Calhaven
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- BASIC INFORMATION: ----------------------------------------------------------------- Official Name in Standard: Calhaven Native Name: Vay'la (VA-ya-LA) Governing Body: The Syndicate Title of the Head of Government: Unknown (if any) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- GEOGRAPHY/POPULATION ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Calhaven System is located rimward of the Federation, near the Ferengi/Federation Border. As a free world, Calhaven enjoys its location between Starbase 25 and the Ferengi Alliance by using established trade and shipping routes. Quadrant/System: Alpha Quadrant/Calhaven System Distance to Nearest Starbase: Starbase 25 (20 days) Suns/Planets: Blue Quasar Four Planets Planetary Configuration of System: Calhaven I B Class, No Moons Calhaven II D Class, Two Moons Calhaven III L Class, No Moons Calhaven IV M Class, No Moons Land/Water Ratio(s) of Planets: Calhaven I None Calhaven II Methane/Argon Ocean 8%/92% Calhaven III None Calhaven IV Liquid Water Ocean 60%/40% External/Outlying Settlements: Mining Stations, Calhaven III Gas Collectors, Calhaven II Inhabited Areas: Calhaven IV is the only inhabited planet in the system. CALHAVEN IV: Of the four planets in the Calhaven System, only Calhaven IV is capible of sustaining humanoid life. It is a dark world. A blue-black ocean with little or no tide patterns. Soil that ranges in color from light gray to black. The surface of the planet is covered by a massive city. What open land remains is blanketed in a thick rain forest. Note - The planet of Calhaven IV is orbited by ten massive weapons platforms. These defensive stations are self-sufficent stations the size of a Class-Two Starbase. These platforms can protect the planet from any bombardment or fleet invasion. Capital City: Calhaven, Calhaven IV (This city covers 60% of the planet) Largest Cities: None (Calhaven is the only city) Satellites/Space Stations: No moons Satellite Communication Net Orbital Tethers/Docking Ports Orbital Weapon Platforms Population: 70 Billion Climate Controlled: Yes Race(s) of Native Sentients: Calhavian 90% Ferengi 5% Other 5% -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ECONOMIC SUMMARY ----------------------------------------------------------------- Economics: The economy as well as the society (see below), is based around crime and criminal activities. On-world, there exists a circular economy that allows the criminals (theives, organized gangs, industral spies...etc.) to prey upon the "normal" citizens (farmers, merchants, teachers...etc.). Then, in turn, the criminals must pay a tithe of 50% of their acquisitions to the local arm of the planet-wide Syndicate. These funds are then trickled down to the "normal" citizens. Off-world, the planet specializes in importing and exporting the materials/goods that are illegal elsewhere in the quadrant. Calhaven always use offworld smugglers to ship their goods as they are reluctant to leave the planet. The Calhaven black market is famed throughout the quadrant for its ability to acquire almost anything and deliver goods without alerting local governments. Monetary Unit: Gold Pressed Latinum Principal Products: Computer "Hacking" equipment Pharmaceutical Products Assassination Contracts Exports/Imports: Illegal Goods / Illegal Goods, Food Major Trading Partners: Ferengi Alliance Illicit Drugs: All Agriculture: Only forty percent of the surface of Calhaven IV is open land, and none of it is arable. This open land is covered with thick jungles of dark twisting trees, blood-red vines, and dangerous animals. All planetary agriculture takes place within huge greenhouses and processing factories. The products this industry creates are distributed to food-collection centers across the planet. Percentage of Arable Land: None Natural Resources: All of the food goods for the planet are either grown in massive factories or imported -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- GOVERNMENT/HISTORY ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Syndicate of Calhaven is an organization whose structure is still a mystery to Federation Intelligence. The following is a amalgamation of rumor and speculation. As best our sociologists can determine, the planet-wide city of Calhaven is divided up into four quadrants. Each of these quadrants is further divided into several regions. Finally these regions are comprised of several zones. Local Government: Each of the zones has a local Syndicate proctor. This representive is not elected by the citizenry at large, nor is there ever an explination give as to why he/her is replaced. The proctor, and his/her staff, is responsible for the collection of tithes from criminal activity, enforcement of Syndicate laws, and peacekeeping. Regional Government: The local proctors report directly to a mid-level Syndicate director. This individual is responsible for the upkeep and profit margin for his/her region. Such concerns as the distribution of food and other resourses, the maintenance of public facilities, and other similar items are all the purview of the Regional Director. Higher Government: The upper eleshion of the Calhaven Syndicate is a total mystery. It has been speculated that the regional directors all report to a central figure, a prefect or govenor, who directly controls all of the activity in his/her quadrant of the city. Further, these four Prefects, together in a counsel, might rule the entire Calhaven System. But this is purely conjecture. A single being might, in fact, rule as a "godfather". But whatever the physical make up of the higher government, one thing is certain. It regulates all import and export, all interplanetary trade, all diplomatic affairs, and all planetary defenses. Member of Federation: No Diplomatic Status: Federation Censure Form of Government: Criminal Syndicate History: The Calhaven species emerged from their primordial oceans millions of years in the past. Over the course of time, they evolved into sentient beings. But the relative isolation of the planet limited the growth of the culture to a mid-21st century level. This stagnation gave rise to rampant crime and the entire society moved toward the edge of anarchy. In a move similar to that of Kahless the Klingon, a single figure rose to reform and rescue her dying culture. Though the name of this person was lost over time, she remains as a patron saint of the Calhavian people. Called the "Hooded Woman", she is a quasi-mystical figure of both prosperity and death. All crime on the planet was forced into organization. This centralization took decades and many wars and riots had to be endured before the end. Finally, however, the government, economy and society was saved from destruction by embrassing crime. Three hundred years before the present era, the Calhavians made their first contact. A starship landed in the middle of the central city and its strange large eared occupants claimed the planet in the name of the Ferengi Alliance. Unfortunately for the Ferengi, they found themselves on a world more corrupt and more organized than their own. After days of discussion a political and trade treaty was formed between the two worlds. The major result of this agreement was the rapid growth of Calhaven into a modern power. Warp drive and all of the other technological advancements were given to the Calhavians and they began to travel the stars. Federation sociologists speculate that, due to their organization and ruthless criminal minds, the Calhavians could have easily dominated and taken over the economy-based Ferengi. The reason they did not was due to an ironic turn of events. When the Calhavians began to travel between worlds and interact with the galaxy at large, they discovered that they were fiercely xenophobic. A small few could tolerate other species and these figures became the basis for the Calhavian Merchant Navy. Of course by the modern era most Calhavians have no need to leave their world since every smuggler and outlaw in the quadrant eventually comes to Calhaven. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- RACE/SOCIETY/CULTURE ----------------------------------------------------------------- CALHAVIANS General Physical Appearance: As a species the Calhavians are of average height but are usually thin and often gaunt looking. Their unique skin and eye pigments have evolved due to their Blue Quasar sun. In the prehistorical jungles that once covered the planet, ancient Calhavians found their gray hued skin perfect for blending into the dark undergrowth. It is suspected that the bright purple color of their eyes once allowed them to see the ultraviolet spectrum, but this ability has been lost over the eons. The modern Calhavians are distinguished by the sharp cut to their facial bones as well as the gauntness of their physique. (NOTATION - The following statistics are based on average information for both genders) Height - 5'8" (Male average) 5'5" (Female average) Weight - 170lbs(Male average) 150lbs(Female average) Skin Color - All shades of gray ranging from ash to charcoal Hair Color - All shades of gray ranging from ash to charcoal Eye Color - All shades of purple SOCIAL STRUCTURE: In most cultures, the rich naturally have sway over the poor. This is especially true for a planet run by crime. Thus, due to the criminal hierarchy that dominates all aspects of their lives, the Calhavians maintain a strict but violent social structure. They favor groups for the most part; group farming, group businesses, etc. This has often been compared to the "gang-mentality" of the late 20th century. A single leader controls any given group. Beneath him are a handful of secondary officers, and under them the rest of the group. It is easy to be ejected from such an association (disloyality being the most common factor), but there are no outcasts. Ejected members can easily find a place in another group if he/she has the nessessary skills. As a result there is a great deal of movement from one group to another. In addition wars both physical and economic often break out between the groups, causing great damage and many fatalities. Yet, despite how loose this appears, in almost every aspect of life - from farming to smuggling - there is a carefully maintained structure. In much the same way as a Klingon officer rises in rank by killing his superior, the Calhavians can increase their position by outdoing those above them. This might be in farming or in thevery. A series of special conditions have been established to prevent the ambitious from becomming bloody. To an outsider this appears chaotic and horribly violent, but to the Calhavians it is order and structure. LANGUAGES: With the advent of the modern era, Calhavenese has become a dying language, Federation Standard is the most commonly used dialogue with Ferenginese following close behind it. The Calhavians do not seem to need the national identity which a native language brings. RELIGIONS: As in regard to the language, the native religion of the planet (a pantheon of deities) is dying out. CULTURAL INFORMATION: Aside from the political and social structures mentioned above, the childhood of the Calhavians should be discussed. Most children are not acknowledged by their parents. Instead they spend the first five years of their lives in massive "Nurseries". There they are raised and taught to read, write, and care for themselves by staff members. At age five, the children are "graduated" from the Nursery and released into the streets. Many disappear into sweat-shops or prostitution rings. Those that manage to avoid this fate are recruited into one of the many juvenile street gangs that haunt the alleys of the city. Within the gang, the young children learn lockpicking, pickpocketing, begging, mugging and all of the nessessary skills they need to survive on the streets. Falure or disloyality is met with harsh retribution. Between that and the gang wars, many children are killed before they reach the age of fourteen. Those that survive are rounded up at the age of fifteen and inducted into the Calhavian military service. From fifteen to eighteen the Calhavian teen are trained and educated in self-defense, university-type learning, piloting skills and gunnery skills. The massive orbiting defensies which protect the planet are manned by these young men and women. Upon reaching the age of eighteen, the young adults return to society to find their place in the many businesses, farms, factories, smuggling rings and/or illicit entertainment services available to them. TRADITIONS: Thievery - All Calhavians remember their days as thieves and beggers. As a result they delight in the slight of hand, lockpicking and pickpocketing. When they become adults, those who are not professional thieves, often try to steal from friends and relatives. Though they never admit that they have stolen anything, nor give anything back, the act has become a sign of affection and friendship. Day of Enigma - Perhaps because of how they are raised, the Calhavians have a strong fondness for riddles and puzzle-solving. One of the Planetary Holidays is called "The Day of Enigma". During this planet-wide celebration there are pariades, street performers, and contests of wit. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Created by Brian W Suskind (suskind@ix.netcom.com) Created as background history for a new character - Davon Talis posted to the USS NELSON. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Please check one: This is an original idea, all rights reserved by Brian W Suskind XX Original - All rights reserved by creator named above. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-