Difference between revisions of "Minkowski"
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However they were never close enough to ZOCU to gain access to coveted megaparticle technology, and preferred a paradigm of potent warships rather than high-acceleration smallcraft. | However they were never close enough to ZOCU to gain access to coveted megaparticle technology, and preferred a paradigm of potent warships rather than high-acceleration smallcraft. | ||
=====Totals===== | =====Totals===== | ||
| − | +SP | + | +SP<br> |
radical morphological change<br> | radical morphological change<br> | ||
+transhuman<br> | +transhuman<br> | ||
Revision as of 08:28, 17 July 2009
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Astrography
Mara
The fearsome black hole at the heart of the system is named Mara. Its attendant accretion disc sheds light comparable to the sun, along with a much larger quantity of high-energy radiation. The blazing disc, perpendicular jets and twinkling posthuman satellites were noted as one of the 'Seven Wonders of the Human Sphere' in the travel text of the same name.
Posthuman Structures
Many rings of elaborate diamondoid objects encircle the black hole and its jets. They are believed to be scientific instruments. One houses a research station that studies the structures and Mara itself, but many of the others are being dismantled for useful components that find their way into everything from FTL drives to lightweight shielded spacesuits.
Yama
Yama is a large rocky planet massing nine Earths.
Yami
Yami is a small icy planet massing one-third Earth.
Naraka
Naraka masses a mere 0.05 Jupiters and contains a high proportion of water vapour. It is orbited by the helium-mining colony Oneill.
Heaven's Stair
Minkowsky's primary asteroid belt, also known as 'Changcheng' or simply 'the Belt' lies between Naraka and Xibalba. The majority of the Minkowskan population lives here, in the major colony complexes Gagarin and Tereshkova.
Xibalba
Xibalba masses 2 Jupiters and contains a high proportion of methane.
Diyu
Diyu masses 0.5 Jupiters and is almost exclusively hydrogen and helium based. It is orbited by the helium-mining colony Einstein.
Physiology
Variations
Minkowskans Abroad
Popular approaches include light exoskeletons, mobile furniture, and swimming.
Sociology
Economy
Shipyards, mining.
Culture
Airctopi and xenophobia.
Food
Meatball trees.
Clothing
Skintight spacesuits.
Religion
Gravity is the destructive influence of the Adversary, only by abandoning it can our souls ascend to Heaven.
Heterodox Sects
Art and Literature
Politics
History
Timeline
2066: Departed Earth
2068: Arrival in Minkowsky system
2074: Expeditions to necklaces authorised
2075: Homo caelum primus developed
2084: First necklace derivatives developed
2090: Homo caelum secundus developed
2111: Homo caelum tertius crisis
2125: Contact reestablished
2133: Civil war begins
2134: Civil war ends
2135: Liberals take power
214X: Breakdown begins
2155: Nationalists take power
217Y: Breakdown ends
2175: Liberals take power
2180: ZOCU war begins
2189: ZOCU war ends
2190: Nationalists take power
2194: Present day
Provisional History Path:
X: Found Religion
(+morale, -wealth)
The followers of Minkowsky Transcendentalism, AKA 'Cavorites' or 'Spacer Cultists', believed in a new religion that preached the corrupt nature of gravity.
A1: Longshot Mission
(+fabbers)
They vanished from Earth history in the 2060s.
A2: Mixed
(+transgene, +SP)
They were a motley crew of space-bound dreamers, true believers, and the poor or displaced, carrying a blend of expertise, faith and willing labour into the unknown.
A3: No Suitable World
They washed up in the system they christened Minkowsky. There wasn't much there beyond rocks and gas and gateways to hell. The former suited, the latter did not.
A4: Adapt
(radical morphological change)
In accordance with their beliefs they adapted to their environment, carefully testing each alteration as they went but eventually arriving at the slim, hairless homo caelum.
B1: Artifact Find
(+dust)
The Minkowskans, as they were now called, were not the first inhabitants of the system. The posthumans had been there before, and left uncountable unusual structures pointing into the black hole.
B4: Useful Finds
(+CIP)
Bitter about being dumped next to such a ghastly thing, the Minkowskans set upon the telescopes hungrily as soon as safe methods were developed. Components are now used for all kinds of applications, from sensor arrays to spacesuit shielding.
C1: Crisis Situation
(+stockpiles)
Once contact was reestablished, the xenophobic religious establishment clashed with the more open elements of society over foreign investment into Minkowsky's command economy.
C2: Shoot it Repeatedly
(+military)
A 'compromise' was brokered, that was actually mostly a win for the liberals as it sharply curtailed the power of the clergy and opened Minkowsky to foreign investment. Nevertheless, conditions improved.
D1: Broken-down
(+PIP)
Minkowsky's new economy, based on selling resources and manufacturing to the prosperous Core, did not survive the collapse of FTL travel.
D3: Become Energy Independent
(+helium, +dust)
The moment was siezed and the nation was saved by the visionary politician Rakesh Zhang. His National party blindsided the discredited Liberals and fundamentalist Conservatives to sieze control of the government. The governing philosophy was one of national sovereignty and strength, with enough religious overtones to capture much of the Conservative vote.
E1: Independence!
(++++tech, -shipbuilding)
Much as Zhang liked the Zodiac Union, it was politically impossible to join it given the xenophobic national discourse at the end of the Breakdown.
F1: Get Sirius
(+hangarize, +morale, +ZOCU relations, -Treaty of Sirius)
He died before the outbreak of the Space War, but his legacy and some clever Zodiac diplomacy made Minkowsky a co-belligerent of the colonies.
F2: The Tensor Building
(+dust, +CIP, +RP, +weapons tech)
The war effort turned Minkowsky's considerable astronautics expertise to the business of violence.
F3: The Fleet does the Flying
(+military, +PIP, +fleet doctrines, +ship tech)
However they were never close enough to ZOCU to gain access to coveted megaparticle technology, and preferred a paradigm of potent warships rather than high-acceleration smallcraft.
Totals
+SP
radical morphological change
+transhuman
+fabbers
++PIP
++CIP
+++dust
+helium
+stockpiles
++military
++morale
++++tech
+weapons tech
+ship tech
+hangarize
+RP
+fleet doctrines
+ZOCU relations
-wealth
-shipbuilding
-Treaty of Sirius