Breadbasket

Breadbasket is one of four systems that make up the minor polity that calls itself New Utopia. As its name implies, it is the principal agricultural supplier to the other systems in the polity; apart from basic food processing, there is very little industry based on the main planet at all. Among the four Utopian systems, a sort of barter system exists whereby all systems exchange goods to ensure that all are fed, and all get the technology needed to continue to produce. Surplus goods can be traded to systems outside the polity, but only after "obligations" to the member systems are satisfied.

The planet is ideally suited for human-intended agriculture. Planetary conditions are almost identical to those of Terra, with gravity, atmosphere, hydrology and temperature ranges being nearly identical. The planet's axial tilt and orbital rotation also very closely mimic those of Terra, resulting in similar seasons.


 

Starports

The main world has a highport; its limited shipyard restricts it to a Class B designation. It is fairly large, with a semi-permanent population of over 1000; it offers a number of amenities for spacefaring visitors. The downport outside the capital city of Abundancia carries a Class B/C designation - refined fuel is available, but it's ship repair yard is minimal at best. Three other settlements support class D downports but lack isolated startowns. A few Class E landing fields can be found in sparsely populated regions; these act as hubs to collect and transport agricultural produce to the highport.

Settlements

The planet capital city is Abundancia, with a population of approximately six million. Located on the eastern shore of the continent the residents call Cornucopia, it is the principal hub for goods destined for delivery to other worlds in the Utopia polity, as well as for inbound technological goods and supplies needed to maintain the productivity and lifestyles of the planet's residents. It also is the location of the planetary governor's residential compound, as well as the "Government House", the administrative and judicial seat of power on the planet.

Infinidad City is located near the center of the Cornucopia continent in the heart of the huge grain-producing region of the world. Its downport is rather large, its Class C rating due only to the lack of extensive ship maintenance and refueling facilities. This port focuses mainly on delivery of raw grains, flours, breads, and other grain-derived processed foods through Abundancia to the rest of Utopia. A small section of the downport is dedicated to handling surplus goods destined for markets beyond the Utopian systems; this part of the port also contains the facilities Travellers would normally associate with a "startown": lodging ranging from hostels, cantinas, and street food kiosks to opulent hotel/casino/restaurant complexes.

Carnicera City is the hub of the meat and dairy industries located on the planet. Located on the western coast of the Cornucopia continent is is centrally located to the vast cattle poultry, and swine ranches of western Cornucopia as well as the more exotic ranches of the tropical Jungle continent across a narrow sea to the southwest. Its downport, also designated Class C, is part of the large seaport complex that handles water-based goods transport to and from Jungle. Like Infinidad City, a small portion of the downport caters to non-Utopian offworlders and offers a similar spread of amenities.

Altoarbol City is located on the northeast coast of the Jungle continent. Largest of the Jungle settlements by far, it is collecting hub for agricultural shipping destined either for processing in Carnicera or direct delivery to the capital of Abundancia. A very small portion of its seaport facilities is given over to a Class D starport that caters to the occasioanal non-Utopian offworlder looking to trade in more exotic goods. The startown here is, such as it is, has the reputation of being the most raucus and lawless in all of Utopia (though the starports in the Boulder system are close competitors).

Numerous smaller settlements dot the Cornucopia continent, and a few can be found inland on Jungle as well. If these have starport facilities at all, they are Class E - little more than landing fields with no refueling or shipyard facilities. Isolated startowns are also non-existant in these settlements.

Government and Law

Officially, Breadbasket is a Colony Partner of the Utopia Confederation, and as such, has formally accepted the central governing authority of the Council of Diligents and adheres to the laws set down by that council on the polity's capital world of Diligence. These laws at first appear to be rather non-restrictive, favoring personal freedoms of all sorts provided they do not impinge upon the freedoms and security of others. Utopia can be a pleasant place to live for those content to work according to their abilities and who refrain from "rocking the boat" in any way. However, troublemaking, malicious mischief, and any form of organized dissidence or expression of dissatisfaction is swiftly - and harshly - dealt with. Nonconformists are not tolerated in Utopia.

For the visiting Traveller, the important equipment-related regulations to be aware of are as follows:

Hard-shell body armor of any kind is not permissible for the common citizen or the offworld visitor. Its use is limited to the Utopian "Peace Facilitator" forces (i.e. police and, when necessary, special ops teams). In the cities on the Cornucopia continent, even "flagrant" soft armor is discouraged, though not strictly illegal. (Leather jacks that look like part of a "normal" outfit are fine; flak jackets and visible padded armor will elicit cautious treatment by locals and attract the interest of any peacekeepers about.

Small "sidearm" weaponry (slug pistols and/or large knives) worn conspicuously are legal and in fact quite common among locals even in the cities. While technically not illegal, anything larger (shotguns, long blades, slug rifles) will generate the same negative treatment and attract the same attention as "incorrect" armor. In the small fringe settlements, however, slug rifles and shotguns tend to be more tolerated as these are essential tools for anyone venturing into the wilds of unsettled portions of the world. Possession of anything that can be categorized as a heavy weapon, or WMD is strictly illegal and will be harshly dealt with. Concealed weapons are also illegal, punishable by confiscation and fines.

There are small, but active black markets operating on Breadbasket, most notably in the "offworlder" portions of the Carnicera and Altoarbol downports. These focus on trade in some exotic agricultural products not strictly allowable for offworld consumption. There is a very small, but potentially lucrative black market in weapons and armor to satisfy "private collectors", and - as everywhere - a contraband drug trade can be sought out in almost any settlement. The penalties for discovered involvement in these latter two are among the harshest under Utopian law.