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Serkur
Meshan Document 6
version 1
Development: Philip Warnes
Except for material pertaining to the copyright's of GDW, this document is copyright 1995 by Philip Warnes. This document can be freely distributed amongst members of the History of the Imperium Working Group (HIWG) and staff of Game Designers Workshop (GDW). Any further distribution will require written permission from the copyright holder
Human History
Settlement
Serkur was originally settled by the Vilani about c. -3560. It was set up as a farming settlement in order to supply other colonies with grain. Serkur's climate was well suited to this.
Energy was predominantly from hydro-electric, solar and wind, with a few fusion plants imported from nearby high-tech worlds.
During the First Imperium the planet would have been relatively stagnant due to the inherent nature of the Vilani Bureaucratic culture.
Second Imperium
Transfer of rule to Terran extraction. Introduction of Terran culture and language. Freedoms opening due to liberal nature of Terrans.
The benign conditions led to a rapid expansion in population. The planet, with limited industrial base at tech 4, became overwhelmed and the planet was unable to support itself. With an increasing reliance on imports the planet rapidly became a basket case of indebtedness. The standard of living rapidly fell accompanied by social problems and poverty.
Long Night
Dramatic effects of isolation and Vargr raiding and seizures. Drop in local technology due to removal of imported technology. Have to develop self-sufficient systems to some degree.
Third Imperium
Opening of interstellar trade due to increasing stability and increase of the use of starships. Standard of living increases with exports of agricultural luxuries and imports of high technology and resources.
The War
1100-1150
Just before the collapse, the existing government, which was based at Rhylos City, overthrown. Nationalists at Canton and Karlor declared independence, starting a major civil war. The imperium collapsed before it could intervene. The war resulted in the planet having a red-zone classification.
There was a heavy loss of life from war and famine. A new and deadly plague killed 70% of the remaining population. The plague may have been crudely manufactured by one of the three major powers, but it is more likely that it was imported.
During the early period of the War, Vargr would have been supplying various sides with higher tech arms. During the rebellion, Vargr corsairs seized tentative control of the world for exacting toll finance from merchants supplying weapons as well as acting as a base of operations. Part of larger corsair organisation.
Post Collapse
The population stabalised at 500 million then slowly increased to 700 million at c. [During Cold War or after]
The civil war was a major incentive for technological development causing a progression from TL 4 to TL 5 (ie WWI to WWII technology).
A ceasefire was declared on year 1150. At the time of the ceasfire there were three major powers, each centred on Rhylos, Canton and Karlor. A cold war followed which helped propel the indigenous technology in all three power blocks to TL 7 (ie 1940's to 1970's).
There has been no interest in space-travel, but much development of ICBMs by all three powers.
Each power has a civil service bureaucracy similar to the pre-war planetary government. Each power funds major military and scientific R&D projects.
Serkur has abudant metaliferous and petroleum reserves that was not exploited by the original settlers. Although the planet is less tectonically active than the Earth, geological structures are simple and much larger, hence there are many large oil/gas fields in many of the basins within the landmass. The planet is dense, hence, rich in metals such as uranium and iron.
Since the war there has been an accelerated use of petroleum. Nuclear power is now being increasingly used. The planet has also become much more industrilaised, hence the importance of the additional energy sources to power them.
The planet during the cold war period has become very prosperous and wealthy.
Vargr History on Serkur
Vargr have always had a limited presence on Serkur at very best. A Vargr base existed on Serkur's moon Tarro (on the side facing Serkur) up until the time of the collapse. The base was used by Vargr corsairs, whom were oppertunists that made use of Serkur's industrial base. Its real value to the Vargr was always very limited and as a result they showed little interest in seriously developing this planet for their own use.
With the arrival of the Virus and the collapse, the Vargr base on Tarros was destroyed.
The xenophobic human population on Serkur killed off the few Vargr that were present at the time. This was the last contact that Serkurans had with the Vargr. The Vargr have not attempted any further contact with the planet Serkur, and for all intents and purposes has been forgotten about.
Geopolitics
3 Major Superpowers
Populations
Rhylos 230,000,000
Canton 150,000,000
Karlor 320,000,000
Total 700,000,000
Governments
All three are Civil Service Bureaucracies (Gov 8)
Political Scene
Rhylos
Technological hub. Sees itself as the eventual world government. Republican tendencies.
Canton
Supremists - believe they will eventually conquer Rhylos by force. 'Nazi' tendencies. Is a major threat to Rhylos. Richer in metaliferous resources than the other two powers.
Karlor
The sleeping giant - greater population than the other two powers. More intensive farming and a solid industrial base. Will listen to reasonable offers. Has been 'offside' with both Rhylos and Canton at various times. Is more cash oriented.
Political Structures on Serkur
Rhylos
President Emperor (figurehead only)
-Appointed from a nobility
Senate (elected by lower house)
Lower House (elected by masses)
The Masses
Canton
Dictator (Chen)
Inner Party
Middle Party
Outer Party ("ley members")
Proleteriate, ("plebs")
Karlor
President Chairman
Lords Senior Party
Minor Nobles Major Party
Masses (no say in politics)
Earth Analogues
These are only vague comparisons
Rhylos: Rome, USA
Canton: Oceania (from novel 1984) - easily recognisable
Karlor: Combination of Chinesse and British Monarchy
Military Strength on Serkur
The following is the number of personnel in each branch of the military for each nation on the planet Serkur.
Rhylos
Army 700,000
Navy 100,000
Airforce 50,000
Canton
Army 900,000
Navy 60,000
Airforce 100,000
Karlor
Army 1,200,000
Navy 30,000
Airforce 30,000
Rhylos Military
Navy
Type of unit Number Personal/unit
Heavy units (c. 20,000 tonnes) 10 ~1500
Medium units (c. 10,000 tonnes) 20 ~500
Light units (c. 3000 tonnes) 40 ~200
Patrol (c. 200 tonnes) 200 ~50
Support ~50,000
Airforce
Type of unit Number
fighters 400
fighter bombers 300
recon 60
bombers 200
heavy rockets 200
Gayon System
Orbit Name UPP Remarks
Primary Gayon G3V
1 Mikor Y400000-0
2 Yannin Y9A0000-0 Pure N2 Atmos
3 Serkur X364883-7 Ri,Ag,Bk R722 Na
30 Tarro Y100000-0 Tidelocked moon
4 Straaker Belt Y000000-0 Asteroid belt
5 Primus Large GG 150,000km diam
5 Lucon Y100000-0 \ inside
7 Galamish Y200000-0 | radiation
10 Toa Y300000-0 / belt
15 Tremmin Y6A7000-0 Std pressure Atmos
25 Cello Y3A1000-0 Thin pressure Atmos
6 Solus Small GG 50,000km diam
1 Rings Y000000-0 moderate
9 Sid Y100000-0 dirty snowball
12 Po Y220000-0 Trace N2 Atmos
15 Yo Y100000-0 dirty snowball
7 Vinian Belt Y000000-0 Asteroid belt
X 364883 TL 7 722 G3V Red Zone (BUK)
At time of collapse was TL 4 but has advanced 3 tech levels as a result of a major civil war between the Nortwest and Southern industrial regions over a ten year period after the collapse (the war was on at the time of the collapse - hence a red zone classification). Inspired and organised leadership, and an efficient, progressive government in a cold war setting has since pushed the indigenous tech level up at a rapid pace. Also a cold war between the three industrial centers/super powers.
Diameter 4800km
Atmosphere Standard
Hydrgraphic percentage 40%
Dense planet - Surface gravity 0.8 Earth
(jump/throw modifier=1.1)
Albedo 0.24
Average Global temperature 18oC (-40oC to +40oC)
Cloudiness 20%
Year 368.958 standard days
421.7 local days
Day 21 hours
Types or terrain present - Cultivated land (predominant)
- Desert
- Ice-caps (at poles)
- Water (Great Ocean Basin, Chunking Sea)
- City/Urban
- Rainforest
- Mountains
Serkur's Sun - Gayon
Spectral Class G3V (Yellow main sequence)
Bolometric magnitude 4.948
Luminosity 0.89
Surface temperature 5700oC
Stella radius 0.958
Stella mass 0.98
Gayon is slightly cooler than the sun but Serkur is just as warm as Earth because it makes up for less insolation with a lower albedo (reflectivity).
Radius Size 1
Distance 72,000km
Lunar month 8.60 local days
7.53 standard days
Lunar Day same as month due to tide lock
49.02 lunar months per year
Calender
A year is broken into ten months. The tenth month is shorter than the others. Every third year is a leap year.
Normal months
9/9/9/9/7
Short month
9/9/9/8
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