Bautizar
21-01-2007, 07:15
***** COMMONWEALTH CENTRAL DATABASE *****
[ ERROR: Feed unavailable. ]
[ Resetting connection. ]
[ Connection reset failed. ]
[ Resetting connection. ]
[ Connection reset failed. ]
[ Querying Commonwealth central database. ]
[ QUESTION: What was the date of last contact with the Commonwealth Central Database? ]
[ ANSWER: Date of last contact with database established. February 1, 3429. ]
[ ALERT: Connection failed. Switching to cached file. ]
Government Sites:
* Diplomatic relations/embassy requests (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=512873)
* Military of the Commonwealth of Bautizar (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=511780)
* Space station listing (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12177000&postcount=10)
Official Statements:
* Speech by the Prime Minister On the Dimensional Grand Republica of Gaian Ascendancy (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12120800&postcount=3) (22 December 3391)
* Statement on the Situation Inside New Albor (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12206270&postcount=7) (14 January 3422)
* Statement on the Dominion Accords (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12235059&postcount=2) (21 January 3429)
National Security Documents:
* National Security Finding Re. the Situation in the Tau Systems (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12224633&postcount=10) (19 January 3426)
* Order of Battle of Her Majesty's Navy (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12222927&postcount=10)
* White Paper on National Defense, 3424 (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12228278&postcount=12)
News Articles:
* Memorandum Uproar Continues, Causes Mystery (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12103661&postcount=1) (18 December 3391)
* Mystery Grows Concerning Project Starlight (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12109932&postcount=2) (22 December 3391)
* House of Administrators Takes Up Controversial Bill (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12146473&postcount=4) (29 December 3409)
* BHA #2219 Passes! (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12154800&postcount=5) (31 December 3409)
* Naval Developments (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12185780&postcount=6) (10 January 3417)
* Elite Military Unit Departs on New Mission (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12206270&postcount=7) (13 January 3422)
* Commonwealth Military Sets Higher Alert Footing (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12211102&postcount=9) (15 January 3422)
* Commonwealth to Host League of Free Worlds Exercises (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12228272&postcount=11) (19 January 3426)
* BREAKING NEWS: Leader of Justice Party Stepping Down as Prime Minister (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12239537&postcount=13) (22 January 3427)
Bautizar
21-01-2007, 07:15
I. Introduction
Overview: Her Majesty's Commonwealth Government of Bautizar, known in local shorthand as "the Commonwealth" or "Her Majesty's Government" (HMG), is a collection of three future tech planets located in the Orion Belt, within the Milky Way galaxy. It was formed in 3391 by the First and Second Treaties of the Dominion, which merged the Dominion of Bautizar, the Kingdom of Camillar, and the House of Dornas into a single government.
Long-term events are often referred to as pre-Unification and post-Unification, in reference to the merger of 3391. Originally these phrases were adopted to assist outsiders in familiarizing themselves with the Commonwealth's history, but they have since become terms of everyday use.
Also important to note is the Commonwealth calendar. The system of dates and times based from stellar movements was established in its current form by the Gorjen people of Gorjen IV in 2110. Originally this was known as the "year one" in the post-Unification Commonwealth. However, recent archaeological evidence showing that a well-established civilization flourished on the homeworld and the colonies as early as 3,400 years ago has led to substantial changes of the complex date/time structure. Therefore, under the new system it is now the year 3426.
Pre-Unification
The question of how humans came to exist on three worlds very distant from Earth remains an unknown question in Commonwealth history. Speculation has focused on the possibility of the planets having been settled by refugees fleeing Earth's wars of the mid 2000s. If this is true, according to sentiment among the archaeological community, then at some point after the establishment of colonies on the three worlds they devolved to pre-spaceflight societies consistent with civilizations of the early Middle Ages on Old Earth.
Gorjen IV is believed to have been the first planet to rediscover the written word and begin to reestablish a functioning civilization. By the mid 2100s their world had become industrialized, and it was not long before they harnessed the power of the atom. In 2210 widespread conflict broke out across the planet, leading to an escalation to nuclear weapons that left less than 4 million alive from a pre-exchange population of 1.6 billion. The survivors were left to struggle and adapt to life as best as they could. In 2215 the first of several religious faiths emerged, and those that had survived what has become known as "The Cleansing" were quickly swayed to the idea of religion. Since then the population has become very religiously devout. It was their devotion to the ideals of pacifism and non-resistance that enabled them to be quickly conquered and subjugated in 3376 by the House of Dornas.
Solstheim VI, home to a desolate wasteland of deserts, gave rise to tribes whose survival was based upon military prowess. By the mid-2000s the largest and most powerful had united to form a warrior-based society that referred to itself as the Soldenor, with a caste-like structure heavily biased towards military-related fields and areas of study. It was only the continued conflict with smaller tribes that delayed their society's movement forwards as a whole. By 3250 their societal organization and research had allowed them to break the warp barrier, the first group of any of the colonies to do so. Immediately putting it to use as a military weapon to search for territories that could be conquered and used to enrich their own civilization, the 3300 invasion (and subsequent subjugation) of Bautizar VIII was directly associated with this policy. After the occupation forces had been defeated and expelled in 3374, Soldenor society began to crumble as warriors turned on each other, seeking to pass blame around for the failure of the occupation. This enabled an invasion that conquered and subjugated them by 3377.
Bautizar VIII became inhabited by a tribal-based agricultural society by the year 2000 on the Commonwealth calendar. The Soldenor invasion of 3300 later was soon followed by massive industrialization projects that radically transformed the face of the planet from its humble roots into an economic powerhouse that rivaled pre-Cleansing Gorjen IV. By 3374 this might had been used by the newly-united Dominion of Bautizar, the Kingdom of Camillar, and the House of Dornas to expel the invaders. It was in the aftermath of this that the planet fell into near-anarchy, with the three states becoming engaged in destructive warfare punctuated by the use of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.
In 3389 the general realization came to exist that unless the warfare could be stopped, all of the planet would be rendered uninhabitable by the year 3395. In late 3389 the First Treaty of the Dominion succeeded in establishing a permanent ceasefire, paving the way for the Second Treaty of the Dominion in 3391. It was this latter document that established the Dominion of Bautizar as an inter-planetary entity.
In 3391 the Parliament voted to rename the government Her Majesty's Commonwealth Government of Bautizar, settling what many considered to be the last post-Unification question.
Post-Unification
Post-Unification society has become divided into three camps. Bautizar VIII, known to many as "the homeworld," is considered to have an inoffensive centralized government that prefers to maintain law and order at the expense of civil liberties. Its economy has been growing steadily in the post-Unification era, giving it the strongest economy of the three worlds.
Gorjen IV has retreated from the international stage as the religious piousness of its population continues to grow. Colonial authorities are known to maintain strict controls over the Church of the Twin Lanterns (the official religion and the only one recognized and allowed to practice in public by the authorities). In more recent years the economy has become greatly unsettled as religious leaders have become increasingly vocal in their sermons against the corruption and evils of business. Repeated rumors from within the Colonial Authorities have spoken of forthcoming action against the Church's religious elders in order to get them to "tone down" their message, but these rumblings have been ongoing since 3410 and are considered by many to be just stories.
Solstheim VI has recovered from the economic chaos that was widespread after the defeat of 3374 and the invasion of 3377. Although considered by some to be a growing economic market, much of its younger generations have become disenfranchised with the pursuit of economic wealth and have turned their attention back to the military arts, prompting concern among civil leaders worried by the implications of their young returning to what some view as a devastating past. In the last decade enlistment within the naval and marine branches has been growing, but so has the attention of the Colonial authorities, who are generally wary and distrusting of the Soldenor.
Bautizar
21-01-2007, 07:16
II. Geography
Location: Remote and distant from the Confederation of Nations; two months hard travel by standard freighter to the galactic northeast
Area: total: 934,417,300 sq km land: 305,669,800 sq km water: 628,747,500 sq km
Climate: Bautizar VIII: continental, cold winters and warm summers Solstheim VI: continental, cool winters and hot summers Gorjen IV: arid and semiarid, hot summers, little precipitation
Natural resources: major deposits of uranium, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, lead, zine, bauxite, gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese
Natural hazards: frequent plasma storms, ground-based natural disasters
Environment - current issues: Bautizar VIII: radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with defense industries and test ranges scattered across the planet; widespread deforestation will lead to use of planetary oxygen scrubbers within the next 30 years Solstheim VI: soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure; industrial pollution in the few industrialized areas Gorjen IV: none
III. People
Overview: In the decades that have elapsed since the occupation, Soldenor and Gorjen citizens have remained second-class citizens. Despite recent loosenings in treatment by the Colonial authorities, members of both groups remain barred from participation in national elections and referendums, and cannot hold any positions within the Colonial authority. This has led many into the economic and military fields, which remain the only areas in which some semblance of equality can be found.
It is in part because of this that ethnic tensions between the Bautizans and the Gorjens/Soldenors have become on again/off again issues at a local level, with many of the colonists opposed to the opening of embassies on the homeworld in 3397. (In this particular incident the government forbid the opening of consulates on the colonies, where protesters demanded equal representation and freedom. Reports at the time indicated that the military was particularly ruthless in suppressing these uprisings and demonstrations, but the government has since downplayed the stories as "rumors and fantasies of a group of anarchists.")
Literacy and religious freedom remain issues of contention. The former has been highlighted especially on Gorjen IV, where Colonial authorities frequently clash with the religious leaders within the Church of the Twin Lanterns (Gorjen IV's official religion) over education, law and order, and welfare. Hardliners within the church took the view in 3399 that only they were qualified to teach and educate the populace, and their efforts have largely been greeted successfully by the populace. This occurred much to the dismay of the colonial authorities, who have been similarly frustrated in attempts to introduce other religions to Gorjen IV.
Population: 34,233,244
Population growth rate: 0.88% (est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 243.04 years male: 231.56 years female: 254.52 years
Ethnic groups: Bautizan 40.3%, Gorjen 30%, Soldenor 29.7%, other 2.9% (most recent census)
Religions: Church of the Twin Lanterns 47%, Sceptre of Gorjen 27%, Protestant 11%, Catholic 5%, other 10%
Languages: Bautizan (state language, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 64.4%, Gorjen 27%, Soldenor 8.6% (est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write, total population: 93.4%, male: 89.7%, female: 99.1% (est.)
IV. Government
Overview: Her Majesty's Government was formed by a merger of 131 agencies from the three pre-Unification states, and for the decade following Unification was crippled by conflicting policies and continuous bureaucratic infighting within the Colonial administration. These matters have been addressed and resolved, and since 3410 HMG has enjoyed a relatively smooth and stable government.
Political power is vested in the executive branch, whereas the monarchy is a figurehead for the remainder of the population. Her Imperial Majesty Queen Serena II is widely popular not only on Bautizar VIII (defined as the homeworld in both government and the average layman's terms), but also on the colonies due to her willingness to champion for greater integration of their citizens into mainstream society. This has largely set her at odds with more conservative elements in the government, which remain led by the Honorable Prime Minister Sir Samuel Baxter.
Country name: conventional long form: Her Majesty's Commonwealth Government of Bautizar conventional short form: Commonwealth former: Her Majesty's Dominion of Bautizar, Dominion of Bautizar, Kingdom of Camillar, House of Dornas
Government type: constitutional monarchy; republican system within executive, legislative branches
Capital: name: New Gibraltar, geographic coordinates: 51 10 N, 71 30 E time difference: 21 hours ahead of Earth during Standard Time
Administrative divisions: 3 planets and 27 cities; 15 starbases within the territorial boundaries of the Commonwealth and another 5 in deep-space territory
Independence: 29 January 2374 (from Soldenor)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 11 November (3391)
Constitution: first post-Unification constitution adopted by national referendum on the homeworld 11 November 3391 (citizens on Solstheim VI and Gorjen IV barred from voting by national decree)
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen Serena IV head of government: Prime Minister Sir Samuel P. Baxter, W.T.K.C, K.C.V.O., D.N.V.R. (since 20 November 3391) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Administrators (20 seats; 6 are appointed by the prime minister; other members are elected by local government bodies, 2 from each of the 7 administrative areas to serve six-year terms; note - formerly composed of 28 seats) and the House of Commoners (35 seats; members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (26 members); Constitutional Council (7 members)
Political parties and leaders: Justice (Sir Samuel P. Baxter, chairman), Democratic Party of Bautizar (Maksut Zeynulla co-chairman, Sir Philip Fisher co-chairman, Thomas Anders co-chairman), Bright Path (Elizabeth Oliver, chairwoman), Agrarian Party (Lord H.C. Phillips co-chairman, Sir Charles Hastings co-chairman), Patriots' Party (Louise Lemonnier, chairwoman), Spirtuality (Sir Luigi Maugeri, chairman)
Political pressure groups: Confederation of Free Trade Unions; For a Just Bautizar; For Fair Elections; Bautizar International Bureau on Commerce; Pensioners Movement; Network of International Monitors; Transparency International
International organization participation: Confederation of Nations, League of Nations, International Trade Hub
Flag description: Three bars symbolizing the patriotism and sacrifice necessary to liberate Bautizar from Soldenor occupation; more commonly construed as the sacrifices necessary to bring together the Bautizan, Gorjen and Soldenor ethnic groups
V. Economy
Overview: Even before Unification the industrial might of the homeworld remained largely unchecked, with large factories present in both major cities and the countryside alike. Tentative footsteps into space became large bounds in the post-Unification era, and forced HMG to establish regulations that served to restrict the development of substantial deep-space facilities to the major corporations in the interest of the maintenance of law and order. Similiar regulations placed on the Solstheim and Gorjen colonies in the late 3390s served to force businesses to come under the strict regulation of Her Majesty's Treasury, which remains ruthless in enforcing business transactions conducted on the colonies.
The post-Unification economic landscape has remained little changed, with deep-space mining facilities supplying both the civilian and military sectors with ease. A number of guilds for specialized fields have also emerged within the last two decades, including the
* Guild of Miners
* Guild of Manufacturers
* Guild of Banking
* Guild of Trade and Industry
* Guild of Science
These specific guilds are well known within general society for being not only extremely wealthy, but very powerful. Her Majesty's Government has largely deferred to them on matters of foreign policy, but is known for challenging them in specific matters from time to time. Regulations passed by the House of Administrators in 3412 served to tighten the hold of the authorities on the guilds, making them more accountable to the government and causing speculation as to the end of an era. Thus far there has been little sign of this.
A specific area of economic concern remains Gorjen IV, where religious authorities have continued preaching against the conduct of business other than for one's own well-being and family. After the emergence of this philosophy in 3402 the majority of businesses withdrew from the planet, triggering an economic meltdown that was only stabilized by a large-scale monetary infusion by HMG into the local markets. There has been little sign of movement towards recovery since then.
GDP (purchasing power parity): ₤2,883,850,850,143.78 (Bautizar VIII, January 3426), ₤1,776,808,405,710.20 (Solstheim VI, January 3426), ₤325,424,428,828.68 (Gorjen IV, January 3426)
GDP - per capita (PPP): ₤8884.81 (Bautizar VIII, January 3426), ₤10,768.54 (Solstheim VI, January 3426), ₤2,021.27 (Gorjen IV, January 3426)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 36.7% industry: 58.6% services: 4.7% (est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 30% industry: 50% services: 20% (est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.90% (est.)
Population below poverty line: 19% (est.)
Budget: revenues: ₤1.72 trillion expenditures: ₤1.58 billion
Agriculture - products: grain (mostly wheat); cotton; livestock; cheese
Industries: arms and armaments, automobile production, electrical motors, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials
Deuterium - production: 1.3 million bbl/day (est.)
Deuterium - consumption: 221,000 bbl/day (est.)
Deuterium - exports: 890,000 bbl/day (est.)
Deuterium- proved reserves: 26 billion bbl (est.)
Exports: ₤570.82 billion
Exports - commodities: arms and armaments 58%, deuterium 24%, automobiles 8%, machinery 3%, cheese, grain, wool, meat
Exports - partners: Solstheim 21.5%, Gorjen 19.1%, other 59.4%
Imports: ₤650.22 billion
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment 41%, metal products 28%, foodstuffs 8% (January 3426)
Imports - partners: Solstheim 35.9%, Gorjen 29.5%, other 34.6%
Currency: credit
Exchange rates: credits per US dollar - 1.933
Fiscal year: calendar year
VI. Transportation
Spaceports: Bautizar VIII: 27 Solstheim VI: 15 Gorjen IV: 6
Note: Incoming foreign-registered vessels must first pass through customs on Bautizar VIII before proceeding to Solstheim VI or Gorjen IV.
Merchant marine: total: 27 ships by type: cargo 24, tanker 3
VII. Technology
Commonwealth technology has rapidly advanced in the post-Unification era, polarizing society notably on Gorjen IV where religious authorities have repeatedly condemned the advances as being "against God's will." Implants and other mechanical enhancements have become commonplace, and even the lowliest citizen can often be found boasting about the new ocular eyes they've received in a backroom shady deal (although HMG has recently passed legislation regulating the practice). Robots are also a common sight on many streetcorners, along with automated craft of a variety of types engaged in practices ranging from trash collection to skycab piloting.
In the military enhancements and mechanical implants are a virtual necessity, meaning that even enlisted personnel can perform with almost three times the efficiency as a non-implanted person. Pioneering developments into the field of robotics have allow for widespread automation to be deployed aboard all ships in service: this is especially notable with the recent Spirit of Fire class cruiser/carrier refit, which installed automated factories capable of production of any military component. (Larger versions of these same factories can be found aboard all Adamant class logistical vessels.)
Artificial intelligence systems may be seen frequently engaged in conversation with senior and junior officers alike, although a spate of A.I. systems with "bad tempers" were reported in 3421. Inquiries by Her Majesty's Navy concluded that the problems were correctible, leading to reprogramming of all systems affected. No such problems have been reported in the civilian sector, where A.I. systems with self-awareness capability are often seen in such fields as the banking and commerce sectors.
Bautizar
21-01-2007, 07:16
Her Majesty's Commonwealth Government of Bautizar
Office of the Admiralty of Her Majesty's Navy
Since the development of space flight by the Soldenor Confederation in 3370, there has been unprecedented construction of major starbases and associated facilities throughout Commonwealth territory. This report summarizes the major stations in existence, along with key points and ownership.
I. Homeworld System - Government Facilities
ABERDEEN BORDER STATION. (Bautizar IV high orbit)
The oldest border station to be operated by Her Majesty’s Constabulary Authority, Aberdeen was first established in 3365 as a military outpost of the Soldenor Confederation and later went through a myriad of ownership before transfer to the newly-created Constabulary Authority in 3391. Aberdeen has quickly become a popular landmark with outsiders owing to the requirement of travelers to clear customs here before proceeding into the Commonwealth. It is also tasked with the enforcement of customs regulations on both foreign and domestic vessels, and maintaining law enforcement throughout the Bautizar system.
Important Note: Aberdeen is the closest station to the International Trade Hub terminus in the Bautizar system, and IHT vessels must clear customs here first before being allowed to proceed.
CLYDEBANK NAVAL YDS. (Bautizar VIII high orbit)
A high orbital construction facility originally owned by Republic StarDrive, the Clydebank Naval Yards were acquired in late 3379 by the Dominion of Bautizar. Later turned over to Commonwealth authorities as part of the Second Treaty of the Dominion in 3391, they have since become an integral part of the current military modernization and buildup.
HIGH WALKER TRAINING ACADEMY. (Clydebank Naval Yards, Bautizar VIII high orbit)
The primary training facility for the Commonwealth Navy, the High Walker Training Academy houses both the enlisted and officer candidate programs, and is located adjacent to the Clydebank Naval Yards for ease of access. (Surface facilities also exist for training purposes on the homeworld's surface.) It was extensively modernized throughout the 3390s, and now contains large and modern classroom facilities in the fields of gunnery, engineering, navigation, medicine, security, and command.
II. Homeworld System - Private Facilities
KENSINGTON SHIPPING PLATFORM. (Bautizar IV low orbit)
Kensington Shipping Platform is a state-of-the-art cargo handling facility commissioned in 3395. It is one of three final destinations for all foreign ships coming into the Commonwealth (the others being the Birmingham Shipping Platform and Southampton Station); here cargoes are transferred to domestic craft before transport to the homeworld or one of the other stations in the homeworld system. Cargo ships may also be found traveling between this station to the Solstheim and Gorjen systems. Kensington serves as headquarters for numerous smaller corporations that do business on the colonies under the strict regulations and vigilance of the Treasury.
SHEFFIELD STATION. (Bautizar VIII high orbit)
Because legislation prohibits foreigners from residing on the homeworld, Sheffield Station was commissioned in 3395. Today the station serves as the site of foreign embassies and headquarters for Her Majesty’s Constabulary Authority.
THAMES OUTPOST. (Bautizar VIII low orbit)
Thames Outpost dates from the Soldenor Confederation occupation of the homeworld, having been completed in 3370 as a low orbit defense station for strikes against surface targets. Later known as "Orbital One," today it has been extensively refitted and modernized by its new owners, its extensive construction facilities quickly becoming a familiar sight to many civilian and military captains.
CANTERBURY STATION. (Bautizar IX high orbit)
Headquarters of Commonwealth Engineering Yards, Inc., Canterbury Station serves as administrative center and construction facility for one of the 'big three' manufacturing corporations.
III. Solstheim System - Government Facilities
HMCA NEWGATE. (Solstheim I high orbit)
A maximum-security facility better known as "The Beast" to Commonwealth citizens, HMCA Newgate is synonymous with the zero-crime-tolerance policy that is maintained throughout the territory of Her Majesty’s Government. Persistent rumors among the civilian and military communities have suggested that experiments on prisoners and other abuses are a routine occurrence inside its walls. In late 3396 several ships carrying protesters to the prison were mysteriously destroyed; witnessing vessels reported no military units in the vicinity and no weapons fire from the station’s defense grid. Following this incident several other ships were destroyed over the following months, leading to an undeclared 'no-fly' zone being established around the station and several nearby asteroids. Her Majesty’s Government has not publicly commented on the ships’ destructions or what takes place inside the station.
KINGSTONE BORDER STATION. (Solstheim VI high orbit)
The newest border station commissioned into the service of Her Majesty’s Commonwealth Authority, Kingstone is responsible for enforcing laws and customs regulations throughout the Solstheim system. Positioned in low orbit around Solstheim VI, its menacing appearance and bristling, fortress-like weaponry are an imposing sight for travelers and a now-famous landmark for freighter captains after the long trip from the homeworld system.
IV. Solstheim System - Private Facilities
BIRMINGHAM SHIPPING PLATFORM. (Solstheim VI low orbit)
Birmingham Shipping Platform was first commissioned by the Soldenor Confederation in 3320 as a logistical facility. Seized by the Commonwealth of Nonaligned States in 3376, it was later sold to private interests. Today it serves as the key link between Solstheim VI and the remainder of the Commonwealth, handling both incoming and outgoing cargoes in cooperation with the Kingstone Border Station. The few corporations licensed to operate in the system by the Treasury maintain permanent offices here, alongside a garrison of naval marines.
GLASGOW MINING STATION. (Asteroid Belt #12, Outer system)
Owned by the Royal Engineering Consortium, Glasgow Mining Station is actually a series of three stations engaged in harvesting minerals from the rich deposits found throughout the Solstheim system. Constructed in great haste during exploration of the system in the mid-3380s, the stations have come to symbolize Commonwealth economic might, despite opposition from the Freedom Environmentalist Movement.
GRAVES STATION. (Asteroid Belt #3, Inner system)
Graves Station remains a mystery to much of the Commonwealth, beyond the fact that external construction on the station ceased in 3397. Rumored to be a state-of-the-art science and research facility, recent reports among the civilian pilot community have dealt with strange ships and freighters carrying cargoes to the facility under heavy military escort. All further information regarding the facility is classified.
V. Gorjen System - Government Facilities
WATERLOO BORDER STATION. (Gorjen IV high orbit)
The second-oldest border station commissioned into the service of Her Majesty’s Commonwealth Authority, Waterloo Border Station is responsible for the same exact mission as its cousins in the homeworld and Solstheim systems. Recent modifications to the station have tripled its armament and added extensive facilities for a permanent garrison of marines, constabulary officers, and customs personnel.
VI. Gorjen System - Private Facilities
CARDIFF MINING FACILITY. (Asteroid Belt #4, Outer system)
Owned by Commonwealth Fleet Systems, the Cardiff Mining Facility provides logistical support and supplies to nearby automated mining platforms in addition to receiving the ore that is mined. Guarded jealously by mercenaries hired by its owners, the facility produces a wide range of raw materials, including deuterium from the gas miners elsewhere in the system, iron ore, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, gold, silver, and bauxite. Recent strikes against the facility by the Freedom Environmentalist Movement have led to the stationing of an armed detachment of the Her Majesty’s Commonwealth Authority aboard the station.
SOUTHAMPTON STATION. (Asteroid Belt #4, Outer system)
Primary shipping and recipient facility for the Gorjen system, Southampton Station is another of the pre-occupation facilities. Seized in the invasion of 3381 by the Kingdom of Camillar, the facility was later surrendered to Commonwealth control and sold to private interests. Recent expansions have overextended the facility, leaving vast areas of the station unoccupied after the Gorjen authorities began to embrace more anti-business policies.
VII. Independent Systems - Private Facilities
Important Note: The Tau systems remain contested territory between several governments, including the Commonwealth. Travelers venturing into that space are advised to travel in either a vessel with solid defensive capabilities, or one capable of running quickly when needed. In either case, preparation is considered critical before going into the aforementioned region.
FALKLAND BASE. (Omega-12 system, Planet #2, High orbit)
Little is known about Falkland Base, save for its being an Exile station that is unusually closed to outsiders. Its remoteness from the Commonwealth (thirty-one jumps at twenty-five lightyears per jump) has precluded a detailed military investigation of the facility and its surrounding space. Naval Intelligence believes that a rift within the Exile community led to a more radical and militant wing occupying the facility sometime in the late 3380s.
ELBICH MINING FACILITY. (Omega-22 system, Asteroid Belt #2)
An assemblage of several deserted stations that were found abandoned throughout the Omega systems, Elbich has been extensively retrofitted and modernized by Commonwealth Fleet Systems. Running a close second in mineral output to the Briesen Mining Facility, Elbich remains a vulnerable and isolated facility which has been under recent attack by marauding pirates. As a result of the challenging security situation the company has recently petitioned the Admiralty for a permanent military presence at the station. The request remains under evaluation, despite modernizations that would allow the station to easily accommodate two Unity class heavy battlecruisers.
FREEPORT-1. (Tau-14 system, Planet #3, High orbit)
Freeport-1 was originally known as Exploratory Facility 1, a government-run facility administered by the Dominion of Bautizar. After being decommissioned and abandoned, it was taken over by exiles from the war-devastated Kingdom of Camillar in 3386. Now open to all travelers regardless of political and government affiliation, its vital position halfway along the unsettled and non-patrolled shipping route between the Confederation of Nations and the Commonwealth has guaranteed it landmark status among the shipping community.
DOUGLAS STATION. (Tau-14 system, Planet #9, High orbit)
A private mining station owned and operated by the Guild of Miners, Douglas Station operates in conjunction with Freeport-1, trading parts and supplies with the Exiles (a group who left the Commonwealth for various political, social and economic reasons) for ores produced at the station. Its distance from the Commonwealth (forty-seven jumps at twenty-five lightyears per jump) has guaranteed it second-rate status as a mining facility due to a lack of the massive processing arrays so common at other deep-space stations. The guild is believed to use the facility as a training ground for new apprentices.
BRIESEN MINING FACILITY. (Tau-19 system, Asteroid Belt #7)
An extensive and modern facility operated by the Royal Engineering Consortium, Briesen Mining Facility is a remote facility that has the largest mineral-production volume of any facility owned by a Commonwealth corporation. A recent partnership agreement signed with the Guild of Miners has led to a far larger contingent of mining personnel settling here, along with a dramatic expansion in the local civilian community. Reports from reliable civilian witnesses and freelance pilots indicate that recent disputes between the Consortium and the Exiles over access to the Tau systems has led to a series of raids, counter-raids and skirmishes throughout Tau-19.