Independent Periphery world located out beyond the Oberon Confederation, in an area of space generally shunned by jumpship captains (it's the 31st Century equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle).

The Lancers traced a Wolverine splinter fleet here, finding a derelict Invader-class jumpship in orbit around an outer system gas giant (the jumpship was stripped of useful parts, then scuttled by deorbiting it into the gas giant). At least one, possibly more, dropships had been successfully launched, and presumably made their way to June, the systems 2nd world, a (barely) habitable terrestrial world.

Scans showed a population in the low millions, spread across three main sites. It is possible that Wolverine descendants may live within at least one such enclave. The Lancer expedition made no landfall on the planet.

Deep Periphery "kingdom" located several hundred light years beyond the Oberon Confederation. Grew out of a mercantile alliance in the Deep Periphery from mid 29th century onwards, in no small part driven by the influence of Commonwealth refugees fleeing the reign of Archon Elizabeth. They brought with them a number of jumpships and dropships, plus the mercantile acumen the Commonwealth is known for. Settling on several nearby words, they immediately began trading with each other, boosting the economy of every involved world to levels not seen before.

Formally created 2891, the Hanseatic League (the name is thought to be a pun, since many of the worlds of the region have names resembling those of the ancient Terran Hanseatic League) has grown to include 29 member systems, with mercantile ties to many more. The League professes to promote free trade, but is really a monopolist entity, working to exclude other traders. It cannot, however, be denied that the League has done a lot to promote commerce in the Deep Periphery, bettering the lives of millions of people on a hundred worlds. Still, the League is also not above some good old extortion, dabbles in slavery, and has been involved in starting more than one war between petty Periphery kingdoms.

The League's main goal is to eliminate piracy, not because they are altruistic, but because pirates are bad for business - and a challenge to the might of the League. The League is also currently seeking to establish trade ties with IS nations (Commonwealth and Combine both), and destabilize other Periphery powers in "their" sphere of influence. The Oberon Confederation and its growing number of vassals, dependents and allies are of particular concern.

The League's capital is Bremen, with places like Bergen, Köln and Lübeck always vying for power at the expense of the other second tier systems. The League is ruled over by a council of merchants, which is a rather unique form of governance. The Hanseatic Security Force (HSF) represents the military might of the Hanse. It is thought to be very small and poorly equipped.

Natalia Chesterton has connections in the League, and on several occasions League ships have trasported Lancer units.

The Oberon Confederation was born in the aftermath of the 2773-2775 war between the Lyran Commonwealth and the Rim Worlds Republic (part of the Amaris Civil War). Much of the Rim Worlds were annexed by the Commonwealth, but the most distant ones were not. Originally comprised of just 3 worlds, it expanded in the years that followed, as Lyran interests lay elsewhere. Never a violent or expansionist power, the people of Confederation were content with just surviving the rigors of Periphery living.

Fast forward a couple of centuries to the years 2940. The 3rd SW was in full swing, and on the FWL world of Graham IV one Colonel Hendrik Grimm decided he had had just about enough of Lyran High Command. After months of hard fighting for control over Mitchell Industries' facilities on the planet, he could only watch as more and more Marik reinforcements arrived - while he got none. He gathered the remnants of the 6th (his own regiment) and 5th Lyran Regulars and departed Graham. Knowing they would find no refuge in the Commonwealth, they headed for the Periphery.

When reinforcement finally arrived on Graham about a year late, the Lyrans found it to be fully in Marik hands, and another major campaign developed. It took two years to recapture what Grimm had already conquered - and when the Lyrans finally succeeded, they found the Marik's had evacuated everything of industrial value. The Lyrans blew up some empty factory buildings and went home. It was hailed as a great victory on Tharkad. There was some talk of searching for Grimm, but he was assumed dead and buried on Graham.

Meanwhile Grimm wasn't having much success in the Periphery. Details are scarce, but for years he and his people wandered along the Rim, stirring up trouble and learning just how hard life out there can be. Eventually they winded up on a virtually unknown world within the Oberon Confederation: Henry's Star. How he came to learn of the system no one knows. Perhaps it was chance, perhaps he listened to an old legend and decided to risk it all on a final gamble. On the world called 'Crater' he found an old outpost of the Rim Worlds Republic, still inhabited by the descendants of the people abandoned there generations ago. He either conquered them - or persuaded them to join him. No one knows for sure. However it went the damage caused was very minor, if there was any at all.

It matters not. What matters is that Grimm hadn't yet found safe haven, but he at least had a base from which to operate. Desperately short on resources he started raiding the Inner Sphere - or more specifically, the Trellshire. It worked only too well, and Grimm gained a massive influx of slaves and worldly goods. Using his newfound success as a pirate as a springboard, he attacked Oberon VI and force it to submit to his rule (shortly prior to 2955). He then proceeded to alternate between expanding his little "Empire" and raiding the Commonwealth. He moved his flag to Oberon, and did his very best to limit knowledge of Crater, which became something of a "treasure planet".

Eventually Tharkad took notice. Garrisons along the rim were reinforced, as much as was possible given demands elsewhere. This just caused the Oberon pirates to raid ever deeper into Coventry and Trellshire. Punitive raids were then launched against Oberon, but the Grimm was never home when they came calling. Finally Lyran Intelligence was able to track him down, and the bulk of the 3rd Lyran Guards under Colonel Melissa Musgrave were dispatched to deal with him in 2978. They were never heard from again: More than two heavy mech battalions and supporting assets were lost, along with a Star Lord, a Fortress, an Overlord, three Unions, and support ships. The operation was hastily classified and all mention of it buried forever.

Col Musgrave was not the only commander to die upon Crater. She took the aging Hendrik Grimm with her - the man was over 80 at the time, but still commanded from the front. He was succeeded by his Son Hendrik II Grimm. But the battle had taken its toll, and succession already leads to unrest in these minor realms ruled by a single strong leader. Hendrik II eventually consolidated his power base and became a pirate king like his father, but he was smarter, and spread out his raids more and sought to make profit through trade also. He also expanded his influence into neighboring realms, annexing some, making others his vassals - and allying with both the Greater Valkyrate (through marriage between his son, Hendrik, and a princess of the Valkyrate) and the Elysian Fields.

By 3002 the Oberon Confederation is a fairly large and powerful Periphery realm. It's certainly much more powerful than what the Inner Sphere realizes. The Confederation is still ruled by old King Grimm II from his royal hall on Oberon VI. He has several children. His oldest, Hendrik, is married to a woman of the Valkyrate. By all accounts this Hendrik, who is a skilled mechwarrior, will be crowned King Hendrik II Grimm when his father passes.

The Confederation has about 10 core worlds, plus an equal number of vassal (minor single or multi-system Periphery states). It is also allied to the Valkyrate (6+ worlds) and the Elysian Fields (just under 10 worlds).

Somerset I is the sole habitable planet orbiting a orange K5V star of the same name. It is relatively Earth-like, despite the ruddy glare of its star. Time to jump is a mere 4.12 days at 1G, making the planet very accessible to traders. Somerset has a Class A HPG station, making is an important communications hub.

It has a long history of independence, but was eventually incorporated the the Rim Worlds Republic. It's also notable as the capital of one of the "Little Kingdoms" created during the 1st Succession War. It's House Uther Archonette is infamous for taking up arms against the Archon of the Commonwealth, which caused much suffering for the people of Somerset.

About 200 million people make their home on Somerset in year 3000. The planet is moderately prosperous. There is a fair bit of trade with the worlds of neighboring Coventry Province. Trade with the Periphery has slowed to a tickle as the Oberon Confederacy has grown in power and avarice.

Somerset is also the site of a small mechwarrior/ASF pilot academy, the such academy in the Trellshire. It may lack in both size and prestige, but it has strong roots and its graduates are proud of their education. Most graduates end up serving in various militia regiments or minor House guards.

Originally intended as the administrative center of the Trellshire province, the idea was quickly abandoned due to the backward nature of the planet and the harsh environmental conditions on the surface (some say it was the droll nature of the locals that sealed the deal). The name stems from a slurring of the words “Trell” and “One”.

Trellwan has a small population, just under one hundred million at last census (admittedly that was over a hundred years ago), divided between three primary locations, the capital of Sarghad being the most important. Other than some local tradition crafts, Trellwan has nothing to offer the wider galaxy in terms of exports. As a consequence, imports are also very limited – the planet lacks the C-bills needed to buy foreign goods in any quantity.

Trellwan’s central location in Trellshire and shallow gravity well (under three days thanks to its tiny M2V star) makes it a strategically valuable planet. The presence of an ancient Star league era fort (long since stripped to the bedrock) just outside Sarghad is an added benefit. At Takari’s urging its defense has been subcontracted to Carlyle’s Commandos, a small, but experienced merc company.

Key world in the rimward end of the Tamar Pact (that being Lyran region bordering the Combine). Although technically outside the borders of the Trellshire district, Sudenten is the de facto command post for this region. As part of the Archon’s “Doktrin der Umverteilung von Mech-Kerneinheiten auf entscheidende Schlachtfelder” (oft derided as “Concentrated Weakness”), Sudeten became a garrison planet for the Lancers (specifically the Wolf and Satan’s battalion).

Sudeten is a world of contrasts. Humans can live unprotected on the surface. The local flora and fauna are largely imported Terran stock. It has ample surface water (care should be taken to filter it before drinking as it contains some mildly toxic compounds), pleasant temperatures and a perfect gravity match. It’s also perpetually cloudy and windy, with little seasonal variation, and the ruddy glow of the distant K5V star isn’t enough to sustain standard crops (almost everything is greenhouse grown). Only a potent greenhouse effect keeps the planet warm enough to be generally habitable.

Time-to-jump is short, only a little over 4 days, making Sudenten very accessible – to trade and military activity alike. Almost two and a half billion people live on Sudenten, the majority of them across the heavily urbanizes east and west coast of the main continent, but almost all areas of the planet has some habitation.

Largely uncharted world in the Deep Periphery, some 290 light years beyond the Trellshire border (given the lack of recharging stations any trip there would take several months one way). Geologically stable, but unsuitable for human habitation. Used by the fleeing Wolves to cache the majority of their war gear. Equipment spread across several sites (underground storage facilities). There may be other planets with additional caches – only Natalia would know of sure.

Located in the Trellshire province of the Tamar Pact. Second world orbiting a Sol-like G0V world, Waldorff is very earthlike in all key parameters, such as gravity, atmospheric composition, temperature, axial tilt, and surface water. There is one moon, Nikolai, which ensures Waldorff has Earth-like tides and a stable axial tilt. Humans can live comfortably on the surface without protective gear. Planet has some native plant life, but all higher life-forms have been imported or geneered from Terran stock.

Time-to-jump is about 10.5 days at 1G burn. On paper it’s ruled by a Baron, currently one Wilhelm Truder, but in reality Commonwealth trading guilds run the place. Current population is approximately three quarters of a billion. The planet isn’t prosperous, but is sufficiently developed to support major urban centers, some local industry and interstellar trade. ComStar maintains a Class B facility on a small island just outside the capital.

Waldorff was chosen as a garrison planet for the Lancers (specifically for Princess’ battalion, but also a forward operating base for the Katanas). Later upgrade as a regimental base, with additional support from Steiner units.

St. John is another world in the outer reaches of the Combine that was settled by refugees fleeing the expanding Combine. A mix of Scandinavians and other peoples settled on St. John and nearby worlds, creating a little star republic that was eventually absorbed by the Commonwealth. Like so many other worlds in this region it was conquered by the Combine during the Succession Wars. Because of widespread insurrection during the 3rd War, the ISF forcibly relocated much of the population to "temporary" relocation camps. This proved so effective in destroying the planet's economy that it ceased to have any real part in interstellar commerce. The ISF didn't want to lose face over this, so came up with a genius idea: use the now vacated districts of St. John for more gulags for people from other worlds!

The world of St. John is extremely rugged in many places, with very little arable land. Only along the many coastlines and fjords is the place welcoming at all (this is where the gulags are located - the original inhabitants live in great inland shanty-towns). The ISF has countless thousand of guards and special forces on the planet, and at least a full company of ISF (DEST) mechs.

New Caledonia, once a gleaming jewel in the outer reaches of the Commonwealth, became a major battleground during the 2nd War (for no particular reason other than it survived the 1st war relatively intact). In the end the Combine was able to make their claim stick - they simply had the will to stick around despite the casualties and the hardships inflicted upon the civilian population. In no small part this was because of the presence of Hugai Kurita, heir to the then-Coordinator.

Many more civilians died after the end of active combat, as famine mixed with disease to devastate both natives and conquerors with equal abandon. A large group of refugees from other worlds was sent to repopulate the world - which only made the situation worse. To this day there is a deep and bitter enmity between those of Commonwealth stock and those descended from the refugees. And both groups seem to hate their Kuritan overlords.

There are two main areas of population, each with its own garrison of convention and mech forces. THere number of mechs total is thought to be less than a battalion, maybe as little as two companies.