1114 Scott's World
UPP: Scott's World A771C16-E Fl Hi Ht In Ri Gas
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| Scott's World |
Scott's World is the heavy industrial and technological centre of the Umber Sub-sector. Along with Cavirza, it is the highest tech system in Umbar at level 14, but the highest tech industry is either orbital or on Scott's moon, Valkyrie. The planetary surface itself is scarred with centuries of industrial development, and conditions vary wildly from clean and well ordered to desperate slums. It is technically classed as a 'dry world' by the Fairport Convention Cartographic Service, but the world has in fact vast water reserves, much now relegated to vast cisterns as much of the planet's surface is built over, or has been developed in other ways. The classification reflects, however, that there is very little open water left, a feature that has seriously affected planetary weather systems, which are now technologically supplemented.
The politics of the world are driven by The Scott's Guilds. These are industrial cartels that under The Fairport Convention grew to dominate planetary power structures, and whilst there remains a planetary government it is really just a token authority. The Guilds form an Administrative Council, which effectively runs the planet, all off-world concerns, and controls the relationship with The Convention. This council (The Scott's Guild Central Commercial Board, mostly known as 'The Board of Seven') is led by the seven most powerful companies or Guilds, though all registered organisations have voting rights in proportion to their size and power. This is determined once every ten years at a General Valuation.
Companies, Guilds and Cartels have extended their reach well beyond this single planet, however, outgrowing it in a very real sense. For many, off-world concerns are now more significant than in-system commitments, and non-Guild organisations have started to register in some numbers, gaining voting rights and access to the industrial power structure. This has been encouraged by some factions in order to open up the Guilds and encourage innovation but is strongly resisted by other, more parochial interests, on the grounds that this is watering down the influence of Scott's World itself.
The underlying truth, however, is that the Guilds have become economically stagnant, and are starting to see their technological lead over others slip. Cavirza, for example, has technologies emerging that surpass Scott's World in key areas like computing and medicine. For a world with such intense pride, this is a difficult situation to accept. It should be noted that Scott's World and the Guilds are by no means a spent, or even declining force, and that many functions and offices of The Convention are based here, giving Scott's a distinct advantage over competitor planets.
A notable cultural feature of Scott's is The Tomb of Leyland. It is a passionately held belief, despite no evidence, that Scott's World was the sight of the death of John Leyland. Leyland is traditionally believed to have led the expedition that settled Umbar, but in the face of Cavirza's economic rise, and her long-standing (and well-founded) claim to be the oldest known settled human world in the Sub-Sector, the planetary authority created the monumental tomb, with a huge, empty sarcophagus at its heart, supposedly awaiting the discovery of Leyland's actual remains. The monument was inaugurated to mark the 1500th anniversary of the Arrival of Man, and is now a fixture for tourists, and fans of the long-running speculative and sensationalist holovis popu-drama Leyland in Space.
The politics of the world are driven by The Scott's Guilds. These are industrial cartels that under The Fairport Convention grew to dominate planetary power structures, and whilst there remains a planetary government it is really just a token authority. The Guilds form an Administrative Council, which effectively runs the planet, all off-world concerns, and controls the relationship with The Convention. This council (The Scott's Guild Central Commercial Board, mostly known as 'The Board of Seven') is led by the seven most powerful companies or Guilds, though all registered organisations have voting rights in proportion to their size and power. This is determined once every ten years at a General Valuation.
Companies, Guilds and Cartels have extended their reach well beyond this single planet, however, outgrowing it in a very real sense. For many, off-world concerns are now more significant than in-system commitments, and non-Guild organisations have started to register in some numbers, gaining voting rights and access to the industrial power structure. This has been encouraged by some factions in order to open up the Guilds and encourage innovation but is strongly resisted by other, more parochial interests, on the grounds that this is watering down the influence of Scott's World itself.
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| Tomb of Leyland |
A notable cultural feature of Scott's is The Tomb of Leyland. It is a passionately held belief, despite no evidence, that Scott's World was the sight of the death of John Leyland. Leyland is traditionally believed to have led the expedition that settled Umbar, but in the face of Cavirza's economic rise, and her long-standing (and well-founded) claim to be the oldest known settled human world in the Sub-Sector, the planetary authority created the monumental tomb, with a huge, empty sarcophagus at its heart, supposedly awaiting the discovery of Leyland's actual remains. The monument was inaugurated to mark the 1500th anniversary of the Arrival of Man, and is now a fixture for tourists, and fans of the long-running speculative and sensationalist holovis popu-drama Leyland in Space.
A Note on names: Higher ranking individuals (mostly SOC ten or higher) have distinct family names like 'Nero', 'Cataline', 'Titus'. Linguists believe that these emerge from some ancient language that predates Man's arrival in Umbar, and probably predates the spoken Anglic of known space itself. Although the names themselves are archaic, the families that use them are often not. Families 'on the up' often adopt such names to show their status - those on the way down cling to them desperately.
NOTE FOR TRAVELLERS:
The Tomb of Leyland is very much worth a visit, but, despite what some consider its overblown pomposity, DO NOT snigger or attempt to picnic in the grounds. The white-gloved uniformed attendants throughout the structure are always keen to enforce the solemnity of The Tomb, and are armed.
It should also be noted that the atmosphere is tainted - principally due to the large amounts of industrial pollutants present.
Orbital rotation is 25 and a half hours, giving a slightly longer day than the standard 24 hours.
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