New Iowa

From Acw

Revision as of 21:37, 18 September 2006

History

The planet of New Iowa was discovered in 2047 by the American astronomer Jane G. Hilthorpe and her team using a series of orbital telescopes aimed to document nearby planetary bodies. At the time it was ranked as one among several dozen planets which were around the right size and in the right orbit to potentially be able to support alien life. The planet was named after Hilthorpe’s home state. However, it was not until the <insert appropriate company here> sponsored research in 2096 that New Iowa was given further assessment. Using the Visionary telescope located on the dark side of the moon, the aim of the study was to find suitable planets for potential terraforming and eventual colonisation.

The resolution of the Visionary far exceeded anything currently produced by mankind and enabled the team to subject distant star systems to quite detailed and rigorous study. It was on a late autumn day in 2098 that the first images of clouds over New Iowa resolved. When the study wrapped up just over a year later, New Iowa was the only system within reasonable range of earth that was recorded with so much surface water. Within two years, Seven US corporations had signed on to build an Ark Ship capable of travelling to New Iowa with enough people to colonise the planet.

But almost from the get go, the Liberty Project was beset by internal rivalry between corporate members and government interference. Early construction efforts in near earth orbit suffered extensive material shortages and reputedly at least one case of industrial sabotage with the first sections of the superstructure spectacularly burning up in Earth’s orbit in 2111. The project constantly threatened to crumble until the onset of the Migration Crises seemed to inspire in the American public a need to claim a new planet free from such horrors.

Continued observation of the Chimera system was eventually able to decipher six land masses on the planetary surface and these were initially named after the five children of Jane G. Hilthorpe. However, public consultation and lengthy marketing research led to changes in the names to make them sound more “continent” like.

The Liberty was launched in July 4th, 2127 and heralded as a triumph of American ingenuity and pioneering spirit. America daily tuned in to stories from the Liberty as it accelerated away from Earth and towards New Iowa. That was of course until the Russian demonstration of the Krasnikov Generator in 2135. The crew of the Liberty reportedly rioted upon hearing the news with several systems sustaining irreparable damage, including some of the communications arrays. The Liberty continued towards New Iowa and was still transmitting in 2142 having reported damage to it’s propulsion systems. A joint SBE-UISA mission was launched in 2146 to rescue the Liberty but no sign of it was ever found.

Intent on colonising New Iowa the USA launched a massive crash program constructing the then largest colonisation ship the Essex. However, disparate corporate interests and covert operations plagued this project as well. Thankfully however, the smaller scale of the project kept the project on track and in 2147 the Essex with 10,000 carefully picked colonists arrived in New Iowa and established nine permanent settlements across the largest continent. Each settlement began terraforming efforts immediately.

Within a month of their arrival, the terraforming colonists had documented several dozen unique micro-organisms. The discovery of alien life, even something as simple as single celled organisms was initially heralded as a discovery on par with the Karisnikov Generator. However, despite some minor differences, study showed little real difference between the alien organisms and similar ones on Earth.

By the late 2170s, terraforming efforts were starting to fall behind schedule. Corporate pressure finally forced the UISA government to invite external powers to join the colonising efforts. The SBE were to only government to respond favourably and in 2185 the SBE established a colony on the continent of North Tobius, contributing to the ongoing terraforming. In 2200, the UISA government sponsored another 5,000 colonists who brought with them the latest in genetically modified animals and crops designed for the New Iowa environment.

In 2212 the second Russian battle group accompanied 50,000 colonists who occupied the continent X. The arrival of the Second Battle group was viewed by both the UISA and SBE with particularly concern, but the Russians wanted nothing to do with either power and have never made an aggressive move against outside interests within the system.

Politics

UISA – The UISA continent is divided into three states: Reagan, Nixon and Ford. Of the three states, Nixon has recently began pushing for independence believing that the UISA government is not truly capable of supporting their needs. Rumours persist that the recent visit the Governor of Nixon made to the SBE provinces were about more than trade agreements. The other two states are quite strongly still supportive of remaining in the UISA.

SBE – The Governor General of the Colonies on North Tobius is quite a highly placed and prestigious position. All Kings of the SBE have visited New Iowa and the latest has yet to do so. The large ethnically Indian population has almost entirely bred out white man amongst the local population.

USSR – the five soviet states on the planet are highly competitive with one another. To date, nothing more rhetoric has been spoken but rumours persist that violence is not too far away.

Other powers – a conglomerate of earth powers collectively purchased the Y continent from the UISA government in 2337. Members of the conglomerate have begun to establish colonies on the planets surface but these are still very early efforts yet.

Geography

1.052 times Earth’s size with almost identical gravities.

1 New Iowa day equals 24.37 hours, with the New Iowan year being 369.14 days long.

66% of surface covered in water, ongoing purification is necessary due to the toxic nature of several microbes found in the water.

Six continents – 2 UISA, 1 SBE, 1 USSR, 1 largely unclaimed and 1 other powers.

Weather slightly greater average rainfall, sky blue-green

Military

UISA – The UISA maintains a number of military installations and orbital platforms. The New Iowan states were the first to start leasing military infrastructure, something which quickly spread back to Earth. The military in system is designed for defence and largely aimed at securing the very important and highly trafficked route to Earth.

SBE – SBE military installations are aimed at defending against either Russian or American aggression, although to date neither situation has ever arisen. The defences are designed to be sufficient to withstand any attack until the royal fleet can arrive from earth.

USSR – given the massive industrial base on the planetary surface, the USSR military is highly mechanised. The Second Battle group is permanently stationed in the Chimera system and whilst elements patrol nearby space, the Russian space docks continue to produce and ship out military hardware.

Economy

USSR – the five Russian states have each established massive mining and manufacturing industries with little to no concern for the environmental damage they are wreaking. The vast majority of finished goods are sent back to Earth although export to both the UISA and SBE colonies on the planet are also lucrative. The local economy is fuelled by the incredibly voracious need of Earth for raw materials and semi finished goods.

UISA – predominantly focused on continued development of their two continents, the local governments continue to make immigration to New Iowa increasingly attractive. Most major corporations now have at least a satellite office situated on one if not both continents, and in some cases have moved their head office to New Iowa to take advantage of the lucrative tax incentives. Bio-industries continue to be the most advanced and sophisticated on the planet aimed at taking advantage of the unique organisms found on the planet, each year several dozen new species of microbes are catalogued.

SBE – seem to have taken a middle road between exploitative strip mining and long term development. Many of the functions and services are copies of UISA equivalents.

Demographics

<see discussion page for population histories>

population growth largely due to immigration

average life span around 100yrs (130yrs is Earth standard) due to alien bacterial infections. The average life span is increasing each year as ongoing research and natural resistance take firmer hold.

Culture

The populace of New Iowa consider themselves to be particularly blessed. The planet has a high standard of living and all populations amongst the respective powers enjoy a positive outlook.

The Covenant Keepers maintain several large cathedrals and churches across each of the continents claiming that the aliens who captured the Liberty likely seeded New Iowa with life for their own efforts and that they will one day return to reclaim their home.