Sanctuary
Sanctuary was colonized in the early 26th Century by the Ashpool family and has one of the most unusual political, economic, and cultural systems in the Terran sphere.
Location and Climate
Sanctuary was located on a remote jump route near the New Corinth and Al Ahily systems. Due to the remoteness of the system and difficulty of the jump route (requiring multiple jumps from either system to reach), Terrans had not colonized the habitable world for much of their space faring history. Sanctuary was a cold world about the size of Mars. Pre-terraforming, the world had a thin atmosphere, but even after terraforming the world's climate remained cold compared to most Terran worlds; though still warm enough for agriculture and habitation. The world's large oceans generated substantial rain and snow throughout the world's seasons, causing much of the planet to be covered in temperate rainforests.Colonization - 2515-2530
During the Terran Empire, the Ashpool family used their position in government to obtain detailed colonization assessments for many abandoned or uncolonized worlds in the Terran Sphere. In 2515 Solway Ashpool approached the Hansa with a plan to secretly establish a research colony on a remote world outside the jurisdiction of any government where research could be conducted without any oversight or regulations. The Hansa accepted this plan and a set of initial lab complexes were established on a set of islands, with Solway Ashpool appointed to manage the facilities and colony, known as the Lambda Labs. However the Lambda Labs were only intended to be cover for a larger plan. The Ashpool family had secretly accumulated colonization equipment to develop a more substantial colony. Using a front corporation, the family began supplying other worlds with needed supplies and taking a percentage for themselves via freighters "lost to piracy". This equipment was then used to establish an AI colony on Sanctuary that would become the settlement of 001. The Ashpools expected that if anyone did penetrate their plan it would be believed to be part of the Lambda labs. The AI colony then assisted the Ashpools in building the Cold Forge cloning complex that would be the primary source for colony citizens going forward. Leander Ashpool would develop the Alethien faith and Sanctuary charter during this period which became the foundations for Sanctuary's social structure.Early History - 2530-2555
The initial Cold Forge complex began producing Track-01 and -02 clones in 2530. The initial clones were raised by select AI and overseen by the Ashpool family and a team of the best child psychologists and military trainers. The first generation were mostly Track-01 fast growth clones that rapidly reached maturity and were then put to work building farms and infrastructure for the quickly expanding colony. As Solway Ashpool was becoming increasingly unstable, Leander Ashpool took over the running of Sanctuary fully during this time. This period was marked by rapid expansion of the colony's infrastructure with the foundation of the Agoge and the cities of Alexandria and Leantropolis. The Ashpool family continually smuggled resources from their holdings to Sanctuary which the AI managers of the colony used to direct the development of the world.Ashenmark Era 2555-2575
When Alexander Ashpool announced the creation of the Ashenmark he founded additional colonies, and included Sanctuary as a "new" colony being founded. This was intended to conceal the prior existence of Sanctuary without drawing much attention. This was also when many of Sanctuary's defenses were built, such as the minefields deployed throughout the system, fortified settlements concept, and the orbital defense network. Neo-Yokohama was founded during this period as a secure downport, the only location on the planet where non-Sanctuary citizens were allowed access to. The Lambda research facilities were mostly shut down and environmental clean-up began, while the Shiva research complex was established on a large asteroid in the system's belt to continue dangerous research. Leander Ashpool, having become increasingly unstable, was assassinated by unknown agents (the Ashpools publicly blamed the Yakuza which they were feuding with at the time). Governance of the planet passed to Alexander Ashpool who directed some of Leander's projects be cancelled or adjusted.Republic Treaty 2575-2580
When the Second Zzenddi Invasion began, Alexander Ashpool chose to reveal Sanctuary and its history, along with the weapons and technology that had been developed there to the Republic. He reached an agreement where the Ashenmark would be disbanded and all technology turned over to the Republic in return for the Ashenmark worlds joining the Republic. However, President Henderson Loke had strong objections to Sanctuary and the Republic broke the agreement with the Ashpools leaving Sanctuary outside the Republic.Isolation 2580+
Following the failure of his Presidential campaign, Alexander Ashpool was believed to have died in a shuttle crash on Sanctuary. The death of Alexander and the breaking of the treaty with the Ashpools resulted in the Sanctuary government ending all relations with the rest of the Terran sphere and the already heavy restrictions on travel to the world were increased. Since then little information about Sanctuary reached the larger Terran sphere.Society and Government
Sanctuary's laws and society were governed by a charter written by Leander Ashpool. It specified that the purpose of Sanctuary was to produce warriors dedicated to the Alethien faith and to defend the Sions, Sanctuary, and the Terran sphere. Each citizen of Sanctuary had to serve at least 5 years in the colony’s military (known as the Aegis). Those who served 20 years were to be given land and special benefits. The government was a council elected by those who had served their 5 years from those who had served 20. The council answered to the head of the Ashpool family who had a veto over any laws and controlled foreign and defense policy. All members of the government were required to be followers of the Alethien faith.Caste System
The citizens of Sanctuary were placed into a caste system that defined their role in the planet's society. Originally the caste system was dictated by the origin of a clone, but as the population began to include the natural born children of clones who had served their time in the Aegis it was updated. Untested - The Untested castes were visitors or permanent residents of Sanctuary who were not considered part of society. They were generally restricted to Neo-Yokohama or other restricted locations. Unbound - The Unbound were those who were not products of the Cold Forge and were native to the world or had been advanced from being Untested by the government and thus allowed free travel. They were to be treated with respect but could not hold significant roles or own weapons. This included mostly natural born residents of Sanctuary who are below age 20 and not ready to test. Helots - The fast grown Track-01 clones were viewed as having lifespans too short for proper military training and so were used as manual labor under AI direction to construct much of the planet’s infrastructure and facilities. As more and more Track-02 clones reached maturity the Helot caste was phased out, though it was kept as a concept in the event that fast grown clones were required again. Bound - The Bound were clones who spent their formative years in the Cold Forge system before graduating into one of the other Castes at 20. Tested - Upon reaching physical maturity (age 20 for Terrans) castes of Sanctuary were tested for psionic powers and then physical ability before being assigned to a new caste. Those who refused the testing or to follow their Caste could leave the world or become permanently Unbound. In rare cases the government of Sanctuary could allow Unbound not native to Sanctuary to undergo the tests. Aegis - The majority of Sanctuary’s population passed into the Aegis where they received combat training and selection into specialties (enlisted, officers, special forces, naval service, etc) before beginning their 5 year mandatory service. Once the service was completed they could choose to continue for another 15 years to become Veterans or retire from military service to become Citizens. Paladins - Members of the Aegis at the end of their 5 years could choose to apply to become Paladins. This is a lifetime commitment and if the candidate passed the tests then they would be provided with the most advanced weapons and cybernetics of the Agoge and become the elite of Sanctuary’s military; used as bodyguards of the Sions and for other special deployments. Ephors - All AIs who became citizens of Sanctuary were automatically Ephors. Ephors were not expected to provide military service but rather to provide other activities of research, economics, and public service in its place. AIs who choose to provide military service would go through the Aegis system. The majority of Ephors resided in 001. Sions - Atans, members of the Sion program, or Sanctuary residents who tested positive for psychic powers would become Sions and were trained in their powers, leadership, and combat skills as well as special focused training in the philosophies of the Alethien faith. Sions were expected to serve for life as leaders, diplomats, and philosophers dedicated to the Alethien but, unless of the Ashpool bloodline, could not hold political power on Sanctuary. Each Sion was given a personal Paladin bodyguard or team of Paladins to protect and aid them. Citizens - Citizens were members of other castes who had served their time in the Aegis (or become too old to serve in their other caste) and were now regular members of Sanctuary society who were expected to live normal lives and could vote for the members of the leading Council. Veterans - Veterans had served 20 years in the Aegis and were granted land, wealth and authority on Sanctuary. They could be elected to serve on the governing council to set policy for the world. Only Veterans could own land.Demographics
The vast majority of the Sanctuary population are humans from the Cold Forge program or their descendants. Small numbers of non-Cold Forge humans recruited via the Sion program are also resident on the world. The largest non-human population were the AIs which managed much of the economy and primarily resided in the city of 001. The exact population of Sanctuary was a closely guarded secret.Major Locations
Alexandria
A city of gleaming white stone, every building is carefully designed and approved to create an atmosphere of serenity and meditation. Alexandria was founded to be the heart of the Sion program and much of the city is organized around the Alethien temple complex where Sions train. The Paladin's headquarters are also here, linked to the temple complex. The white armoured Paladins are a regular sight around the city, escorting trainee Sions and providing security. Many of the residents and businesses in Alexandria are run by Sions or Paladins who are too old to continue to serve; or their descendents. In the plaza at the entrance to the Alethien Temple is a statue of Alexander Ashpool with the inscription "May he serve as an example and a warning".Neo-Yokohama
If any city on Sanctuary could be described as a mercantile hub, it is Neo-Yokohama. The city surrounded the world's only public downport and was home to the most of the Untested. Corporations owned or affiliated with the Ashpools have offices here and there are a variety of businesses to serve foreign trade. The streets are patrolled by members of the Aegis and all crime is harshly punished.Leandropolis
Founded by Solway Ashpool and named after Leander Ashpool, this city was the administrative center of Sanctuary with all government offices located here. The city was built along utilitarian lines, with an absence of aesthetic thought. The city sat in the foothills of the Icespire Mountains which towered over the small city. The city had a large industrial district where goods and weapons were produced to support the colony's goals of self-sufficiency.001
The first colonial settlement on Sanctuary, 001's population was almost entirely AI and the city was built to their tastes and expectations. Free from any regulation on form or function, the city was filled with a diverse array of AI frames and lacked many of the amenities an organic might expect. There were a few restaurants for visiting organics and a small garrison of Aegis to assist with defense. New AI and non-sapient robots were manufactured in the city's factories.Cold Forge
The enormous Cold Forge complex was a city in its own right. Hundreds of thousands of young clones were produced by the cloning vats and then raised in training barracks by AI and adult clones trained for the task. From an early age the clones were taught the Alethien faith and military skills (if Track-02). The psychological health and development of the clones were monitored by teams of experts and advanced AI to ensure stability. Track-01 - Fast grown clones, taking 5 years to mature and living on 15-20 years, were classified as Track-01 clones. These were only grown in the early years of the colony and were all part of the Helot caste. Track-02 - These clones were drawn from DNA of the best soldiers across the Terran sphere and then engineered to eliminate any genetic defects. These grew at the same speed as regular humans and had similar lifespans. The majority of Sanctuary’s population are made up of these clones. Track-03 - There were rumours of a third track of clones being developed before Sanctuary closed itself off to the rest of the Terran sphere.Agoge
The Agoge was a huge military training facility located in the northern taiga of Sanctuary's largest continent. Here young unbound and bound were brought from all over Sanctuary to be tested and then trained in their caste. They were trained with shock-rifles and equipped with Aegis battle armor. The Agoge also contained the medical labs where combat cybernetics were installed. The final, and most controversial, feature of the Agoge was a specialized cloning lab that produced a bio-engineered creature similar to a Zzenddi warform which trainee Aegis and Paladins are required to fight as part of their training. This was the highest cause of injuries and deaths during Agoge training.Industrial Auto-Farms
Much of the arable land on Sanctuary was dedicated to AI managed farms and ranches. The primary goal for Sanctuary was self-sufficiency and these farms were key to that strategy. Much of the food was taken to be processed into long-life rations and then stored across the world to supply the population if the world was attacked.Planetary Defense Batteries
Each city and settlement on Sanctuary was planned with urban defense in mind, especially against a Zzenddi invasion. In addition to these urban defenses a massive network of orbital defense batteries were constructed. Heavily fortified meson cannons and surface to orbit missile batteries were built across the planet by the Ashpools.Lambda Islands
The labs on the Lambda Islands were the first organic settlements on the planet, though these were not more than research complexes. Free from any government oversight or regulations, the major corporations of the Hansa could conduct research more cheaply and on subjects that would be politically or religiously controversial. Overtime, the number of labs here declined as relations between the Ashpools and Hansa soured and Sanctuary's government developed. Some small labs are still on the islands, but generally only run by VENTRISS or various Ashpool linked corporations. The Sanctuary government had begun cleaning up the environmental damage caused by some of the abandoned labs. The Lambda Islands were also the only place other than Neo-Yokohama where foreigners were allowed, though travel to and from the islands was still tightly controlled.Shiva Station
A converted asteroid in the system's asteroid belt, Shiva station was where the Ashpools conducted their planet killer weapons research. This was revealed as part of the agreement with the Republic. After the severing of relations with the Republic the facility had a warning beacon in all languages that any ship approaching would be destroyed. The facility was surrounded by automated weaponry, though much of it pointed towards the station itself.The Site
The Site (also known as the Black Site, the Facility, and the Graveyard) was the most heavily restricted location on Sanctuary. Even amongst the Sanctuary population the location was subject to much rumour and its exact purpose was unknown.
Included Organizations
Comments