Galactic Guide: Leir System
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Galactic Guide: Leir System
This Galactic Guide originally appeared in Jump Point 4.10.
Leir is an unclaimed system that some once thought would develop into a major hub for Humanity. Discovered by an ICC scanning team canvassing Banshee in 2677, the pathfinders were thrilled to discover an A-type main sequence star with three mineral-rich and potentially habitable planets. The system’s initial assessment sparked interest in both the public and private sectors. Imperator Illyana Messer VI, still tightening her grip on the reins of power, decided not to commit resources to the system, leaving Leir’s official status in limbo.
Small time miners still went in droves. Many of them didn’t come back. Strange stories circulated and the system soon had a bad reputation both for danger and for its lack of basic services. There was only one settlement with any kind of longevity in the system. Located on the second planet, the settlement of Leir was a nexus of shiftless travelers, greedy miners, fugitive criminals and cold mercs looking to make a cred. Though the settlement was subsequently wiped out by the terraforming process, the name had been so firmly established in the public imagination that it became synonymous with the entire system.
In 2743, Galor Messer IX decided to capitalize on the still unclaimed system and opened the floodgates of commercial progress. He authorized the auctioning of a terraforming permit for Leir II, the system’s clear crown jewel, in an effort to fund his legacy, a complete foundational redesign of UEE government buildings. The winning bid was so high that many assumed it was a mistake. Turns out, it wasn’t.
The aggressive bid was the UEE’s introduction to Hatfield & Harding, a new venture between Clarence Hatfield, an eccentric trillionaire from Lo, and Olive Harding, a selfmade mining baron. The two had big plans for the planet. Now all they needed was someone to carry them out.
THE NEW DOCTOR
Hatfield and Harding scoured the universe and eventually found Dr. Marcus Fayel. A terraforming expert at UPARQ, his peers subsequently described him as brilliant, charismatic and ideal for the position. Dr. Fayel secured the job by the end of his initial interview.
Once operations began, Dr. Fayel established Leir II’s first terraforming colony atop the planet’s largest mineral mother lode. It wasn’t long before a clandestine mining operation was up and running. For years, Dr. Fayel hid the operation from Hatfield and Harding and funneled the profits to himself and a close cadre of associates who oversaw the operation. No one knows exactly when, but the stress of overseeing a massive terraforming project and hiding an illegal mining operation got to Dr. Fayel.
In 2803, the Hatfield and Harding board of directors named Dr. Fayel the company’s “Employee of the Year.” He declined an offer to receive the award in person, and instead sent a vid to the banquet. In it, Dr. Fayel consistently repeated the phrase “purity of purpose” and spoke in grandiose terms about the world “I am creating.”
No one batted an eye, though. According to multiple banquet guests, Dr. Fayel was hard to hear over the roar of company board members, who were more focused on advancing their own inebriation than hearing Dr. Fayel.
On May 3, 2812, the company abruptly lost all communication with their operations on Leir II. A few hours later, a looped message was broadcast from the planet. Dr. Fayel, dressed all in white, stood in the foreground while rows of workers stood in perfect order behind him. He announced that the planet’s “purification” was accomplished, but control of it would remain in his hands. He spoke at length about Humanity’s hubris and declared his intention to separate his believers from the rest of society. Dr. Fayel ended by declaring his intentions were peaceful, but that his followers would defend the planet to their death if anyone attempted to overthrow their authority.
Hatfield and Harding were furious. The company had been hemorrhaging money for decades and were in desperate need of a revenue stream. Quietly, they scrounged together credits and hired mercs to retake the planet. Archival records would later reveal that the company’s executives doubted the workers would stand with Dr. Fayel when push came to shove. They had no idea how wrong they were.
Though no one knows exactly what happened the day the mercs struck, scattered comms between them paint enough of a picture. The invading forces entered atmosphere and landed to find the population center deserted, only to be ambushed after they separated into teams to search for Dr. Fayel. The attack was designed to draw the mercs away from their ships and allow the craft to be taken intact. Some believe those ships constitute the backbone of the fleet that still patrols and protects the planet to this day.
Word of the failed operation spread fast, and Hatfield and Harding were brought before a Senate subcommittee to discuss the events. Investor confidence plummeted along with their stock price. It wasn’t long before the company folded and the fate of Leir II was left in Dr. Fayel’s hands.
Meanwhile, the UEE kept their distance since the system was officially unclaimed. Hatfield and Harding’s attempt to retake the planet only proved that the residents were willing to fight to the death to protect their new home. And after only recently ousting the Messers from power, the UEE had no stomach to use military force to impose their will upon more people.
To this day, many have theorized, but little is truly known, about Dr. Fayel’s tactics to convince the workers to stand by him for this grand experiment. Some believe it was decades of masterful information manipulation and brainwashing. Others have wondered if some unknown event triggered a mass psychosis upon the workers operating in an extremely stressful environment. Records turned over by Hatfield and Harding did show that no workers had requested to leave the planet in the project’s final five years. It is unclear whether everyone truly believed Dr. Fayel or whether dissenting voices were imprisoned or faced a worse fate. Following the merc invasion, Dr. Fayel and his disciplines were effectively cut off from the rest of the universe, earning the name that is still used to describe them — the Outsiders.
So the Leir System has subsequently languished. It doesn’t receive updated infrastructure and still lacks traditional trade routes and opportunities, all of which makes Leir one of the most fascinating systems around.
LEIR I
This small, rocky planet is naturally habitable, but not an ideal place to live due to its lack of infrastructure and amenities. A small mining population does call it home and is happy to trade with haulers.
LEIR II (Mya)
Descendants of the original Outsiders still control Leir II, though they call it Mya. Some of Dr. Fayel’s hardline stances have been softened since his death, but most residents still treat visitors with contempt and most of the planet is deemed ‘off limits’ to visitors. Some are willing to sell items, but all refuse to buy anything.
Some visitors find the lack of commercial hustle and bustle unsettling, while others see it as soothing. Even without the appeal of trade, the planet is worth a visit solely for its stunning mountain ranges. It’s easy to see why so many believed this was a paradise worth protecting from the greater universe.
Purporting to be a “pure” planet, its population centers are unique. Due to the lack of building supplies from the greater universe, many structures use the same type of rocks, or are even cut directly into the mountainsides.
LEIR III
The third planet in the Leir System is a rocky orb teeming with resources. Early scans detected an abundance of graphite and crystals, encouraging many miners to risk landing on the planet despite the deadly storms that plague the surface.
Today, the planet has no permanent settlements since the large indigenous sandworms, known as Valakkar, seem to have a predilection towards destroying them. Some brave miners and outlaws do live in temporary encampments around the planet, but most embrace a nomadic existence and move regularly to stay ahead of the storms and worms.
TRAVEL WARNING
Though the Outsiders shun external influences, don’t assume they aren’t equipped to protect themselves. A local militia patrols the planet in reliable yet aging ships, and they are not afraid to engage those seen as a threat.
HEARD IN THE WIND
“As I stood, gazing upon what I had perceived to be Humanity’s magnificence, a thought struck me, piercing my skull like a nail of light. It is only through purity of purpose that a planet such as this can be created to not only survive but thrive. I had been led astray. I had believed that I was righteous. I was not. But I will be.”
– Dr. Marcus Fayel, Hatfield and Harding “Employee of the Year” acceptance speech, 2803
“There’s a potential for greatness in this system. The second world, in particular, features stunning landscapes, appears to be overflowing with resources, and is ripe for terraforming. If easy access to the system is ever attained, the UEE needs to ensure everything is done to bring it into the fold.”
– Katherine Oliver, ICC Stellar Surveyor’s initial assessment, 2677
This Galactic Guide originally appeared in Jump Point 4.10.
Leir is an unclaimed system that some once thought would develop into a major hub for Humanity. Discovered by an ICC scanning team canvassing Banshee in 2677, the pathfinders were thrilled to discover an A-type main sequence star with three mineral-rich and potentially habitable planets. The system’s initial assessment sparked interest in both the public and private sectors. Imperator Illyana Messer VI, still tightening her grip on the reins of power, decided not to commit resources to the system, leaving Leir’s official status in limbo.
Small time miners still went in droves. Many of them didn’t come back. Strange stories circulated and the system soon had a bad reputation both for danger and for its lack of basic services. There was only one settlement with any kind of longevity in the system. Located on the second planet, the settlement of Leir was a nexus of shiftless travelers, greedy miners, fugitive criminals and cold mercs looking to make a cred. Though the settlement was subsequently wiped out by the terraforming process, the name had been so firmly established in the public imagination that it became synonymous with the entire system.
In 2743, Galor Messer IX decided to capitalize on the still unclaimed system and opened the floodgates of commercial progress. He authorized the auctioning of a terraforming permit for Leir II, the system’s clear crown jewel, in an effort to fund his legacy, a complete foundational redesign of UEE government buildings. The winning bid was so high that many assumed it was a mistake. Turns out, it wasn’t.
The aggressive bid was the UEE’s introduction to Hatfield & Harding, a new venture between Clarence Hatfield, an eccentric trillionaire from Lo, and Olive Harding, a selfmade mining baron. The two had big plans for the planet. Now all they needed was someone to carry them out.
THE NEW DOCTOR
Hatfield and Harding scoured the universe and eventually found Dr. Marcus Fayel. A terraforming expert at UPARQ, his peers subsequently described him as brilliant, charismatic and ideal for the position. Dr. Fayel secured the job by the end of his initial interview.
Once operations began, Dr. Fayel established Leir II’s first terraforming colony atop the planet’s largest mineral mother lode. It wasn’t long before a clandestine mining operation was up and running. For years, Dr. Fayel hid the operation from Hatfield and Harding and funneled the profits to himself and a close cadre of associates who oversaw the operation. No one knows exactly when, but the stress of overseeing a massive terraforming project and hiding an illegal mining operation got to Dr. Fayel.
In 2803, the Hatfield and Harding board of directors named Dr. Fayel the company’s “Employee of the Year.” He declined an offer to receive the award in person, and instead sent a vid to the banquet. In it, Dr. Fayel consistently repeated the phrase “purity of purpose” and spoke in grandiose terms about the world “I am creating.”
No one batted an eye, though. According to multiple banquet guests, Dr. Fayel was hard to hear over the roar of company board members, who were more focused on advancing their own inebriation than hearing Dr. Fayel.
On May 3, 2812, the company abruptly lost all communication with their operations on Leir II. A few hours later, a looped message was broadcast from the planet. Dr. Fayel, dressed all in white, stood in the foreground while rows of workers stood in perfect order behind him. He announced that the planet’s “purification” was accomplished, but control of it would remain in his hands. He spoke at length about Humanity’s hubris and declared his intention to separate his believers from the rest of society. Dr. Fayel ended by declaring his intentions were peaceful, but that his followers would defend the planet to their death if anyone attempted to overthrow their authority.
Hatfield and Harding were furious. The company had been hemorrhaging money for decades and were in desperate need of a revenue stream. Quietly, they scrounged together credits and hired mercs to retake the planet. Archival records would later reveal that the company’s executives doubted the workers would stand with Dr. Fayel when push came to shove. They had no idea how wrong they were.
Though no one knows exactly what happened the day the mercs struck, scattered comms between them paint enough of a picture. The invading forces entered atmosphere and landed to find the population center deserted, only to be ambushed after they separated into teams to search for Dr. Fayel. The attack was designed to draw the mercs away from their ships and allow the craft to be taken intact. Some believe those ships constitute the backbone of the fleet that still patrols and protects the planet to this day.
Word of the failed operation spread fast, and Hatfield and Harding were brought before a Senate subcommittee to discuss the events. Investor confidence plummeted along with their stock price. It wasn’t long before the company folded and the fate of Leir II was left in Dr. Fayel’s hands.
Meanwhile, the UEE kept their distance since the system was officially unclaimed. Hatfield and Harding’s attempt to retake the planet only proved that the residents were willing to fight to the death to protect their new home. And after only recently ousting the Messers from power, the UEE had no stomach to use military force to impose their will upon more people.
To this day, many have theorized, but little is truly known, about Dr. Fayel’s tactics to convince the workers to stand by him for this grand experiment. Some believe it was decades of masterful information manipulation and brainwashing. Others have wondered if some unknown event triggered a mass psychosis upon the workers operating in an extremely stressful environment. Records turned over by Hatfield and Harding did show that no workers had requested to leave the planet in the project’s final five years. It is unclear whether everyone truly believed Dr. Fayel or whether dissenting voices were imprisoned or faced a worse fate. Following the merc invasion, Dr. Fayel and his disciplines were effectively cut off from the rest of the universe, earning the name that is still used to describe them — the Outsiders.
So the Leir System has subsequently languished. It doesn’t receive updated infrastructure and still lacks traditional trade routes and opportunities, all of which makes Leir one of the most fascinating systems around.
LEIR I
This small, rocky planet is naturally habitable, but not an ideal place to live due to its lack of infrastructure and amenities. A small mining population does call it home and is happy to trade with haulers.
LEIR II (Mya)
Descendants of the original Outsiders still control Leir II, though they call it Mya. Some of Dr. Fayel’s hardline stances have been softened since his death, but most residents still treat visitors with contempt and most of the planet is deemed ‘off limits’ to visitors. Some are willing to sell items, but all refuse to buy anything.
Some visitors find the lack of commercial hustle and bustle unsettling, while others see it as soothing. Even without the appeal of trade, the planet is worth a visit solely for its stunning mountain ranges. It’s easy to see why so many believed this was a paradise worth protecting from the greater universe.
Purporting to be a “pure” planet, its population centers are unique. Due to the lack of building supplies from the greater universe, many structures use the same type of rocks, or are even cut directly into the mountainsides.
LEIR III
The third planet in the Leir System is a rocky orb teeming with resources. Early scans detected an abundance of graphite and crystals, encouraging many miners to risk landing on the planet despite the deadly storms that plague the surface.
Today, the planet has no permanent settlements since the large indigenous sandworms, known as Valakkar, seem to have a predilection towards destroying them. Some brave miners and outlaws do live in temporary encampments around the planet, but most embrace a nomadic existence and move regularly to stay ahead of the storms and worms.
TRAVEL WARNING
Though the Outsiders shun external influences, don’t assume they aren’t equipped to protect themselves. A local militia patrols the planet in reliable yet aging ships, and they are not afraid to engage those seen as a threat.
HEARD IN THE WIND
“As I stood, gazing upon what I had perceived to be Humanity’s magnificence, a thought struck me, piercing my skull like a nail of light. It is only through purity of purpose that a planet such as this can be created to not only survive but thrive. I had been led astray. I had believed that I was righteous. I was not. But I will be.”
– Dr. Marcus Fayel, Hatfield and Harding “Employee of the Year” acceptance speech, 2803
“There’s a potential for greatness in this system. The second world, in particular, features stunning landscapes, appears to be overflowing with resources, and is ripe for terraforming. If easy access to the system is ever attained, the UEE needs to ensure everything is done to bring it into the fold.”
– Katherine Oliver, ICC Stellar Surveyor’s initial assessment, 2677
German
Galaktischer Leitfaden: Leir-System
Dieser Galaktische Führer erschien ursprünglich in Jump Point 4.10.
Leir ist ein nicht beanspruchtes System, von dem einige einst dachten, es würde sich zu einer wichtigen Drehscheibe für die Menschheit entwickeln. Die Pfadfinder, die 2677 von einem ICC-Scanning-Team entdeckt wurden, das Banshee untersuchte, waren begeistert, einen Hauptreihenstern vom Typ A mit drei mineralreichen und potenziell bewohnbaren Planeten zu entdecken. Die erste Bewertung des Systems stieß sowohl im öffentlichen als auch im privaten Sektor auf Interesse. Imperatorin Illyana Messer VI, die ihren Griff in die Zügel der Macht immer noch verschärft, beschloss, keine Ressourcen in das System zu investieren, so dass Leirs offizieller Status in der Schwebe blieb.
Kleine Bergleute gingen noch in Scharen. Viele von ihnen sind nicht zurückgekommen. Seltsame Geschichten kursierten und das System hatte bald einen schlechten Ruf, sowohl wegen der Gefahr als auch wegen des Fehlens der Grundversorgung. Es gab nur eine Abrechnung mit einer beliebigen Langlebigkeit im System. Die auf dem zweiten Planeten gelegene Siedlung Leir war ein Nexus von schichtlosen Reisenden, gierigen Bergleuten, flüchtigen Kriminellen und kalten Söldnern, die sich eine Glaubwürdigkeit aufbauen wollten. Obwohl die Siedlung später durch den Terraforming-Prozess ausgelöscht wurde, war der Name in der öffentlichen Vorstellung so fest etabliert, dass er zum Synonym für das gesamte System wurde.
Im Jahr 2743 beschloss Galor Messer IX, das noch nicht in Anspruch genommene System zu nutzen und öffnete die Schleusen des wirtschaftlichen Fortschritts. Er genehmigte die Versteigerung einer Terraforming-Genehmigung für Leir II, das klare Kronjuwel des Systems, in dem Bestreben, sein Erbe zu finanzieren, eine vollständige grundlegende Neugestaltung der UEE-Regierungsgebäude. Das Gewinnangebot war so hoch, dass viele annahmen, es sei ein Fehler. Wie sich herausstellte, war es das nicht.
Das aggressive Angebot war die Einführung der UEE in Hatfield & Harding, ein neues Projekt zwischen Clarence Hatfield, einem exzentrischen Trillionär aus Lo, und Olive Harding, einem selbstgebauten Minenbaron. Die beiden hatten große Pläne für den Planeten. Jetzt brauchten sie nur noch jemanden, der sie durchführte.
DER NEUE ARZT
Hatfield und Harding durchsuchten das Universum und fanden schließlich Dr. Marcus Fayel. Als Terraforming-Experte bei UPARQ beschrieben ihn seine Kollegen anschließend als brillant, charismatisch und ideal für die Position. Dr. Fayel sicherte sich den Job bis zum Ende seines ersten Gesprächs.
Nachdem der Betrieb aufgenommen wurde, gründete Dr. Fayel die erste Terraforming-Kolonie von Leir II auf der größten mineralischen Mutterlode des Planeten. Es dauerte nicht lange, bis ein heimlicher Minenbetrieb in Betrieb genommen wurde. Jahrelang verbarg Dr. Fayel die Operation vor Hatfield und Harding und schüttelte die Gewinne an sich selbst und einen engen Kreis von Mitarbeitern, die die Operation beaufsichtigten. Niemand weiß genau, wann, aber der Stress, ein massives Terraforming-Projekt zu beaufsichtigen und einen illegalen Minenbetrieb zu verstecken, kam zu Dr. Fayel.
2803 ernannten die Vorstände von Hatfield und Harding Dr. Fayel zum "Mitarbeiter des Jahres" des Unternehmens. Er lehnte ein Angebot ab, den Preis persönlich zu erhalten, und schickte stattdessen ein Vid zum Bankett. Darin wiederholte Dr. Fayel konsequent den Satz "Reinheit des Zwecks" und sprach grandios über die Welt "Ich schaffe".
Aber niemand hat mit den Augen geschlagen. Laut mehreren Bankettgästen war Dr. Fayel schwer zu hören über das Gebrüll der Vorstandsmitglieder des Unternehmens, die mehr darauf bedacht waren, ihren eigenen Rausch voranzutreiben als Dr. Fayel.
Am 3. Mai 2812 verlor das Unternehmen abrupt die Kommunikation mit seinem Betrieb auf Leir II. Ein paar Stunden später wurde eine Schleifennachricht vom Planeten gesendet. Dr. Fayel, ganz in Weiß gekleidet, stand im Vordergrund, während hinter ihm Reihen von Arbeitern in perfekter Ordnung standen. Er kündigte an, dass die "Reinigung" des Planeten abgeschlossen sei, aber die Kontrolle über ihn würde in seinen Händen bleiben. Er sprach ausführlich über die Hybris der Menschheit und erklärte seine Absicht, seine Gläubigen vom Rest der Gesellschaft zu trennen. Dr. Fayel schloss mit der Erklärung, dass seine Absichten friedlich seien, aber dass seine Anhänger den Planeten bis zu ihrem Tod verteidigen würden, wenn jemand versuchte, seine Autorität zu stürzen.
Hatfield und Harding waren wütend. Das Unternehmen hatte jahrzehntelang Geld hämorrhagiert und brauchte dringend eine Einnahmequelle. Leise suchten sie zusammen nach Krediten und heuerten Söldner an, um den Planeten zurückzuerobern. Archivalien würden später zeigen, dass die Führungskräfte des Unternehmens bezweifelten, dass die Arbeiter bei Dr. Fayel stehen würden, wenn es darauf ankam. Sie hatten keine Ahnung, wie falsch sie lagen.
Obwohl niemand genau weiß, was an dem Tag geschah, als die Söldner zuschlugen, malen verstreute Kommunikationen zwischen ihnen genug von einem Bild. Die eindringenden Truppen traten in die Atmosphäre ein und landeten, um den Ballungsraum verlassen zu finden, nur um in einen Hinterhalt zu geraten, nachdem sie sich in Teams getrennt hatten, um nach Dr. Fayel zu suchen. Der Angriff sollte die Söldner von ihren Schiffen weglocken und es ermöglichen, das Schiff intakt zu nehmen. Einige glauben, dass diese Schiffe das Rückgrat der Flotte bilden, die den Planeten bis heute patrouilliert und schützt.
Wort der ausgefallenen Operation verbreitete sich schnell, und Hatfield und Harding wurden vor einen Senatsausschuss gebracht, um die Ereignisse zu diskutieren. Das Vertrauen der Anleger brach mit dem Aktienkurs zusammen. Es dauerte nicht lange, bis das Unternehmen zusammenbrach und das Schicksal von Leir II. in den Händen von Dr. Fayel lag.
In der Zwischenzeit hielt die UEE Abstand, da das System offiziell nicht in Anspruch genommen wurde. Hatfield und Hardings Versuch, den Planeten zurückzuerobern, bewies nur, dass die Bewohner bereit waren, bis zum Tod zu kämpfen, um ihr neues Zuhause zu schützen. Und nachdem sie erst kürzlich die Messers von der Macht verdrängt hatte, hatte die UEE keinen Mut, militärische Gewalt anzuwenden, um ihren Willen mehr Menschen aufzuzwingen.
Bis heute haben viele theoretisiert, aber wenig ist wirklich bekannt, über Dr. Fayels Taktiken, die Arbeiter zu überzeugen, zu ihm für dieses große Experiment zu stehen. Einige glauben, dass es Jahrzehnte meisterhafter Informationsmanipulation und Gehirnwäsche waren. Andere haben sich gefragt, ob ein unbekanntes Ereignis eine Massenpsychose bei den Arbeitern ausgelöst hat, die in einer extrem stressigen Umgebung arbeiten. Aufzeichnungen, die von Hatfield und Harding übergeben wurden, zeigten, dass keine Arbeiter in den letzten fünf Jahren des Projekts darum gebeten hatten, den Planeten zu verlassen. Es ist unklar, ob alle wirklich an Dr. Fayel glaubten oder ob abweichende Stimmen inhaftiert wurden oder einem schlimmeren Schicksal gegenüberstehen. Nach der Invasion der Söldner wurden Dr. Fayel und seine Disziplinen effektiv vom Rest des Universums abgeschnitten und erhielten den Namen, mit dem sie immer noch beschrieben werden - die Outsider.
So ist das Leir-System in der Folgezeit erschöpft. Es erhält keine aktualisierte Infrastruktur und verfügt immer noch nicht über traditionelle Handelswege und -möglichkeiten, was Leir zu einem der faszinierendsten Systeme überhaupt macht.
LEIR I
Dieser kleine, felsige Planet ist von Natur aus bewohnbar, aber aufgrund seiner fehlenden Infrastruktur und Ausstattung kein idealer Lebensraum. Eine kleine Bergbaugemeinde nennt es Heimat und handelt gerne mit Schleppern.
LEIR II (Mya)
Nachkommen der ursprünglichen Outsider kontrollieren immer noch Leir II, obwohl sie es Mya nennen. Einige von Dr. Fayels hartnäckigen Haltungen wurden seit seinem Tod abgeschwächt, aber die meisten Bewohner behandeln Besucher immer noch mit Verachtung und der größte Teil des Planeten gilt als "off limits" für Besucher. Einige sind bereit, Gegenstände zu verkaufen, aber alle weigern sich, etwas zu kaufen.
Einige Besucher empfinden den Mangel an kommerziellem Trubel und Trubel als beunruhigend, während andere ihn als beruhigend empfinden. Auch ohne den Reiz des Handels ist der Planet allein wegen seiner atemberaubenden Bergketten einen Besuch wert. Es ist leicht zu verstehen, warum so viele glaubten, dass dies ein Paradies ist, das es wert ist, vor dem größeren Universum geschützt zu werden.
Als "reiner" Planet sind seine Bevölkerungszentren einzigartig. Da es an Bauleistungen aus dem größeren Universum mangelt, verwenden viele Bauwerke die gleiche Art von Gesteinen oder werden sogar direkt in die Berghänge geschnitten.
LEIR III
Der dritte Planet im Leir-System ist eine felsige Kugel, die voller Ressourcen steckt. Frühe Scans entdeckten eine Fülle von Graphit und Kristallen und ermutigten viele Bergleute, trotz der tödlichen Stürme, die die Oberfläche heimsuchen, die Landung auf dem Planeten zu riskieren.
Heute hat der Planet keine dauerhaften Siedlungen, da die großen einheimischen Sandwürmer, bekannt als Valakkar, eine Vorliebe für ihre Zerstörung zu haben scheinen. Einige mutige Bergleute und Gesetzlose leben in vorübergehenden Lagern auf dem Planeten, aber die meisten nehmen eine nomadische Existenz an und bewegen sich regelmäßig, um den Stürmen und Würmern voraus zu sein.
REISEWARNUNG
Obwohl die Außenseiter äußere Einflüsse vermeiden, nehmen Sie nicht an, dass sie nicht in der Lage sind, sich selbst zu schützen. Eine lokale Miliz patrouilliert den Planeten in zuverlässigen, aber alternden Schiffen, und sie haben keine Angst, sich mit denen zu beschäftigen, die als Bedrohung angesehen werden.
IM WIND GEHÖRT
"Als ich stand und auf das blickte, was ich als die Pracht der Menschheit wahrgenommen hatte, schlug mir ein Gedanke in den Kopf und durchbohrte meinen Schädel wie ein Lichtkegel. Nur durch die Reinheit des Zwecks kann ein solcher Planet geschaffen werden, um nicht nur zu überleben, sondern auch zu gedeihen. Ich war in die Irre geführt worden. Ich hatte geglaubt, dass ich rechtschaffen bin. Das war ich nicht. Aber ich werde es sein."
- Dr. Marcus Fayel, Hatfield und Harding "Mitarbeiter des Jahres" Dankesrede, 2803
"Es gibt ein Potenzial für Größe in diesem System. Vor allem die zweite Welt mit atemberaubenden Landschaften, die von Ressourcen überflutet zu sein scheint und reif für Terraforming ist. Wenn ein einfacher Zugang zum System erreicht wird, muss die UEE sicherstellen, dass alles getan wird, um es in den Falz zu bringen."
- Katherine Oliver, ICC Stellar Surveyor's erste Bewertung, 2677
Dieser Galaktische Führer erschien ursprünglich in Jump Point 4.10.
Leir ist ein nicht beanspruchtes System, von dem einige einst dachten, es würde sich zu einer wichtigen Drehscheibe für die Menschheit entwickeln. Die Pfadfinder, die 2677 von einem ICC-Scanning-Team entdeckt wurden, das Banshee untersuchte, waren begeistert, einen Hauptreihenstern vom Typ A mit drei mineralreichen und potenziell bewohnbaren Planeten zu entdecken. Die erste Bewertung des Systems stieß sowohl im öffentlichen als auch im privaten Sektor auf Interesse. Imperatorin Illyana Messer VI, die ihren Griff in die Zügel der Macht immer noch verschärft, beschloss, keine Ressourcen in das System zu investieren, so dass Leirs offizieller Status in der Schwebe blieb.
Kleine Bergleute gingen noch in Scharen. Viele von ihnen sind nicht zurückgekommen. Seltsame Geschichten kursierten und das System hatte bald einen schlechten Ruf, sowohl wegen der Gefahr als auch wegen des Fehlens der Grundversorgung. Es gab nur eine Abrechnung mit einer beliebigen Langlebigkeit im System. Die auf dem zweiten Planeten gelegene Siedlung Leir war ein Nexus von schichtlosen Reisenden, gierigen Bergleuten, flüchtigen Kriminellen und kalten Söldnern, die sich eine Glaubwürdigkeit aufbauen wollten. Obwohl die Siedlung später durch den Terraforming-Prozess ausgelöscht wurde, war der Name in der öffentlichen Vorstellung so fest etabliert, dass er zum Synonym für das gesamte System wurde.
Im Jahr 2743 beschloss Galor Messer IX, das noch nicht in Anspruch genommene System zu nutzen und öffnete die Schleusen des wirtschaftlichen Fortschritts. Er genehmigte die Versteigerung einer Terraforming-Genehmigung für Leir II, das klare Kronjuwel des Systems, in dem Bestreben, sein Erbe zu finanzieren, eine vollständige grundlegende Neugestaltung der UEE-Regierungsgebäude. Das Gewinnangebot war so hoch, dass viele annahmen, es sei ein Fehler. Wie sich herausstellte, war es das nicht.
Das aggressive Angebot war die Einführung der UEE in Hatfield & Harding, ein neues Projekt zwischen Clarence Hatfield, einem exzentrischen Trillionär aus Lo, und Olive Harding, einem selbstgebauten Minenbaron. Die beiden hatten große Pläne für den Planeten. Jetzt brauchten sie nur noch jemanden, der sie durchführte.
DER NEUE ARZT
Hatfield und Harding durchsuchten das Universum und fanden schließlich Dr. Marcus Fayel. Als Terraforming-Experte bei UPARQ beschrieben ihn seine Kollegen anschließend als brillant, charismatisch und ideal für die Position. Dr. Fayel sicherte sich den Job bis zum Ende seines ersten Gesprächs.
Nachdem der Betrieb aufgenommen wurde, gründete Dr. Fayel die erste Terraforming-Kolonie von Leir II auf der größten mineralischen Mutterlode des Planeten. Es dauerte nicht lange, bis ein heimlicher Minenbetrieb in Betrieb genommen wurde. Jahrelang verbarg Dr. Fayel die Operation vor Hatfield und Harding und schüttelte die Gewinne an sich selbst und einen engen Kreis von Mitarbeitern, die die Operation beaufsichtigten. Niemand weiß genau, wann, aber der Stress, ein massives Terraforming-Projekt zu beaufsichtigen und einen illegalen Minenbetrieb zu verstecken, kam zu Dr. Fayel.
2803 ernannten die Vorstände von Hatfield und Harding Dr. Fayel zum "Mitarbeiter des Jahres" des Unternehmens. Er lehnte ein Angebot ab, den Preis persönlich zu erhalten, und schickte stattdessen ein Vid zum Bankett. Darin wiederholte Dr. Fayel konsequent den Satz "Reinheit des Zwecks" und sprach grandios über die Welt "Ich schaffe".
Aber niemand hat mit den Augen geschlagen. Laut mehreren Bankettgästen war Dr. Fayel schwer zu hören über das Gebrüll der Vorstandsmitglieder des Unternehmens, die mehr darauf bedacht waren, ihren eigenen Rausch voranzutreiben als Dr. Fayel.
Am 3. Mai 2812 verlor das Unternehmen abrupt die Kommunikation mit seinem Betrieb auf Leir II. Ein paar Stunden später wurde eine Schleifennachricht vom Planeten gesendet. Dr. Fayel, ganz in Weiß gekleidet, stand im Vordergrund, während hinter ihm Reihen von Arbeitern in perfekter Ordnung standen. Er kündigte an, dass die "Reinigung" des Planeten abgeschlossen sei, aber die Kontrolle über ihn würde in seinen Händen bleiben. Er sprach ausführlich über die Hybris der Menschheit und erklärte seine Absicht, seine Gläubigen vom Rest der Gesellschaft zu trennen. Dr. Fayel schloss mit der Erklärung, dass seine Absichten friedlich seien, aber dass seine Anhänger den Planeten bis zu ihrem Tod verteidigen würden, wenn jemand versuchte, seine Autorität zu stürzen.
Hatfield und Harding waren wütend. Das Unternehmen hatte jahrzehntelang Geld hämorrhagiert und brauchte dringend eine Einnahmequelle. Leise suchten sie zusammen nach Krediten und heuerten Söldner an, um den Planeten zurückzuerobern. Archivalien würden später zeigen, dass die Führungskräfte des Unternehmens bezweifelten, dass die Arbeiter bei Dr. Fayel stehen würden, wenn es darauf ankam. Sie hatten keine Ahnung, wie falsch sie lagen.
Obwohl niemand genau weiß, was an dem Tag geschah, als die Söldner zuschlugen, malen verstreute Kommunikationen zwischen ihnen genug von einem Bild. Die eindringenden Truppen traten in die Atmosphäre ein und landeten, um den Ballungsraum verlassen zu finden, nur um in einen Hinterhalt zu geraten, nachdem sie sich in Teams getrennt hatten, um nach Dr. Fayel zu suchen. Der Angriff sollte die Söldner von ihren Schiffen weglocken und es ermöglichen, das Schiff intakt zu nehmen. Einige glauben, dass diese Schiffe das Rückgrat der Flotte bilden, die den Planeten bis heute patrouilliert und schützt.
Wort der ausgefallenen Operation verbreitete sich schnell, und Hatfield und Harding wurden vor einen Senatsausschuss gebracht, um die Ereignisse zu diskutieren. Das Vertrauen der Anleger brach mit dem Aktienkurs zusammen. Es dauerte nicht lange, bis das Unternehmen zusammenbrach und das Schicksal von Leir II. in den Händen von Dr. Fayel lag.
In der Zwischenzeit hielt die UEE Abstand, da das System offiziell nicht in Anspruch genommen wurde. Hatfield und Hardings Versuch, den Planeten zurückzuerobern, bewies nur, dass die Bewohner bereit waren, bis zum Tod zu kämpfen, um ihr neues Zuhause zu schützen. Und nachdem sie erst kürzlich die Messers von der Macht verdrängt hatte, hatte die UEE keinen Mut, militärische Gewalt anzuwenden, um ihren Willen mehr Menschen aufzuzwingen.
Bis heute haben viele theoretisiert, aber wenig ist wirklich bekannt, über Dr. Fayels Taktiken, die Arbeiter zu überzeugen, zu ihm für dieses große Experiment zu stehen. Einige glauben, dass es Jahrzehnte meisterhafter Informationsmanipulation und Gehirnwäsche waren. Andere haben sich gefragt, ob ein unbekanntes Ereignis eine Massenpsychose bei den Arbeitern ausgelöst hat, die in einer extrem stressigen Umgebung arbeiten. Aufzeichnungen, die von Hatfield und Harding übergeben wurden, zeigten, dass keine Arbeiter in den letzten fünf Jahren des Projekts darum gebeten hatten, den Planeten zu verlassen. Es ist unklar, ob alle wirklich an Dr. Fayel glaubten oder ob abweichende Stimmen inhaftiert wurden oder einem schlimmeren Schicksal gegenüberstehen. Nach der Invasion der Söldner wurden Dr. Fayel und seine Disziplinen effektiv vom Rest des Universums abgeschnitten und erhielten den Namen, mit dem sie immer noch beschrieben werden - die Outsider.
So ist das Leir-System in der Folgezeit erschöpft. Es erhält keine aktualisierte Infrastruktur und verfügt immer noch nicht über traditionelle Handelswege und -möglichkeiten, was Leir zu einem der faszinierendsten Systeme überhaupt macht.
LEIR I
Dieser kleine, felsige Planet ist von Natur aus bewohnbar, aber aufgrund seiner fehlenden Infrastruktur und Ausstattung kein idealer Lebensraum. Eine kleine Bergbaugemeinde nennt es Heimat und handelt gerne mit Schleppern.
LEIR II (Mya)
Nachkommen der ursprünglichen Outsider kontrollieren immer noch Leir II, obwohl sie es Mya nennen. Einige von Dr. Fayels hartnäckigen Haltungen wurden seit seinem Tod abgeschwächt, aber die meisten Bewohner behandeln Besucher immer noch mit Verachtung und der größte Teil des Planeten gilt als "off limits" für Besucher. Einige sind bereit, Gegenstände zu verkaufen, aber alle weigern sich, etwas zu kaufen.
Einige Besucher empfinden den Mangel an kommerziellem Trubel und Trubel als beunruhigend, während andere ihn als beruhigend empfinden. Auch ohne den Reiz des Handels ist der Planet allein wegen seiner atemberaubenden Bergketten einen Besuch wert. Es ist leicht zu verstehen, warum so viele glaubten, dass dies ein Paradies ist, das es wert ist, vor dem größeren Universum geschützt zu werden.
Als "reiner" Planet sind seine Bevölkerungszentren einzigartig. Da es an Bauleistungen aus dem größeren Universum mangelt, verwenden viele Bauwerke die gleiche Art von Gesteinen oder werden sogar direkt in die Berghänge geschnitten.
LEIR III
Der dritte Planet im Leir-System ist eine felsige Kugel, die voller Ressourcen steckt. Frühe Scans entdeckten eine Fülle von Graphit und Kristallen und ermutigten viele Bergleute, trotz der tödlichen Stürme, die die Oberfläche heimsuchen, die Landung auf dem Planeten zu riskieren.
Heute hat der Planet keine dauerhaften Siedlungen, da die großen einheimischen Sandwürmer, bekannt als Valakkar, eine Vorliebe für ihre Zerstörung zu haben scheinen. Einige mutige Bergleute und Gesetzlose leben in vorübergehenden Lagern auf dem Planeten, aber die meisten nehmen eine nomadische Existenz an und bewegen sich regelmäßig, um den Stürmen und Würmern voraus zu sein.
REISEWARNUNG
Obwohl die Außenseiter äußere Einflüsse vermeiden, nehmen Sie nicht an, dass sie nicht in der Lage sind, sich selbst zu schützen. Eine lokale Miliz patrouilliert den Planeten in zuverlässigen, aber alternden Schiffen, und sie haben keine Angst, sich mit denen zu beschäftigen, die als Bedrohung angesehen werden.
IM WIND GEHÖRT
"Als ich stand und auf das blickte, was ich als die Pracht der Menschheit wahrgenommen hatte, schlug mir ein Gedanke in den Kopf und durchbohrte meinen Schädel wie ein Lichtkegel. Nur durch die Reinheit des Zwecks kann ein solcher Planet geschaffen werden, um nicht nur zu überleben, sondern auch zu gedeihen. Ich war in die Irre geführt worden. Ich hatte geglaubt, dass ich rechtschaffen bin. Das war ich nicht. Aber ich werde es sein."
- Dr. Marcus Fayel, Hatfield und Harding "Mitarbeiter des Jahres" Dankesrede, 2803
"Es gibt ein Potenzial für Größe in diesem System. Vor allem die zweite Welt mit atemberaubenden Landschaften, die von Ressourcen überflutet zu sein scheint und reif für Terraforming ist. Wenn ein einfacher Zugang zum System erreicht wird, muss die UEE sicherstellen, dass alles getan wird, um es in den Falz zu bringen."
- Katherine Oliver, ICC Stellar Surveyor's erste Bewertung, 2677
Chinese
Galactic Guide: Leir System
This Galactic Guide originally appeared in Jump Point 4.10.
Leir is an unclaimed system that some once thought would develop into a major hub for Humanity. Discovered by an ICC scanning team canvassing Banshee in 2677, the pathfinders were thrilled to discover an A-type main sequence star with three mineral-rich and potentially habitable planets. The system’s initial assessment sparked interest in both the public and private sectors. Imperator Illyana Messer VI, still tightening her grip on the reins of power, decided not to commit resources to the system, leaving Leir’s official status in limbo.
Small time miners still went in droves. Many of them didn’t come back. Strange stories circulated and the system soon had a bad reputation both for danger and for its lack of basic services. There was only one settlement with any kind of longevity in the system. Located on the second planet, the settlement of Leir was a nexus of shiftless travelers, greedy miners, fugitive criminals and cold mercs looking to make a cred. Though the settlement was subsequently wiped out by the terraforming process, the name had been so firmly established in the public imagination that it became synonymous with the entire system.
In 2743, Galor Messer IX decided to capitalize on the still unclaimed system and opened the floodgates of commercial progress. He authorized the auctioning of a terraforming permit for Leir II, the system’s clear crown jewel, in an effort to fund his legacy, a complete foundational redesign of UEE government buildings. The winning bid was so high that many assumed it was a mistake. Turns out, it wasn’t.
The aggressive bid was the UEE’s introduction to Hatfield & Harding, a new venture between Clarence Hatfield, an eccentric trillionaire from Lo, and Olive Harding, a selfmade mining baron. The two had big plans for the planet. Now all they needed was someone to carry them out.
THE NEW DOCTOR
Hatfield and Harding scoured the universe and eventually found Dr. Marcus Fayel. A terraforming expert at UPARQ, his peers subsequently described him as brilliant, charismatic and ideal for the position. Dr. Fayel secured the job by the end of his initial interview.
Once operations began, Dr. Fayel established Leir II’s first terraforming colony atop the planet’s largest mineral mother lode. It wasn’t long before a clandestine mining operation was up and running. For years, Dr. Fayel hid the operation from Hatfield and Harding and funneled the profits to himself and a close cadre of associates who oversaw the operation. No one knows exactly when, but the stress of overseeing a massive terraforming project and hiding an illegal mining operation got to Dr. Fayel.
In 2803, the Hatfield and Harding board of directors named Dr. Fayel the company’s “Employee of the Year.” He declined an offer to receive the award in person, and instead sent a vid to the banquet. In it, Dr. Fayel consistently repeated the phrase “purity of purpose” and spoke in grandiose terms about the world “I am creating.”
No one batted an eye, though. According to multiple banquet guests, Dr. Fayel was hard to hear over the roar of company board members, who were more focused on advancing their own inebriation than hearing Dr. Fayel.
On May 3, 2812, the company abruptly lost all communication with their operations on Leir II. A few hours later, a looped message was broadcast from the planet. Dr. Fayel, dressed all in white, stood in the foreground while rows of workers stood in perfect order behind him. He announced that the planet’s “purification” was accomplished, but control of it would remain in his hands. He spoke at length about Humanity’s hubris and declared his intention to separate his believers from the rest of society. Dr. Fayel ended by declaring his intentions were peaceful, but that his followers would defend the planet to their death if anyone attempted to overthrow their authority.
Hatfield and Harding were furious. The company had been hemorrhaging money for decades and were in desperate need of a revenue stream. Quietly, they scrounged together credits and hired mercs to retake the planet. Archival records would later reveal that the company’s executives doubted the workers would stand with Dr. Fayel when push came to shove. They had no idea how wrong they were.
Though no one knows exactly what happened the day the mercs struck, scattered comms between them paint enough of a picture. The invading forces entered atmosphere and landed to find the population center deserted, only to be ambushed after they separated into teams to search for Dr. Fayel. The attack was designed to draw the mercs away from their ships and allow the craft to be taken intact. Some believe those ships constitute the backbone of the fleet that still patrols and protects the planet to this day.
Word of the failed operation spread fast, and Hatfield and Harding were brought before a Senate subcommittee to discuss the events. Investor confidence plummeted along with their stock price. It wasn’t long before the company folded and the fate of Leir II was left in Dr. Fayel’s hands.
Meanwhile, the UEE kept their distance since the system was officially unclaimed. Hatfield and Harding’s attempt to retake the planet only proved that the residents were willing to fight to the death to protect their new home. And after only recently ousting the Messers from power, the UEE had no stomach to use military force to impose their will upon more people.
To this day, many have theorized, but little is truly known, about Dr. Fayel’s tactics to convince the workers to stand by him for this grand experiment. Some believe it was decades of masterful information manipulation and brainwashing. Others have wondered if some unknown event triggered a mass psychosis upon the workers operating in an extremely stressful environment. Records turned over by Hatfield and Harding did show that no workers had requested to leave the planet in the project’s final five years. It is unclear whether everyone truly believed Dr. Fayel or whether dissenting voices were imprisoned or faced a worse fate. Following the merc invasion, Dr. Fayel and his disciplines were effectively cut off from the rest of the universe, earning the name that is still used to describe them — the Outsiders.
So the Leir System has subsequently languished. It doesn’t receive updated infrastructure and still lacks traditional trade routes and opportunities, all of which makes Leir one of the most fascinating systems around.
LEIR I
This small, rocky planet is naturally habitable, but not an ideal place to live due to its lack of infrastructure and amenities. A small mining population does call it home and is happy to trade with haulers.
LEIR II (Mya)
Descendants of the original Outsiders still control Leir II, though they call it Mya. Some of Dr. Fayel’s hardline stances have been softened since his death, but most residents still treat visitors with contempt and most of the planet is deemed ‘off limits’ to visitors. Some are willing to sell items, but all refuse to buy anything.
Some visitors find the lack of commercial hustle and bustle unsettling, while others see it as soothing. Even without the appeal of trade, the planet is worth a visit solely for its stunning mountain ranges. It’s easy to see why so many believed this was a paradise worth protecting from the greater universe.
Purporting to be a “pure” planet, its population centers are unique. Due to the lack of building supplies from the greater universe, many structures use the same type of rocks, or are even cut directly into the mountainsides.
LEIR III
The third planet in the Leir System is a rocky orb teeming with resources. Early scans detected an abundance of graphite and crystals, encouraging many miners to risk landing on the planet despite the deadly storms that plague the surface.
Today, the planet has no permanent settlements since the large indigenous sandworms, known as Valakkar, seem to have a predilection towards destroying them. Some brave miners and outlaws do live in temporary encampments around the planet, but most embrace a nomadic existence and move regularly to stay ahead of the storms and worms.
TRAVEL WARNING
Though the Outsiders shun external influences, don’t assume they aren’t equipped to protect themselves. A local militia patrols the planet in reliable yet aging ships, and they are not afraid to engage those seen as a threat.
HEARD IN THE WIND
“As I stood, gazing upon what I had perceived to be Humanity’s magnificence, a thought struck me, piercing my skull like a nail of light. It is only through purity of purpose that a planet such as this can be created to not only survive but thrive. I had been led astray. I had believed that I was righteous. I was not. But I will be.”
– Dr. Marcus Fayel, Hatfield and Harding “Employee of the Year” acceptance speech, 2803
“There’s a potential for greatness in this system. The second world, in particular, features stunning landscapes, appears to be overflowing with resources, and is ripe for terraforming. If easy access to the system is ever attained, the UEE needs to ensure everything is done to bring it into the fold.”
– Katherine Oliver, ICC Stellar Surveyor’s initial assessment, 2677
This Galactic Guide originally appeared in Jump Point 4.10.
Leir is an unclaimed system that some once thought would develop into a major hub for Humanity. Discovered by an ICC scanning team canvassing Banshee in 2677, the pathfinders were thrilled to discover an A-type main sequence star with three mineral-rich and potentially habitable planets. The system’s initial assessment sparked interest in both the public and private sectors. Imperator Illyana Messer VI, still tightening her grip on the reins of power, decided not to commit resources to the system, leaving Leir’s official status in limbo.
Small time miners still went in droves. Many of them didn’t come back. Strange stories circulated and the system soon had a bad reputation both for danger and for its lack of basic services. There was only one settlement with any kind of longevity in the system. Located on the second planet, the settlement of Leir was a nexus of shiftless travelers, greedy miners, fugitive criminals and cold mercs looking to make a cred. Though the settlement was subsequently wiped out by the terraforming process, the name had been so firmly established in the public imagination that it became synonymous with the entire system.
In 2743, Galor Messer IX decided to capitalize on the still unclaimed system and opened the floodgates of commercial progress. He authorized the auctioning of a terraforming permit for Leir II, the system’s clear crown jewel, in an effort to fund his legacy, a complete foundational redesign of UEE government buildings. The winning bid was so high that many assumed it was a mistake. Turns out, it wasn’t.
The aggressive bid was the UEE’s introduction to Hatfield & Harding, a new venture between Clarence Hatfield, an eccentric trillionaire from Lo, and Olive Harding, a selfmade mining baron. The two had big plans for the planet. Now all they needed was someone to carry them out.
THE NEW DOCTOR
Hatfield and Harding scoured the universe and eventually found Dr. Marcus Fayel. A terraforming expert at UPARQ, his peers subsequently described him as brilliant, charismatic and ideal for the position. Dr. Fayel secured the job by the end of his initial interview.
Once operations began, Dr. Fayel established Leir II’s first terraforming colony atop the planet’s largest mineral mother lode. It wasn’t long before a clandestine mining operation was up and running. For years, Dr. Fayel hid the operation from Hatfield and Harding and funneled the profits to himself and a close cadre of associates who oversaw the operation. No one knows exactly when, but the stress of overseeing a massive terraforming project and hiding an illegal mining operation got to Dr. Fayel.
In 2803, the Hatfield and Harding board of directors named Dr. Fayel the company’s “Employee of the Year.” He declined an offer to receive the award in person, and instead sent a vid to the banquet. In it, Dr. Fayel consistently repeated the phrase “purity of purpose” and spoke in grandiose terms about the world “I am creating.”
No one batted an eye, though. According to multiple banquet guests, Dr. Fayel was hard to hear over the roar of company board members, who were more focused on advancing their own inebriation than hearing Dr. Fayel.
On May 3, 2812, the company abruptly lost all communication with their operations on Leir II. A few hours later, a looped message was broadcast from the planet. Dr. Fayel, dressed all in white, stood in the foreground while rows of workers stood in perfect order behind him. He announced that the planet’s “purification” was accomplished, but control of it would remain in his hands. He spoke at length about Humanity’s hubris and declared his intention to separate his believers from the rest of society. Dr. Fayel ended by declaring his intentions were peaceful, but that his followers would defend the planet to their death if anyone attempted to overthrow their authority.
Hatfield and Harding were furious. The company had been hemorrhaging money for decades and were in desperate need of a revenue stream. Quietly, they scrounged together credits and hired mercs to retake the planet. Archival records would later reveal that the company’s executives doubted the workers would stand with Dr. Fayel when push came to shove. They had no idea how wrong they were.
Though no one knows exactly what happened the day the mercs struck, scattered comms between them paint enough of a picture. The invading forces entered atmosphere and landed to find the population center deserted, only to be ambushed after they separated into teams to search for Dr. Fayel. The attack was designed to draw the mercs away from their ships and allow the craft to be taken intact. Some believe those ships constitute the backbone of the fleet that still patrols and protects the planet to this day.
Word of the failed operation spread fast, and Hatfield and Harding were brought before a Senate subcommittee to discuss the events. Investor confidence plummeted along with their stock price. It wasn’t long before the company folded and the fate of Leir II was left in Dr. Fayel’s hands.
Meanwhile, the UEE kept their distance since the system was officially unclaimed. Hatfield and Harding’s attempt to retake the planet only proved that the residents were willing to fight to the death to protect their new home. And after only recently ousting the Messers from power, the UEE had no stomach to use military force to impose their will upon more people.
To this day, many have theorized, but little is truly known, about Dr. Fayel’s tactics to convince the workers to stand by him for this grand experiment. Some believe it was decades of masterful information manipulation and brainwashing. Others have wondered if some unknown event triggered a mass psychosis upon the workers operating in an extremely stressful environment. Records turned over by Hatfield and Harding did show that no workers had requested to leave the planet in the project’s final five years. It is unclear whether everyone truly believed Dr. Fayel or whether dissenting voices were imprisoned or faced a worse fate. Following the merc invasion, Dr. Fayel and his disciplines were effectively cut off from the rest of the universe, earning the name that is still used to describe them — the Outsiders.
So the Leir System has subsequently languished. It doesn’t receive updated infrastructure and still lacks traditional trade routes and opportunities, all of which makes Leir one of the most fascinating systems around.
LEIR I
This small, rocky planet is naturally habitable, but not an ideal place to live due to its lack of infrastructure and amenities. A small mining population does call it home and is happy to trade with haulers.
LEIR II (Mya)
Descendants of the original Outsiders still control Leir II, though they call it Mya. Some of Dr. Fayel’s hardline stances have been softened since his death, but most residents still treat visitors with contempt and most of the planet is deemed ‘off limits’ to visitors. Some are willing to sell items, but all refuse to buy anything.
Some visitors find the lack of commercial hustle and bustle unsettling, while others see it as soothing. Even without the appeal of trade, the planet is worth a visit solely for its stunning mountain ranges. It’s easy to see why so many believed this was a paradise worth protecting from the greater universe.
Purporting to be a “pure” planet, its population centers are unique. Due to the lack of building supplies from the greater universe, many structures use the same type of rocks, or are even cut directly into the mountainsides.
LEIR III
The third planet in the Leir System is a rocky orb teeming with resources. Early scans detected an abundance of graphite and crystals, encouraging many miners to risk landing on the planet despite the deadly storms that plague the surface.
Today, the planet has no permanent settlements since the large indigenous sandworms, known as Valakkar, seem to have a predilection towards destroying them. Some brave miners and outlaws do live in temporary encampments around the planet, but most embrace a nomadic existence and move regularly to stay ahead of the storms and worms.
TRAVEL WARNING
Though the Outsiders shun external influences, don’t assume they aren’t equipped to protect themselves. A local militia patrols the planet in reliable yet aging ships, and they are not afraid to engage those seen as a threat.
HEARD IN THE WIND
“As I stood, gazing upon what I had perceived to be Humanity’s magnificence, a thought struck me, piercing my skull like a nail of light. It is only through purity of purpose that a planet such as this can be created to not only survive but thrive. I had been led astray. I had believed that I was righteous. I was not. But I will be.”
– Dr. Marcus Fayel, Hatfield and Harding “Employee of the Year” acceptance speech, 2803
“There’s a potential for greatness in this system. The second world, in particular, features stunning landscapes, appears to be overflowing with resources, and is ripe for terraforming. If easy access to the system is ever attained, the UEE needs to ensure everything is done to bring it into the fold.”
– Katherine Oliver, ICC Stellar Surveyor’s initial assessment, 2677
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- 7 years ago (2018-10-17T00:00:00+00:00)