Difference between revisions of "Milagro (world)"
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| − | Milagro is a decidedly unpleasant planet that seems undeserving of its name (which translates as “Miracle” in an ancient [[Solomani]] language). It has low gravity (0.26G), only a trace atmosphere, and very little water -- all of it in solid form thanks to the average surface temperature of -25°C. In the mid-700s, the ruling dictatorship on [[Forine]] (Spinward Marches 1533) established a penal colony on Milagro, and used the planet exclusively to house criminals and political prisoners for over two centuries. However, in 990, the Forinean government's plans to alleviate overcrowding by relocating its excess population to neighboring [[Elixabeth]] (Spinward Marches 1532) were frustrated by resistance | + | Milagro is a decidedly unpleasant planet that seems undeserving of its name (which translates as “Miracle” in an ancient [[Solomani]] language). It has low gravity (0.26G), only a trace atmosphere, and very little water -- all of it in solid form thanks to the average surface temperature of -25°C. In the mid-700s, the ruling dictatorship on [[Forine]] (Spinward Marches 1533) established a penal colony on Milagro, and used the planet exclusively to house criminals and political prisoners for over two centuries. However, in 990, the Forinean government's plans to alleviate overcrowding by relocating its excess population to neighboring [[Elixabeth]] (Spinward Marches 1532) were frustrated by resistance from the existing colonists and intervention by the Imperium -- which forced Forine to grant both Elixabeth and [[Talchek]] (Spinward Marches 1631) a large degree of autonomy. Therefore in 992, Forine instead began dumping settlers on Milagro. Because the planet’s environment was known to be so uncongenial, the ‘colonists’ had to be herded aboard their ‘resettlement ships’ at gunpoint. |
| − | + | Nearly a fifth of all those dumped on Milagro died within a few years due to starvation, life support failure, and the diseases that ran rampant in the grotesquely overcrowded domed and underground cities that provide the only shelter against the planet’s inhospitable environment. Nevertheless, Milagro’s population grew steadily as millions of unwilling colonists continued to arrive. Despite brutally repressive rule by a Forinean military governor -- and an absolute ban on private weapons ownership -- uprisings were frequent and food riots an almost daily occurrence. | |
By the late 1070s, Milagro had become virtually ungovernable with the limited financial and manpower resources that Forine was willing to expend on it. Moreover, the much-publicized suffering of its populace made Milagro a public relations disaster and a permanent source of friction with the Imperium. Accordingly, in 1079, Forine abandoned Milagro and caustically proclaimed that if the Imperium was so concerned about the colonists’ welfare, it should take care of them itself. The sudden termination of food shipments and all government and law enforcement functions predictably led to utter chaos and massive loss of life on Milagro (estimated at 4.3 million fatalities). | By the late 1070s, Milagro had become virtually ungovernable with the limited financial and manpower resources that Forine was willing to expend on it. Moreover, the much-publicized suffering of its populace made Milagro a public relations disaster and a permanent source of friction with the Imperium. Accordingly, in 1079, Forine abandoned Milagro and caustically proclaimed that if the Imperium was so concerned about the colonists’ welfare, it should take care of them itself. The sudden termination of food shipments and all government and law enforcement functions predictably led to utter chaos and massive loss of life on Milagro (estimated at 4.3 million fatalities). | ||
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The Imperial authorities moved quickly to provide emergency relief and restore a semblance of order. A new planetary government was established (propped up with Imperial funding and advisors) on the model of a civil service bureaucracy whose members are chosen by competitive examination. The repressive practices of Forinean martial law have been done away with, but law enforcement remains strict and pervasive because any relaxation risks another descent into anarchy. The new regime has no popular mandate per se, but most Milagrans recognize that representative government is impractical under existing circumstances and are more concerned about maintaining order than individual rights (they had none whatsoever during three centuries of Forinean rule). The Imperium has announced that it will oversee free and fair elections when Milagro is ready, but that could take several decades. | The Imperial authorities moved quickly to provide emergency relief and restore a semblance of order. A new planetary government was established (propped up with Imperial funding and advisors) on the model of a civil service bureaucracy whose members are chosen by competitive examination. The repressive practices of Forinean martial law have been done away with, but law enforcement remains strict and pervasive because any relaxation risks another descent into anarchy. The new regime has no popular mandate per se, but most Milagrans recognize that representative government is impractical under existing circumstances and are more concerned about maintaining order than individual rights (they had none whatsoever during three centuries of Forinean rule). The Imperium has announced that it will oversee free and fair elections when Milagro is ready, but that could take several decades. | ||
| − | Milagro’s population of 90 Million is clearly unsustainable at its present Tech Level 7, and could not survive without regular infusions of bulk foods supplied by the Imperial government. Much of the population subsists on highly unappetizing artificial foods produced by Imperial-supplied technology that recycles organic waste and synthesizes CHONP (Carbon-Hydrogen-Oxygen-Nitrogen-Phosphorous) elements ‘mined’ on-planet and from carbonaceous asteroids. In the early decades of Imperial intervention, mass emigration was seen as the long-term solution for Milagro’s overpopulation. However, the size of the project was daunting, and Milagro’s reputation as a chaotic dumping ground for undesirables made it hard to find suitable systems that were willing to absorb any significant number of expatriates. Indeed, the Imperial authorities | + | Milagro’s population of 90 Million is clearly unsustainable at its present Tech Level 7, and could not survive without regular infusions of bulk foods supplied by the Imperial government. Much of the population subsists on highly unappetizing artificial foods produced by Imperial-supplied technology that recycles organic waste and synthesizes CHONP (Carbon-Hydrogen-Oxygen-Nitrogen-Phosphorous) elements ‘mined’ on-planet and from carbonaceous asteroids. In the early decades of Imperial intervention, mass emigration was seen as the long-term solution for Milagro’s overpopulation. However, the size of the project was daunting, and Milagro’s reputation as a chaotic dumping ground for undesirables made it hard to find suitable systems that were willing to absorb any significant number of expatriates. Indeed, the Imperial authorities have delayed repairing the starport (reduced to E-class by damage and lack of maintenance) in order to prevent an uncontrolled mass exodus. |
Raising Milagro’s tech level is now seen as the ultimate solution to the planet’s problems, but local and Imperial authorities are both determined to proceed cautiously and avoid the social disruption that overly-rapid introduction of advanced technologies often causes. Therefore, as a first step, the educational system is being dramatically enlarged and enhanced in order to produce a new generation of Milagrans who will be capable of building and operating advanced technologies. Once that has been done, the pace will accelerate as the project advances toward its final objective of achieving TL-9 by 1130. The Imperial authorities will enforce regulations prohibiting technology imports in excess of TL-7 until Milagro is judged to have achieved TL-8, and in excess of TL-8 until Milagro reaches TL-9 -- at which point all restrictions will be lifted. Needless to say, exceptions are made for technologies which are essential for meeting basic social needs such as food and health care. | Raising Milagro’s tech level is now seen as the ultimate solution to the planet’s problems, but local and Imperial authorities are both determined to proceed cautiously and avoid the social disruption that overly-rapid introduction of advanced technologies often causes. Therefore, as a first step, the educational system is being dramatically enlarged and enhanced in order to produce a new generation of Milagrans who will be capable of building and operating advanced technologies. Once that has been done, the pace will accelerate as the project advances toward its final objective of achieving TL-9 by 1130. The Imperial authorities will enforce regulations prohibiting technology imports in excess of TL-7 until Milagro is judged to have achieved TL-8, and in excess of TL-8 until Milagro reaches TL-9 -- at which point all restrictions will be lifted. Needless to say, exceptions are made for technologies which are essential for meeting basic social needs such as food and health care. | ||
Revision as of 15:17, 21 June 2007
Milagro/District 268 (Spinward Marches 1632)
Non-Canon
Milagro is a decidedly unpleasant planet that seems undeserving of its name (which translates as “Miracle” in an ancient Solomani language). It has low gravity (0.26G), only a trace atmosphere, and very little water -- all of it in solid form thanks to the average surface temperature of -25°C. In the mid-700s, the ruling dictatorship on Forine (Spinward Marches 1533) established a penal colony on Milagro, and used the planet exclusively to house criminals and political prisoners for over two centuries. However, in 990, the Forinean government's plans to alleviate overcrowding by relocating its excess population to neighboring Elixabeth (Spinward Marches 1532) were frustrated by resistance from the existing colonists and intervention by the Imperium -- which forced Forine to grant both Elixabeth and Talchek (Spinward Marches 1631) a large degree of autonomy. Therefore in 992, Forine instead began dumping settlers on Milagro. Because the planet’s environment was known to be so uncongenial, the ‘colonists’ had to be herded aboard their ‘resettlement ships’ at gunpoint.
Nearly a fifth of all those dumped on Milagro died within a few years due to starvation, life support failure, and the diseases that ran rampant in the grotesquely overcrowded domed and underground cities that provide the only shelter against the planet’s inhospitable environment. Nevertheless, Milagro’s population grew steadily as millions of unwilling colonists continued to arrive. Despite brutally repressive rule by a Forinean military governor -- and an absolute ban on private weapons ownership -- uprisings were frequent and food riots an almost daily occurrence.
By the late 1070s, Milagro had become virtually ungovernable with the limited financial and manpower resources that Forine was willing to expend on it. Moreover, the much-publicized suffering of its populace made Milagro a public relations disaster and a permanent source of friction with the Imperium. Accordingly, in 1079, Forine abandoned Milagro and caustically proclaimed that if the Imperium was so concerned about the colonists’ welfare, it should take care of them itself. The sudden termination of food shipments and all government and law enforcement functions predictably led to utter chaos and massive loss of life on Milagro (estimated at 4.3 million fatalities).
The Imperial authorities moved quickly to provide emergency relief and restore a semblance of order. A new planetary government was established (propped up with Imperial funding and advisors) on the model of a civil service bureaucracy whose members are chosen by competitive examination. The repressive practices of Forinean martial law have been done away with, but law enforcement remains strict and pervasive because any relaxation risks another descent into anarchy. The new regime has no popular mandate per se, but most Milagrans recognize that representative government is impractical under existing circumstances and are more concerned about maintaining order than individual rights (they had none whatsoever during three centuries of Forinean rule). The Imperium has announced that it will oversee free and fair elections when Milagro is ready, but that could take several decades.
Milagro’s population of 90 Million is clearly unsustainable at its present Tech Level 7, and could not survive without regular infusions of bulk foods supplied by the Imperial government. Much of the population subsists on highly unappetizing artificial foods produced by Imperial-supplied technology that recycles organic waste and synthesizes CHONP (Carbon-Hydrogen-Oxygen-Nitrogen-Phosphorous) elements ‘mined’ on-planet and from carbonaceous asteroids. In the early decades of Imperial intervention, mass emigration was seen as the long-term solution for Milagro’s overpopulation. However, the size of the project was daunting, and Milagro’s reputation as a chaotic dumping ground for undesirables made it hard to find suitable systems that were willing to absorb any significant number of expatriates. Indeed, the Imperial authorities have delayed repairing the starport (reduced to E-class by damage and lack of maintenance) in order to prevent an uncontrolled mass exodus.
Raising Milagro’s tech level is now seen as the ultimate solution to the planet’s problems, but local and Imperial authorities are both determined to proceed cautiously and avoid the social disruption that overly-rapid introduction of advanced technologies often causes. Therefore, as a first step, the educational system is being dramatically enlarged and enhanced in order to produce a new generation of Milagrans who will be capable of building and operating advanced technologies. Once that has been done, the pace will accelerate as the project advances toward its final objective of achieving TL-9 by 1130. The Imperial authorities will enforce regulations prohibiting technology imports in excess of TL-7 until Milagro is judged to have achieved TL-8, and in excess of TL-8 until Milagro reaches TL-9 -- at which point all restrictions will be lifted. Needless to say, exceptions are made for technologies which are essential for meeting basic social needs such as food and health care.