LIBUKA

by Liam Devlin

Libuka (2202): This once high populated world used to be the subsector capitol. Libuka's former military garrison exerted its grip during the Collapse. Even as billions died, industries were nationalized & all pre-war tech level assets were seized. The enforced low-berthing of "excess" unemployable citizenry, was one of the measures undertaken during the Collapse that allowed the planet to survive with the 80 million she has today. However, many who entered low berths before the Collapse, in the "Timer" clubs, were lost when their machines were infected by Suicider strains of Virus and improperly "thawed".

The joint government of military, space industrial complex (Belters & gas giant miners), and other scientific and technical related fields (Medical community for example) has grown more xenophobic and autocratic during the past 70 years. Unfortunately the bureaucracy created by the leadership to support their regime is also its stumbling block on progressing forward technologically & economically.

The Navy's ships are all non-jump capable. They include 2 armed LSP-MP ships (TL-12, 5ktn, NJ/1G) and an Escort-destroyer (TL-13, 5ktn, NJ/6G). The smaller ships comprise of 3 Seeker-class mining ships (TL13, 100dtn, NJ/2G); 4 armed Far Rebel STL freighters (TL-8, 220dtn, NJ/1G); 2 Roughneck class frontier Fuel Harvesters (TL-7, 200dtn, Nj/1G), & 2 Drakaran SDBs (TL-13, 600dtns, NJ/5G).

Path of Tears Government Characteristics Table

Government	Totalitarian Oligarchy
Talent	Low
Corruption	Medium
Cruelty	High
Aggression	Medium
Paranoia/Xenophobia	High
Administration	Medium
Intrigue
Diplomacy	Low
Military Strategies	High
Military Tactics	Medium
Leadership	High

Illyria (2005): Illyria sits in the second orbit around her primary Dalmatia Alpha, while the companion M-class dwarf, Dalmatia Beta, rests in the 5th orbit. All three gas giants (1 small, 2 large) lie beyond this point (orbits 6, 8, & 12 from primary). The ore rich Illyrian Belt lies astride the 3rd & 4th orbits, caught in the maelstrom of the gravity wells, a natural hazard to shipping. This hazard has made approach to the planet hazardous, and many would-be Vampire predatory vessels have met their doom here. However, the Illyrians have been blissfully ignorant of this blessing.

The Mystic Autocracy which governs here is descended from the 1239th Reserve Fleet Naval base personnel & their dependents, stranded here by the war. The orbital facility is what one might call a "junk-port" built from the remaining orbital station and a non-jump capable Fleet Tanker (TL-11, 700 ktns), with no engines, set into geosynchronous orbit. The Port's Data-Priesthood maintains the station & downport. Those few ships that do visit here are free traders & some Guild ships. Life is regimented by the military clock and duty shifts. Many of the repairs were learned by rote, and are taught the same way. Upon arrival, ship crews are questioned as to which "version" of faith they belong to and, so long as they do not proselytize themselves and pay promptly (Tithe), they may leave unmolested. Proselytizers are sent to the Inquisition, and if deemed heretical, may be promptly executed by an airlock rapid exit-sans PLSS! The Mystics here view the Collapse as "God's punishment" for taking His gifts of technology for granted.

*a Holy Order of Priest-warrior Monks. Their name derives from "Imperial Marine Division".
**with 1,875 "Tech-Priests" assigned to the "Heavenly Port".

The small combatants are 3 armed small merchant ships (1 A2 Jayhawk, 1 Morraine Free Trader, 1 "Fat" Trader), and 3 Sentry class SDBs (TL-11/10/7, 400dtns, 3G), each supported by 250 "Priests".

Path of Tears Government Characteristics Table

Government	Mystic Autocracy
Talent	High
Corruption	Low
Cruelty	Medium
Aggression	High
Paranoia/Xenophobia	Medium (unless you're a heretic--then look out!)
Administration	High
Intrigue
Diplomacy	Medium
Military Strategies	Medium
Military Tactics	Medium
Leadership	Low

Nayda (1904) and Renite (2103) are both planets that suffered from Black War strikes in 1121-23. Lucan's fleet, in their pursuit of Dulinor's Federation Navy, rendered their atmospheres insidious long enough to make them doomed worlds (6 years). Their atmospheres resumed their Pre-War status several decades later, too late to save the remaining inhabitants.


Deanne (2002): Despite their TL-10 resources in pre-war days, Deanne was a relatively out of the way place. The Hard Times actually increased their prosperity; taking on refugees from Nayda & nearby Renite in the doomed trade, when Libuka halted immigration in late 1125. Deanne lies in the 8th orbit around her primary star. Her gas giants (2 small & 2 large) lie in orbits 3, 4, 7, & 11. Deanne is a known port of call to some 4-5 Free Traders that ply the subsector, as well as the Guild.

Technology Breakdown: Personal Military TL-5, Heavy Military TL-8, Computers TL-8, Engineering/Architecture TL-8, Medicine TL-5, Agricuture TL-5, Air TL-7, Sea TL-8, Land TL-5, Space TL-9, and Power generation TL-9.

These being 6 Spear class monitors (TL-10/9, 1kton, 1G), 12 Lancet class System patrol boats (TL-10/9, 200dtn, 2G), and 7 Roughneck class Frontier fuel harvesters (TL-7/8, 220dtns, 1G).

Path of Tears Government Characteristics Table

Government	Civil Service Bureaucracy
Talent	Medium
Corruption	Low
Cruelty	Low
Aggression	Low
Paranoia/Xenophobia	Low
Administration	High
Intrigue
Diplomacy	Low
Military Strategies	Medium
Military Tactics	High
Leadership	High

Deanne's lack of diplomacy is due to their inability to reproduce jump drives. Their High military tactics (especially with navy & space forces) comes from 70 years of repelling vampire ships. Their lower tech "army" (TL-5) was a sacrifice the government made based on their natural resources. They could sustain CPR firearms more easily than Personal laser weapons, sparing technology for Spaceborne ships' weapons, which they deemed more appropriate for planetary defense. Despite this incongruity, the "Army" is more planetary police. Trooper for trooper, the Marines are the true military might here.


Greeth (2105): Greeth lies in the 2nd orbit around her Primary star. The nearest of her two small gas giants lies at Orbit 8. The second at orbit 11. The asteroid belt lies at orbit 5.

Greeth's Participatory Democracy could not handle the changes wrought by the Rebellion. During the Hard Times, a military junta seized control of the government. They managed to stabilize the tech level at 10, while maintaining the B-class starport. The arrival of Virus in 1129-30 disrupted the Military Junta, leading to a mad scramble for control. By 1135 the planet had restored order, but was balkanized by the continents & island chains. By 1170 Tech had been raised back to a sustainable average of 7. All the governments are TEDs, but rely on various types of relic tech to stay in power.

Path of Tears Government Characteristics Table

Nation	Yaarbo	Zhiinja	Berniiy	Vuugash	Baerens	Forusca	Downstay	Haarjor
Population	5 mil	5 mil	5 mil	5 mil	2.5 mil	2.5 mil	2.5 mil	2.5 mil
Government	TED	TO	MD	TED	TED	CD	TO	TED
Talent	Med	Low	High	Low	High	High	High	Med
Corruption	High	High	High	Med	Med	Med	Low	Low
Cruelty	High	High	Med	Low	High	Low	Low	Low
Aggression	Low	Med	High	High	Med	Med	High	High
Paranoia/Xenophobia	Low	High	Med	High	Med	Low	Med	High
Administration	Med	Med	High	Med	High	Med	High	Med
Intrigue	Low	Low	Med	Med	Med	High	Low	Low
Diplomacy	High	High	High	Med	Med	Med	Low	High
Military Strategies	High	Low	Med	High	Med	Med	Med	Med
Military Tactics	Low	Low	Low	Med	Low	Med	High	High
Leadership	Med	Low	High	Low	Low	High	High	Low
Tech Level	9	5	8	6	7	9	5	7

Plus 10 other nation-states of approx. 1 million people each. 50% are TEDs. The average TL is 7.

Notes on nations:
Yaarbo controls the D-class downport, and what there is of a space force, with Guild sponsored technology.
E-class downports exist in the nations of Forusca, Berniiy and Baerens.

*The large ships being 4 LSP-MP ships (TL-12/9, 5ktns, 1G) and 4 armed bulk freighters [1 Ore hauler (TL-10, 10ktn, NJ/1G), 1 AH Bulk hauler (TL11/9, 5ktn, NJ/1G), & 2 Starhauler class freighters (TL15/9, 1ktn, NJ/1G)]. 16 Seeker class mining ships (TL12/9, 100dtn, NJ/2G), 4 LSP refining vessels (TL-13/9, 400dtns NJ/1G), 5 Jackal class SDBs (TL-12/9, 400dtn, 4G).

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