Caliban Sector Lore

Sub-Sectors
The Cradle Worlds: A densely inhabited subsector of the Caliban Sector, consisting of several highly developed planets and innumerable settled moons. Before the Scream, the Cradle was an insignificant colonial sector on the very reaches of Mandate Space, inhabited primarily by religious pilgrims. However, after the catastrophic collapse of the psychic gates, the Cradle Worlds were able to recover more quickly than other systems due to the prevalence of spike drives on the colonies. They formed a tight network of trade routes, and after the inevitable skirmishes resolved, the Cradle Worlds emerged as a cohesive hegemony under a single governing Allied Parliament of Cradle Worlds (APCW). The APCW security fleets maintain strict order within the systems, but there has been no need for a standing military force since the conclusion of the Gene Crisis half a century ago. The Cradle Worlds are not without strife, but they are peaceful for the most part and the APCW is frequently more concerned with internal affairs than pushing the boundaries of their hegemony. However, the Cradle is becoming increasingly crowded and those seeking adventure or fortune push ever further into the Blackshear-5 Cluster.

The Tatters: A loose chain of stars and black holes on the edge of the Cradle that once held great civilizations, now reduced to rubble. In the early days of the Gene Crisis, a fleet of warships raised by the Church of Divine Sacrament attacked the technologically advanced Niflheim system, over fears of Niflheim scientists developing eugenicist maltech. The whole of the APCW was eventually drawn into the conflict and the Niflheim system was ultimately reduced to ruins, their allies hunted to the furthest extent of the Tatters. It remains a popular region for slavers or treasure hunters willing to brave the periodic patrols by Sacramentist “Perimeter Vessels”.

The United Systems: As the Cradle Worlds developed their current trade network, a smaller hegemony was forming in their periphery. On Paxton XV, visionary programmer, sociologist, and populist demagogue Orestes Sokolov developed a truly revolutionary computer system based on an algorithm he believed would efficiently and fairly distribute resources so as to develop a post-scarcity society. The algorithm, which never was able to shake its working title of the Pan-societal Assessment Network (PAN), was astonishingly effective and allowed the fledgeling “Sokolov Union” to integrate two neighboring star systems under its banner. The United Systems today are heavily automated, relying primarily on robotic laborers and security forces, while PAN hubs take in data and distribute resources accordingly. The system works for the most part, though mass unemployment has led to a range of peculiar artistic movements and excessively intricate pastimes. Additionally, worrying reports of unexplained metaphysical phenomena have resulted in unrest throughout one of the three star systems, a fact the Sokolov Union hopes to suppress.

The Blackshear-5 Cluster: A disparate expanse of planets containing isolated governments and long forgotten civilizations. Trade routes have always existed within it, but as space travel becomes more accessible, corporations and governments have been seeking to expand their influence with the Cluster. This is particularly distressing local planetary governments and to those who came to the cluster seeking refuge from the righteous morality of the Church of Divine Sacrament or the cold calculus of the Sokolov Union. Some flee further into the Black, towards the uncharted reaches of space.

Planet Dossiers
Genoa
Location: Blackshear-5 Cluster, Genoa System
Population: 6,315,000
Tech Level: 4
Capital: Monteria
Government: Representative democracy, presidential.
Head of State: President Loreto Oliver
Climate: Temperate, rainy. Coastal floodplains and rocky mountains.
Major settlements:
-Monteria, pop. 3 million. Primary spaceport and capital
-Cadence, pop. 1.5 million.
-Larkum, pop. 225 thousand.
-Gornisko, pop. 45 thousand
Laws: No heavy armor or weapons, open carry of small arms permitted. Heavy restrictions on recreational drugs and prostitution. Alcohol regulated but legal. Labor unions outlawed, slavery legal in the form of indentured servitude.
Summary: Breathable atmosphere, temperate climate, miscible biosphere. Most of the population is located in the coastal floodplains, though manufacturing plants and strip mines cover the planet. Heavy pollution is present near urban and industrial centers. Government is largely controlled by corporate interests, and living conditions are generally poor for the working class. Despite its reputation, Genoa has served as the center of trade and commerce for the Blackshear-5 cluster. The corporate powers that hold sway on its government are unhappy to see interference from Cradle World corporations and Union rabble-rousers.

Khocheni
Location: Blackshear-5 Cluster, Khocheni System.
Population: 11,227,000
Tech Level: 4
Capital: Capital
Government: Representative democracy, parliamentary.
Head of State: Prime Minister Katy Mazli
Climate: Tropical. Extensive rainforests, abundant surface water.
Major Settlements:
-Bade, pop. 3.4 million. Major spaceport.
-Sabzab, pop. 1.7 million. Capital.
-Chiselpoint, pop. 505 thousand.
-Doabas, pop. 151 thousand.
Laws: No heavy weapons or armor, open carry of small arms permitted. No restrictions on drugs, alcohol, prostitution. Slavery illegal.
Summary: Breathable atmosphere, warm climate, miscible biosphere. A major trade hub that benefits from proximity to the Cradle Worlds, attempting to transform itself in “the gateway to the Black”. Cybernetic enhancements are popular on the planet, both for practical purposes and simply for style. Unfortunately, low tech parts cause numerous health problems for their users and the drugs to treat these conditions are expensive. High quality parts are in high demand, and butcher gangs make a killing repurposing “found” cybernetic parts.

Ibeen
Location: Blackshear-5 Cluster, Khocheni System.
Population: 4,030,000
Tech Level: 4
Capital: Al Salasra
Government: Disputed (Monarchy vs Republic)
Head of State: Disputed (de facto Padishah Eskandar Khoroushi)
Climate: Cold. Vast salt flats and crystalline mountains, thin atmosphere.
Major Settlements
-Habahi, pop. 1.8 million. Major Spaceport.
-Kagiler, pop. 745 thousand. Under Sacramentist occupation
-Al Salasra, pop. 253 thousand. Capital City
-Gar Cin, pop. 90 thousand.
Laws: No heavy weapons. Alcohol and some drugs permitted. Prostitution heavily regulated through religious organizations. Slavery legal.
Summary: Thin atmosphere, cold climate, and a biosphere that has been engineered to survive on the strange planet. Ibeen was a failure of terraforming, with much of the atmosphere escaping into space causing the vast oceans to evaporate and deposit huge salt flats and pillars of halite. The thin atmosphere requires a sealed environment for all settlements. While its sister world Khocheni has embraced trade from the Cradle Worlds, Ibeen has taken a different path. The senate was recently dissolved (literally) and the local bishop of the Church of Divine Sacrament assassinated by supporters of the native Padishah, who had lived in exile until recently. He declared the planet would no longer be kowtow to the Neo-Catholic imperialists. A pauper crusade fleet was dispatched from the Cradle in response and battles ensued both on the ground and in orbit. The Sacramentists seized several settlements but lack the manpower to make further gains. There are rumors circulating of reinforcements arriving soon.

Spirit
Location: Blackshear-5 Cluster, Gatayeva System
Population: Unknown
Tech Level: 0
Capital: None
Government: Anarchy, occasionally despotism
Head of State: None
Climate: Frozen, airless. Rocky terrain.
Major Settlements:
-None
Laws: None.
Summary: A medium sized moon of Gatayeva-2, who’s orbit causes it to be nearly always be in the gas giant’s shadow. The moon’s dark rocky terrain is illuminated only by the purple glow of the gas giant. It is commonly known to be a refuge from smugglers and pirates, though bombardments never seem to eradicate the threat. No government has found it enough of a problem to permanently deal with.

Maidstone
Location: Blackshear-5 Cluster, Maidstone System
Population: 520,000
Tech Level: 3
Capital: Christmas Landing
Government: Aristocracy
Head of State: Ognjan Ignatov
Climate: Temperate to warm, sandy terrain, corrosive atmosphere.
Major Settlements:
-Christmas Landing, pop. 165 thousand. Capital and sole spaceport.
-Karnyamen, pop. 89 thousand.
-Grenton, 74 Thousand.
Laws: Open carry of weapons not permitted. Alcohol, drugs, and prostitution strictly regulated. Slavery legal in the form of serfdom. Wearing gold is not permitted. Insulting the Magi is punishable by death. Punishment for breaking any law is generally harsh.
Summary: Corrosive atmosphere, warm/temperate climate, microbial biosphere. Though Maidstone barely possesses a technology level capable of producing the acid-resistant composite used for constructing its habitats, it has extensive mine networks beneath its surface. As interstellar transport lanes have become active once again, the mine operations have steadily increased to feed the foundries of Genoa. The planet is ruled by a caste of psychic priests called the Magi, known to grow long beards and elaborate haircuts. The mines are operated by a destitute caste of serfs. It is widely believed that the Magi use telepathic techniques to subjugate the miners. It's proximity to the United Systems has made it a prime target for cyber-communist revolutionaries.

Sofia
Location: Blackshear-5 Cluster, Sofia System
Population: 84,000
Tech Level: 4
Capital: Sofia Colony
Government: Bureaucracy
Head of State: Administrator Milena Whitaker
Climate: Hot and humid, plentiful lakes and rivers. Extensive alien forests.
Major Settlements
-Sofia Colony, pop. 80 thousand
Laws: Open carry of heavy weapons not permitted, small arms ok. Alcohol, drugs, prostitution, gambling all legal.
Description: Invasive atmosphere, warm climate, immiscible biosphere. Sofia Colony was founded by Sacramentist pilgrims with aspirations of being the new center of commerce for the Blackshear Cluster. However, the unrest that came with the Gene Crisis resulted in the project being abandoned and forgotten. The colony maintained itself with the intent of one day fulfilling its destiny as a great port of trade. It still serves as a vital stop for Far Traders, barely enough to maintain itself. The invasive alien atmosphere necessitates frequent maintenance on the air filters and the immiscible biosphere means the colony must produce its own food or purchase imports. As more and more colonists give up on the original vision of the colony, discontent spreads. Some seek to flee offworld, but many still hold onto the dream that a gold rush in the Black will launch the settlement to greatness.

Hyobe
Location: Blackshear-5 Cluster, Hyobe System
Population: 757,000,000
Tech Level: 4+
Capital: Kangyeong
Government: Military dictatorship.
Head of State: Shogun Si-Woo Mun
Climate: Cool, mountainous, with an earth-like biosphere.
Major Settlements:
-Kangyeong, pop. 19 million. Capital and primary spaceport
-Yokotari, pop. 12 million.
-Battkanghai, pop. 10 million
-Samnan, 3 million
-Aridashina, 1 million
Laws: Heavy weapons and armor not permitted, no open carry of small arms. Alcohol legal, drugs and prostitution illegal. Slavery illegal.
Summary: Temperate to cold climate, breathable atmosphere, engineered biosphere. The most populous world in the Blackshear-5 cluster. It is governed by the militant Imamura Shogunate, a regime that is bolstered by the presence of an Exchange Consulate on the planet. The rulers of Hyobe take the Consulate as a sign of their legitimacy as rulers of the cluster. Unfortunately, due to the relative lack of easy drill routes to Hyobe, their influence is limited outside of the system. The Shogunate is taking steps to rectify that post haste.

Zakan
Location: Blackshear-5 Cluster, Zakan System
Population: 870,000
Tech Level: 1
Head of State: Prince-Warden Carodor Lebrime
Government: Police State
Climate: Temperate, plentiful deciduous forests.
Major Settlements:
-The Oubliette, pop. 140,000.
-Talwic, pop. 55,000. Capital and only spaceport.
Laws: Few. For offworlders, harming or stealing from a Peacekeeper is a severe crime, as is attempting to take any Condemned offworld. Condemned are not permitted to possess any advanced technology.
Summary: Zakan was once a promising garden world, ideal for colonization. A penal colony was established as a preliminary colony, and maintained at a low technology level except for the guards (called Peacekeepers). The colony was gradually corrupted by eugenicists who used gene manipulation to craft the prisoners (called the Condemned) into beasts better suited for specific tasks. Shortly before the Scream, a task for of Perimeter Agents broke the Eugenicists hold on the government and caused them to flee into the wilderness. Unfortunately, the Scream cut the planet off and dashed any hope of further colonial development. In the time since, the Peacekeepers have maintained their mission under the direction of descendants of the Perimeter Agency, while the remaining eugenicists have plied their dark crafts in isolated lairs. The majority of the planet maintains an iron age level of technology, with the Condemned villagers constantly vigilant for attacks from the Eugenicists’ creations. Zakan is rarely visited except for pirates looking for slaves and to resupply.

https://sectorswithoutnumber.com/sector/94NSaFais1g9hIG8QoUK

Link to sector map. I'm going to leave the planet information sections on that site blank, since I'll be posting the relevant planet dossiers here and I don't want to have to update info in two different places. The map is more for navigational purposes.

Yorbund
Location: Blackshear-5 Cluster, Yorbund System
Population: 454,000
Tech Level: 3
Head of State: The Family of Three
Government: Feudalism
Climate: Warm, acidic ocean covers 60% of surface. Abundant life in caverns.
Major Settlements:
-Laukpin Cavern: 170,000
-Sinya Cavern: 75,000
-Ha Hoi Tunnels: 60,000
Laws: No heavy weapons or armor, open carry of small arms permitted. Slavery, prostitution, drugs, alcohol illegal. Only accepted form of narcotic are local fungus derivatives, which can either be smoked or eaten.
Summary: Mildly corrosive and invasive atmosphere. Miscible biosphere. A sparsely populated world with limited contact with the larger sector. The population lives primarily in underground caverns, and are traditionally self governing. However in recent years a ruling group called the Family of Three has taken control of interstellar trade after emerging victorious in a war against offworld far trader mercenaries. This new economic control and access to advanced weapons has allowed them to impose a system of feudalism despite dissatisfaction from the existing settlement elders.

The planet is also notable for the scattered anomalous structures on its surface, which the locals regard superstitiously.

Its planetary exports are limited, primarily derivatives of its native cave fungi: food products, fiber, fuel, and pharmaceuticals.

Metiphoche
Location: Blackshear-5 Cluster, Yorbund System
Population: Unknown, estimated several million
Tech Level: 3
Head of State: Data Unavailable
Government: Republic
Climate: Frozen
Major Settlements:
-Kar Kerig: Unknown population.
Laws: Legal codex unavailable.
Summary: Metiphoche is encircled by a pretech energy shield that makes atmospheric travel extremely dangerous. Orbital scans and data from unmanned probes suggest an extremely cold climate and little to no active biosphere. Numerous settlements have been identified, though most appear abandoned and partially buried under ice. Several active population centers have been identified, clustered around points of relatively habitable climate.

The shield's function is interrupted at irregular intervals allowing for manned expeditions to be occasionally launched. Explorers who returned have described towns built radially around generators that provide the warmth necessary to grow food. The current civilization appears to operate at post-industrial technology levels. The towns are largely self sufficient, though they appear to have formed a confederacy with a single governing senate. Expeditions have also reported extensive ruins encased in the ice, with enormous buildings and monuments that suggest Metiphoche was once the seat of a major polity.