REGULON III
Regulon is an Alpha Quadrant trinary star system located about five parsecs from Deep Space 9, on the inner edge of Bajor Sector. The primary star in the system is a Magnitude -1 M Class light orange giant, approximately 100 times brighter than Sol, while the other two are relatively weak F Class white types. The system has a total of six planets, only the third of which is habitable with an expansive high atmosphere of multiple cloud layers, protecting its surface from extremely intense sunlight.
While Regulon III does host plenty of native flora, it has a higher mass than ordinary M Class planets, and most humanoids can only survive on the tertiary surface for a few hours before succumbing to pneumothoraxis. For this reason, her dozen or so settlements are constrained to the highest practical altitudes, usually plateaus, and come equipped with redundant anti-gravitational systems to compensate for the stresses of additional mass. Thus Regulon III was an expensive place to colonize, its permanent population never exceeding 15 million.
While Regulon III does host plenty of native flora, it has a higher mass than ordinary M Class planets, and most humanoids can only survive on the tertiary surface for a few hours before succumbing to pneumothoraxis. For this reason, her dozen or so settlements are constrained to the highest practical altitudes, usually plateaus, and come equipped with redundant anti-gravitational systems to compensate for the stresses of additional mass. Thus Regulon III was an expensive place to colonize, its permanent population never exceeding 15 million.
Regulon has mesospheric, stratospheric and tropospheric cloud layers that can shroud as much as 90 percent of the surface. Heavy fog is common, even at relatively high surface altitudes. Several settlements use this feature to advantage, since massive cloud density can mask their presence from passive thermal imaging.
There are only three continents on the planet, including one at the south pole which has never been colonized. The inhabited continents are named Eu and Hythlody. Amaurot, the capital city, is located on an island on the southern tip of Hythlody in the southern hemisphere (coordinates 23.7° N, 90.3750° E). It sits atop a large mesa, nearly level with the troposphere. |
Regulon III was first colonized in 2273, following the arrival of Farian explorers, missionaries and traders. The planet had no native inhabitants, and thus was claimed by the United Federation of Planets in the late 23rd century, and developed fairly rapidly from resource speculation and the realization that it had a commanding position in the emerging Federation transportation network, controlling access from the Inner Systems into the Bajor Sector. Despite a fire in 2314 which destroyed a central business district, the capital city of Amaurot grew exponentially, briefly becoming the transportation route's primary trading port and a minor center of commerce, finance and (after 2340) technology.
Political difficulties with the Cardassian Union and Maquis, however, curtailed Federation progress in the Bajor Sector by the mid-50s, and Regulon III, became an increasingly expensive outpost to maintain. The planetary government, traditionally controlled by UFP-appointed proconsuls from Trill or Farius Prime and protected by the Seventh Fleet, increasingly depended on illicit trade in arms and mercenaries for the revenue to maintain complicated technologies essential to sustaining humanoid life. By the time the Dominion War began, it had become a military liability, and when the war finally ended three years later, it was offered up for sale to anyone who could afford to ensure that it would not fall into the hands of anyone who might threaten the Federation in the future, Cardassian or otherwise.
Political difficulties with the Cardassian Union and Maquis, however, curtailed Federation progress in the Bajor Sector by the mid-50s, and Regulon III, became an increasingly expensive outpost to maintain. The planetary government, traditionally controlled by UFP-appointed proconsuls from Trill or Farius Prime and protected by the Seventh Fleet, increasingly depended on illicit trade in arms and mercenaries for the revenue to maintain complicated technologies essential to sustaining humanoid life. By the time the Dominion War began, it had become a military liability, and when the war finally ended three years later, it was offered up for sale to anyone who could afford to ensure that it would not fall into the hands of anyone who might threaten the Federation in the future, Cardassian or otherwise.
The offer was taken up by the Four Voyages Group, an obscure holding company from New France looking to construct a permanent outlet for its multiple subsidiaries. While nobody in Seventh Fleet country had ever heard of them, Starfleet Security background checks suggested that Four Voyages was mostly taken up with real estate, private security, and gaming concerns, and had nothing to do with military or foreign affairs.
Once the transaction was completed, Four Voyages set up a new government, built around the Syphogranti, an executive council led by Traniborus Protophylarchus. |
Nearly from the beginning, Protophylarchus showed no interest in Federation member status, or even in a strong diplomatic relationship. The company he headed was not itself a criminal syndicate, but seemed to be built upon ties with several, including one or two important ones. Four Voyages had grown through its associations with these, rather than through any direct involvement in the weapons, drugs, racketeering and human trafficking trades. The Syphogranti were now established to oversee the development of a trading post and sanctuary for smugglers moving goods in and out of Bajor Sector. They demanded high fees in exchange for their expertise in fending off repeated inquiries by the Seventh Fleet, which was still nominally in charge of defending their area of space; it is assumed by many that they must have reached a deal with someone in the Starfleet admiralty, since only Nivoch, on the other side of the sector, enjoys anything near the same relief from Federal regulatory oversight.
The Syphogranti has done little in the last decade to improve living conditions for the natives on Regulon, many of whom have abandoned the place, especially the liberal educated class, some members of whom have been encouraged to leave by increasingly severe security policies erected by the government. Unions have been broken, and wages have stagnated; the planet's technologically sophisticated infrastructure, once the pride of its citizenry, has not been kept up, and while taxes are high, public expenditures have fallen dramatically with every passing year. Regulon has become a cheap underground market for anyone looking to move goods which do not or can not pass Federal muster, and spends most of its operating revenue on maintaining its ever-growing defense and security forces and providing fueling and light repair services for visiting vessels. There is virtually no separation now between the ruling government and the economy, though regulation is at best an afterthought, and can usually be handled with a bribe.
In spite of visibly deteriorating conditions, Regulonian civilization continues to function, more or less, and a reactionary middle class has developed, based on the necessity of repaying skilled laborers with competitive salaries and modern amenities. It could be called a Second World country. Civil rights are not what they once were, and a police state is taken for granted, especially since the arrival of the Second Wave.
In spite of visibly deteriorating conditions, Regulonian civilization continues to function, more or less, and a reactionary middle class has developed, based on the necessity of repaying skilled laborers with competitive salaries and modern amenities. It could be called a Second World country. Civil rights are not what they once were, and a police state is taken for granted, especially since the arrival of the Second Wave.
The Second Wave sprung into existence in Amaurot six years ago, fashioned from a loose collection of native political organizations marginalized by the Syphogranti. They received training and logistical support from former Maquis officers who settled on the planet following that group's dissolution. They also lent the Second Wave much of its political philosophy and commitment to the overthrow of the burgeoning regime.
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Haphazard attacks on government offices and low-level officers began in late 2380, and had increased in scale and sophistication within two years. The reaction was slow in coming, but picked up rapidly once ministerial assistants and military officers began to be targeted. The severity of the government reaction was intended to galvanize public support in opposition to the movement, which was characterized as being organized by the meanest and least ambitious members of society. Many examples were made, and brutally. The middle class was convinced it was a target, and the Second Wave has not claimed responsibility for every bombing, especially those targeting civilians or public infrastructure, though it has certainly received the blame.
By the middle of the decade foreign mercenaries were pouring into the system, most of whom were little better than amoral thugs. The already respectable security forces swelled accordingly, and about half of the government's funds are now spent in support of surveillance and counter-terrorism measures. The three main cities are under something very much like martial law, and even the smaller outlying communities, once left more or less to their own devices, play host to garrisons of paramilitaries, hired on the cheap to assure rural loyalty to central policies.
By the middle of the decade foreign mercenaries were pouring into the system, most of whom were little better than amoral thugs. The already respectable security forces swelled accordingly, and about half of the government's funds are now spent in support of surveillance and counter-terrorism measures. The three main cities are under something very much like martial law, and even the smaller outlying communities, once left more or less to their own devices, play host to garrisons of paramilitaries, hired on the cheap to assure rural loyalty to central policies.
POPULATION CENTERS
Amaurot, capital and home to fully 75 percent of the population, is ironically the hardest to effectively police. Scarcely a month can pass without some small terrorist offense making the headlines, and the Second Wave has in recent years increasingly turned its attention towards the foreign traders who provide the government with the bulk of its tax revenue and are not so proficient at self defense. The Syphogranti is duly worried about this development, of course, since at the same time they are trying to clamp down on undesirables, they must try to respect the desire of most visitors to avoid close questioning. The security situation is difficult to say the least, and mounting political pressure from neighboring governments and powerful crime syndicates to resolve the situation is taking its toll on the mental health of the planet's besieged ruling class.
Visitors to Amaurot will notice this immediately. There are hired guns everywhere, and it is not always clear who they work for. The Syphogranti is far from the only power on Regulon, and are, in some ways, puppets of the gangsters and smugglers they serve. Traniborus Protophylarchus, aging leader of the governing council, is a conceited man, and has elected himself Prince of the City; yet even he spends most of his time thinking about how to service criminals more influential than any civil executive. The success of his Four Voyages enterprise depends on the willingness of racketeers and traffickers to come to Regulon, and it is reaching the point now where no more monies can be levied from visiting ships than are already. The Syphogranti, for all its wealth, is increasingly forced to look for outside investment, with the expectation of repayment once the Second Wave threat has been subdued.
The city is constructed on a high promontory island connected by a bridge over Tamas Mor Channel to the continent. At the north end of the bridge is Shelf Checkpoint, a major security area. City access is available via repulsorlift transport, or by the public monorail system, which splits into several lines.
The Taupe Line takes one through the administrative Seat District before ending in the Credit District, home to the major local and foreign monetary bodies. The Lavender Line passes through the Chaemaenid District, a deluxe neighborhood, good for hiding VIPs like the Commerce Authority representatives, and terminates at the Parsa Acaemenes, Amaurot's military command headquarters. This can be a dangerous place to be caught loitering. The Silver Line passes through hip Persis Park, the Sroesus District and Cambyses Gate, solid commercial and recreational districts. It ends near the Taupe Line terminus on the southern side of the city, west of the Credit District, near the aptly-named Skyport. Visitors who can afford it are free to employ one of the city's several independent Hopper cab services.
Universal Securities Exports, the front company used by fixer Elinas, is located on a sub-level in the Sroesus District. The imported food market where Zavor and Boudreaux spoke with Yanek is in Cambyses Gate. Cadilla House, the hotel that Yanek told them was buying Ferengi food, is located in the old Dauntless Building high-rise in the Chaemaenid District. Hotel Modera, where Elinas recommended they stay, is also in Chaemaenid.
Visitors to Amaurot will notice this immediately. There are hired guns everywhere, and it is not always clear who they work for. The Syphogranti is far from the only power on Regulon, and are, in some ways, puppets of the gangsters and smugglers they serve. Traniborus Protophylarchus, aging leader of the governing council, is a conceited man, and has elected himself Prince of the City; yet even he spends most of his time thinking about how to service criminals more influential than any civil executive. The success of his Four Voyages enterprise depends on the willingness of racketeers and traffickers to come to Regulon, and it is reaching the point now where no more monies can be levied from visiting ships than are already. The Syphogranti, for all its wealth, is increasingly forced to look for outside investment, with the expectation of repayment once the Second Wave threat has been subdued.
The city is constructed on a high promontory island connected by a bridge over Tamas Mor Channel to the continent. At the north end of the bridge is Shelf Checkpoint, a major security area. City access is available via repulsorlift transport, or by the public monorail system, which splits into several lines.
The Taupe Line takes one through the administrative Seat District before ending in the Credit District, home to the major local and foreign monetary bodies. The Lavender Line passes through the Chaemaenid District, a deluxe neighborhood, good for hiding VIPs like the Commerce Authority representatives, and terminates at the Parsa Acaemenes, Amaurot's military command headquarters. This can be a dangerous place to be caught loitering. The Silver Line passes through hip Persis Park, the Sroesus District and Cambyses Gate, solid commercial and recreational districts. It ends near the Taupe Line terminus on the southern side of the city, west of the Credit District, near the aptly-named Skyport. Visitors who can afford it are free to employ one of the city's several independent Hopper cab services.
Universal Securities Exports, the front company used by fixer Elinas, is located on a sub-level in the Sroesus District. The imported food market where Zavor and Boudreaux spoke with Yanek is in Cambyses Gate. Cadilla House, the hotel that Yanek told them was buying Ferengi food, is located in the old Dauntless Building high-rise in the Chaemaenid District. Hotel Modera, where Elinas recommended they stay, is also in Chaemaenid.
The other two major cities on Regulon are Ortel, the old, rapidly crumbling industrial capital on Hythlody, and Rose Weir, a relatively modern urban development located on the Eu mainland some 2500 kilometers west of Amaurot. Rose Weir was built up as an upscale alternative to the capital, a place where the truly connected can go to negotiate deals and strike partnerships with less fear of both government and anti-government interference. It has grown very rapidly in the last five years, and is now viewed as the planet's 'second city' by the leaders of private society, since the Syphogranti is basically paid to stay away. While the security of Rose Weir is very strictly enforced, its police are both better hidden and better trained. Anyone can go there, but few can afford to stay.
Sensing a potential diplomatic problem, and being more interested in preserving his bonafides with Ruhl than getting friendly with the Federation - didn't he pay off the admirals to avoid just such meddling? - Traniborus put them off, suggesting that Ruhl might instead have made for nearby Fahleena, or even the Cardassian Union, who were in greater need of timely financial aid than even the Syphogranti. It seemed to work: the Starfleet ship was soon withdrawing from the system - though not too far off, as it had left a small detachment behind. |
In its effort to raise cash, the government has cast its nets wide, even going so far as to invite a representative of the Ferengi Commerce Authority to consider investing in their program. Traniborus is not sure the inherent risk of dealing with Ferengi is worth it, but all the respectable monetary bodies of the quadrant have rejected him. With the support of his council, he has prepared a long-term offer, and is impatiently awaiting the Liquidator's arrival.
The hopefulness of the venture has been dimmed lately by the unexpected arrival of a Sabre class escort bearing Starfleet Security officers curious about the location of a certain cargo freighter and the Ferengi aboard her. |