Difference between revisions of "Six"
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| + | {{GURPS Worlds paragraph |hex=1511 |gtZone= |name=Tionale |alg=Independent |gtStarport=Class III |gtBase= |gtDiameter=6050 |gtGravity= |gtAtmosphere=Standard oxygen-nitrogen tainted by airborne micro-organisms that can cause respiratory infection |gtHydro=43 |gtClimate=Cool |gtPopulation=2,200 |gtGovernment=Athenian-style democracy |gtCL=1 |gtTL=8 |gtWTN=2.5}} | ||
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| + | '''Non-canon:''' Tionale’s atmosphere contains a chemical taint which induces giddiness and loss of coordination and mental control in unprotected [[sophont]]s -- followed by unconsciousness and possibly even death if the exposure is prolonged. The residents accordingly live in structures provided with overpressure or filtration systems, and must wear individual protection when out of doors. Due to the dehumanizing appearance of traditional filter masks, most colonists prefer to use filter plugs inserted in the nostrils. Besides causing a marked (and often comical) alteration in one’s voice, users must be careful not to inhale through the mouth, even when speaking. By force of habit, long-time residents have no difficulty doing this, but the “drunken” antics of less-practiced offworlders provide an endless source of amusement for them. In [[1101]], a terraforming project began with the objective of reducing the atmospheric taint to non-irritant levels within 30 standard years. With funding provided in part by Imperial developmental grants, a large, fusion-powered air ‘scrubbing’ plant was constructed on the fringe of the colonized region. | ||
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| + | Tionale’s extensive, heavily-jungled outback is inhabited by little studied, six-limbed sophont known colloquially as the “[[Six]]es” (on account of their six limbs). Theirs is a pastoral, {{TL|0}} hunter-gatherer culture with no governmental institutions other than tribal warrior chieftains. Warfare and feuding are endemic among the ‘Sixes’, but their relations with the colonists had generally been peaceful until [[1103]], when the first in a series of escalating attacks on outlying farmsteads took place. The reason(s) for this hostility are unknown, since the ‘Sixes’ have never been subjected to meticulous scientific study and only the rudiments of their language (which includes dozens of regional variants) are understood. Even their numbers are impossible to judge with any precision, though given the size of their range and density in the vicinity of the colonized region, the planet-wide population must number in the millions. | ||
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| + | Due to the growing frequency and intensity of ‘Sixes’ attacks, the [[Travellers' Aid Society]] has classified Tionale as an [[Amber Zone]]. The colonists have been slow to respond to the mounting threat because they have no armed forces and are reluctant to create any due to the expense and the extremely limited size of the military-age population. Proposals to create a voluntary militia have been put forward and voted down in all of the popular assemblies held since late 1103. However, as attacks and casualties continue to rise, public opinion seems to be coming around to the view that the establishment of a militia is essential and inevitable. Most of the proposals that were defeated in the Popular Assembly foresaw a force of about 400 infantrymen equipped to {{TL|6}} standards, no more than 200 of whom would be available at any given time. A small cadre of professional mercenaries would be hired to train the militia. | ||
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| + | '''Non-canon:''' [[Tionale (world)|Tionale]] (‘shun-alley’) is an Imperial Client system perched at the [[coreward]] end of the [[Vilis Subsector]]. Due to its tainted atmosphere and lack of readily-exploitable resources, the planet was settled much later than most of its neighbors. Indeed, it was only in [[1088]] that 3,000 colonists -- mostly drawn from {{WorldS|Regina|Spinward Marches|1910}} -- first took up residence on Tionale. The population currently stands at about 8,800, including starport personnel. D’unsin Starport, which is also the only town on the planet, is home to about a quarter of the population, and the rest all reside within 20 kilometers of it. | ||
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| + | The planetary government is a participatory democracy embracing all citizens aged 25 or greater. All major policy decisions are made by direct vote in popular assemblies held at D’unsin four times a year. Since at least 70% of the electorate is typically in attendance, all other activity grinds to a halt on such occasions. Day-to-day governance is handled by a Council whose nine members are elected and removed by a simple majority vote. Its functions are limited to managing the starport, operating modest public utilities and health facilities, and collecting minimal taxes. Since crime is rare outside of D’unsin Starport, there are barely a dozen law enforcement officers on Tionale. Crime among visiting ship crews is generally seen as an affair to be settled by the offworlders themselves and will rarely draw official attention unless it threatens Tionalean citizens or their property. | ||
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| + | Most Tionaleans are employed in agriculture on family farms and plantations scattered across the planet’s small inhabited region. There are no true export crops per se, but much of Tionale’s food production is funneled to D’unsin to feed starport personnel and visiting starship crews. Other than some very small-scale manufacture of spare automotive and agricultural machinery parts, industry is virtually non-existent. Transportation is limited to alcohol-fueled ground cars and trucks (there are no commercially viable petroleum deposits on Tionale and none at all within 200 kilometers of D’unsin), and a handful of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft used for crop-dusting. | ||
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| + | D’unsin Starport, which was upgraded from D to C-class in [[1096]] (including the construction of a [[Highport]]) with Imperial financial and technical assistance, is the real linchipin of the planetary economy. It has become a key stopping place for merchants plying the [[Spinward Main]], and Tionale’s low law level, autonomous status, and location directly between the Imperium and the [[Demilitarized Independent Region]] (DIR) have also made it a haven for smugglers and corsairs. Indeed, starport personnel are famous for their willingness to ignore suspicious cargoes and overlook inconsistencies in ships’ papers. The starport’s repair yards are kept very busy and it is not unusual for all thirteen dirtside and five orbital repair bays (for ships of up to 1,000 tons) to be in use at any given time, necessitating a wait of several weeks by prospective customers. The starport is operated by the governing Council, so there is no [[extrality]] zone. | ||
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| + | The Imperial authorities are distressed that their investments seem to have abetted Tionale’s lawlessness, but are reluctant to take action because any appearance of extending Imperial power towards the neutral systems of the DIR would be certain to inflame tensions with the [[Zhodani Consulate]]. | ||
Revision as of 00:37, 19 February 2016
| Six | |
|---|---|
| Status | Minor Human Race |
| Classification | |
| Size | |
| Weight | |
| Homeworld | Tionale/Vilis (Spinward Marches 1511) |
| Multi-world | Yes |
| Canon | Yes |
| Extinct | Extant |
| Reference | |
IISS GURPS Astrographics Survey
1511 Tionale (Independent)
Starport: Class III.
Diameter: 6,050 miles (9,700 km).
Atmosphere: Standard oxygen-nitrogen tainted by airborne micro-organisms that can cause respiratory infection.
Hydrographics: 43%.
Climate: Cool.
Population: 2,200.
Government: Athenian-style democracy.
Control Level: 1.
Tech Level: 8.
World Trade Number: 2.5.
Non-canon: Tionale’s atmosphere contains a chemical taint which induces giddiness and loss of coordination and mental control in unprotected sophonts -- followed by unconsciousness and possibly even death if the exposure is prolonged. The residents accordingly live in structures provided with overpressure or filtration systems, and must wear individual protection when out of doors. Due to the dehumanizing appearance of traditional filter masks, most colonists prefer to use filter plugs inserted in the nostrils. Besides causing a marked (and often comical) alteration in one’s voice, users must be careful not to inhale through the mouth, even when speaking. By force of habit, long-time residents have no difficulty doing this, but the “drunken” antics of less-practiced offworlders provide an endless source of amusement for them. In 1101, a terraforming project began with the objective of reducing the atmospheric taint to non-irritant levels within 30 standard years. With funding provided in part by Imperial developmental grants, a large, fusion-powered air ‘scrubbing’ plant was constructed on the fringe of the colonized region.
Tionale’s extensive, heavily-jungled outback is inhabited by little studied, six-limbed sophont known colloquially as the “Sixes” (on account of their six limbs). Theirs is a pastoral, TL–0 hunter-gatherer culture with no governmental institutions other than tribal warrior chieftains. Warfare and feuding are endemic among the ‘Sixes’, but their relations with the colonists had generally been peaceful until 1103, when the first in a series of escalating attacks on outlying farmsteads took place. The reason(s) for this hostility are unknown, since the ‘Sixes’ have never been subjected to meticulous scientific study and only the rudiments of their language (which includes dozens of regional variants) are understood. Even their numbers are impossible to judge with any precision, though given the size of their range and density in the vicinity of the colonized region, the planet-wide population must number in the millions.
Due to the growing frequency and intensity of ‘Sixes’ attacks, the Travellers' Aid Society has classified Tionale as an Amber Zone. The colonists have been slow to respond to the mounting threat because they have no armed forces and are reluctant to create any due to the expense and the extremely limited size of the military-age population. Proposals to create a voluntary militia have been put forward and voted down in all of the popular assemblies held since late 1103. However, as attacks and casualties continue to rise, public opinion seems to be coming around to the view that the establishment of a militia is essential and inevitable. Most of the proposals that were defeated in the Popular Assembly foresaw a force of about 400 infantrymen equipped to TL–6 standards, no more than 200 of whom would be available at any given time. A small cadre of professional mercenaries would be hired to train the militia.
Non-canon: Tionale (‘shun-alley’) is an Imperial Client system perched at the coreward end of the Vilis Subsector. Due to its tainted atmosphere and lack of readily-exploitable resources, the planet was settled much later than most of its neighbors. Indeed, it was only in 1088 that 3,000 colonists -- mostly drawn from Regina (Spinward Marches 1910) -- first took up residence on Tionale. The population currently stands at about 8,800, including starport personnel. D’unsin Starport, which is also the only town on the planet, is home to about a quarter of the population, and the rest all reside within 20 kilometers of it.
The planetary government is a participatory democracy embracing all citizens aged 25 or greater. All major policy decisions are made by direct vote in popular assemblies held at D’unsin four times a year. Since at least 70% of the electorate is typically in attendance, all other activity grinds to a halt on such occasions. Day-to-day governance is handled by a Council whose nine members are elected and removed by a simple majority vote. Its functions are limited to managing the starport, operating modest public utilities and health facilities, and collecting minimal taxes. Since crime is rare outside of D’unsin Starport, there are barely a dozen law enforcement officers on Tionale. Crime among visiting ship crews is generally seen as an affair to be settled by the offworlders themselves and will rarely draw official attention unless it threatens Tionalean citizens or their property.
Most Tionaleans are employed in agriculture on family farms and plantations scattered across the planet’s small inhabited region. There are no true export crops per se, but much of Tionale’s food production is funneled to D’unsin to feed starport personnel and visiting starship crews. Other than some very small-scale manufacture of spare automotive and agricultural machinery parts, industry is virtually non-existent. Transportation is limited to alcohol-fueled ground cars and trucks (there are no commercially viable petroleum deposits on Tionale and none at all within 200 kilometers of D’unsin), and a handful of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft used for crop-dusting.
D’unsin Starport, which was upgraded from D to C-class in 1096 (including the construction of a Highport) with Imperial financial and technical assistance, is the real linchipin of the planetary economy. It has become a key stopping place for merchants plying the Spinward Main, and Tionale’s low law level, autonomous status, and location directly between the Imperium and the Demilitarized Independent Region (DIR) have also made it a haven for smugglers and corsairs. Indeed, starport personnel are famous for their willingness to ignore suspicious cargoes and overlook inconsistencies in ships’ papers. The starport’s repair yards are kept very busy and it is not unusual for all thirteen dirtside and five orbital repair bays (for ships of up to 1,000 tons) to be in use at any given time, necessitating a wait of several weeks by prospective customers. The starport is operated by the governing Council, so there is no extrality zone.
The Imperial authorities are distressed that their investments seem to have abetted Tionale’s lawlessness, but are reluctant to take action because any appearance of extending Imperial power towards the neutral systems of the DIR would be certain to inflame tensions with the Zhodani Consulate.
Physiology & Environment (Ecology)
No information yet available.
History & Background (Dossier)
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Psychology & Philosophy (Mindset)
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Culture & Society (Ethnology)
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Social Organization
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Government & Politics (Leadership)
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(Government) Structure
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Interstellar Relations
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Language & Letters (Communication)
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Calendar & Timekeeping (Chronology)
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Technology & Trade (Economy)
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Military & Intelligence (Force Projection)
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References & Contributors (Sources)
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This article is missing source reference/s. At least one reference, citation, or author if non-canon should be listed for most articles.
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