by Liam Devlin
Teddy (0901): This small habitable world's Human population lives apart
from the Sentient Automated Starport & Its minions of robots. The four
hundred humans dwelling here live comfortably far enough away as technological
renunciates at TL-5 (no computers!). The Starport itself, a Parent-Strain, with
its "flock of children" (Repair, security, cargo-handling, and miscellaneous
bots) mates with other willing AI visitors with "younglings". The Main Power
plant's (a Hobbyist), and the Weather-INSAT data systems (A Naturalist-Explorer)
are also part of this participatory democracy. One AI Starship remains, an
armed M-class 400dtn TL-10 Subsidized Merchant (J1/1G) run by a less than
stable Explorer-strain (formerly the SS Moon Walker).
Dyotson (1007): This system, containing the largest human population in
the subsector (200 million) has retained its Imperial Scout Base, its
pre-collapse D-class starport, and TL-9 infrastructure rather unscathed the past
seventy years. Despite the good news, the aging "space-fleet" has suffered
attritional losses commensurate with the era to Vampires as well as poor
maintenance. What remains is one third of what was stranded here after the
advent of Virus, the rest lost in battles with Vampires, pirates, or mishaps.
| Military Strength | 2 Million personnel total |
| Wet Navy (8%) | 160,000 personnel (53 MC's & 159 SC's) |
| ACC (20% x 1.5) | 600,000 personnel (1500 CAC & 600 AD batteries). |
| Ground Forces | 1,230,000 personnel (61 DE's & 10,000 Law enforcement agents) |
| Space Navy (4% x .5 x .25) | 10,000 personnel (3 MC's & 11 SC's). |
This fleet consists of:
| Government | Representative Democracy |
| Talent | Medium |
| Corruption | Medium |
| Cruelty | Low |
| Aggression | High |
| Paranoia/Xenophobia | Low |
| Administration | Medium |
| Intrigue | High |
| Diplomacy | |
| Military Strategies | Low |
| Military Tactics | High |
| Leadership | Medium |
| Military Strength | 25,000 |
| Wet Navy | None |
| ACC (20% x 1.5) | 7,500 personnel (18 CAC*, 8 AD batteries**, & 2 Planetary 10-100dtn cargo pod maglev projectors) |
| Ground Forces | 10,000 personnel (20 BE's [2x TL-13 & 18x TL-9]) |
| Space Navy (20% x 1.5) | 7,500 veteran personnel (2 MC's & 9 SC's). |
* 6 TL-13 Peregrine class Space Fighters & 12 TL-9 suborbital
interceptors
** 2 TL-13 & 6 TL-9; veteran/experienced crews
The space fleet consists of:
Path of Tears Government Characteristics Table
| Government | Participatory Democracy |
| Talent | High |
| Corruption | Low |
| Cruelty | Medium |
| Aggression | High |
| Paranoia/Xenophobia | Low |
| Administration | Low |
| Intrigue | Medium |
| Diplomacy | |
| Military Strategies | High |
| Military Tactics | Medium |
| Leadership | Medium |
Current clack: Helmholtz is looking into the renovation of its zero-Gee
metals industry, and is hiring Belters in the Dyotson System, as well as
bootstrapping their nascent belter community. Dyotson is angling for a better
trade deal that upgrades their starport to C-class.
Russo (1407): Russo's clans are making technological breakthroughs, and
re-expanding back into space on behalf of efforts from the government of
Valistor, utilizing VTOL technology & and several
Far Rebel & Roughneck class STL ships. The clans are
Solomani-Eastern Eurpoean in descent since the 2nd Imperium and are fiercely
independent & proud. Much of the planet's resources and wealth have yet to
be tapped and Valistor is looking to create a Polity here in the main, but for
the TEDs of Fromabes.
Path of Tears Government Characteristics Table
| Government | None |
| Talent | High |
| Corruption | Medium |
| Cruelty | Low |
| Aggression | High |
| Paranoia/Xenophobia | High |
| Administration | High |
| Intrigue | Medium |
| Diplomacy | |
| Military Strategies | High |
| Military Tactics | Medium |
| Leadership | High |
Current clack: Certain corrupt members of the Brezhnev Clan are taking
bribes from the Guild on Valistor's ship movements.
Fromabes (1408): This system's TED is in actuality the president of the
Starport Employees Union of pre-war days, known as "The Unione" (natives are
Solomani-French Terrans ethnically). They are the Mercantile Starfarer's Guild
and have done everything they can to prevent Valistor from
uniting the main. Population may vary due to the influx of slaves from time to
time as they are shipped to the various TEDs in the subsector. Other stops for
this market include Du, Lluara, Kunagnos, & raiding
the likes of Nerus (TL-2) for a source of cheap labor.
The PADM silos of pre-war days are online, and manned (TL-14, [1 battery, 4
launchers each]). 4 (small) Guild vessels call on this port in the subsector:
SMGS Mistmaster, M-class armed Merchant (TL-10, 400dtn, J-1/1G), SMGS
Robs Pierre, an armed EMMC Stellar liner (TL-15, 590 dtns,
J-3/1G) and 2 armed Jayhawk class Far Traders (TL-12, 200dtns, J2/1G):
SMGS Chameleon, SMGS Slipknots, & Shackles respectively.
Path of Tears Government Characteristics Table
| Government | Self-Perpetuating Oligarchy |
| Talent | High |
| Corruption | High |
| Cruelty | High |
| Aggression | High |
| Paranoia/Xenophobia | High |
| Administration | High |
| Intrigue | Medium |
| Diplomacy | |
| Military Strategies | High |
| Military Tactics | High |
| Leadership | Medium |
Current clack: Local Guild Subsector Captain, Dona' Vargas de Amberville,
is planning to ambush a Valistorian trade mission next time it passes thru
system.
Valistor (1409): Valistor is the positive force for change & renewal
in the subsector, but is hampered by the lack of a Shipyard. Like
Helmholtz and other systems in the Havensmist subsector,
Valistor was blessed with no gas giants; but like Helmholtz, it had to clear
itself of Vampires, finally doing so in 1190. Also Like Helmholtz, the
Valistorians have revitalized their belter industry. Valistorian government is a
constitutional monarchy (think England/Holland). Current ruler is Baroness
Valeria Dupres.
| Military Strength (25%) | 100,000 personnel |
| Wet Navy | None |
| ACC (20%) | 20,000 personnel (50 CAC* & 20 AD batteries**) |
| Ground Forces (70%) | 70,000 personnel (3 DE's [1 TL-11[Grav] & 2 TL-10] & 10,000 Security/Police forces [TL-10]) |
| Space Navy | 10,000 personnel (3 MC's & 11 SC's) |
* 5 TL-11 Termagant class Fighters & 45 TL-10 CAC
** 2 TL-11 & 18 TL-10
This fleet consists of:
Path of Tears Government Characteristics Table
| Government | Charismatic Oligarchy |
| Talent | High |
| Corruption | Low |
| Cruelty | Low |
| Aggression | Medium |
| Paranoia/Xenophobia | Low |
| Administration | High |
| Intrigue | Medium |
| Diplomacy | |
| Military Strategies | High |
| Military Tactics | Medium |
| Leadership | High |
Current clack: CDRE Erik De Vries' Naval Intelligence branch is aware
that "Slavers" are operating nearby, and is preparing a Q-ship convoy to rid
the main of this menace. Valistorian Naval Scouts have recently discovered
starships operating in the neighboring systems Spinward of them (Dyotson &
Helmholtz). A diplomatic mission is being planned for mid 1200.
Coluylman (1607): Coluylman is that rare system that despite the war,
Hard Times, and Collapse, remained unchanged, save for modest population growth.
Likewise, the lack of talented leadership has also stymied any chances to
promote change and move on. Her stellar position around her sole small gas giant
allows her to access the nearby asteroid belt. The Guild uses her as their
trailing port of call and have poisoned the government against the "Valistorian
Imperial Menace". A few Roughneck class STL Frontier Fuel harvesters
work the gas giant, providing propane & petrochemicals to the planet which
lacks such resources.
Coluylman boasts of no navy, but has a small air force and planetary AD
batteries (TL-7), as well as a heavily armed paramilitary police force (Lt
armored wheeled vehicles).
Path of Tears Government Characteristics Table
| Government | Representative Democracy |
| Talent | Low |
| Corruption | Medium |
| Cruelty | Low |
| Aggression | High |
| Paranoia/Xenophobia | High |
| Administration | Medium |
| Intrigue | Medium |
| Diplomacy | |
| Military Strategies | Medium |
| Military Tactics | Low |
| Leadership | Medium |