Kerak (world)
| Kerak/Forquee (Massilia 2411) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Milieu 0 | C100544-A
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| Classic Era (1116) | B100576-D
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| See also | UWP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| System Details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary | M2 V | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Planetoid Belts | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gas Giants | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kerak is a nonindustrial vacuum world, which warrants hazardous environment precautions.
- Life in a vacuum requires great discipline. After all, it only takes one forgotten seal on a vacuum suit to spell death. Those who survive tend to be very methodically-minded and attentive to small detail.
- As a nonindustrial world, it requires extensive imports of outside technology to maintain a modern, star-faring society. The need to import most manufactured and high technology goods drives the price of these goods up in the open market.
- It is a member of the Third Imperium in the Forquee Subsector of Massilia Sector in the Domain of Sylea.
- This is a "high technology" world with technology achievements at, near, or above the standard for Charted Space.
- This world has an Imperial Scout base, capable of handling IISS starships and personnel.
- It lies on the Delphi Main.
- At the founding of the Imperium this world was known as Uuduud.
| Kerak System | |||
| Forquee/Massilia 2411 | |||
| Position | Distance | Name | UWP |
| Primary | Heko | M2 V | |
| 1 | 0.193 AU | Gelmorth | Small GG |
| 1 | 1 Diam | Moon | Y100000-0 |
| 2 | 0.568 AU | Letro | Small GG |
| 1 | 1 Diam | A Ring | YR00000-0 |
| 2 | 2 Diam | Moon | YS00000-0 |
| 3 | 0.8 AU | Kerak | B100576-D |
| 4 | 1.63 AU | Hotov | Y310000-0 |
| 5 | 3.43 AU | Lavoth | Large GG |
| 1 | 1 Diam | A Ring | YR00000-0 |
| 2 | 2 Diam | B Ring | YR00000-0 |
| 3 | 5 Diam | Moon | Y200000-0 |
| 4 | 7 Diam | Moon | Y100000-0 |
| 6 | 4.91 AU | Pillosie | Large GG |
| 1 | 5 Diam | Moon | Y310000-0 |
| 2 | 7 Diam | Moon | Y421000-0 |
| 3 | 8 Diam | Moon | Y100000-0 |
| 4 | 10 Diam | Moon | Y433000-0 |
| 5 | 12 Diam | Moon | Y200000-0 |
| 6 | 13 Diam | Moon | Y210000-0 |
| 7 | 5.42 AU | Paccao | Y531000-0 |
Description (Astrography & Planetology)
Kerak has a solitary primary star.
- It is a red main sequence named Heko.
- The star and it's system are 3.9Gyr old.
System Data
The worlds of the system have been surveyed. They consist of:
- The mainworld.
- x2 secondary rocky worlds.
- Hotov, an ice world orbiting in the outer system.
- Paccao, an ice world orbiting in the outer system.
- x4 gas giants.
- Gelmorth, a small gas giant orbiting in the habitable zone.
- Letro, a small gas giant orbiting in the outer system.
- Lavoth, a large gas giant orbiting in the outer system.
- Pillosie, a large gas giant orbiting in the outer system.
Mainworld Data
- The planet has an axial tilt of 28.44 degrees
- Kerak has a sidereal day of 41.1 hours in length
- The planet takes 251.6 days to rotate around its star.
- Kerak is not located in the Habitable Zone of its star.
- No life has been found to exist on Kerak.
- Kerak has no major tectonic plates.
Mainworld Size (S)
Kerak is a Small World between 900km and 2,400km in diameter. The world has very low gravity between 0.05G and 0.09G. The horizon will appear about 2km away.
- Following extensive survey the planet has been confirmed as having a diameter of 2353Km.
- The planetary survey confirmed that Kerak has a mostly rock core with a density of 0.59 Standard
- Surface gravity of the planet is 0.11g
Mainworld Atmosphere (A)
Kerak 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.
- Due to the lack of atmosphere the local population live in sealed environments and only venture outside in appropriate protective equipment.
- The plant of Kerak is little more than a cold rockball. Mean surface temperature of the planet is -110c / -166f.
Mainworld Hydrosphere (H)
Kerak has no free-standing water or ice on the surface. Wilderness refueling isn't possible on this world. Water for the inhabitants needs to be imported and extensively recycled. These worlds are classified Desert World or a Hell World depending on their atmosphere.
- Hydrosphere of the planet has been surveyed at 4%. The water on the planet is not free standing but held in the form of ice in deep crevices and caves located across the planets surface.
- Although the ice does exist there is insufficient quantity in a single location to provide a strong water source for a sophont population to survive without imported additional supplies.
- The ice is dispersed across the entire planet with no single area having any significant volume at this time having been located.
Mainworld Geography and Topography
History & Background (Dossier)
Kerak lies on the Delphi Main, an important trade route straddling the border between Massilia Sector and Delphi Sector.
World Starport (St)
Kerak has a Class B Starport, a good 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 most kinds of repair, and construction of non-starships. Most ports of this classification have both a Highport and a Downport.
- This world is host to a Scout Base.
World Population (P)
Kerak has a population of 600,000 sophonts (hundreds of thousands).
- This is a Nonindustrial World, too small to support the complete chain of production of most goods from start to finish.
- There are 3 cities located on the surface, each managed, maintained and governed by a different corporation. The cities are purpose built arcologies designed to house the corporations workforce and their families.
- The population of the planet is centred around a corporate lifestyle of prospecting and initial exploration of the mineral wealth that has been identified across the planet. Each corporation is therefore staking claims in various regions of the surface based upon their findings.
- Besides the 3 cities there are many small corporate facilities both fixed and mobile both on the surface and also in areas beneath the surface that are being investigated.
Urbanization
There are three major cities.
- The cities are all constructed in a similar way to each other. Prefab modular units are initially connected, everything from living accomodations to office complexes. These units are interconnected with prefab corridor units. Over time expansions are added from building materials that have been brought to the planet and the original modular units are encompassed within the larger on planet assemblies. Throughout the cities airlocks and sealed spaces are the norm to ensure the populations safety.
Galebright: Population: c.165,235
- The home of Gale Industries on Kerak.
- Large city on the planet and situated 150 miles from the starport in the southern hemisphere
Heelong : Population: c.142,510
- Home to Ashgaag Mineral Extraction
- Located in the northern hemisphere close to the north pole of the planet
Nantus: Population: 124,490
- Home to Tyllichar Chemicals
- Located deep within a large ravine in the southern hemisphere
- The remaining population c167,765 are located either at the starport (some 12,000 people) or spread across the planet in small relatively isolated communities. Almost the entire population are employees of one of the 3 corporations who are operating on the planet.
Linguistic Topography
The most commonly heard languages are:
- Anglic, one of the two official languages of the Imperium.
- Vilani, one of the two official languages of the Imperium.
World Technology Level (T)
Kerak possesses a Technology Level of TL–13 or TL-D in Hexadecimal Notation.
- Common Communication technologies for this TL include: Holovideo recorders.
- Common Power Generation technologies for this TL include: Miniature super-batteries, prototype collectors, advanced fusion plants.
- Common Transportation technologies for this TL include:
- Land, Water & Air: Personal G-Tubes and advanced gravcraft.
- Space: Advanced interplanetary spacecraft (System Craft).
- FTL: Jump Drive-4.
World Government (G)
Kerak has a Balkanized Government. There is no central world government. The world has several governments competing for control of the world. These may be allies, cooperating, competitors, or at war with each other.
- Kerak has no central government authority. The planet is "governed" by 3 distinct corporations all of whom claim regions of the planet as their own.
- The three corporations are:-
- Gale Industries
- Ashgaag Mineral Extraction
- Tyllicar Chemicals
- Each corporation maintains law and order within their territories however a common agreement exists between all 3 to the level of such activities. Employees and contractors for one corporation only enter another's territory provided appropriate paperwork and licences are in place.
- Each of the corporation's has a legislative authoritative organisational function. They set the rules and structure that society abides by and how it is governed. Each of the corporations however operates with different lower level organisational constructs:-
- Gale Industries has a very loose organisation structure that relies on the communal and collective mindset of the employees. Every employee has a voice/vote that on a regular basis supports and shapes the direction that the corporation and how it governs on Kerak is going.
- Ashgaag Mineral Extraction has single Director that sits at the top of the organisation and effectively makes all the key decisions albeit supported by several other senior managers who help them in that process.
- Recently Ashgaag Minerals has faced some significant issues with employees pushing back against decisions being taken that have impacted daily life. Such decisions have caused considerable disquiet amongst those living and working on the planet.
- Tyllicar Chemicals operates with a Board of Directors located on the planet who are ultimately answerable to their parent company based elsewhere in the sector.
World Law (L)
Kerak has a moderate level with laws covering many areas of government and interaction. These laws are simple enough that most people can act as their own advocate, though for serious issues a professional is recommended. Law enforcement officials will be present, but not in great numbers. All firearms except shotguns, and anything more destructive, are typically regulated or prohibited.
- The Law on Kerak does have subtle differences between each corporate entity and also how the starport operates, however overall their is some level of consistency that is relatively standardised across the planet and the different factions. The system of law is best described as "traditional" with a process involving judges, jury's and robust criminal investigation of alleged crimes.
- Each corporation does have the right to create specific local law and does do this, however such laws are readily available to Travellers to try and prevent actual breaches occurring.
- Any defendant is presumed innocent until proven otherwise regardless of which faction is prosecuting the case.
- For the most extreme cases the death penalty does exist within the Kerak legal systems, however it has been many years since it was last enacted.
- The law level like all worlds has differing levels and categories and the following levels apply. Although each corporation interprets some of the details differently the following levels are consistent across Kerak.
- Overall Level: 6
- Weapons and Armour: 6 (All firearms except shotguns and stun weapons are illegal. Even shotguns and stun weapons do require a permit/licence and are rarely seen in the hands of the general population.)
- Economic: 6 (Moderate permitting and zoning laws are in place. Registration fees are required for professional licences and proof of capability to carry out Professional roles is required)
- Criminal Law: 6 (Public surveillance is carried out with cameras located throughout most urban and public areas)
- Private Law: 6 (All disputes that break the legal code must be held in a corporate managed venue with appropriate management oversight)
- Personal Rights: 8 (The corporations absolutely control day to day life in relation to personal information. Each employee is corporate registered and all data access and controls are strictly maintained.)
Imperial Landed Nobility
Kerak, as a member world of the Third Imperium has a member of the Imperial Landed Nobility who acts as an Imperial representative to the world.
Trade Data
- Importance: 1 (ordinary)
World Economy
- Resources: B (abundant)
- Significant quantities of rare elements such as lanthanides have been located on the planet along with quantities of silicate minerals.
- Labor: 4 (tens of thousands)
- Infrastructure: 5 (limited)
- Efficiency: +1 (average)
World Culture
- Heterogenity: 4 (harmonious)
- Acceptance: 6 (aloof)
- Strangeness: 4 (somewhat distinct)
- Symbols: C (very abstract)
World Timeline
Major events that have affected this world and the wider region that it lies within:
- circa -250,000: the Ancients are active within the sector.
- circa -9,000: the Geonee encounter the Vilani.
- -5400 to -4015: the Vilani Consolidation Wars.
- -4045 to -2204: the region is part of the Ziru Sirka.
- -2204 to -1776: the region becomes part of the Rule of Man.
- -1776 to 0: the Long Night.
- The Year 0: the Third Imperium is founded.
- 300-420: the Imperial First Survey charts the system.
- 604-622: the Civil War.
- 624: the Express Boat Network is established.
- 995-1065: the Imperial Second Survey charts the system.
- 1065: the Second Survey is published. Information about the system becomes widely available.
References & Contributors (Sources)
| This article is missing content for one or more detailed sections. Additional details are required to complete the article. You can help the Traveller Wiki by expanding it. |
- Jim Cunningham, John Harshman, J. Andrew Keith, Marc W. Miller, Gordon Sheridan. Atlas of the Imperium (Game Designers Workshop, 1984), page 22. (world location and some additional system data)
- John Harshman, Marc Miller. Solomani (Game Designers Workshop, 1986), pages 5, 7, 20. (sector background and history)
- Gary L. Thomas. The Travellers' Digest 11 (Digest Group Publications, 1989), pages 6-25. (sector background and history, plus details for the Geonee)
- James Holden, Joe D. Fugate Sr., Terrance McInnes. Vilani & Vargr (Digest Group Publications, 1990), page 11. (dot map provided, locating the world)
- Joe Fugate. Knightfall (Game Designers Workshop, 1990), pages 74-80. (sector data including the world, sector background and history)
- Marc Miller. First Survey (Imperium Games, 1996), pages 4, 38-41, 102-109. (sector data including the world circa The Year 0)
- David L. Pulver. Solomani (Mongoose Publishing, 2012), pages 57, 59. (sector background and history)
- ↑ "Jump Map API" and map location from Travellermap.com
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