Aleria

Aleria, also known as Elduros II, is a human Outer Colony with a large mining industry and is the second planet in orbit in the Elduros system. Considered a "Third World" colony, Aleria has suffered a drought that has lasted for over a century. Because of the colony's plight, the mean age of Aleria's inhabitants is only 45 years. As most Alerians are unable to afford modern spacecraft, they often use outdated vessels such as Bactrian-class freighters for interplanetary transport.

History

Early history

Aleria was colonized near the very end of a millennia-long period of low solar activity. Aleria served as a thriving frontier Outer Colony that was renowned for its rich mineral resources and strong economy. Shortly after colonists settled on Aleria, the Unified Earth Government's terraforming efforts and Elduros' recommenced instability led to a change in the planet's climate as its temperature increased.

While agriculturists became concerned, the increasing interest in the planet's rich mineral deposits resulted in an influx of employment opportunities. As Aleria's mining industry expanded, Esil Boesis established mining union Mols'Desias to keep influence in the hands of the planet's work force. The union was founded to ensure stability and bargaining power for its members, while it unified over a dozen of Aleria's formerly fragmented private mining groups. Aleria provided raw materials mined from the planet to fuel the UEG's colonial expansion in exchange for food, electronics, and spacecraft. However, as Aleria's climate continued to change, rain became less frequent and political unrest and fear increased among Alerians. The government's officials attempted to quell the citizens' worries. As crackdowns only worsened the tensions between Alerians and the government, anti-centralization forces began to gain power in key locations.

Economic collapse

Beginning in 2453, a drought lasting a century devastated the planet. The drought caused many of the planet's colonists to become smugglers to allow them to earn money and to counter food shortages. The drought, referred to as "The Devil's Kiss", led to Alerian government officials attempting to secure support from the Unified Earth Government, but to no avail. Some Alerians, notably Hicham Upadte, began to rebel against the government, claiming that the Alerian government was attempting to keep the power to themselves without asking the UEG for support. A minority of Alerians agreed with Upadte, while most blamed the UEG for the planet's troubles. As the drought continued for decades, Alerian lakes and rivers began to recede and the planet's agricultural employment opportunities increasingly declined. Soon, seventy percent of Alerian wages remained undeclared. When the Covenant began attacking human colonies in 2525, the Unified Earth Government held a vote to halt trade with the planet; the vote passed unanimously as the Inner Colonies vowed to halt trading with Aleria. The planet remained outside of UEG control and assistance following the Covenant War after trade had been halted twenty-seven years earlier by a severe, yet rational, cost-benefit analysis.

By 2553, Aleria's population had been cut to half of that of the previous century. The youth of Aleria became tired of the planet's poor living conditions and begun to take violent action to create change. Tarek Boesis, head of Mols'Desias and grandson of Esil Boesis, was murdered by courier gang Blackdust smugglers. The gang believed that the mining union monopolized the job market and forced workers to work unreasonable hours, as the union allegedly took advantage of Aleria's failing economy and limited job market. Adding to these difficulties was the collapse of the Alerian mining union Mols'Desias in 2554, causing many colonists to face substantial debt and unemployment. The remnants of Mols'Desias became the foundation for organized smuggling activities, such as the "courier guild" smugglers Arris Le and Haisal Wari belonged to, though Aleria's mining industry continues. 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 UNSC.

Known residents

• Arris Le
• Bobeya Lota
• Esil Boesis
• Haisal Wari
• Hicham Upadte
• Indrid Lota
• Lessa
• Niko
• Silas Lota
• Tarek Boesis

Trivia

The colony is likely named after the French town of the same name.

List of appearances

• Halo: Nightfall (First appearance)
• Halo: Fractures
  • Into the Fire (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Smoke and Shadow (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Renegades (Mentioned only)