573.