Poseidon

Poseidon is a cold, water-rich world that is believed to be undergoing an ice age at this time. Its surface is approximately 86% water-covered, leaving only one sizeable land mass and a number of volcanically active island chains above the surface. The polar ice caps extend to latitudes of almost the 40^o north and south, leaving a band of unfrozen water around the equator. The principal land mass, where most of the population resides, is mostly within this unfrozen band, though its southernmost parts are covered by the southern ice cap.

Starports

Poseidon does not have a highport. It does have three Class D downports located on the outskirts of its three largest settlements. Given the prevailing tech level of the planet, Travellers should not expect to find much in the way of replacement parts for starships, though shipyard facilities may support do-it-yourself repair and maintenance.

Settlements

As stated, the majority of the population resides on the single large landmass of the planet, and most of those reside in or near one of the three largest cities: Argus, Typhis, and Erginus. These hubs provide what industrial capacity this planet offers (at Tech Level 7, this is approximately equivalent to late 20^th century Terran technology.)

Government & Law

Officially, Poseidon possesses a unified world government, with democratically elected representatives forming the lawmaking and administrative functions of government. In practice, however, the world government has limited power. Each of the three principal cities is effectively a regional capital, governing their surrounding regions in similar, though not always identical ways. Conflicts along the borders of these regions are not uncommon, mostly involving transport of goods considered legal by one and contraband by the other.

Open carrying of heavy weapons and the use of hard-shell armor is universally prohibited on the planet. Within the Argus city limits region, however, carrying of any energy, slug, or blade is prohibited; in the outlying lands around the city proper, open carry of slug weapons and small blades is tolerated. These latter levels apply to all of the Typhis region, leaving Erginus to be the least strict when it comes to weapons carrying.

There are smaller settlements on some of the island as well. While most are essentially colonies of the three principal regions, a few consider themselves independent of any regional or even planetary authority. Most notable of these is Atalanta, which has a Class E downport available outside the settlement.