Draco Galaxy: Subsector: "The Cauldron"
From SSDC, Inc.
THE CAULDRON
Subsector Map: [1]
Astrographical Features
Mitox Ion Cloud
A huge ion cloud and nebula that extends right up the middle of Quadrant 1 in a diagonal slash through sector 2 and sector 3. The Mitox Ion Cloud is one of the largest in Draco and has many ‘baby’ stars within its mass. Measuring over 200 parsecs in length, it has not been traversed by any Alliance personnel. Even fleeing pirates will not head into the Mitox Ion Cloud itself, preferring to run through an arm off its main structure. The whole cloud appears to be in the process of consumption by the black hole producing the spectacular astronomical phenomenon known as The Cauldron.
The Cauldron
A black hole is drawing the Mitox Ion Cloud into its all-consuming maw, throwing off great shards of nebula gas and devouring a number of protostars. The light from the slowly flayed stars is refracted through the gas and dust creating a deep red glow that can be seen, as it was many years ago, on any planet within a hundred parsecs. The glow from the falling protostars illuminates the event, giving it the appearance of a huge cauldron on a fire of dying stars. A traveler advisory recommends a safe distance of 6 parsecs.
The Spill
Some of the Mitox Ion Cloud has been flung past the black hole by the immense gravitation and created The Spill. Powerful gravimetric waves and dangerous eddies swirl in the space around the Spill, posing a grave danger to all but the most powerful ships. A traveler's advisory recommends a safe distance of 3 parsecs.
The Embers
From the one side of the black hole, which is roughly on the same plane as the map, an asteroid field has been flung out in a similar way to The Spill. This field of dust and accreted mass has spread many parsecs and is now home to many mining operations, stone towns, hidden bases, and listening posts. The Embers are one of the most productive mining regions in Draco, exporting all manner of minerals, alloys, metals, ores, and jump fuel in the from of di-tritium or ti-tritium, throughout the quadrant. The Embers have still not been fully charted.
Ash Pass
A small pass between The Spill and The Embers that is navigable and reasonably safe from pressure ridge activity. Automated sensor stations line Ash Pass to report the state of gravimetric waves and eddies which are communicated back to the planet Ash and from there, throughout the sub-sector. This information is used to predict safe times to make warp through Ash Pass and so far has been very effective.
ALPAIN
A6-T33D-O56
The sub-sector capital was built here thirty-five years ago amidst the sprawling metropolis Durnafont. The idyllic climate and rich volcanic soil instantly tagged this planet as an agrarian production center. Soon after settlers had constructed their first starport, a platinum discovery in the mountains to the north of Durnafont led to a rush of miners and companies. Effective management by the benevolent government at the time led the planet onto the path of prosperity and wealth. Now Alpain is one of those rare places that the frontier promised to provide, a society close to utopia. Narcotics became a problem for a short time on, but the government decided to make them restricted substances that can be bought and sold or even produced by anyone with the appropriate permit. The purchasing of a permit included a legal agreement that if the permit holder breached any of the rules of Traffic and Use they could be executed if found guilty. This goes against all the other punishments on world, as execution is not practiced. Alpain maintains a high security shipyard in distant orbit partly owned by Averon Corporation and General Stardrive Incorporated. Over thirty percent of the ships produced in this subsector are routinely overhauled and repaired by their efficient and skillful crews. Alpain is currently a contender in the bid to have the stargate moved into its system from the Potar Battle Station that is drifting into The Cauldron. Rumors of work are currently circulating amidst mercenaries in the area.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Association (3) | Armor Station (4) | Prison (3,5) | Base Station (5) |
| Black Market (4) | DNA Masking (3) | Shipyards (5) | Fleets (CNN) |
| Cyball (5) | Laundering Services (2) | Patrol (3,2) | |
| Mentors (2) | Legal Networks (1) | Automated Defense Systems | |
| Mercenaries (2) | Refuel (A,B,C) | Complex Battle Array (6) | |
| Smugglers (2) | Resorts (1,3,4,5,9) | EW Stations (7) | |
| Terrestrial Knowledge Service | EDS (6) | ||
| Weapons Shop (3) | Fighter Base (large x3) | ||
| K-Sats (3,6,7) | |||
| Space Platform (10) |
ANIAM
A5-U81Y-T60
A desert planetoid with heavy gravity and no native moisture. The 6000 odd colonist that scratch around in the dirt for di and ti-tritium have regular patrols from LMX. The patrols also supply the miners with goods and materials in exchange for the finished product. The miners are happy, as they only have to pay 5% off the top for transport of whatever they sell. LMX is happy because the miners work very hard. Why do they work very hard? Go snoop around and find out for yourself.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miners (6) | None | Mines | Patrols (4,4) |
ASH
A6-U42E-X71
Heavy volcanism, for which it is named, covers almost every square centimeter of the surface. The atmosphere is toxic, comprised of sulfuric acid, carbon monoxide, methane, and other under gases. Heavy mining occurs on Ash, and the miners refine platinum and neodymium for use in the wiring of elite electrical components. High-speed windstorms whip particles of fine rock into an abrasive maelstrom that can severely damage light armored vehicles in minutes. The orbital station harbors black marketeers and other semi-legitimate mercantilists with little question. Authorities are reluctant to pursue the matter as they depend on the miners’ good morale, and the miners depend on what the black marketeers bring to Ash. Ash is home to the interstellar communication base that transmits through Ash Pass, routing communications from all worlds on this side of the Mitox Ion Cloud to the rest of the Alliance.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Market (4) | Refit (1) | Mines | Base Station (4) |
| Miners (8) | Refuel (B-C) | Stone Towns | K-Sats (1) |
| Orbital Mines (2) | |||
| Patrol (5,9) |
ASSEN
A5-T51O-T60
A dense mineral planet that is devoid of natural water and other moisture. No indigenous life known. The oligarchy in charge of Assen is composed of senior mining officials and corporate representatives who tailor planetary laws to suit their own ends; namely the cheap mining of titanium and silver. Alliance Law Enforcement recently imposed an audit on all the oligarchic officials, and prosecutions were commenced. Bandit activity in the north of the desert plain where the bulk of the mining occurs suddenly increased dramatically, and an ultimatum was sent to the Alliance prosecution team. “Bring back the Oligarchy or we make mining impossible on Assen.” Rebel involvement is suspected, and light warships have been dispatched for patrol and security. Mercenaries are being hired all over the planet to protect against extortion and other forms of crime that has taken hold. Investigative reporter Gharik Julias uncovered a Silk Lamb connection that goes as deep as his recent grave. Fortunately, his work was not in vane, and many copies of his findings have been circulated throughout the subsector to people in power. How many copies he made can only be guessed, but as they are continually being posted, someone is copying the files from a computer database. Gharik Julias has been awarded a posthumous Filkeran Award for journalistic excellence.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Association (3) | Armor Station (3) | Shipyards (5) | Base Station (2) |
| ARM (1) | Legal Networks (1) | Base Station (5) | |
| Mercenaries (2) | Refuel (B,C) | Patrol (3,2) | |
| Resorts (1,9) | Automated Defense Systems | ||
| Terrestrial Knowledge Service | |||
| Weapons Shop (3) |
BIS
O5-U81M-X60-TM
Dark volcanic canyons and ravines line the surface of this hot hell world like the folds of a cortex. Bis is off limits to Alliance personnel due to the high occurrence of Motaran Rift activity. ARSAP teams that tried to continue the second survey mission were found spaced evenly around the outside of the lone outpost’s PADS perimeter, disemboweled, eyes removed, and planted arse up in the soil. The outpost on Bis can refuel ships in emergency situations, but cannot assist travelers for any other reason. Highly trained personnel are being sent to Bis for missions apparently involving Galactic X interests. The Bis outpost refines alloys for specialist military applications, which are picked up every week by a detachment of Naval vessels who also drop off supplies.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Personnel (6) | Emergency Refuel (B) | None | Exploratory Base |
| Patrols (4/4) |
CALIT ENSEKIA
A5-T33D-X46
Popular wayside stop for traders and travelers on the Whaifitz to Alpain run. Calit Ensekia is much safer than Zacksville thanks to the competent government and its responsible allocation of funds. A population of 80 million Humans, Orions, Gen-Humans, Python Lizards, Cizerack, and Phentari live amongst each other with little trouble. The atmosphere is tainted with bio-hazardous spores that issue from the great fungus jungles that smother the coastal regions of the three main landmasses. Phentari have been found almost immune to these spores, and with minor medication for resistance boosting, they are the key special group involved in the construction of atmospheric cleansing plants. These are being instigated at three sites around each of the major starports on world, Luthigo, Kain-Mariss, and Foilgl. Luthigo is the capital and seat of the Presidency. Products include: medicinal extracts from the many fungal species, chromium ore, ytterbium, osmium, and other rare metals. Calit Ensekia gains large tariffs from export ships with rather exorbitant but unavoidable prices for excise and shipping. AMC, Sackville-Thorpe, Hurstville Mining Group and Teledyne Syndicates have corporate offices on-world. Travel outside of the city domes is ill-advised without a filter mask, although most natives wear full bio-protection garb.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARM (1) | Fencing Operations (2) | Terraformers | Base Station (2) |
| Black Monday (2) | Government Networks (2) | K-Sats (4) | |
| HAL (4) | ID Change (1) |
DREAD
A6-U81T-X60-T
Close proximity to The Cauldron has Dread marked for science survey of the stellar phenomena. A technical and scientific base was set up by the Ghanifrede Mining Consortium in 2238, but after the Consortium went broke, LMX Conglomerates unknowingly purchased this base in a stock and assets liquidation auction. To cover up the error quickly, LMX sent unwanted staff to this barren ball of rock. Dread is constantly on the lookout for Mitox Ion Cloud surges, potent radiation columns and swells that leap out of the cloud at the speed of light. According to the map, they should have 2 and a half years warning, but because of the residual energy from the The Cauldron and its sucking in of the ion cloud, they only have an accurate detection range of 24 hours. All staff and non-shielded equipment retreat into tough shielded bunkers to wait out ion storms. Recent scientific reports have been leaked to the sector news broadcast that state the red sun of the Dread system is being sheared by an energy source that is somewhere in The Cauldron itself.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| LMX Personnel (2) | None | Science Station | Exploratory Base |
| Patrol (1/1) LMX |
DREENA
A4-T22E-O59
A swamp and ocean world that produces some good fish stocks for export. Itis largely uncolonized. Some of the swamps have large stands of native alien hardwood that is being unscrupulously poached by hired chainsaws. The thick and difficult environment makes enforcement almost impossible, and the office of natural resources is considering applications for planetary Bounty Hunter permits.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poachers (3) | Refit (1) | Aquafarms | Base Station (1) |
| Bounty Hunters (1) | Refuel (B and C) | Fleets (P) | |
| Orbital Mines (2) |
EFFERVEX
A6-N53E-T50
Engineered by the massive Teledyne mega-corporation, this project was begun early in this secto'rs history. A large planetoid was found to have drifted free of The Embers and had formed a kind of pseudo-star-system. The planetoid was in the position of a sun, orbited by lots of little asteroid belts and sub-planetoids. The main rock that is Effervex was settled as the local refinery for the mining operations in the surrounding asteroids. The secondary purpose of Effervex is as a maintenance station for all Teledyne ships that operate on this side of The Embers. Refit and Refuel services are 10-20% cheaper here to attract customers. The ores that are refined on the core world of Effervex are used by the manufacturing plant to produce starship parts that are exported deep into Draco for use by many of Teledyne’s subsidiaries and customers. Teledyne has a limited contract with General Stardrive Incoporated to manufacture systems of GSI design for sale only in The Cauldron. No distribution of said products is a clear part of the contract, and as such Teledyne can only sell them from this base.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATs (9) | Refit (3) | Stone Towns | Base Station (4) |
| Refuel (Any) | Terraformers | Fleets (P) | |
| Robotics Repair (4) | Patrols (4/7) | ||
| Layered Array (3) | |||
| EW Stations (6) | |||
| Orbital Mines (4) |
ELSKIN
A5-N12C-O56
Heavy production agrarian world that supplies staple crops for most oxygen based races in this sub-sector. Close to 12 million farmers live in various small communes of no more than 1,500 people. All farms are set up as sustainable agriculture, and the large planet is under the protection and watchful eye of Khaine’s Enterprises. There is only one city in a central location on the only settled continent. Here, surplus is gathered in barter for equipment (usually archaic, but of highest quality, tools and non-powered appliances) from the surrounding communes. There are many isolated farms and clan plots, but the populace seem to be very stable and content. Elskin has the lowest crime rate in the sector.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | Grade C di-tritium | Farms | Unknown |
ENDYARN
A6-N81A-T40
A somewhat mysterious stone town on the edge of The Embers that has barely been visited by anyone except ore-buyers. It is now a backwater stopover. The pioneering population has left, after only 12 years of mining, for better pastures after the platinum went dry. Now it is empty save for a few hardcore miners eking out a living tracing small veins of palladium for tech level 6 electronics.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miners (3) | Robot Repair Station (4) | Stone Town | Automated Defence (3) |
| Refuel (B,C) |
HAPPY VALLEY
A6-F32Y-Q53-M
The colonists, who now number over 1.2million, which settled this idyllic forest world, named it Happy Valley. Temperate climate with gentle weather and consistent rainfall ensures bumper crops from the permaculture farms that dot the surface of the main continent Jalsa. The population is comprised mainly of Humans and Orions of the alternative lifestyle that once became so popular on Earth during the 1960’s and the pre-nuclear war eras. This alternative is really a throwback to the days of community farming that were common before the dark ages and the rise of noble houses. It is currently thought that Happy Valley lessens its financial burdens with the sale of potent narcotics that are a side product of their natural fiber industry. Until recently, the subsector magistrates and GalPol have turned a blind eye to these activities, but with the appearance of rift gates opening spontaneously in and on the planet, the officials have begun to clamp down inexplicably. Rumors have begun to suggest that the funding they are receiving for ARSAP teams to enter these rifts is being diverted to the same magistrates and GalPol officials, but it is fact that not one team has returned from a run sponsored by these people. Mercenary contacts on world have leaked information that suggests the teams are being sent in grossly ill-equipped for a Rift Run. Happy Valley is still hiring wayward mercenaries at twice the going rate for such Rift Runs. Privateers and Freelances are most welcome to undertake these missions and are expected to bring their own hardware. Rumors of Coreszian ruins located on the Lazran Archipelago, east of Jalsa, are filtering through the normal channels.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Personnel (8) | Armor Station (4) | Ruins | Exploratory Base (3) |
| Mercenaries (6) | Refuel (B,C) | Research Installations | Fleets (Alliance) |
| Orbital Mines (3) |
HEARTH
A6-N41M-Q50
A small battle station whose duties include patrol, security, and resupply of military vessels. Hearth is in high orbit over a small gas planet that supports minor hydrogen and other chemical extraction teams. They hang suspended from giant zeppelin stations that are the base of operations for refinement and processing of the various gases and minerals. Hearth itself is an aging GalCorp design of considerable potency. The station is currently home to over fifteen thousand military personnel and six and a half thousand support and civilian personnel. Routines are rarely broken, but stories persist of alien ships emerging from the The Cauldron black hole, capturing a wayward ship, and returning through the gate with its quarry. The Eridani are responsible for the defense of Hearth through a special agreement with Alliance sector command.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Personnel (8) | Armor Station (4) | Chemical Extraction Plants | Battle Station (2) |
| MATs (7) | Refit (2) | Fleets (IBF) | |
| Mercenaries (1) | Refuel (A,B,C Ti-tritium) | Station Weaponry (6,8) | |
| Weapons Shop (4) | Automated Defense Systems | ||
| Layered Array (4) | |||
| Bio-Sentient Organism (5) | |||
| EW Stations (6) | |||
| Orbital Mines (4,6) |
INSTIGAL
A5-T42D-O56
Over twenty million people live on the lush green M-class planet that is Instigal. Three major starports are on the surface and each is surrounded by large urban sprawls that contain the majority of the world’s population. Instigal is known for its fine fruit orchards and consistent crops that are exported throughout the subsector. Many of these fruits are natives to the sub-tropical jungles that blanket the surface of the planet. The oceans of Instigal are a rare blend of mineral salts and other metallic elements making for relaxing bath waters that are also exported and replicated by many companies. Instigal ocean water is a big contender against traditional brands such as Radox and Mr. Matey. Currently, Instigal’s main exports, besides the agricultural produce and the ocean water, are manufactured goods and fossil fuels. The fossil fuels are not used on world due to strict anti-pollution laws, but are sold for numerous purposes to other less discerning planets and weapons manufacturers.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Association (3) | Armor Station (4) | Prison (3) | Base Station (4) |
| Black Market (4) | ID Change (3) | Fleets (CNN) | |
| Cyball (3) | Laundering Services (2) | Patrol (4,4) | |
| Mercenaries (2) | Legal Networks (1) | Automated Defense Systems | |
| Smugglers (2) | Refit (3) | Complex Battle Array (6) | |
| Refuel (A,B,C) | EW Stations (6) | ||
| Resorts (1,2,3,4,5) | Flux Shield (4) | ||
| Terrestrial Knowledge Service | Fighter Base (large) | ||
| Weapons Shop (3) | Orbital Mines (6) | ||
| Space Platform (6) |
KO-SARENTES
A5-U51S-050
A struggling stone town that has little to offer save for a quiet place to hide out. Rumors of a network of forgers and DNA specialists indicate some quality identification change services might be found on Ko-Sarentes.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAT (2) | Fencing Operation (1) | Stone Town | Automated Defense (3) |
| ID Change (4) |
MENTEN
Y6-HM--M
A recent patrol by GalPol discovered half of a scientific exploration vessel in orbit around uninhabited Menten. The Polsen Revelation was a gravimetric research ship designed to scout close to the black hole of The Cauldron and send back information as well as process readings from launched probes. It was caught by pressure ridge activity and, with its engines damaged, dragged slowly into the crushing power of the black hole. A large ion flare obscured the final moments of Polsen Revelation and it has been assumed, until now, that itwas totally destroyed. Menten is now off limits to all personnel as Alliance researches comb over the grade 4 quarantined ruins of the ship.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Personnel (4) | None | None | Base Station (5) |
| EW Station (4) | |||
| Fleet CNN (9) | |||
| K-Sats (6,9) | |||
| Patrol (4,5) |
MITOX PRIME
A4-T31Y-O56
Hurricane weather on the shores of the many mountainous archipelagos of Mitox Prime has forced the colonists to live in the sheltered valleys of the larger islands. Mitox Prime lies in the perpetual glow of the Mitox Ion Cloud, which stretches across the night sky like a blanket of glowing blue gas. UV emissions from the main sequence blue star give crop yields that are, by Earth standard worlds, immense. Mitox Prime is by no means a sector leader in agriculture. If it had more land it would be a contender for the top crop producer in this quadrant of Draco.
Mitox prime was simply called Mitox 2, being the second world in the system; the first is a rocky planetoid with no atmosphere and limited mining potential. Late in 2276, a routine survey mission run by GalCorp found a volcanic crater riddled with cooled lava tubes. They began the arduous task of exploration and charting the tubes until they discovered an old pressure chamber deep in the dormant volcanic system. It was here amid the refracted light from the amethyst encrusted walls that they witnessed a space-time rift open at precisely 13:13 planet time. Not willing to sacrifice themselves needlessly (and it wasn’t in their contract) they avoided the rift, making recordings and readings, until it closed at 14:41. After 5 months, the now expanded research team and the accompanying base determined, with the help of Mutzachan scientists, that the rift was a recurring phenomena. The first exploration team went through the rift to find themselves on Mitox Shadow.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Personnel (2) | Refuel (B-C | None | Base Station (1) |
MITOX SHADOW
U---G
A seemingly uninhabited world that is unreachable through normal space-time movement. A popular tourist destination, cruise ships slowly fly through the planet, viewing its mantle and core as scenery. Mitox Shadow can be reached through the rift on Mitox Prime, although it is unclear what time it is on Mitox Shadow, as all exploration teams have been unable to contact the orbiting ships meant to receive test transmissions.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
MOOREVVIN
Y---M
This shade world’s oceans are composed of sulphuric acid, and its atmosphere is methane, carbon monoxide, with trace sulphuric compounds. Currently a traveler advisory is issued to keep sightseers away from Moorevvin. A recent report from a police cruiser was leaked stating that an apparent entry hole had opened above the equatorial volcanic Iljorma Promontory. Sensors showed it lead to the surface, but it closed before a probe could be fired through. It was also leaked a short time later that contractors were hired to downgrade the automated defence system. Some are saying that the authorities want rift runners to get through. It is anyone’s guess as to why they want that.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | None | None | Automated Defences (3) |
| Patrol (1,1) |
NEN
I4-N22E-O68
This swampy world is struggling with a new rice crop for Eridi-Corp. The swamps are naturally conducive to rice farming, but subsidence in the silt plains has sunk a few thousand hectares of rice paddies. So far, it has cut deep into the expected profits of the Agri-corps that are subcontracting to the Eridani. Agri-bots are in big demand as the workers continue to bail out of their contracts on a technicality about unsafe ground and tectonics. The hazard pay is 10 times normal for such occurrences. Nen only has 2 real cities on either end of the great expanses of swamps that make up the ocean. At least the water can be filtered easily to drink. Bio survey teams are also in demand for cataloging the natural flora and fauna for GalCorp.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agri-bots | Robot Repair Station (4) | Farms | Orbital K-sats (2) |
| Terrestrial Knowledge Service |
NENTAR
I5-U81A-X40
Out on the edge of the sector, Nentar is a lawless backwater, mining low-grade di-tritium ore for processing by the local monopoly. Some other ores are processed here, such as titanium, silver, and osmium, but di-tritium is in relative abundance. Orionus Konglomerates make massive profits by using a barter system on refurbished second hand goods in trade for the di-tritium. Miners are trying to organize some rights and share some of the wealth for which they work. This has caused Orionus to hire mercenaries to pacify the dissenters. The Miners countered this tactic by inviting pirates into the system to harass the Orionus ships. This conflict shows signs of escalating before it is resolved.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miners | Bounty Hunters (2) | Mines | EW Station (1) |
| Laundering Services (1) | Fleet (P) | ||
| Refuel (A-C di-tritium) | Space Platform (2) |
NOLIESS
A6-T34D-O55
A heavily industrialized world that manufactures huge amounts of consumer goods for export throughout the quadrant, Noliess is temperate and mineral rich. It has many refineries and a great deal of free education for citizens to supply highly skilled personnel. GalCorp have a major plant on Noliess and hire freelance mercenaries every quarter for special operations. This is quite well known locally, and there is stiff competition. Noliess also serves as a stopover on the trade route from Alpain to the rest of the sector. Some military manufacturers have recently set up on the far northern landmass of Hernot. Their factories are dug into the steep mountain ranges and freight their product via battleship to the starport for eventual market circulation. A weapons testing facility was set up by a privateer, Jameel Kingsloan, a Phentari entrepreneur. All weapons manufacturers have used it at least once, and many are regular bookers.
Noliess boasts large support services for the military manufacturers. These include vast teams of legal experts, and apparently a laundering service that is partially endorsed by the local government. This has never been proven in court, much to the chagrin of the investigators. Mercenary operations are frequently on Noliess to resupply before heading off to see action.
The population of 300,000,000 is 20% Gen-Human, 30% Human, 5% Python Lizard, 15% Orion, 15% spread evenly between Cizerack, Ram Python, Chatilian and Eridani, but most any species can be found on Noliess.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Personnel (2) | Arms Dealers (7) | Military Manufacturers | Base Station (4) |
| Mercenaries (5) | ID Change (4) | Weapons Testing Facility | EW Station (5) |
| Laundering Services (2) | Fleet (P) | ||
| Legal Networks (4) | Gunboat Squadron (6) | ||
| Refuel (All) | Ground Defence Base (3) | ||
| Refit (3) | Patrol (4,5) | ||
| Smugglers (2) |
NOOKAR
U--
A tectonic nightmare world plagued with volcanic activity. Mountain ranges reach to heights of 30 kilometers over chasms that fall to 45 kilometers into the convoluted crust. Lava spews from deep fissures in the bedrock. The attraction to Nookar is the mineral rich deposits. Sackville-Thorpe and AMC have equal claims on most of this ocean-less planet. Bases are usually cut into the sides of chasms that are old fault lines that have become more stable than the rest of the planet. Nookar has 43 tectonic plates that are in constant motion, some as fast as 100 meters per year. Planetologists have a training facility on Nookar for pre-graduate students to spend 2 month tours watching mountain formation in real-time. There have been 4 reports of alien activity near the South Polar Region that is currently suspected to be Arachnid recon units. Local security teams were sent on recon missions in an attempt to confirm this, but returned without finding anything.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATs (6) | Refuel (B-C) | Planetology Research Center | Orbital station |
NORKLANNIS
I-U81A-X50
Strip mined by Sackville-Thorpe, this world is now a barren, cratered wasteland polluted by wastes and left to the scum of the galaxy. A huge junkyard has been created by illegal toxic waste disposal services in one of the largest pits. Smugglers make bases here amongst the tunnels in the rock, and supplies come in via prearranged drops. Not a great place to be without contacts. Minor toxin levels persist globally. An overpriced refuel station makes a tidy profit.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARM (7) | Refuel (B-C, any) | Stone Town (abandoned) | None |
| Doltharians (1) | Smugglers (9) | Toxic Waste Dump | |
| Pirates (5) |
POLSEN
A6-T44D-O43
The Polsen shipyards are the best shipyards in this subsector. Spanning 31 kilometers, the structure is the amalgamation of three previously independent yards into one super-structure. Now owned by GalCorp’s subsidiary, General Stardrive Incorporated, the shipyard services and overhauls more than 65% of the starcraft that travel through The Embers. Most of these are mining and ore transport vessels that are often customized to such a degree that they are almost impossible to recognize as the original craft model. The Polsen government was recently replaced by those more sympathetic to GalCorp and its profit hunters. The population are keenly aware that they may suffer. As of late, though, things have only changed with the shipyard. On world, the laws and policies are still being made through the original advisory boards, which have additional members comprising of the former planetary senate. Polsen also boasts the subsector’s best deep space operations hyper training center.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARM (4) | Hyper Training (4) | Shipyard (7) | Ground Defense Base |
| Drug Dealers (6) | Legal Networks (2) | Base Station (4) | |
| Mining Away Teams (9) | Refit (5) | Fleet (P) | |
| Silk Lambs (1) | Refuel (any) | Patrols (1,4) | |
| Smugglers (4) | Robotics Repair (5) | Automated Defense Systems | |
| Ground Missile Base (3) | |||
| Layered Array (6) | |||
| EW Stations (5) | |||
| K-Sats (2,4) |
POTAR
A7-N41M-Q50
Potar is the largest Battle Station in the subsector and maintains a stargate exclusively for military purposes. Home to over 50,000 defense personnel who are all well trained and equipped, the threat that Potar seems to guard against is a mystery to most people. The problem now is that the space-time anchor produced by GalCorp has turned out to be insufficient to maintain the station’s position relative to The Cauldron; the black hole is just too strong and is slowly pulling Potar into the region of space inundated with residual radiation and gravimetric waves from The Spill. Personnel are beginning to ready themselves for an evacuation and the stargate is in the process of being given to a planet in this subsector. Alpain has so far the most worthy claim, although experts believe that Whaifitz has a strong chance of receiving it. Potar is to be pulled down before it begins to accelerate towards its certain destruction and, after three months of deconstruction, will be declared a public salvage possibility. Officials at GalPol are worried that a Scav war may break out over the remains and are currently drafting plans to deal with the problems they expect to arise.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Personnel (10) | Armor Station (5) | None | Battle Station (5) |
| Arms Dealers (3) | Cybernetics Repair (4) | Fleets (CNN, CNV) | |
| Black Market (2) | Government Networks (3) | Automated Defense Systems | |
| Bounty Hunters (2) | Refit (5) | Complex Battle Array (6) | |
| Kizmetor (1) | Refuel (A-C Di- & Ti-Tritium) | Lasers (6,8) | |
| Mercenaries (2) | Robotics Repair (4) | Particle Beams (5,9) | |
| Scavs (1) | Weapons Shop (5) | Bio-Sentient Organisms (7) | |
| EW Stations (8) | |||
| Gunboat Squadron | |||
| K-Sats (3,9) |
PRETSKAR
A6-N22E-O52
A hot, dry world that exports cheap copper, sulphur, and fluorine to many different interests. The planet is privately owned by the secular Hurstville Mining Group, a mega-corp in the top 100 galaxy wide and in the top 25 in Draco. Weapons and personal equipment are restricted to low end tech level 2 items somewhat similar to the equipment found on Earth in the period of 1860-1914. The society on-world is officially a corporate run democracy, but is run like a semi-feudal state. Appointed managers for the company have rights similar to medieval baron landowners; they may search and seize any property or person deemed in contrary interest to the profits and well-being of Hurstville Mining Group. There are three loading facilities on-world of which only one is available as an entrance on to Pretskar. The lone orbital station is solely for security and observation.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Further Information | Assassination Services (4) | Mines | Orbital Station |
| Fencing Operations (5) | Mines (3) | ||
| Laundering Services (8) |
PRETZEL
I5-U81O-Q30
This popular stone-town in the region between Ash and Instigal is a favorite stop-over for all manner of shady characters who like a place to drink where the excitement never stops. The Killzone Cantina is the most popular and most dangerous of the 42 establishments that are frequented by the space trash who live and work on Pretzel. There is no law on Pretzel save the law of the biggest gun or nastiest trap, and as such, it bears the brunt of the Anti-Pirate Task Force’s activities in this subsector. Thankfully for the Pretzelites, they have many kilometers of tunnels in which to hide their contraband goods, and the rock has deposits of a scanner dampening alloy that makes all scans of Pretzel more difficult (6 levels harder). Defenses of the stone town are limited to personal war-cruiser fleets and low grade K-Sats. The people responsible for the stone towns defense net say that they cannot use its fullest potential. As to why, it seems that they do not wish to attract undue Alliance attention. Rumors persist of an ancient installation of incredible technological advancement that was excavated by the now defunct Ghanifrede Mining Consortium back in 2239. These rumors are difficult to verify because of the time elapsed since the companies closure in 2243, which has made records scarce on most public databases.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Market (9) | Assassination Services (4) | Ruins | Fleets (P) |
| Bounty Hunters (7) | Fencing Operations (5) | Stone Towns | K-Sats (2) |
| Drug Dealers (8) | ID Change (7) | ||
| Mercenaries (2) | Laundering Services (8) | ||
| Pirates (8) | Refuel (B,C ti-tritium) | ||
| Smugglers (8) | Weapons Shop (3) |
PROW
A5-N81Z-Q40
Prow takes its name from its position at the head of The Embers, the large asteroid field that emanates from The Spill. Prow is a stone town that extracts Ti-Tritium from its various mines. The colony is run by the head of security in what is essentially a dictatorship. All mining companies must pay security fees and air consumption rates to the Firm. The Firm is the name of the accounts department of the Prow Security Corporation and its responsibilities include the purchasing of food for the main supply houses (shopping centers), air, water, and repair components for maintenance of the atmospheric generators. Prow sells its jump fuel for 15% below the standard cost to any ship that is refueling in port. This is to promote visits and revenue to its secondary industry of entertainment and accommodation. Prow has an infamous brothel known as the Glory Hole. A tasteless name for what is really a stylish place to hire sexual favors. The reputation of Ms. Glory and her fantastic bedroom tricks has spread as far as Ala. Many spacers pass through here on their way to mining assignments in The Embers for their last taste of companionship for six months. A comprehensive automated defense system is the balancing factor of a world with no tech level restrictions on weapons or amour; they can be carried openly by the public. Current seismological surveys of the Prow planetoid have concluded that it is the cooled core of a once large exploded planet. Theories abound, from a distant planet that was sucked through The Cauldron to this being the largest remnant of a supra-mineral rich planet destroyed by a supernova.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Market (9) | Armor Station (3) | Mines | Fleets (P) |
| Drug Dealers (8) | Fencing Operations (8) | Stone Towns | K-Sats (2) |
| MATs (8) | ID Change (7) | Automated Defense Systems | |
| Mercenaries (5) | Laundering Services (8) | ||
| Pirates (8) | Refuel (A,B,C ti-tritium) | ||
| Smugglers (8) | Resorts (3,7,9) | ||
| Weapons Shop (3) |
SENTIEN
A---G
A Ghost Planet that has no known entrance. It appears to be an uninhabited supra mineral planet with a subtropical climate that supports a tremendous variety of plant and animal life. Sentien is of similar size to Neptune in the Sol system. Currently, exploration teams are being offered a bounty of three million credits for a safe passage to Sentien. It is known that at least six such teams are already competing for the cash--paid by the subsector commanders of exploration and colonization. As always, rumors involving ulterior motives and great sums of money are circulating, with Sackville-Thorpe, SSDC, AMC, and LMX Conglomerates at the front of these.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
SHELKEX
A5-T21C-O50
Desert plains and dry mountain ranges are the dominating landscapes on this large mineral rich planet that orbits alone the pale yellow giant star ND-309. Shelkex is a mining commune where the inhabitants look after each other and the world with the zeal of those who are happy, free, and wish to remain so. Exports include hull bracing and temperature resistant alloys used in the construction of space ship power cores. Shelkex also produces the refraction lenses that are used in low line laser artillery and a contract with Balshrom provides planetary defense to the miners.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATs (8) | Laundering Services (2) | None | Base Station (2) |
| Refuel (B,C) | Fleets (P) | ||
| Terrestrial Knowledge Service | Patrol (3,2) | ||
| Automated Defense Systems | |||
| EW Stations (4) | |||
| EDS (2) | |||
| Fighter Base (large) | |||
| K-Sats (7) | |||
| Space Platform (10) |
SO-CHAR
A2-U22F-O66
A Ram Python world that has little interaction with the surrounding systems. Python Lizards maintain a small base that has connections to the orbital station. Not a place to go if you’re under 2.5 meters tall. Over 3 million barely civilized Rams inhabit the planet.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | Refuel (A-C) | Farms | Orbital Station (2) |
TALLEY
A4-F32D-O44
Agrarian mega-production world. Beautifully situated in the bio-prime zone, Orbiting 1.01 AU from the yellow G sequence star. Food production keeps healthy incoming revenue to maintain the farm-bots that outnumber citizens by 16 to 1. Corn, wheat, barley, oats, malt, hops (for the massive brewing industry), livestock and some aquaculture in the three large glacial lakes on the north west continent are the bulk of product grown on Talley. There is one small mining operation by LMX Conglomerates on the range to the south of the Long Promontory on the southern continent. LMX sends undesirables that can’t be dismissed form service contracts to this frozen outpost to scratch out high-grade silver from the mountains.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Robotic Repair Station | Unknown | Base Station (1) |
XAPARIAT
I6-F03C-Q40
Xapariat orbits its sun at the third position in this five planet system. The low gravity and pure atmosphere are the legacy of Coreszian High Masters seeding efforts from many millennia past. Now Xapariat is the main Coreszian world in this sector of Draco and is maintaining friendly relations with the Alliance government. Coreszians are born into communes that provide for their every need, promoting healthy emotional states, using the technology and wisely executed tele-empathy of the High Masters. A base station is in high orbit, and visas are cheap at only 100cr. The defenses of Xapariat are unknown because of their classified nature, but it is suspected that they are also a legacy of the High Masters and thus of a tech level rivaling Mutzachan state-of-the-art. Recently, a small number of the native Coreszian populace of Xapariat have left the safe world and headed into Alliance space to try their lot at mercenary employment. The tele-empaths are greatly sought after by the mega-corps, especially the Chatilian Interest Firm who believe they can learn the Coreszian powers and add them to the Chatilian repertoire. Tele-empaths receive training on Xapariat for half cost and in 75% of the normal time.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coreszians (9) | Fencing Operations (2) | Matrix School (Coreszian) | Unknown |
| Coreszian Mercenaries (6) | ID Change (1) | Ruins | |
| Mercenaries (2) | Refit (3) | ||
| Silk Lambs (1) | Refuel (A-C di- and ti-tritium) | ||
| Smugglers (4) | Terrestrial Knowledge Service |
WHAIFITZ
A6-F53D-O43
Whaifitz is one of the major worlds in this subsector. It is an industrialized world with a slant on manufactured goods and refined mining products. The government believe the base station over Whaifitz is in dire need of a stargate to handle the amount of traffic it receives. Over the last fifteen years, Whaifitz has grown over one hundred and thirty percent due to its position between Gharick in sector 3 and the mineral rich asteroid field known as The Embers. The bulk of the population is now made up of refugees from the frontier worlds that have been desolated by Arachnid incursions. The Whaifitz government has allowed anyone to move on-world without a visa. Once they arrive, ID is established and they are in the system. Whaifitz has a large labor force and is constantly constructing new infrastructure with schemes to utilize the jobless. Unemployment on Whaifitz would be high if it weren’t for the government’s willingness to spend money on the planet instead of in speculative investments that has been the tradition of the past. A comprehensive refit service has been recently installed in the starport, and it is attracting more ships for overhauls and repairs from the Gharick Trade Run than was expected. The starport operates at full capacity, and it is for this reason that a crime escalation has attracted mercenaries and bounty hunters to serve as new sheriffs. The licenses they give out to the personnel who complete the examination successfully are limited to local system law enforcement only.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Market (4) | Armor Station (3) | Prison (2) | Ground Defense Base |
| Bounty Hunters (2) | Government Networks (2) | Base Station (3) | |
| Intrepids (2) | Laundering Services (1) | Fleets (P) | |
| Mercenaries (4) | Refit (4) | Patrols (5,7) | |
| Mining Away Teams (3) | Refuel (A-C di- and ti-tritium) | Automated Defense Systems | |
| Smugglers (6) | Resorts (1,2,7) | Space Platforms (3,6) | |
| Yontacha (1) |
ZACKSVILLE
A6-U63X-O51
Often called the port of rear entry, or more bluntly the ass end of The Cauldron, Zacksville is the main port of call for smugglers and cheap-skate traders that wish to avoid or bypass (is there a difference?) Alpain. Here privateers, bounty hunters, smugglers, mercenaries, ship jackers, and slavers congregate on the dry, almost lifeless, planet that supports the one large starbase of Zacksville. The history of the place is somewhat shrouded by the past, and how many people have told the tale, but it goes something like this:
Zack Custer Babbage was doing freelance work as a survey scout in the subsector for LMX Conglomerates. He was surveying an alternate route to travel from Ash to Tiobex. He found the route, but also found a planet with an oxygen atmosphere and potable natural water sources. It was almost a miracle. Zack Babbage told LMX that the route was hazardous, and there were no adequate stops for even long range craft such as his own. He even doctored his flight recorders to prove it. Well, LMX bought it up, and Zack Custer Babbage bought the claim for the planet at a measly 100,000cr. He then let word leak through his many freighter captain friends that there would soon be a free-port opening that would supply alternate jump routes to Tiobex. It almost worked. Not three months after he had spent his entire life savings and the resale creds from his survey vessel on building the port, he was shot dead by pirates and the whole place taken over. Well, that’s how the story goes…
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARM (3) | Armor Station (2) | None | Ground Based Particle Beam (3) |
| Black Market (9) | Fencing Operations (8) | Gunboat Squadron | |
| Bounty Hunters (4) | Laundering Services (6) | Fighter Base (small) | |
| Doltharians (1) | Refit (3) | Orbital Mines (1) | |
| Drug Dealers (7) | Refuel (A-C) | ||
| Intrepids (1) | Slave Auctions (4) | ||
| Mercenaries (5) | |||
| Moig Dua (3) | |||
| Pirates (8) | |||
| Silk Lambs (2) |
ZAR THOUM
U---T
A dark, lifeless world on the outer orbits of a small white star. A travelers’ advisory warning is in effect due to Rift-like activity that has been recorded by survey vessels. Occasionally, a smuggler will hide out on this world, and occasionally they’ll leave their ship on the surface never to be seen again.
| MGE | SERVICES | STRUCTURES | DEFENSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
THE CAULDRON INTERSTELLAR STOCK MARKET TRADE INDEX
| Planet | Min | Narc | Man. Goods | Slaves | LGA | A.I. | HGA | Food | Luxury | Water | Tech | Med | Mach | Precious |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpain | 5 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Aniam | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Ash | 6 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 4 |
| Assen | 2 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Bis | L11 | * | * | * | L14 | * | L12 | * | * | * | * | * | * | L16 |
| Calif-Ensekia | 8 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 5 |
| Dread | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Dreena | L10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 6 | L13 |
| Effervex | 5 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| Elskin | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Endyarn | 0 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| Happy Valley | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Hearth | 7 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| Instigal | 8 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| Ko-Sarentes | 4 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 5 |
| Menten | L9 | * | * | * | L16 | * | l11 | L7 | * | L2 | * | * | * | L19 |
| Mitox Prime | 7 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 9 | L18 |
| Mitox Shadow | 7 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 9 | L18 |
| Moorevvin | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| Nen | 5 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 5 |
| Nentar | 4 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| Noliess | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| Nookar | L11 | * | * | * | L11 | * | L11 | * | * | * | * | * | * | L16 |
| Norklannis | L17 | * | * | * | L19 | * | L21 | * | * | * | * | * | * | L24 |
| Polsen | 8 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Potar | 7 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Pretskar | 4 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| Prow | 3 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Sentien | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
| Shelkex | 4 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| So-Char | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Talley | 7 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| Xapariat | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Whaifitz | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| Zacksville | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Zor-Thoum | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
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