Frontier (System)

Frontier

TYPHON

Y-CLASS BROWN DWARF HYADES CLUSTER CLASSICATIONY/XOVII.PEC ESTIMATED AGE: 12-13.7 B.YO.

Catalogued by Dr. Hieng's expedition of 2031, Typhon is actually a brown dwarf - neither a star nor a planet! Chemically peculiar and unspeakably ancient, Typhon roars with ferocious storms of Fadeev-Popov anomalous anhydrous evaporate (paae)- the same wondrous "Plasma" found by the Apollo missions on earth's own Moon, the super fuel that brought Humanity to the stars! Typhon sits at the barycenter between a binary pair of Hyades sisters, but is far, far older - perhaps even a primordial relic from the earliest ages of the universe.

Pendus

• Iron planetoid
• Extreme radiation
• Extreme tidal forces
• Extreme bolide activity

This broken world hangs just above typhon's grasp, where it undergoes heavy bombardment from both inner ring impactors and the plasma dwarf's own intense radiation. Tidal forces are activeiy tearing away at the inward-facing surface. Amidst these lethal hazards, NanoTrasen and Thinktronic jointly operate the automated observatory at Outpost Omicron. Monitoring Typhon's corona and surface since 2047, the ""Watchful eye"" sensor array provides frontier facilities with early warnings of hazardous plasma flares and ion storms."

Fortitudo

• CHTHONIAN PLANET
• EXTREME RADIATION
• EXTREME TEMPERATURE
• EXTREME GRAVITY

The core of a hot sub Jovian planet, its atmosphere blown away long ago. What remains is a strange orb full of metallic hydrogen, exotic super-dense metals and radioactive isotopes. Surface features include vast flood plains of steel, eerie peaks of cerenkite, and deep incandescent rifts. Thanks to advances in experimental materials and automation, Nanotrasen's new extraction Outpost Phi ("The Pancake") is the first structure strong enough to withstand the crushing surface gravity and hazards here.

Antistes

• CARBON PLANET
• MODERATE RADIATION
• HIGH TEMPERATURE
• NOXIOUS ATMOSPHERE

An inhospitable planet with dense clouds of choking smog, black lakes of scalding tar, and blade: Like tectonic ridges of diamond and silicon carbide. Hafgan heavy Industries (HHI) was granted extraction rights to Antistes in The Frontier Charter of 2033. Hydrocarbon capture and blast-excavation are conducted by great lumbering robotic mining vehicles. Far from the blasting pits, the gleaming halls of Hafgan's "Wydyr" colony (pop. 100+) house a small contingent of mechanics, quartermasters, engineers and other support staff.

Quadriga

• ABLATED PLANET CORE
• MODERATE RADIATON
• ELECTROMAGNETIC FLUX
• DIMENSIONAL HAZARDS

Near the entrance to the Channel, the bare metallic core of a shattered planet remains in orbit, trailing a procession of rocky debris and ionized part-icles in a wide torus around it. Interactions with the plasma dwarf's immense magnetic field produce major electrical and radiation hazards. A narrow cone of safe approach leads to the sheltered port of "Piedra de Oro" (pop.300 +) which serves a rugged community of prospectors and industrial workers, including NanoTrasen's relay Outpost Delta

Fatuus

• STEAM PLANET
• HIGH HUMIDITY
• FREQUENT STORMS
• HOSTILE FAUNA

A shallow boiling sea dominates the bright side of Fatuus, constant storms bring rain to secluded impact basins in the twilight regions. The first colonists of "Old New Memphis" (est. 2032) were shocked to find flooded cenotes, coal forests, and carboniferous swamps teeming with earthlike life awaiting them. Deeper in the basin, the modern colony of New Memphis (pop.500+) hosts the famous Bonktek shopping pyramid and the three outposts of NT's life sciences directorate. This orbital path has a grim habit of collecting shipwrecks as they drift across the frontier.

Domus Dei

• EXOTIC MOON
• SURFACE HAZARDS UNKNOWN
• ALL SIGNALS BLOCKED
• LANDINGS PROHIBITED

The opaque skies of Domus Dei occlude the full electro-magnetic spectrum, including radio, radar, lidar, x-rays and visible light. To date, no probes, manned, or unmanned craft have ever returned once lost beneath the cloud waves. NT's gravitational observatory Nu maintains a public memorial to the lost "Al-Idrisi Survey" charter mission of 2034 and of the subsequently lost rescue/salvage ships NTRs "Huron", NTRs "Ontario", the Xiang-Geisel lightship "Beiyushan" and the Frontier council's research cruiser "Utrecht"

Mundus

• MINI-TERRAN PLANET
• HIGH HUMIDITY
• POOR VISIBILITY
• LOW BREATHABILITY INDEX

A dim, misty world with the oldest surviving ground settlement in the frontier. Construction of 'New Tharros' colony (pop.300+) began here in 2033. Nanotrasen's venerable outpost beta has long supported the colony's terraforming goals with an expert team of engineers, atmospheric technicians, and botanists. Moderate success has been achieved in cultivating hardy lichens and mosses in the region.vGlacial meltwaters produce in-situ hydroelectricity and hydrolytic oxygen for the colony and its outlying industries. Enjoy a bottle of Deciprivo glacial water fresh from the source!

Iustitia

• SILICATE MOON
• SECURE AREA
• Frontier Council HQ

Established in 2033, "Port Roerich" (pop. 400+) was built by the joint US-Soviet fleet to facilitate diplomatic efforts, cultural exchange, and mutual defense against extra-solar threats. Attache outpost alpha has represented NanoTrasen's legal and financial interests from the earliest days here. As exo-solar threats subsided and old grudges returned, the joint mission withdrew in 2036 and the facilities were given over to the Frontier council. From here they oversee public services including system traffic control, space weather alerts, legal disputes, code enforcement, and ship licensing.

Iudicium

Surface Outposts: NT-Λ, NT-Ξ

• SILICATE MOONLET
• SECURE AREA
• NANOTRASEN

Various military facilities, clinics and prisons managed by the joint fleet were auctioned off to the frontier charter signatories after decommissioning in 2036. When the Frontier charter collapsed in 2040 and the corporate wars began in earnest, many of the older outposts on Iudicium were destroyed in fierce ground fighting. NanoTrasen's Ainsley staff retreat center (medical outpost lambda) remained operational until 2052. Nt tactical operatives, pod pilots, and security chiefs meet for regular training here at instructional outpost xi.

Rota Fortuna

• L2 Stations: NT-13, NT-14
• L3 Stations: NT-15

• MAJOR ASTEROID
• HIGH TRAFFIC AREA

The orbital resonance between this object and many of the inner and outer planets made this an important early stopover and refueling point for cross-system shipping and travel. Due to its strategic value, this area became a fierce battlefield during the "Pod Wars" between NanoTrasen's brave pilots and entrenched syndicate forces. Though nearly destroyed in the fighting, the public way-station has since been rebuilt and re-opened by enterprising freelance salvagers. In the years following the battle of Old Fortuna, NanoTrasen has invested heavily in this sector with the construction of orbital stations 13, 14 and 15

Amantes

• CONTACT BINARY
• HIGH CRIME AREA

Contact binary high crime area this peanut-shaped object' serves as another waypoint and landmark for pilots, merchants and travellers heading to and from the outer orbits. Two major asteroids have conjoined together. Nt's ships-service outpost kappa assists long-range shuttles and missions. On the bright faces, sublimating ices and methane hydrates are harvested by prospectors and refiners. Hidden from both space hazards and prying eyes, "Buttes junction" (pop. Unknown) is a shanty town of grounded ships and flightless hulks. Uncharted rockworm tunnels are said to host fugitives, smugglers, and a rumored "Clown town."

Magus

• ACID PLANET

A viciously toxic planet with sleet-storms of sulfuric acid and a frigid sub-surface ocean of aqua regia and fluoro- sulfuric acid. Despite the obscenely corrosive enviro- ment, industrially-valuable reagents have been cautiously siphoned for years by heavily- armored high-altitude bulkers. In early 2052, frontier materials sciences finally yielded corrosion-resistant probes capable of descending below the ice into the super-acid seas. The exotic materials found in the deeps prompted the beginning of nanotrasen's ambitious "Nadir" extraction project.

Regis

• SILICATE MOONLET

Once the forward-operating base of the us-soviet expeditionary fleet, the moon of regis is still littered with crashed derelicts and wreckage from the mortian counter-attack of 2034. Due to the presence of nuclear fallout, abandoned artillery infra- structure and unexploded ordinance, salvaging and surface exploration is forbidden by frontier council edict 2036- cerulean. But don't worry! The outpost rho war museum provides a fine orbital view of the old battlefields and missile silos for academics, history buffs and re-enactors. Make sure to say hi to the museum's host, the original beepsky (retired)

Regina

• CAPTIVE COMET

After the outer rings battles subsided in 2036, various agricultural, ornithological, archaeological, mineralogical and philosphical organizations began to use regina as an anchorage for their craft and facilities. Few of the early sites have survived the predations of time and outer ring impactors, derelicts drifting along in the tail of the comet. The anchorage itself largely used as a flea market and truck stop nowadays. Don't forget to stop by agricultural outpost mu for some of the finest hydroponic produce grown this side of the channel.