BARD PAPER: OPAL8668 | Home | Traveller | BARD | OPAL |
BARD PAPER: OPAL8668 | Home | Traveller | BARD | OPAL |
Taormina's local ecosystem has developed a number of deadly lifeforms that use poison to defend themselves against predation. Toxins are everpresent in the local air and water, and heavy filtration equipment is required to prevent infiltration. The reason for human inhabitance of this world is its rich mineral resources, and the heavy offworld demand creates a high local living standard. This level of local comfort can lull the inhabitants into complacency about safety practices, and a local dictator is elected from the military or the safety services to enfore the safety code.
The severe local laws are mostly common sense regulations to prevent a breach of life support by contaminated air and water; but in many cases the punishments are very severe. The safety services are exempted from the local economy, and most members soldier on for years on paltry pay in the face of constant danger, ensuring their loyalty and vigilance. Many offworlders question this vigilance, wondering if the threat is actually that pronounced, but they find only a hostile reception to their voiced doubts.