The Iron Halo
Purpose / Function
The Iron Halo is a debris field around the earth, it is the combined mass of most if not all free-floating debris around the planet, originally the debris was left there from launches off-planet, over centuries the debris became more and more of a problem.
The C.N.G, after reclaiming Citadel Station, decided to use orbital trawlers with gravity hooks and magnetic buoys, to clean up the orbit of the earth.
The Lower Thermosphere into the upper Mesopsphere is now host to the Iron Halo.
The Iron Halo is an orbital shield of sorts made of metals, plastics, asteroid debris, and many more unknowable materials. The secondary purpose of the Iron Halo is to act as a source of scrap material for shipbuilding in the imperial shipyards.
Denizens
There are mutants that live in orbital habitats, the leftovers of abandoned denizens, left to inbreed and mutate further up where their radiation shielding has failed.
There are also private stations, some that work amongst the debris. Others tend to be from private interests or the other factions. The USAC space program has a lot of research invested in the Iron Halo, though few know the purpose or application of such research.
Valuables
Amongst the debris, there are treasures to be found, whether it be caches of technology or micro asteroids laden with gold and other rare materials, both terrestrial and not.
Hazards & Traps
Radiation patches and pirate traps are dotted throughout the Halo, though the C.N.G has a collection of spacecraft, they are engaged in other activities and cannot always police the Halo. The curious adventurer should be wary when venturing into the Halo, especially without proper protection or a permit.
Alterations
Over many years the process of gathering all of the debris has taken place, now there are adjustments made to its orbit to keep it in place. This is done with dark matter manipulation to change the elevation and weight of the debris and also gravity anchors to moor larger pieces of debris in place.
Architecture
The Halo is a belt of individual pieces of scrap and debris but more often than not, it is connected together via clusters.
History
Over many years, there have been regular meteorite storms that have knocked debris out of orbit, most of which burn up on re-entry. Sometimes though debris has survived re-entry, often providing high-value scrap to scavengers. Occasionally there have been casualties caused by falling debris. as yet the C.N.G state has yet to record any casualties in the territories.
Tourism
There are visits made to micro stations and collection centers in the Halo. These workers process the scrap and melt it down to make it useful again, this produce is then either sent down planetside using containers made from the scrap itself or more often than not, it is sent to the orbital shipyards.
Founding Date
2322
Type
Orbital, Halo / Ringworld
Environmental Effects
Amidst the Halo, due to the technologies employed to keep it in position, there are patches of zero gravity where even planetary gravity has no effect, conversely, this can even be flipped where debris is being gathered and accelerated together, making it both difficult and perilous to navigate.
Owning Organization
