Sanctuary

Perseus Arm    Borderspace Sector    Subsector 11      Sanctuary

Sanctuary is one of two worlds (the other being Shelter) originally colonized by the peoples of the Refuge polity in an attempt to establish some buffer space between their core worlds and whatever may lie beyond. Since then, it has gained more significance not only to Refuge, but also to those in the New Terran Hegemony who would see the extermination of any sophonts "cursed" with psionic abilities.

Sanctuary is the home of the Hidden Mind Academy. Founded by members of the Hidden Mind who were forced to flee the persecutions of the Hegemony, it has developed into a fully developed institution of higher learning - a university dedicated to the development of psionic abilities as well as technologies that interact with those abilities.

Starports

Despite this system's population being considerably smaller than that of either Refuge or Haven systems, the highport orbiting the Sanctuary main planet is considered to be among the most welcoming and best apportioned highports in all of Borderspace. It's Class B rating is due to a lack of extensive shipbuilding facilities. While somewhat limited in their ability to perform extensive upgrades on starships, their maintenance yards are among the best.

The Class B downport is similarly deemed the most accommodating and entertaining such facility in the Borderspace region. It is, however, walled off from the rest of Lyceum City, with the imposing Customs House being the only gateway between startown and city.

Settlements

The principal settlement on the planet, originally called Sanctuary Town when the world was first settled, was renamed to Lyceum when the Hidden Mind Academy was officially founded there. This is the only settlement of any notable size on the planet, though there are a number of agricultural and aquacultural villages scattered out around it. The settlement is centered on the Academy, which is in its center. Surrounding it are residential facilities for many of the attendees of the academy, as well as a plethora of shops and service providers typical of any "college town".

Military Bases

Like all systems in the Refuge polity, there are bases of the Refuge Systems Defense Force, or RSDF, located at the L4 and L5 lagrange points of Sanctuary's orbit. These are larger facilities than those of other systems, each supporting eight SDC patrol groups. Four of these - two from each station - are on active patrol around the planet at any given time.

In addition, the base at the L5 point houses an extensive research and development facility affiliated with the Hidden Mind Academy. It focuses on psionic-based offensive and defensive weaponry and systems development.

UWP: B553569-B

Sector: Borderspace
Subsector: S11
Grid Designator: 2121
Primary Planet Designation: ?
Tech Level: B - Fusion Age (Jump-2, semi-organic brains) Some psionic-based Level D tech available.
Starport: Class B Highport
World Size: 7398 km diam, 0.44 g
Atmosphere: Thin, 0.43 bar, No precautions
Hydrology: 32% surface water, small seas and oceans
Population: 439,202
Government: Captive Government (Colony of Refuge)
Law Level: No possession of any weapons outside one's residence; no body armor (except Jack) (Amber)
Temperature: Temperate world. Liquid water present, but dry atmosphere, small, temporary ice caps.

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Trade Codes

Ni, Po

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Gas Giants in System: 1
Military Bases: 2

Transit Times

Highport/Sync Orbit(35,000km) <-> Surface

42 min at 1G
30 min at 2G
24 min at 3G
21 min at 4G
17 min at 6G
13 min at 10G

Jump Point <-> Highport/Sync Orbit

6 hrs, 45 min at 1G
4 hrs, 46 min at 2G
3 hrs, 54 min at 3G
3 hrs, 23 min at 4G
2 hrs, 45 min at 6G
2 hrs, 8 min at 10G

Government & Law

Sanctuary is a colony world of the Refuge polity, subject to its laws. Government functions are overseen by a Colonial Advisor, currently a T'ka'an whose common name is Tabrak One-Eye, is appointed by the Committee of Chief Administrators on Refuge.

Visiting Travellers will find the same strictures regarding armor and weapons as on Refuge: no armor other than Jack, no energy, slug, or blade weapons. These are strictly and - thanks to the psionics of the Safety Officers <Refuge Polity> patrolling the streets and establishments - quite effectively enforced.

Visitors will also find that a condition for entry into Lyceum through the Customs House will require being subjective to non-invasive, but extensive testing to determine psionic abilities and potential. This is in addition to the expected weapons/contraband search. Furthermore all comings and goings through the Customs House are diligently recorded; Refuge makes every effort to track the whereabouts of all citizens and visitors.

History

Sanctuary, a planet with conditions considered quite comfortable by the T'ka'an, was originally settled by a few of that species that wished for a rural life of farming or working the shallow seas. The officials of the Committee of Chief Administrators were more than happy to provide assistance and support, as this created a "buffer world" between the Refuge homeworld and whatever may lie beyond. It justified establishments of new RSDF bases that could act as early warning facilities for the rest of the polity.

When more and more Teachers of the Hidden Way were forced to flee the Hegemony and seek asylum in Refuge, they began to meet together and plan for an insititution of psionic learning and development that was far more extensive and formal than anything they could have done while working clandestinely within the Hegemony. They saw Sanctuary as the ideal place to establish this facility, and the Committee agreed.

As the Academy grew, the Committee took the opportunity to expand the RSDF as well - ostensibly to protect what would be considered a prime target of any official or renegade assaults from the Hegemony and its hatred of all things psionic. Soon, the RSDF established a sort of partnership with the Academy as well, advancing the development of psionic detection and manipulation systems as well as weapons that relied on psionics in some manner.