Hakurabi
30-12-2006, 01:13
The Academic World of New Oxford
History
Following the vicious assault of the rogue entity known as the Maker Mind upon the system of Upsilon Andromedae, the people who called themselves the Hakurabi all but ceased to exist – indeed, as a people they had already perished. However, their crowning achievement, the starship Millenium, was able to flee before the end, carrying within almost two million – those who would go on to be the last survivors and heir to the knowledge of the Hakurabi.
They settled in a system they named 'Second Hope', and christened their new home 'New Oxford'. Drawing upon the extensive knowledge base that was the heritage of their people, the planet of New Oxford has become a veritable mecca of scientific thought, with many talented scientists and engineers calling the small terrestrial world home.
Government
New Oxford is ruled by a council consisting of thirty representatives, each from a different major popular subdivision of the planet and its cities, who then proceed to appoint a chairman and a cabinet to manage the affairs of New Oxford. While the chairman theoretically has supreme executive power, it is dependent on the support of the council and can be overruled by a two-thirds majority.
Representatives are elected from a pool of nominees selected based upon qualifications and prior achievements by an Artificial Intelligence, and then elected in a secret ballot based upon raw profiles and a single submitted paragraph - nominees who are found attempting to campaign further are immediately struck from contention.
Below the council is the sub-council, comprised of representatives chosen in an attempt to provide a pool of balanced ideologies, religions, genders and ethnicities (all highly sensitive topics) for council consultation. The sub-council is typically appointed in an open election and the process most closely resembles a multi-party system.
While this has been acknowledged to be a less than optimal setup, it has been proven to work to an acceptable standard and is not currently under more than passing scrutiny.
Statistics
Post-It Note Expenditure: 562,381,200 Per Annum
Red Tape Usage: 9,234,182,000 Metres Per Annum
Rubber Stamp stocks: 180,273,102,134 units
Health Care
The healthcare system in New Oxford is by all accounts a success, and large shipments of medical supplies are moved every month to the major hospitals in each region, where they are further distributed to smaller clinics servicing communities.
Healthcare and medical insurance are almost completely government owned, though there are few restrictions against private clinics being opened. However, the universal high quality and reasonable costs of the burgeoning government branch has driven out all but the most stalwart of private clinics, who have found themselves in dire straits due to competition.
Statistics
Average Smile Badges: 6.42 per Doctor
Patient Jellybean Consumption: 9,172,403,299,800 pieces/year
Spines Reticulated: 8,382,524
Commerce
Business is tightly regulated, but nonetheless thriving. While heavy taxation becomes a crippling factor as a business grows and operates, the ones which do succeed in spite of the high taxation rate often become pseudo-governmental entities in their own right, and typically are looked upon as sorts of community giants as a result of their punitive charity requirements.
Otherwise, business in New Oxford is non-notable, with most being either directly or indirectly supported by government means.
Statistics
Highest TV Soap Count: 83
Chocolate Bars consumed: 183,639,218,321.7 Per Annum
Popular Consumerism Index: 36
Education
The surface and underground of New Oxford is literally littered with well maintained universities and laboratories, and is well known for its strong scientific and engineering discipline. After completing the basic 12 year education course, almost all students are expected to enter tertiary education to specialise in one or more disciplines. While in theory there are only limited placings to be had in each university, it truth there are enough high-grade universities and funding for expansion that one merely has to choose a discipline and more likely than not a university will have an opening.
Most enter the workforce with only the equivalent of a modern day Bachelor's degree, but a significant portion move on to full doctorates - a result of the largely doctorate-laden people who made up the initial colonisation and the values which were passed on to their descendants.
Statistics
Least Popular Course: Underwater Basket Weaving
Largest Cause of Student Mortality: Rounding Pi to 3
Windows Replaced: 2,720 Per Annum
Religion
Religion is more or less a non-issue for the government, though recent cases of abuse have resulted in the implementation of an organised charity system. Temples (A catch all term for any place of worship) are required to commit a minimum of 90% of all donations to charitable acts, and any remainder being used for other purposes subject to a further tax – A measure taken after a brief spate of businesses masquerading as religions to avoid taxation.
Statistics
Average people asleep in seating: 3/session
Average buttons per donation box: 25/box
Most Ejections for Mobile Phone abuse: G. Montrey, 6,283 times
Law and Order
The legal system is relatively lax, due to educational policies and highly effective policing. Most trouble is caused by offworld crime syndicates and brash smugglers, who are dealt with using extreme force. The rarity of serious crimes means that almost all incidences are responded to with a considerable investment of resources and often are resolved within the week.
When branches of organisations blacklisted as “Extremely Dangerous” are detected, more often than not society is turned upside down for up to months at a time as police in conjunction with the military contain, reverse and ultimately destroy the 'infection'. Such organisations are typically those which actively assimilate and spread amongst the populace, such as the Emerald Cult. Simple crime syndicates, subversive political parties and even foreign paramilitary infilatrators do not warrant such extreme treatment.
Statistics
Doors Kicked In: 3,291,700 Per Annum
Coffee to Doughnut Ratio: 2:3
Most common cause of death: Housecat
Public Transport
Most Oxfordians travel on the fast, safe Magnetic Levitation rail system, though some choose to use grav-buggies when travelling to non-networked areas. Private spacecraft are reasonably common, and inter-planetary hops are not unheard of. However, hyperspace-equipped craft are a rarity and spatial regulations means that most most warp-capable ships are in the hands of merchants or large companies. Personal craft tend to be purchased by consortiums of people, often for a club.
Statistics
Total High Speed Vehicle Chases: 182
Most Lethal Form of Transportation: Bicycle
Most Popular modification: Onboard Beverage machine
------
Personalities of New Oxford
Among the myriad people of New Oxford, a number of exceptional characters surface consistently in any conversation regarding people of any repute. What follows is a brief biography of the most notable of them.
Chairman Horatio Comarre
”We have lived under the shadow of the Maker Mind for too long! Let us make our name known among the stars!”
The Honorable Mr. Comarre is the incumbent Chairman of the New Oxford Council, and is well into his third term. While he has weathered his fair share of criticism and vicious scandals, he remains relatively popular with the public despite steadily eroding support. He is a leader born of an age of change, and is ambitious, decisive and cunning.
Twice Champion in Tarniah Amateur Golfing Championships
Foreign Affairs Minister Kazuo Hasegawa
”Do not be so quick to dismiss the pen.”
The bombastic minister for Foreign Affairs is known for the great panache with which he speaks, often aggressively overpowering his opposition with strong arguments delivered in the guise of a weaker one. Savvy in reading the flows of politics, he was one of the foremost political pundits before being appointed to his current post.
Has spent a total of $382,720 on miniature wargaming
Fleet Admiral Leon Parrian
”Go away. I don't want to be quoted.”
The Admiral is one of the best tacticians to rise to the position of supreme commander over the New Oxford military and is known to be skilled enough to be allowed some free rein. He is known not to be a commander who fights at the front and is usually to be seen safely far from the lines of battle in his flagship, the Dog Star. While criticism has descended upon him for what some perceive as an act of 'cowardice', the fates of his more brash predecessors serve to protect him for the most part.
Minutes work per Cup of Coffee: 47 minutes 13 seconds
Lieutenant Winslow Schroi (Honorary)
”The pen is migh- what do you mean the Minister's already used it?”
Schroi is a diplomat by trade, and possesses the rank of Lieutenant only in an honorary sense of the word. One of Admiral Parrian's closest and oldest friends, he serves as a key advisor to him and is more often than not on Parrian's flagship acting as a full ranking military officer, much to the chagrin of the other admirals and generals when they are onboard.
Total Trading Cards in collection: 843
Private First Class Kirby Ladage
”Not again!”
PFC Ladage has a curious reputation for being almost impossible to kill, despite being in situations of extreme personal danger on a regular basis – whether it is running afoul of criminal elements, attempted conversion by the Emerald Cult, pinned down under heavy fire, or suspended over a volcano and being lowered slowly in. The hapless private is something of a cult figure among his peers, and it is considered 'good luck' to be near him when trouble happens.
Attempts on PFC Ladage's life: 1,284
History
Following the vicious assault of the rogue entity known as the Maker Mind upon the system of Upsilon Andromedae, the people who called themselves the Hakurabi all but ceased to exist – indeed, as a people they had already perished. However, their crowning achievement, the starship Millenium, was able to flee before the end, carrying within almost two million – those who would go on to be the last survivors and heir to the knowledge of the Hakurabi.
They settled in a system they named 'Second Hope', and christened their new home 'New Oxford'. Drawing upon the extensive knowledge base that was the heritage of their people, the planet of New Oxford has become a veritable mecca of scientific thought, with many talented scientists and engineers calling the small terrestrial world home.
Government
New Oxford is ruled by a council consisting of thirty representatives, each from a different major popular subdivision of the planet and its cities, who then proceed to appoint a chairman and a cabinet to manage the affairs of New Oxford. While the chairman theoretically has supreme executive power, it is dependent on the support of the council and can be overruled by a two-thirds majority.
Representatives are elected from a pool of nominees selected based upon qualifications and prior achievements by an Artificial Intelligence, and then elected in a secret ballot based upon raw profiles and a single submitted paragraph - nominees who are found attempting to campaign further are immediately struck from contention.
Below the council is the sub-council, comprised of representatives chosen in an attempt to provide a pool of balanced ideologies, religions, genders and ethnicities (all highly sensitive topics) for council consultation. The sub-council is typically appointed in an open election and the process most closely resembles a multi-party system.
While this has been acknowledged to be a less than optimal setup, it has been proven to work to an acceptable standard and is not currently under more than passing scrutiny.
Statistics
Post-It Note Expenditure: 562,381,200 Per Annum
Red Tape Usage: 9,234,182,000 Metres Per Annum
Rubber Stamp stocks: 180,273,102,134 units
Health Care
The healthcare system in New Oxford is by all accounts a success, and large shipments of medical supplies are moved every month to the major hospitals in each region, where they are further distributed to smaller clinics servicing communities.
Healthcare and medical insurance are almost completely government owned, though there are few restrictions against private clinics being opened. However, the universal high quality and reasonable costs of the burgeoning government branch has driven out all but the most stalwart of private clinics, who have found themselves in dire straits due to competition.
Statistics
Average Smile Badges: 6.42 per Doctor
Patient Jellybean Consumption: 9,172,403,299,800 pieces/year
Spines Reticulated: 8,382,524
Commerce
Business is tightly regulated, but nonetheless thriving. While heavy taxation becomes a crippling factor as a business grows and operates, the ones which do succeed in spite of the high taxation rate often become pseudo-governmental entities in their own right, and typically are looked upon as sorts of community giants as a result of their punitive charity requirements.
Otherwise, business in New Oxford is non-notable, with most being either directly or indirectly supported by government means.
Statistics
Highest TV Soap Count: 83
Chocolate Bars consumed: 183,639,218,321.7 Per Annum
Popular Consumerism Index: 36
Education
The surface and underground of New Oxford is literally littered with well maintained universities and laboratories, and is well known for its strong scientific and engineering discipline. After completing the basic 12 year education course, almost all students are expected to enter tertiary education to specialise in one or more disciplines. While in theory there are only limited placings to be had in each university, it truth there are enough high-grade universities and funding for expansion that one merely has to choose a discipline and more likely than not a university will have an opening.
Most enter the workforce with only the equivalent of a modern day Bachelor's degree, but a significant portion move on to full doctorates - a result of the largely doctorate-laden people who made up the initial colonisation and the values which were passed on to their descendants.
Statistics
Least Popular Course: Underwater Basket Weaving
Largest Cause of Student Mortality: Rounding Pi to 3
Windows Replaced: 2,720 Per Annum
Religion
Religion is more or less a non-issue for the government, though recent cases of abuse have resulted in the implementation of an organised charity system. Temples (A catch all term for any place of worship) are required to commit a minimum of 90% of all donations to charitable acts, and any remainder being used for other purposes subject to a further tax – A measure taken after a brief spate of businesses masquerading as religions to avoid taxation.
Statistics
Average people asleep in seating: 3/session
Average buttons per donation box: 25/box
Most Ejections for Mobile Phone abuse: G. Montrey, 6,283 times
Law and Order
The legal system is relatively lax, due to educational policies and highly effective policing. Most trouble is caused by offworld crime syndicates and brash smugglers, who are dealt with using extreme force. The rarity of serious crimes means that almost all incidences are responded to with a considerable investment of resources and often are resolved within the week.
When branches of organisations blacklisted as “Extremely Dangerous” are detected, more often than not society is turned upside down for up to months at a time as police in conjunction with the military contain, reverse and ultimately destroy the 'infection'. Such organisations are typically those which actively assimilate and spread amongst the populace, such as the Emerald Cult. Simple crime syndicates, subversive political parties and even foreign paramilitary infilatrators do not warrant such extreme treatment.
Statistics
Doors Kicked In: 3,291,700 Per Annum
Coffee to Doughnut Ratio: 2:3
Most common cause of death: Housecat
Public Transport
Most Oxfordians travel on the fast, safe Magnetic Levitation rail system, though some choose to use grav-buggies when travelling to non-networked areas. Private spacecraft are reasonably common, and inter-planetary hops are not unheard of. However, hyperspace-equipped craft are a rarity and spatial regulations means that most most warp-capable ships are in the hands of merchants or large companies. Personal craft tend to be purchased by consortiums of people, often for a club.
Statistics
Total High Speed Vehicle Chases: 182
Most Lethal Form of Transportation: Bicycle
Most Popular modification: Onboard Beverage machine
------
Personalities of New Oxford
Among the myriad people of New Oxford, a number of exceptional characters surface consistently in any conversation regarding people of any repute. What follows is a brief biography of the most notable of them.
Chairman Horatio Comarre
”We have lived under the shadow of the Maker Mind for too long! Let us make our name known among the stars!”
The Honorable Mr. Comarre is the incumbent Chairman of the New Oxford Council, and is well into his third term. While he has weathered his fair share of criticism and vicious scandals, he remains relatively popular with the public despite steadily eroding support. He is a leader born of an age of change, and is ambitious, decisive and cunning.
Twice Champion in Tarniah Amateur Golfing Championships
Foreign Affairs Minister Kazuo Hasegawa
”Do not be so quick to dismiss the pen.”
The bombastic minister for Foreign Affairs is known for the great panache with which he speaks, often aggressively overpowering his opposition with strong arguments delivered in the guise of a weaker one. Savvy in reading the flows of politics, he was one of the foremost political pundits before being appointed to his current post.
Has spent a total of $382,720 on miniature wargaming
Fleet Admiral Leon Parrian
”Go away. I don't want to be quoted.”
The Admiral is one of the best tacticians to rise to the position of supreme commander over the New Oxford military and is known to be skilled enough to be allowed some free rein. He is known not to be a commander who fights at the front and is usually to be seen safely far from the lines of battle in his flagship, the Dog Star. While criticism has descended upon him for what some perceive as an act of 'cowardice', the fates of his more brash predecessors serve to protect him for the most part.
Minutes work per Cup of Coffee: 47 minutes 13 seconds
Lieutenant Winslow Schroi (Honorary)
”The pen is migh- what do you mean the Minister's already used it?”
Schroi is a diplomat by trade, and possesses the rank of Lieutenant only in an honorary sense of the word. One of Admiral Parrian's closest and oldest friends, he serves as a key advisor to him and is more often than not on Parrian's flagship acting as a full ranking military officer, much to the chagrin of the other admirals and generals when they are onboard.
Total Trading Cards in collection: 843
Private First Class Kirby Ladage
”Not again!”
PFC Ladage has a curious reputation for being almost impossible to kill, despite being in situations of extreme personal danger on a regular basis – whether it is running afoul of criminal elements, attempted conversion by the Emerald Cult, pinned down under heavy fire, or suspended over a volcano and being lowered slowly in. The hapless private is something of a cult figure among his peers, and it is considered 'good luck' to be near him when trouble happens.
Attempts on PFC Ladage's life: 1,284