The Feri star system

Astrography

Feri is a binary system in which the secondary star (an M3D red dwarf) orbits the primary (a G4 V series star). The system consists of 6 lifeless rocks, two asteroid belts and the main world orbiting the primary at 1.4 AU. 

Planetary geography

Feri is an odd combination of a dense atmosphere coupled with a low gravity planet.

Attribute            UPP              Description                                       

Starport:             B                 Good Facilities. Spacecraft Shipyards. Refined Fuel. Diameter:           3                  Small (4800km)

Atmosphere:      8                  Dense

Hydrographics:  4                  Normal (40%)

Population:         8                  600 Million

Government:      7                  Balkanization. Multiple regional governments.

Law Level:         9                  High law (weapons outside home prohibited)

Tech Level:        B                 Average Stellar (Large Starships)

Core Type: Rocky

Density: 0.96

Earths Mass: 0.05Earths

Gravity: 0.35G

Rotation Period: 60hours

Orbital Period: 404days

Axial Tilt: 22degrees

Orbital Eccentricity: 0

Satellites: 2 (Diamond and Khalil)

Surface Pressure: 2.212atm (equivalent pressure to swimming in 35 feet of water)

Feri has three unique traits that make campaigning unusual.

First is the rotational period of 60 hours. 60 hour days make for a large diurnal temperature swing, especially given the axial tilt of the world. In the equatorial zone, the day divides out into 28 hour periods of daylight and night, with a 2 hour period of dawn and dusk.  Much like Terra, the axial tilt of the planet compounds these effects in the higher latitudes of the planet. Daylight is much longer during the summer and night correspondingly longer in the winter. The inhabitants of Feri have adjusted to these conditions.  In the tropical and summer region, the days start cool, with heat building all day. In later afternoon, the amount of energy in the atmosphere triggers a near daily storm.

Next is Feri’s low gravity. At 0.35g, troopers can move at a pace which can only be dreamed of on a standard gravity world. Use the following movement rates for tactical/rapid movement;

• Infantry 12”/24”
• Battledress: 16”/32”
• Vehicles: 20”/40”

In addition the following modifiers are used.

• The effects of slopes are reduced by 1 level for all vehicles
• Grav vehicles act as if they were 1 class better for movement performance ( i.e. TL1 move as if they were TL2 vehicles.)

Lastly is the effect of the dense atmosphere. The biggest impacts are;

• Attenuated penetration for kinetic, laser and energy weapons (+2 defense dice if shot at by these weapons at above their optimal range)
• Increased performance of medical care due to oxygen saturation (+1 to die roll on medical checks)
• Preventative care requirements due to oxygen toxicity (handled through dietary supplements and breathing more nitrogen. Low supply troops suffer a -1 die roll on medical checks-this results in a net zero when paired with the +1 above AND a -1 to reaction checks to model their impaired performance)

Economic Geography

Feri has a robust economy. Resource extraction is a major part of the economy. The outer asteroid belt is rich in valuable minerals. At tech level 11 Feri supports a booming space mining industry. While extraction activities are focused in the asteroid belt, the raw materials feed a growing manufacturing sector both in orbit and on the planet. While the planets low gravity means the cost to lift 1 kg to orbit is cheap enough that orbital platforms would make little sense, the dense atmosphere promotes corrosion. The starport does have an orbital complex, mostly intended to service unstreamlined or extremely large starships.

The riches of Feri are not the sole source of wealth in the system. Feri is an important trade and communications hub connecting the coreward elements of Regina and Jewell subsectors with the sector capital and the rest of the Imperium. The starport services the hi-jump freighters serving Jewell and Regina on the primary trade route.  The lack of a gas giant and the low gravity of the planet make Feri and ideal port for the mid-sized to larger atmospherically capable freighters.

Recognizing its importance, the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service maintains a Scout base on Feri. The base serves two purposes.  First as a service station for the Express boats and their tenders, as well as the scout ships, couriers and survey vessels that keep the communication lines open. This provides a good source of revenue for the local ship yards and helps impart the knowledge needed to aid Feri in developing the capacity to build its own starships. Second, the base serves as an administrative hub for Scout activities in the Feri cluster of J-1 worlds.

All this results in a planet with a high per capita income – and one that can be expected to continue to increase.

Settlements run the gamut. The high pressure of the planet does have long term effects on physiology. While the permanent inhabitants of the planet don’t suffer from long term exposure to the excess nitrogen, those who are traveling off world, or travel in the upper atmosphere (aviation and mountain areas) must take precautions against decompression sickness.  Hotels at the spaceport have decompression suites designed to acclimate travelers and transport them to waiting ships at 1 atmosphere. There are also dedicated transports that perform the same task, albeit in a much more spartan manner.

Geo-political Situation

            Large tracts of Feri have been divided into baronial estates for the Imperial nobility. Most famous of these estates are those of Baron hault-Oberlindes, owner of the Oberlindes shipping line. Ironically, Baron hault-Oberlindes was granted the title and estates in recognition for his work in expanding trade into the Vargr worlds of the Gvurrdon sector. Beyond the Noble Lands, there are three competing regional governments on Feri. These are the Tawantinsuyu Confederation, the Orinoco League and the Chitral Republic. While all are subservient to the Imperium, none is willing to submit to rule by the others. The Imperial Governor General is content with the status quo as it is as long as all three states continue to acknowledge Imperial sovereignty and abide by the Imperial rules of war in resolving their differences.

The result of the planetary geo-political system is a strategists nightmare - a planetary defense organization that consists of three unique regional armies, all equipped at the same tech level, but each using unique equipment and hardware.  The System Defense Boat squadrons are not managed directly by the nation-states, but instead operate as an element of the Colonial Fleet under direct control of the Feri Military Cooperation Council (FMCC). The planetary defense battalions, though united for the duration of the conflict, are a diverse mix of unit types and equipment.