Galactic Guide: Rhetor System
Undefined Undefined Galactic GuideContent
English
The Rhetor System is both one of the oldest and one of the youngest in the UEE. Considered old because of its place in the history of Human expansion, Rhetor was first visited in 2287, making it one of the earliest systems that Humanity discovered. Still, most consider Rhetor youthful because it is the heart of the UEE’s public and private university system. Regardless of how it is perceived, Rhetor is an important part of Humanity’s past and a key contributor to its future.
Rhetor was discovered by Leona Sono and Neil Nyemeto, two ambitious PhD students from the Martian Institute of Space and Technology (MIST). Sono, an engineering student and an accomplished pilot, wanted to test the accuracy of her ship’s atomic navigational clock while traversing the Sol-Croshaw jump point. Nyemeto, a student in astrophysics, accompanied Sono, so he could collect data on Croshaw’s plasma. While preparing to make the trip back home, one of Nyemeto’s research drones returned a strange string of data. The pair investigated the location where the data was recorded, never expecting that the coordinates would led them directly to the Croshaw-Rhetor jump point.
Upon Sono and Nyemeto’s arrival at MIST, they shared their discovery with the school’s president, Adrianne Zemlock, a former politician who had been highly critical of how Humanity had expanded into the Croshaw System. Zemlock worried that if private companies were given too much involvement in planetary development, then worlds would be built with corporate profits in mind first and Humanity’s needs second. As Zemlock famously said, “Humanity has realized that reaching the stars was easy. The hard part is figuring out what to do with them. So I ask you this — what kind of universe should we build?”
With that question in mind, Zemlock, Sono and Nyemeto approached the government with news of the jump point. However, they refused to disclose its coordinates without assurances that a quarter of the land on all habitable and terraformed planets in the system would be preserved for educational purposes. Pushback from corporate interests was severe, but the education community rallied to the cause. Zemlock became a fixture on the Spectrum where she passionately defended the need for “responsible expansion.” Public pressure to balance private and public interests grew, and the government eventually agreed to their terms. They even decided to name the system Rhetor, the word for a master and teacher of oratory and Zemlock’s popular nickname, as a reminder that “words have the power to shape worlds.” Once the government surveyed the system they discovered five planets, three of which were terrestrial worlds located in the star’s wide habitable zone and worthy of terraforming. Vast deposits of neodymium, erbium, samarium and other rare elements were discovered on Rhetor II (Persei).
The government auctioned off mining rights to the entire planet, then used the profits to pay for the terraforming of Reisse (Rhetor III) and Mentor (Rhetor IV). To stay true to the initial agreement, land was set aside on Persei to establish a state-run university, while offering incentives for corporations to consider the planet for their research institutes and think tanks. Though not quite the educational oasis Zemlock envisioned, Persei has become an incubator for influential ideas and technological advancements. Rhetor’s other two habitable planets have grown into bastions of higher education for the UEE. Students and related staff make up the majority of the population on both Reisse and Mentor. As a degree from one of its universities is considered a fast track to a job on Earth or Terra, the application process to attend any school in the system is fiercely competitive.
Many historians have wondered what fate would have befallen Rhetor if Zemlock, Sono and Nyemeto had not insisted on placing education at the forefront. Persei’s rare minerals brought prosperity to the system for only a few hundred years, but Rhetor’s education infrastructure continues to infuse Humanity with new perspectives, ideas and technologies. For this reason, many consider Rhetor one of the most vital systems in the Empire.
Rhetor I
A small, rocky dwarf planet with no terraforming prospects and an inhospitable climate.
Rhetor II (Persei)
According to Werner Fricke, a former member of the UNE Planetary Expansion Committee, “The promise of Persei is what makes Rhetor possible.” The planet’s vast deposits of rare elements were the economic engine that drove development in the system. At first they brought in mining consortiums and technology companies, then top-tier scientists followed because of the expedited access to rare elements in their research.
As the planet’s resources were mined away, Persei gained renown in intellectual and scientific communities. Numerous corporate research institutions and privately funded think tanks are headquartered here. Yet, it was the work done at the state-sponsored University of Persei Analytical Research and Quantification (UPARQ) that became known for pushing scientific boundaries. Though the work done at UPARQ is mostly classified, energy-efficient quantum drives and improved thermal-resistant spacesuit fabric are just some of the advances believed to have originated there. Due to the sensitive nature of UPARQ’s work, access to the planet has become highly restricted.
Rhetor III (Reisse)
Reisse is home to a great number of prestigious institutions of higher learning that offer a variety of education options to people of all walks of life. Despite its growing reputation as a party planet, experts in a wide range of fields, from universal economic theory to the history of Banu oral tradition and everything in between, can be found in Reisse. With many of these experts appearing on Spectrum shows, and the high volume of comms traffic from students, Reisse is believed to have more comms relays near it than any other planet in the ’verse. The planet’s youthful population has kept it on the cusp of cultural and political movements for centuries. It has also made it a constant thorn in the side of the UEE. Even the Messer regime struggled to stifle dissent on the planet.
Recently declassified documents show that the Messers secretly encouraged state-run universities on Reisse to embed operatives into the administration and student population to act as radical and outspoken opponents to their regime, believing that by making these more extreme views front and center, it would help discredit all dissenters on the planet.
Initially the plan worked and Rhetor was considered out of step with the rest of the UEE. Yet, the resistance to Rhetor’s radical ideas only taught Messer’s opponents how to soften their message for public consumption. Some historians credit the system’s outspoken opposition as having a significant influence in helping the public accept Terran Senator Akari’s justifications for negotiating a peace treaty with the Xi’An independent of the Messers, as well as laying the foundation for what would come to be considered Transitionalist ideals.
Regardless of the era, Reisse has always been and will continue to be a haven for youthful exuberance and the free exchange of ideas.
Rhetor IV (Mentor)
Located on the far edge of the habitable zone, Mentor has a harsh boreal climate that keeps most people indoors. Its highly rated universities have a reputation for being more studious than those on Reisse. Some students say the challenging climate helps them focus on their studies, while others struggle with the constant cold both physically and psychologically. For this reason, Mentor’s institutions have a higher dropout rate than those on Reisse.
Mentor is also home to one of the UEE’s universal seed vaults. This secure location reportedly contains seeds for every plant in the UEE. The vault’s specific location is a closely guarded secret. There is a heightened military presence on the planet, but they usually keep their distance from the universities.
Rhetor V
The atmosphere of this beautiful chromatic gas giant constantly swirls with storms. It is a hypnotic view adored by tourists, passing pilots, and students with a predilection for hallucinogenic substances.
Travel Warning
Even though Persei has public universities, there are still extensive landing restrictions that the UEE military strictly enforces. To avoid incident, make sure that you have appropriate clearance before approaching any landing zone.
Heard in the Wind
“After exiting the jump, I looked at Neil and asked what happened. He smiled and replied, ‘History.’”
– Leona Sono, The Accidental Explorer, 2364
“Education. Honor. Empathy. Those are the core values Reisse’s universities claim to instill in their students. Yet, after four years attending URL, these three words best describe my experience: politics, protests and parties. What can I say? It was the best time of my life.”
– Alex Boboltz, Diary of a Reisse Revolutionary, 2731
Rhetor was discovered by Leona Sono and Neil Nyemeto, two ambitious PhD students from the Martian Institute of Space and Technology (MIST). Sono, an engineering student and an accomplished pilot, wanted to test the accuracy of her ship’s atomic navigational clock while traversing the Sol-Croshaw jump point. Nyemeto, a student in astrophysics, accompanied Sono, so he could collect data on Croshaw’s plasma. While preparing to make the trip back home, one of Nyemeto’s research drones returned a strange string of data. The pair investigated the location where the data was recorded, never expecting that the coordinates would led them directly to the Croshaw-Rhetor jump point.
Upon Sono and Nyemeto’s arrival at MIST, they shared their discovery with the school’s president, Adrianne Zemlock, a former politician who had been highly critical of how Humanity had expanded into the Croshaw System. Zemlock worried that if private companies were given too much involvement in planetary development, then worlds would be built with corporate profits in mind first and Humanity’s needs second. As Zemlock famously said, “Humanity has realized that reaching the stars was easy. The hard part is figuring out what to do with them. So I ask you this — what kind of universe should we build?”
With that question in mind, Zemlock, Sono and Nyemeto approached the government with news of the jump point. However, they refused to disclose its coordinates without assurances that a quarter of the land on all habitable and terraformed planets in the system would be preserved for educational purposes. Pushback from corporate interests was severe, but the education community rallied to the cause. Zemlock became a fixture on the Spectrum where she passionately defended the need for “responsible expansion.” Public pressure to balance private and public interests grew, and the government eventually agreed to their terms. They even decided to name the system Rhetor, the word for a master and teacher of oratory and Zemlock’s popular nickname, as a reminder that “words have the power to shape worlds.” Once the government surveyed the system they discovered five planets, three of which were terrestrial worlds located in the star’s wide habitable zone and worthy of terraforming. Vast deposits of neodymium, erbium, samarium and other rare elements were discovered on Rhetor II (Persei).
The government auctioned off mining rights to the entire planet, then used the profits to pay for the terraforming of Reisse (Rhetor III) and Mentor (Rhetor IV). To stay true to the initial agreement, land was set aside on Persei to establish a state-run university, while offering incentives for corporations to consider the planet for their research institutes and think tanks. Though not quite the educational oasis Zemlock envisioned, Persei has become an incubator for influential ideas and technological advancements. Rhetor’s other two habitable planets have grown into bastions of higher education for the UEE. Students and related staff make up the majority of the population on both Reisse and Mentor. As a degree from one of its universities is considered a fast track to a job on Earth or Terra, the application process to attend any school in the system is fiercely competitive.
Many historians have wondered what fate would have befallen Rhetor if Zemlock, Sono and Nyemeto had not insisted on placing education at the forefront. Persei’s rare minerals brought prosperity to the system for only a few hundred years, but Rhetor’s education infrastructure continues to infuse Humanity with new perspectives, ideas and technologies. For this reason, many consider Rhetor one of the most vital systems in the Empire.
Rhetor I
A small, rocky dwarf planet with no terraforming prospects and an inhospitable climate.
Rhetor II (Persei)
According to Werner Fricke, a former member of the UNE Planetary Expansion Committee, “The promise of Persei is what makes Rhetor possible.” The planet’s vast deposits of rare elements were the economic engine that drove development in the system. At first they brought in mining consortiums and technology companies, then top-tier scientists followed because of the expedited access to rare elements in their research.
As the planet’s resources were mined away, Persei gained renown in intellectual and scientific communities. Numerous corporate research institutions and privately funded think tanks are headquartered here. Yet, it was the work done at the state-sponsored University of Persei Analytical Research and Quantification (UPARQ) that became known for pushing scientific boundaries. Though the work done at UPARQ is mostly classified, energy-efficient quantum drives and improved thermal-resistant spacesuit fabric are just some of the advances believed to have originated there. Due to the sensitive nature of UPARQ’s work, access to the planet has become highly restricted.
Rhetor III (Reisse)
Reisse is home to a great number of prestigious institutions of higher learning that offer a variety of education options to people of all walks of life. Despite its growing reputation as a party planet, experts in a wide range of fields, from universal economic theory to the history of Banu oral tradition and everything in between, can be found in Reisse. With many of these experts appearing on Spectrum shows, and the high volume of comms traffic from students, Reisse is believed to have more comms relays near it than any other planet in the ’verse. The planet’s youthful population has kept it on the cusp of cultural and political movements for centuries. It has also made it a constant thorn in the side of the UEE. Even the Messer regime struggled to stifle dissent on the planet.
Recently declassified documents show that the Messers secretly encouraged state-run universities on Reisse to embed operatives into the administration and student population to act as radical and outspoken opponents to their regime, believing that by making these more extreme views front and center, it would help discredit all dissenters on the planet.
Initially the plan worked and Rhetor was considered out of step with the rest of the UEE. Yet, the resistance to Rhetor’s radical ideas only taught Messer’s opponents how to soften their message for public consumption. Some historians credit the system’s outspoken opposition as having a significant influence in helping the public accept Terran Senator Akari’s justifications for negotiating a peace treaty with the Xi’An independent of the Messers, as well as laying the foundation for what would come to be considered Transitionalist ideals.
Regardless of the era, Reisse has always been and will continue to be a haven for youthful exuberance and the free exchange of ideas.
Rhetor IV (Mentor)
Located on the far edge of the habitable zone, Mentor has a harsh boreal climate that keeps most people indoors. Its highly rated universities have a reputation for being more studious than those on Reisse. Some students say the challenging climate helps them focus on their studies, while others struggle with the constant cold both physically and psychologically. For this reason, Mentor’s institutions have a higher dropout rate than those on Reisse.
Mentor is also home to one of the UEE’s universal seed vaults. This secure location reportedly contains seeds for every plant in the UEE. The vault’s specific location is a closely guarded secret. There is a heightened military presence on the planet, but they usually keep their distance from the universities.
Rhetor V
The atmosphere of this beautiful chromatic gas giant constantly swirls with storms. It is a hypnotic view adored by tourists, passing pilots, and students with a predilection for hallucinogenic substances.
Travel Warning
Even though Persei has public universities, there are still extensive landing restrictions that the UEE military strictly enforces. To avoid incident, make sure that you have appropriate clearance before approaching any landing zone.
Heard in the Wind
“After exiting the jump, I looked at Neil and asked what happened. He smiled and replied, ‘History.’”
– Leona Sono, The Accidental Explorer, 2364
“Education. Honor. Empathy. Those are the core values Reisse’s universities claim to instill in their students. Yet, after four years attending URL, these three words best describe my experience: politics, protests and parties. What can I say? It was the best time of my life.”
– Alex Boboltz, Diary of a Reisse Revolutionary, 2731
German
Das Rhetorensystem ist sowohl eines der ältesten als auch eines der jüngsten in der UEE. Rhetor wurde wegen seines Platzes in der Geschichte der menschlichen Expansion als alt angesehen und wurde erstmals 2287 besucht, was es zu einem der ersten Systeme macht, die die Menschheit entdeckte. Dennoch halten die meisten Rhetor für jung, weil es das Herzstück des öffentlichen und privaten Universitätssystems der UEE ist. Unabhängig davon, wie es wahrgenommen wird, ist Rhetor ein wichtiger Teil der Vergangenheit der Menschheit und ein wichtiger Faktor für ihre Zukunft.
Rhetor wurde von Leona Sono und Neil Nyemeto entdeckt, zwei ambitionierten Doktoranden des Martian Institute of Space and Technology (MIST). Sono, ein Ingenieurstudent und versierter Lotse, wollte die Genauigkeit der atomaren Navigationsuhr ihres Schiffes testen, während er den Sol-Croshaw-Sprungpunkt durchquert. Nyemeto, ein Student der Astrophysik, begleitete Sono, damit er Daten über Croshaws Plasma sammeln konnte. Während der Vorbereitung auf die Heimreise lieferte eine von Nyemetos Forschungsdrohnen eine seltsame Datenkette zurück. Das Paar untersuchte den Ort, an dem die Daten aufgezeichnet wurden, und erwartete nie, dass die Koordinaten sie direkt zum Croshaw-Rhetor-Sprungpunkt führen würden.
Als Sono und Nyemeto bei MIST ankamen, teilten sie ihre Entdeckung mit der Präsidentin der Schule, Adrianne Zemlock, einer ehemaligen Politikerin, die sich sehr kritisch darüber geäußert hatte, wie sich die Menschheit zum Croshaw-System entwickelt hatte. Zemlock befürchtete, dass, wenn private Unternehmen zu sehr in die planetarische Entwicklung einbezogen würden, Welten mit Unternehmensgewinnen im Hinblick auf die Bedürfnisse der Menschheit gebaut würden. Wie Zemlock berühmt sagte: "Die Menschheit hat erkannt, dass es einfach ist, die Sterne zu erreichen. Der schwierige Teil ist es, herauszufinden, was man mit ihnen machen soll. Also frage ich dich: Welche Art von Universum sollen wir bauen?"
Mit dieser Frage vor Augen, wandten sich Zemlock, Sono und Nyemeto mit Nachrichten über den Sprungpunkt an die Regierung. Sie weigerten sich jedoch, ihre Koordinaten ohne Zusicherung offen zu legen, dass ein Viertel des Landes auf allen bewohnbaren und terrassenförmigen Planeten des Systems für Bildungszwecke erhalten bleiben würde. Der Rückstoß von Unternehmensinteressen war hart, aber die Bildungsgemeinschaft setzte sich für die Sache ein. Zemlock wurde zum festen Bestandteil des Spectrum, wo sie mit Leidenschaft die Notwendigkeit einer "verantwortungsvollen Expansion" verteidigte. Der öffentliche Druck, private und öffentliche Interessen in Einklang zu bringen, wuchs, und die Regierung stimmte schließlich ihren Bedingungen zu. Sie beschlossen sogar, das System Rhetor zu nennen, das Wort für einen Meister und Lehrer des Oratoriums und Zemlocks populären Spitznamen, um daran zu erinnern, dass "Worte die Macht haben, Welten zu gestalten". Nachdem die Regierung das System untersucht hatte, entdeckten sie fünf Planeten, von denen drei irdische Welten waren, die sich in der weiten bewohnbaren Zone des Sterns befinden und terraforming-fähig sind. Riesige Ablagerungen von Neodym, Erbium, Samarium und anderen seltenen Elementen wurden auf Rhetor II (Persei) entdeckt.
Die Regierung versteigerte Bergbaurechte für den gesamten Planeten und bezahlte dann mit dem Gewinn das Terraforming von Reisse (Rhetor III) und Mentor (Rhetor IV). Um dem ursprünglichen Abkommen treu zu bleiben, wurde Persei Land zur Verfügung gestellt, um eine staatliche Universität zu gründen, und gleichzeitig Anreize für Unternehmen geschaffen, den Planeten für ihre Forschungsinstitute und Think Tanks zu berücksichtigen. Obwohl nicht ganz die Bildungsoase, die Zemlock sich vorgestellt hat, ist Persei zu einem Inkubator für einflussreiche Ideen und technologische Fortschritte geworden. Die beiden anderen bewohnbaren Planeten von Rhetor sind zu Bastionen der höheren Bildung für die UEE geworden. Studierende und verwandte Mitarbeiter machen die Mehrheit der Bevölkerung in Reisse und Mentor aus. Da ein Abschluss von einer seiner Universitäten als schneller Weg zu einem Job auf der Erde oder Terra angesehen wird, ist das Bewerbungsverfahren für den Besuch einer beliebigen Schule im System hart umkämpft.
Viele Historiker haben sich gefragt, welches Schicksal Rhetor widerfahren wäre, wenn Zemlock, Sono und Nyemeto nicht darauf bestanden hätten, die Bildung in den Vordergrund zu stellen. Persei's seltene Mineralien brachten dem System nur für ein paar hundert Jahre Wohlstand, aber die Bildungsinfrastruktur von Rhetor füllt die Menschheit weiterhin mit neuen Perspektiven, Ideen und Technologien. Aus diesem Grund betrachten viele Rhetor als eines der wichtigsten Systeme im Imperium.
Rhetor I
Ein kleiner, felsiger Zwergplanet ohne Terraforming-Perspektiven und mit einem unwirtlichen Klima.
Rhetor II (Persei)
Laut Werner Fricke, einem ehemaligen Mitglied des UNE-Planetenexpansionskomitees, "macht das Versprechen von Persei Rhetor möglich". Die riesigen Vorkommen an seltenen Elementen auf dem Planeten waren der wirtschaftliche Motor, der die Entwicklung des Systems vorantrieb. Zuerst holten sie sich Bergbaukonsortien und Technologieunternehmen, dann folgten hochrangige Wissenschaftler, weil der Zugang zu seltenen Elementen in ihrer Forschung beschleunigt wurde.
Als die Ressourcen des Planeten abgebaut wurden, erlangte Persei in intellektuellen und wissenschaftlichen Kreisen Anerkennung. Zahlreiche Forschungseinrichtungen der Unternehmen und privat finanzierte Think Tanks haben hier ihren Sitz. Doch es war die Arbeit an der staatlich geförderten University of Persei Analytical Research and Quantification (UPARQ), die dafür bekannt wurde, wissenschaftliche Grenzen zu überschreiten. Obwohl die Arbeit bei UPARQ größtenteils klassifiziert ist, sind energieeffiziente Quantenantriebe und ein verbessertes wärmebeständiges Raumanzuggewebe nur einige der Fortschritte, von denen man annimmt, dass sie ihren Ursprung dort haben. Aufgrund der sensiblen Natur der Arbeit von UPARQ ist der Zugang zum Planeten stark eingeschränkt.
Rhetor III (Reisse)
In Reisse gibt es eine Vielzahl renommierter Hochschulen, die Menschen aus allen Lebensbereichen eine Vielzahl von Bildungsmöglichkeiten bieten. Trotz des wachsenden Rufs als Partyplanet finden sich in Reisse Experten aus den verschiedensten Bereichen, von der universellen Wirtschaftstheorie über die Geschichte der mündlichen Tradition Banus bis hin zu allem dazwischen. Mit vielen dieser Experten, die auf Spectrum-Shows erscheinen, und dem hohen Volumen des Kommunikationsverkehrs von Studenten, wird angenommen, dass Reisse mehr Kommunikationsrelais in der Nähe hat als jeder andere Planet im Vers. Die junge Bevölkerung des Planeten steht seit Jahrhunderten an der Schwelle zu kulturellen und politischen Bewegungen. Es hat es auch zu einem ständigen Dorn in der Seite der UEE gemacht. Selbst das Messer-Regime kämpfte darum, den Dissens auf dem Planeten zu ersticken.
Kürzlich freigegebene Dokumente zeigen, dass die Messers heimlich staatliche Universitäten auf Reisse ermutigten, Arbeiter in die Verwaltung einzubetten und die Studentenpopulation als radikale und unverblümte Gegner ihres Regimes zu fungieren, da sie glaubten, dass es helfen würde, alle Andersdenkenden auf dem Planeten zu diskreditieren, indem es diese extremeren Ansichten nach vorne und in die Mitte brachte.
Zuerst funktionierte der Plan und Rhetor wurde als nicht im Einklang mit dem Rest der UEE betrachtet. Doch der Widerstand gegen die radikalen Ideen von Rhetor lehrte die Gegner von Messer nur, ihre Botschaft für den öffentlichen Konsum zu erweichen. Einige Historiker führen an, dass die unverblümte Opposition des Systems einen wesentlichen Einfluss darauf hat, der Öffentlichkeit zu helfen, die Rechtfertigungen von Terran Senator Akari für die Aushandlung eines Friedensvertrags mit dem Xi'An unabhängig von den Messern zu akzeptieren und den Grundstein für das zu legen, was als transitionalistische Ideale gelten würde.
Unabhängig von der Zeit war und ist Reisse immer ein Ort für jugendlichen Überschwang und freien Gedankenaustausch.
Rhetor IV (Mentor)
Mentor liegt am äußersten Rand der bewohnbaren Zone und hat ein raues boreales Klima, das die meisten Menschen im Haus hält. Die hoch bewerteten Universitäten gelten als lernbegieriger als die auf der Reisse. Einige Schüler sagen, dass das herausfordernde Klima ihnen hilft, sich auf ihr Studium zu konzentrieren, während andere mit der ständigen Kälte sowohl physisch als auch psychisch kämpfen. Aus diesem Grund haben die Institute von Mentor eine höhere Abbrecherquote als die von Reisse.
Mentor ist auch die Heimat eines der universellen Saatguttresore der UEE. Dieser sichere Ort soll Samen für jede Pflanze in der UEE enthalten. Der spezifische Standort des Tresors ist ein streng bewachtes Geheimnis. Es gibt eine verstärkte militärische Präsenz auf dem Planeten, aber sie halten in der Regel Abstand zu den Universitäten.
Rhetor V
Die Atmosphäre dieses wunderschönen chromatischen Gasriesen wirbelt ständig mit Stürmen. Es ist eine hypnotische Sichtweise, die von Touristen, vorbeikommenden Piloten und Studenten mit einer Vorliebe für halluzinogene Substanzen verehrt wird.
Reisewarnung
Obwohl Persei über öffentliche Universitäten verfügt, gibt es immer noch weitreichende Landebeschränkungen, die das UEE-Militär streng durchsetzt. Um Vorfälle zu vermeiden, vergewissern Sie sich, dass Sie über eine ausreichende Freigabe verfügen, bevor Sie sich einer Landezone nähern.
Im Wind gehört
"Nachdem ich den Sprung verlassen hatte, sah ich Neil an und fragte, was passiert sei. Er lächelte und antwortete: "Geschichte".
- Leona Sono, The Accidental Explorer, 2364
"Bildung. Ehre. Empathie. Das sind die Kernwerte, die die Universitäten von Reisse ihren Studenten vermitteln wollen. Doch nach vier Jahren Teilnahme an der URL beschreiben diese drei Wörter am besten meine Erfahrungen: Politik, Proteste und Parteien. Was soll ich sagen? Es war die beste Zeit meines Lebens."
- Alex Boboltz, Tagebuch eines Reisse-Revolutionärs, 2731
Rhetor wurde von Leona Sono und Neil Nyemeto entdeckt, zwei ambitionierten Doktoranden des Martian Institute of Space and Technology (MIST). Sono, ein Ingenieurstudent und versierter Lotse, wollte die Genauigkeit der atomaren Navigationsuhr ihres Schiffes testen, während er den Sol-Croshaw-Sprungpunkt durchquert. Nyemeto, ein Student der Astrophysik, begleitete Sono, damit er Daten über Croshaws Plasma sammeln konnte. Während der Vorbereitung auf die Heimreise lieferte eine von Nyemetos Forschungsdrohnen eine seltsame Datenkette zurück. Das Paar untersuchte den Ort, an dem die Daten aufgezeichnet wurden, und erwartete nie, dass die Koordinaten sie direkt zum Croshaw-Rhetor-Sprungpunkt führen würden.
Als Sono und Nyemeto bei MIST ankamen, teilten sie ihre Entdeckung mit der Präsidentin der Schule, Adrianne Zemlock, einer ehemaligen Politikerin, die sich sehr kritisch darüber geäußert hatte, wie sich die Menschheit zum Croshaw-System entwickelt hatte. Zemlock befürchtete, dass, wenn private Unternehmen zu sehr in die planetarische Entwicklung einbezogen würden, Welten mit Unternehmensgewinnen im Hinblick auf die Bedürfnisse der Menschheit gebaut würden. Wie Zemlock berühmt sagte: "Die Menschheit hat erkannt, dass es einfach ist, die Sterne zu erreichen. Der schwierige Teil ist es, herauszufinden, was man mit ihnen machen soll. Also frage ich dich: Welche Art von Universum sollen wir bauen?"
Mit dieser Frage vor Augen, wandten sich Zemlock, Sono und Nyemeto mit Nachrichten über den Sprungpunkt an die Regierung. Sie weigerten sich jedoch, ihre Koordinaten ohne Zusicherung offen zu legen, dass ein Viertel des Landes auf allen bewohnbaren und terrassenförmigen Planeten des Systems für Bildungszwecke erhalten bleiben würde. Der Rückstoß von Unternehmensinteressen war hart, aber die Bildungsgemeinschaft setzte sich für die Sache ein. Zemlock wurde zum festen Bestandteil des Spectrum, wo sie mit Leidenschaft die Notwendigkeit einer "verantwortungsvollen Expansion" verteidigte. Der öffentliche Druck, private und öffentliche Interessen in Einklang zu bringen, wuchs, und die Regierung stimmte schließlich ihren Bedingungen zu. Sie beschlossen sogar, das System Rhetor zu nennen, das Wort für einen Meister und Lehrer des Oratoriums und Zemlocks populären Spitznamen, um daran zu erinnern, dass "Worte die Macht haben, Welten zu gestalten". Nachdem die Regierung das System untersucht hatte, entdeckten sie fünf Planeten, von denen drei irdische Welten waren, die sich in der weiten bewohnbaren Zone des Sterns befinden und terraforming-fähig sind. Riesige Ablagerungen von Neodym, Erbium, Samarium und anderen seltenen Elementen wurden auf Rhetor II (Persei) entdeckt.
Die Regierung versteigerte Bergbaurechte für den gesamten Planeten und bezahlte dann mit dem Gewinn das Terraforming von Reisse (Rhetor III) und Mentor (Rhetor IV). Um dem ursprünglichen Abkommen treu zu bleiben, wurde Persei Land zur Verfügung gestellt, um eine staatliche Universität zu gründen, und gleichzeitig Anreize für Unternehmen geschaffen, den Planeten für ihre Forschungsinstitute und Think Tanks zu berücksichtigen. Obwohl nicht ganz die Bildungsoase, die Zemlock sich vorgestellt hat, ist Persei zu einem Inkubator für einflussreiche Ideen und technologische Fortschritte geworden. Die beiden anderen bewohnbaren Planeten von Rhetor sind zu Bastionen der höheren Bildung für die UEE geworden. Studierende und verwandte Mitarbeiter machen die Mehrheit der Bevölkerung in Reisse und Mentor aus. Da ein Abschluss von einer seiner Universitäten als schneller Weg zu einem Job auf der Erde oder Terra angesehen wird, ist das Bewerbungsverfahren für den Besuch einer beliebigen Schule im System hart umkämpft.
Viele Historiker haben sich gefragt, welches Schicksal Rhetor widerfahren wäre, wenn Zemlock, Sono und Nyemeto nicht darauf bestanden hätten, die Bildung in den Vordergrund zu stellen. Persei's seltene Mineralien brachten dem System nur für ein paar hundert Jahre Wohlstand, aber die Bildungsinfrastruktur von Rhetor füllt die Menschheit weiterhin mit neuen Perspektiven, Ideen und Technologien. Aus diesem Grund betrachten viele Rhetor als eines der wichtigsten Systeme im Imperium.
Rhetor I
Ein kleiner, felsiger Zwergplanet ohne Terraforming-Perspektiven und mit einem unwirtlichen Klima.
Rhetor II (Persei)
Laut Werner Fricke, einem ehemaligen Mitglied des UNE-Planetenexpansionskomitees, "macht das Versprechen von Persei Rhetor möglich". Die riesigen Vorkommen an seltenen Elementen auf dem Planeten waren der wirtschaftliche Motor, der die Entwicklung des Systems vorantrieb. Zuerst holten sie sich Bergbaukonsortien und Technologieunternehmen, dann folgten hochrangige Wissenschaftler, weil der Zugang zu seltenen Elementen in ihrer Forschung beschleunigt wurde.
Als die Ressourcen des Planeten abgebaut wurden, erlangte Persei in intellektuellen und wissenschaftlichen Kreisen Anerkennung. Zahlreiche Forschungseinrichtungen der Unternehmen und privat finanzierte Think Tanks haben hier ihren Sitz. Doch es war die Arbeit an der staatlich geförderten University of Persei Analytical Research and Quantification (UPARQ), die dafür bekannt wurde, wissenschaftliche Grenzen zu überschreiten. Obwohl die Arbeit bei UPARQ größtenteils klassifiziert ist, sind energieeffiziente Quantenantriebe und ein verbessertes wärmebeständiges Raumanzuggewebe nur einige der Fortschritte, von denen man annimmt, dass sie ihren Ursprung dort haben. Aufgrund der sensiblen Natur der Arbeit von UPARQ ist der Zugang zum Planeten stark eingeschränkt.
Rhetor III (Reisse)
In Reisse gibt es eine Vielzahl renommierter Hochschulen, die Menschen aus allen Lebensbereichen eine Vielzahl von Bildungsmöglichkeiten bieten. Trotz des wachsenden Rufs als Partyplanet finden sich in Reisse Experten aus den verschiedensten Bereichen, von der universellen Wirtschaftstheorie über die Geschichte der mündlichen Tradition Banus bis hin zu allem dazwischen. Mit vielen dieser Experten, die auf Spectrum-Shows erscheinen, und dem hohen Volumen des Kommunikationsverkehrs von Studenten, wird angenommen, dass Reisse mehr Kommunikationsrelais in der Nähe hat als jeder andere Planet im Vers. Die junge Bevölkerung des Planeten steht seit Jahrhunderten an der Schwelle zu kulturellen und politischen Bewegungen. Es hat es auch zu einem ständigen Dorn in der Seite der UEE gemacht. Selbst das Messer-Regime kämpfte darum, den Dissens auf dem Planeten zu ersticken.
Kürzlich freigegebene Dokumente zeigen, dass die Messers heimlich staatliche Universitäten auf Reisse ermutigten, Arbeiter in die Verwaltung einzubetten und die Studentenpopulation als radikale und unverblümte Gegner ihres Regimes zu fungieren, da sie glaubten, dass es helfen würde, alle Andersdenkenden auf dem Planeten zu diskreditieren, indem es diese extremeren Ansichten nach vorne und in die Mitte brachte.
Zuerst funktionierte der Plan und Rhetor wurde als nicht im Einklang mit dem Rest der UEE betrachtet. Doch der Widerstand gegen die radikalen Ideen von Rhetor lehrte die Gegner von Messer nur, ihre Botschaft für den öffentlichen Konsum zu erweichen. Einige Historiker führen an, dass die unverblümte Opposition des Systems einen wesentlichen Einfluss darauf hat, der Öffentlichkeit zu helfen, die Rechtfertigungen von Terran Senator Akari für die Aushandlung eines Friedensvertrags mit dem Xi'An unabhängig von den Messern zu akzeptieren und den Grundstein für das zu legen, was als transitionalistische Ideale gelten würde.
Unabhängig von der Zeit war und ist Reisse immer ein Ort für jugendlichen Überschwang und freien Gedankenaustausch.
Rhetor IV (Mentor)
Mentor liegt am äußersten Rand der bewohnbaren Zone und hat ein raues boreales Klima, das die meisten Menschen im Haus hält. Die hoch bewerteten Universitäten gelten als lernbegieriger als die auf der Reisse. Einige Schüler sagen, dass das herausfordernde Klima ihnen hilft, sich auf ihr Studium zu konzentrieren, während andere mit der ständigen Kälte sowohl physisch als auch psychisch kämpfen. Aus diesem Grund haben die Institute von Mentor eine höhere Abbrecherquote als die von Reisse.
Mentor ist auch die Heimat eines der universellen Saatguttresore der UEE. Dieser sichere Ort soll Samen für jede Pflanze in der UEE enthalten. Der spezifische Standort des Tresors ist ein streng bewachtes Geheimnis. Es gibt eine verstärkte militärische Präsenz auf dem Planeten, aber sie halten in der Regel Abstand zu den Universitäten.
Rhetor V
Die Atmosphäre dieses wunderschönen chromatischen Gasriesen wirbelt ständig mit Stürmen. Es ist eine hypnotische Sichtweise, die von Touristen, vorbeikommenden Piloten und Studenten mit einer Vorliebe für halluzinogene Substanzen verehrt wird.
Reisewarnung
Obwohl Persei über öffentliche Universitäten verfügt, gibt es immer noch weitreichende Landebeschränkungen, die das UEE-Militär streng durchsetzt. Um Vorfälle zu vermeiden, vergewissern Sie sich, dass Sie über eine ausreichende Freigabe verfügen, bevor Sie sich einer Landezone nähern.
Im Wind gehört
"Nachdem ich den Sprung verlassen hatte, sah ich Neil an und fragte, was passiert sei. Er lächelte und antwortete: "Geschichte".
- Leona Sono, The Accidental Explorer, 2364
"Bildung. Ehre. Empathie. Das sind die Kernwerte, die die Universitäten von Reisse ihren Studenten vermitteln wollen. Doch nach vier Jahren Teilnahme an der URL beschreiben diese drei Wörter am besten meine Erfahrungen: Politik, Proteste und Parteien. Was soll ich sagen? Es war die beste Zeit meines Lebens."
- Alex Boboltz, Tagebuch eines Reisse-Revolutionärs, 2731
Chinese
The Rhetor System is both one of the oldest and one of the youngest in the UEE. Considered old because of its place in the history of Human expansion, Rhetor was first visited in 2287, making it one of the earliest systems that Humanity discovered. Still, most consider Rhetor youthful because it is the heart of the UEE’s public and private university system. Regardless of how it is perceived, Rhetor is an important part of Humanity’s past and a key contributor to its future.
Rhetor was discovered by Leona Sono and Neil Nyemeto, two ambitious PhD students from the Martian Institute of Space and Technology (MIST). Sono, an engineering student and an accomplished pilot, wanted to test the accuracy of her ship’s atomic navigational clock while traversing the Sol-Croshaw jump point. Nyemeto, a student in astrophysics, accompanied Sono, so he could collect data on Croshaw’s plasma. While preparing to make the trip back home, one of Nyemeto’s research drones returned a strange string of data. The pair investigated the location where the data was recorded, never expecting that the coordinates would led them directly to the Croshaw-Rhetor jump point.
Upon Sono and Nyemeto’s arrival at MIST, they shared their discovery with the school’s president, Adrianne Zemlock, a former politician who had been highly critical of how Humanity had expanded into the Croshaw System. Zemlock worried that if private companies were given too much involvement in planetary development, then worlds would be built with corporate profits in mind first and Humanity’s needs second. As Zemlock famously said, “Humanity has realized that reaching the stars was easy. The hard part is figuring out what to do with them. So I ask you this — what kind of universe should we build?”
With that question in mind, Zemlock, Sono and Nyemeto approached the government with news of the jump point. However, they refused to disclose its coordinates without assurances that a quarter of the land on all habitable and terraformed planets in the system would be preserved for educational purposes. Pushback from corporate interests was severe, but the education community rallied to the cause. Zemlock became a fixture on the Spectrum where she passionately defended the need for “responsible expansion.” Public pressure to balance private and public interests grew, and the government eventually agreed to their terms. They even decided to name the system Rhetor, the word for a master and teacher of oratory and Zemlock’s popular nickname, as a reminder that “words have the power to shape worlds.” Once the government surveyed the system they discovered five planets, three of which were terrestrial worlds located in the star’s wide habitable zone and worthy of terraforming. Vast deposits of neodymium, erbium, samarium and other rare elements were discovered on Rhetor II (Persei).
The government auctioned off mining rights to the entire planet, then used the profits to pay for the terraforming of Reisse (Rhetor III) and Mentor (Rhetor IV). To stay true to the initial agreement, land was set aside on Persei to establish a state-run university, while offering incentives for corporations to consider the planet for their research institutes and think tanks. Though not quite the educational oasis Zemlock envisioned, Persei has become an incubator for influential ideas and technological advancements. Rhetor’s other two habitable planets have grown into bastions of higher education for the UEE. Students and related staff make up the majority of the population on both Reisse and Mentor. As a degree from one of its universities is considered a fast track to a job on Earth or Terra, the application process to attend any school in the system is fiercely competitive.
Many historians have wondered what fate would have befallen Rhetor if Zemlock, Sono and Nyemeto had not insisted on placing education at the forefront. Persei’s rare minerals brought prosperity to the system for only a few hundred years, but Rhetor’s education infrastructure continues to infuse Humanity with new perspectives, ideas and technologies. For this reason, many consider Rhetor one of the most vital systems in the Empire.
Rhetor I
A small, rocky dwarf planet with no terraforming prospects and an inhospitable climate.
Rhetor II (Persei)
According to Werner Fricke, a former member of the UNE Planetary Expansion Committee, “The promise of Persei is what makes Rhetor possible.” The planet’s vast deposits of rare elements were the economic engine that drove development in the system. At first they brought in mining consortiums and technology companies, then top-tier scientists followed because of the expedited access to rare elements in their research.
As the planet’s resources were mined away, Persei gained renown in intellectual and scientific communities. Numerous corporate research institutions and privately funded think tanks are headquartered here. Yet, it was the work done at the state-sponsored University of Persei Analytical Research and Quantification (UPARQ) that became known for pushing scientific boundaries. Though the work done at UPARQ is mostly classified, energy-efficient quantum drives and improved thermal-resistant spacesuit fabric are just some of the advances believed to have originated there. Due to the sensitive nature of UPARQ’s work, access to the planet has become highly restricted.
Rhetor III (Reisse)
Reisse is home to a great number of prestigious institutions of higher learning that offer a variety of education options to people of all walks of life. Despite its growing reputation as a party planet, experts in a wide range of fields, from universal economic theory to the history of Banu oral tradition and everything in between, can be found in Reisse. With many of these experts appearing on Spectrum shows, and the high volume of comms traffic from students, Reisse is believed to have more comms relays near it than any other planet in the ’verse. The planet’s youthful population has kept it on the cusp of cultural and political movements for centuries. It has also made it a constant thorn in the side of the UEE. Even the Messer regime struggled to stifle dissent on the planet.
Recently declassified documents show that the Messers secretly encouraged state-run universities on Reisse to embed operatives into the administration and student population to act as radical and outspoken opponents to their regime, believing that by making these more extreme views front and center, it would help discredit all dissenters on the planet.
Initially the plan worked and Rhetor was considered out of step with the rest of the UEE. Yet, the resistance to Rhetor’s radical ideas only taught Messer’s opponents how to soften their message for public consumption. Some historians credit the system’s outspoken opposition as having a significant influence in helping the public accept Terran Senator Akari’s justifications for negotiating a peace treaty with the Xi’An independent of the Messers, as well as laying the foundation for what would come to be considered Transitionalist ideals.
Regardless of the era, Reisse has always been and will continue to be a haven for youthful exuberance and the free exchange of ideas.
Rhetor IV (Mentor)
Located on the far edge of the habitable zone, Mentor has a harsh boreal climate that keeps most people indoors. Its highly rated universities have a reputation for being more studious than those on Reisse. Some students say the challenging climate helps them focus on their studies, while others struggle with the constant cold both physically and psychologically. For this reason, Mentor’s institutions have a higher dropout rate than those on Reisse.
Mentor is also home to one of the UEE’s universal seed vaults. This secure location reportedly contains seeds for every plant in the UEE. The vault’s specific location is a closely guarded secret. There is a heightened military presence on the planet, but they usually keep their distance from the universities.
Rhetor V
The atmosphere of this beautiful chromatic gas giant constantly swirls with storms. It is a hypnotic view adored by tourists, passing pilots, and students with a predilection for hallucinogenic substances.
Travel Warning
Even though Persei has public universities, there are still extensive landing restrictions that the UEE military strictly enforces. To avoid incident, make sure that you have appropriate clearance before approaching any landing zone.
Heard in the Wind
“After exiting the jump, I looked at Neil and asked what happened. He smiled and replied, ‘History.’”
– Leona Sono, The Accidental Explorer, 2364
“Education. Honor. Empathy. Those are the core values Reisse’s universities claim to instill in their students. Yet, after four years attending URL, these three words best describe my experience: politics, protests and parties. What can I say? It was the best time of my life.”
– Alex Boboltz, Diary of a Reisse Revolutionary, 2731
Rhetor was discovered by Leona Sono and Neil Nyemeto, two ambitious PhD students from the Martian Institute of Space and Technology (MIST). Sono, an engineering student and an accomplished pilot, wanted to test the accuracy of her ship’s atomic navigational clock while traversing the Sol-Croshaw jump point. Nyemeto, a student in astrophysics, accompanied Sono, so he could collect data on Croshaw’s plasma. While preparing to make the trip back home, one of Nyemeto’s research drones returned a strange string of data. The pair investigated the location where the data was recorded, never expecting that the coordinates would led them directly to the Croshaw-Rhetor jump point.
Upon Sono and Nyemeto’s arrival at MIST, they shared their discovery with the school’s president, Adrianne Zemlock, a former politician who had been highly critical of how Humanity had expanded into the Croshaw System. Zemlock worried that if private companies were given too much involvement in planetary development, then worlds would be built with corporate profits in mind first and Humanity’s needs second. As Zemlock famously said, “Humanity has realized that reaching the stars was easy. The hard part is figuring out what to do with them. So I ask you this — what kind of universe should we build?”
With that question in mind, Zemlock, Sono and Nyemeto approached the government with news of the jump point. However, they refused to disclose its coordinates without assurances that a quarter of the land on all habitable and terraformed planets in the system would be preserved for educational purposes. Pushback from corporate interests was severe, but the education community rallied to the cause. Zemlock became a fixture on the Spectrum where she passionately defended the need for “responsible expansion.” Public pressure to balance private and public interests grew, and the government eventually agreed to their terms. They even decided to name the system Rhetor, the word for a master and teacher of oratory and Zemlock’s popular nickname, as a reminder that “words have the power to shape worlds.” Once the government surveyed the system they discovered five planets, three of which were terrestrial worlds located in the star’s wide habitable zone and worthy of terraforming. Vast deposits of neodymium, erbium, samarium and other rare elements were discovered on Rhetor II (Persei).
The government auctioned off mining rights to the entire planet, then used the profits to pay for the terraforming of Reisse (Rhetor III) and Mentor (Rhetor IV). To stay true to the initial agreement, land was set aside on Persei to establish a state-run university, while offering incentives for corporations to consider the planet for their research institutes and think tanks. Though not quite the educational oasis Zemlock envisioned, Persei has become an incubator for influential ideas and technological advancements. Rhetor’s other two habitable planets have grown into bastions of higher education for the UEE. Students and related staff make up the majority of the population on both Reisse and Mentor. As a degree from one of its universities is considered a fast track to a job on Earth or Terra, the application process to attend any school in the system is fiercely competitive.
Many historians have wondered what fate would have befallen Rhetor if Zemlock, Sono and Nyemeto had not insisted on placing education at the forefront. Persei’s rare minerals brought prosperity to the system for only a few hundred years, but Rhetor’s education infrastructure continues to infuse Humanity with new perspectives, ideas and technologies. For this reason, many consider Rhetor one of the most vital systems in the Empire.
Rhetor I
A small, rocky dwarf planet with no terraforming prospects and an inhospitable climate.
Rhetor II (Persei)
According to Werner Fricke, a former member of the UNE Planetary Expansion Committee, “The promise of Persei is what makes Rhetor possible.” The planet’s vast deposits of rare elements were the economic engine that drove development in the system. At first they brought in mining consortiums and technology companies, then top-tier scientists followed because of the expedited access to rare elements in their research.
As the planet’s resources were mined away, Persei gained renown in intellectual and scientific communities. Numerous corporate research institutions and privately funded think tanks are headquartered here. Yet, it was the work done at the state-sponsored University of Persei Analytical Research and Quantification (UPARQ) that became known for pushing scientific boundaries. Though the work done at UPARQ is mostly classified, energy-efficient quantum drives and improved thermal-resistant spacesuit fabric are just some of the advances believed to have originated there. Due to the sensitive nature of UPARQ’s work, access to the planet has become highly restricted.
Rhetor III (Reisse)
Reisse is home to a great number of prestigious institutions of higher learning that offer a variety of education options to people of all walks of life. Despite its growing reputation as a party planet, experts in a wide range of fields, from universal economic theory to the history of Banu oral tradition and everything in between, can be found in Reisse. With many of these experts appearing on Spectrum shows, and the high volume of comms traffic from students, Reisse is believed to have more comms relays near it than any other planet in the ’verse. The planet’s youthful population has kept it on the cusp of cultural and political movements for centuries. It has also made it a constant thorn in the side of the UEE. Even the Messer regime struggled to stifle dissent on the planet.
Recently declassified documents show that the Messers secretly encouraged state-run universities on Reisse to embed operatives into the administration and student population to act as radical and outspoken opponents to their regime, believing that by making these more extreme views front and center, it would help discredit all dissenters on the planet.
Initially the plan worked and Rhetor was considered out of step with the rest of the UEE. Yet, the resistance to Rhetor’s radical ideas only taught Messer’s opponents how to soften their message for public consumption. Some historians credit the system’s outspoken opposition as having a significant influence in helping the public accept Terran Senator Akari’s justifications for negotiating a peace treaty with the Xi’An independent of the Messers, as well as laying the foundation for what would come to be considered Transitionalist ideals.
Regardless of the era, Reisse has always been and will continue to be a haven for youthful exuberance and the free exchange of ideas.
Rhetor IV (Mentor)
Located on the far edge of the habitable zone, Mentor has a harsh boreal climate that keeps most people indoors. Its highly rated universities have a reputation for being more studious than those on Reisse. Some students say the challenging climate helps them focus on their studies, while others struggle with the constant cold both physically and psychologically. For this reason, Mentor’s institutions have a higher dropout rate than those on Reisse.
Mentor is also home to one of the UEE’s universal seed vaults. This secure location reportedly contains seeds for every plant in the UEE. The vault’s specific location is a closely guarded secret. There is a heightened military presence on the planet, but they usually keep their distance from the universities.
Rhetor V
The atmosphere of this beautiful chromatic gas giant constantly swirls with storms. It is a hypnotic view adored by tourists, passing pilots, and students with a predilection for hallucinogenic substances.
Travel Warning
Even though Persei has public universities, there are still extensive landing restrictions that the UEE military strictly enforces. To avoid incident, make sure that you have appropriate clearance before approaching any landing zone.
Heard in the Wind
“After exiting the jump, I looked at Neil and asked what happened. He smiled and replied, ‘History.’”
– Leona Sono, The Accidental Explorer, 2364
“Education. Honor. Empathy. Those are the core values Reisse’s universities claim to instill in their students. Yet, after four years attending URL, these three words best describe my experience: politics, protests and parties. What can I say? It was the best time of my life.”
– Alex Boboltz, Diary of a Reisse Revolutionary, 2731
Links
No links available.
Metadata
- CIG ID
- 15050
- Channel
- Undefined
- Category
- Undefined
- Series
- Galactic Guide
- Comments
- 72
- Published
- 10 years ago (2015-11-10T00:00:00+00:00)