Tewfik (world)
| Tewfik/Arcturus (Solomani Rim 2528) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic Era (1116) | A524945-D
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| See also | UWP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| System Details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary | M1 V | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Planetoid Belts | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gas Giants | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tewfik
- It is a member of the Third Imperium in the Arcturus Subsector of Solomani Rim Sector in the Domain of Sol.
Description (Planetology)[edit]
No information yet available.
IISS GURPS Astrographics Survey[edit]
2528 Tewfik (Imperial)
Starport: Class V.
Diameter: 4,800 miles (7,700 km). Gravity: 0.44g.
Atmosphere: Very Thin oxygen-nitrogen (Insidious).
Hydrographics: 44%.
Climate: Frozen.
Population: 3.1 billion.
Government: Representative Democracy.
Control Level: 3.
Tech Level: 10.
World Trade Number: 5.5.
History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
Tewfik is an important, high-population industrial world located within the Scandia Cluster in Arcturus Subsector of the Solomani Rim.
- The system is a member of the Imperium.
Tewfik V - Alternate timeline (1440)[edit]
Non-canon:
Allegiance: Solomani Confederation (independent member)
Capital: Port Ibrahim (Highport)
Population: 4.5 Billion
Major ethnic groups: Arab (esp. Egyptian and Algerian with many communities of Saudis), Afghans (Pashtun), Turks, Solomani (u), Belas, British, French, American, Italian, Armenian, German, Canadian, Greek, Australian, Chinese, Japanese, Carribean, Bosnian
Major religions: Sunni Islam (official), Christianity (Coptic & Presbyterian). Other religions tacitly tolerated but not surveyed in the planetary census.
Major industries: Bioscience, heavy industry (esp. grav vehicles), transport, power cells, interactive media, subcasating, computer engineering, music production, advertising, product prototyping, horse breeding and racing, stock brokerage, agriculture, fishing, environmental science
Major resources: Fine deposits of marble are mined for export
Major corporations: GenAssist, Transstar, Stellar Umma Broadcasting (HQ)
Major houses: Saud
Higher Education: Tewfik Institute of Mathematics, Tewfik Institute of Medicine
Politics: Almost all cadres are Conservative or Hardline
History[edit]
Non-canon: Tewfik is a lush world that was picked out for colonization by the Arab League and settled even as the Interstellar Wars were ongoing. Originally it was a semi-marginal planet that had native life in the seas and along the oceanic margins, but none further inland. However, with some simple climate mods and basic bacteria introduction, the world bloomed.
Many waves of settlers beyond the initial Arab group were drawn to the world, but were largely forced to knuckle under to the dominant culture. Many came in small groups, dropped off by passing ethnic colony ships when they became stir-crazy in the claustrophobic environments of those 2nd Imperium-era vessels. They yearned for greenery and open skies and were willing to accept a (relatively moderate) Islamic theocracy for the privilege. While on most worlds the majority of these "ethnics" would have long since been absorbed into undifferentiated Solomani, on Tewfik they have maintained their identity. Reasons for this vary - some non-Muslim communities do it as a form of passive resistance against cultural hegemony, while Muslim groups, more integrated into the mainstream, are simply preserving proud ancient traditions - the reason their ancestors came to the world in the first place. Some of these cultures (such as the Bosnians), survive *only* on Tewfik, having died out on Terra long ago.
For centuries Tewfik did not even have any form of indigenous government - it was managed from Arab League HQ in Cario, Earth. Later when it did achieve independence it was under a series of all-powerful Sultans, some good, some horribly bad, most indifferent to the needs of their people. In the past few hundred years, however, the political situation, though not the cultural uniformity, has changed dramatically (see politics, below).
Economy & Education[edit]
Non-canon: The major industry is bioscience, driven by the many beneficial compounds found in the world's plant life. Tewfik also has a good deal of heavy industry, dating all the way back to the 2nd Imperium. Pollution was a major problem for millenia, and some areas of the world are still blighted. Modern industries are much cleaner and the famous deep blue skies have returned to most of the world. In the process, the world has acquired a vast storehouse of knowledge in the field of environmental science. Tewfik-trained environmental engineers are often found on polluted or war-damaged worlds, cleaning up the mess.
Various other enterprises - in truth, a bewildering array, flourish here, despite (or because of) a strong union movement. Tewfik is known for its innovation and entreprenueal spirit. The education system is excellent, famous for providing a model of secondary instruction later adopted by the Party as the official system for elite Party schools. This system provides a steady stream of high-quality workers and supports two Sector-class institutes of higher learning, one in Mathematics and one in Medicine.
Since the opening of the Cymbeline Route 20 years ago, which provides a direct four-stop route to Sol, Tewfik has also become a major transporation hub, with links to Cymbeline, Melchior and Saskatoon. The starport has expanded twice during this time, and a Tewfik Institute of Interstellar Trade is in the planning stages.
Politics[edit]
Non-canon: The local Sultan was deposed at the beginning of the Autonomous Zone period, and ever since then local politics has been democratic - but of course no party structures outside of "the Party" are allowed. Usually influential tribal elders or businessmen are elected - and given "honorary" Party membership if they do not already possess it - but every male citizen votes in open assemblies for everything from city councilman to the President of Tewfik himself. The Afghans, who led the revolution against the Sultan (with Party assistance), instituted this tradition based on their ancestral Jirgas. Large votes are held in stadiums to much fanfare and are often public holidays. Voting is compulsory in some areas.
There are no official term limits but in general a leader who overstays his welcome faces an alliance of opposing tribes, corporations and regions that will bring him down. The House of Saud is often in power, but is just as often thrown out by those suspicious of its influence. The Saudis are a wealthy and often resented minority among the people of Tewfik.
Due to the world's persistent industrial economy, labor unions are powerful on Tewfik. They are all Party-monitored of course but they have done much to constrain exploitation, at least among the local corporations of Tewfik. Some say this has only allowed Transstar and GenAssist to take over even more thoroughly than is usual in the Rim. (The radical fringe of the union movement supports a Communist underground that is dedicated to overthrowing the Party and gaining "true workers' independence" for the world.)
Religious Controversy[edit]
Non-canon: Tewfik's Muslims are devout in their practices, but not fanatical about spreading the faith or enforcing most of its more restrictive customs. The exception concerns the status of women who have a low place in society. This has proven a roadblock in allowing Tewfik to join any of the larger groupings within the Confederation. It would ideally like to become a member of the Terran Union, but its application has been repeatedly blocked by more liberal worlds.
An occurrence several years ago in which several harem women escaped and went on a rampage, killing men before being caught and viciously executed by beheading, did not help Tewfik's image in the Sector. A public-relations campaign mounted by the Chamber of Commerce after this incident has been less than successful offworld, although the Chamber's internal moves to "modernize" society have reached some influential ears in the government.
Coptic Christians enjoy a special dispensation - their funding was necessary to get the colonization effort underway, as do Presbyterians, due to a quirk in the contract of carriage of the colony ship that hosted the original settlers. At the time, the Arab League could afford colonization and terraforming equipment, but not a ship of their own. So they contracted a vessel, the James T. Morgan Sr., the owner of which (Morgan Jr.) insisted that his faith be protected in the new colony. To their credit, the rulers of Tewfik, colonial, Sultan and democratic alike, have all kept this ancient promise to a long-forgotten starship captain.
Parallel legal and political systems (known as Omda Arrangements), exist for both of these protected minorities. Other groups on Tewfik must officially convert to Sunni Islam, but if they continue to practice their own beliefs privately, few people care, as long as they pay their compulsory alms to the government. New arrivals cannot enter Omda Arrangements to dodge the tax - only the descendants of those covered when the Sultans were instated are eligible.
Recent Developments[edit]
Non-canon: A move to "liberalize" the world is afoot, funded by business interests, especially Transstar (try getting a female manager to transfer here!), but is facing strong opposition.
Sociologists have noticed "mass culture" is spreading on the world - which means it is evolving away from the Arab/Middle Eastern mainstream - a normally private, "indoors culture." Mass political events called Jirgas (see politics, above) have apparently inspired the spread of mass weddings as well, a custom that was previously confined to the Egyptian community. Often the two events are combined, and weddings follow the electoral process later the same day. If debate in the Jirgas drags on, a break is often called so that couples can marry.
When natives of Tewfik are asked what is most unique about their world, they used to mention Morgan's Concession (see religion, above). Now they overwhelmingly pick the combined election/wedding ritual.
Belas of Tewfik[edit]
Non-canon: Recently, a large number of Belas, a psionic "culture" (some say race) from Cymbeline have begun arriving in the space around Tewfik, drawn by the superior economic prospects compared to their homeworld. The government is both fascinated with and afraid of these psions, and while allowing them to work for Tewfik corporations, it has limited their settlement to New Egypt, the largest of Tewfik's three moons. The Belas have quickly constructed a large series of pressurized dome-terraformed environments and underground cities on New Egypt, to the astonishment (and concern) of the local authorities. However, the Confederation's Migration Act does not allow them to expel the current settlers.
References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]
- ↑ "Jump Map API" and map location from Travellermap.com
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