Aleria: Difference between revisions

Now cut off from the [[Unified Earth Government]], Aleria is a dry and desolate Third World colony ruled by [[courier guild]]s, groups of desperate and dangerous smugglers and [[Piracy|pirates]].{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}<ref name="cooperative">''Halo: Nightfall'', "[[Halo: Nightfall: Cooperative Protocol|Cooperative Protocol]]"</ref>

==History==

Aleria was colonized near the very end of a millennia-long period of low solar activity. For much of the colony's early years, Aleria was a thriving [[Outer Colony]] on the frontier of [[Unified Earth Government]] space, famed for its rich mineral resources and strong economy. However, shortly after colonists settled on Aleria, a combination of failed [[terraforming]] efforts and [[Elduros system|Elduros]]' resumed instability led to a change in the planet's climate as its temperature began to rapidly increased. The planet's weather system entered a dangerous feedback loop that caused massive droughts, quickly forcing Aleria to import most food supplies.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

Despite the drought and terraforming setbacks causing concern among Alerian agriculturalists, economic interests on Aleria shifted to the mining industry, renewing Aleria's economy as the colony soon became a trade powerhouse.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} In an effort to keep influence on Aleria in the hands of the workforce, the mining mogul [[Esil Boesis]] united Aleria's fragmented private mining groups and established [[Mols'Desias]], a mining union intended to ensure stability and bargaining power for its constituents.{{Ref/Reuse|trade}} However, as Aleria's climate became increasingly inhospitable,{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} rain became less frequent and political unrest and fear increased among Alerians. The government's officials attempted to quell both political unrest and soothe the fears of Alerian citizens.{{Ref/Reuse|trade}}

Governmental mismanagement on Aleria prompted a near-continuous state of emergency by Alerian colonial administrators. As crackdowns and other efforts to enforce order only worsened the tensions between the Alerian people and the government, aggressive anti-centralization forces began to gain power in key locations across Aleria.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Those in power were quick to purchase the economically viable land that remained on Aleria.{{Ref/Reuse|travelers}}

Beginning in [[2453]],{{Ref/Reuse|trade}} a drought that has lasted for over a century devastated Aleria. The drought caused many of the planet's residents to become smugglers to allow them to earn money and to counter food shortages.<ref>''Halo: Nightfall'', Chapter 3</ref> The drought, referred to as "The [[Devil's Kiss]]", led to Alerian government officials attempting to secure support from the Unified Earth Government and the [[Inner Colonies]], but to no avail. Some Alerians faulted the local government for the lack of support, with [[Hicham Upadte]] claiming that the Alerian government was attempting to keep the power to themselves without asking the UEG for support. However, only a minority of Alerians agreed with Upadte, while most blamed the Unified Earth Government for the planet's troubles as they believed the Inner Colonies were only concerned with their own welfare.{{Ref/Reuse|trade}}

By [[2553]], Aleria's population had been cut to half of that of the previous century.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Many Alerians soon turned to crime and "[[courier guild]]s" flourished across the colony, reaping the benefits of smuggling and [[piracy]]. The widespread depression on Aleria became so saturated that local authorities became complicit in crimes.{{Ref/Reuse|trade}} The newly established courier guilds fought to oppose the might of Mols'Desias, justifying their violence on behalf of the Alerian population.<ref name="sas13">''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]'', Chapter 13</ref> The crisis on Aleria continued to escalate when [[Tarek Boesis]], head of Mols'Desias and grandson of Esil Boesis, was murdered by smugglers of the [[Blackdust]] courier guild. Already devastated by the transition of much of its labor force to crime, Mols'Desias soon collapsed in [[2554]],{{Ref/Reuse|trade}} causing many Alerians to face substantial debt and unemployment.<ref name="arris">Halo Waypoint: [https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/arris ''Arris Le'']</ref><ref name="wari">Halo Waypoint: [https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/haisal ''Haisal Wari'']</ref> The remnants of Mols'Desias became the foundation for organized smuggling activities,{{Ref/Reuse|trade}} as the courier guilds grew and split, and turn their attention to consolidating power.{{Ref/Reuse|sas13}} The various courier guilds maintain a large fleet of [[slipspace]]-capable transports and provide Alerians with a source of income and allow them to feed their families, although they are considered to be nothing more than mere bandits and smugglers by the [[United Nations Space Command]]. Aleria remains beyond the Unified Earth Government's control and assistance.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

{{Quote|They claim to call for help, but in reality they do nothing! They want us to think that they aren't being listened to, but they just want to keep all the power and influence to themselves. They sit on their hands while we lie in our graves!|Hicham Upadte, on the Alerian government{{Ref/Reuse|trade}}}}

Aleria was founded as an [[Outer Colony]] of the [[Unified Earth Government]], administrated by the [[Colonial Administration Authority]]. However, with the start of the [[Human-Covenant War]], Aleria was abandoned by the Unified Earth Government and [[Inner Colonies]], as a coldly rational cost-benefit analysis proved that Aleria was not worth supporting. Even after the war, Aleria remains beyond the control and assistance of the Unified Earth Government.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

The courier guilds that control Aleria often extract payments from Alerians and expect fees from the earnings of each Alerian under their influence. The guilds often struggle among each other for control over Aleria, exchanging rule of the colony on a near-monthly basis.{{Ref/Reuse|sas7}} The colony's economic depression became so saturated that the local authorities have become complicit in supporting the crimes of the courier guilds.{{Ref/Reuse|trade}}

{{Quote|On Aleria, a day of smuggling is equivalent to a month of mining.|NOX{{Ref/Reuse|trade}}}}

Following the initial colonization of Aleria, the colony was home to a nascent agricultural industry.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} However, as climate change from the instability of [[Elduros system|Elduros]] resulted in widespread droughts across Aleria, agricultural sectors failed and most food stuffs were imported to Aleria.{{Ref/Reuse|trade}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} However, economic prospects on Aleria quickly shifted to mining the rich ore deposits on the planet. With an expansion of new employment opportunities and economic activity, Aleria had a robust economy fueled by a mining industry.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

While Aleria remains unconnected to any trade route of the Unified Earth Government, the [[Via Casilina Trade Route]] is a notable trade route that was arisen, connecting Aleria to independent worlds in the [[Orso system|Orso]], [[Cordoba system|Cordoba]], [[Shaps system|Shaps]], and [[Sverdlovsk system|Sverdlovsk systems]].<ref name="itf">"[[Into the Fire]]" — ''[[Halo: Fractures]]'', p. 239 (Google Play edition)</ref>

[[File:Nightfall - Alerian smugglers.png|thumb|250px|Smugglers amongst the deserts of Aleria]]

{{Quote|Aleria wasn't exactly a hotbed of promise and hope.|The thoughts of Lessa{{Ref/Reuse|sas7}}}}

Considered a "Third World" colony,{{Ref/Reuse|cooperative}} the Alerian standard of living has severely dropped and the vast majority of the population live in extreme poverty. By [[2553]], the population had been half of what it was the previous century and the median lifespan on Aleria was only 45 years of age.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} The population of Aleria is centered around markets and towns,{{Ref/Reuse|sas13}} with the wealthy owning most land,{{Ref/Reuse|travelers}} while the poor live in mining slums, bazaars, or tent cities.{{Ref/Reuse|sas1}}{{Ref/Reuse|sas7}} Tired of colonial unrest and hostile living conditions, Aleria's youth often turned to petty crime and violence, though their actions were often dominated by the [[courier guild]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|sas7}} As most Alerians are unable to afford modern spacecraft, they often use outdated vessels such as {{Class|Bactrian|freighter}}s for interplanetary transport.{{Ref/Reuse|cooperative}}<ref>Halo Waypoint: [https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/colonial-tug ''Colonial Tug'']</ref> Pregnancy among the youth of Aleria is quite common, and many of these young parents fall ill or disappear in the colony's dusty mines. The quality of education was also quite low on Aleria, particularly among the poor.{{Ref/Reuse|sas7}}

==List of appearances==

==Sources==

{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Aleria locations| ]]

[[Category:Planets]]

[[Category:Human colonies]]