System Data: Pan-Gal

Spectral Type: G8 Yellow Main Sequence Star

Total Planets: 5 plus 1 asteroid belt

Inhabitable Planets: Genesis and Exodus

Major Trade Routes:

• Timeon (Lossend) – Distance: 10 light years
• Gruna Garu (Hargut) – Distance: 6 light years

System History

The first mega-corporation controlled system in the Frontier, Pan-Gal lies on a star route between Timeon and Gruna Garu. It is also home to an intelligent race known as the Yinni who live on the second planet known as Exodus where the Pan-Galactic Corporation has established general industrial and technology facilities along with robotic farms.

The star route from Timeon to Pan-Gal was charted successfully in 38 PF by an exploration vessel commanded by Lloomaa the Dralasite. Among his crew members were the cousins and young astrogators Alorne and Seccitte Zebulon. Llomma gave the Zebulon cousins the privilege of naming the system’s five worlds, which they did after the ancient Jewish books of the Pentateuch – Genesis (Pan-Gal I), Exodus (Pan-Gal II), Leviticus (Pan-Gal III), Numbers (Pan-Gal IV) and Deuteronomy (Pan-Gal V). The asteroid belt was named after Moses.

Lloomaa sold the route to the Pan-Galactic Corporation for an undisclosed sum and promptly retired back at his home on the Inner Reach (Dramune). Enriched for their part in the successful expedition, many of Lloomaa’s crewmembers went their separate ways, but both Zebulon cousins decided to join the PGC’s exploration efforts of the new system. The Zebulons made first contact with a number of the major Yinni nations and tries – some that proved to be friendly.

Early on, the PGC board of directors decided that it wanted to develop the system for itself. Its route was never logged with the early Free Trade Federation (FTF)  – the quasi-governmental body that existed on Gran Quivera (Prenglar) before the founding of the United Planetary Federation. The early FTF had no law enforcement or military powers but existed to aid the Humans, Yazarians, Vrusk and Dralasites negotiate trade and diplomatic agreements.

As trade increased with the Yazarian Arm of the Frontier, the PGC had the Zebulon cousins plot a route from Pan-Gal to Gruna Garu and back in 21 PF. For years, the corporation kept the star routes to and from the Pan-Gal System as a closely guarded secret and stationed privateers to watch for intruders. Whenever a Yazarian “scout” or a Human vessel “misjumped” into the system, Pan-Gal security forces intercepted them and “helped” them return home – minus any navigational data.

Whenever priority shipments had to go from Timeon to Gruna Garu or back, special PGC courier vessels would “high ball” it through the Pan-Gal System, avoiding the longer route through Prenglar.

By the time of the First Sathar War, the star routes to and from the Pan-Gal system became known as the “worst kept secret” in the Frontier. Admiral Vincent Morgaine used the route to help coordinate Yazarian strike ships against the Sathar.

However, it wasn’t until 30 FY when the PGC officially registered the system and its planets with the Frontier Office of Survey and Statistics and other UPF agencies. The star routes to Timeon and Gruna Garu were opened to star traffic to pass through the system, but the planets Genesis and Exodus were initially declared off limits to all but ships registered with the PGC and the Spacefleet.

Also in 30 FY, the corporation petitioned the UPF Council of Worlds to have its colonies recognized as autonomous planet with the right to representation. Despite strong objections by the governments of Clarion, Prenglar, Inner Reach and especially the Family of One, the PGC had secretly lined up support from the Vrusk worlds, Athor and New Pale. In the case of New Pale, the PGC controlled much of the planet's agriculture. Before Pale took it over, New Pale was often call the PGC's "captive planet."

Initially Pale also objected to the incorporation of Pan-Gal but quickly swung into supporting the measure. The reason for the about face by Pale's government became clear a year later when Streel incorporated New Streel as a corporate system.

Before the end of 30 FY, the PGC had gained provisional representation on the Council of Worlds and soon had full membership. (See the discussion by thespiritcoyote at http://www.starfrontiers.us/node/6034)

System Government

The Pan-Gal System is under the jurisdiction of the Pan-Galactic Corporation and its board of directors. Its headquarters is at Babel Six, the main Frontier settlement on Exodus. Various Yinni nations and tribes control various portions of the planet, however.

Asteroid Belt and Planets

The Moses Asteroid Belt circles the Pan-Gal star at 0.34 AU, though most of its materials are concentrated in one region, orbiting as if a sixth planet had been there but had broken up. The belt is mostly unexplored.

The planets Genesis (Pan-Gal I) and Exodus (Pan-Gal II) are detailed separately.

Leviticus (Pan-Gal III) orbits the star at a distance of 1.54 AUs with a year that is 1.92 GST years. A rock planet, it has a very thin, unbreathable atmosphere, but is beset by numerous electrical storms that make navigation hazardous. Its gravity rating is 0.16 and its day is 62.4 GST hours. It doesn’t have any moons.

Numbers (Pan-Gal IV) orbits at a distance of 2.71 AU. It’s year is the equivalent of 4.5 GST years. A rock planet, it has a thin, barely breathable atmosphere, but it is very cold with an average temperature of 0 degrees Celsius and has very little water. The only known life forms on the planet are microbes. Though it doesn’t have moons, Numbers has three spectacular looking rings when viewed from space or on the ground. The planet is mostly unexplored and its mineral wealth potential unknown.

Deuteronomy (Pan-Gal V) is an ice-rock planet that orbits at 4.62 AU from its star. It has a thin, cold and poisonous atmosphere. The Pan-Galactic Corporation has established an automated monitoring station here.

Planetary Brief

Genesis (Pan Gal I)

Moons: Asperon (M), Belv (E)

Space Stations: 2 small, automated scientific/survey stations.

Distance from Star: 0.67 AU

Axis Inclination: 6 degrees

Climate Range: Mild Seasons, Avg. Temp. 46 degrees C, Min. -20 degrees C, Max. 98 degrees C

Atmosphere: Toxic, Medium atmosphere

Hydrosphere: 2 percent water, 0.5 percent ice

Gravity: 0.8

Colonists: Outpost, Corporate

Diameter: 9,334 kilometers

Length of Day (hours): 24 GST Hours, 56 GST Minutes

Length of Year: 0.55 GST Years

Native Life: Single cell bacteria, algae, moss

Public Planet Description:

Genesis is the first planet in the Pan-Gal system and the only one with moons – Asperon and Belv. Both satellites have a retrograde orbit around the world. The Pan-Galactic Corporation has set up its most secretive research facilities on this planet with a total staff that fluctuates between 200 and 400 sentient beings on any given year. There are all sorts of wild rumors and speculations of just what the mega-corporation does here. Most researchers assigned have been with the PGC for more than 10 years.

The moon Asperon has a gravity of 0.1. Part of the moon has been hallowed out to be a private shipyard where the PGC repairs its privateer ships that patrol the system. A small Star Law office is here and the Spacefleet has docking and inspection rights. Only some 200 PGC employees are permanently stationed here, though with crews rotating in and out, the Asperon Base can have (rarely) upwards of 1,000 people.  

The PGC uses Belv as a training outpost and way station for employees rotating in and out of the research facilities on Genesis.

A major mountain range in the eastern hemisphere was named the Lloomaa Mountains after the Dralasite captain who discovered the route to the Pan-Gal System. An interesting feature in the northern hemisphere is the Devil’s Eye Crater that almost appears to be a black iris from space. Three of the PGC’s research bases are located on the western slopes of the Pan-Gal Way Mountains. Two other facilities are located in the Sapphire Desert. On the far side of the planet is the great desert known as the Obsidian Wastes.

For the Referee:

The Pan-Galactic Corporation became highly interested in Genesis not because it wanted to build a secret skunk works facility – though that’s what they ended up doing – but because the planet contains the remains of a large, ancient starship. This vessel was more than two kilometers long and the estimated age is 4 million years old – far predating the Tetrarchs or other old races.

It appears that the Tetrarchs had a facility here also to study the ruined space vessel. So, the PGC has one of its six highly automated research facilities (Platinum Base) right on top of an old Tetrarch ruin. The space ship in question is very broken up, with debris scattered over 500 square kilometers.

Gold Base is dedicated to life sciences and in particular is working on advanced anti-aging and age reversal technologies. This is called the Millennial Project with the goal of extending life past 1,000 years.

Silver Base works on advanced energy technologies, thanks to research gathered from researching (i.e. pilfering) ancient ruins such as the ancient starship on the planet and the Tetrarch ruins on Laco and Exodus.

Ruby Base is dedicated to bio-research. It is here that the disease that killed the crew of the old PGC ship, the Omnicron, and other nasty maladies such as the Blue Plague are studied in an attempt to develop possible cures.

The PGC’s bio-weapons research lab – Sapphire Base – is adjacent, but separate from the bio-research facility and engages in work to weaponize various biologicals.

Artificial Satellites

The PGC only has two small robotic research stations in orbit plus a few other navigation/communication and survey satellites.

Organization of the Pan-Gal Defense Force

As the Frontier's oldest, largest and wealthiest mega-corporation, the PGC controlled its own shipyard so it constructed several military-class defense ships to defend the Pan-Gal System. Asperon Base has several huge revolving wheels built inside to provide a sense of artificial gravity for the personnel on permanent assignment here. The base has several

PGC has four modern space fighters at Asperon and at least one assault scout is permanently stationed there. The corporation has two other assault scouts that often patrol the system -- one is usually near Exodus. Two frigate-size privateers have been known to be stationed in-system plus a Q-ship or two (heavily armed and armored frieghters)

The pride of the Pan-Galatctic corporate fleet is the PGCS Surety II, a destroyer-size vessel that is named after a famed vessel of the First Common Muster. The Surety, however, only visits the Pan-Gal System every few months.

On Exodus, the PGC has two fighters permanently stationed but has facilities to take care of eight. Besides a standard security/police force, corporation also has a company of 100 heavily armed troops on planet. These troops are supported by an undisclosed number of warbots, combat and security robots.

Planetary Brief

Exodus (Pan Gal II)

Moons: None

Space Stations: 2 small, automated scientific/survey stations, 1 medium research station.

Distance from Star: 0.98 AU

Axis Inclination: 9.8 degrees

Climate Range: Mild Seasons, Avg. Temp. 27 C, Max. 44 C, Min. -19 C

Atmosphere: Breathable atmosphere

Hydrosphere: 61 percent water, 2.5 percent ice

Gravity: 1.3

Colonists: Corporate (PGC), approx. 800,000 permanent, 800,000 transient annually

Diameter: 14,000 kilometers

Length of Day (hours): 19 GST Hours, 52 GST Minutes

Length of Year: 391 GST Days

Native Sentient Life: Yinni

Native Population Size: Medium, approx. 100 million to 190 million

Public Planet Description:

Exodus is the second planet in the Pan-Gal System and is home to a race known as the Yinni. After the Zebulon cousins – Alorne and Seccitte – first established contact with a number of Yinni queendoms and tribal domiciles. Since the Zebulons’ time on the planet, the Pan-Galactic Corporation negotiated a number of treaties and began setting up trading outposts and research stations. By 11 PF, the corporation established its first private corporate resorts as exotic getaways for its executives, special employees and even representatives of supplier companies who weren’t told where they were going.

After the First Sathar War, first with the deep post-war recession and then the onset of the Blue Plague, the PGC’s interest in the planet waned as its resources were directed to rebuilding colonies such as New Pale (Truane’s Star) where its vast corporate farms had been devastated or modernizing its headquarters and main facilities on Gran Quivera (Prenglar).

After the Pan-Gal System’s star routes were open to interstellar traffic, Exodus remained closed to outside traders as the PGC sought to protect the primitive Yinni from overexposure to the higher technology of the Frontier. Only more recent times has the corporation opened up more and more of the planet to trade with outside companies and visitors.

Some of the PGC’s resorts are now open to others in the Frontier. StarPlay Enterprises has been eager to partner with the Pan-Galactic to make Exodus a tourist mecca.

The Yinni have five great queendoms plus hundreds of smaller realms and nomadic tribes, many of which are friendly to Frontier beings, though the wise tourist travels with a trained and certified PGC guide.

The planet has a large Pangaea-type supercontinent that the PGC has called Ev’Vikk-Lorrian after Ev’Vikk-Lorr, the first Vrusk to be elected president of the corporation’s exploration division. The supercontinent takes up much of the southern hemisphere with climates ranging from tropical conditions, to sub-tropical forests, vast deserts, several large mountain ranges – especially the Ehveyni Mountains – and the tundra region along the south pole.

The Great Ocean – which goes by several different names under various Yinni dialects – occupies about 60 percent of the world’s surface. The largest island is Bomar, named after the first Dralasite to become president of a PGC division. Most other islands are located fairly near the coasts of Ev’Vikk-Lorrian. Only a few atolls exist out in the ocean. Those that do are unoccupied by any intelligent beings.

The system’s capital is in the city of Babel Six, a community that grew from 1,000 beings in 21 FY to more than 300,000 Frontier colonists by 60 FY. It is located on the Uorgei Peninsula, just off of the Bay of Kefl, and near the capital hive of the Uorgei Grand Queendom. It is here where the corporation as built much of its industrial and technological facilities on the planet that supply farm and construction equipment to other communities plus Yinni-specific items for trade and sale.

Jericho is a community of more than 120,000 in a lush valley at the northeastern end of the vast Ehveyni Mountains. It is near the capital hive of the Inech’alb, another one of the five great Yinni queendoms. The community helps provide support for the various vacation/survival estates that are being constructed in the mountains.

These mountains may appear to be one massive range from space, but there are numerous river valleys, plateaus and mountain lakes. Although the highest peaks may get snow, the region is alive with an abundance of flora and fauna.

Named after the first Yazarian to become president of a PGC division, Nehm-mortak is a community of nearly 80,000 located on Bomar Island, just outside the Queendom of Yin. The island is home to a number of PGC resorts, including the first one that the corporation ever opened.

In the Sea of Yin off of Bomar Island are three “Lilly pad” communities (see Star Frontiersman Issue 24) with populations ranging from 10,000 to 30,000. These floating cities are part resorts, part fisheries and part research laboratories.

Deserts make up a good portion of the supercontinent, the largest being the Great Bolga Desert – using a Yinni word for “sand.” Then there is the Yalwasi Waste and the Svosh Desert.

First Major Publicity Campaign:

“This is a Pan-Galactic Holo-News Special Report:

“Many have heard of the existence of the mysterious mega-corporate world known as Exodus, though its purpose was shrouded in mystery. Today, Chang Kim Lee, the honorable chairman, chief executive officer and executive president of our parent company – the Pan-Galactic Corporation – has revealed what goes on at this planet in the Pan-Gal System.”

Scene of a lush, blue and green planet from space.

“Although the Frontier Office of Survey and Statistics has listed Exodus as having a moderate population, that is not entirely true.” An aerial view of the planet from 200 feet is now displayed in the holographic field showing a seemingly endless beach stretching off to the horizon. Tropical plants gently sway in the breeze. “The planet is a vacationer's paradise with resources are capable of supporting a large population.”

Another scene shows large-scale robotic farms at work. “Developed for the past several decades, Exodus is capable of supporting a self-sustaining colony for centuries in case disaster ever occurs. In fact, that's the reason why it was created.

“After the First Sathar War, many Frontier business beings have worried about the end of times. That the Sathar would return – like they did recently with their second wave of attacks – to finish destroying the Frontier.

“So, if you have the resources, you’ll want a safe place for you and your loved ones to go to in the case of emergencies.”

A view of a series of craggy, rocky mountains appeared in the holographic field, then a close-up of a massive blast door leading to an underground shuttle hanger/vehicle garage.

“Pan-Gal created the ultimate, luxury hideaways and survival shelters. Capable of surviving the largest of nuclear weapons, these underground apartments can sustain entire families for decades in comfort and peace.”

Well-appointed rooms are shown next along with pools, spas and even vast hydroponic gardens -- all underground.

“The Pan-Galactic Corporation is now offering select locations on Exodus for the discriminating buyer. All locations start at 5 million Credits. The price includes full access to the planet at any time, plus amenities at our planetside resorts.

"The native Yinni population is friendly and may even show off their throwing skills with their helibode blades."

Small, bat-like humanoids are shown gliding about at night as bonfires glow. They provide an aerial display of their skills at throwing and catching spinning metal blades to an appreciative audience of the Core Four races.

"Just contact your local PGC Realtor's office for further details.

"This ends this special Pan-Galactic Holo-News Special Report."

Yinni Society

Please see Bill Logan’s story on the Yinni in Star Frontiersman Issue 4 for more information, but the basic facts about this race is that they are a primitive people. Sort of batlike, the Yinni generally grow no taller than 30 centimeters but have a wingspan of nearly 50 centimeters. Their society is hive-like and built around supporting their queens.

Workers and soldiers cater to the queen along with the domestic and royal castelings.

Most Yinni hives are independent, but age-old alliances have grown between a number of hives, leading to the creation of several tribes and later to the development of five great queendoms that operate as feudal-like nations. The queendoms have allowed the Yinni to develop agriculture, mining and the rudimentary skills to refine bronze and iron ore to make metal weapons such as the famed helibode blades. The helibode is a unique small sword that can be hurled through the air; once it begins to fall, the blade twirls like a helicopter-like seedling and can be retrieved by a flying Yinni warrior.

Not all Yinni have these weapons, however. Many use spears, javelins, clubs or bows and arrows.

The five great queendoms are the Yin, Uorgei, Inech’alb, Brrizzin and Mureew.

Being the first people to be discovered by the Zebulon cousins, the Yin occupy the northern most land of the Ev’Vikk-Lorrian supercontinent. Although the smallest of the five great queendoms, their name became the basis for calling the whole species as the Yinni. They are a friendly people.

The Uorgei are believed to be the largest of the queendoms. They also were eager to trade with the PGC, so this is why the corporation established its system capital in their territory. The PGC has begun to operate a number of large farms throughout their territory while providing better education to the Uorgeians.

The Inech’alb control much of the Ehveyni Mountains and have more than 150 hives. These people excel at mining and refining bronze and iron ores and may have been the first to make helibode blades. They also mine precious metals such as gold and silver along with gems. Their hive buildings are constructed along mountainsides with multiple terraces.

The Mureew occupy territory to the southwest of the Yin, all the way from the shores of the Great Ocean to the Yalwasi Waste. They are believed to be the second largest Yinni queendom.

West of the Mureew are the Brrizzin, a queendom of fierce Yinni warriors. Their region is off-limits to Frontier colonists.

For the Referee:

Besides being a gorgeous temperate world with kilometers of sandy white beaches, the Alorne and Seccitte Zebulon cousins also discovered ancient ruins on the planet. Some of these ruins appear to be from the Tetrarch Societies but some were considerably older – possibly from four million years ago. Later, a much more recent abandoned settlement was found. Only some 700 years old, it may be Clikk in origin.

The PGC’s resorts and luxury emergency shelters for the wealthy are legitimate businesses, but they serve as a distraction to prevent rivals – such as the Cassidine Development Corporation – from learning of the abandoned alien communities. The corporation’s lilly pad communities are a front for investigating an ancient alien city under the waters of the Sea of Yin.

The PGC also suspects that the Yinni, with their amazing strength and agility, are a bio-engineered race that were seeded on the planet some 20,000 to 25,000 years ago.

Proto-Satharoid remains may be found at one of the archeological sites – at the referee’s discretion. Apparently the Tetrarchs brought early S’sessu/Sathar to the planet at one point.

Not all of the Yinni queendoms and tribes are friendly. In fact, the Brrizzin are very hostile to the growing presence of aliens on their world – especially Vrusk or other large, insect-like species. They have stories from centuries ago of the oppression of the Clikks.  Somewhere in the mountains of the Brrizzin territory is a sealed Clikk base with a number of female warriors who were left in suspended animation caskets along with war tanks of the vintage found on Starmist.

The Mureew are also becoming angered by the perceived favoritism that the PGC has shown the Yin and Inech’alb. Time will tell if and when these “restless natives” revolt against the corporate colonizers.

For the Referee: The Resort

One last PGC secret is a community known as “The Resort.” It is on an isolated island some 500 kilometers from the coast of the Mureew Queendom. This facility was created by Nehm-mortak the Yazarian when he ran corporate security. Its existence is a closely guarded secret – kept away from most other PGC executives and board members. Even a number of corporate CEOs never heard about it. (Look up information on the old British TV show called “The Prisoner” for ideas.)

The Resort can house upwards of 250 “guests” who live in seemingly idyllic surroundings with art parks of statues and fountains, conservatories, walking paths and gardens, small shops, cafes, a theater, recreational facilities and a modern hospital.

Led by a corporate security executive – known only as “Number Two” – the resort has a far darker purpose. It is used to hold various beings against their will. These prisoners are sometimes subjected to any number of bizarre psychological tortures and manipulations in an effort to extract their knowledge.

The prisoners make up about a fourth of The Resort’s population; so many don’t know whom they can trust. About another three-fourths of the guests are former prisoners who have been psychologically conditioned to break the will of others in the hopes of regaining their freedom.

Anyone from former, disgruntled PGC employees and executives, former executives of rival companies or suppliers, corporate spies and the like may be captured by operatives who may or may not known that they are working for PGC security. These prisoners are then placed in storage class and shipped to The Resort on Exodus where they are reawakened to their “new lives.” Prisoners are only called by a number -- such as "Number Six" -- rather than their real names. The number corresponds to the residence where they’ve been assigned.

Resort security personnel tend to use martial arts skills when subduing troublemakers, rarely resorting to stun sticks or other weapons. There are no walls around The Resort, but the corporation has plenty of sensing devices to know where a prisoner is at any one time and to detect intruders.

If a prisoner becomes uncontrollable or manages to go into the water and swim beyond a safe limit, security has special cybernetic robots called Rovers that can retrieve them. The Rovers resemble large, white balloons and make a kind of hissing sound as they bounce around (they actually have a hover lift fan). It attacks by touching an opponent. It will keep trying to stun a prisoner until the being falls unconscious. The Rover can then encapsulate the victim and carry them to any location desired by security.

Note, The Resort does not appear on public maps of the planet.

Artificial Satellites

The PGC maintains two small robotic research/survey stations in orbit plus a medium-size research station that is often staffed by a crew of 20 plus robots. One of the robotic stations operates in a geosynchronous orbit above The Resort, providing additional surveillance and early warning detection for the security forces there.