Important Worlds and Systems
Demon
The planet Demon in the system of the same name conjures
nightmares in virtually everyone's mind. It is here where the worst
of the worst are sent. Serial killers, cykoteks, leaders of terrorist
organizations, and a host of other undesirables make up its population.
Although it looks like a world with a fair amount of resources, the planet
itself makes is hell for people without any kind of survival equipment.
This is because of its weather cycle. The time it takes Demon to
revolve on its axis is equal to about 1.7 Earth years. During this
time, the part of the planet experiencing "high noon" time of day is blasted
with heat from Demon's red giant star. Temperatures average at about
46 degrees Celsius. The night part of the planet is in a deep freeze,
averaging about -40 degrees Celsius. The equatorial areas of the
planet are almost always uninhabitable, as are the polar regions.
The only semi-comfortable parts of the planet are the areas in the "dawn"
or "dusk" stages of day. This is where the prison ships drop off
the prisoners with no supplies. Although food and water are fairly
plentiful, the inhabitants can never settle in an area, but must keep moving
at a very steady pace to avoid the deadly weather conditions just at their
tails. Why all this instead of a simple death penalty? The
fraal government has opposed the League's efforts to institute a death
penalty, due to moral concerns. The human government soon opened
up the Demon colony, saying that it was a non-lethal punishment.
To justify this claim, the humans also instituted a measure so that the
planet couldn't be considered a variation of the death penalty: there
is a way off. All convicts have tracers implanted in their brains.
A convict who survives 10 rotations will be picked up and be freed.
No one has ever survived in the planet's 48 years of operation. The
fraal are currently trying to shut it down, however the humans are supported
by the mechalus, and (quietly) the t'sa. Rating: G2, R1, A2,
P3, H1-3.
Zenshoba IV
Home of the zaishan, the world Zenshoba IV is now
a desolate place. Before the atomic holocaust marking the end of
the Zaishan War, the planet was a standard terran world, although only
about 40% of the surface was covered in water. Now, much of the landscape
is nothing but blasted rock, with nuclear hot-spots where nothing can survive
due to the extreme radiation. A few zaishan survived the nuclear
bombardment, however they live not like their ancestors, but rather at
about PL0-3. Small agricultural tribes dot some areas of the planet's
surface, trying desparately to grow enough food to survive. Spy satellites
in orbit have monitored the development of their new culture and its seems
that they have abandoned their old genocidal ways. At any rate, the
League has placed numerous defense sats all around the planet to keep away
smugglers, slavers, and any others who would do the new zaishan culture
harm. Rating: G2, R1-3, A2, P3, H2.
The Armory System
A yellow star at its center on the outskirts of League
space, the Armory system has become a miner's paradise. This system
contains two mineral rich asteroid belts, a super-dense super-terran world,
rich in many rare minerals, and a massive gas giant with 18 moons, 14 of
which are full of valuable resources. Dotting all of these planets
are mining outposts, storage depots, and landing pads. This system
has been primarily settled by humans, although a few t'sa can also be found
here. Interplanetary traffic is especially heavy around the gas giant,
as transports are constantly ferrying food and supplies to the miners.
None of the bodies in the system have a breathable atmosphere, and so e-suits
and work-armor are bought regularly by the miners here.
The Phantom System
This system is one everyone knows about but few have
seen. This is because the system is based around a small brown dwarf
star, easily overlooked. It is here that new military prototypes
are developed and tested. Massive League owned shipyards are in orbit
of both of the two planets in this system, and engineers are constantly
working on new ship designs, new hand-held weaponry, new armors, etc.
Because of this, this system is one of the most secure systems in the entire
League, containing a huge military presence. Hundreds of the League's
best engineers and scientists work here. Currently, projects are
underway concerning force field technology, faster warp drives, and a safe
way to convert matter to energy and vise-versa.
Pocos II
Probably the most well-known vacation spot in all
of League space, the majority of Pocos II's surface is a verdant terran
paradise. Resorts, health spas, beaches, and yes, amusement parks
are located all over the planet. Its ideal location is only about
a day's trip from the capital world of Cestus, and recieves millions of
visitors every week. Its popularity is due to the fact that its not
too expensive, and its a place your not afraid to take your kids.
No weapons are allowed anywhere on the surface, except small arms worn
by security guards. Rating: G2, R1, A2, P3, H2.
New Haven
The only planet orbiting this blue star, New Haven
was originally colonized as a standard colony world. However, it
is situated in a very good place, about equal distance from Earth, the
T'sa Cluster, and Cestus. As a result, many trade routes cross right
over it. This has made it become one of the largest trading centers
in known space. Exotic goods can be found here from all over the
League. Although the surface colony is frequented by traders, the
main area of commerce is the massive space station that orbits the planet,
BR-2 (called "the Bazaar" by most people). One of the largest orbitals
ever made, the Bazaar is usually filled with anywhere from 300,000-350,000
sentients at any one given time. Recently, independent kar'soran
traders have begun making cargo runs here. Although the docking fees
are quite outragous, the bargains one can pick up here will make up for
it. Rating: G2, R1, A2, P3, H2.
The Tan'Ivec System
One of the t'sa systems outside of their main cluster,
the Tan'Ivec system is not as impressive as one of the cluster systems.
Seven planets orbit an orange star, only a couple of planets having
a t'sa presence on them. Only two are of any great importance though.
The first, Tan'Ivec IV, belongs almost solely to the t'sa military.
Huge shipyards float in high orbit, and many system ships patrol the area.
It is from here that most of the t'sa force protecting Kurg comes for supplies
and repairs. Rating: G1, R1, A1, P2, H1. The other important
world is Tan'Ivec VIIh, the eighth moon of a large gas giant. It
is here that the t'sa first encountered the insectile race known as the
schreki (about 140 years before meeting the humans). Soon after the
t'sa had set up a colony here, a meteor struck the opposite side of the
planet. Without warning, hundreds of these bugs descended upon the
t'sa colony, killing almost everyone. The t'sa retaliated by leveling
the planet with orbital weapons, only to find the bugs weren't wiped out,
and returned to full strength within three months. The t'sa again
bombed the planet, and this time sent power-armored troops in to finish
the bugs off. Because of this bombardment, the planet's radiation
levels are quite high in some areas. Rating: G2, R2-3, A1,
P1, H2.
The Nibelheim System
Two years ago, this system was known only as 2908-C.
Today, the Nibelheim system is quite the hot spot, as this is where the
League's borders are closest to the kar'soran's, and hence where many kar'soran
come to trade. Only one colony is in this system, on Nibelheim I,
the other two planets having nothing to offer. The planet has a breathable
atmosphere, normal gravity, and small areas here and there where crops
can grow, but basically the planet is pretty boring. That is, it
was
pretty boring. The colony has become a huge center of
commerce. The League is currently implementing better security measures
in the system, such as more efficient customs officials, and installing
defense satellites. The original inhabitants of the Nibelheim colony
are quite pleased with the development for the most part. Granted,
things are a bit noisier, and there're a lot more people milling about,
but generally the change is beneficial. The kar'soran aren't trouble
makers, and the homesteaders' property values have gone through the roof.
All manner of exotic goods can be bought here, as long as a person's got
the money. Ratings: G2, R1, A2, P3, H2.
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