Ashvini

Listed in recovered Star League star charts as Industrial Colony 12334-HMC "Ashvini" under the Hadesmatic Industries charter. Listed officially in 2390 as part of the New Suns Corporate Sector, it was actually discovered and colonized much earlier than that date. Records show resources being moved to the Ashvini facility as early as 2345.

Ashvini is a small world orbiting a massive B3 IV Blue-white Subgiant. It occupies the outer most orbit with the other planets being barren rock with violent tectonic activity.

Ashvini has a thin atmosphere that is toxic to human-life without additional support from personal equipment such as respirators with oxygen supplies and filters.

Ashvini has little in the way of resources, however the other planets in system do have minerals that are easy to access. The only difficulties to overcome was the violent tectonic shifts that made mining a danger and the remoteness of the system.

When the Uprising occurred Hadesmatic Industries abandoned the system to the rebel forces without a fight and simply withdrew, seeing it as not being financially viable to even attempt to hold it.

However there were clashes with the White Star mercenaries and the local security forces over various depots and assets. This conflict lasted only long enough for White Star to "teach them a lesson", with the security forces suffering heavy losses before the mercenaries withdrew.

Ashvini's corporate overlords were quickly replaced by the commander of the security forces. Fearful of reprisals and a return of corporate forces, martial law was declared and their has been military rule ever since with no contact with the rest of the New Suns Republic.

The Ashvini colony has been self-sufficient and become experts at keeping the pre-star league tech running, in some cases, even improving and advancing the designs. None of the technology on Ashvini is past the Terran Hegemony era and while it is impressive that it is all in excellent working condition, is it still outdated by today's standards. However, what is of note is how the entire facility is powered.

At the center of Ashvini City is the reactor that powers everything on the planet. The techs and government officials carefully guard the facility and access is highly restricted. It is claimed that it is a cold fusion reactor that uses a fuel source other than the standard uranium/plutonium ones.

ROM agents have managed to get images of the reactor. However, all images and recordings of the reactor become unexplainably corrupted and unrecoverable. Agents describe the reactor as a metallic cluster of welded tubes with a single toggle. The reactor emits a cloud of intensely cold mist as a possible by-product of its operation. These agents were unable to learn more and all suffered various stages of mental stress and psychological trauma out of place for the mission.

Apart from a few warm lakes and rivers, most of the water in Ashvini is located in aquafers underground. All of the water is run through treatment and reclamation in order to not to waste any of this resource. Most of Ashvini is divided up into two geological areas, the plains and the "forests". The forest area is a combination of large hexagonal grey stone columns of up to 30m or more in height, in close proximity to each other. On these columns grow a thick stalked ivy like vine that has large pink-purple leaves. This gives this area the appearance of being a wooded forest.

Other than smaller insects and invertebrates, the only major fauna on Ashvini is a white winged creatures spend their lives in flight, not even landing to reproduce. Their eyes are clustered at the end of long tentacles.

Ashvini is currently under the rule of General Aldous Graham. He is a man with a cold, calculating air about him. He is know for being merciless and passionate, having survived several coups and assassinations. One reportedly led by his own daughter and was put down with all the leaders being executed. His hand picked successor and commander of the security forces, is large muscular man named Robert Dryden. He speaks before he thinks and is too direct according to diplomatic circles and he has a hair trigger and has flown into rage over the tiniest perceived slights.

The Administrator Prime in charge of the reactor is Peter Richie. He is an average looking western male in his early mid-life. In conversations he has displayed a nihilistic attitude and that he is a bit of a xenophobe. It was someone within his agency that has contacted the NSR using the planet's HyperPulse Generator. This action resulted in the NSR dispatching contractors to investigate.

Upon arrival, private contractors from the NSR ( the New Oslo Overwatch Battalion) immediately received distress calls from the capital city indicating it was under attack by unknown forces. The conflict centered around the reactor in the center of the city, which the enemy seemed intent on seizing control of. However, enemy forces were engaged by N.O.O.B. A fierce battle ensued with the former Com-Guard fighters managing to protect the rescue efforts of civilians trapped in the buildings nearby, and keeping the reactor from being taken with minimal loss of life.