In this contact binary system, Khugan lies close enough to the red dwarves
that the combined heat output of the two is enough to keep the world from
freezing, but it isn't anything to write home about. The planet is tectonically
active enough to keep a magnetic field going and thus protect its fragile
atmosphere. Life on land is limited to lichens and moss. Life in the small seas
hasn't advanced past corals and plankton.
The reason this system has any activity at all is due to the extensive mining
opportunities available in the system's two asteroid belts. The system lay
unclaimed for centuries after the fall of the First Imperium. It served
primarily as a wilderness refueling stop for corsairs. It took until the early
800s for belters to rediscover the untapped deposits in the asteroid belts. But
raiders and a dearth of markets made working here a risky bet at best.
Finally, with the rise of the Izidou League just over the sector border
providing markets, the belters organized themselves. Spotting an opportunity,
the Gangzueghnguen moved in and offered to provide protection for a
price. While critics claim that this is merely an extortion racket, the locals
consider the price to be reasonable and are willing to pay. To their credit, the
Gangzueghnguen have lived up to their end of the deal. To this date,
they have kept out other corsair bands and even held the 17th Disjuncture
at bay. -by DED
While Rhodes revolves around a yellow-white giant, it is so far out that
almost all of its atmosphere has frozen out on the surface. There are no native
lifeforms.
The world was settled during the First Imperium as a fuel stop for ships heading
coreward. A naval base was established to secure the route. Development
proceeded slowly once enough capital was accrued to properly assay the system's
natural resources. But once the Ziru Sirka went into decline, the world became a
haven for refugees retreating from the ascending vargr presence on the trailing
side of Windhorn. Once the Rule of Man began, the refugee population rapidly
declined as people sought out greener worlds.
The Long Night freed Rhodes from Vilani rule as well as its old monniker:
Gukarkigesgalaam. Commodore Nadjia Rhodes, a Solomani-appointed military
governor appointed by the Ramshackle Empire, declared the world hers and used
the might of the naval base to back up her claim. Rhodes proved to be a shrewd
and fair ruler. She took the "benevolent dictator" route and instilled a code
of conduct for her descendents and successors, whereupon violating the
terms of the contract with the people of Rhodes—who had no say in what
went into the document—were grounds for rebellion. Surprisingly, the
contract has been steadfastedly adhered to.
The Third Imperium offered membership, but instead, Rhodes opted for client
state status. It was an arrangement that worked well for the world: an annual
stipend minus Imperial indoctrination. During border wars, the world proved its
worth in valuable intel. When Lucan demanded Imperial worlds send him their
warships, Rhodes could legally ignore him. This proved fortuitous when the vargr
incursions began along the Imperium's coreward border.
Rhodes now strictly deals with the Vilani, sending them intel on the Ngath
Confederation and the 17th Disjuncture. Rhodes has fought off several of the
latter's invasion attempts. Tensions are high as all of Rhodes' trailing
neighbors have fallen to the Disjuncture's advances. Many feel that it is only
a matter of time before the Disjuncture focuses its efforts on capturing the
system and its naval base. -by DED
Paval is a harsh and unforgiving desert planet. Its climate is characterized by
scorching heat during the day that barely abates at night. The planet's
landscape is dominated by vast stretches of mountains, rocky terrain, and vast
oceans of sand. In the polar latitudes, temperatures are far more forgiving, and
local fauna and flora stake their claim there around the occasional oasis.
Paval's proximity to its parent star means a year 52 standard days long,
resulting in brief seasons of only a dozen days. Summers scorch the planet;
winters provide bone-chilling conditions. The extremes are a challenge to man
and machine.
Paval's economy revolves around the exploitation of its natural resources,
focusing on the extraction and processing of valuable minerals found beneath its
unforgiving surface. The most valuable, a rare crystalline mineral called
pavaltium, a silicate containing large nodules of gallium arsenide.
Long neglected by the Vilani, an entrepreneurial Solomani saw unusual
discrepancies in the survey report and followed up with onsite analysis,
discovering the mineral from which the world's name has been derived. Taking
advantage of the chaotic conditions during the early days of the Second
Imperium, the world was purchased by StellarSun Minerals, who own it to the
present day.
StellarSun Minerals conducts extensive mining operations through the use of both
Human and automated workers. It's dangerous and grueling work due to the
extreme climate and treacherous terrain. Once extracted, pavaltium is sent
processing facilities where it is refined and used in the production of advanced
solar cells and electronics. The solar cells are known for their unparalleled
efficiency and durability, making them highly sought after across the Imperium.
The transportation of processed pavaltium was deemed by the Third Imperium to be
of economic importance. It put the world onto the major trade route running
through the subsector. Given Paval's location so far coreward, maintaining the
transportation route to the rest of the sector was deemed important enough to
warrant the construction of an Imperial Naval base in the system. A fleet of
cargo ships is almost always present, which are heavily guarded due to the high
value of their cargo.
StellarSun Minerals invested in the development and maintenance of Paval's
limited infrastructure: worker settlements, off-world transportation ports, and
facilities to support the mining and processing operations. However, these
settlements are often austere and basic, designed primarily for functionality
and worker accommodation rather than luxury. Paval's 700 inhabitants are
employees of StellarSun Minerals, whether involved in mining operations or
providing support for their staff. People are lured by the promise of high wages
but must endure the grueling conditions of the planet. Employee rights and
working conditions are often a point of contention as the megacorporation's
priority is profit and staving off a hostile takeover from Sharurshid
Corporation. -by htech
Akkunat is a former agricultural world. A massive volcanic explosion in 1095 triggered the release of sulfur and nitric-oxide compounds. Imported crops died and native flora became inconsumable. The agricorp that ran the planet, Fennelaius Farming, shut down operations and moved away. An exodus of the world's population ensued. Although contaminant levels in the air and water can be safely filtered out, fear of further volcanic activity and the world's proximity to hostile states has prevented renewed operations. -by DED
The taint in Goobsfol's atmosphere is the result of persistent silicate dust
contamination brought on by extensive, unregulated mining operations. Filter
masks are sufficient enough to handle it.
Primary exports are: Ytterbium, Terbium, Neodymium, and other metals.
Despite the lack of any government, or any written legal code, Goobsfol is a
surprisingly civilized world. When there is a dispute, typically over a mining
claim, the Scout Service is called in to settle it. Otherwise, the citizens
police themselves. The population listed is for permanent settlers. It is not
uncommon for three times that number to be present in the system, whether
searching for new claims on the planet or carving up one the system's many
asteroids. However, it isn't unheard of for violence to break out, especially
if one side knows it has the upper hand. -by DED
Shishaldin is a mining world. Its atmospheric taint is the result of heavy
metal laced dust ejected during operations coupled with the occasional volcanic
eruption. Respirators with filter masks are required.
Primary exports are: molybdenum, cadmium, zinc, palladium, and other metals.
Several lords dominate the planet. Each has several vassals who swear
their allegiance based on economic prosperity. One might expect espionage or
open warfare to be commonplace, but it is rare. The last outbreak of global
violence was in 853, but once a scout base was established in 913, there have
only been minor skirmishes. The scout base commander acts as arbitrator during
disputes. The IISS conducts cold, desert training exercises here. -by DED
Adapted from The Flaming Eye
When lanthanum was discovered here during the First Imperium, many individuals
were willing to brave the corrosive pressure cooker atmosphere with hopes of
striking it rich. In -100, Arga (3106) took over the world and put
convicted criminals to work on the surface.
With Arga's permission, the Imperial Navy established a base here in 625. Twenty
years later, Theton became the subsector capital.
While the planet's two largest cities are located on the planet, roughly 70% of
the population lives in orbital cities and stations, the vacuum of space being
easier to deal with than nitric acid rain. The system's lack of gas giants
ensures that all traffic visits the starport (orbital). Fuel is skimmed from the
upper reaches of Theton's atmosphere in the form of ammonia, which is then
refined into hydrogen. However the concentration of ammonia is quite low and it
takes some time to collect fuel. Therefore, the price of fuel is five to ten
times the normal amount.
Adapted from The Flaming Eye.
Note that the orbit number in the sourcebook is way wrong. The habitable zone
for a K6 III is orbit 8, not 11. At that distance the world would be frozen
solid. Not surprisingly, the average temperature listed in the sourcebook comes
out to what it should be when placed in orbit 8. The wild temperature swings are
also preserved. Of course, that knocks the orbital period down from 1200
standard years to about 38.
Deemed to be of little value by the First Imperium, Sardia was bypassed for
settlement until the Third Imperium when a naval base was constructed around one
of the system's gas giants.
The world's primary exports are metals and ores mined from its crust.
While Sardia's law level is moderate, should offworlders break the law, they are
subject to harsher penalties than the natives. Punishments tend to be
physically severe, ranging from whipping to death.