Ellmay System, Kiartanne Constellation , Verge Vendor Region
Ellmay system is among the younger settlements in the Verge Vendor region, albeit discovered more than a hundred years ago, the Federation did not start any serious colonization efforts until the end of the Caldari-Gallente war and CONCORD regulations came into full effect. The Federation needed to boost itself economically and large scale colonization was considered the only way to promote growth all across known space.
Lacking any inhabitable planet, the choice was to adapt Ellmay IV, and the success of said transformation in particular is a testament to just how much planetary engineering has improved since the early days. Deemed the only suitable body to be terraformed, it originally presented a very toxic and corrosive atmosphere composed of Hydrochloric acid vapor, Nitrogen dioxide, Nitric acid vapor and traces of carbon monoxide with a mean temperate of 120° C due to the thick atmosphere and trapped heat.
Using a very aggressive technique of bombardment using icy comets and asteroids, the atmospheric composition was drastically changed to be saturated with water vapor. Additionally, precision ballistic bombardment was used to create massive cracks 10km deep into the surface and make the newly created shallow, and highly acidic, oceans react with the exposed bedrock and metals. Even as far as diverting the solutions deep into the planetary crust by the artificially created rifts.
In less than 5 years the average temperature dropped below 55° C, the acidic PH changed to more manageable levels and the chemical sequestration of the toxic compounds allowed bioengineers to release a myriad of microorganisms to begin creating a more favorable ecosystem.
Although the terraforming process was advancing according to schedule and within the budget of the Federal Administration, its cost, along with many other similar undertakings across known space was quite significant. In order to palliate these costs, early licenses to explore and exploit space-based resources were granted before the planet was inhabitable. One of such ventures was a partnership between Aliastra and Astral Mining, with Aliastra investing in a space station while Astral Mining focused on deploying outposts throughout asteroid belts and 14 moons of Planet VIII. With valuable deposits of [MOONGOO] both corporations soon began profiting from exporting said products within the region.
Shortly after, X-Sense opened a high-tech Chemical refinery. Jovian ventures were not unheard of within Federation borders, but were always considered a strange arrival in any neighborhood. Curiously, the refinery was a perfect addition to the extraction and processing taking place around Planet VIII, and with the later discovery of [MOONGOO] around the moons of planet [XX] the production of alloys and advanced industrial compounds was on the rise.
In 25 years, the planetary engineering on Ellmay IV proved successful and the conditions reached the point to be tolerable for human settlement and incorporate basic life forms. Christened "Trespolegne" for the haste in which the environment was adapted and its particular look of exposed washed bedrock or exotic polished metals. A great deal of unionists and progressives came looking for a new beginning, and naturally, very soon local governments were formed and voting terms defined.
The colonists began thriving out of domed cities, greenhouses and artificial lakes. Potable water was in particular the most valuable resources, as natural rainfall still presented an acidic PH value that required additional treatment before being considered suitable for human consumption. It is said, that the local custom of presenting a glass of fresh water to an arriving guest might have been born around this time.
With internal food demand met by local farmers, albeit barely given the harsh conditions, it was the construction business that was the real economic driving force; all the exposed material from the planet's surface facilitated the extraction of high-quality Granite, Basalt, Andresite and Quartz. Beautiful architecture was made out of these materials and, given the arid and jagged nature of the planet, a distinctive housing style evolved with a predominance of interior gardens and artificial fountains, creating a micro-weather effect inside the living spaces and providing a visual and beautiful contrast to the outer landscape.
By YC80 local biologists developed a breed of exquisite cactus fruits and flowers, artisans crafted beautiful jewelry with the available precious metals, and a recognized architectural style that was praised for its simplicity and use of rock materials for megalithic monuments and grandiose public buildings was common. The entirety of the system was bursting with economic activity as another X-Sense station was opened around Planet I and Nugoeihuvi created a movie studio in orbit around Planet IX. Several space-towns were opened in various Lagrange points dedicated to zero-g manufacturing and harvesting solar energy, it was the perfect outcome in the views of any politician or government officer in the Federation.
This changed in YC85, when a city with a predominant Minmatar population revolted and denounced the planetary governor for discrimination and unjust distribution of fiscal funds for public services. Sebiestor citizens were among the last wave of colonists and pioneers after YC60 and in an effort to promote their own culture and traditions, the new arrivals settled away from the main Gallente and Intaki cities. Since then there were various accusations of improper planning in the construction of water reservoirs, dams and other public infrastructure, accusations of segregation and mistreatment were also mentioned in the local news but never really proved.
It wasn't until the large riots that the Federal Administration came to resolve the problem, along with a special observer committee from the Republic. The former planetary governor and high management positions were fired after undeniable proof of discrimination was found. Special elections were held shorty after, and in what can be counted as one of the few cases of non-citizens being included in the Federal political process, Sebiestor candidates ran for several city roles and won 2 important seats, giving a truly mixed and representative body to the planetary population.
For many years the local economy experienced a sustained growth and although there were better options for pioneers who wished to settle in new worlds, the people of Trepolegne enjoyed a good quality of life.
By YC105, the first CONCORD warning for criminal activity in the system was issued, and by YC106 a confirmed Serpentis intrusion identified. Crime in the Federation has always been an issue, and Serpentis drug dealers were nothing new, but the fact that it was a CONCORD issued notification hit all the major newscasters, and negatively affected the projected economic growth with a sense of insecurity. Many of the former space-towns built were not successful or short-lived as the business opportunities lasted not more than a few years for any given activity, after 20years of failed ventures, the system had a large number of ghost towns and obviously Serpentis took advantage of this by secretly occupying said locations. With little surveillance or control over who was using what, Serpentis created several drug manufacturing centers. The Federation Navy and even hired mercenaries, capsuleers mostly, re-captured or destroyed these illegal factories as they were detected and found, but within a few months new cases were arriving at the desk of the local law enforcement agencies.
Regardless of these issues, by YC112 the system was considered fully developed by Federation standards, with the majority of the space-based activities handled by capsuleer-lead corporations. The Aliastra station became a Warehouse and Trading center while the Natural beauties of "Trespolegne" along with its now famous hanging gardens of light, or "lumiere jardins", considered a must-see for any self-respected tourist.
The last event that has shaped the people and economy of Ellmay is the large influx of capital in new ventures after CONCORD allowed capsuleers to exploit the resources found in planets. The Storm worlds of Ellmay II and Ellmay III along with the frozen world of Ellmay X are now considered the largest and most active developments for extraction and production of exotic compounds and high-tech commodities in the system.
With a total population of 200million and a sustained 4% growth annually, Ellmay's future is as bright as it can be for any system under Federation jurisdiction.
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My last piece of "fiction", describing the Ellmay system in Verge Vendor. I chose to go for a much younger and hasted process of colonization. More happy with the result than my previous piece of Mormoen.
Currently there are a couple of placeholders, such [MOONGOO] and planet [XX], as i still havent got the time to survey the moons in system, but once is ready i'll add that info.
Also the whole Serpentis drug trade is related to the DED complex present in the system, which was quite interesting to "explain", under current game mechanics.
Hope to hear what you guys think of this one.
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Topic: [SYSTEM] Ellmay, Verge Vendor (Read 1554 times)