RICE paper - Jewell

Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 21:25:35 -1600
From: Michael Bailey <pd82495@wapol.gov.au>
Subject: RICE paper - Jewell

New version.  This paper has been updated to reflect the data printed in
_The Regency Sourcebook_.


RICE Paper #SM-1106 Jewell/Jewell

Jewell (Jewell:  Spinward Marches/1106)
A777999-C A Hi In Cp       623 DD G7 V          <---- 1117 data
A777A99-F A Hi In Cp Rw:Z  123 Re G7 V          <---- 1202 data   
G = 1.22, Day = 1d 9:16:12.00, Year = 227d 21:01:26.44
Atmo = 1.20, Controlled weather
Temp = +29.9 (6/lat +18 to -42)(season +16.8 to -28.0, 40 deg lat)
Daily temp range 17.9
Ores, Radioactives, Crystals, Metals, Parts, Consumables, Weapons
Progressive/Enterprising, Unaggressive/Militant, Harmonious/Friendly
Legal: 9-6767A  Tech:  F9-FFEFF-FCFF-FF-G

Near the Regency's extreme spinward tip lies Jewell, capital of the Jewell
subsector and for centuries the first line of defense against incursions by
the Zhodani Consulate.  While relations with the Zhodani have improved
greatly in recent decades, Jewell still resembles nothing so much as a
massive military encampment.  Almost six centuries of living on the 'front
lines' has given the inhabitants of Jewell a unique, if somewhat grim outlook.

Jewell was settled in the early 300's by colonists fleeing from the Lishun
and Vland Sectors.  The colonists, of mixed Solomani-Vilani heritage,
initially settled on Palique (0609 / Mora), before religious tensions forced
them to more on to Jewell.  The original colony grew slowly, hampered
largely by respiratory problems caused by volcanic outgassing.  The
discovery of unusually rich lanthanum deposits on the planet's eastern
hemisphere sparked a huge influx of immigrants and business investment.
Jewell also became the jumping-off point for further settlement in the
Chronor subsector, and beyond the Spinward Marches in the Foreven Sector.

With increasing industrialisation, and a growing realisation of the
potential Zhodani threat to spinward saw the Imperial government begin to
take an interest in Jewell.  A naval presence was established in the system,
followed by the establishment of a Navy and Scout base from 480-485.  A
century later, ships from the Jewell Squadron were the backbone of Imperial
forces that jockeyed for position with the Zhodani in the Chronor and
Massina (subsec D/Foreven) subsectors.  This jockeying soon erupted into
open warfare as the First Frontier War exploded through the Marches.

Jewell was captured by Zhodani forces in 592, and occupied until Olav
hault-Plankwell retook the system amid fierce fighting in 603.  The end of
the war saw the Zhodani in possession of former Imperial worlds in the
Foreven Sector, and Jewell became a major factor in the Imperium's plans to
defend the Spinward Marches from further attack.  Predictably enough, Jewell
was attacked heavily during the Second Frontier War (615-620), and was under
seige for almost eight months before Admiral Arbellatra Akhalikhoi relieved
the world in 617.  After the war, with most of the Chronor Subsector in
Zhodani hands, Jewell became even more important to the Imperial Navy.
Facilities were expanded, and the naval presence in the system scaled up.

Industrialisation of Jewell continued, at a predictable cost to the
planetary biosphere. Jewell's population mushroomed, due to the arrival of
refugees from former imperial worlds, and fortune-seekers looking for
employment.  Jewell was attacked heavily in each of the subsequent Frontier
Wars, and suffered grievously, although it remained in Imperial hands.  The
system was heavily beseiged by Zhodani forces during the Fifth Frontier War
- from the war's outbreak in 1107 to the breakout of the 125th Fleet in
1110, Jewell was largely cut off from outside aid.  The breakout of the
125th was accompanied by supporting attacks by Imperial naval assets from
the Regina subsector, and effectively ended the seige (although the Zhodani
remained a menace in the system for some time to come).  By the
assassination of Emperor Strephon in 1116, Jewell was one of the most
heavily defended systems in the Marches, as well as being a heavily
industrialised world and home to 6 billion souls.  In 1202, Jewell is home
to 11.2 billion.

Jewell was one of the 26 worlds targetted by the Regency Industrial
Development Program. The program was highly successful on Jewell, and has
succeeded in raising the world's tech level to 15 (F).  The massive
investment in Jewell paid handsome dividends.  This was fortunate, as Jewell
is one of the primary target worlds for refugees fleeing the 'troubles' in
the Zhodani Consulate.  There are currently almost one hundred million
Zhodani refugees on Jewell, held in over one thousand holding camps,
primarily in the north polar regions of the planet.  Despite the efforts of
the Regency and the Jewell government, more refugees are arriving in greater
numbers than can be processed and resettled.  The refugees' presence is not
well tolerated by the locals, which is the major reason why the holding
camps are located well away from settled areas.

On entering the Jewell system, be prepared to be immediately challenged by
Regency Navy or Regency Quarantine Service ships.  Incoming starships will
be directed to the RQS Station on Opal (Jewell's outermost satellite,
F10026B-C), where the ship and it's occupants will undergo exhaustive
examination.  Ships that do not pass inspection will be impounded
immediately, and it's owners/operators can look forward to a lengthy sojourn
at the Regency Prison on Jenghe/Regina.  Whatever the result, expect to be
held on Opal for at least three days.

Following quarantine procedures, permission will be granted to transfer to
one of Jewell's three commercial starports:  Jewell Highport, Jewell
Downport or Magdala Commercial Starport (a privately owned facility).  All
other starport facilities in the system are operated by the Regency Navy
and/or Quarantine Service, and are strictly off limits to unauthorised
personnel.  Still, one can't help but notice the presence of warships -
Jewell is swarming with activity, from 10-ton boats shuttling to and fro to
the BatRon of Plankwell Class Battleships home-ported at the Arbellatra
Akhalikhoi Naval Base.  Jewell is the headquarters of the Regency 212th Fleet.

Descending to the surface, one of the more noticable sights are the banks of
dirty brown clouds covering a rocky gray surface.  Sprawling cities and
industrial complexes mark much of the planet's surface, and a large fraction
of it's land area.  Jewell, despite it's name, is a dirty and grimy world.
The atmosphere is fouled by a host of pollutants, chiefly sulphur dioxide,
hydrogen sulphide and nitrogen compounds.  Breathing the atmosphere without
a filter mask is not advisable - a few hours exposure is generally
acceptable, but further exposure inevitably results in respiratory disorders
and cancers.  Filter masks are provided free of charge by the government,
and are dispensed at all public places.  On arrival at the planet's surface,
visitors will be issued with a temporary permit for a nominal fee.

Jewell's cities tend to look alike - dirty and drab are the words most used
by offworlders to describe them.  Little attention is paid to building
exteriors, beyond that necessary to keep the atmospheric taints outside.
Combine this with the gray coveralls that seem to be a regulation item of
clothing amongst the locals, and the filter masks that cover the face and
eyes, and a visitor could well be tempted to make a hasty departure for more
inviting locations.  Perserverance is advised however, for like most surface
appearances, those on Jewell are deceiving.

Jewell's natives are friendly and accomadating towards off-worlders, with
the notable exception of Zhodani and Vargr (both races are the target of
centuries old fear and loathing).  Unfortunately, the Zhodani Exodus has
dumped millions of Zhodani literally on Jewell's doorstep.  Their presence
on the Jewell is the cause of great dissatisfaction, with many demanding
that the refugees be sent at gunpoint back to the Consulate.  

Once indoors, with coveralls and facemasks off, Jewellers are an expansive
and demonstrative lot and are famous drinkers, brawlers and poets.  Building
interiors are generally low-ceilinged, and richly decorated, designed to
promote a sense of comfort and well being.  Jewell also has one of the
highest number of bars per capita of any world in the Regency.

Jewell's government is a fairly unremarkable impersonal beauracracy, local
Administrative Councils report to successively higher authorities, up to the
Planetary Administrative Authority.  The beauracracy recruits from all
levels of society, and if promotion is not entirely merit based, it is not
so corrupt as to invite popular revolt. Law levels are high, banning
personal weapons outside of the home, and the local law enforcement
authorities are backed by a large and complex legal apparatus.  Trade
regulations are not as harsh, their primary focus being to serve the
requirements of the Regency Quarantine Service.  Jewell's government
maintains low tarrifs on most imported goods.  Jewell sends 10
representatives to the Regency Senate, the senators are directly appointed
by the Planetary Administrative Authority, and are typically used as reward
positions for great achievement within the bureaucracy.

The most important non-governmental body on Jewell is the 'Aran Kalje', a
fiercely atheistic organisation that promotes the virtues of physical and
mental discipline.  The Aran maintains camps, or 'laager' where adherents
live for up to twenty months at a time under military-type conditions.  Not
surprisingly, a large number of Aran members end up in Jewell's armed
forces.  The laager are organised and run at a local level, as is the rest
of the organisation.

Jewell's close relationship with the Imperial/Regency military is also worth
noting.  Large tracts of the planet are used by the Army, Navy and
Quarantine Service, and are off limits to civillians.  The planetary
governor is also commander of the planetary armed forces, as well as the
Jewell Colonial Squadrons (the reserve component of the Regency Fleet in
Jewell).  The governor carries the title of Count Jewell, and reports to the
Duke of Regina.  Traditionally, the planetary governor has been an Imperial
or Regency Navy Admiral, one of the rare instances when domestic matters are
overridden by Imperial or Regency authorities.  The title is one of the
relatively few that has survived Norris' democratic reforms, primarily
because it is not a heriditary title.  

Jewell is a major producer of lanthanum and other rare earth elements
(notably niobium and yttrium ores), as well as fissionable ores.  Not
surprisingly, the planet is also a substantial weapons producer,
particularly small arms and armoured vehicles.  Jewell is also one of the
principal producers of military starships for the Regency.  Perhaps the most
famous product of Jewell is whisky, which is famed throughout the Regency
for it's quality.  There are no less than 37 major distilling houses on
Jewell, serving a large domestic and off-world market.  Of these, the most
well known is Amrihkur-Cameron, which has held Imperial patents for it's
products since 405.  A bottle of Amrikhur-Cameron malt whiskey bottled in
1107 recently sold for Cr44,000 on Regina.

System Information

Orbit           Name            UPP             Remarks

Primary         Galant          G7 V
0               Smear           G100168-C       Mi
1               Imkhiir         YS00000-0       
2               Jewell          A777999-C       Hi In Cp
        2       Pearl           F30246A-B       Qb
        5       Cascot          YS00000-0       
       25       Opal            F10026B-C       Mi
3               Planetoid Belt  Y000517-B       Mi        
4               Nieuport        Large GG
        1       Ring System     YR00000-0
        4       Guynemer        F500368-C       Nv
        6       Fonck           Y200000-0       
       11       Mannock         Y3A2000-0       
       25       Boelke          YS00000-0
       45       Bishop          G10036A-C       Mi
5               Planetoid Belt
6               Umsakhulag      Small GG
        3       Ring System     YR00000-0
       30       Isagair         Y310000-0
      250       Virunkariish    YS00000-0
7               Quokka          Small GG
        8       Numbat          YS00000-0
       13       Outpost         H200118-C       Re
8.4             Katyn           F400369-C       Nv


(Nv - Naval Base, Qb - RQS Base)
       

Michael Bailey (pd82495@wapol.gov.au)