Reeferon

Reeferon is a somewhat isolated and secretive neutral terracity in the Nostrom Cardinal Galaxy.

## Description

### Overview

Reeferon is the 3rd planet in the Influx System. Historically, it was covered in oceans and large landmasses. It possesses one natural moon, known as Lobe, in addition to several artificial satellites. Reeferon's gravity is below standard, but not to an extreme degree, while still allowing for large lifeforms to exist. Currently, Reeferon is a terracity, with a planetary defense shield visible over the planet's atmosphere.

### Geography

Historically, Reeferon has been covered in large islands and landmasses, but even larger oceans, which covered over 80% of the planet's surface.

### Urban Layout

Reeferon is now covered in cyberformed surface converted into a terracity. Megacities are built in grids rising several tiers into the sky and under the surface. Due to the flight ability of Cephloids, many buildings have no physical connections, with entrances and exits high in the air. Architecture mostly appears built for functionality over aesthetics, utilizing imposing monolithic shapes that could either be blocky or jagged, although buildings of importance often have at least some degree of luxury built into them.

### Environment

Landmasses were known to have different climates throughout the year, and based on their location. Reeferon's large oceans and coastal landmasses had maritime climates. When artificially controlled by a Weather Control System, the atmosphere was made closer to the maritime atmosphere that the Cephloids were more familiar with.

## Inhabitants

### Citizens

The Reefian government only allows Cephloids to gain citizenship and permanent residence in order to maintain the planet's intellectual stability, and thus, all citizens on Reeferon are Cephloids. Despite this, members of other species are sometimes granted temporary residence on Reeferon, which could span from a few local days to several years.

### Native species

The native sapient species on Reeferon are the Cephloids, a race of tall, enigmatic, squid-like semi-humanoids. The Cephloids are extremely intelligent, and have natural psychic abilities, one of which allows them to hover and fly. They communicate telepathically, and thus, Reefian megacities are known to be eerily quiet.

### Flora

Reeferon's flora is near-extinct, with only a few specimens kept alive in the offices of the Neuron Institute and Cortex Institute. One specimen brought to the interstellar offices of the institutions is the Inverted Spine, a rigid plant that appears to resemble the spine of a humanoid, although many will note that it appears to end in a point.

### Fauna

Although Reeferon's fauna is now extinct, a creature often shown in the few pieces of Cephloid artwork that exist is an aquatic predator known as the Lockjaw. Lockjaws were armored creatures with a mouth full of sharp teeth, which would clamp on to prey with incredible force. Strange biological mechanisms within their mouths would function as a sort of buzz saw, and shred prey to pieces. Lockjaws were the predator of the Cephloid evolutionary ancestors.

## Government and politics

Reeferon is ruled by a cyberocracy, headed by the Supreme Intellect, with the Neural Council, the legislative and advisory branch of the Reefian government, being below the Supreme Intellect. Judicial branches are organized under the Intellectual Authority. Worlds, colonies, and real estate under Cephloid control, such as other worlds in the Influx System, are claimed in the name of the Cortex Institute, although banking embassies are held by the Neuron Institute. The Supreme Intellect has never been seen by any non-Cephloids, and it is unknown if the Supreme Intellect is an AI or a cyborg Cephloid, like the members of the Neural Council.

### Military

Although Reeferon has no standing organic army, they are known to have robotic security forces on guard in their colonies, bank vaults, and Cortex Institute offices. Orbital defense grids are present over Reeferon.

### Law Enforcement

Although crime is widely believed to be nonexistent on Reeferon, the Intellectual Authority manages a standing police force, which is made up of Cephloids who often have cybernetic enhancements. Intellectual Authority officers often see action outside of Reeferon, keeping assets secure and persecuting those who have attempted to strike against Cephloid assets. Intellectual Authority officers are widely feared outside of the Cephloid population, due to both the frightening appearance of their species, their psychic abilities, and their method of temporarily lobotomizing wanted targets.

### Public Works

Most Reefian public works are unknown. However, it is known that their manufacturing industries are managed by robots in the megacity lower levels. The Cortex Institute, which appears to function as the planetary government, is known to be the center of scientific thought and developments for the Cephloid species. Sometimes, prominent intellectuals of other species are granted extended residency on the surface of Reeferon to study at the Cortex Institute.

### Economics

Reeferon manufactures and exports amounts of highly advanced technology, although the world's main industry is that of commerce. They house the Neuron Institute, a powerful intergalactic commerce guild that funds governments, handles interstellar transactions, and protects reserve credits of many states, such as the reformed Eiel Kingdom and other neutral states in the Nostrom Cardinal Galaxy. Although the United Republic of Amer Prime does not use their reserve, they do often utilize other services provided by the Neuron Institute. Trade corporations and other cartels often make business with Reeferon for financial aid, logistical support, or supplies, usually negotiated on the moon of Lobe or another artificial satellite. Assets controlled by the Neuron Institute can be found across several galaxies, making Reeferon a highly influential planet.

## History

### Early history

Reeferon formed as a mostly oceanic planet, although it also possessed some large landmasses. The earliest known ancestors of the Cephloid species arose in its seas, as an aquatic squid-like creature that possessed natural psychic abilities. The creatures evolved two arm-like limbs, and started to gain articulate hands, fashioning tools and hive-like primitive settlements undersea. Gradually, they evolved to hover out of the water and onto land, becoming the semi-humanoid proto-Cephloid. The proto-Cephloids evolved rapidly, gaining higher intelligence and more proficient psychic abilities, soon able to construct cities and rapidly work their way through technological developments. Modern Cephloids appeared during the era of technological developments, where the Cephloids advanced on a planetary scale, unlocking all their planet's resources, creating Light Drives, replicators, constructing megacities, and creating a space program to colonize and expand across the Influx System, beginning trade and commerce with other hyperspace-faring species.

### Commonwealth

The Reefian government formed during the beginning of trade with other species, organized as the Cortex Institute. The Neuron Institute was formed as the seat of the rising Cephloid-managed commerce guild, which many worlds were looking to due to the high intelligence and efficiency provided by the Cephloids. As Reeferon grew as an interstellar power in the outer rims of the Nostrom Cardinal Galaxy, it attracted the attention of the newly-formed Commonwealth. Seeing the potential in growth by peacefully joining the Commonwealth, an alliance was formed, opening up Neuron Institute banks and other embassies across Commonwealth space. However, in exchange for their services, Reeferon remained neutral in other Commonwealth affairs. Utilizing Commonwealth hyperlanes and ease of movement through their space, Reeferon became linked to many sectors across the Nostrom Cardinal Galaxy and beyond, spreading out independently of Commonwealth command, allowing Reeferon to grow in its own influence. When the Commonwealth collapsed in the wake of the Amerian Revolution, Reeferon quietly cut all ties to the Commonwealth, and remained in business after their collapse, being one of the few powers allied with the Commonwealth to escape the collapse unscathed.

### Post-Commonwealth

Reeferon began forming relations with the United Republic of Amer Prime shortly after it formed. Although the URAP central government, based on Amer, refused to accept Cephloid reserves to prevent the Cephloids from gaining complete control of their credit, Neuron Institute banking systems are still extensively used by the Republic.