Solaria

The PC's arrived at Solaria, a TL8 agricultural world with a population of about sixty million. The populace lives mainly on the coasts of various tropical marginal seas and islands, as the interior is desolate, dangerous wilderness. Solaria is a breadbasket and could serve as a food source for all of the worlds in the local cluster, assuming the local elites could shuck off their reactionary ways. Whichever company secures this trade would benefit greatly and MF knows that. Even worse, MF is trying to establish a J-3 route through Odin to Mertactor. It is important that the MV Ruby Costa prevent MF from establishing itself here first.

Leadership is a permanent wealthy aristocracy of the descendants of Tyrians (think Spanish colonials), who monopolize large estate land ownership, higher government, and military posts through access to off-world goods. The Auld Tyrian ruling class lives at TL11, restricting access to such technology as gravitics, energy weapons, and such. Most of the populace are semi-literate farmers and ranchers, with a small urbanized middle class constantly agitating for more representation. Population growth is typical for such a world, but much of the world is covered in ancient ruins left from the Sindalian Empire’s fall. Solaria’s population was once much larger, and this is very much a post-apocalypse society. The planet maintains a small number of TL12 fighters and a single 800-ton warship of archaic Tyrian design for the orbital defense of Solaria but otherwise relies on TL8 torpedoes for ground defense. The stripped wreckage of an ancient Sindalian/Tyrian high port hangs in orbit over Solaria. 

GeDeCo is banned from the planet due to their interference in local politics in decades past, and bulk commerce remains somewhat inefficient. A GeDeCo-constructed but now nationalized commercial high port serves bulk freighters, but the interface is now handled solely through locally manufactured TL8/9ish shuttles with rocket engines and 2hrs of thrust. There is a separate downport for small starships of the sort more welcome on Solaria; small vessels are seen as less disruptive by local elites than representatives of major corporations. It is located on a small island offshore from the capital city Disryata; offworlders attempting to leave the island are restricted to local tech levels only but are otherwise welcome to travel with appropriate permits. 

There is a major religious festival associated with the upcoming harvest, well known for lots and lots of eating, drinking, and partying. It started two days ago and will run for a week. Lots of earthy contests, opportunities for sex, and wrestling. Also pickpockets and drunken brawls with farmhands. The local Auld Tyrians are a reasonable market for off-world goods, especially luxury goods and consumables. After the rulers have their pick, the rest can be sold to the Sindali. 

The MV Marluc Ghisli is currently in-system attempting to negotiate a trade deal between McClellan Factors and the Solarian government about agricultural exports, but this is going terribly slow due to cultural difficulties. The local Tyrian ruling caste is fine with the slow pace of things and attempts to further integrate Solaria are often opposed in a very passive-aggressive way. The ship’s broker/diplomat (Leopold Muugadar), two assistants, and a small security team are stuck on the starport island conducting interminable discussions with a variety of ministers and grandees, all of whom wish to ensure that no one faction monopolizes access to what MT is bringing to the table. The MT team is staying in the Bidari Exia, a nice hotel near the starport. They have a small security detachment of three ship’s troops discreetly armed. 

The MV Ruby Costa’s crew may notice two specific ships parked at the starport. The first is a 200-ton Salamander-class Free Trader. This is the Morrick, run by a semi-notorious pirate, Cassian Sarpulla.  Sitting quietly nearby is the MV Calphurnia, bearing Arkesh colors. It appears to be an entirely normal 400-ton freighter, albeit well-armed with triple beam turrets, a large crew, and likely with upgrades under the hood.

Active NPC List from Solaria

McLellan Factors

• Leopold Muugadar - MF Head Negotiator/Broker
• Andrea Atkins - MF Assistant
• Bodrick Bensellton - MF Assistant
• Uneaux - MF Security Guard
• Doss - MF Security Guard
• Trace - MF Security Guard

Solaria Locals

• Lord Bruckberren - Auld Tyrian landowner currently in negotiations with MF over agricultural trade
• Hussar Horst - Lord Bruckberren's bodyguard, had a conversation with Blackbird Jack about guns. 
• Hussar Hans - Lord Bruckberren's bodyguard, stayed beside him during negotiations

Pirate Ship "Morrick"

• Cassian Sarpulla - Captain, associated with notorious pirate "Done Pete" (a rival of your pilot)

Mystery Faction

• "Joe the Zho" - unknown teleporting assailant who bushwhacked LT Crider and rifled through the ship's computer systems.