Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 21:40:11 -1600 From: Michael Bailey Subject: RICE Paper - Ruby Updated to reflect Regency Sourcebook Data. RICE Paper #SM-1005 Ruby/Jewell Ruby (Jewell: Spinward Marches/1005) B400445-B S Lo Ni Va 201 DD M1 V M3 D <---- 1117 Data A400445-C S,I Lo Ni Va 401 Re M1 V M3 D <---- 1202 Data G = 0.76, Day = 47d 12:27:17.50, Year = 47d 12:27:17.50 Atmo = 0.00, No weather control Temp = +7.8 (dayside 7/lat +0 to +26.4 nightside 56/lat -0 to -224.8)(no seasonal var.) Daily temp range 0.0 Ores, Radioactives, Metals Progressive, Advancing, Passive/Peaceable, Discordant/Friendly Legal: 5-35625 Tech: CC-CCACC-C6BC-CA-F Ruby is part of the Jewell Cluster, a group of three worlds at the spinward edge of the Regency. Dominated by, and reliant on heavily populated Jewell one parsec away, the citizens of Ruby have managed to preserve independence. Like Jewell, Ruby's location so near to the Zhodani border makes it a frequent stop for Regency military forces. However, where centuries of exposure to the Frontier Wars has given Jewellers an ingrained distrust of the Zhodani and Vargr, the people of Ruby have an unprejudiced attitude to all races. Ruby was first settled in 339, primarily to obtain ores for the inhabitants of Jewell and Emerald. Never of great importance, the colony was abandoned in 362, after large quantities of high-grade lanthanum ores were discovered on Jewell. The system remained essentially uninhabited until 634, although small Zhodani contingents occupied Ruby from 592-603, and in 617. Both of these forces withdrew from the system as the balance of the First and Second Frontier Wars tipped back towards the Imperium. In 631, Papaieie Sawaiu led a group of leftist libertarians to petition the Jewell government for permission and aid to settle Ruby. Jewell's government (which was still legally the owner of the system) granted the petitions requests (probably more to be rid of a troublesome minority than anything else), and set aside MCr4.0 to reopen the abandoned colony. In 634, six hundred Sawaiuites settled a site about 80km southwest of the old lanthanum mines. The group began shipping small quantities of platinum to Emerald in 640, and surprisingly, managed to pay it's way. Sharp falls precious metal prices in the region in the late 690's put an end to the colony's modest prosperity, and Jewell was once again forced to subsidise it's neighbour. The subsidy was withdrawn in 711, and preparations were made to repatriate the colonists to Jewell. The colony, now numbering several thousand, was saved by the Imperial Government's decision to establish scout facilities in the system. Tensions between the Imperium and the Zhodani had been increasing since the end of the Second Frontier War, and the IISS had decided to upgrade it's presence in the subsector as part of a overhaul of intelligence operations against the Zhodani. The base and accompanying starport facilities were completed in 720, many of the existing colonists were contracted to provide support services for IISS personnel in this lonely frontier outpost. The Scout base was hastily abandoned at the outbreak of the Third Frontier War, it's personnel and ships pulled back help defend Jewell from major Zhodani attacks. Once again, Zhodani ground troops occupied the world, taking over the scout base for use in supplying the forces beseiging Jewell. They pulled out of the system at the end of the war, having largely ignored the civilian population during their seven year occupation. At the outbreak of the Fourth Frontier War, Zhodani forces ran into substantial Imperial naval assets deployed from Jewell. Their attack was beaten off, and the Zhodani chose to bypass and isolate the world. Ruby was occupied by Zhodani ground forces following a short battle with Imperial screening forces at the opening of the Fifth Frontier War in 1107. During the battle, the IMS 'Johore' was forced down onto Ruby's surface. It's surviving crew and marines fled the crash site to begin a guerilla war against the Zhodani. In response to raids, the Zhodani commander took hostages from among the civillian population. Unfortunately, twelve of the hostages were killed in an abortive rescue attempt by the guerrila forces. When news leaked out, the Imperium made it's celebrated accusation of Zhodani atrocities against Ruby's civilians. Perhaps surprisingly, the Zhodani occupation of Ruby was rather benign - the unfortunate Zhodani ground forces commander was replaced, and reparations were paid to the families of the deceased. A ceasefire was negotiated between the Zhodani and the guerillas shortly afterwards. The Imperial Marines were guaranteed safe passage aboard a neutral vessel to Imperial-held space, were they were feted as heroes. Their commander, Lt. Rivka Moishe, was later knighted by Duke Norris of Regina for her actions. Since then, Ruby has remained on the 'front lines'. Imperial, and later Regency fleets regularly deployed to the system for exercises. The thaw in Regency-Zhodani relations from 1117 onwards saw the scout presence scaled back, and the scout base was transferred to the Regency Quarantine Service in 1146. In the following decade, as trade between the Regency and the Zhodani Consulate grew, Ruby's starport was upgraded to 'A' class. The RQS operates a Customes Station on Ruby, primarily to inspect the small number of Jump-1 ships travelling along the Jewell-Cipango Main from the Consulate. Naval units also routinely deploy here from Jewell and Mongo for joint exercises with RQS and RISS units. Regular RQS customs procedures are in effect on Ruby. Incoming starships will be escorted to the RQS station on Eloise Tay, the small outermost moon of Boyden, the system's only gas giant. The permanent presence of the RQS 'Carlton', a 4000 ton Quarantine Service Carrier, provides the muscle to back up RQS directives. Extensive examinations of the starship and it's crew will take 1-3 days (for starships under 1000 tons). During this time, crews and passengers are 'invited' to stay at the 'Eloise Hilton' (the somewhat spartan guest accomadations on the station). Following inspection, the ship is free to move on to Ruby, or to refuel at Boyden and jump outsystem. Ruby itself has only one starport, the Class A RQS facility on the world's surface. This starport is open to civilian traffic, although berthing fees are considerably higher than for comparable private facilities. The base's repair and maintenance facilities are not available to civilians excepts in emergencies (although detatched duty Scouts and RQS officials are welcome). New visitors will be steered towards 'Ruby's Startown Bar', on the edge of the starport complex. 'Ruby's' is famous throughout the region for it's cheap booze (and other, less common stimulants), and for it's bouncers. Unruly patrons are given a brief lecture on the anit-social aspects of their violent behaviour by the doormen (a lecture given with absolute sincerity ). Continued troublemaking will normally result in extremely violent ejection and arrest. All staff at 'Ruby's' are members of the Stivlprerqaf family, descendents of a Zhodani prole who fled across the border in 992. The current manager is Jdishehtaev Stivlprerqaf (Jdishehtaev is probably better known in the Regency as 'Jades Stive', acclaimed romance novelist). The Stivlprerqaf family has persuaded a substantial number of Zhodani refugees to leave their holding camps on Jewell. With the blessing of Regency officials, about 6,000 refugees were brought to Ruby, where they received a warm welcome from the locals. Sawaiu Town, the only substantial settlement of Ruby, adjoins the RQS base. Almost all of Ruby's 43,300 permanent inhabitants live here. The town itself consists of four pressure domes atop an underground tunnel complex. The domes are given over largely to parkland - each dome has a different environment and 'theme'. In order of size, these are: Sawaiu Dome (Terran / Tropical Maritime), Isgiidu (Vilani / Highland), Summondamus (Terran / Desert) and Taenu Diran (Sylean / Savannah). Residential, commercial and support areas are all underground. Local although the world is small, local gravity is a reasonable 0.78g, due to the planet's higher than normal density. Atmospheric pressure is maintained at 0.8 standard atmospheres, making the environment tolerable for most visitors. Visitors will find the locals friendly and agreeable, if somewhat strange. Non-violence is an important part of the Rubyan lifestyle, although potential criminals are warned that Ruby's law enforcement officials are generally hired from offworld, and do not have the same passive ethic. Offenders face deportation and confiscation of their assets if caught - within a short time, they will find themselves on Jewell with little more than the clothes on their back. Given the world's reliance on offworld powers for it's continued existence, foreigners are treated with respect. Merchants on Ruby will buy and sell for fair prices - at any rate, they are trading for the good of the colony more than their own gain. A disgruntled customer won't come back, a potential loss for the world. Ruby's inhabitants are fiercely egalitarian - the concept of 'privelige' is repellant to them. Without exception, all citizens are allocated the same communal floorspace in Sawaiu Town's residential areas. this concept of 'equality of opportunity' is one of the basic tenets of Ruby's society - the lasting legacy of the settlement's commune origins. The settlement's ruler, the 'Premier', is directly elected by all permanent residents for a two year term. Traditionally, the office is one of the lowest paying jobs on the planet. Although the Premier is responsible for all aspects of administration, much of the more judicial and administrative work is handled by a council of elders. Membership in the council is voluntary and unpaid, but anyone over the age of 40 can join. Ruby's four senators are elected by popular vote. One interesting custom practised by the Rubyan is 'fostering'. Ruby lacks all but the most elementary educational facilities, children are instead sent to Jewell to complete their education. A child will spend from three to twelve years on Jewell as a 'fosterling', before returning to Ruby as an adult citizen. This practise has recently declined somewhat, as the newly arrived Zhodani settlers were understandably reluctant to send their children to Jewell - a world that they had only just left, and a world where Zhodani are not at all liked. More advanced educational facilities are being built by the planetary government to cater to this trend. Most of Ruby's residents are employed either directly or indirectly by the RQS, although some mining still takes place. Mineral ores are shipped mainly to the agricultural worlds of Emerald and Esalin in exchange for food. A small number of independant miners eke out a precarious existence from gold and platinum deposits. All large scale mining is conducted by RubyCorp, a statutory authority run by the government. Miners typically spend six weeks at a time in the camps, followed by six weeks layover in Sawaiu Town. Independent miners number less than two hundred, and typically live permanently at their workings, coming to town only to sell their ores and resupply. Ruby maintains a small fleet of four Type R Subsidised Merchants, used to service the mineral trade with Emerald and Esalin. The 'Papaieie', 'Rhys', 'Topaz' and 'Guiding Hand' are all subsidised by the Ruby and Regency governments. System Information Orbit Name UPP Remarks Primary Talau M1 V Far Companion 0 Ruby B400445-B Ni Va Qb 4 Lahr YS00000-0 1 Boyden Small GG 7 Athelbard YS10000-0 35 Eloise Tay H100166-B Qb Secondary Papaiete M7 D (Qb - Quarantine Base) Michael Bailey (pd82495@wapol.gov.au)