Torpol
Allegiance: Non-Aligned, Human-dominated (NaHu)
System:
F4 V Dwarf
4 Gas Giants — 2 Planetoid Belts — 9 Other Worlds
UWP: B 5 5 A 7 7 A – 8
- Starport B Good
- Size 5 8,000km
- Atmosphere 5 Thin
- Hydrosphere A Water World
- Population 7 Tens of millions
- Government Type 7 Balkanization
- Law Level A Weapon possession prohibited
- Technology Level 8 Quality Computers
- Resources F Extremely abundant
- Labor 6 Millions
- Infrastructure 8 Generally available
- Efficiency +2 Good
- Heterogeneity 9 Discordant
- Acceptance 7 Aloof
- Strangeness 7 Confusing
- Symbols A Abstract
Geography
The Torpol system is centered on a type F4V star, a fairly bright and hot main sequence star. It is orbited by two planetoid belts, four gas giants and 10 terrestrial (rocky) planets including Torpol itself. Of these, only Torpol is correctly positioned to receive enough stellar energy for liquid water and is the only planet in the system to have life on its surface. This does not mean the rest of the system is uninhabited. the outer planetoid belt has an extensive belter community whilst the inner one has less belters but more commercial mining operations. Most of these are local companies operating out of Torpol or Clarke but the imperial megacorporation Shinra Corporation also has a mining base in the inner belt.
There are outpost on various gas giant moons but of the system's planets only Torpol and Traefar are inhabited. Traefar is the next world out from Torpol, on the far side of its inner planetoid belt and is a cold rockball with only a trace of atmospheric gas. Traefar was a colony of no great importance in the era of the Sindalian Empire and survived the death throes of the empire well. ' We have nothing worth bombing' is not much of a defensive strategy but in the cause of Traefar it seems to have worked. Traefar has a small commercial spaceport that mainly serves mining ships whose operators do not want to pay the high fees charged at Torpol Highport. The port is rather basic but the associated city of about two million inhabitants has enough recreation facilitated to entertain commercial spacers who have been cooped up in a mining ship for weeks on end.Belter from the outer belt sometimes call there to trade or to enjoy some 'sophisticated" leisure time.
Most of the vessels that come through the Torpol system dock a the large orbital port and use local shuttles to send crew and passengers to the surface. The highport is modern and well run with good facilities for overhaul and maintenance. There is a small private shipyard, which mostly produces small craft for local clients but can also supply standard components for starships. Jump-capable vessels cannot be built at Torpol but they can be serviced and repaired. The port has an efficient security service, which intolerant of boisterous behavior. Those who want to blow of steam or make a nuisance of themselves are 'advised' to take it planetside, to one of the spaceports that offer a range of entertainments. The highport is a bit straight-laced, being geared to business and negotiations and interstellar commerce rather that fun.
The highport is where the system's business sector is located, including the headquarters of most large planetside firms and offices maintained by the world's ruling elite. Speculative cargo is often traded here, with shipments split for transfer to various end clients. All manner of goods can thus be found in the warehouses of the highport, although there are restricions on what can be traded to some clients. With the proper licenses, almost anything can be bought and sold at Torpol but an all-cargoes license is expensive and compelx to obtain. Torpol's highport has, for many years now, also served as a sort of planetary capital. Officially, no such place exists and the cities of the surface are self-governing. However, each city sends representatives to a council, which meets at the highport and it is here that most inter-city deals are done, with decisions affecting more than one city debated.
Natural Resources
Water, Mining,
History
Commerce is, to a great extent, at the heart of life on Torpol. The ruling Provosts are essentially merchant princes and many have extensive offworld holdings. Some of the mining operations of the inner belt are owned by, or do regular business with, certain provost, whilst others own one or more commercial spacecraft and starships. A lot of money changes hands at Torpol Highport; the Provost work hard to create and atmosphere and atmosphere where trade and commerce are easy to accomplish. Thus, despite a high Law Level, Torpol's rules and regulations are surprisingly straightforward for most activities.
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