Meshan Document 6

version 1

Development: Philip Warnes

Except for material pertaining to the copyright's of GDW, this document is copyright 1995 by Philip Warnes. This document can be freely distributed amongst members of the History of the Imperium Working Group (HIWG) and staff of Game Designers Workshop (GDW). Any further distribution will require written permission from the copyright holder

Human History

Settlement

Serkur was originally settled by the Vilani about c. -3560. It was set up as a farming settlement in order to supply other colonies with grain. Serkur's climate was well suited to this.

Energy was predominantly from hydro-electric, solar and wind, with a few fusion plants imported from nearby high-tech worlds.

During the First Imperium the planet would have been relatively stagnant due to the inherent nature of the Vilani Bureaucratic culture.

Second Imperium

Transfer of rule to Terran extraction. Introduction of Terran culture and language. Freedoms opening due to liberal nature of Terrans.

The benign conditions led to a rapid expansion in population. The planet, with limited industrial base at tech 4, became overwhelmed and the planet was unable to support itself. With an increasing reliance on imports the planet rapidly became a basket case of indebtedness. The standard of living rapidly fell accompanied by social problems and poverty.

Long Night

Dramatic effects of isolation and Vargr raiding and seizures. Drop in local technology due to removal of imported technology. Have to develop self-sufficient systems to some degree.

Third Imperium

Opening of interstellar trade due to increasing stability and increase of the use of starships. Standard of living increases with exports of agricultural luxuries and imports of high technology and resources.

The War

1100-1150

Just before the collapse, the existing government, which was based at Rhylos City, overthrown. Nationalists at Canton and Karlor declared independence, starting a major civil war. The imperium collapsed before it could intervene. The war resulted in the planet having a red-zone classification.

There was a heavy loss of life from war and famine. A new and deadly plague killed 70% of the remaining population. The plague may have been crudely manufactured by one of the three major powers, but it is more likely that it was imported.

During the early period of the War, Vargr would have been supplying various sides with higher tech arms. During the rebellion, Vargr corsairs seized tentative control of the world for exacting toll finance from merchants supplying weapons as well as acting as a base of operations. Part of larger corsair organisation.

Post Collapse

The population stabalised at 500 million then slowly increased to 700 million at c. [During Cold War or after]

The civil war was a major incentive for technological development causing a progression from TL 4 to TL 5 (ie WWI to WWII technology).

A ceasefire was declared on year 1150. At the time of the ceasfire there were three major powers, each centred on Rhylos, Canton and Karlor. A cold war followed which helped propel the indigenous technology in all three power blocks to TL 7 (ie 1940's to 1970's).

There has been no interest in space-travel, but much development of ICBMs by all three powers.

Each power has a civil service bureaucracy similar to the pre-war planetary government. Each power funds major military and scientific R&D projects.

Serkur has abudant metaliferous and petroleum reserves that was not exploited by the original settlers. Although the planet is less tectonically active than the Earth, geological structures are simple and much larger, hence there are many large oil/gas fields in many of the basins within the landmass. The planet is dense, hence, rich in metals such as uranium and iron.

Since the war there has been an accelerated use of petroleum. Nuclear power is now being increasingly used. The planet has also become much more industrilaised, hence the importance of the additional energy sources to power them.

The planet during the cold war period has become very prosperous and wealthy.

Vargr History on Serkur

Vargr have always had a limited presence on Serkur at very best. A Vargr base existed on Serkur's moon Tarro (on the side facing Serkur) up until the time of the collapse. The base was used by Vargr corsairs, whom were oppertunists that made use of Serkur's industrial base. Its real value to the Vargr was always very limited and as a result they showed little interest in seriously developing this planet for their own use.

With the arrival of the Virus and the collapse, the Vargr base on Tarros was destroyed.

The xenophobic human population on Serkur killed off the few Vargr that were present at the time. This was the last contact that Serkurans had with the Vargr. The Vargr have not attempted any further contact with the planet Serkur, and for all intents and purposes has been forgotten about.

Geopolitics

3 Major Superpowers

1. Rhylos Northwest part of continent
2. Canton Southwest part of continent
3. Karlor Eastern part of continent and Northeastern seaboard

Populations

Rhylos 230,000,000

Canton 150,000,000

Karlor 320,000,000

Total 700,000,000

Governments

All three are Civil Service Bureaucracies (Gov 8)

Political Scene

Rhylos

Technological hub. Sees itself as the eventual world government. Republican tendencies.

Rhylos City Map

Canton

Supremists - believe they will eventually conquer Rhylos by force. 'Nazi' tendencies. Is a major threat to Rhylos. Richer in metaliferous resources than the other two powers.

Karlor

The sleeping giant - greater population than the other two powers. More intensive farming and a solid industrial base. Will listen to reasonable offers. Has been 'offside' with both Rhylos and Canton at various times. Is more cash oriented.

Political Structures on Serkur

Rhylos

President Emperor (figurehead only)

-Appointed from a nobility

Senate (elected by lower house)

Lower House (elected by masses)

The Masses

Canton

Dictator (Chen)

Inner Party

Middle Party

Outer Party ("ley members")

Proleteriate, ("plebs")

Karlor

President Chairman

Lords Senior Party

Minor Nobles Major Party

Masses (no say in politics)

Earth Analogues

These are only vague comparisons

Rhylos: Rome, USA

Canton: Oceania (from novel 1984) - easily recognisable

Karlor: Combination of Chinesse and British Monarchy

Military Strength on Serkur

The following is the number of personnel in each branch of the military for each nation on the planet Serkur.

Rhylos

Army 700,000

Navy 100,000

Airforce 50,000

Canton

Army 900,000

Navy 60,000

Airforce 100,000

Karlor

Army 1,200,000

Navy 30,000

Airforce 30,000

Rhylos Military

Rhylorian Military Vehicles

Navy

Type of unit Number Personal/unit

Heavy units (c. 20,000 tonnes) 10 ~1500

Medium units (c. 10,000 tonnes) 20 ~500

Light units (c. 3000 tonnes) 40 ~200

Patrol (c. 200 tonnes) 200 ~50

Support ~50,000

Airforce

Type of unit Number

fighters 400

fighter bombers 300

recon 60

bombers 200

heavy rockets 200

Gayon System

Gayon System

Orbit Name UPP Remarks

Primary Gayon G3V

1 Mikor Y400000-0

2 Yannin Y9A0000-0 Pure N2 Atmos

3 Serkur X364883-7 Ri,Ag,Bk R722 Na

30 Tarro Y100000-0 Tidelocked moon

4 Straaker Belt Y000000-0 Asteroid belt

5 Primus Large GG 150,000km diam

5 Lucon Y100000-0 \ inside

7 Galamish Y200000-0 | radiation

10 Toa Y300000-0 / belt

15 Tremmin Y6A7000-0 Std pressure Atmos

25 Cello Y3A1000-0 Thin pressure Atmos

6 Solus Small GG 50,000km diam

1 Rings Y000000-0 moderate

9 Sid Y100000-0 dirty snowball

12 Po Y220000-0 Trace N2 Atmos

15 Yo Y100000-0 dirty snowball

7 Vinian Belt Y000000-0 Asteroid belt

Serkur World Map

X 364883 TL 7 722 G3V Red Zone (BUK)

At time of collapse was TL 4 but has advanced 3 tech levels as a result of a major civil war between the Nortwest and Southern industrial regions over a ten year period after the collapse (the war was on at the time of the collapse - hence a red zone classification). Inspired and organised leadership, and an efficient, progressive government in a cold war setting has since pushed the indigenous tech level up at a rapid pace. Also a cold war between the three industrial centers/super powers.

Diameter 4800km

Atmosphere Standard

Hydrgraphic percentage 40%

Dense planet - Surface gravity 0.8 Earth

(jump/throw modifier=1.1)

Albedo 0.24

Average Global temperature 18oC (-40oC to +40oC)

Cloudiness 20%

Year 368.958 standard days

421.7 local days

Day 21 hours

Types or terrain present - Cultivated land (predominant)

- Desert

- Ice-caps (at poles)

- Water (Great Ocean Basin, Chunking Sea)

- City/Urban

- Rainforest

- Mountains

Serkur's Sun - Gayon

Spectral Class G3V (Yellow main sequence)

Bolometric magnitude 4.948

Luminosity 0.89

Surface temperature 5700oC

Stella radius 0.958

Stella mass 0.98

Gayon is slightly cooler than the sun but Serkur is just as warm as Earth because it makes up for less insolation with a lower albedo (reflectivity).

Tarra World Map

Radius Size 1

Distance 72,000km

Lunar month 8.60 local days

7.53 standard days

Lunar Day same as month due to tide lock

49.02 lunar months per year

Calender

A year is broken into ten months. The tenth month is shorter than the others. Every third year is a leap year.

Normal months

9/9/9/9/7

Short month

9/9/9/8