The
Foreven sector, unlike the Spinward Marches, is not under largely Imperial
rule. The upshot of this is that the standard facilities and assumptions are
not as standardised as they are in the 'Marches. The starports are, in most
cases, owned and operated by the governments that control the systems; in the
case of non-aligned worlds, they are usually purely planetary in scope. Not
being overseen by the Imperium, the starports tend to operate at more or less the
same law level as the planet they are found on, except in the Zhodani Consulate
and the Aku Corporation. Similar differences apply to the other standards
within the Imperium. The Imperial Rules of War, for instance, are only observed
in Foreven by the Imperial client states such as the Orion Nebula (and somewhat
sketchily by the Vargr clients, at that). In the Zhodani consulate, the Ramalux
Confederation, the Aku Corporation and the Toranaga Cluster the use of atomics
is reserved to the government; outside the borders of these states, such laws
do not apply and atomic weapons can be (and are) used by anyone who can obtain
them. The Aku Corporation regards the use of atomics by a ship defending itself
from piracy to be justifiable; but stringent proof is usually required.
Towards
the end of the Ramshackle Empire, the exploratory forces of the Second Imperium
entered the Foreven sector for the first time. A period of intense mapping and
survey followed, culminating in the settlement of parts of Reidain, Orion,
Cromwell, Piah and Pris subsectors. However, even before the new provinces had
been integrated into the old Vilani communication network, the Empire collapsed
and the Long Night fell. The new settlements of Foreven suffered less in the Nightfall
than most sectors, mainly because they had not had time to become dependent
upon the Empire for much; its' removal was less of a blow. Almost before the
Fall was complete, therefore, Foreven sector was busily going its own way.
Several
different astrographical, political and economic surveys of Foreven are
published, roughly corresponding to the great Imperial Grand Survey. The
Ramalux Confederation publishes the RCCNC Astrography; ACROSS publishes
Foreven's best commercial atlas; and the Orion Nebula effectively appends
Foreven to the Imperial Survey, although the Imperial authorities do not record
it so. The following account draws on all three for descriptions of worlds and
regions within the sector.
Subsector
KLENS contains 28 worlds with a minimum population of 1.24 billion. The highest
population level is 9 t Iche'frievr. The highest tech level is E at To, Iar,
Jdelstadl. Actual population is from 1.24 to 11.17. Value c1104 is 6.91
The
Kren system is one of the few entirely Droyne worlds in Foreven. The Droyne
there live in alliance with the Zhodani, and spend their time trying to raise
their chirper neighbors (Tiedzepr, Piats and Iche'frievr) to full casted Droyne
level.
The To
system is interdicted by the Consular Navy; it is used as a flight training
school for the top 2% of starcrews in the Sector navy. The level of training
given is exceptional, way beyond that available to most Imperial personnel, and
results in an inevitable percentage of accidents as men and machines are pushed
beyond their limits. As a result, the subsector government has declared the
system Unabsorbed, the Zhodani equivalent of an Amber Zone.
Subsector
TARLANOR contains 28 worlds with a minimum population of 0.17 billion. The
highest population level is 8 at Pranz. The highest tech level is E at Zdemal,
Ia'iau. Actual population is from 0.17 to 1.58. Value c1104 is 1.14
The
Vargr inhabitants of this system plunged themselves into a bloody and
destructive ABC war in 984; the very few survivors managed to halt the
resulting technology drop at TL 2; they are now trying to claw their way back
up. The Zhodani authorities rescinded their client status for the
transgressions involved in the war; the system is now interdicted (the residuum
of the ABC weapons make the mainworld highly dangerous anyway) until the
natives have sorted out their problems.
Subsector
SPARTAN contains 13 worlds with a minimum population of 0.02 billion. The
highest population level is 7 at Kerys, Baelen. The highest tech level is E at
Drusul, Elthan, Dunrath. Actual population is from 0.02 to 0.21. Value c1104 is
0.05
The
Spartan subsector was first colonised early on by Second Imperium settlers; as
a result, most of its worlds bear anglic names rather than Zhodani. Its very
name reflects the first impression given to the settlers; the subsector is one
of the most sparsely starred outside Corridor.
Elthan
has been established as a naval depot for the whole sector; starships up to and
including capital ship size are built, serviced and repaired here, and an
entire fleet is held constantly ready against the threat of Imperial
expansionism.
Even
the Zhodani navy has a requirement for somewhere to allow its crews to let off
steam, and Baelen is just that - a naval Liberty World. Many of the normal
regulations of the Navy, as well as planetary laws, simply do not exist here.
The Tavrchedl' exert much less stringent control here than almost anywhere else
in Zhodani Foreven territory, intervening only when serious injury, maiming,
mental damage or murder appear likely. Only the very toughest and most capable of
civilians are recommended to leave Baelen Down starport.
Subsector
MASSINIA contains 28 worlds with a minimum population of 2.15 billion. The
highest population level is 9 at Enzfietl, Stiabltia. The highest tech level is
E at Enzfietl, Anzplaie, Nenzdens, Ardir, Inz. Actual population is from 2.15
to 19.40. Value c1104 is 4.08
Subsector
FLODDEIGHMORE contains 24 worlds with a minimum population of 1.32 billion. The
highest population level is 9 at South Uist. The highest tech level is E at
Islay, Tarasay, Floddeighmore, Lochnan Stearnag, Madmora, Lismore. Actual
population is from 1.32 to 11.94. Value c1104 is 2.86
Like
Spartan, Floddeighmore was originally colonised by Terran-originated settlers;
and, like Spartan, the names of its worlds owe a lot to the Anglic language. In
the case of Floddeighmore, all the worlds were claimed by settlers tracing
their heritage to the highlands of Scotland (a small nation in the north of a
European island on Terra). Most of the names are in the native language of
those settlers (Gaelic) and even now, a derivant of that ancient language
survives, and on the lower-tech worlds of Floddeighmore is spoken as a first
tongue. Most of the racially indiginous inhabitants tolerate the Zhodani
psionicists, regarding their powers as the "second sight" and the
magic of the Old Ones, but make no great attempt to learn the skills; a pity,
as most of the natives of Floddeighmore exhibit very strong latent PSI
potential.
Subsector
SIENZ contains 24 worlds with a minimum population of 11.51 billion. The
highest population level is A at Elvandar. The highest tech level is E at
Donnegan's Doom, Zhdenjja, Elvandar, Eetlfiech, Sienz, Angzu. Actual population
is from 11.51 to 103.62. Value c1104 is 83.67
During
the great outward push by the Ramalux Confederation, a survey ship of the RCSS
was lost without trace while charting the (then) un-colonised rimward end of
the Sienz subsector. Ten years later, a second ship engaged upon the same task
cautiously entered the system which had been next on the lost vessel's planned
course, to discover a peculiar "fog" blanketing a vast area of space,
from the orbit 3 position right out to the orbit 10. Two smallish, moonless
ringed gas giants were the only visible bodies in the system outside the fog.
The survey team took exhaustive sensor readings of the fog, and what they found
made them back off in a hurry. The "fog" was in fact a relatively
dense cloud of rock dust, not in itself terribly remarkable, but this dust was
so strongly radioactive as to make direct travel through it impossible. Tests
with probes revealed that a lethal dose of radiation would penetrate a normal
starship's hull in three or four minutes of exposure. Even the RCSSs' normally
robust survey probes broke down after ten hours in the fog. The next
experiments were carried out with armoured probes; it was found that each
rating of armour (using the Ramalux Confederation Navy standards) over the
normal starship hull deferred the penetration by approximately an hour; and use
of a black globe would protect the probe indefinitely. Once this was
discovered, a probe was sufficiently protected to allow it to travel right
through the fog. On the other side, the probe found a fairly normal G4 V star,
with a single large planet orbiting it in orbit 2. Tests showed that the area
inside the fog was mostly free of hard radiation, so the ship attempted a
microjump into the inner system. One week later, the survey team was walking on
the surface of Donnegan's Doom. Later investigation has indicated that the star
once had a fairly normal family of planets, probably including a fairly
Terra-normal planet in the H-Zone (orbit 3). However, evidence was also
discovered that the Ancients had a hand in the affairs of the system, and the
currently strongest hypothesis is that one of the dreadful weapons of the Final
War was directed upon the system, pulverising most of the solid bodies into the
dust now so common in the system. Very powerful disintegrators might have
achieved this; no satisfactory explanation of the incredible levels of
radiation in the system has yet been offered. The name of the system was
selected by the RCSS team who first surveyed it; Cliff Donnegan was the
commanding officer of the Purview, the first ship to disappear in the system.
After this, however, the Ramalux Confederation took no further interest in the
system; it was the Orion Nebula who established the scout bases in the system
(one orbiting the gas giant and one on the planet). Since then, a small
population of mainly scientific personnel has grown up. The A class starport is
actually in the outer system; the planet itself only rates C. The Doom is
interdicted Red by the Orion Nebula, the Zhodani and the Ramalux Confederation,
even though it lies within the borders of none of them. The Orion Nebula bases
in the system warn off all visitors whenever possible.
The
Elvandar system is totally controlled by a religious autocracy. This, combined
with the 477-year orbital period and an overall Law rating of G, is largely
responsible for its' Amber rating. Settled 250 years ago, the religion of
Elvandar prompts the priests to convince (occasionaly with the aid of less than
subtle methods, including an Inquisition-like apparatus) the population that
God will step in to save them from the winter, due in c.1270 Imperial, which
will freeze all open water on the planet and probably wipe out the smaller
domes completely, along with a sizeable portion of the 88 billion population.
Any off-worlder caught attempting to engage a non-priest in trade is
automatically under sentence of death on Elvandar. This alone merits the RCSS
Amber rating awarded the system. Elvandar produces some of the most beautiful
jewels in Foreven, mined on the otherwise pretty desolate minor planet Suavai
Ia. However, these are held by the priesthood to be of major religious
significance and not for sale at any price. This, combined with the law
mentioned above, makes trading in Elvandaran gemstones extremely hazardous.
Subsector
AETUGAR contains 25 worlds with a minimum population of 1.42 billion. The
highest population level is 9 at Aengzarsaegh. The highest tech level is F at
Dickens. Actual population is from 1.42 to 12.81. Value c1104 is 11.40
The
Tolkien system's mainworld (Tolkien IV) is a heavily balkanised planet with
four different nations occupying roughly similar areas of the main continent.
Each of these nations possesses atomic technology, and a reasonable delivery
system technology.
Subsector
FESSOR contains 23 worlds with a minimum population of 0.21 billion. The
highest population level is 8 at Verement, Fangthane. The highest tech level is
F at Amlur, Morin, Mel's World. Actual population is from 0.21 to 1.90. Value
c1104 is 1.52
Subsector
PRIS contains 38 worlds with a minimum population of 3.15 billion. The highest
population level is 9 at Lyte, Gibeon, Lux Beata. The highest tech level is F
at Erk, Ramalux. Actual population is from 3.15 to 28.42. Value c1104 is 14.88
Three
worlds in the subsector are coded Amber; Geronimo, Rivalux and Elm. Geronimo is
a barren, rough-and-ready mining outpost, whose inhabitants have little respect
for or liking of off-worlders. Rivalux has been interdicted by the
Confederation Navy for classified reasons. Elm is a desert planet, inhabited by
a race of wandering nomads who have not yet qualified for interstellar contact
(ie by becoming interested in other planets).
The
inhabitants of the Tallis system experienced a major ecological disaster in 950
when an atomic power station accidentally exploded in one of the orbital
colonies left by the original settlers. As a result, they developed a massive
racial paranoia towards space travel and vehicles, and atomic power in general.
Over the following years, they have absolutely refused to have anything to do
with atomic power or spacecraft. They accepted membership in the Ramalux
Confederation on the condition that all visitors use only battery-powered
air/rafts and leave their ships in the outer system. The Confederation has
three times constructed a Grade E starport on Tallis; each time, the
inhabitants raised a mob and destroyed it. Tallis was considered by the
Confederation Scouts (RCSS) as a candidate for interdiction, but this was
vetoed on the grounds that the Tallians are not at all unfriendly to
off-worlders; they simply refuse to have starships or atomics on their planet.
An automated beacon station has been placed on one of the moons of the single
gas giant; battery shuttles are available from there.
In
1103, the previously peaceful but balkanised world of Paradise/Pris erupted
into the bloodiest war ever seen within the Confederation. A message requesting
intervention was sent to Ramalux, and a task force dispatched; but before it
could arrive, a full-scale atomic exchange took place and the entire planet was
devastated by the results. The ecological balance was totally destroyed, the
atmosphere made radioactive and all the major cities destroyed. 86% of the approximately
1,000,000 population were killed immediately, and the remainder were irradiated
to the point of being rated as genetically incapacitated. The Ramalux
Confederation Navy, deciding to make an example, interdicted Paradise,
destroyed the starport, and expelled it from the Confederation; the few
remaining inhabitants were left to survive or die at their own hands. This
cruel but effective tactic has restrained all the other worlds of the
Confederation from the use of atomics ever since. The hundred or so survivors
have managed to retain a tech level of 5, but are not expected to last more
than a few years.
Subsector
CROMWELL contains 29 worlds with a minimum population of 0.04 billion. The
highest population level is 7 at Laa, Rrekhgu, Khaigkesher, Giman. The highest
tech level is G at Epshadia. Actual population is from 0.04 to 0.41. Value
c1104 is 0.28
Subsector
ORION contains 20 worlds with a minimum population of 32.12 billion. The
highest population level is A at Betelgeuse, Beta Cephei, Bellatrix. The
highest tech level is G at M42, Gisha, Ukpimu, Ross 188, Rigel. Actual
population is from 32.12 to 289.11. Value c1104 is 117.82
When
the first Vilani/Solomani explorers entered and charted the Orion subsector,
they immediately discovered three things: the subsector contains a massive (and
suspiciously artificially placed) nebula; there was a great deal of evidence of
Ancient interference in the environments of the worlds; and the arrangement of
several of the supergiant stars turned out to be an exact duplicate of one of
the constellations traditionally visible from Earth. The future development of
the immediate area has obviously been greatly influenced by all these factors.
Subsector
REIDAIN contains 25 worlds with a minimum population of 42.23 billion. The
highest population level is A at Clarkesstar, Broward, Zeta 2 Reticuli, Delta
Pavonis. The highest tech level is F at Zeta 2 Reticuli, Kruger 60. Actual
population is from 42.23 to 380.09. Value c1104 is 229.65
Subsector
RULL contains 30 worlds with a minimum population of 3.12 billion. The highest
population level is 9 at Ikushe, Uuerr, Ilapasha. The highest tech level is G
at Aku. Actual population is from 3.12 to 28.14. Value c1104 is 18.62
One of
the many Ancient artifacts left in the Foreven sector is the Dyson sphere in
the Hell's Portal system. When it was first discovered, the eager survey team
were convinced that the staggering volume of potential lebensraum represented
by the sphere's inside surface (around 85 billion Earths) would solve all the
subsector's popualation problems. However, they were sadly disappointed: Hell's
Portal in fact represents possibly the most disastrous example of failed
Ancient terraforming. The inside surface of Hell's Portal is definitely not
what would be expected on a tailor-made artificial world. For a start, only
.00005% of the surface is above sea level (still 4,000 earths-worth), most of
which is stinking, useless marsh. The rest of the surface is made up of the
scum sea, a revolting, corrosive and poisonous mess similar to the seas of Nu
Earth (qv). The atmosphere is equally noxious and somewhat more corrosive. The
central star is not nearly hot enough for a sphere at this distance; the
surface revels in a rock-steady temperature of -134.73 degrees celsius. There
is constant daytime, no "night bars" having been installed between
the sphere and the sun. Only one small island of solid ground exists, being
located at the airlocks which interface to the outside surface. The C class
starport is actually located on the outside surface of the sphere, as hard
vacuum is considered a more hospitable environment than the scum sea. Finally,
Hell's Portal is the only solid body in the system. Most of the population
lives in one large floating city, which drifts around within 50,000 km of
Interface Island. A TL C airport provides transit to and from the interface.
All citizens of the sphere must live with a Hostile Environment suit within
reach at all times. There is no governmental or legal structure as such;
families ally themselves in order to mine and refine the hydrocarbons that
Hell's Portal has in such abundance. The young males of Hell's Portal have
evolved a terrifying and dangerous sport to go with their home - scum surfing.
Although frowned on by the elders of the clans, surfing is very popular among
the young men, and is an exhilarating sport. Occasionaly young Aku Corporation
executives on the Grand Tour (see below) will attempt it, and quite often these
are killed.
The
Aku system is the core and capital of the Aku Corporation, and it is upon the
Aku (technically Sulani An Ia) that the Corporation has established PHO (Prime
Head Office). Unusually for a major world, and particularly for the center of
an interstallar empire, Aku is itself a satellite; in this case of the gas
giant Sulani An. The planet orbits Sulani An once every 58.75 hours, and turns
on its own axis once every 960.62 hours. The upshot of this is that Aku has a
40-day rotational day, with periods of darkness of between 10-12 hours once
every 50 hours. This makes for rather peculiar climactic conditions. The main
feature of every single facet of life upon Aku is the Corporation. The running
of a commercial enterprise on an interstellar scale is a titanic task, and the
vast corporate bureacracy of Aku is constantly tested by new diffculties. Prime
Head Office is actually a city-sized atmosphere dome with a population of
10,000 - all administrative personnel. There is nor organised religion upon
Aku; the Corporation's research scientists have "disproved" all the
major religions in their area of space, and corporation executives are
discouraged from holding beliefs. One notable institution of Aku Corporation
policy is that the top executives, upon attaining office, must take the
"grand tour" - a four-year hitch involving the spending of time on
every planet controlled by the Corporation. This is intended to give the
executives a clear view of what they are controlling, but in practice often
just works out to be a long, luxurious holiday.
Subsector
HAREM contains 28 worlds with a minimum population of 21.21 billion. The
highest population level is A at Buntaro, Alaric. The highest tech level is E
at Mushgagaama, Buntaro, Toranaga, Zarozinia, Alaric, Kulgan. Actual population
is from 21.21 to 190.92. Value c1104 is 114.79
Subsector
PIAH contains 27 worlds with a minimum population of 1.24 billion. The highest
population level is 9 at Thwaites. The highest tech level is G at Darley.
Actual population is from 1.24 to 11.19. Value c1104 is 8.04
Subsector
URNIAN contains 25 worlds with a minimum population of 1.22 billion. The
highest population level is 9 at Freca. The highest tech level is G at Urnian,
Tindome, Okell. Actual population is from 1.22 to 10.99. Value c1104 is 10.90
Neithan
is an uninhabited system, with no apparent reason for being interdicted. The
scout base orbiting the mainworld is heavilly fortified, and ejects intruders
summarily. No explanation has been forthcoming about why this is.