1616 Fabat

UPP: Fabat E550500-5 (occasional pockets of 6)

A small, low gravity desert world which, until about 40 years ago, appeared to have a number of thriving urban centres and a developing industrial economy. The world was, however, utterly dependant on large scale investment from the neighbouring world of Jema, and reliant on trade into The Cluster to pay interest on its swelling debt. 

Fabat was already in trouble, effectively bankrupt, settlements being abandoned, communities retreating into poverty and scrap scavaging, many of the best leaving.

The slow collapse of Kailaluset Empire, small, but straddling the main trade route into the cluster from this region of space, was the final blow for Fabat's aspirations. The route has now effectively been halted, trade moving elsewhere, and a number of worlds, including Fabat, that made up that route, all suffered various degrees of economic collapse and are collectively referred to as 'the broken bridge'.

The Collegiate Domains are active in this area, understanding the economic impact of the collapse of local trade, and mapping ruins and abandoned settlements. Jema is also increasingly active. Fabats loans were never formally waived and Jema, exerting its influence ever more strongly in the system are using the dept as leverage over the almost non-existent planetary government, most recently to establish a military base on a gas giant moon. The base is positioned to control gas-giant refueling should there ever be a revival of trade to the cluster, and the moon (and the gas giant) have been leased by Jema for the next 100 years, at almost no cost.

The exodus from Fabat means that a diaspora has spread across much of this area of the sub-sector. Those that remain, outside the few remaining urban settlements, scrape a desperate living. The current TL is low reflecting the levels of technology that the populace can maintain. However, they are adept at salvaging and maintaining technology left from before Fabat's 'fall', much of which is of a higher tech level. Salvaged items may be found as high as TL 9 or, in the ruins of the formal Capital (Big Junction) 10.