Gateway (Da 1331) (world)
| Gateway/Argi (Dagudashaag 1331) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic Era (1116) | B98A654-D
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| See also | UWP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| System Details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary | (M1 V M9 D) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Planetoid Belts | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gas Giants | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gateway (Da 1331) System | |||
| Argi/Dagudashaag 1331 | |||
| Position | Distance | Name | UWP |
| Primary | Ukaa | M1 V | |
| 0 | <0.1 AU | Gagamshuu | M9 D |
| 1 | 0.2 AU | Gateway | B98A654-D |
| 1 | 7 | Ukumikuug | FS00250-C |
| 2 | 12 | Shir | FS11310-C |
| 3 | 25 | Lishashukh | FS32310-C |
| 2 | 1.0 AU | Piileirkhash | LargeGG |
| 1 | 12 | Shaidamina | H321110-A |
| 2 | 25 | lir | YS00000-0 |
| 3 | 1.7 AU | Kukamashni | Y420000-0 |
| 4 | 2.5 AU | Luuashegakhu | F431452-D |
History
Originally an Argian settlement the fierce waves, extensive volcanic activity and lack of land prevented planetary habitation though minimal settlements were made on Luuashegakhu and Gateway's two moons, Shir and Lishashukh. With the amount of agriculture passing through the system extensive orbital facilities were built around Gateway arc these gradually extended into the massive L5 station now known as Stargate Control. Massive cargo storage units were started in 300. The system now has over 30 million tonnes of cargo facilities in orbit in the sky above Gateway. Gateway itself remained uncolonised until 350 when members of the Khaarkhi cult built several cities on the landmasses. Within 35 years the entire settlement was completely destroyed and thousands of colonists were dead as a result of volcanic activity which caused the city of Rhula to sink, (visitors to Gateway can hire guides to sail them over the seaweed-bannered towers of the city now encrusted with multi-hued corals and inhabited only with the silent denizens of the sea.) At the same time the continent of Yakor rose to within 2 metres of the surface forming the massive seaweed covered shallow sea. The volcanic mountains of Bhaki erupted burying the entire region under many metres of grey volcanic dust. A whole new continent rose up out of the Glass Sea (so called because the waves rarely grow above 10 metres) and then sank again 32 years later. Its place is marked only by the dangerous shoals of White Water Pass. The surviving Khaarkhi fled and Gateway was once more uninhabited.
In 568 a deal was struck with the Scanians which gave them control of the planet in return for extracted minerals. During the rebellion years the Scanian colonists apparently stopped, voluntarily, all contact with Akiva though they were one of the first worlds to sign trade agreements with the Twin Lines merchant fleet. In 924 Gateway's Scanians proposed a plan to build an orbital tower designed to siphon off large amounts of the planet' s water and provide more land for development. The money for the project was obtained from the Argian government and the Scanian Traveller's Aid Fund (STAF). The Scanians of Gateway never suffered severe persecution and have built up a reputation for extremely high quality workmanship.
Items of interest
Highway
The tower is the only one of its kind in the sector and acts both as a means of transport and as a massive solar still. The base of the tower is moored deep within the planetary crust 6 kilometres below sea level at Hajaan (seabed is 1 km below sea level) which is apparently the only stable point on the whole planet. The tower itself, which is a sheath of foamed plastisteel covering hundreds of monofilaments, is divided into two main sections; the Still which covers the tower surface to a depth of three metres. This siphons water in continually through the base of the tower and uses suction to keep the flow up the tower. Within the centre are the vertical grav-lifts which supplies transport to each of the orbital platforms. The main Aquan settlements are based around the siphon ducts (known as Deep 1 to 6) and the tower itself has an entire settlement contained within the spine. The tower tapers from 15 kilometres across at the base to 3 kilometres at sea level... From here the tower becomes a mere 200 metres across as it stretches to the next major settlement, at Sky. This platform is 500 metres across and 300 metres high and is based five kilometres above sea level. The view of the world from its glass bottomed floor is breathtaking. From here the tower is purely a siphon and transport system and tapers to a mere 100 metre diameter. This continues to the first orbital platform, Highway One at a distance of 20,000 km up. Here the tower (known as the Highway) has been extended by using derelict Argian orbital stations to create a ring of living accommodation. This marks the point of the towers extrality and apart from extensive living quarters, shopping centres etc., the city have extensive docks, engineering facilities, communications as well as the Tower Travel terminus Centre (T3c). From that point until Highway Two is reached (at 28,000 km) the entire Highway skin is designated as a massive solar still which is used to separate the water into gases and extracted minerals. In addition, heat exchangers turn the excess heat into electrical power. By Highway Two the entire cargo of sea water has been separated and the waste products, mainly helium and salt crystals, expelled into orbit. Over the years these have formed a massive doughnut shape round the planet known as the “Halo”. Due to solar ionisation the combination of crystals and helium gas sparkles like a circular rainbow.
At 32,500 km the tower expands into Highway Three where massive maser units have been built to beam excess energy to the receiver satellites at the Argian stargate. At 55,050 km the fuel depot and Highway port is reached. The end of the tower is tethered to a hollowed out asteroid known as Anchor's End situated another 200 km out. As a result of the tower the sea level on Gateway has gone down by 78 metres since the tower was opened and any ship visiting can obtain free oxygen and refined fuel courtesy of the planet. Each Highway city revolves round the tower to provide a cheap, effective gravity. Inhabitants of the city use the lift level as their city designation thus Highway one is known as 90/1 to 90/300 depending on which level they live on and Highway Three, a freeport with a reputation for wildness unique among Scanians is known locally as 220/1 to 220/500.
Cargo Orbitals
This prosperous system is notable for having massive orbital warehousing and bulk-cargo handling facilities. The system acts as a trans-shipment point for the dozens of multi-kiloton agroproduct bulk carriers travelling weekly from the agricultural worlds of Sii (Dagudashaag 0932), Shidka (Dagudashaag 1032), Liikiir (Dagudashaag 1029) and Akigir (Dagudashaag 1129) to Argi itself.
Gateway
Much of the planet has yet to be explored and the majority of current settlements are sited around the Tower complex. Gateway is a tourist's dream; the hedonistic pleasures of the Highway (particularly Highway Three) and the pure, unspoiled paradise of the surface. The weather conditions are extreme with severe tidal conditions, especially round the equatorial regions where 160 metre waves are common. Despite this there are several places worth visiting. The ring of undersea volcanic mountains illuminates the sea around the Bhaki archipelago. The islands themselves are covered in several metres of grey ash and are totally without life. Visit the excavated Khaarkhi settlements on Bhaki Prime. The islands themselves are still active volcanoes and care must be taken when visiting. Visit the Lava rivers of S'mulla where the fire-resistant Takai lizard resides. This lizard can live in temperatures up to 300ºC and can grow to a length of 30 cm. Visit Hajaan Major to the North of the Glass Sea, the only occupied landmass. Here the living area has been extended to Scanian houseboat colonies which exist, sheltered within the eight 25 kilometre lagoons made by the massive tidal ducks used to control the tides around the islands. All other non-tower residences on Gateway are floating because of the current instability but several major terraforming experiments are currently underway which should help to tame the wild magma heart of the planet. Visit the polar base of Hades and take a trip in a heat-resistant sub through the magma filled caverns of Hkarha. Visit the submerged city of Rhula and dive amidst the sunken streets.
- ↑ "Jump Map API" and map location from Travellermap.com