Saskatoon (world)
| Saskatoon/Kukulkan (Solomani Rim 3132) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic Era (1116) | A887989-C
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| See also | UWP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| System Details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary | M2 V | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Planetoid Belts | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gas Giants | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Saskatoon is a high-population, pre-rich garden world with a billion or more sophonts in population size, a near-ideal utopian environment conducive to most sophonts, and still lacks adequate population to expand its economy to a rich status.
- Its economy and population are rapidly growing and living conditions are expected to quickly rise barring outside forces.
- It is a member of the Solomani Confederation in the Kukulkan Subsector of Solomani Rim Sector.
Description (Planetology)
It is a garden world.
IISS GURPS Astrographics Survey
3132 Saskatoon (Solomani)
Starport: Class V.
Diameter: 8,300 miles (13,300 km). Gravity: 1.10g.
Atmosphere: Dense oxygen-nitrogen.
Hydrographics: 67%.
Climate: Cool.
Population: 5.8 billion.
Government: Meritocracy.
Control Level: 6.
Tech Level: 10.
World Trade Number: 5.5.
History & Background (Dossier)
Saskatoon is a high-population garden world located in Kukulkan Subsector of the Solomani Rim.
- The system is a member of the Solomani Confederation.
- Saskatoon has been issued an Amber Zone travel advisory.
Saskatoon V - Alternative Timeline (1440)
- Allegiance: Kidashi Dominate (Solomani Confederation)
- Population: 8 Billion
- Capital: Sawyer
- Other major cities: New Ottawa, Albertopolis
- Identified ethnic groups: Solomani (u), Carribean, American, Japanese, Pakistani, Magyar, Italian, Jewish, English, French, German, Australian, Greek,
Turkish, Irish, Ecuadorean, Finnish, Korean, Malaysian
- Major religions: Christianity (All major branches plus many Rastafarians), Buddhism, Shinto, Islam, Judaism
- Major industries: Shipbuilding, Synthetic agriculutre, banking, transport, chemicals, industrial lasers, military equipment (esp. beam weapons and long-range radars), medical research, software engineering, robotics
- Major corporations: Saskatoon Shipyards (HQ), Impulse Lines, Solomani Interstellar Enterprises (SIE), Panavac
- Higher Education: Union College of Saskatoon
- Politics: Most cadres are Hardline
- Military: Former Navy base, home of the infamous Butcher's Guard marines
Ancient History
Non-canon: Two psionic races, the Olam and the Fili, were known to have outposts in the Saskatoon system. Too small to be mining stations, they were most likely wayposts on trading or pilgrimage routes. Both were abandoned by c. -24,000.
Alternate timeline Description
Non-canon: The initial target of Canada's Space Colonization Initiative, Saskatoon was terraformed early in the history of the 2nd Imperium. Originally an agricultural world, over time the population grew steadily and it became more urban in nature. Vast industries arose, powered mainly by hydroelectric plants on the world's famed "Super-rivers," massive torrents of water that surge down from the seven-mile-high mountains that dominate the interior of the main continent. Today the only food products produced for export are synthetic.
After the First Solomani Rim War, the Navy constructed shipyards in Saskatoon orbit to replace those lost to the Imperium further to coreward. Although there is no longer a military presence at the shipyards (to the consternation of the militaristic locals), they are still in operation. After being abandoned by the Navy in the wake of the Peace of 1220, civilian workers and local businessmen banded together to form Saskatoon Shipyards, a corporation that has succeeded against all odds and is a great source of local pride and a backbone of the economy. Currently the Shipyards produce only one design, the 9500-ton Kentucky Home class Merchantman, but it is extremely profitable.
Saskatoon has a weak magnetic field and during solar storms all residents must seek shelter inside. This led to a centralizing government and controlled communities early in the world's history, and some claim it set the world's authoritarian character from the beginning. Certainly Saskatoon hardly resembles cultures called "Canadian" on other worlds. Indeed, even though almost 80% of the current residents are descendants of the initial waves of settlers from the CSCI, few anymore describe themselves as Canadian. Solomani - as in the Solomani Party - will do quite nicely, thank you.
Politics
Non-canon: Politically the world is quite conservative - even reactionary. It is a proud member of the Kidashi Dominate which pursues militant policies in the Secretariat. "Thought police" are a reality on Saskatoon - the media is heavily controlled and publications routinely shut down by "the Party" - in reality local Party hacks. Outsiders who are not Party members or associated with the Kidashi Guard are urged to avoid Saskatoon - they will be subject to constant surveillance, intermittent harassment and the imposition of made-up-on-the-spot bureaucratic "regulations" to make their life miserable.
Local officials are especially severe in their treatment of non-humans. A visiting alien is unusual, a settled one non-existent. The Confederate Migration Act is openly defied on this world.
The main threat to the status quo comes not from liberal reformers but rather from the far right - the Solomani Fascist League and the fanatical Church of the Impaled Nazarene are both active on Saskatoon. Terrorist bombings against opposition politicians not considered sufficiently devoted to the "Cause" have increased in recent years.
Corruption is a major problem on the world as well. Several high officials have been removed by the Kukulkan Subsector branch of the Party due to blatant misconduct and graft. One was executed in public.
In contrast to most Hardline worlds, some soft drugs are legal on Saskatoon. This may be a holdover from the original Canadian influence, or from the political power of Rastafarian cadres, who are often among the most militant in defending "Solomani freedoms," if not the speciest aspects of the Party.
Tourist Attractions
Non-canon: Assuming you are a Party member in good standing, a visit to Saskatoon might be at least somewhat pleasant. You can visit the many verdant parks in which the locals take such pride - the greenery helps lighten up the vistas of the vast gray cities. In the capital of Sawyer there is also the War Memorial Park - with holographic projections and "inspirational" "messages" from the dead - recorded before they were shipped off to fight in the Rim Wars. Included is a tribute to the Butcher's Guard - whom many even in the Confederation consider to be war criminals.
In New Ottawa one can visit the Permanent Exhibition - a kind of continuous world's fair where Saskatoon's industrial might and Solomani purity are on 24-hour display. Be prepared to negotiate through mobs of schoolchildren during the daytime. Part of the Exhibition is a gallery of every recipient of the Meritorious Order of Saskatoon - mostly military types and tycoons.
The skyline of Albertopolis is dominated by the Cathedral of the Seven Spires, the seat of the Catholic Church on Saskatoon and one of the 700 Wonders of the Rim as selected by Kidashi Traveller Magazine.
The three major sports on Saskatoon are soccer, cricket and archery. All can be enjoyed in most major urban centers. Horse racing is also popular and the richest racing clubs hire jockeys from the horse-mad Tewfik system.
References & Contributors (Sources)
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