Ceres

Ceres is a Dwarf planet located within the Asteroid Belt in the Sol system, within the Milky Way Galaxy Galaxy Galaxy. During the early days of Humanity's expansion into the stars, it was utilized as a mining base, and became an operations base.

In the modern day, it is the largest body in the Belt, and the most inhabited single body in the region. The world has been built upon and over so many times that the entire dwarf planet has become an ecumonopolis, with huge towering spire and cities covering the entire surface of the dwarf planet.

Various methods of increasing the gravity have made it a perfectly comfortable world to live in. It even has an artificial atmosphere, which has allowed people to breathe on the planet without needing oxygen masks. It is famously referred to as the "Homemaker of Sol", due to it's contributions to colonizing the Asteroid Belt, and its immense industrial capabilities.

It has one artificial moon, which handles most of it's industrial capabilities in the modern day, which is called Proserpine, from the daughter of Ceres from ancient Roman Mythology.

## **History**

The largest object in the
asteroid belt, the dwarf planet was subject to study by early space-faring
humans in the mid 21st century. The first probe to reach the world
was the Dawn probe in early 2040. The dwarf planet was studied by the probe. Subsequent
probes discovered a liquid water ocean beneath the surface.

It was originally settled as a base for the various miners who had left Earth to mine asteroids, and became something of an impromptu capital for the local miners. Various buildings were constructed that utilized spin gravity, as were stations constructed around it, to recreate earth-like gravity conditions. As more and more miners and eventual colonists arrived, Ceres became more and more built up, both on the surface, and underneath it. Cities began to form after a few decades of this, creating a Capital city at one point that was referred to simply as Ceres City.

Ceres eventually became filled with mining veterans and experts, whom had no more work to do on or around Ceres, as nearly everything conceivable had been done to Ceres - It had been mined of it's resources, fully inhabited, home to billions, and was no longer the single economic hub of the Asteroid-Belt, now having to compete with other belt sectors and their growing capitals, such as Juno and Euphrosyne, all of which threatened to break it's economy.

In order to kick-start it's economy, Ceres became the center of exporting it's workers to other regions of the Asteroid Belt, and assisting them in turning them into O'Niell Cylinders, and other artificial habitats for people to live in. It was also used as a base for the repairing of various ships, and became something of a world for shore leave, which made an incentive to increase the production of various cultural institutions, and recreational facilities. This created a cycle of more people wanting to move to Ceres, and Ceres now having more money to invest in those same institutions.

Ceres became an Ecumonopolis in the 41st century after a gradual climb to that point. It was the first world in Sol that was classified as an Ecumonopolis, with the possible exception of asteroid colonies and worlds, such as Phobos or Deimos. Ceres would also go on to become the blueprint for the conceptualized Worldship, which would become a major part of the colonization of new solar systems for the Confederacy of Borealis.

## **Physical Description**

Ceres has a diameter of 975 km,
with an extremely low gravitational index of 0.03 G. It has an atmospheric pressure
of 1.3. It has an artificial day of 1.003 Earth days. It is 4.5 billion years old.

The entire surface of Ceres is a world spanning city, reaching from pole to pole, and all around the equator, and everything in between. The skyline is filled with spires and towers, many former industrial towers which have now been converted into residential regions, as much of it's industry has been transported into orbit. Many of its cities expanded in a circular fashion, and this has become visible from orbit.

The world possesses an artificial atmosphere, created in the 38th century, to allow the local inhabitants to breathe on the surface. Since it's placement, the inhabitants of Ceres have made efforts to grow various wildlife on their world to make it more colourful. Various methods of installing artificial gravity have ensured that the planet has gravity akin to 1G for Humans.

Rain is a rare occurrence on Ceres. As such, there are rarely any large clouds.

## **Sectors**

Ceres is divided into various Sectors, which usually began as small cities, which expanded over time until the planet became an Ecumonopolis. These Sectors often have their own particular focuses.

### **Ceres Sector**

Ceres Sector is the most well known Sector on Ceres, and is often considered the Capital Sector of the Dwarf Planet. Ceres Sector was one the absolute powerhouse of industrial power within the entire Asteroid Belt.

However, by the 38th century, with the addition of an atmosphere to Ceres, this industry powerhouse had to be redirected in order to preserve the environment. The Ceres Sector now specializes in training new engineers for the rest of Sol and within the Confederacy of Borealis.

### **Srathe Sector**

Srathe Sector is the second largest Sector on Ceres, taking up nearly the entirety of the North Pole. It is perhaps best known for being the region where the majority of Confederacy of Borealis armed forces go for shore leave. It is a highly focused recreational Sector, seeking to cater to as many of the needs and desires of visitors to the dwarf planet as possible. Night clubs, shows, and over indulgences are the Stathe Sectors specialty.

It is also the Sector to go to to acquire various illegal substances, as it has a black market ring in the criminal underground. Many people travel to this Sector for the purposes of illegal trade.

### **Glevale Sector**

Glevale Sector is located along the South Pole, and was home to a great number of well known engineers. Many famous engineers throughout Sol's history have resided there due to ti's unique architectural styles, and the requirements that came with establishing such a unique style and sector.

The Sector has a unique architectural style compared to the rest of Ceres, building huge pyramids and pointed towers high into the sky. The region became a major scientific hub in the late 56th century, as a great number of scientists would bring various artifacts and new technologies from throughout the galaxy back to Sol, and would take them to various facilities on Ceres to be examined by engineers there.

### **Priepool Sector**

Priepool is a large residential Sector, which puts a primary focus on being a comfortable area for people to live. Immense residential apartment blocks rise high into the skies, aiming to provide both comfortable and spacious living for the Trillions of Cererians. It is one of the most inhabited Sectors, housing 1 Trillion people within it alone.

It also possesses an incredibly series of public transports, unrivalled anywhere else in Sol. This is designed to make it easier for the people who reside in this Sector to get to and from their jobs in other Sectors easily and quickly, maximizing both space and time.

Priepool is perhaps one of the most interconnected Sectors on all of Ceres, as nearly every other Sector requires immense infrastructure throughout the Sector in order for Ceres to function as a cohesive world.

### **Idostead Sector**

Idostead Sector is an incredibly densely packed and busy Sector, as a great number of commerce and trade regions are located here. possibly the most dangerous Sector on Ceres. There are hundreds of interconnected bridges, buildings, and pathways, making Idostead a very complex Sector to navigate.

There are various gangs which are active in this region, which have found themselves able to constantly outplay and outsmart the local and even solar authorities.

## **Gangs of Ceres**

There are a large number of gangs that are active throughout Ceres, which engage in illegal trading of various restricted technologies and substances. Like throughout many places within Sol and the Confederacy of Borealis, there are several illegal substances which gangs can sell and trade to get easy money. One of the biggest trades the gangs engage in is the selling of a substance known as Red Core. These gangs will also engage in conflict with one another to protect their stashes, and to keep territory under their control.

On Ceres, there are a great number of gangs within the Idostead Sector in particular, though there are several active within the Srathe Sector and the Ceres Sector.

Major gangs include the Jade Sharks, the Emerald Ravens, and the Zaeden Association.

### **Jade Sharks**

The Jade Sharks are a gang operating within the Idostead Sector. It is well known for it's association with the colour red, and the possessiveness of their territory. Several of it's members have been augmented. Many of their members have been engaged in firefights against authorities, killing many over the years.

The Jade Sharks are noteworthy for their ability to reach other Sectors. They are well known for being able to get Red Core to the Srathe Sector in particular, where they have almost a monopoly on the trade in that region. The Confederacy of Borealis, and the local Ceres authorities are unaware as to how the Jade Sharks are able to do this.

### **Emerald Ravens**

The Emerald Ravens are another major gang operating within the Idostead Sector. They are identifiable by a very retro-aesthetic style of clothing, which utilizes very limited advanced technology, which makes them much harder to track. They are also associated with the colour green.

Their name seems to come from their inexplicable access to various drones, particularly Ceres Law Enforcement drones, which are almost impossible to differentiate unless an expert is present. This means they have the ability to have eyes all over their territory, while no one knows that they're being watched. This has made them even more elusive than the Jade Sharks, with whom they have a long and bloody rivalry.

### **Zaeden Association**

The Zaeden Association is located within the Idostead and the Priepool Sectors. It is lead by Anka Zaeden, whom has become one of the msot wanted individuals on Ceres.

The Zaeden Association is a particularly diverse gang, with many aliens within it's gang. The gang seems to have a monopoly on getting aliens into Ceres illegally, and several then opt to become a part of the gang. It is unknown how exactly they have this ability. They are also major producers of Red Core, which they distribute carefully throughout their Sectors of influence.

## Culture

Ceres has had a swing of culture throughout it's history. Originally a mining colony and little more, it had a very work focused culture. Anyone there was there for the purpose of work, and as such, it was a very utilitarian world, with only a few entertainment ventures.

As the centuries have passed however, and more and more of the industry of Ceres attracted more and more workers, the demand for leisure became more and more apparent. This resulted in various grants and loans being given to leisure companies. The world also saw a flux of migration from the rest of Sol, and also more space-farers using the world as a shore leave location. Industry eventually was moved into the Cererian Orbit, to avoid polluting the artificial atmosphere. Ceres however still retains a principled work ethic, which many Cererians pride themselves on.

Ceres is also a world which has a high value on artisan projects and encourages innovation amongst its population. A large number of artisans were attracted to the world due to various opportunities presented by the Cererian government. There are entire sectors on Ceres which are designated to recreational activity such as night-clubs, social gatherings and and artistic endeavours, such as museums, theater, and art-shows.

All this being said, there are still plenty of sectors which are dedicated to work - One of the most common exports of Ceres is that of their workers, who they will send to other regions of Sol and of other solar systems to assist in the construction of habitats and the buildup of planets. Ceres is something of an engineering capital throughout much of the Confederacy of Borealis. Because there are so many opportunities, Ceres never has a lack of engineers. A great number of people are also responsible to maintaining the various sectors that make up their city planet, working alongside simple robots and AI to maintain the planet. Recycling is also a huge part of Cererian culture - Nothing is wasted on Ceres. Huge piles of recyclable materials are sent to Prosperpine to be converted into something new and useful every week.

While the planet gets plenty of water brought in from other worlds and asteroids, which is then added into the water cycle of the world, there is little rain on Ceres. When the rain does arrive, it is referred to as "The Water-Fall", and many Cererians will go outside and allow themselves to become soaked by it.

It is a world which embodies the phrase 'Work hard, play hard', which most Cererians seem to embody in themselves.
[[Category:]]