Editing Devil's Kiss

{{Status|Canon}}

[[File:Nightfall - Aleria.jpg|thumb|300px|The surface of Aleria dried from the drought.]]

The '''Devil's Kiss''' is the name of the drought on the [[human]] [[Outer Colony]] of [[Aleria]] that has lasted for over a hundred years.<ref name="trade">'''[[Halo: Nightfall]]''', ''[[Halo: Nightfall: ONI: Trade Barriers|ONI: Trade Barriers]]''</ref> The drought devastated the planet and its economy and halved its population within a century.<ref name="wp-aleria">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/aleria '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Aleria'']</ref> The drought caused many of the planet's colonists to become smugglers to allow them to earn money and to counter food shortages.<ref name="nf3">'''Halo: Nightfall''', ''Chapter 3''</ref>

Shortly after Aleria was first colonized, the planet's sun [[Elduros system|Elduros]] had just exited a millennia-long period of low solar activity. The [[Unified Earth Government]]'s [[terraforming]] efforts and Elduros' recommenced instability led to a change in the Alerian climate.{{Ref/Reuse|wp-aleria}} Signs of the drought occurred years before it begun. As temperature increased and rainfall became less frequent, some Alerians became worried and political unrest grew among the colony's population. While the agriculturists became concerned, the mining economy on Aleria had just boomed, leading to an influx of employment opportunities. Beginning in [[2453]],{{Ref/Reuse|trade}} the drought led to the deaths of many Alerians and caused food shortages.{{Ref/Reuse|nf3}} The Alerian government turned to the Unified Earth Government for support, but to no avail. As the drought continued for decades, the lakes and rivers on Aleria began to recede and the planet's agricultural employment opportunities increasingly declined.{{Ref/Reuse|trade}}

Alerians were soon forced to crime—largely as smugglers in [[courier guild]]s—in order to support themselves, including the planet's youth. [[Hicham Upadte]] blamed the Alerian government for not sufficiently asking the UEG for aid during the drought, while most Alerians blamed the UEG. The drought continued as of [[2556]], and ultimately led to the collapse of mining union [[Mols'Desias]].{{Ref/Reuse|trade}}<ref name="canonfodder">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-second-to-none '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Second to None'']</ref>

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