Tardanis System
This is a system on the edge of human space. Due to its
proximity to the borders set up by the kazire, many often say it is "looking
over the fence." The planets in this system aren't very compatible for
supporting human life. Only one planet in its orbit is considered habitable, and
that is just barely.
Eagle One
The code name for the Solar Mark located near the Tardanis
System star. Its communication system links the planet of Alur to the rest of
the Earth Network (internet, radio, television, etc.). It is currently run by a
skeleton crew of six members to keep it maintained and deal with complications.
Though it is a mandatory addition to the system due to the kazire stipulations,
it is still considered a military installation. The official designation is
Solar Marker 49827. Note: Even though its official number is 49827, it is
believed there are not that many Solar Marks. It is the designation assigned by
the kazire and believed they must have some personal system for keeping track
which Earth doesn't quite understand.
Planet Alur
The only planet which is considered even remotely habitable
Tardanis System is Alur (pronounced like the word "allure"). It was named in
irony of how unappealing its conditions are to supporting life. Temperature at
its low is 43˚C (110˚F) with temperatures easily rising to considerable higher
levels above. In addition to heat, the air itself has some toxic elements not to
be ignored. While limited unprotected exposure is possible, prolonged exposure
is almost certain death.
The sky, viewed from planet side, is always a shade of red
regardless of time of day. During daylight hours the shade is often lighter
while at night the shade of red can become rather dark. There is no natural
water on Alur, at least none that still remains. There are signs that water may
have once existed on this world, but it has been gone for a very long time at
this point. This means it is theoretically possible to walk around the entire
surface of the planet in a full circle. Though it has been reported walking on
the planet's surface without footwear is like walking on hot coals.
There are two domes on the surface of the planet, one
military owned and one civilian owned. Each dome has some environmental control
keeping the heat at least to bearable levels, though still uncomfortably hot by
most people's standards. Air is circulated and recycled by environmental
controls. There are three total systems to support one another should anything
go wrong with one of them. There is a tunnel linking the two domes to make
transportation between them possible. However, this tunnel is typically guarded
by military personnel on both sides to ensure no unauthorized access.
Traveling outside of the domes is possible, though it is said
a highly trained and physically fit individual couldn't even last an hour in
such conditions. It is estimated that most would last 30 minutes or less even in
favorable conditions. Unfortunately there is little to see outside the domes
other than a barren surface. However, it is reported military personnel will
often go outside of the domes to travel from one to the other in favor of
sneaking off base for some unofficial R&R. Travel outside of the domes is more
manageable if environmental suits are available.
Military Dome
Eagle Base: This is the military
base located on the planet of Alur. It consists of the barracks, family housing,
flight hangars, headquarters, training grounds, and armory. Commanding
Officer: Colonel Curt Radd; Earth Forces Marines.
Gold Eagle: The heavy infantry unit of Eagle Base.
Current Compliment: 125 troops. Commanding Officer: Lt. Colonel
Donald Walker; Earth Forces Army.
Red Eagle: Air support/assault unit of Eagle Base.
Current Compliment: 75 troops. Commanding Officer: Lt. Colonel Victor
Ray Thomas; Earth Forces Air Force.
Silver Eagle: Emergency space fighters and marines of
Eagle Base. Current Compliment: 100 space fighter troops and 50 space
marine troops. Commanding Officer: Lt. Colonel Mickey Barton; Earth
Forces Space Force (pilot).
Blue Eagle: This is the standard, non-specialized
military unit of Eagle Base. Current Compliment: 200 troops.
Commanding Officer: Lt. Colonel Westley Dewite; Earth Forces Army.
Black Eagle: Special forces/black-ops unit of Eagle Base.
Current Compliment: 50 troops. Commanding Officer: Lt. Colonel
Emma Wiess; Earth Forces Marines.
White Eagle: Medical unit of Eagle Base. They are a
relatively small unit which is typically split up into various smaller teams
among other units as needed. Current Compliment: 20 troops/medics.
Commanding Officer: Major Jonathan West; Earth Forces Army.
Green Eagle: Training unit in charge of training new
recruits and keeping current military personnel in shape. Current Compliment:
30 trainees. Commanding Officer: Major Steve Weston; Earth Forces Space
Force (marines).
Rain Base: This is the official designation for the
Environmental Control Center (E.C.C.) of the domes. The term "rain base" is
clearly another term for irony as it never actually rains on this world, nor is
it practical to cause the environmental controls to simulate rain. Attempting to
cause rain using the E.C.C., as it is more commonly referred, would be a
tremendous waste of water considering planetary conditions. It does not rain
naturally and the world does not have any known natural water sources, this
makes water a valuable asset on the world (see Water Recycling Plant for more
details). The main purpose of the E.C.C. is to keep the domes relatively cool
and remain in tolerant conditions compared to heat outside of the domes. Due to
lack of funding, the E.C.C. is not able to function at optimum capacity. Due to
the fact it is set up in the military dome, this dome tends to be kept at a
cooler and more tolerant temperature. The main purpose for it being set up in
the military dome is to help protect against possible sabotage. Current
Compliment: 50 workers. Base Supervisor: Georgia Winters.
Water Recycling Plant: All water on Alur has been shipped
in from outside sources. This is due to the fact that the planet has no natural
water. There tend to be two types of water supplies within the domes. The first
is drinking water. This is constantly supplied from outside resources keeping
the price of it rather high. Despite the price though, there are many who would
pay well for a cool, clear bottle of water on a hot day, and every day on Alur
is a hot one (more so in the civilian dome, see Rain Base for more details). The
second type is recycled water. Recycled water is what is used more for showers
and rest rooms. Unfortunately the recycling system is not the best refined
causing the recycled water to not always be the cleanest. However, it is clean
enough for basic purposes, though most wouldn't recommend drinking it. Even with
recycling, there is some water loss, partially due to the system, but more so
from things like people running hoses and incidents controlling fires, which
must be replenished. The water recycling plant is set up inside the military
dome to help protect against possible sabotage. Current Compliment: 120
workers. Plant Supervisor: Edward "Eddy" Tyler.
VIIvex Mining Facility: VIIvex is one of the leading
processor's of the guardian alloy. With the considerable mineral deposits
required for making the guardian alloy found on Alur, they were quick to set up
shop. Since the military benefits so greatly from the mineral, the Eagle Base
was designed to help protect the mining facility and prevent raids and theft.
Current Compliment: 500 workers. Facility Supervisor: Dora Parker.
VIIvex Processing Plant: Instead of transporting the raw
minerals off planet for processing elsewhere, most of the minerals are kept her
for processing. Any additional minerals, for some of the more common elements
not as readily found on Alur, are shipped to the plant for far cheaper costs.
Current Compliment: 200 workers. Plant Supervisor: Samuel Monroe.
Alur Academy: This is an academic institution set up
inside the military dome. It is the only manner of school available on the whole
planet. It has instructors capable of teaching all levels of education, from
elementary to high school and some college class (but limited). The academy was
mainly set up to take care of children of military personnel as well as the
workers from the processing plant, mining facility, E.C.C., and water recycling
plant, since many brought along their entire families. Since this is the only
manner of school available, children from the civilian dome are allowed to
attend the academy as well. Students wishing to attend classes must first
register and then, after admission, take the shuttle bus from civilian dome to
military dome to get passed the guards. There are routine scans along the tunnel
to ensure no weapons or trespassers are smuggled aboard the shuttle bus or any
other vehicle. Students of Note: Cassidy "Cas" Wagner; 12 year old
adopted daughter of Lt. Colonel Donald Walker. She was orphaned at the age of
four, found on a dead freighter which had been raided by pirates. She was found
by Lt. Colonel Walker, a major at the time, and she latched on refusing to let
go, having to be forcibly removed from his side. She has never truly left him
since that first encounter.
Living Sector: Many of the homes for plant and facility
employees are located here. The prices tend to be higher, but the living
conditions are better. It is also closer to work and less hassles with security.
This is restricted to employees, and their families, who work in the military
dome. Even though places such as the processing plant, mining facility, and
academy are not military installations, they are government owned and are
included.
Civilian Dome
The Rusty Nail Bar: It serves food,
but no one really goes there for the food. In fact, less than 5% of customers
order anything of the kind. Most nights it is packed to, and often over,
capacity. It's not the cleanest place, but few places on Alur are due to poor
funding. At least the roach problem is under control, or at least it has been
for the last week. This is a great place for people to escape and try to drink
away the fact they're stuck on this rat hole of a colony. It is also a common
hangout to soldiers on leave and those just off duty, though the latter is
against regulation. The latter fact causes the place to be occasionally subject
to raids from Eagle Base. However, it is rarely shut down for more than a couple
weeks as a result. In the end, this distant isolated colony has so little going
for it that it is actually in everyone's best interest the bar remains open.
They are said to have a lax view to serving minors, at least those who look old
enough to be served (not children, but high school seniors likely wouldn't have
a problem). Owner: "Beck." Whether that is first, last, abbreviated, or
an alias all together no one truly knows, nor will he answer. He is a man in his
early forties with already gray hair in a crew cut, but his features still
appear rather youthful for his age except for the crow lines by his eyes. He is
typically found behind the bar when the place is open. Waitress: Jessica
Hayes. She is a rather attractive woman meant more to draw in customers than for
an actual waitress, though she does both with competence.
The Chop Shop: The only place on Alur which deals with
cybernetics. Full bionics may still be out of Earth technology levels, but that
doesn't mean that there aren't a few talented cyberneticists out there. He
specializes in replacement limbs, though it is said for the right price he will
be willing to help someone just in the market for a cybernetic limb, even
without necessity. There are rumors that he is actually funded by the military
which occasionally use him for enhancing some of their soldiers with things such
as cybernetic eyes, but this is currently only rumor without any proof.
Owner: Dr. Lucas "Simple" Green. He is the owner and only employee of the
shop. They call him simple because he tends to hate over complicating things and
keeping them as simple as possible, sometimes too simple some may say. Few
people actually refer to him as "doctor," which doesn't seem to bother him at
all.
The Hype: This is a cybercafé. Its specialty is coffee
and internet access, but it actually serves food all types and the computers can
be used for other things such as typing up reports for school. It is a decent
place to come, sit, and just relax. The Hype is one of the cleanest places in
the entire civilian dome. Owner: Luis Allistor. He is a man who is almost
constantly on drugs. It is said to be for medical purposes, but most likely even
if there is some medical need for the drugs he goes well over what is necessary.
For this reason, he is often referred to as a "hype," which in turn gave the
cybercafé its name. He has long flowing brown hair, but likely because it's
difficult to get him to sit still long enough to properly cut it. Some rumor
that due to the amount of drugs in his system, he is on a constant high and
never sleeps, though this is unlikely to be true. Waitress/Caretaker:
Rose Scott. She's a not bad sight to look at, but doesn't flaunt what beauty she
does have and always concealing herself in long sleeve shirts and pants. Even
though her clothes are concealing enough can be seen to notice she has an
athlete's body. She has short red hair which never comes below her natural
hairline and emerald green eyes. One of her favorite colors to wear is red. Due
to the mental condition of the owner, she mostly runs the place. In addition,
she is also said to be the personal caretaker of Mr. Allistor.
Lock & Load: This is establishment is officially a
locksmith. They sell various lock systems as well as create replacements and
pick them when someone gets locked out of their car or house. However, it is
well known they also deal in weapons, which is technically an illegal activity
on Alur. However, few actually seem to care and the business is able to operate
without much hassle. For this reason, the owners tend to show a fair amount of
discretion who they sell to. If the weapons they sold someone cause trouble, the
latitude they're given now is likely to be severely cut. So they usually only
sell when they think it wise, or at the very least profitable enough. Owners:
Walt and David Sanders; more commonly referred to as the Sanders Brothers.
Of Kings & Queens: A pawn shop, the colonies only pawn
shop for that matter, with various different items for trade and sale. By the
cash register is a finely carved wooden chess board. The pieces are hand carved
with one side being shaped into a human king and his subjects, and the other
side being carved into a mouse holding a scepter and wearing a crown along with
his servants. A part of the shop is set up as a music shop called: Saxcellent
Music. All the instruments sold here are used as this is still a pawn shop, but
they are still excellent quality items, along with cheap items for a cheap
price. One of the highlights of the shop is a saxophone signed by legendary jazz
musician Ken Orton. Owner: Randall E. Masters. He has short black hair
and wears glasses. Typically he has a rather clean cut type of look to him, and
is usually found wearing a dress shirt of some type which is often accompanied
by a vest and/or tie. Those who know him know he is well read, loves philosophy,
chess, the saxophone (plays himself), riddles, puns (though not so good at
making them himself), and anything that involves challenging the mind. He is
typically found with a book in his hand. There are rumors that he has smuggler
connections and can help attain things not quite legal or hard to find. However,
it is similarly said that he will not, adamantly refuse, deal in anything
involving weapons, non-medicinal drugs, or anything else that may have a purpose
intended for harm. While it may seem easy to simply give a good lie rumors
suggest, and anyone who has spent enough time with him can confirm, he is an
excellent judge of character. His perception in such things are said to be so
keen that he can tell any type of deception, even from half truths and
technicalities. Though he may not know what the truth is from this, he can still
recognize the attempt to deceive.
Luke's General Store: It has a decent selection of foods
as well as various household supplies, including hardware and electrical
supplies. Owner: Bo Fletcher; one of the few aliens currently inhabiting
Alur. This is not his real name, and there is no question of that fact. Bo
Fletcher is simply the name that was assigned to him for easier assimilation
into human culture. His true name, only for those who have asked, is Kincha.
There are no first/last names for his people, only the one.
Alur Police Departmant: The civilian dome has its own
police force which is independent of military police. They take care of most
matters in the civilian dome. However, they are a small force and not capable of
doing much against large problems. They help to keep some order, but in many
ways are more of a superficial solution than true police force. Chief of
Police: Marten Winslow.
Living Sector: Not as localized as the one in the
military dome (spread throughout the civilian dome), it is also not nearly as
clean. Living conditions tend to, on average, be worse but it is also far
cheaper. There are houses, apartments, and motels for living in. Many who own,
or work in, shops will live over or in back of the building in a small room or
apartment.
