Claiming Space: The Race For Land
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English
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
November 21, 2862 SET
Claiming Space: The Race for Land
For over eighty years, the Planetary Development Bureau (PDB) has been working with local authorities to not only oversee the zoning of building plots, but to mediate and supervise the sale of land claims for commercial and private use. This vital agency has become such a commonplace part of our lives that its importance is often overlooked today. Rather than tallying up all of the Bureau’s accomplishments in regulating this important aspect of the Empire’s growth, the best way to demonstrate the agency’s past legacy and current significance is to look back at the turbulent history of what land claims were like before the PDB’s founding.
As Humans first began to spread throughout the Sol system in the early 22nd century, disputes over land claims were common and would frequently escalate into physical altercations. Earth had become severely overcrowded and people were desperate to escape its confines. The disparate nations that governed the planet had begun to work together on solutions, but could not agree on a land use policy. Each was wary of the others trying to gain disproportionate control over the unclaimed territory, and fear over the amassing of political power left Humanity’s expansion largely unregulated. Not only were there multiple incidents of asteroid miners waging sabotage campaigns against their rivals’ outposts, but with the terraformation of Mars underway, speculators were eagerly trying to grab as much of the valuable land as they could. Historian Dr. Kailanni Boden dubbed the era the ‘Red Diaspora,’ “not only because the red planet was the focus of the settlement, but because of the violence commonly associated with the Martian territorial disputes.”
Determined not to repeat those mistakes when Humans began settling their first extrasolar system, Croshaw, the governing committee established the Freeman Act to help regulate the dispersal of land rights. Under the act, settlers would be guaranteed a place to homestead. Disputes could be filed with the Freeman Office and settled through official means, rather than the parties taking matters into their own hands as they had so often before. The Freeman Act was deemed such a success that when the United Nations of Earth was formed a short time later in 2380, included in its original statutes was the creation the Office of Land Development to continue regulating land claim registration.
Despite the improvements the office brought with it, many at the time chose to operate outside of the law since the fees associated with illegal land development were often considered less cumbersome than following the proper protocols. With the land rush in full swing, waiting for paperwork to clear could cost a developer a massive amount of funds. Such was the case in 2530 when Gaia Planet Services decided to go ahead and begin illegally terraforming what would reveal itself to be an alien-occupied world. That incident in the Pallas system not only nearly kicked off an interspecies war between Humanity and the Xi’an, but it showed that time for greater regulation had arrived.
When Ivar Messer became Imperator a few years later in 2547, one of his first policies was to declare eminent domain over the newly forged empire. To legally develop or settle any parcel of land, irrespective of who discovered it, one would first have to apply to the Office of Land Development for permission. It soon became obvious that those who had cultivated the Messers’ favor were significantly more likely to be granted valuable land rights. By the 27th century, the Directorship of the Office of Land Development had become one of the most coveted positions within the Empire, thanks to ever more blatant practice of corporations offering generous kickbacks to have regulatory decisions go their way. Company records uncovered after the dissolution of the Hathor Group revealed that they had allocated a large slush fund specifically for donations to the then-Director’s personal charity fund.
With the fall of the Messers in 2792, the newly formed government attempted to reform the Office of Land Development, but it would continue to be plagued by accusations of corruption and cronyism. In a 2861 Wightman Award-winning piece, the Terra Gazette exposed how the office continued to favor large corporations and wealthy individuals, often illegally granting them preferential treatment over the rightful claims of average Citizens. Many government officials were forced to resign as their questionable behavior came to light, and in one instance Shubin Interstellar was required to return a sizeable parcel of land they had been developing for mining. In the wake of the scandal, the Senate decided that the best approach to the problem would be to start with a clean slate. On November 21, 2862, the Office of Land Development was officially shut down and the Planetary Development Bureau was launched to oversee all land regulation.
From its very foundation, the Bureau was designed to bring transparency and fairness to every step of the process. Even the landmark sale of the Stanton system to private corporations was handled with an unexpected amount of openness when compared to the Bureau’s predecessor. With a streamlined claims process in place, it has become easier for licenses to be acquired, leading to a sharp rise in territory being registered legally. These transactions generate more tax revenue as well as ensure that landowners actually receive the rights and protections accorded to them under the law.
Recently, there has been a major push to encourage the settlement and development of the Empire’s frontier. As part of this initiative, the PDB has been making additional parcels of land accessible to the public for purchase. It is believed by policymakers that as sectors become more developed, they likewise become more secure. Statistics from recent studies show that it is significantly harder for outlaws and Vanduul raiding parties to gain purchase in UEE-controlled systems when there are settlers and companies with vested interests in ensuring the protection of that territory. Combine this with Consolidated Outland’s recent introduction of a self-contained colonization platform, and many are expecting to see a new golden age of land development in the second half of the 30th century.
November 21, 2862 SET
Claiming Space: The Race for Land
For over eighty years, the Planetary Development Bureau (PDB) has been working with local authorities to not only oversee the zoning of building plots, but to mediate and supervise the sale of land claims for commercial and private use. This vital agency has become such a commonplace part of our lives that its importance is often overlooked today. Rather than tallying up all of the Bureau’s accomplishments in regulating this important aspect of the Empire’s growth, the best way to demonstrate the agency’s past legacy and current significance is to look back at the turbulent history of what land claims were like before the PDB’s founding.
As Humans first began to spread throughout the Sol system in the early 22nd century, disputes over land claims were common and would frequently escalate into physical altercations. Earth had become severely overcrowded and people were desperate to escape its confines. The disparate nations that governed the planet had begun to work together on solutions, but could not agree on a land use policy. Each was wary of the others trying to gain disproportionate control over the unclaimed territory, and fear over the amassing of political power left Humanity’s expansion largely unregulated. Not only were there multiple incidents of asteroid miners waging sabotage campaigns against their rivals’ outposts, but with the terraformation of Mars underway, speculators were eagerly trying to grab as much of the valuable land as they could. Historian Dr. Kailanni Boden dubbed the era the ‘Red Diaspora,’ “not only because the red planet was the focus of the settlement, but because of the violence commonly associated with the Martian territorial disputes.”
Determined not to repeat those mistakes when Humans began settling their first extrasolar system, Croshaw, the governing committee established the Freeman Act to help regulate the dispersal of land rights. Under the act, settlers would be guaranteed a place to homestead. Disputes could be filed with the Freeman Office and settled through official means, rather than the parties taking matters into their own hands as they had so often before. The Freeman Act was deemed such a success that when the United Nations of Earth was formed a short time later in 2380, included in its original statutes was the creation the Office of Land Development to continue regulating land claim registration.
Despite the improvements the office brought with it, many at the time chose to operate outside of the law since the fees associated with illegal land development were often considered less cumbersome than following the proper protocols. With the land rush in full swing, waiting for paperwork to clear could cost a developer a massive amount of funds. Such was the case in 2530 when Gaia Planet Services decided to go ahead and begin illegally terraforming what would reveal itself to be an alien-occupied world. That incident in the Pallas system not only nearly kicked off an interspecies war between Humanity and the Xi’an, but it showed that time for greater regulation had arrived.
When Ivar Messer became Imperator a few years later in 2547, one of his first policies was to declare eminent domain over the newly forged empire. To legally develop or settle any parcel of land, irrespective of who discovered it, one would first have to apply to the Office of Land Development for permission. It soon became obvious that those who had cultivated the Messers’ favor were significantly more likely to be granted valuable land rights. By the 27th century, the Directorship of the Office of Land Development had become one of the most coveted positions within the Empire, thanks to ever more blatant practice of corporations offering generous kickbacks to have regulatory decisions go their way. Company records uncovered after the dissolution of the Hathor Group revealed that they had allocated a large slush fund specifically for donations to the then-Director’s personal charity fund.
With the fall of the Messers in 2792, the newly formed government attempted to reform the Office of Land Development, but it would continue to be plagued by accusations of corruption and cronyism. In a 2861 Wightman Award-winning piece, the Terra Gazette exposed how the office continued to favor large corporations and wealthy individuals, often illegally granting them preferential treatment over the rightful claims of average Citizens. Many government officials were forced to resign as their questionable behavior came to light, and in one instance Shubin Interstellar was required to return a sizeable parcel of land they had been developing for mining. In the wake of the scandal, the Senate decided that the best approach to the problem would be to start with a clean slate. On November 21, 2862, the Office of Land Development was officially shut down and the Planetary Development Bureau was launched to oversee all land regulation.
From its very foundation, the Bureau was designed to bring transparency and fairness to every step of the process. Even the landmark sale of the Stanton system to private corporations was handled with an unexpected amount of openness when compared to the Bureau’s predecessor. With a streamlined claims process in place, it has become easier for licenses to be acquired, leading to a sharp rise in territory being registered legally. These transactions generate more tax revenue as well as ensure that landowners actually receive the rights and protections accorded to them under the law.
Recently, there has been a major push to encourage the settlement and development of the Empire’s frontier. As part of this initiative, the PDB has been making additional parcels of land accessible to the public for purchase. It is believed by policymakers that as sectors become more developed, they likewise become more secure. Statistics from recent studies show that it is significantly harder for outlaws and Vanduul raiding parties to gain purchase in UEE-controlled systems when there are settlers and companies with vested interests in ensuring the protection of that territory. Combine this with Consolidated Outland’s recent introduction of a self-contained colonization platform, and many are expecting to see a new golden age of land development in the second half of the 30th century.
German
AN DIESEM TAG IN DER GESCHICHTE
21. November 2862 SET
Raum beanspruchen: Das Rennen um das Land
Seit über achtzig Jahren arbeitet das Planetary Development Bureau (PDB) mit den lokalen Behörden zusammen, um nicht nur die Zonierung von Bauland zu überwachen, sondern auch den Verkauf von Grundstücken für gewerbliche und private Zwecke zu vermitteln und zu überwachen. Diese lebenswichtige Agentur ist zu einem so alltäglichen Teil unseres Lebens geworden, dass ihre Bedeutung heute oft übersehen wird. Anstatt alle Leistungen des Präsidiums bei der Regulierung dieses wichtigen Aspekts des Wachstums des Imperiums zusammenzufassen, ist der beste Weg, das vergangene Erbe und die aktuelle Bedeutung der Agentur zu demonstrieren, auf die turbulente Geschichte dessen zurückzublicken, wie die Landansprüche vor der Gründung des PDB waren.
Als sich die Menschen Anfang des 22. Jahrhunderts erstmals im gesamten Sol-System zu verbreiten begannen, waren Streitigkeiten über Landansprüche weit verbreitet und eskalierten häufig zu physischen Auseinandersetzungen. Die Erde war stark überfüllt und die Menschen waren verzweifelt, um ihren Grenzen zu entkommen. Die unterschiedlichen Nationen, die den Planeten regierten, hatten begonnen, gemeinsam an Lösungen zu arbeiten, konnten sich aber nicht auf eine Landnutzungspolitik einigen. Beide waren vorsichtig, wenn die anderen versuchten, eine unverhältnismäßige Kontrolle über das nicht beanspruchte Gebiet zu erlangen, und die Angst vor der Ansammlung politischer Macht ließ die Expansion der Menschheit weitgehend unreguliert. Es gab nicht nur mehrere Vorfälle von asteroiden Bergleuten, die Sabotagekampagnen gegen die Außenposten ihrer Rivalen führten, sondern auch, als die Terraformation des Mars im Gange war, versuchten Spekulanten eifrig, so viel wie möglich von dem wertvollen Land zu gewinnen. Der Historiker Dr. Kailanni Boden nannte die Ära die "Rote Diaspora", "nicht nur, weil der rote Planet im Mittelpunkt der Siedlung stand, sondern auch wegen der Gewalt, die üblicherweise mit den territorialen Konflikten des Mars verbunden ist".
Entschlossen, diese Fehler nicht zu wiederholen, als die Menschen begannen, ihr erstes extrasolares System, Croshaw, zu besiedeln, gründete das Regierungskomitee das Freeman Act, um bei der Regulierung der Verbreitung von Landrechten zu helfen. Nach dem Gesetz würde den Siedlern ein Platz für ein Gehöft garantiert. Streitigkeiten könnten mit dem Freeman Office eingereicht und mit offiziellen Mitteln beigelegt werden, anstatt dass die Parteien die Angelegenheiten wie so oft zuvor selbst in die Hand nehmen. Das Freeman Act wurde als ein solcher Erfolg angesehen, dass bei der Gründung der Vereinten Nationen der Erde kurz darauf im Jahr 2380, die in ihre ursprüngliche Satzung aufgenommen wurde, die Schaffung des Office of Land Development zur weiteren Regelung der Registrierung von Grundstücksansprüchen erfolgte.
Trotz der Verbesserungen, die das Büro mitbrachte, entschieden sich viele damals dafür, außerhalb des Gesetzes zu operieren, da die mit der illegalen Landentwicklung verbundenen Gebühren oft als weniger schwerfällig angesehen wurden, als die Einhaltung der entsprechenden Protokolle. Mit dem Landansturm in vollem Gange, könnte das Warten auf die Klärung der Formalitäten einen Entwickler eine riesige Menge an Geld kosten. Dies war 2530 der Fall, als Gaia Planet Services beschloss, weiterzumachen und illegal mit dem Terraforming zu beginnen, was sich als eine von Außerirdischen besetzte Welt herausstellen würde. Dieser Vorfall im Pallas-System hat nicht nur fast einen Krieg zwischen der Menschheit und den Xi'an ausgelöst, sondern auch gezeigt, dass die Zeit für eine stärkere Regulierung gekommen ist.
Als Ivar Messer einige Jahre später, im Jahr 2546, Importeur wurde, war eine seiner ersten Richtlinien, die Enteignung des Reiches über das neu errichtete Reich. Um ein Grundstück rechtlich zu erschließen oder zu besiedeln, unabhängig davon, wer es entdeckt hat, müsste man zunächst beim Amt für Landesentwicklung die Genehmigung beantragen. Es zeigte sich bald, dass diejenigen, die die Gunst der Messers kultiviert hatten, deutlich häufiger wertvolle Landrechte erhielten. Im 27. Jahrhundert wurde die Leitung des Amtes für Landesentwicklung zu einer der begehrtesten Positionen innerhalb des Imperiums, dank der immer offeneren Praxis von Unternehmen, die großzügige Rückschläge anbieten, damit regulatorische Entscheidungen ihren Weg gehen können. Die nach der Auflösung der Hathor-Gruppe aufgedeckten Firmendatensätze ergaben, dass sie einen großen Matschfonds speziell für Spenden an den persönlichen Wohltätigkeitsfonds des damaligen Direktors bereitgestellt hatten.
Mit dem Fall der Messers 2792 versuchte die neu gebildete Regierung, das Büro für Landesentwicklung zu reformieren, aber sie würde weiterhin von Anschuldigungen wegen Korruption und Vetternwirtschaft geplagt werden. In einem 2861 Wightman Award-Gewinnerstück zeigte die Terra Gazette, wie das Büro weiterhin große Unternehmen und wohlhabende Einzelpersonen begünstigte und ihnen oft illegal eine Vorzugsbehandlung gegenüber den berechtigten Ansprüchen von Durchschnittsbürgern gewährte. Viele Regierungsbeamte waren gezwungen, zurückzutreten, als ihr fragwürdiges Verhalten ans Licht kam, und in einem Fall musste Shubin Interstellar ein beträchtliches Stück Land zurückgeben, das sie für den Bergbau entwickelt hatten. Nach dem Skandal entschied der Senat, dass die beste Herangehensweise an das Problem darin bestehen würde, mit einer reinen Weste zu beginnen. Am 21. November 2862 wurde das Büro für Landesentwicklung offiziell geschlossen und das Planetary Development Bureau wurde eingerichtet, um die gesamte Bodenregulierung zu überwachen.
Von Anfang an war das Präsidium darauf ausgerichtet, Transparenz und Fairness in jeden Schritt des Prozesses zu bringen. Selbst der bahnbrechende Verkauf des Stanton-Systems an private Unternehmen wurde im Vergleich zum Vorgänger des Büros mit einer unerwarteten Offenheit abgewickelt. Durch ein schlankes Reklamationsverfahren ist es einfacher geworden, Lizenzen zu erwerben, was zu einem starken Anstieg der Zahl der legal registrierten Gebiete geführt hat. Diese Transaktionen generieren mehr Steuereinnahmen und stellen sicher, dass Grundbesitzer tatsächlich die ihnen gesetzlich zustehenden Rechte und Schutzmaßnahmen erhalten.
In letzter Zeit gab es einen großen Impuls, um die Besiedlung und Entwicklung der Grenze des Imperiums zu fördern. Im Rahmen dieser Initiative stellt der HVE der Öffentlichkeit weitere Grundstücke zum Kauf zur Verfügung. Die Politik glaubt, dass mit zunehmender Entwicklung der Sektoren auch ihre Sicherheit steigt. Statistiken aus jüngsten Studien zeigen, dass es für Gesetzlose und Vanduul-Räuber deutlich schwieriger ist, in von der UEE kontrollierten Systemen einzukaufen, wenn es Siedler und Unternehmen gibt, die ein persönliches Interesse daran haben, den Schutz dieses Gebiets zu gewährleisten. Kombinieren Sie dies mit der jüngsten Einführung einer eigenständigen Kolonisationsplattform durch Consolidated Outland, und viele erwarten ein neues goldenes Zeitalter der Landentwicklung in der zweiten Hälfte des 30. Jahrhunderts.
21. November 2862 SET
Raum beanspruchen: Das Rennen um das Land
Seit über achtzig Jahren arbeitet das Planetary Development Bureau (PDB) mit den lokalen Behörden zusammen, um nicht nur die Zonierung von Bauland zu überwachen, sondern auch den Verkauf von Grundstücken für gewerbliche und private Zwecke zu vermitteln und zu überwachen. Diese lebenswichtige Agentur ist zu einem so alltäglichen Teil unseres Lebens geworden, dass ihre Bedeutung heute oft übersehen wird. Anstatt alle Leistungen des Präsidiums bei der Regulierung dieses wichtigen Aspekts des Wachstums des Imperiums zusammenzufassen, ist der beste Weg, das vergangene Erbe und die aktuelle Bedeutung der Agentur zu demonstrieren, auf die turbulente Geschichte dessen zurückzublicken, wie die Landansprüche vor der Gründung des PDB waren.
Als sich die Menschen Anfang des 22. Jahrhunderts erstmals im gesamten Sol-System zu verbreiten begannen, waren Streitigkeiten über Landansprüche weit verbreitet und eskalierten häufig zu physischen Auseinandersetzungen. Die Erde war stark überfüllt und die Menschen waren verzweifelt, um ihren Grenzen zu entkommen. Die unterschiedlichen Nationen, die den Planeten regierten, hatten begonnen, gemeinsam an Lösungen zu arbeiten, konnten sich aber nicht auf eine Landnutzungspolitik einigen. Beide waren vorsichtig, wenn die anderen versuchten, eine unverhältnismäßige Kontrolle über das nicht beanspruchte Gebiet zu erlangen, und die Angst vor der Ansammlung politischer Macht ließ die Expansion der Menschheit weitgehend unreguliert. Es gab nicht nur mehrere Vorfälle von asteroiden Bergleuten, die Sabotagekampagnen gegen die Außenposten ihrer Rivalen führten, sondern auch, als die Terraformation des Mars im Gange war, versuchten Spekulanten eifrig, so viel wie möglich von dem wertvollen Land zu gewinnen. Der Historiker Dr. Kailanni Boden nannte die Ära die "Rote Diaspora", "nicht nur, weil der rote Planet im Mittelpunkt der Siedlung stand, sondern auch wegen der Gewalt, die üblicherweise mit den territorialen Konflikten des Mars verbunden ist".
Entschlossen, diese Fehler nicht zu wiederholen, als die Menschen begannen, ihr erstes extrasolares System, Croshaw, zu besiedeln, gründete das Regierungskomitee das Freeman Act, um bei der Regulierung der Verbreitung von Landrechten zu helfen. Nach dem Gesetz würde den Siedlern ein Platz für ein Gehöft garantiert. Streitigkeiten könnten mit dem Freeman Office eingereicht und mit offiziellen Mitteln beigelegt werden, anstatt dass die Parteien die Angelegenheiten wie so oft zuvor selbst in die Hand nehmen. Das Freeman Act wurde als ein solcher Erfolg angesehen, dass bei der Gründung der Vereinten Nationen der Erde kurz darauf im Jahr 2380, die in ihre ursprüngliche Satzung aufgenommen wurde, die Schaffung des Office of Land Development zur weiteren Regelung der Registrierung von Grundstücksansprüchen erfolgte.
Trotz der Verbesserungen, die das Büro mitbrachte, entschieden sich viele damals dafür, außerhalb des Gesetzes zu operieren, da die mit der illegalen Landentwicklung verbundenen Gebühren oft als weniger schwerfällig angesehen wurden, als die Einhaltung der entsprechenden Protokolle. Mit dem Landansturm in vollem Gange, könnte das Warten auf die Klärung der Formalitäten einen Entwickler eine riesige Menge an Geld kosten. Dies war 2530 der Fall, als Gaia Planet Services beschloss, weiterzumachen und illegal mit dem Terraforming zu beginnen, was sich als eine von Außerirdischen besetzte Welt herausstellen würde. Dieser Vorfall im Pallas-System hat nicht nur fast einen Krieg zwischen der Menschheit und den Xi'an ausgelöst, sondern auch gezeigt, dass die Zeit für eine stärkere Regulierung gekommen ist.
Als Ivar Messer einige Jahre später, im Jahr 2546, Importeur wurde, war eine seiner ersten Richtlinien, die Enteignung des Reiches über das neu errichtete Reich. Um ein Grundstück rechtlich zu erschließen oder zu besiedeln, unabhängig davon, wer es entdeckt hat, müsste man zunächst beim Amt für Landesentwicklung die Genehmigung beantragen. Es zeigte sich bald, dass diejenigen, die die Gunst der Messers kultiviert hatten, deutlich häufiger wertvolle Landrechte erhielten. Im 27. Jahrhundert wurde die Leitung des Amtes für Landesentwicklung zu einer der begehrtesten Positionen innerhalb des Imperiums, dank der immer offeneren Praxis von Unternehmen, die großzügige Rückschläge anbieten, damit regulatorische Entscheidungen ihren Weg gehen können. Die nach der Auflösung der Hathor-Gruppe aufgedeckten Firmendatensätze ergaben, dass sie einen großen Matschfonds speziell für Spenden an den persönlichen Wohltätigkeitsfonds des damaligen Direktors bereitgestellt hatten.
Mit dem Fall der Messers 2792 versuchte die neu gebildete Regierung, das Büro für Landesentwicklung zu reformieren, aber sie würde weiterhin von Anschuldigungen wegen Korruption und Vetternwirtschaft geplagt werden. In einem 2861 Wightman Award-Gewinnerstück zeigte die Terra Gazette, wie das Büro weiterhin große Unternehmen und wohlhabende Einzelpersonen begünstigte und ihnen oft illegal eine Vorzugsbehandlung gegenüber den berechtigten Ansprüchen von Durchschnittsbürgern gewährte. Viele Regierungsbeamte waren gezwungen, zurückzutreten, als ihr fragwürdiges Verhalten ans Licht kam, und in einem Fall musste Shubin Interstellar ein beträchtliches Stück Land zurückgeben, das sie für den Bergbau entwickelt hatten. Nach dem Skandal entschied der Senat, dass die beste Herangehensweise an das Problem darin bestehen würde, mit einer reinen Weste zu beginnen. Am 21. November 2862 wurde das Büro für Landesentwicklung offiziell geschlossen und das Planetary Development Bureau wurde eingerichtet, um die gesamte Bodenregulierung zu überwachen.
Von Anfang an war das Präsidium darauf ausgerichtet, Transparenz und Fairness in jeden Schritt des Prozesses zu bringen. Selbst der bahnbrechende Verkauf des Stanton-Systems an private Unternehmen wurde im Vergleich zum Vorgänger des Büros mit einer unerwarteten Offenheit abgewickelt. Durch ein schlankes Reklamationsverfahren ist es einfacher geworden, Lizenzen zu erwerben, was zu einem starken Anstieg der Zahl der legal registrierten Gebiete geführt hat. Diese Transaktionen generieren mehr Steuereinnahmen und stellen sicher, dass Grundbesitzer tatsächlich die ihnen gesetzlich zustehenden Rechte und Schutzmaßnahmen erhalten.
In letzter Zeit gab es einen großen Impuls, um die Besiedlung und Entwicklung der Grenze des Imperiums zu fördern. Im Rahmen dieser Initiative stellt der HVE der Öffentlichkeit weitere Grundstücke zum Kauf zur Verfügung. Die Politik glaubt, dass mit zunehmender Entwicklung der Sektoren auch ihre Sicherheit steigt. Statistiken aus jüngsten Studien zeigen, dass es für Gesetzlose und Vanduul-Räuber deutlich schwieriger ist, in von der UEE kontrollierten Systemen einzukaufen, wenn es Siedler und Unternehmen gibt, die ein persönliches Interesse daran haben, den Schutz dieses Gebiets zu gewährleisten. Kombinieren Sie dies mit der jüngsten Einführung einer eigenständigen Kolonisationsplattform durch Consolidated Outland, und viele erwarten ein neues goldenes Zeitalter der Landentwicklung in der zweiten Hälfte des 30. Jahrhunderts.
Chinese
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
November 21, 2862 SET
Claiming Space: The Race for Land
For over eighty years, the Planetary Development Bureau (PDB) has been working with local authorities to not only oversee the zoning of building plots, but to mediate and supervise the sale of land claims for commercial and private use. This vital agency has become such a commonplace part of our lives that its importance is often overlooked today. Rather than tallying up all of the Bureau’s accomplishments in regulating this important aspect of the Empire’s growth, the best way to demonstrate the agency’s past legacy and current significance is to look back at the turbulent history of what land claims were like before the PDB’s founding.
As Humans first began to spread throughout the Sol system in the early 22nd century, disputes over land claims were common and would frequently escalate into physical altercations. Earth had become severely overcrowded and people were desperate to escape its confines. The disparate nations that governed the planet had begun to work together on solutions, but could not agree on a land use policy. Each was wary of the others trying to gain disproportionate control over the unclaimed territory, and fear over the amassing of political power left Humanity’s expansion largely unregulated. Not only were there multiple incidents of asteroid miners waging sabotage campaigns against their rivals’ outposts, but with the terraformation of Mars underway, speculators were eagerly trying to grab as much of the valuable land as they could. Historian Dr. Kailanni Boden dubbed the era the ‘Red Diaspora,’ “not only because the red planet was the focus of the settlement, but because of the violence commonly associated with the Martian territorial disputes.”
Determined not to repeat those mistakes when Humans began settling their first extrasolar system, Croshaw, the governing committee established the Freeman Act to help regulate the dispersal of land rights. Under the act, settlers would be guaranteed a place to homestead. Disputes could be filed with the Freeman Office and settled through official means, rather than the parties taking matters into their own hands as they had so often before. The Freeman Act was deemed such a success that when the United Nations of Earth was formed a short time later in 2380, included in its original statutes was the creation the Office of Land Development to continue regulating land claim registration.
Despite the improvements the office brought with it, many at the time chose to operate outside of the law since the fees associated with illegal land development were often considered less cumbersome than following the proper protocols. With the land rush in full swing, waiting for paperwork to clear could cost a developer a massive amount of funds. Such was the case in 2530 when Gaia Planet Services decided to go ahead and begin illegally terraforming what would reveal itself to be an alien-occupied world. That incident in the Pallas system not only nearly kicked off an interspecies war between Humanity and the Xi’an, but it showed that time for greater regulation had arrived.
When Ivar Messer became Imperator a few years later in 2547, one of his first policies was to declare eminent domain over the newly forged empire. To legally develop or settle any parcel of land, irrespective of who discovered it, one would first have to apply to the Office of Land Development for permission. It soon became obvious that those who had cultivated the Messers’ favor were significantly more likely to be granted valuable land rights. By the 27th century, the Directorship of the Office of Land Development had become one of the most coveted positions within the Empire, thanks to ever more blatant practice of corporations offering generous kickbacks to have regulatory decisions go their way. Company records uncovered after the dissolution of the Hathor Group revealed that they had allocated a large slush fund specifically for donations to the then-Director’s personal charity fund.
With the fall of the Messers in 2792, the newly formed government attempted to reform the Office of Land Development, but it would continue to be plagued by accusations of corruption and cronyism. In a 2861 Wightman Award-winning piece, the Terra Gazette exposed how the office continued to favor large corporations and wealthy individuals, often illegally granting them preferential treatment over the rightful claims of average Citizens. Many government officials were forced to resign as their questionable behavior came to light, and in one instance Shubin Interstellar was required to return a sizeable parcel of land they had been developing for mining. In the wake of the scandal, the Senate decided that the best approach to the problem would be to start with a clean slate. On November 21, 2862, the Office of Land Development was officially shut down and the Planetary Development Bureau was launched to oversee all land regulation.
From its very foundation, the Bureau was designed to bring transparency and fairness to every step of the process. Even the landmark sale of the Stanton system to private corporations was handled with an unexpected amount of openness when compared to the Bureau’s predecessor. With a streamlined claims process in place, it has become easier for licenses to be acquired, leading to a sharp rise in territory being registered legally. These transactions generate more tax revenue as well as ensure that landowners actually receive the rights and protections accorded to them under the law.
Recently, there has been a major push to encourage the settlement and development of the Empire’s frontier. As part of this initiative, the PDB has been making additional parcels of land accessible to the public for purchase. It is believed by policymakers that as sectors become more developed, they likewise become more secure. Statistics from recent studies show that it is significantly harder for outlaws and Vanduul raiding parties to gain purchase in UEE-controlled systems when there are settlers and companies with vested interests in ensuring the protection of that territory. Combine this with Consolidated Outland’s recent introduction of a self-contained colonization platform, and many are expecting to see a new golden age of land development in the second half of the 30th century.
November 21, 2862 SET
Claiming Space: The Race for Land
For over eighty years, the Planetary Development Bureau (PDB) has been working with local authorities to not only oversee the zoning of building plots, but to mediate and supervise the sale of land claims for commercial and private use. This vital agency has become such a commonplace part of our lives that its importance is often overlooked today. Rather than tallying up all of the Bureau’s accomplishments in regulating this important aspect of the Empire’s growth, the best way to demonstrate the agency’s past legacy and current significance is to look back at the turbulent history of what land claims were like before the PDB’s founding.
As Humans first began to spread throughout the Sol system in the early 22nd century, disputes over land claims were common and would frequently escalate into physical altercations. Earth had become severely overcrowded and people were desperate to escape its confines. The disparate nations that governed the planet had begun to work together on solutions, but could not agree on a land use policy. Each was wary of the others trying to gain disproportionate control over the unclaimed territory, and fear over the amassing of political power left Humanity’s expansion largely unregulated. Not only were there multiple incidents of asteroid miners waging sabotage campaigns against their rivals’ outposts, but with the terraformation of Mars underway, speculators were eagerly trying to grab as much of the valuable land as they could. Historian Dr. Kailanni Boden dubbed the era the ‘Red Diaspora,’ “not only because the red planet was the focus of the settlement, but because of the violence commonly associated with the Martian territorial disputes.”
Determined not to repeat those mistakes when Humans began settling their first extrasolar system, Croshaw, the governing committee established the Freeman Act to help regulate the dispersal of land rights. Under the act, settlers would be guaranteed a place to homestead. Disputes could be filed with the Freeman Office and settled through official means, rather than the parties taking matters into their own hands as they had so often before. The Freeman Act was deemed such a success that when the United Nations of Earth was formed a short time later in 2380, included in its original statutes was the creation the Office of Land Development to continue regulating land claim registration.
Despite the improvements the office brought with it, many at the time chose to operate outside of the law since the fees associated with illegal land development were often considered less cumbersome than following the proper protocols. With the land rush in full swing, waiting for paperwork to clear could cost a developer a massive amount of funds. Such was the case in 2530 when Gaia Planet Services decided to go ahead and begin illegally terraforming what would reveal itself to be an alien-occupied world. That incident in the Pallas system not only nearly kicked off an interspecies war between Humanity and the Xi’an, but it showed that time for greater regulation had arrived.
When Ivar Messer became Imperator a few years later in 2547, one of his first policies was to declare eminent domain over the newly forged empire. To legally develop or settle any parcel of land, irrespective of who discovered it, one would first have to apply to the Office of Land Development for permission. It soon became obvious that those who had cultivated the Messers’ favor were significantly more likely to be granted valuable land rights. By the 27th century, the Directorship of the Office of Land Development had become one of the most coveted positions within the Empire, thanks to ever more blatant practice of corporations offering generous kickbacks to have regulatory decisions go their way. Company records uncovered after the dissolution of the Hathor Group revealed that they had allocated a large slush fund specifically for donations to the then-Director’s personal charity fund.
With the fall of the Messers in 2792, the newly formed government attempted to reform the Office of Land Development, but it would continue to be plagued by accusations of corruption and cronyism. In a 2861 Wightman Award-winning piece, the Terra Gazette exposed how the office continued to favor large corporations and wealthy individuals, often illegally granting them preferential treatment over the rightful claims of average Citizens. Many government officials were forced to resign as their questionable behavior came to light, and in one instance Shubin Interstellar was required to return a sizeable parcel of land they had been developing for mining. In the wake of the scandal, the Senate decided that the best approach to the problem would be to start with a clean slate. On November 21, 2862, the Office of Land Development was officially shut down and the Planetary Development Bureau was launched to oversee all land regulation.
From its very foundation, the Bureau was designed to bring transparency and fairness to every step of the process. Even the landmark sale of the Stanton system to private corporations was handled with an unexpected amount of openness when compared to the Bureau’s predecessor. With a streamlined claims process in place, it has become easier for licenses to be acquired, leading to a sharp rise in territory being registered legally. These transactions generate more tax revenue as well as ensure that landowners actually receive the rights and protections accorded to them under the law.
Recently, there has been a major push to encourage the settlement and development of the Empire’s frontier. As part of this initiative, the PDB has been making additional parcels of land accessible to the public for purchase. It is believed by policymakers that as sectors become more developed, they likewise become more secure. Statistics from recent studies show that it is significantly harder for outlaws and Vanduul raiding parties to gain purchase in UEE-controlled systems when there are settlers and companies with vested interests in ensuring the protection of that territory. Combine this with Consolidated Outland’s recent introduction of a self-contained colonization platform, and many are expecting to see a new golden age of land development in the second half of the 30th century.
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- 16270
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- News Update
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- 47
- Published
- 8 years ago (2017-11-21T00:00:00+00:00)