BARD PAPER: OPAL8669 | Home | Traveller | BARD | OPAL |
BARD PAPER: OPAL8669 | Home | Traveller | BARD | OPAL |
Ashasi is the sole free standing world in its system, as all of its neighbors are gas giants. But it would stand out on its own in spite of its neighborhood. The atmosphere of Ashasi is so thick that it forms its own sea. Originally a mixture of nitrogen, water vapor and carbon dioxide, chemosynthesising microbes have generated more free Oxygen since the worlds genesis. The resulting gas mix can support multicellular life, albeit not human or terrestrial life. Crushing pressures prevent most sentients from alighting to the planetary surface, and even Virushi have a difficult time at lower altitudes without an aspirator. The atmosphere turns to "soup" about 20 miles above the surface, and most of the worlds habitats float above the ground at this level.
Turbulence and temperature pockets create foamy "clouds" that scatter light and darken vision below this level, and the sky is boiling cauldron of grey and black. A variety of atmosphere swimming plants and animals have evolved from the world's original microbial life, and some of these can grow to gargantuan proportions. Some species have evolved into giant sessile colonial lifeforms that float freely on the air, resembling airborne islands to which other life anchors and flourishes. Because of the thickness of the atmosphere, dead tissue and wastes from these animals, as well as corpses, float in midair until they are consumed by scavengers, forming the base of a large biological pyramid.
The original Vilani inhabitants colonised the world in the waning days of the old Ziru Sirka, just before the Terrans had fully conquered their empire. These people were refugees from increasing disorder in the face of Vargr invasions into Corridor, and Ashasi seemed a good place to fortify against further raids. Few such raids occured, however, and the colonists concentrated on adapting to their new environment. Despite the challenge of local conditions the colonists flourished through their hard work and organisation. At the level that they built their communities, local temperatures and pressures are within human norms, allowing for normal outdoor industries like agriculture to funtion.
They built huge artificial islands to float on air with such care and diligence that many of the original habitats continue to function to this day. The earliest of these habitats were temporary structures constructed out of the colonisation ships. These were replaced with islands made out of a long lasting polymer reinforced with ceramic structural supports. Because of their hydrodynamic design and passive stabilisation systems, they were stable enough to construct normal communities on the flattened upper surface in a manner that made them resemble an island. As Ashasi's population grew, more advanced self-contained designs similiar to orbital habitats were constructed.
The colony was contacted by the Rule of Man in -1907. Relations with the upstart empire were cool, though trade was permitted. The fall of the ROM in -1776 ended this contact, and the colonists were isolated behind the claw for the next 1100 years. The world was recontacted in year 47 IC, and was reincorporated into the Third Imperium in 49 IC. The Vilani population was insular, having survived on their own for centuries without outside help, and never acquired a taste for much offworld contact. It was a reliable, if absent, citizen of the Third Imperium. Aside from a few unusual industrial goods and animal products, the world had little to trade anyway. Most offworld visitors were tourists who came to marvel at the world, its ecosystem, and its unique society.
Ashasi suffered from the Panic of 1140, which saw a major portion of its population flee for worlds deeper in the Safe following the Kishkii's attack. This rupture of its traditional taciturness made it more willing to deal with offworlders, and its starport and visitor facilities have been improved to foster more trade. Unlike the Vargr of the distant past, Virus is more prone to streetfighter tactics, where weapons of mass destruction are launched against high value targets by guerilla style units. The cloud cities of Ashasi are highly vulnerable to nuclear or EMP airbursts, or kamikaze attacks. This has created a substantial presence of Regency Army and light Naval units that man the newly acquired planetary defenses.