Cordel

Cordel is a planet in the Euxinus system of the Delta Quadrant of the Milky Way Galaxy. Located on the Northwest Passage of the Galactic Autobahn, Cordel is a key world for the Imperial and Federal Union providing a major staging area for R.u.B patrols of Deep Delta, as well as a stop-over for shipping between the Faelanic Quietude and the R.u.B Union. In addition, Cordel is a major supplier of chymetic condensations, possessing some of the richest planetary deposits of condensates in known space.

Cordel is also known for its ecosystem, which is notably hostile to human settlement and expansion. The majority of Cordel’s surface is lightly populated, with only a few regions rendered ‘safe’ for large scale high density settlements. The Cordellian biosphere is dominated by aggressive fauna and flora, which seem attracted to and hostile to humanity, for unknown reasons. This quality of the Cordellian ecosystem has heavily defined the world’s history and political development, as well as its relationship with the R.u.B Union.

Cordel was originally colonised by humans from the same Old Terra that dispatched colony ship that would land on Gerstintor, Albion, and Nakabe. However, the harsh nature of the Cordellian environment prevented extensive technological development, and the inhabitants were forced to adapt what technology they could manufacture using limited resources for survival. As a result, many of the earliest records on the settlement of Cordel have been lost, but substantial evidence points to the settlers originating from the Novus Imperium Romanum and Federated States.

Astrography

The Euxinus system is located in the Delta Quadrant, rimward and spinward of the Talosian Expanse that stretches through to the core R.u.B worlds. The star Euxinus itself is a G type yellow dwarf star, with standard output and stability. The Euxinus system contains six planets, with three small rocky planets and three gas giants. These triplets are separated by a considerable asteroid belt.

Cordel proper is the third planet in the Euxinus system, and has two moons: Corvus and Corax.

Description

Geographic Map of Cordel

Cordel is a Terran type Civilised/Death World, with 1.2 G gravities at the surface, and slightly higher than average atmospheric pressure. Cordel has a notably cool climate, with the equatorial regions having a similar climate to temperate zones on other Terran Type worlds.

Geography

Cordel has three continents, along with a large number of islands.

Pontus is the main continent, with the overwhelming majority of the world's population residing in its coastal regions. Most human settlements, both major and minor are concentrated on its coasts, with the mountainous interior dominated by Cordel's megafauna. Western Pontus contains the largest single Safe Zone on Cordel, defined by the natural frontiers of the Tomoy Mountains.

Gewrera is the largest continent. Located east of Pontus, Gewera is separated from Pontus by the narrow Atlesian archipelago, along with the small Noricum Sea and the Gallian Straits. Gewrera is often divided into North and South continents, connected by a narrow isthmus. Gewrera is sparsely populated, with only the Kingdom of Noricum boasting major settlements in its southern regions. Much of Gewrera is an Uncleared Territory, with even the East Noricum Safe Zone regularly breached by megafauna incursions.

Finally, east of Gewrera and separated from Portus by the Dunaid Ocean, lie the large islands collectively known as Arketia. Arketia is separated from Pontus by the largest oceans of Cordel, the Atlas Ocean in the north, and the Ilanian Ocean in the South. Arketia the has been the site of most recent planetary colonisation efforts, due to ease of clearing out its small islands as stepstones to larger safezones.

Ecology

One of Cordel's most notable characteristics is its ecosystem. The majority of the native ecosphere is defined by an implacable hostility towards alien life, which includes all human settlers, and other Terran derived life. These characteristics are especially notable in the planet's megafauna, which seem to congregate closely around human settlements, in order to attack both the settlers and their structures. These incursions do not seem to be tied to 'normal' feeding activity, as the same species will interact relatively normally when far from human settlements, but instead an independent instinctual reaction. The exact cause of these characteristics is unknown, but is believed to be tied to the unusual richness of planetary condensate deposits on Cordel.

History

Imperial Era

The Imperial Era began in 1104 P.L. when the R.u.B Colonial Bureau survey vessel SMS Astrolabe arrived in the Euxinus system. The Euxinus system had been previously identified as a potentially inhabitable citizen, but the presence of well developed and extensive Old Terran colonies on the surface of Cordel was a surprise to R.u.B colonial administrators. Communications and first contact officially began soon after the Astrolabe reported its discovery, with the rapid appointment and arrival of an R.u.B ambassador for Cordel.

Once communications had been established, and the initial discussions concluded, the political situation developed quickly in response to the arrival of the R.u.B Union. The political situation on Cordel had been steadily shifting in favour of the Confederated Republic for much of the past century since the end of the Forest War. The Confederates had been able to establish a number of colonies in Atrexia, and had successfully reclaimed much of its northeastern coastal territories that had been overrun by Cordel's ever present fauna during the Forest War. However, the arrival of the R.u.B Union presented a major opportunity for the other polities of Cordel.

The Kingdom of High Atlas was the first to express its interest in acceding to the Contract & Charter of Union, with the Kingdom of Noricum coming soon after. High Atlas had never fully recovered from the population and territory loss during the Forest War, and had seen its Safe Zone shrink due to repeated incursion by the planet's fauna. Only four months after first contact, King Titus V offered to accede to the Contract & Charter, with the understanding that the R.u.B Union would offer training, equipment, and assistance in reclaiming lost territory.

Politics

Political Map of Cordel

Although the majority of the Cordellian surface is lightly populated, due to the world’s ever present fauna and other hazards, several major polities exist on the planet’s surface, all of which have accepted membership in the R.u.B Union. Each of these polities is generally centred around a Safe Zone, an area of Cordel which has been rendered relatively secure from the notably hostile Cordelian ecosystem. Significant populations exist outside the Safe Zones, and the major polities, but such populations tend to exist in either small, secure, settlements, or as roving nomads. However, do to either lack of sufficient population and power, or other reasons, these groups have been unable to carve out their own Safe Zones, and generally lack political organization above the town or tribal levels.

Kingdom of Noricum

Flag of the Kingdom of Noricum

The Kingdom of Noricum is the easternmost of the major polities on Cordel, with holdings straddling Pontus and Gewrera. The Kingdom of Noricum acceded to the Contract and Charter of Union in 1106 P.L., after membership in the R.u.B Union saw the Kingdom of High Atlas enter an economic boon, and the wealth of chymetic condensates on Cordel was publicised. Noricum's holdings on Gewrera contain some of the largest condensate mines on Cordel located within an established safe zone.

Cordellian Confederated Republic

The Cordellian Confederated Republic (known colloquially as the CCR or the Confederacy) is the largest state on Cordel, and the only state that has yet to sign the Contract and Charter of Union. Located on the western side of Pontus, the Confederacy controls much of an extensive coastal plain, with its frontiers anchored by the central mountain ranges of Pontus. These territories are among the most fertile and rich areas of Cordel, and thus supports an extensive population, with a well developed economy. This has made the CCR the most powerful polity on Cordel, pre-Imperial contact.

Emmelhof

Emmelhof is the newest polity on Cordel, and the only Imperial holding on the planet's surface. Emmelhof is a Noble Estate under a cadet branch of the House of Gaupp, holding the title Margrave of the Cordellian Banks. Located on Neumark Island, the first safe zone to be carved out with R.u.B aid, Emmelhof is the centre of R.u.B activity on the planet. Boasting one of the planets four voidports, Emmelhof has grown wealthy from being one of the few points for interstellar trade on the planet's surface and its administrative functions, as well as for its extensive condensate refineries.

Economy

Interstellar

Cordel's contribution to the wider interstellar economy are focused heavily on both the transportation and resource sectors. The Euxinus system is a major nexus for several large and stable leylines, making it a strategic location along the Northwest Passage.