Caine's Star/Outer Ring/Shipyard

Shipyard is an illegal (and possibly entirely mythical) planet in the <address>[//]</address>. It doesn't show up on maps of the system, and its existence is strenuously denied by both planetary government and the company Galactic Provisional (who were responsible for the stellar engineering project which rendered the system habitable).

Shipyard is connected to its neighbours, <address>[1] and [2]</address>, by about 2 dozen lengths of downline. Unlike the complex web normally found in Scattered worlds, these lines run parallel and are kept at roughly constant distance by the ships which hang between them. Three lines named 'topmost', 'innermost', and 'galactic' are not used to moor habitations, but are used for vehicles known locally as "Line tugs", which speed along the lines powered by boost bricks or similar reactive engines. These lines are continuous, running through hollow areas of the shipyard, and many tugs don't even stop here.

Shipyard is unique in that it has linear gravity - all levels are parallel planes. The yard is made of 72 xylene steel plates, most of them hexagonal, and placed 15-20 metres apart. Residents build business facilities and homes on these plates as if they were normal ground. There are holes cut through most plates, to allow for larger facilities such as the docks (which occupy most of the world). Plates range from 100 to 600 miles across. Gravity is provided by an accelerative discontinuity, which is approximately 300 metres below "level zero". This is served by the launch facility, a 3-level-high tower equipped with a steam-powered catapult, capable of 'dropping' smaller ships directly into a discontinuous transit.

The main industries on the shipyard are ship-building (including maintenance of Nemesis, whose construction scaffold formed the original basis for the world), science (the place is frequented by many science pirates), and smuggling (due to the discontinuity). Shipyard's worldnet also serves as a permanent repository for archives of many shadownet echoes.

The yard is ruled by 3 bodies: The Legislature (a referendum held of all residents), The Judiciary (who also enforce a limited degree of law and order), and The Council (made up of representatives from local business). The Council is free to set taxes, and The Judiciary can issue emergency orders to deal with security issues. Passing a law can be done by a majority vote among any two of the three bodies. However, a 80% vote among members of the third body may cancel a law, allowing for decision by the Governor. The Governor may also veto any law (or any other governmental decision), unless overruled by a unanimous decision by the 3 bodies.

The Governor is elected for life, but can be removed by a vote of no confidence. Selecting a new governor requires an agreement by at least 2 of the governmental bodies (majority appointment), or 1 'approval' if nominated by their predecessor (hereditary appointment).

The governor from Lorem 845 onwards has been Antonia Sky III

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