RICE Paper: Capon/Lunion

Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 16:55:00 -0800
From: Douglas Berry <dberry@mailhost.hooked.net>
Subject: RICE Paper: Capon/Lunion

This is my first attempt at a RICE paper.  Any constructive criticism is
welcome.  Coming soon:  Lunion and the Regency Navy Threat Assessment:
Sword Worlds Confederation. 
 
Capon/Lunion  (2324 Spinward Marches) 
A747748-B   N   Ag     810  Re     F9v 
Gravity: 0.6     Day: 33h 40m 48s     Year: 678d 6h 29m (standard) 
Axial Tilt: 24d 13m 02s 
Atmosphere: 0.65, Oxygen: 23%, No weather control 
Temp.: -6  (+/- 6 lat, +18 to -42) (season: +14.4 to -24) 
Daily temp. range: +7.5 to -16.5 
Conservative, Advancing  Peaceful, Unagressive  Regional, Aloof 
Agricultural, Agroproducts 
Law: 8-667A6  Tech: B9-BAACB-BBBA-BB-F 
 
PHYSICAL: 
     Capon, viewed from orbit, is an attractive blue-green world. 
The visitor may notice the vast ice fields that cover large areas 
of the land masses.  Also of note are the World Spine Mountains, a 
famed destination for sport climbers for centuries. 
     Capon has a thin atmosphere, with a almost non-existent ozone 
layer.  Caponese life has adapted to the harsh conditions, and the 
colonists all tend to be of a very dark shade.  Travellers, however, 
must take precautions against high UV levels.  Since much of the 
valley is snow-covered throughout the year, exposed human eyes can 
suffer permanent damge in a matter of minutes due to "snow blindness". 
Eye protection is a must, and either fully covering garments or a 
strong sunblock is needed to avoid a painful melanoma. 
     There are two main continents; Nord, which is ice bound, and 
Pillagi, where most settlement has occurred along the Lanzecki river 
basin.  The Lanzecki, which flows 12,000km from the World Spine to 
the Hester Ocean, is a meandering, slow river.  Its flood plain 
provides for much of the agricultural output of the world. 
 
HISTORY:  
     Capon was settled in 124, with colonists drawn from the Deneb 
sector.  The first colony failed within 50 years due to poor 
planning.  In 180, an Imperial Navy base was started on the site 
of the first colony.  Ministry of Colonization officials scoured 
the area for colonists who could stand the extreme UV levels.  The 
result was one of the oddest collections of people ever to settle 
a world.  While regulations were followed in skills available and 
male-female ratios, etc.; most of the colonists had never met each 
other until they were on the transports.  The second colony was 
established in the Lanzecki River's broad delta region.  After 
clearing the heavy jungle, the region was found to be very fertile, 
supporting a wide variety of crops along with aquaculture. 
     The Second Frontier War saw the invasion of Capon by Sword 
Worlds forces.  An attempt to deny the Naval Base to the Imperium, 
the occupation led to a bitter guerilla war that last three years 
(617-620).  The Occupation, as it is remembered, has left a lasting 
dislike of off-worlders in general and Sword Worlders in particular. 
 
SOCIETY: 
     Caponese society is best characterized as conservative and 
polite.  Manners are considered to be of paramount importance in 
social situations.  Rudeness will rarely result in violence, but 
the offender will be ignored.  Caponese dress in head-to-toe outfits, 
rarely exposing skin to the harmful rays of Cyr.  Since UV 
protection goggles are mandatory, it is considered very rude to look 
an ungoggled person in the eyes.  Among family and close friends, 
however, there is no nudity taboo.  Indeed, communal bathing is part 
of the Brushlander culture. 
     There are two distinct sub-cultures on Capon; the majority who 
live in the Lanszeki valley, and the Brushlanders who follow the 
Basa herds.  Brushlanders are nomadic, living in massive ATVs.  They 
use kians and light grav vehicles to monitor their stock. 
     Brushlanders barely acknowledge the existence of the world 
government, preferring their own clan structure.  Most Brushlander 
clans consist of several families of 40-60 individuals.  Brushlander 
and mainstream Caponese come together annually when the clans bring 
their herds into railheads for auction.  At these times, the clan 
council judges disputes between families, allocates goods and profit 
from the sale, and makes arrangements for clan members who wish to 
leave for any reason (usually the clan member is welcome to return 
at any time). 
 
GOVERNMENT: 
     Capon is governed by a Senate that controls appointments to 
various posts.  The world is divided into four districts, with 
Burton's Landing constituting a seperate district of its own.  Seats 
are allocated based on a districts economic output, resulting in a 
constant shift in the balance of power.  The Senators from each 
district elect one of their number to serve on the Executive Council, 
this body holds the purse strings of the Treasury. 
     The Senate is popularly elected every five years.  Elections 
are staggered, so that any given year 1/5 of the seats are contested. 
Caponese politics are fractious, with several candidates vying for 
any given seat.  One wit observed:  "Caponese are polite to a fault, 
and that fault is politics." 
     Everyday administration is handled by various Ministies. 
Ministers are appointed by the Senate, and nepotism seems to be the 
rule.  Lower-level bureaucrats are found through civil service exams, 
and tend to make up for their superiors' failings. 
     Law enforcement is under the supervision of the Ministry of 
Justice and the National Police.  Laws are mainly intended to 
preserve order, and allow for a wide range of expression.  Police 
tend to be armed with non-lethal weapons, and act more as mediators 
whenever possible.  Those arrested will be tried before a tribunal 
consisting of a Senator, a police official, and a citizen selected at 
random.  The accused are considered innocent until proven guilty. 
Punishment is slated more towards conspicuous public service and 
embarrassment. 
 
VISITING CAPON: 
     The first thing a visitor to Capon will notice is the small 
orbital port.  Currently being upgraded as part of the Phase 2 
Starport project, the Up-port is crowded for a class A facility. 
Once cleared by the RQS and Caponese Customs, your ship will land at 
the First Try Memorial Starport.  Built on the site of the failed 
colony, the main terminal has an interesting display of artifacts 
found during the port's construction in the late 700s.  Ground 
transport to the capital of Burton's Crossing is usually handled by 
high speed Mag-Lev trains, but an option for the traveller with more 
time is a trip up river on one of the many cruise ships. 
     Once in Burton's Crossing, (pop: 6.4 million) there are a variety 
of hotels and entertainments.  It is important to remember that acts 
perceived as rude will result in a shunning, even from merchants and 
police.  Most of the planets economic activity is handled here, rather 
than at the starport, due to the nature of the world's exports.  A 
brisk futures market can be found in the Poolside district, and is 
fascinating to watch. 
 
SYSTEM DETAILS 
 
Primary: Cyr             F9v 
 
0.       Empty 
 
1        Caldon  YS00000-0 
 
2        Firth   Y310125-A 
 
3        Belt    Y000000-0 
 
4        Capon   A747748-B  N  Ag 
  12     Yun     H221369-B     Re 
 
5........Empty 
 
6........Tiburons Y9A0000-0 
 
-- 
Douglas E. Berry - dberry@hooked.net 
Planets created while you wait 
The Dream is, and must remain, alive....