Overview • Northwest Anchor • Southeast Anchor • Administration • Applications • FAQ
"Amidst the flickering light of dying stars, upon the edge of the galaxy, stands a path forged from night to the glimmering of a pale rimward horizon. From this otherworld of burning ice come ancient riches, dark and eldritch technology and wonders beyond compare, pulled from deadly worlds and eidolonic ruins by the hands of the brave, bold and the foolish alike. Here men become kings and kings become beggars, returning to the fiery heart of the galaxy as immortals.. or not at all, all at the mad whims of cold fate.
The Reach is Waiting…"
The Reach is Waiting…"
Welcome to Pale Stars
• Overview •
Snaking out from the Free State Republic (FSR) and the Liu Xiu Economic Zone (LX), the Pale Stars Trade Corridor (PSTC) represents one of the first major interstellar trade lanes to traverse outwards to the volatile Northwestern rim of the Gamma quadrant. Winding through a realm of dark, dangerous and strange stars it enters the luminous boundaries of the Pale Reaches, a vast otherworldly interstellar anomaly, and anchors itself within Faelanic Quietude (FQ) at its capital, Parthas. Overseen by a joint trade administration between the Faelanic Quietude and the FSR, the Pale Stars Trade Corridor represents a new stage in economic relations between the rimward nations on the galactic periphery and the coreward states. Now with extensive support and protection from both nations, the Pale Stars Trade Corridor hopes exploit the rim’s vast untapped wealth, ensuring for future generations an enduring age of financial prosperity and political stability within the Northwest Gamma quadrant.
Whilst Northwest Gamma had once been a bastion of civilisation in the distant past, as evidenced by its vast precursor ruins and ancient abandoned “wild” terraforming projects, it has long been lost to the ravages of piracy, violence, political instability and despotism, as well as hosts hostile interstellar terrors endemic to the sector. Despite this, many races both native and foreign have managed to carve out civilisations amidst this vast “terra incognita” that consists of the inhospitable and brutal galactic frontier. Cut off from much of the rest of the galaxy, the Northwestern rim has struggled to keep its neck above the tide of opportunistic raiders that have chosen to occupy it, fighting a constant war against the sapient detritus of the coreward races, as well as older threats now stirring once more from their long dormancy. It is hoped that Pale Stars, anchored deep into the protective arms of the otherworldly Pale Reaches, shall provide ample economic stimulus for the native rimward nations to rise once more and re-establish their long forgotten power upon the galactic stage.
Third party financial interests in Pale Stars may be solidified through either the construction of waystations along its length, or by applying for embassies or financial freeholds at either of the two anchoring economic zones. The Northwestern Anchor consists of the Parthas Economic Zone, run by the Faelanii and consisting of three systems, with the Southeastern consisting of an equal number of systems under the Federal Republics jurisdiction. Economic backing will ensure a direct point access to the the largest market of lucrative resources, technology and goods on the rim, and furthermore bring prosperity to all cooperative economic markets associated with the PSTC administration. Such prosperity is already growing apparently with the numerous small nations through which the Pale Stars Trade Corridor passes, providing a line of civilisation through a region troubled by instability and violence.
Whilst Northwest Gamma had once been a bastion of civilisation in the distant past, as evidenced by its vast precursor ruins and ancient abandoned “wild” terraforming projects, it has long been lost to the ravages of piracy, violence, political instability and despotism, as well as hosts hostile interstellar terrors endemic to the sector. Despite this, many races both native and foreign have managed to carve out civilisations amidst this vast “terra incognita” that consists of the inhospitable and brutal galactic frontier. Cut off from much of the rest of the galaxy, the Northwestern rim has struggled to keep its neck above the tide of opportunistic raiders that have chosen to occupy it, fighting a constant war against the sapient detritus of the coreward races, as well as older threats now stirring once more from their long dormancy. It is hoped that Pale Stars, anchored deep into the protective arms of the otherworldly Pale Reaches, shall provide ample economic stimulus for the native rimward nations to rise once more and re-establish their long forgotten power upon the galactic stage.
Third party financial interests in Pale Stars may be solidified through either the construction of waystations along its length, or by applying for embassies or financial freeholds at either of the two anchoring economic zones. The Northwestern Anchor consists of the Parthas Economic Zone, run by the Faelanii and consisting of three systems, with the Southeastern consisting of an equal number of systems under the Federal Republics jurisdiction. Economic backing will ensure a direct point access to the the largest market of lucrative resources, technology and goods on the rim, and furthermore bring prosperity to all cooperative economic markets associated with the PSTC administration. Such prosperity is already growing apparently with the numerous small nations through which the Pale Stars Trade Corridor passes, providing a line of civilisation through a region troubled by instability and violence.
• Northwestern Anchor Astrological Information •
The astrography of the Parthas Economic Zone covers a total of three stellar systems within the 'Faelanii Home Cluster' known as 'The Painted Vale'. This consists of the Faelanii capital Parthas, the paradise world of Prydannica and the corsair republic of Morah. The Parthas Economic Zone is known more commonly to many spacefarer's as “The Northwestern Anchor”, providing a common ground to rimward states to trade and engage in public discourse and diplomacy, as well as allowing easy access to technological and material pleasures - both coreward and rimward - for potential buyers.
‘The Pale Reaches’
The Pale Reaches is an interstellar anomaly originating from a unusually massive dimensional rupture in its astrological centre, and is positioned on the northwestern galactic rim of the Gamma Quadrant. From this immense stellar scar vast rippling tides of strange dark matter emanate, known to the natives as “The Reef”. This dark matter takes the form of vast bankings of semi-solid crystalline material, visible to the naked eye, discharging both light and small amounts of heat as it seemingly ‘burns’ in a manner that remains still poorly understood. This matter has spread across a vast area of space, encompassing countless thousands of systems and has proven to be a grave obstacle in traversing the Pale Reaches, reacting violently to physical interaction and consuming anything that touches it. The Pale Reaches however is not a forever expanding location, and it seems instead that the reef - although it cannot be destroyed by conventional means - is slowly but surely degenerating after a prolonged lifetime, resulting in semi-permanent borders once it reaches the furthest edge of the Reach.
The reef has thus rendered much of the systems within the Pale Reaches inaccessible, asides from a small number of points of ingress that break through the barrier and which fluctuate depending on the “seasons”. Thus far three permanent points of entry have been found so far that allow access to the reef, two of which have seasonal periods of growth and retraction and the third consisting of a stable corridor leading to the Faelanii, a thing made possible by a subspace eddy within that region of the Reach which disrupts the movement of the reef around it.
Despite the immense dangers of charting a course through the Reef, many non-natives have tried to map the constantly shifting tumultuous region of space and plunder its treasures, with varying levels of success. Before the Faelanii contacted the rest of the galaxy, the third pass was unknown, and most made their attempts through the first and second, resulting in a litany of disappearances, deaths and near fatal escapes from the reef and its ecology. With access to stellar mapping the process has become easier, if not less hazardous, as the reef has its own endemic lifeforms, many of which are incredibly dangerous to encounter. Still some consider it well worth the risk, as the inner core of the reef along with a fair number of its coreward worlds are home to a veritable trove of untapped precursor artefacts, cut off for thousands of years from the hands of scavengers and looters. Now through the Parthas Economic Zone these lone adventurers now have a base of operations from which to launch from, albeit all under the watchful eye of the Faelanii administration.
Locations within the Northwestern Anchor
‘Parthas’
Parthas is a massive five thousand year old ringworld that served as the capital of the once-great Aeshanii Empire, lost to time but unearthed from its solitude once more by their Faelanii successors. Although the proud structure is in disrepair due to catastrophic damage to a quarter of its surface, and has been overrun with highly aggressive fauna on two of the other remaining sections, a single remaining quarter of it - “The Palatine Core”- remains in relatively pristine condition. As a result of this the Faelanii have since recolonised the site after its transfer to the deep rim, and now reside primarily in a series of thirteen cities across its surface, with the ancient metropolis of Tantallath serving as the seat of the Faelanii imperial dynasty. To prevent looting or foreigners disturbing the bodies of the long dead dating from its abandonment, access to the surface of Parthas has been restricted to nine continents that a form an unusual “impact crater” at its centre and represents the most densely settled inner zone of colonisation. Its monumental - although still primarily underpopulated - cities consist of an advanced variant of the same ossified coral like lifeform the Faelanii themselves used to grow their cities, and their still pristine forms dot the new wilderness that has formed since its abandonment by the Faelanii’s ancestors a thousand years prior. The Palatine Core features a diverse alien ecology across its vast surface, designed in the far distant past to appeal to the aesthetic qualities once held by the Aeshanii precursors. Surprisingly it has been discovered no one continent is alike, with each featuring a biosphere different to the last, presumably created over the course of multiple millennia at the behest of its inhabitants. Despite the crippling damage and inaccessibility of much of the ringworld, much of the self-repairing systems and maintenance machines remain operational and thus its remaining habitable portions are relatively undecayed.
‘Prydannica’
Prydannica represents the banking and tourism capital of the Parthas Economic Zone. Built upon immense reserves of rare amber frequently collected from beneath the earth and on its immense sandy beaches, it serves - in conjunction with the imperial banking associations - to regulate the Imperial Argant, the main currency of the empire. Asides from this, the seven isles off the coast of the deadly Prydannican mainland provide excellent seasonal resorts for tourists, when not weathering the tropical storms and the megamonsoons that result from the mainland’s Pangeaesque supercontinent. Overall the planet is warm, tropical and humid, with very small ice caps and short unremarkable winters, providing a excellent location for casual negotiations and other light diplomatic work. The main continent also offers some dangerous recreational activity given its incredibly violent coastal jungle ecology and hot inner-continental deserts. Along its coasts cities stand out palely amidst tangles of deep green jungles, their heavy cyclopean structures built to withstand the elements - although not without a semblance of grace and modernity. The clans native to Prydannica are known to press amber shards into their facial plating and wear them to express their wealth, and in recent years it has become vogue to fuse flowering fungal symbiotes to their flesh and wear them as living ornamentation. A number of uninhabited medium sized islands have been designated suitable ground for the settlement of freeholds, and have since been cleared of the worst of the planets native horrors for colonisation.
‘The Brass Republic of Morah’
Situated on the outermost rim of the Pale Reaches, the Brass Republic of Morah consists of a corsair republic under the diktat of its charismatic ruler, Oberyn of Haine. Known for its frequent dry thunderstorms and dense morning mists, the Brass Republic is so named due to is brass gilded domes and spires that rise above its vast singular city. Here smugglers, corsairs, slavers and narcotics dealers ply their trade, and it is here from which blood, alcohol and drugs flow out from across the rim. Known for its vast fields of stimulants and its complimentary apiaries, as well as the cleanly ordered nature of the city itself, it has been called a “the most polished den of depravity and discord in Gamma.” Here even the pretence of legitimacy give way to base desires and morals, with everything and anything for sale, regardless to its origin. Vast sums of money are made and lost as the mulling multitudes cast it away on pleasures of the flesh, intoxicants, gambling and blood sports in its low smoke filled dens, making kings into beggars ... and for the fortunate few, beggars into kings. Above it all vast shipyards are filled with the glowing hulls of thousands of corsair vessels as they speed in and out of system, depositing their loot from their quadrant wide raids. High above, 'The Star of Morning', a vast spiny urchin-like orbisprawl serves as the site of permanent foreign businesses and regularly shuttles up and down visitors to the city below via space elevators, with non-xenos being forbidden from settling Morah in any significant numbers.
‘The Pale Reaches’
The Pale Reaches is an interstellar anomaly originating from a unusually massive dimensional rupture in its astrological centre, and is positioned on the northwestern galactic rim of the Gamma Quadrant. From this immense stellar scar vast rippling tides of strange dark matter emanate, known to the natives as “The Reef”. This dark matter takes the form of vast bankings of semi-solid crystalline material, visible to the naked eye, discharging both light and small amounts of heat as it seemingly ‘burns’ in a manner that remains still poorly understood. This matter has spread across a vast area of space, encompassing countless thousands of systems and has proven to be a grave obstacle in traversing the Pale Reaches, reacting violently to physical interaction and consuming anything that touches it. The Pale Reaches however is not a forever expanding location, and it seems instead that the reef - although it cannot be destroyed by conventional means - is slowly but surely degenerating after a prolonged lifetime, resulting in semi-permanent borders once it reaches the furthest edge of the Reach.
The reef has thus rendered much of the systems within the Pale Reaches inaccessible, asides from a small number of points of ingress that break through the barrier and which fluctuate depending on the “seasons”. Thus far three permanent points of entry have been found so far that allow access to the reef, two of which have seasonal periods of growth and retraction and the third consisting of a stable corridor leading to the Faelanii, a thing made possible by a subspace eddy within that region of the Reach which disrupts the movement of the reef around it.
Despite the immense dangers of charting a course through the Reef, many non-natives have tried to map the constantly shifting tumultuous region of space and plunder its treasures, with varying levels of success. Before the Faelanii contacted the rest of the galaxy, the third pass was unknown, and most made their attempts through the first and second, resulting in a litany of disappearances, deaths and near fatal escapes from the reef and its ecology. With access to stellar mapping the process has become easier, if not less hazardous, as the reef has its own endemic lifeforms, many of which are incredibly dangerous to encounter. Still some consider it well worth the risk, as the inner core of the reef along with a fair number of its coreward worlds are home to a veritable trove of untapped precursor artefacts, cut off for thousands of years from the hands of scavengers and looters. Now through the Parthas Economic Zone these lone adventurers now have a base of operations from which to launch from, albeit all under the watchful eye of the Faelanii administration.
Locations within the Northwestern Anchor
‘Parthas’
Parthas is a massive five thousand year old ringworld that served as the capital of the once-great Aeshanii Empire, lost to time but unearthed from its solitude once more by their Faelanii successors. Although the proud structure is in disrepair due to catastrophic damage to a quarter of its surface, and has been overrun with highly aggressive fauna on two of the other remaining sections, a single remaining quarter of it - “The Palatine Core”- remains in relatively pristine condition. As a result of this the Faelanii have since recolonised the site after its transfer to the deep rim, and now reside primarily in a series of thirteen cities across its surface, with the ancient metropolis of Tantallath serving as the seat of the Faelanii imperial dynasty. To prevent looting or foreigners disturbing the bodies of the long dead dating from its abandonment, access to the surface of Parthas has been restricted to nine continents that a form an unusual “impact crater” at its centre and represents the most densely settled inner zone of colonisation. Its monumental - although still primarily underpopulated - cities consist of an advanced variant of the same ossified coral like lifeform the Faelanii themselves used to grow their cities, and their still pristine forms dot the new wilderness that has formed since its abandonment by the Faelanii’s ancestors a thousand years prior. The Palatine Core features a diverse alien ecology across its vast surface, designed in the far distant past to appeal to the aesthetic qualities once held by the Aeshanii precursors. Surprisingly it has been discovered no one continent is alike, with each featuring a biosphere different to the last, presumably created over the course of multiple millennia at the behest of its inhabitants. Despite the crippling damage and inaccessibility of much of the ringworld, much of the self-repairing systems and maintenance machines remain operational and thus its remaining habitable portions are relatively undecayed.
‘Prydannica’
Prydannica represents the banking and tourism capital of the Parthas Economic Zone. Built upon immense reserves of rare amber frequently collected from beneath the earth and on its immense sandy beaches, it serves - in conjunction with the imperial banking associations - to regulate the Imperial Argant, the main currency of the empire. Asides from this, the seven isles off the coast of the deadly Prydannican mainland provide excellent seasonal resorts for tourists, when not weathering the tropical storms and the megamonsoons that result from the mainland’s Pangeaesque supercontinent. Overall the planet is warm, tropical and humid, with very small ice caps and short unremarkable winters, providing a excellent location for casual negotiations and other light diplomatic work. The main continent also offers some dangerous recreational activity given its incredibly violent coastal jungle ecology and hot inner-continental deserts. Along its coasts cities stand out palely amidst tangles of deep green jungles, their heavy cyclopean structures built to withstand the elements - although not without a semblance of grace and modernity. The clans native to Prydannica are known to press amber shards into their facial plating and wear them to express their wealth, and in recent years it has become vogue to fuse flowering fungal symbiotes to their flesh and wear them as living ornamentation. A number of uninhabited medium sized islands have been designated suitable ground for the settlement of freeholds, and have since been cleared of the worst of the planets native horrors for colonisation.
‘The Brass Republic of Morah’
Situated on the outermost rim of the Pale Reaches, the Brass Republic of Morah consists of a corsair republic under the diktat of its charismatic ruler, Oberyn of Haine. Known for its frequent dry thunderstorms and dense morning mists, the Brass Republic is so named due to is brass gilded domes and spires that rise above its vast singular city. Here smugglers, corsairs, slavers and narcotics dealers ply their trade, and it is here from which blood, alcohol and drugs flow out from across the rim. Known for its vast fields of stimulants and its complimentary apiaries, as well as the cleanly ordered nature of the city itself, it has been called a “the most polished den of depravity and discord in Gamma.” Here even the pretence of legitimacy give way to base desires and morals, with everything and anything for sale, regardless to its origin. Vast sums of money are made and lost as the mulling multitudes cast it away on pleasures of the flesh, intoxicants, gambling and blood sports in its low smoke filled dens, making kings into beggars ... and for the fortunate few, beggars into kings. Above it all vast shipyards are filled with the glowing hulls of thousands of corsair vessels as they speed in and out of system, depositing their loot from their quadrant wide raids. High above, 'The Star of Morning', a vast spiny urchin-like orbisprawl serves as the site of permanent foreign businesses and regularly shuttles up and down visitors to the city below via space elevators, with non-xenos being forbidden from settling Morah in any significant numbers.
• Southeastern Anchor Astrological Information •
‘Gateway Commercial Sector’
What is being collectively called the Gateway Commercial Sector is the united exclusive economic volumes of three separate star systems of the Free State Republic: Euryant, Kilmer and Quixie. They will all together function as the anchor of the Pale Stars Trade Corridor, acting as the terminus for all incoming traffic along the corridor to the Republic and as the origin point of outgoing traffic traveling up the corridor away from the Republic. The Gateway Commercial Sector breaks what was once a continuous martial exclusionary buffer zone which stretched across the stellar volumes of the star systems of Kilmer and Quixie and continued along a curved line running with the established territory of the Republic. The Crumple zone itself is now split into two sections by the volumes of the three systems that make up the Gateway Commercial Sector, but otherwise the rest of the Crumple Zone remains unchanged. And while the Gateway Commercial Sector is still a heavily patrolled and secured region of space, the associated stellar volumes and surrounding space are no longer under the stringent rules of martial exclusionary zones that is customary of the Crumple Zone.
While the rest of the Crumple Zone remains unchanged, what has become the Gateway Commercial Sector resembles nothing of the martial exclusive zone it once was. Infrastructure has been repurposed beyond just purely military and defensive means, finding new life in preliminary commercial applications. Regulations and procedures have been changed to reflect the transformed nature of the area, adopting more commercially friendly procedures and regulations. The entire sector itself will see favorable administrating when it comes to economic or commercial issues, with the Republic putting a lot of focus on seeing the trade corridor become a success.
The Free State Republic considers the Gateway Commercial Sector and the stellar systems within it to be the frontier and fringe of its established territory accustomed to all laws, regulations, procedure and protocol of the Free State Republic.
Locations within the Southeastern Anchor
'Euryant'
Euryant is the largest of the three systems that make up the Gateway Commercial Sector with six planets, however only one of the six planets is naturally habitable. The system has been slated to become a vibrant and populated system as the entire system has been re-opened to Republican citizens and civilians looking to re-settle into the system through the various homesteading programs offered by the federal and regional governments. As of now the projected population numbers for the end of the current cycle look to be higher than the population numbers in system prior to the Thaetian Incursion. Establishing the Gateway Commercial Sector looks to only benefit the entire system by drawing in various corporations, banks and other financial institutions to establish themselves in the system. Partly to center a part of their operations into the new economic priority of the Republic, as well as to be close to the expanding production and resourcing operations in Kilmer and Quixie the other two systems located within the sector. Since its annexation by the Republic after the Thaetian Incursion ending its run as a successful independent colony, a slow but steady program of reconstruction was initiated to begin the process of repairing the expansive damage the Thaetian occupation incurred onto the planet and the system. Laying the groundwork infrastructure that is currently being expanded and improved upon the system of Euryant will become the focal point for the Gateway Commercial Sector and the entire Anchor of the Pale Star’s Trade Corridor.
'Kilmer'
Kilmer is the second largest of the three systems of the Gateway Commercial Sector comprised of five planets, yet none of the five are naturally habitable. Being the first system colonized by the Republic in their first period of expansion, the Kilmer system enjoyed a rush of colonists and settlers from the overcrowded Axul system. A comprehensive system of orbital habitats, and various terrestrial installations both on the surface and below the surface of the terrestrial planets within the system. While not a heavy population zone, the system itself has seen an above average migration rate than what would be expected of a not-naturally habitable system. Being a resource rich system, various companies within the Republic have begun to establish themselves even further within the system to take advantage of the plethora of resources. While localized en-mass refining efforts are still some ways off into the near future, the infrastructure itself is almost finished. The Kilmer System looks to become a new hub of refining and production for the Republic to fold into its growing economy.
'Quixie'
Quixie is the smallest of the three systems that are included within the Gateway Commercial Sector, but none of the four planets are naturally habitable. Settled after Kilmer was established, there was no rush of colonization into the system like what Kilmer had experienced after its founding as a regional system. With the smallest projected population of the Gateway Commercial Sector, the Quixie system has already begun to bill itself as a lower cost start up alternative to Kilmer and Euryant. Trying to take advantage of their “backwater system” moniker, the Quixie system has promoted itself as a “quiet” system unlike the bustling systems of Kilmer and Euryant. Surveying groups have confirmed that the system holds almost as much variated resources as Kilmer, yet the infrastructure and commercial investment to begin extracting and gathering those resources has only just begun to be built. With the rush of getting into the Kilmer and Euryant systems Republican corporations have started to reach the limit of their ability to extend. And Commercial investment into Quixie has trickled in, beginning a small, slow buildup of commercially viable ventures. Hoping to establish a gathering, refining, and production system akin to Kilmer’s, those jumping into Quixie are hopeful they can turn a profit soon. And attract even more investment opportunities to bring them on par with the other two systems of the Sector.
What is being collectively called the Gateway Commercial Sector is the united exclusive economic volumes of three separate star systems of the Free State Republic: Euryant, Kilmer and Quixie. They will all together function as the anchor of the Pale Stars Trade Corridor, acting as the terminus for all incoming traffic along the corridor to the Republic and as the origin point of outgoing traffic traveling up the corridor away from the Republic. The Gateway Commercial Sector breaks what was once a continuous martial exclusionary buffer zone which stretched across the stellar volumes of the star systems of Kilmer and Quixie and continued along a curved line running with the established territory of the Republic. The Crumple zone itself is now split into two sections by the volumes of the three systems that make up the Gateway Commercial Sector, but otherwise the rest of the Crumple Zone remains unchanged. And while the Gateway Commercial Sector is still a heavily patrolled and secured region of space, the associated stellar volumes and surrounding space are no longer under the stringent rules of martial exclusionary zones that is customary of the Crumple Zone.
While the rest of the Crumple Zone remains unchanged, what has become the Gateway Commercial Sector resembles nothing of the martial exclusive zone it once was. Infrastructure has been repurposed beyond just purely military and defensive means, finding new life in preliminary commercial applications. Regulations and procedures have been changed to reflect the transformed nature of the area, adopting more commercially friendly procedures and regulations. The entire sector itself will see favorable administrating when it comes to economic or commercial issues, with the Republic putting a lot of focus on seeing the trade corridor become a success.
The Free State Republic considers the Gateway Commercial Sector and the stellar systems within it to be the frontier and fringe of its established territory accustomed to all laws, regulations, procedure and protocol of the Free State Republic.
Locations within the Southeastern Anchor
'Euryant'
Euryant is the largest of the three systems that make up the Gateway Commercial Sector with six planets, however only one of the six planets is naturally habitable. The system has been slated to become a vibrant and populated system as the entire system has been re-opened to Republican citizens and civilians looking to re-settle into the system through the various homesteading programs offered by the federal and regional governments. As of now the projected population numbers for the end of the current cycle look to be higher than the population numbers in system prior to the Thaetian Incursion. Establishing the Gateway Commercial Sector looks to only benefit the entire system by drawing in various corporations, banks and other financial institutions to establish themselves in the system. Partly to center a part of their operations into the new economic priority of the Republic, as well as to be close to the expanding production and resourcing operations in Kilmer and Quixie the other two systems located within the sector. Since its annexation by the Republic after the Thaetian Incursion ending its run as a successful independent colony, a slow but steady program of reconstruction was initiated to begin the process of repairing the expansive damage the Thaetian occupation incurred onto the planet and the system. Laying the groundwork infrastructure that is currently being expanded and improved upon the system of Euryant will become the focal point for the Gateway Commercial Sector and the entire Anchor of the Pale Star’s Trade Corridor.
'Kilmer'
Kilmer is the second largest of the three systems of the Gateway Commercial Sector comprised of five planets, yet none of the five are naturally habitable. Being the first system colonized by the Republic in their first period of expansion, the Kilmer system enjoyed a rush of colonists and settlers from the overcrowded Axul system. A comprehensive system of orbital habitats, and various terrestrial installations both on the surface and below the surface of the terrestrial planets within the system. While not a heavy population zone, the system itself has seen an above average migration rate than what would be expected of a not-naturally habitable system. Being a resource rich system, various companies within the Republic have begun to establish themselves even further within the system to take advantage of the plethora of resources. While localized en-mass refining efforts are still some ways off into the near future, the infrastructure itself is almost finished. The Kilmer System looks to become a new hub of refining and production for the Republic to fold into its growing economy.
'Quixie'
Quixie is the smallest of the three systems that are included within the Gateway Commercial Sector, but none of the four planets are naturally habitable. Settled after Kilmer was established, there was no rush of colonization into the system like what Kilmer had experienced after its founding as a regional system. With the smallest projected population of the Gateway Commercial Sector, the Quixie system has already begun to bill itself as a lower cost start up alternative to Kilmer and Euryant. Trying to take advantage of their “backwater system” moniker, the Quixie system has promoted itself as a “quiet” system unlike the bustling systems of Kilmer and Euryant. Surveying groups have confirmed that the system holds almost as much variated resources as Kilmer, yet the infrastructure and commercial investment to begin extracting and gathering those resources has only just begun to be built. With the rush of getting into the Kilmer and Euryant systems Republican corporations have started to reach the limit of their ability to extend. And Commercial investment into Quixie has trickled in, beginning a small, slow buildup of commercially viable ventures. Hoping to establish a gathering, refining, and production system akin to Kilmer’s, those jumping into Quixie are hopeful they can turn a profit soon. And attract even more investment opportunities to bring them on par with the other two systems of the Sector.
• Administration, Taxation, Security and Law •
'Administration'
The Pale Stars Trade Corridor is overseen by a joint administration between the Federal Republic of Free States, and the Celestial Empire of the Faelanic Quietude under the shared bureaucratic organ known as The Administrative Triarchy. Each nation holds a single permanent seat on the Triarchy, with the third seat alternating at regular five year intervals between Quietudean and Republican control. This administration holds authority in establishing both the laws and regulations for the length of the corridor, as well as acceptance of the applications of third parties for the construction of waystations. Furthermore it relays messages in response to embassy and freehold applications from each respective nation back to the third party applicant once due deliberation has been given. The Triarchy furthermore holds the authority to eject third parties and their waystations that abuse or refuse to follow PSTC legal protocol, prosecuting them with the full might of both the law and their associated interstellar navies. Currently its bureaucratic headquarters are situated upon ‘Crossroads Station’, a locale acknowledged by both parties and neutral ground and positioned at where all three branches of the trade lane meet. The station itself is within a inhabited system of one of the native races of the Gamma rim who has agreed to act as host for it within their territories following local diplomatic agreements.
'Taxation'
The Security and Development Toll: The FSR dictates a non-negotiable toll for the use of their part of the PSTC for continued government support and assets involved in its operation, with it paying for military protection and maintenance of the Pale Stars Trade Corridor under their jurisdiction. The toll is extracted wherever it can reasonably be enforced, namely the Southeastern Anchor and all waystations held under federal authority.
The Paiza Security Programme: The Imperial administration of the Faelanic Quietude has declared travel in their half of the Pale Stars Trade Corridor tax free, asides from purchases for refueling and resupplying along its length. Thus there are no state enforced taxes, fees or guild dues apply beyond docking payments. Instead the Faelanii have levelled an optional tax in the form of the ‘Paiza Security Programme’ which levies a flat rate of charge of 5% on all commercial ventures within their territory, but in turn provides insurance for lost of cargo, legal protections and judicial representation, and the free services of the Faelanii military fleets in case of attacks by commercial raiders or pirates along the Pale Stars Trade Corridors length. Whilst this tax can be ignored, it is considered fundamentally unwise for less than heavily armed merchant flotillas due to the dangers of the Pale Reaches and the economic disaster that too many raids could cause to independent traders. Others use it for simple convenience as otherwise they can expect no legal protections within Parthas itself and are prone to be undercut in their dealings if they do not have solid enough connections. Acquisition of a Paiza security can be gained through the offices any of the Faelanii’s diplomatic embassies with other nations, or at it’s outpost in Liu Xiu.
'Security'
The length of the Pale Stars Trade Corridor is patrolled as firmly as it can be by the security forces of both the Quietude and the Republic. However the relative youth and extent of the corridor - as well as its astrographical position across a region swarming with pirates and other violent entities - has caused issues in its contiguous security. As of such, only the sections closer to each administration are protected fully, with a full third of the trade corridor having to have its security devolved to smaller localised nations, which are able to respond more effectively than the more distant anchor garrisons. Private security forces are also hired out to further assist the native nations in patrolling Pale Stars length, and provide the bulk of the armed security along Pale Stars middle range, being paid both regular wages and prizes for any pirate ships captured in their rounds. Beyond the marked route of the trade corridor the security forces of either nation are not obliged to assist ships in difficulty, and may in the case of providing unnwarranted assistance oblige those rescued to pay a rescue fee for such services. Despite this, the duties of the security forces ensure the ruthless culling of piracy wherever it is found along the length of Pale Stars, making it the safest route out to the Northwestern Rim available for a traveller.
The Pale Stars Trade Corridor is overseen by a joint administration between the Federal Republic of Free States, and the Celestial Empire of the Faelanic Quietude under the shared bureaucratic organ known as The Administrative Triarchy. Each nation holds a single permanent seat on the Triarchy, with the third seat alternating at regular five year intervals between Quietudean and Republican control. This administration holds authority in establishing both the laws and regulations for the length of the corridor, as well as acceptance of the applications of third parties for the construction of waystations. Furthermore it relays messages in response to embassy and freehold applications from each respective nation back to the third party applicant once due deliberation has been given. The Triarchy furthermore holds the authority to eject third parties and their waystations that abuse or refuse to follow PSTC legal protocol, prosecuting them with the full might of both the law and their associated interstellar navies. Currently its bureaucratic headquarters are situated upon ‘Crossroads Station’, a locale acknowledged by both parties and neutral ground and positioned at where all three branches of the trade lane meet. The station itself is within a inhabited system of one of the native races of the Gamma rim who has agreed to act as host for it within their territories following local diplomatic agreements.
'Taxation'
The Security and Development Toll: The FSR dictates a non-negotiable toll for the use of their part of the PSTC for continued government support and assets involved in its operation, with it paying for military protection and maintenance of the Pale Stars Trade Corridor under their jurisdiction. The toll is extracted wherever it can reasonably be enforced, namely the Southeastern Anchor and all waystations held under federal authority.
The Paiza Security Programme: The Imperial administration of the Faelanic Quietude has declared travel in their half of the Pale Stars Trade Corridor tax free, asides from purchases for refueling and resupplying along its length. Thus there are no state enforced taxes, fees or guild dues apply beyond docking payments. Instead the Faelanii have levelled an optional tax in the form of the ‘Paiza Security Programme’ which levies a flat rate of charge of 5% on all commercial ventures within their territory, but in turn provides insurance for lost of cargo, legal protections and judicial representation, and the free services of the Faelanii military fleets in case of attacks by commercial raiders or pirates along the Pale Stars Trade Corridors length. Whilst this tax can be ignored, it is considered fundamentally unwise for less than heavily armed merchant flotillas due to the dangers of the Pale Reaches and the economic disaster that too many raids could cause to independent traders. Others use it for simple convenience as otherwise they can expect no legal protections within Parthas itself and are prone to be undercut in their dealings if they do not have solid enough connections. Acquisition of a Paiza security can be gained through the offices any of the Faelanii’s diplomatic embassies with other nations, or at it’s outpost in Liu Xiu.
'Security'
The length of the Pale Stars Trade Corridor is patrolled as firmly as it can be by the security forces of both the Quietude and the Republic. However the relative youth and extent of the corridor - as well as its astrographical position across a region swarming with pirates and other violent entities - has caused issues in its contiguous security. As of such, only the sections closer to each administration are protected fully, with a full third of the trade corridor having to have its security devolved to smaller localised nations, which are able to respond more effectively than the more distant anchor garrisons. Private security forces are also hired out to further assist the native nations in patrolling Pale Stars length, and provide the bulk of the armed security along Pale Stars middle range, being paid both regular wages and prizes for any pirate ships captured in their rounds. Beyond the marked route of the trade corridor the security forces of either nation are not obliged to assist ships in difficulty, and may in the case of providing unnwarranted assistance oblige those rescued to pay a rescue fee for such services. Despite this, the duties of the security forces ensure the ruthless culling of piracy wherever it is found along the length of Pale Stars, making it the safest route out to the Northwestern Rim available for a traveller.
• Law •
- I. Whilst merchant escorts are approved of by the administration, the utilisation of the trade corridor for military fleets is prohibited beyond recognised PSTC security forces. Embassies, freeholds and waystations however, are allowed small permanent security forces consisting of no more than two corvettes or one destroyer class vessel inside PSTC Economic Zones.
- II. The overt militarisation of freeholds within the PSTC Economic Zones for the purposes or war or entrenchment are strictly prohibited, However substantive defence planning and construction may be approved by the effected administrative nation on request, given sufficient justification. Militarised waystations built to constrict or undermine the free movement of trade along PSTC by hostile parties will result in summary expulsion and the activation of PSTC security forces for their prompt destruction.
- III. All third party member states will cease openly violent hostilities once within the PSTC and adhere to the corridors neutrality policy whilst within its borders, covert action has been permitted within the Parthas Economic Zone (PEZ), however this is under the guarantee of mutual discretion by the aforementioned feuding establishments.
- IV. The Pale Stars Trade Corridor requires the prompt payment of all dues, fees and customs upon the docking of vessels within its borders in accordance with the Paiza Security Programme or Security and Development Toll. Application to the former optional but encouraged, to ensure proper insurance for any stolen or misplaced cargo and access proper legal representation in the event of violent disputes. Abidance to the latter in FSR administered PSTC is mandatory.
- V. Any substantial exportation of reef material and precursor archaeotech must first pass through the Faelanii Archaeological Bureau for clearance and study. Failure to do so will result in the confiscation of goods and the legal repercussions of violating the PEZ’s smuggling laws.
- VI. Neither administration is held accountable for the damage, loss of life, cargo or personal liberty of any ship or flotilla that fails to follow the marked out route of the Pale Stars Trade Corridor. The Quietude furthermore refuses accountability to any goods lost to pirates without also lawful ownership of a Paiza security, which if the case, will result in prompt investigations being launched and the return of any seized cargo.
• Application Forms •
'Embassy/Freehold'
'Waystation'
- Code: Select all
[align=justify][blocktext][box][b][u]Petition for Third Party Participation: Embassy/Freehold[/b][/u]
Form #: PSTCA-111AB
[list=1][*]Name of Applicant State:
[*][b]Home Quadrant of Applicant State:[/b][i] (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta)[/i]
[*][b]Embassy or Freehold?:[/b]
[*][b]Name of Embassy or Freehold:[/b]
[*][b]Location of Embassy or Freehold:[/b][i](Designate System/World)[/i]
[*][b]Summary of Economic and Legal Structure:[/b][i] (brief overview on economic model and legal system, can be as elaborate as you like.)[/i]
[*][b]List/Summary of Goods and Services:[/b]
[*][b]Description of Proposed Freehold/Embassy:[/b]
[*][b]Population estimate/Employee register of Freehold/Embassy:[/b]
[*][b]Description of Security Forces:[/b]
[*][b]Do you Agree to abide by the rules and regulations of Pale Stars?[/b][i](Yes/No)[/i][/list][/box][/align][/blocktext]
'Waystation'
- Code: Select all
[align=justify][blocktext][box][b][u]Petition for Third Party Participation: Waystation[/b][/u]
Form #: PSTCA-112BB
[list=1][*]Name of Applicant State:
[*][b]Home Quadrant of Applicant State:[/b] [i](Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta)[/i]
[*][b]Name of Waystation:[/b]
[*][b]Location of Waystation:[/b] [i](Southeastern, Middle or Northwestern PTSC)[/i]
[*][b]Summary of Economic and Legal Structure:[/b][i] (brief overview on economic model and legal system, can be as elaborate as you like.)[/i]
[*][b]Description of Proposed Waystation:[/b]
[*][b]Population Size of Waystation:[/b]
[*][b]Description of Security Forces:[/b]
[*][b]Do you Agree to abide by the rules and regulations of Pale Stars?[/b][i](Yes/No)[/i][/list][/box][/align][/blocktext]
A big thank you to Lubyak, Vocenae and Kyrusia for providing inspiration for the basis of our work here with their own in "Twin Eagles" and the "Liu Xiu Economic Zone", and Kyrusia for providing artistic materials to make Pale Stars look swish.
