Taradia

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"Taradia's filled to the brim with good old rich, right-wing, redneck politicians. But I'll tell you now, they've worked their rumps off to keep Taradia in line with the best of the Core colonies."

- Izsak Pusel

Taradia (known also as Indus Corus α or, more formally, the Federated Commonwealth of Taradia) is a C-type terrestrial planet United Nations Space Command colony world located in the First Rim. It is the only one of the system's two planets that is located within the habitable zone, the other known as Indus Corus β and later Bartoni. The small terranian planet also boasts three moons: Ensas, Dansas, and Bido.

The FCT, as it is commonly abbreviated, was originally placed under jurisdiction and ruling of the now defunct Colonial Administration Authority, which would later give way to the United Nations Bureau of Colonial Affairs. As with many First Rim colonies, Taradia boasts a multitude of large-scale mining operations and is one host to one of the largest shipbuilding elements in Sector IV. Taradia is also known to trade immensely with other nearby First Rim colonies, including Bartoni, Oompa, Madrigal, Harvest, and Arcadia.

Colonization
In 2375, plans on colonization were well under way for the young Taradian colony, which at the time was deemed Indus Corus α. The UNSC Anderson Thompson, a small transport ship, was assigned to build a primary settlement with a population of one thousand colonists and then return. However, the ship's translight engine was damaged upon translating out of Slipspace and since it was not able to return was kept on location as a multirole ship. In the following months, the small colony sought for benefits of the planet and began marking possible locations for future settlement, an action often performed by new colonies in order to ensure better organization.

Once fully established, the new, infant capital named New Bath would attempt to establish a small farming operation to sustain as many colonists as it could, though the poor choice of location for New Bath led to heavy storms that often eroded farming soil, which brought about the need for enclosed greenhouses, such as the well-known Maison de la Taradie. To give colonists a source of income, normally agricultural automatons worked with colonists to begin extracting metal from a nearby mountain range to the east. Though the planet did not contain supreme water purity, a small number of colonists would establish a company later known as Bava-Tellman, Incorporated, which worked to produce various fuels needed to sustain routine activities.

Continual Growth
In 2380, the UNSC Anderson Thompson, a medium-sized manned freighter, suffered a life support failure as it prepared to leave planetary orbit. Fortunately and due to the new colony's growing need for power, the ship was broken and salvaged just outside the capital. The reactors would greatly contribute to the power grid while the mass driver on board would be installed on the surface and would launch sealed nuclear waste into a collision-course with the system's star, Indus Corus. This allowed for other matters to be addressed while the colony waited for one of many massive Griffin transport ships to deliver supplies and additional colonists.

Near the center of the townstead, the anchor-base for the first of the planet's space elevators began construction in the form of planning and gathering of raw materials. This would usher in the modernization of the planet to par with others, though the process would take at the least one year since the elevator was in fact two larger-than normal elevators built into one.

By early 2381, the Griffin-class UNSC Mjolnir arrived and delivered nearly fifteen-thousand colonists and supplies needed for advancement, including numerous prefabricated greenhouses, six of which being as large as six football fields along with numerous prefabricated windmills, a hydrogen-fusion reactor, and an acre's worth of solar panels. Shortly thereafter, another transport arrived with fifteen-thousand more colonists alongside thousands of seeds and materials to begin constructing the elevator's enormous anchor in full force.

Anguaro's Arrival
This gave a boost to the colony's economy, which was aided by a growing mining industry. In November 2483, with the anchor operational, Spanish-based mining supercorporation Anguaro Proprietary set up Taradia's largest mining operation on the area of the local highlands nearest New Bath along with other operations. It also established a smaller operation five-hundred kilometers north along the ridge which would search for reserves of metal there. Anguaro, which maintained eighty-three locations across the Human Sphere, would temporary dominate the planetary economy with its new-found deposits of ore.

Between the two operations, three side-by-side mag-lev rails were planned and constructed; the first would be solely for transporting workers until housing at the minor of the two mines was built. The second would only transport supplies and ore to and fro, while a third rail would act temporarily as a relief rail for the other two. Before long, the city of Three Gates would be established around the primary station for the railways, further opening opportunities to strengthen the economy.

Rebel Outburst
Main article: Taradian Uprising of 2388

By 2387, the colony was well off with nearly seventy-five thousand citizens and a small garrison of 1,100 Army personnel. The economy, though not necessarily booming, was stable and morale was almost painfully content. However, a rebel influence had reached the planet and was spreading amongst the population. Within months, the rebel population was estimated to have reached a peak of one thousand; local government was quickly growing weary of the situation. As a result August of the same year, an additional 3,000 field operators and 100 Eagle VTOLs were assorted into the two cities' militia as per request by local brass to CMA Department of Outer Colony Allocations.

Within days of the arrival of the supplementary detachment, the rightfully suspected separatists attempted a conglomerated strike upon the small colony. Unfortunately for the rebels, the fast-paced warfare of the well-disciplined CMA infantry solidified by close air support overwhelmed insurgents in the initial skirmishes. Two weeks later, a small insurgent force barely one-hundred-strong attempted an assault Three Gates, despite depleted munitions and hopes. This would lead to another one-sided defeat marked the end of the rebellion and brought about an embarrassing surrender.

Mixed Emotions Era
The period of years spanning from the 2390s through the 2430s was marked by a combination of growth and various issues on the planet. Throughout this period a culture unique to the mixture of peoples on the planet began to develop its own persona. Not only did this boost overall morale, but it was also used in a series of advertisements to draw potential colonists from Earth to choose Taradia as their destination. Many believe that this adverting campaign proved successful and profitable; a surprising influx of colonists raised overall gross decimal product by thirty percent by 2430. In addition, nearly a dozen new unique population centers were established along and within the vicinity of the coastline.

Yet another positive aspect claimed by this era was the birth of the Commonwealth's provincial system, which is still used up until the modern era. The majority of the existing colonies were placed into a single province, known as the North Capital Commonwealth, its name being derived from its location in the northern hemisphere and the fact that it was home to the capital city. The remaining two settlements, located northwest of the aforementioned province, were organized into a second province deemed the High Province of Thüringer, more commonly referred to as Thüringer. These beginnings of a better organized political infrastructure helped to ensure a more stable future for the colony.

Manhüven Wars
The Manhüven Wars was a small civil conflict unique to a small handful of planetary systems, namely the Indus Corus system. It was sparked when the Manhüven Socialist Emirates, a "prominent" terrorist cell based out of a neighboring system, simultaneously hijacked thirteen space faring civilian vessels as they were leaving planetary orbits; they would refit these vessels and use their prowess to harass commercial shipping for two years.

All the while, hundreds of rebels and sympathizers amassed in major population centers on Taradia, often inciting minor riots, night looting, and protests in Victory Square, the capital city's central plaza. The first notable firefight to occur on Taradia during the war took place in the northern suburbs of New Celje, the capital city of the Westphal province in 2453.

First Human Civil War
Main article: First Human Civil War (Halopedia)

The frays of the First Human Civil War would prove as a major test for the now exalted and hardened Taradian defense organization. More than a incidents involving Insurrectionists would occur in a time frame spanning half a century. These conflicts ranged in size from the bombing of a small bank or military recruiting office to what could be considered full out battles and raging riots. The events that took place on Taradia during the war still paled in comparison to those which were compiled on planets such as Reach (Infinity) or Transcendence.

Early Period
''Note: this section is in need of expansion/reconstruction and will receive such service soon. Stay frosty.''

When the First Human Civil War (at the time known more simply as the Great Civil War or the Insurrection) broke out in the 2480s, many believed that there was little rebel sympathy abound on Taradia; partly due to the colony's generally far-right political values, they were right for the time being, to say the least. For the first fifteen odd years, any worthy conflict or, in other words, anything above petty crimes or small, unsuccessful gunfights involving one or two urban insurgents, was seemingly restricted to the inner colonies and a limited handful of the outer colonies.

New Bath Crisis
Main article: New Bath crisis

As the early 2510s gave in to the 2520s, hot-zones located in Sector IV had begun to die down by a noticeable magnitude; nevertheless, war had not left the region behind to rejoice. One of the major series events occurring within this time frame was the New Bath crisis. In the waning days of November, 2521, hundreds of civilians gathered at Taradian House of Senate, which was, as its name implies, home to Taradia's senate; the vast majority of said protesters were exercising their substantial distaste for lengthened curfews, increasingly common street checkpoints, and so forth.

These angered citizens were swiftly greeted by operators of the local special weapons and tactics unit within minutes of the protest's beginning. However, the mob had grown to as many as two thousand people, many of which were growing increasingly aggressive. The dangerously outnumbered law enforcement officers would proceed to request the aid of reinforcements from the local military; fifteen minutes later, an company of soldiers belonging UNSC Army's 38th Rifle Regiment, which was amidst practice operations in the nearby Castle mountains, were brought in via air and ground transports. At this point, not only was the entire city aware, but news and video footage of the fiasco had gone as far as Earth itself, despite an attempted media blackout by local components.

At approximately 21:00 local time, 130 minutes into the protest, six civilians within the crowd revealed carbine variants of the T17 Assault Rifle and began firing on a group of the Army infantrymen. At this point, the scene erupted. While a large portion of the crowd scattered or fled, hundreds began looting local business while more nearly two hundred armed insurgents continued attacking the UN soldiers.

Simultaneously, a makeshift bomb of sorts was detonated on the fifth floor of the Cape Tower, planetary headquarters to mining juggernaut Anguaro Proprietary. The small, yet potent explosion caused the forty-story building to lean and eventually fall upon Victory Square, a ten-acre public park and memorial to the Human-Covenant War which lies between the senate building and the tower, approximately five minutes after the initial detonation. This time frame would allow a number of the building's dwellers to escape although some were trapped by spreading flames.

In the aftermath, what was originally intended to be a peaceful yet bellicose protest was warped into a full blown civil conflict. Despite this tangent defeat, the riot cost the city more than 350,000,000 cR (equivalent to approximately $300 million 2010 USD). One-hundred-twenty-one of the rebel fighters were dead, and additional sixty-nine were wounded and/or captured. On the opposite end, thirty-five of the UN soldiers were killed while an additional sixty-one were injured. Unfortunately, more than two hundred innocent civilians were injured or killed during the crisis, the better part of which may be attributed to the Cape Tower's collapse. In conclusion, the rebellion had gained a strong psychological foothold in the war.

Before long, however, insurgents on the planet revealed that they had further plans for Taradia.

First Great War
Main article: First Great War (Halopedia) ''Note: this section is in need of expansion/reconstruction and will receive such service soon. Stay frosty.''

Later in 2536, the Covenant would attack the planet, which out of necessity had grown to support a major agricultural industry as well as its mining operations. The battle resulted in a pyrrhic yet extremely strategic victory for the UNSC. Three years later, a Jiralhanae battlegroup would return to the planet. The ensuing battle would result in a Covenant victory, though only a single ship survived. It would attempt to single-handedly glass the planet though a short third battle resulted in the destruction of the ship as well as seven UNSC vessels.

Second Human Civil War
Main article: Second Human Civil War ''Note: this section is in need of expansion/reconstruction and will receive such service soon. Stay frosty.''

Following the end of the reconstruction period, Taradia once again would flourish with an increasingly high and achievable standard of living and maintain nearly a dozen prominent shipyards of varying sizes. Later, during the Second Human Civil War, a number of miners and sympathizers, including a large handful on Taradia, staged a revolt against the UNSC. Their would-be campaign on the planet brought about little to no success for the local insurrectionists. Near the end of the same year, Operation KĒTOS, a campaign by local colonials to eliminate a number of major insurgent strongholds, led to yet another cold defeat for local rebels.

Second Great War
Main article: Second Great War ''Note: this section is in need of expansion/reconstruction and will receive such service soon. Stay frosty.''

As the new decade that was the 2590s began to rise over the horizon, the United Nations entered the brutal fray of the Second Great War, partially due to the pleas of its struggling allies, the Sangheili Empire and Unggoy Federation. During this time, Taradia became a crucial refit planet for fleets departing from the Core colonies towards New and Old Covenant spheres. However, in 2601, a battle group of twenty-four Dauntless-class Cruiser-Carriers and Harbinger-class Destroyers, all under the control of the New Covenant, besieged the system and identified Taradia as the prime target. The one week engagement brought about a costly victory for Taradian defenses as the planet was once again partially glassed, although to a very minor extent. Following a small series of restoration operations, the colony was well-restored and helped contribute to the war effort until victory arrived for the Orion Defense Initiative in the early 2620s.

Atmospheric element
Main article: Taradia Joint Armed Security Forces

The Joint Armed Security Forces are the primary guardians of security and defense for Taradia. The JASF Security Council, which answers directly to COSCOM, is based in New Bath. Also based here is the colonial honor guard and the local SES detail, the latter known colloquially as the Taradian Black Slacks.

In addition to these unique standing units, the JASF is charged with the upkeep and management of twenty-one localized security detachments (one for each province). These local commands are the primary fighting force of the JASF and will often correlate with one another in order to combat greater threats, as seen notably during the Taradian Miners' Campaign of the Second Human Civil War or Operation KĒTOS, a conflict of the same war which occurred only months after the former.

Naval element
Main article: Indus Corus Commercial Security Fleet

The Indus Corus Commercial Security Fleet was a prominent naval element of the United Nations Colonial Security Command, although it also fell under jurisdiction of Naval Command jurisdiction. It was charged with the defense of the colonies Taradia, Bartoni, Oompa, and the Kodiak asteroids. Since its formation, the CSF has been comprised of two major formations, the names of which are Fleet patrol element-(FPE) LAQUEARIUS and FPE-VELES. The former is charged only with the security of Taradia, while VELES is tasked with upholding the safety of the United Nations Space Command's minor outlying colonies in the system.

As of 2585, FPE-LAQUEARIUS composed of just over twenty vessels, ranging from speedy patrol boats to warhorse ships-of-the-line. These mobile vessels were supported by a total of seven major military stations, including both weapons and repair platforms. During this time period, the force composition consisted of:
 * 1x King class cruisers
 * 4x '''Drako class destroyers
 * 3x '''Retarius class frigates
 * 4x '''Venus class torpedo frigates
 * 5x '''Thor class corvettes
 * 6x Stamos class patrol boats
 * 6x Multirole Orbital Support Stations
 * 1x Hephaestus class orbital refit/repair stations

Notable Locations

 * Museum3.jpg.]] Aspen Plains
 * New Bandar Coastal Trade Region
 * GreeneCrest.png Greene Valley
 * MertedamCrest.png Mertedam
 * NekiCrest.png Neki
 * Massaquoi (regional capital)
 * NewTiberCrest.png New Tiber
 * NorthFlag.png North Capital
 * New Bath (regional/planetary capital)
 * PeninsulaCrest.png Peninsula
 * Aston Cape (regional capital)
 * ThuringerCrest.png Thüringer
 * Southern Valley (regional capital)
 * Covenant Archive
 * Peugot manufacturing complex 23B
 * WestphalCrest.png Westphal
 * New Celje (regional capital)

Behind the Scenes

 * A number of SPARTAN-II Class II operators were from Taradia, namely Travis-379.
 * Taradia was encircled by a series of rings consisting of ice, dust, and rocks; some examples of the later were known to have diameters as wide as one thousand meters.
 * Sans Earth, Taradia is home to more Congolese, Korean, or Slovenian peoples than any other colony.