Starting on SolarisStarting on SolarisIn the world of Solaris, the true goal of is to gain wealth
and reputation among its population. As it is such a vague goal,
there are many ways in which to accomplish it. With the right
skills you may never even have to put your life at risk to win
riches and glory, but then again no one is truly safe in a world
where conspiracy is the rule and death is, quite literally, a
game.
However, there are always other places where you can go in
debt, most notably, within the vast gambling network that has
always been a part of the games. In order to keep yourself from
going broke it is often best to get a job as one of the
following:
MechWarrior - One of the warriors of Solaris
Tech - Those that repair and salvage
Manager - Managing a stable, co-op or business
Other - Some of the shadier sides of Solaris
A MechWarrior has two options in Solaris City: he or she can
go freelance or join a stable. By far the easiest option is to
join a stable, though this considerably limits a MechWarriors's independence and freedom to accept matches.
Freelancing is rather impossible for a new MechWarrior due to
the simple fact that new visitors generally do not have Mechs.
This option is there, however, for those that become wealthy and
reputable enough to support themselves without help from a stable
or co-op.
Neither course in entirely risk-free, but despite the odds
against a new MechWarrior making a name on Solaris, eager young
warriors continue to flock there, hoping to find the limelight
and stand proudly with the elite at Valhalla or Hr 66.
Most 'Mech pilots on Solaris require the backing of a patron,
usually the head of an established Mech stable and should be used
to seek out employment. Once a potential employer has been sought
out, he or she should be contacted and a contract should be
negotiated.
Just as MechWarriors are constantly taking their machines into
battle, techs constantly work in the background to repair and
keep up these mammoth machines so that the games can go on.
Although lacking the luster of a MechWarriors's fame and fortune,
these jobs are necessary and fundamental to the survival of
Solaris.
All of the many businesses, co-ops, and stables all are
managed by one or more persons, who may or may not necessarily be
the owners of those establishments. When you have enough money
and a good base of support, MechWarriors have been known to buy
into one of these reputable businesses. Having stock in a
business allows them to own a small part of that business, which,
when it makes money, will return to them a share of the profit.
Having enough shares of a business to control a majority of
votes is considered ownership of a business and that one person
may make all the decisions that concern it. Otherwise the
shareholders meet to discuss action before it is taken by the
appointed CEO of the business.
Stock has a value all its own and extremely variable from day
to day, depending on the demand and supply of it, which is
usually proportional to the success of the business. Certain
shady reason exist for the opposite to be true however.
During peoples' stay on Solaris, they will no doubt invent
numerous more ways to earn a profit. Buying and selling goods,
services is quite legal here. However, for those that would
venture outside the legal bounds of this profiting arena, higher
profits await, if they dare to test their skill with the
authorities that comb endlessly for black-marketers and ruthless
assassins, yakuza and saboteurs.
The games in Solaris are divided into weight classes for ease
of setting up relatively fair fights. These classes are:
1 - Exoskeleton
2 - Light
3 - Medium
4 - Heavy
5 - Assault
6 - Unlimited
Past Champions of Solaris
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Any of the champions with the ~ symbol before their names are considered to be among the legends of the Solaris champions.
As with any language, new words and new meanings for old words
develop in response to current events and technology. The
MechWarrior games have spawned many slang expressions peculiar to
Solaris. Those considered "hip" and part of the
"in crowd" like to use the following phrases in their
almost-constant discussions of the latest, and upcoming, duels.
Arrowhead: Aerospace pilot
Blood pit: Small, undistinguished 'Mech arena,
usually outside of Solaris City.
Dead Zone: Anywhere where nothing is going on.
In reference to person, suggests supidity.
Divorce Court: The Federated Commonwealth. A
reference to the current state of relations between Houses
Steiner and Davion.
DOA: A clearly outmatched MechWarrior.
Farmer: One who pilots a 'Tractor' (see below).
Frakker: All-purpose epithet, along the lines of
"dipstick" and "lamebrain."
Fringer: Anyone from the outlands, i.e., not a
resident of the five major sectors.
Ghost: An undercover agent for a Successor
State, criminal cartel, or corporation.
Gremlin: A thug working for a crime syndicate.
Headhunter: Derogatory term for a MechWarrior
who seems to favor killing his opponents.
Hillies: Davionists from the Black Hills sector.
Hitman: A MechWarrior who enjoys injuring or
killing his opponents. After "Hitman" Hirsch, the first
major 'Mech champion.
Jack in the box: MechWarrior who favors jumping
from behind cover to fire down on his opponents.
Knievel: A reckless or glory-hungry MechWarrior
who takes unnecessary risks.
Mayflies: Young MechWarriors who advance too
quickly to high-level competition, only to be defeated and
forgotten.
Mechbunny: A somewhat derogatory term for fans
who enjoy associating with MechWarriors. Both male and female
Mechbunnies exist Also known as wannabes.
No-hitter: A dull 'Mech fight, particularly one
in which no weapon hits are scored.
Peeker: An individual who comes to watch the
'Mech games but does not bet.
Pinball Machine: A particularly flashy or
extensively modified BattleMech.
Pinball Wizard: A highly skilled 'Mech tech.
Also simply "Wizard."
Rackit: To overheat a 'Mech, specifically when
all the weapons are fired in an all-or-nothing shot at a quick
victory. Also, to push anything to its absolute limit.
Rats: The inhabitants of the slums of the Black
Hills and Cathay.
Romans: Silesians. A reference to the
Roman-inspired Steiner Stadium.
Sawbones: A cheap 'Mech repairman.
Scavs: Scrap merchants who deal in wrecked
BattleMechs.
Scrappers: Montenegrans. A reference to the
numerous pieces of wrecked buildings and scrap metal scattered
around the quarter.
Seatfiller: A low-class MechWarrior recruited at
the last minute to fill up a fight card.
Spinner: A flamboyant MechWarrior given to
fanciful moves and maneuvers; usually applied to light 'Mech
pilots.
Splitter: A MechWarrior who fights in the arenas
solely as a means of hooking up with a mercenary unit or finding
work elsewhere.
Timey: A MechWarrior past his prime. See
"Zombie."
Toilet Paper: Solaris scrip.
Tractor: A worthless or badly designed 'Mech
such as the CGR-1A1
Charger Tumor: An upper-class Solaran. In some
circles, a "healthy tumor" refers to a dead upper-class
Solaran.
Ugly: A vicious or particularly violent 'Mech
battle.
Vampire: A 'Mech broker.
Wizard: A particularly successful or talented
technician. See Pinball Wizard.
WrenchWarrior: Battlemech technician.
Zombie: A burned-out or washed-up MechWarrior
who continues to fight (perhaps hoping to be killed in the
arena). See "timey."
In 3057, as Marik and Liao forces invaded the Sarna March,
Katrina Steiner-Davion announced the formation of the new Lyran
Alliance, declared Lyran neutrality in the invasion, and called
for all Lyran military units to withdraw from Federated
Commonwealth possessions in the March. With this act, ownership
of Solaris VII transferred from the Federated Commonwealth to the
newly-christened Lyran Alliance.
Along the Lyran-Free Worlds border, however, many worlds
keenly miss the benefit of Prince Victor's military experience in
dealing with the newly aggressive Free Worlds League. They do not
trust Thomas Marik's promise not to expand his realm beyond its
Fourth Succession War borders, and they could easily go over to
the Archon Prince's side at the first sign of Marik aggression.
In the meantime, life on Solaris has not changed much. The famed 'Mech games have continued as if nothing has changed, with fights being scheduled without as much as a delay, as the planet transferred hands.
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