This article is a great location for a troubleshooter adventure ( For further inspiration watch the movie Outland, staring Sean Connery). My thanks to Clay for granting permission for me to host it on my web site. - Kevin Clark - Mar. 5th, 1998.

Table of Contents:

1. System Data
2. First Outpost
3. Second Outpost
4. Davout ( Ville de Glace)
5. Shungen
6. Important Non-Player Characters on Davout

SYSTEM DATA

Orbit (au)  Core   Diam (km)  Density  Mass   Gravity  Mol. Wt. Ret.
1: 0.40     Rocky   14,000    1.3      1.70   1.256      4 (massive)
2: 0.80     Icy      2,000    0.6      0.002  0.121    299 (vacuum)
3: 1.04     Rocky    5,000    1.2      0.071  0.431     38 (standard)
4: 1.66     Icy     11,000    0.1      0.063  0.273     94 (very thin)
5: 3.16     Icy      4,000    0.1      0.003  0.099    299 (vacuum)
6: 4.43     Icy      6,000    0.3      0.030  0.258    105 (very thin)

Pressure  World Type   Water         Oxygen  Temperature
1: 1227   Gas giant     1% crystals  None    None
2:  118   Ice ball     50% ice       None    Cold-Vcold		
3:  421   Failed core  40% sheets    None    Cold-Vcold
4:  267   Ice ball     40% ice       None    Cold-Vcold
5:   96   Ice ball     50% ice       None    Vcold
6:  252   Ice ball     20% ice       None    Vcold

FIRST OUTPOST

As France began its colonization efforts in the late 22nd century, French policy was undecided as to which direction through space French efforts should go.  Initial outposts were formed on Bessieres and Augereau as French explorers moved toward Beta Canum Venaticorum.  Shakeups in the organization of French exploration efforts resulted in the formation of an outpost at Serurier in 2159.  Without an established area available to develop and expand, French explorers travelled extensively along what are now the three main arms.

The formation of an outpost at DM -26 12026 in 2175 was the event that turned France irrevocably toward its present arm.  Manchuria had formed an outpost at DM -26 12026 in 2172, and Argentina completed one there shortly after France arrived.  French politicians were used to having their interstellar positions unchallenged, but when the Argentinian and Manchurian outposts boycotted French products, citing unfair trade practices, the French outpost was caught out on a limb.  For lack of generated revenues, the outpost almost shut down.

Then, in 2179, the French minister of space activities, Pierre Davout, came up with a solution to the problem.  In order to prevent further occurrences of this nature, Davout said that France needed to make itself economically indispensable to other nations' colonies and outposts.  As an example, he noted the almost complete lack of a refueling station in the d'Artagnon area of the arm, which was heavily travelled by survey vessels of many nations.

Davout's plan was simple.  An outpost would be placed on an icy planet in the DM -44 11909 system.  Ice miners would extract ice from the ground.  It would be lifted into orbit by an interface vehicle and processed into fuel in orbit.  Then the outpost could reap the profits.

Davout's decision to place the outpost on a planet startled many observers.  His first choice was to place an orbital mining station near either the system's Oort Cloud or the rings of DM -44 11909 I (Vieuxmonde), DM -44 11909's gas midget.  Neither option was available, however; DM -44 11909's Oort Cloud was virtually nonexistent, and Vieuxmonde's ring system was composed primarily of rock.

Davout picked the fourth planet for the outpost's location.  Although the gravity there was slightly higher than the gravities of some other suitable worlds in the system, Davout felt that a near-normal gravity would simplify matters for the outpost personnel.  A site near the equator was selected for the outpost.

Another controversial decision was Davout's idea that all mining operations at the outpost take place underground.  Although mining through rock to access the ice would be time-consuming, Davout said that miners from Earth with little experience in spacesuit operation could operate more efficiently in a pressurized mine.

So simple was the plan, in fact, that it was implemented almost immediately.  An orbital terminal was in place by 2182, and construction of the outpost was completed in late 2183.  As the French planners were selecting a name for the outpost, Davout was tragically killed in an accident.  In honor of its creator, the new outpost's government selected the name "Davout" for the outpost, planet, and system.

The outpost provided inexpensive fuel to survey vessels and, later, to colonizer vessels which passed through the system.  The outpost at d'Artagnon provided an equally valuable port-of-call for supply replenishment.  By 2200, however, France had decided that its path lay on the French Arm and suspended further development on what later became the Chinese Arm.

SECOND OUTPOST

In 2208, however, the situation changed.  The Japanese announced their intention to form a colony on Beta Hydri.  The effort was to be in one massive push, and logistics would be strained to the limit.  A deal for fuel and supplies had been cut with America, but France, for its own reasons, would not sell Davout fuel to Japan for discounted rates.  Japan was in a quandary.

A wild card appeared, however.  Hikaru Shungen, chairman of the Shungen Mercantiles Group, offered to construct a Japanese fueling base on Davout if provided with government funding.  The government agreed, and by 2210, Shungen had constructed an ice mining outpost, another orbital terminal, and a catapult to launch ice into orbit.

Shungen's business nearly strangled the French outpost.  Just as it seemed the French were going to shut down, disaster struck.  A cave-in at the Shungen mine killed more than 300 miners and wrecked the mine facilities.  The situation was ironic; the French mine was still open, but the Japanese still had the catapult.  Both outposts faced financial ruin.  In a hastily prepared agreement, the French and Japanese decided to pool their resources.  The French would ship ice to the Japanese, who would fire it into orbit.  Profits generated would be shared by the outposts.  The two outposts began a symbiotic relationship.

Shungen has since evolved into a scientific outpost for the study of Davout, a red M5 V dwarf.  Massive arrays of radio and optical telescopes have been placed almost 30 kilometers northwest of Shungen.  The telescopes are manned by relays of Japanese and French astronomers.

The full linkup of the two outposts was realized in 2262, with the completion of the maglev line between Shungen and Vile de Glace.  Profits rose enough that both outposts are virtually economically independent of their mother countries.  Interface transport is available from both outposts to the orbital terminal ( the Japanese one; the French terminal was scrapped in 2248).

DAVOUT ( VILLE DE GLACE)

The following is an excerpt from "All You Need to Know About Davout," printed by Kirota Press of Shungen (2295).

Having been acquainted with the history of Davout, the reader should appreciate the difficulty which accompanies life on the Frontier, especially on an airless world like Davout.  Colonial construction is typically heavy since the worlds of the Frontier are demanding on equipment and personnel.  Every attempt is made to smooth out the rough edges and make life more comfortable for colonists.  Ville de Glace typifies this concept.

The outpost is completely subterranean.  It consists of five levels and a mine complex.  Each level has its own personality and function.

Level One: Level One is the outpost's housing level.  Spacious but compact dwellings for families are spread out over the outer periphery of this level; barracks for ice miners make up the inner part of the level.  While this arrangement has caused problems in the past, it has prevented a daily stampede of miners through the residential areas.  The level is split into three sublevels for maximum use of space; different sublevels may be accessed through use of the central shaft elevators or strategically placed ladders which may be found near the edges of the level.

Level Two: This level houses the outpost's hospital and administration.  The hospital is a newly refurbished, 50-bed medical center which has all the latest medical equipment.  The staff members are professionally trained to deal with any emergency that might crop up.  The administration area houses the outpost's governor and administration, providing both offices and housing for the outpost's government.  A squad of French Colonial Militia lives near the central shaft, partly to protect the governor and partly to keep the miners in check.  Firearms, incidentally, are forbidden in Ville de Glace.

Level Three: The third level is the recreational level.  Many shops and restaurants may be found here, but the main attraction is the holoceiling.  Massive holographic generators create an artificial skyscape so realistic that one can hardly tell the difference between the ceiling and the real thing.  A number of tennis courts are here also.  The few bars which exist here are heavily policed, and there are few fights between miners.

Level Four: Level Four houses the business district and public schools.  Most private ventures in Ville de Glace are run from here, including a private mining venture called Duchamps et Grisemont.  Duchamps leases one of the outpost's mine shafts and ships ice on the Japanese catapult.  The other businesses include several banks and investment agencies. The public school teaches youngsters from age four to age 18.  A staff of several teachers runs the school year-round, since there isn't a summer to enjoy.

Level Five: The fifth level is the largest in the outpost.  The outpost's massive storage facilities are located here.  The storage areas contain enough food to sustain the outpost for six months, an unassembled hydroponics farm, and all types of electronic and mechanical equipment.  The maglev station has loading equipment for loading the 40-ton (metric) ice blocks which are brought up from below into the train's storage cars.  A number of spare passenger cars and spacesuits are kept in the station in the event of a disaster which forces evacuation.

The mine area is a stark contrast to the warm, brightly lit levels above.  Lights and anticollision beacons are placed only in heavily travelled areas.  The entire mine is pressurized, but heating is not provided, since the ice would melt.  The miners wear distinctively colored environment suits which protect them from the cold.  The central chamber serves as a marshalling point for ice brought up from the mines.  The mine shafts extend outward for approximately two kilometers before descending.  Ice and miners both use modified hovercraft to move from the central chamber out to the shafts.

The outpost receives its power from a 20-megawatt fission reactor which sits directly above the outpost.  The reactor is topped by a communications center which relays communications to the orbiting communications satellites.  Traveling topside is discouraged by the natives.

SHUNGEN

The principal outpost on Davout is the Japanese catapult station, Shungen Constructed by the Shungen Mercantiles Group between 2209 and 2211, the station is state-of-the-art.  The outpost design is based closely on that of the American outpost at Clarkesstar.

The outpost is half subterranean and half surfaced.  The surfaced section is composed of the three domes which are the main feature of the outpost.  The subterranean section is made up of four separate levels.

Dome One: Dome One is the main dome of the outpost, 200 meters across and with a radius of 150 meters.  The dome is made up of reinforced concrete with sandwiched layers of kevmylar.  Automated self-sealing units crawl over the opaque surfaces of the dome repairing the occasional meteor impact.  The upper third of the dome is transparent plexiglass, which admits sunlight.  Massive kliegflour lights ring the edge of the window, providing the equivalent of Terran daylight to the inside of the dome.  The areas around the central shaft are planted with grass and some small trees and are a favorite among the outpost's citizens.

Dome Two: The second dome is the maglev dome.  The interoutpost maglev line ends here.  A loading dock with cranes moves the massive ice blocks to ATVs from the maglev cars, and a pressurized ready room is provided for the dock workers.  This dome is not pressurized.

Dome Three: This is the catapult dome.  Work areas are provided for the preparation of ice for the catapult.  Although the dome is pressurized, it is not heated (it is, in fact, refrigerated during the local afternoon) since heating would melt the ice.

Level One: Level One includes the outpost's administration and business district.  The Shungen Mercantiles Group representative has his offices here, as does the station's governor.  The two men are on an equal level, but the SMG rep decides on major station actions, while the governor is responsible for upholding and creating station laws.  The business district includes the SMG corporate offices and several banks.

Level Two: The second level is the housing level.  Housing is more spacious than at Ville de Glace but is similar in function.  Decor is modeled after the traditional Japanese style.  Synthetic floors are overlaid in wood; rice paper walls are used in many residences; and Japanese art may be found everywhere, including in the miners' living areas.  Desk-mounted computers may be found in most residences.

Level Three: Level Three is the outpost's medical and recreational level.  The medical facilities are advanced and include 60 beds and the latest in American automeds.  The staff is trained by SMG and is competent in its duties.  The recreational areas include fencing boxes, martial arts arenas, and racquetball courts with holographic audiences.

Level Four: Level Four houses the outpost's shopping district and storage areas.  The shopping district contains a wide variety of stores and restaurants, including a critically acclaimed French restaurant.  The storage areas contain enough essential material to keep the outpost running for six months.  Almost any type of necessary goods may be found here, including a functioning but unused hydroponic tank, computers, limited numbers and types of firearms, and even some Pentapod equipment.

Reactor Facility: Below Level Four lies the outpost's reactor facility.  A 50-megawatt MHD Turbine supplies power for the outpost, the catapult, and the maglev line.  A modern air-scrubbing plant keeps the outpost's air fresh, while a small electrolytic unit liberates oxygen gas from small ice deposits located under the outpost.

Mine Remains: Underneath the reactor lie the remains of the mine.  On Feb. 8, 2212, SMG miners prepared to blast a particularly large ice chunk into manageable pieces.  Unfortunately, a detailed geological study of the site was never made; if it had been, the miners would have known that the ice they were mining was the keystone for the entire site.  They detonated their charges, and what followed was perhaps the most horrific mining accident in history.

The entire structure of ice above collapsed when its support was removed.  The immediate area around the outpost subsided 15 meters, crushing the miners.  Then the whole mass fell another 10 meters, completely filling in the lower level.  A total of 292 miners lost their lives in this horrible accident.  Many outpost facilities were damaged, but only minor injuries were inflicted on the people in the outpost.  An extensive survey conducted by Japanese geologists revealed that the site was still unstable.  All mining was to be banned immediately.

IMPORTANT NON-PLAYER CHARACTERS ON DAVOUT

The following lists important non-player characters.

Governor Hideki Tokugawa

Tokugawa is the Japanese governor on Davout.  He is responsible for law enforcement in Shungen and ensuring that relations with the French at Ville de Grace remain cordial.  Tokugawa graduated with honors from the University of Kyoto in 2268 and held several staff positions before being placed in charge of the Davout outpost.  He is very competent and despises incompetency.  He and the SMG executive, Yasunari Hiroshige, are constantly at each other's throats.

Tokugawa is 55 years old, stands 184 centimeters in height, and weighs 65 kilograms.  His build is thin but muscular, and his face is hard-set but friendly.  He does not stand on his position but walks freely among his constituents without the protection of a bodyguard.  By the way, he is very skilled with the katana ( ancient Japanese warrior's sword) and will use it if necessary.  He has a Melee skill of seven.

NPC Motivation Results: Heart 8 ( strong commitment to his constituents), Heart Jack ( Tokugawa is known for his wisdom, acquired over his many jobs).

Administrator Yasunari Hiroshige

Hiroshige is the Shungen Mercantiles Group executive on Davout.  He is responsible for the smooth operation of the outpost's catapult and maglev line.  The only reason that everything does run smoothly is that Hiroshige has an excellent staff which keeps him out of trouble.  Hiroshige, or "Yas" as the catapult personnel call him, hasn't the slightest idea about how to run a multibillion-yen outpost.  Seemingly unaware that the outpost was running at optimum efficiency before he arrived, Yas decided to impress the company officials by speeding up ice production.  The net result was a reduction in safety at the catapult site.  When an ice block slipped out of its launch cradle and crushed a particularly vital piece of equipment, which forced the shutdown of the catapult for a month, Yas managed to hush up the whole affair.  His other mistakes, foulups, and gaffes are too numerous to mention.

Hiroshige is 47 years old, stands 191 centimeters in height, and weighs 112 kilograms.  He has a large (almost obese) build and a plain face with a large mustache.  He is never seen without his bodyguard, Jomtp, a large, muscular ape of a man. Hiroshige has a Bureaucracy skill of five.

NPC Motivation Results: Club Queen ( very stubborn!), Spade 7 ( social climber).

- Clay Johanson