York system (Sylonean Sector - 08.11)
Planet: Watson (York I)
Geography: Watson, orbiting the M2 primary known as York's Star, is a harsh and dry world on the outer fringe of the star's Habitable Zone. Its landscape is characterized by rugged mountain ranges, rocky badlands, and dusty plains. The planet has limited water bodies, with frozen seas in polar regions and nightly freezing of fresh-water bodies. Deep-sea thermal vents create warm currents, making some areas more habitable. Settlement Island, the only inhabited region with 3,000 people, benefits from warm currents and fertile seas. It hosts the planet's capital, Central, a small village of 600, mostly working for the government and surrounded by two great lakes fed by Mount Salbarii, an extinct volcano. The island's rivers serve as crucial highways between settlements.
Economy: Watson's economy is mainly subsistence, relying on shallow-water seabed farming off the island's western coast and conventional agriculture along river valleys. Manufacturing operates as cottage industries in major settlements, providing crafted goods. The starport, though modest, generates income from passing vessels and refueling operations. The planet imports little and exports even less.
Exploiting natural resources: Dictator Masterton, the current planetary ruler, is engaged in negotiations with Satton's megacorporations, seeking licenses for mining and economic installations in remote areas of Watson. Despite the inability of Watson's people to exploit these resources or prevent external groups from taking action, Masterton insists on imposing exorbitant licensing fees, causing a detrimental standstill. This strategy carries the risk that a corporation, growing impatient, might proceed without permission. However, the planet lacks a significant military force, with the dictator maintaining only a small security formation for law enforcement and his personal protection. They have no starships and just handheld rifles. With no means to forcibly remove such an operation and insufficient funds for legal challenges in Sylonean courts, Masterton's approach could inadvertently exclude the world population from reaping the benefits of an offworld investment.
World tags
Psionics Fear: The locals are terrified of psychics. Perhaps their history is studded with feral psychics who went on murderous rampages, or perhaps they simply nurse an unreasoning terror of those "mutant freaks". Psychics demonstrate their powers at risk of their lives.
Hostile Biosphere: The world is teeming with life, and it hates humans. Perhaps the life is xenoallergenic, forcing filter masks and tailored antiallergens for survival. It could be the native predators are huge and fearless, or the toxic flora ruthlessly outcompetes earth crops.
Atmosphere: Thin
Temperature: Cold
Biosphere: Human-miscible biospheres
Population: Outpost (colonial)
Tech level: 3
