Caine's Star

The Caine's Star system was an early experiment in planetary engineering. Prior to settlement, it was a binary star with a widely dispersed cloud of heavy mineral and ice asteroids. Now, it is the settled universe's most productive agricultural world.

Physical Layout

The system has two stars, Caine and Prada, although most people who live there don't even know these names. It is a popular local myth that both stars are "Caine's Star", either because that is how binary stars are named, or because it was once a single star before the Corporation split it in half.

There are 5 planets orbiting a point designated 'L1', which sits midway between the stars. The planets are all of approximately the same size and composition, and are equally spaced around the same orbital path. The largest of these rocks (although only marginally) is known as Terminus. From here, intrastellar shuttles depart daily and travel in the opposite direction of the planetary orbits, visiting Langley, Casto, Aber and Chiru before returning to Terminus. The planets are connected by downlines, forming 2 rings between the polar line stations. However, these are mainly used as a guide by the shuttles and are not equipped for use by elevators.

Climate

The planets have gravity of 1.9G, and oceans covering only 12% of their surfaces. Most water vapour in the air condenses on a number of carefully constructed mountain ranges, and from there runs into vast underground seas and aquifers. The atmospheric humidity is relatively low, and the relative position of the two suns means that the majority of the planets' surfaces have a similar ambient temperature. Over the vast majority of the 5 large planets, conditions are perfect for growing cereal crops.

Government

Caine's Star (and indeed every body of rock in the system) is owned by a corporation known as Galactic Provisional. The administrative centre and capital city is Corporation Point, which sits on the shore of Scenic Ocean on Terminus. Most residents either agree to corporate rule as the terms of their tennancy, or are convicts required to work the land until they have repaid their debt to society (see slavery).

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