Campaign:NHNE/Worlds/Belt

The Belt is the outermost collection of asteroids of the Flare-Bright star's system

Astrography

see: New Earth System for astrographical context

The Belt is a belt that orbits the star Flare-Bright between 4.5 and 6.5 AU with a mean at 5.87 AU.

The Reference Asteroid takes 4650 days to do so but the innermost Asteroids take just 3121 days while the outermost take 5418 days. This difference means that the proximity of any given asteroid to the major population centres varies considerably and thus its economic value also changes. Similarly, the distance between population centres opens and closes over time making various trading routes more or less cost effective. This dynamic drives a fairly nomadic existence for many of the population based away from the big cities.

Planetology

Summary

The Belt A000795-A N As, Va

Starport

The Belt contains facilities equivalent to a Class A Starport, an excellent quality installation which includes all the expected amenities including refined fuel for starships, brokerage services for passengers and cargo, and a variety of ship provisions. There is a shipyard capable of doing annual maintenance, overhauls and other kinds of repair, and construction of both starships and non-starships.

There are many small yards scattered about The Belt, but the largest are based on Sparks.

Size

The Belt is a Planetoid Belt of about 15,000 bodies larger than 1,000,000 dTons. The two largest bodies are 1,300km and 800km (Sparks) across respectively with only 18 bodies being larger than 300km in any dimension.

Time

The Belt uses Fleet Time

Atmosphere

The Belt has a pressure of less than 0.001 atmospheres which requires the use of a Vacc Suit. TL–8 or more advanced survival gear is required to settle this world.

Hydrosphere

The Belt has no free-standing water or ice on the surface. Wilderness refuelling isn't possible on this world. Water for the inhabitants needs to be imported and extensively recycled.

Population

The various rocks of The Belt have a total population of approximately 45,000,000. An exact count has not been attempted. The population has been stable for the last decade or so with a net-emigration to other orbits having taken hold as more worlds start to bring orbital stations on line. Sparks contains 11% of the entire population of the belt. New Montana is a more typical of the smelting towns.

Government

The surface and low orbits of The Belt have multiple governments with an overarching body just called The Belt. The Belt is a member of the New Earth Council.

There has been simmering discontent with The Belt and there has been some representation to the New Earth Council to recognise the subsidiary governments rather than the overall entity. This has, to date, been blocked by various coalitions in favour of trying to find a settlement at the level of The Belt as a whole. Progress in these discussions has been blocked for half-a-decade because of a major problem with the Taktsang Pirates - however, this issue seems to have been mostly resolved.

Law

The law applicable on The Belt is territorial and dependent upon the specific asteroids local administration. The stated level is that prevalent in the port facilities on the largest asteroid. i.e. The Belt has a relatively low law-level for the system.

Arms

Firearms (provided they are not fully automatic) and melee weapons are permitted but should be worn openly. It is considered a gross breach of etiquette to carry hidden weapons.

Drugs

Supply and possession of addictive narcotics is illegal. Being under the influence of any narcotics while operating equipment that may endanger another is also illegal.

Information

Programs designed to deliberately bypass the security of, or damage the information of another is illegal

Travel

Landing is permitted only at registered ports. There is no specific requirement regarding proof of identity, but there is a customs check to ensure that no illegal items are imported and to collect import taxes.

Law Enforcement

Each of the separate Asteroids that make up the belt has its own law enforcement process. This may be anything from a formal police service employed directly by the local community (e.g. Sparks Police) to hired security personnel contracted to investigate specific issues (e.g. Dark Star Security).

Technology

Sparks has access to the same basic technology set as the major worlds - with an emphasis on life-support technologies appropriate to Vacuum environments.

The remainder of the Belt is more patchy and the variety of technology accessible may vary considerably.

Biology & Ecology

Native Biology

None

Transplanted Biology

Many species of flora were brought from Earth. This included many of the standard food crops and air-recycling plants plus the micro-flora necessary to grow them. It also included some of the required pollinators for these.

Bioengineering

Limited bioengineering has been undertaken for more productive growth in the low-G conditions found on many Asteroids.

Military

There is little in the way of formal Military, but a huge abundance of auxiliary forces.

Economy

The Belt is a series of mostly un-remarkable Vacuum Worlds

Culture

While the Belt normally speaks English there is a Belter Patois that is endemic to the poorer sections, and Hindi is also widespread.

Traveller should be warned that the local justice system sometimes includes a ritualised combat system for the settlement of disputes. While not invoked often, the consequences can be fatal.

Places

Places in The Belt have three basic naming conventions

1. x9999-9999 or x9999-9999-999. The former are those found before 34, the latter are suffixed with the year of discovery/registration
2. xx9999. Man made stations (e.g. YS7734)
3. A common name

n.b. This is not a definitive list

• A1780-4091
• Artemis
• Big Rock
• Black-as-a-Cat
• B2399-1084-088
• B8951-2547-099
• Greyrock
• Harri's
• HSE-1
• J's Bar
• New Montana
• P2061-3626-286
• P5813-6392
• Sabase Badee (Largest)
• Sindar Station
• Siwan Station
• Sparks (Second Largest, Capital)

History

The Belt was first landed on in year 8 with mineral extraction and processing having been established by year 12. It's greatest period of expansion - known as the Wild Belt Period - lasted from 100 to 200.