Near Bootes Commonwealth Gazeteer

Near Bootes Commonwealth Gazeteer

By: Michael Bailey [email removed]

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Here's a quick overview of the NBC's member worlds:

Sequoyah

A rather passive member of the Commonwealth, Sequoyah's 1.2 billion inhabitants tend to shun contact with the ouside. Both xenophobia and technophobia are present to a large degree on this world, largely as a result of the vampire fleet attack on the world in 1146. Large areas of Sequoyah's land surface are still radioactive as a result of the 'Sack of Sequoyah'.

Outside aid has helped to rebuild Sequoyah, bringing the world's tech level to around 8. The world has a small industrial base, but this is slowly growing as Sequoyah's inhabitants grow used to outside contact.

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Aquitaine

Aquitaine is the capital world of the Commonwealth, and is 'first among equals' among the worlds of the Near Bootes cluster. Home to 5.5 billion people, Aquitaine is divided into over three dozen nation-states. The nations of Aquitaine present a united front to the Commonwealth, but relations among themselves tend to be fractious, contentious and noisy.

Three continents and numerous smaller land masses make up Aquitaine's land surface (about 32% of the planet's surface). The largest continent, Duval, is the most advanced and is the site of most of Aquitaine's considerable industrial base.

Aquitaine Highport is a newly constructed orbital facility complementing the starport proper. Work continues on the highport, although operations have begun with a staff of about 200.

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Aegir

A resource-rich, and largely untapped world. Substantial lanthanum deposits were discovered in the remote Colchis Islands region in 1197. The Aegir Consensus has yet to grant mining rights to these deposits, and competition amongst the contenders is fierce.

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Teucer

A full member of the Commonwealth since 1199, Teucer is one of the more active voices in favour of increased explorationa and colonisation. Almost 8 billion people are squeezed into Teucer's land area, which makes up only 11% of the planet's surface. Teucer provides a disproportionate numbr of recruits for the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force, and is preparing it's first colonisation effort.

The Chartered Tarsus Company aims to settle Tersus (0306 Capella). Teuceri Naval vessels have recently completed an exhaustive survey of the system, and the first colonisation expedition is in the final stages of preparation.

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Saxe

Saxe is the most highly populated world in the cluster, with a population of 14.2 billion. It's population, industrial base and technology make Saxe a serious rival of Aquitaine. There is considerable antipathy between the two worlds in the Commonwealth Senate, but fortunately this does not translate down to popular sentiment.

Sine the military coup that toppled the Solomani Party in 1092, Saxe's economy has been growing strongly. It's inhabitants tend to be intensely nationalistic, even chauvinistic, and many feel that it is Saxe and not Aquitaine that should lead the Commonwealth.

An active insurgency campaign by Solomani fanatics is still being mounted in some areas of Saxe. Terrorist incidents are regular, and appear to be spreading.

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Polyphemus

A balkanised world with 75 million inhabitants, Polyphemus is currently in a state of 'cold war' between Solomani and 'liberal' blocs. The former Solomani rulers of Saxe actively supported their counterparts on Polyphemus, but the superior industrial base of the liberals is allowing them to catch up.

Although a major conflict is considered unlikely, brushfire wars and police actions are commonplace. Both sides are recruiting mercenary forces to supplement their TL 5 armies.

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Vantage

Almost all of Vantage's inhabitants were wiped out by the Virus, the survivors were evacuated and Vantage is now an uninhabited world. An emergency locator beacon and landing pad have been set up on one of the small islands that rise from Vantage's oceans, allowing emergency landings.

Vantage's atmosphere is too thick to breathe at sea level, although it's oceans teem with life.

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Vyborg

Vyborg is an active supporter of Aquitaine in the Senate, mainly because Aquitaine commercial interests are investing large sums of money in Vyborg. Agricultural production has doubled in the past decade, and a number of large mineral resource projects are underway.

While many protest the perceived loss of independence that this investment brings, most are in favour of foreign investment.

The Vaasa Sea, in Vyborg's eastern hemisphere, contains the largest known petroleum reserves in the Commonwealth.

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Baraka

The nations of Baraka recently concluded a war between Isolationist and Cosmopolitan factions. Under the conditions of the armistice, off-world contact is restricted the the Cosmop nations of the southern hemisphere. Many Isolationists are eager to continue the war, as they see any off-world contact as ultimately fatal to their cause. Strangely enough, both Isolationist and Cosmop factions send member to the Senate.

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Krokinole

The Commonwealth maintains a research station on Krokinole. Little is said about the nature of this research, but popular belief is that the scientists there are working on jump technology. Entry to the base is restricted, although refuelling stops are allowed at the system's major gas giant.

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Aristotle

Aristotle is rapidly becoming a major industrial world. The newly upgraded starport has recently begun producing starships (although almost all of these are earmarked for the Aristotlean Navy). The Commonwealth Expeditionary force maintains base facilities on Aristotle. The system is the planned jumping off point for expeditions rimward of the cluster.

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Chernozem

Chernozem's 2.4 billion citizens are tightly controlled by their 'Emergency Administration' government. There is little active resistance, although acts of civil disobediance are on the rise. The Emergency Administration is divided over it's response to this unrest, although the majority seem to favour a security crackdown and mass arests.

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There's still a lot of detail to be filled in...suggestions are invited.
Michael Bailey, Police Dept. of Western Australia: [email removed]

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