Once a penal colony of the Solar Union, a violent revolt led not to freedom but a descent into brutal anarchy. An inhospitable world, honeycombed with domed cities, subsurface habitats, and industrial installations. Ruled over by a ruthless array of tyrants, barons, syndicates, and other criminal organisations.
The Jamaican Syndicate
A multi-layered organisation that works through a variety of front companies. While it controls about a third of Penates, its power base is the Jamaican Triangle – the three industrial towns of Kingstown, Port Royal, and Ocho Rios.
Port Royal
One of the oldest cities in the Verge, Port Royal’s habitat domes and subterranean galleries are home to almost half a million people. Previously an industrial settlement, it is now a tourist town where literally anything goes. Accommodation ranges from cheap flophouses to 4-star hotels.
The Spoke: A starport consists of a pit-like landing area 2km across, with the terminal and smaller hangers located underground.
The League Capitol: A government dome housing the League’s ministries and Assembly, as well as the Concord and Solar embassies. The Austrins, Orlamus, Rigunmors, and VoidCorp maintain consulates elsewhere in the city.
Uptown: The best hotels and businesses are located in a series of large domes on the surface. Two of note are the Silver Comet and the Weyr-Moraine, with rooms starting at ¢300/night. While the Comet is a step above, the Weyr holds the distinction of being owned by an independent off-worlder.
Golden Quarter: The seediest and most dangerous part of town. A subterranean sector is crowded with squalid dwellings, filthy bars, and crooked gambling dens. Outsiders most often come here to visit the Midas Palace, known throughout the Verge as a place where any mercenary can find work, any contraband can be sold, and any service can be purchased.
Chem District: The last bastion of Port Royal’s industrial beginnings. Five major chemical plants and two plastic refineries operate here, in addition to the main power plant and atmosphere station. This district is actually run by the Technospiders, who gain access to the starport in return for their cooperation with the Syndicate.
The Picts
A feudal system, where might-makes-right anarchy is softened only slightly by stringent gang codes of honour. King Steel rules about a quarter of Penates. Below him sit the Pictish lords, each controlling an entire town or city and commanding the authority of a dozen or more chieftains.
Technospiders
A small faction of engineers and technicians who maintain a hold on the planet’s crucial environmental control facilities to ensure no one Baron can hold Penates to ransom by threatening its vital but fragile artificial habitats. Nearly every settlement on Penates has at least a small enclave of Technospiders, who are guaranteed neutrality in exchange for maintaining local infrastructure.
Most technicians, engineers, and scientists are members of the Penates Artificial Habitat Control Company (PAHCC or “pock”) a non-profit that seeks to make the planet fit for human habitation. The Spiders’ other long term goal is to see a responsible planetary government serving a free people. To date, they directly control only three moderate settlements, a mere 5% of the population. As a technocracy, only Pocks have a say in governance, though normal citizens are otherwise extended the same personal freedoms and protections under the law, and may join the PAHCC if they manage to obtain technical training.
The Supervisors
The remnants of SCAd, the Solar Colonial Administration. Their use of ruthless mindwalking spies and overseers led to the informal system-wide prohibition on psionics. Mindwalkers caught using their powers outside Supervisor territory are likely to be shot on sight by any local authorities, assuming they are not lynched by the general populace first.
Caracas
In 2398, a small SCAd team deposed Caracas’ ruling criminal gang and reinstated a civilian government. Over the following decades, the newly-proclaimed Planetary Administration grew to encompass the surrounding settlements. and now governs the entire Caracas Plateau.
Civic Dome: Built with aspirations of becoming the planetary capital, the seat of the Planetary Administration features green lawns, majestic statuary, and imposing monuments.
Wheeler Dome: This spartan industrial ore shipment station functions as the city’s spaceport.
Prospector 7: This luxurious hotel is generally reserved for Supervisors and their guests, with visitors directed to the ATQ.
Administration’s Transient Quarters: A cheerless facility which offers registered visitors tiny cubicles and a single meal for ¢5 per day.
The Free Trade Guild
A loose association of trader captains, entrepreneurs, merchants, and space-hands. Bylaws prevent members from preying on one another (except for formal duels or legal acquisitions) but provide no protection for non-members. The current Baron is Gida Haimori, who inherited House Haimori’s trade fleet from her father. The return of the Solars and the appearance of Concord in the system have somewhat constrained Guild activities, while also opening up new opportunities.
Highport
Originally constructed by the Solars as a orbital trade centre, dock, and battle station. While it now serves as the base of operations for the Free Trade Guild, it remains one of the largest and best defended stations in this part of the Verge. Its 1.5-day high polar orbit passes over every point on the surface, given enough time.
Of the ten thousand or so residents, about a quarter are transient. With no civic authority, private contractors handle maintenance, waste removal, and even life support. Housing is overcrowded, overpriced, and under-serviced. Guild thugs occasionally sweep the station for vagrants, rounding them up to sell to the Picts. House Haimori’s bruisers will usually stop conflicts escalating to the point where they threaten the station. Affluent visitors have the option of paying a ‘security’ fee to reduce the risk of any ‘incidents’ befalling them during their stay.
Union Penates
UP is a vast, corrupt labour organisation, employing roughly a fifth of Penate’s population. The Democratic State of Penates is a collection of cities and towns controlled by UP. While the Union’s bylaws technically allow for open democratic elections, systemic corruption result in autocracy.
The industrial town of Trinidad, the DSP’s capital city, was birthplace of the 2385 rebellion.