Askigaak (world)
| Askigaak/Star Lane (Deneb 0629) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic Era (1116) | E549AA8-C
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| See also | UWP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
This small frigid world is the home to the largest urban population ever recorded in Imperial Space. The surface of Askigaak is bitterly cold, and its world-ocean frequently freezes over in the wintering hemisphere. However the seafloor is bisected by thousands of hot spots and volcanic plumes that prevent the world from completely freezing over, and are rich sources of geothermal energy and minerals. Askigaak is a relatively old world, and most of its surface life has become extinct, and the surviving oceanic life is dependent upon these heat sources for basic survival.
When Askigaak was first surveyed in 58, the world was found to be rich source of mineral ores and other resources necessary for the Imperium's expansion into the Spinward Marches. Star Lane was the main connector to the Spinward Main, and the world's close proximity would allow its factories and mines to supply the colonization effort with little pain. Unfortunately, this interest petered out after the rise of competing industrial centers in nearby Sabine Subsector in the 400s, and Askigaak became the backwater king of a backwater subsector.
As was the case with many first wave colonizations into Deneb Sector, the first colonists were mostly Vilani. While later waves brought larger groups of Solomani, the frigid climate and shortage of fuels and food guaranteed that the cooperation centered Vilani culture would predominate and be practiced by the new arrivals. Land shortages and a runaway birth rate caused major overcrowding that was partially alleviated by terraforming of new islands. But most of the population lived in oceanic habitats that sacrificed most amenities as expensive luxuries after the world was bypassed by Imperial commerce. Like Ashasi the locals are aloof from most offworld contact, but where it is pride for Ashasians, it is simple survival for 'Gaaks.
The large population is a sign of their success at surviving on their world. But it overstrains the local ecosystem, and the population is even more dependent upon artificial life support than before. Food is fungus or genetically modified algae grown in large vats on wastes and sewage. Though crude and unappetizing, it is never in short supply no matter how large the population has grown. More damaging is the unchecked dumping of industrial wastes into the local air and water; the world is no longer capable of naturally filtering pollution, and the water and air are not fit for normal consumption. The reliance upon geothermal heat sources and labor intensive industry create most of this pollution, as does inadequate sewage treatment.
The current cities resemble huge industrial facilities, minimalist and functional in appearance and design. The population lives in small, closet-like apartments, organized around a central life support plant, known as Wards. Local government is brutally simple; an overseer is elected or appointed to govern all aspects of life for a community Ward, and their word traditionally is life or death. Because of the natural warmth of close proximity to other people, many wards are actually extended families, and the Overseer is a patriarch/matriarch of advanced age and recognized wisdom. The locals rarely do anything outside of their family, and usually travel or entertain themselves in groups. Conformity is heavily stressed, even more so than normal for Vilani culture, and the population wears bland but well insulated uniforms that communicate their status in their families.
With few outlets for creativity or dissatisfaction, local politics becomes the main means of entertainment and individual expression. While nominally ruled by the ducal seat (which has been under the control of the Tukera family since the Alkhalikoi ascension), real government is a "Feuding" Technocracy of bureaucratic managers, civic leaders and local family overseers. Despite the huge size of the population, allegiances and loyalties are complex and convoluted. The swirling alliances of different wards are contests for control over vital industrial facilities, particularly high value sites like offworld exports and starport concessions, and vital government jobs and postings. Political contests are decided by majority elections and votes in the assembly overseen by the Duke, but enormous amounts of intrigue go into creating a majority consensus among wards and their voters, with factions promising patronage jobs and political payoffs to potential supporters.
As a result most government officials are highly corrupt, though bribery and meddling by offworlders are not tolerated. Local crime is nonexistent, and offworld perpetrators are subject to lengthy sentences for trivial crimes. Local offenders are usually outcast into the local wilderness, where they usually perish from exposure or hunger, being spurned by the entire community. Such exile is of limited duration, and those who survive the ordeal are eventually forgiven and reintegrated into the community as heroes.
Since the Collapse, and the subsequent invasion of the Kishkii in 1139, Askigaak has been elevated by the Industrial Development Program into a very important industrial world. Because of its massive population, updated education programs would create a very large number of skilled workers and professional personnel desperately needed by the Regency for its war against Virus. Development has been slowed by local politics, and despite major progress, the world has fallen well short of its potential. The education and development programs were originally tailored towards individual initiative, and clashed head on with the local consensus based society. Despite this the world has become home to a number of vital military industries, including the Regency government shipyards of Plant 60 and 61. Progression to TL-15 is steady, with attainment in around twenty years.
Since 1186, the Askigaaki government has been negotiating with Aziziyah and Rimkuku in the hopes of appropriating them as colonies to stem continuing overcrowding. Initially it was hoped to relocate up to half of the population, but resistance from the population, technical and economic limitations, and the coincidence of the Frontier's reopening has reduced this to perhaps a few billion to each world in the next quarter century.
- ↑ "Jump Map API" and map location from Travellermap.com