Medurma (world)
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| Medurma/Pact (Dagudashaag 2124) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic Era (1115) | A67399C-G
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| See also | UWP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medurma, the capital of Dagudashaag, was originally the subject of a major colonisation effort by the Solomani at about -2,093. Although there had been a few exploratory mining installations set up on-planet by the Ziru Sirka, Medurma had been largely neglected by the Vilani. Almost immediately, the Solomani colonists made a startling discovery - extensive ruins indicated that Medurma had been home to a minor human race as recently as -19,000. The “Miyavine” civilisation had apparently reached TL4 or 5 at its height and there is no clue as to the reason for its disappearance. Since then, the planet has been extensively settled - the largest cities are sited inside mountain peaks, whilst high technology maximises the agricultural yield from the few high-altitude plateaux. At lower levels (known locally as DeepLevel), conditions are harsh, as the temperatures hover at about 80 - 95ºC, and the pressure reaches 6.5 atmospheres. Mining operations are extensive and advanced at this level, as is the cultivation of the unusual “Symmonds Tree”. As a result, Medurma is now more or less self-sufficient in staple foods. The population of Medurma is remarkably cosmopolitan (there is a sizable community of Aslan for instance). Imperial sociologists find Medurma particularly interesting as the population tends to be socially-stratified by altitude - the deeper-levels being populated by the lower classes.
Medurma is an old world. Over many eons, the gravitational influence of Ambrym, Medurma's massive nearby moon, has distorted the world into a “pear” shape, giving rise to a single continental massif covering much of one hemisphere. Subsequent faulting and erosion has broken this land mass into three smaller continents, but the sheer grandeur of Medurma's Landscape is still awe-inspiring. The highest peaks are almost 15 kilometers above sea Level - above the bulk of the dense, crushing atmosphere. Conditions above about 6km are quite pleasant, and it is in these regions that the majority of settlement has taken place.
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[edit] HISTORY
[edit] The Ancient Era
It is believed that the Ancients arrived at Medurma at about – 350,000, bringing with them Human specimens. The Humans were settled at three locations around the planet.
[edit] The Miyavine Era
The Humans developed into a distinct minor race called the Miyavine, reaching a population of about 75 to 100 million by – 20,000. By about -19,000, they had reached a widespread TL4, with a few areas achieving TL5. Dirigibles were used for long-range transport. The Miyavine built extensive settlements at MidLevel and HighLevel, and extensive catacombs were dug into the mountain ranges where the stone was sufficiently soft. Mysteriously, archaeological records indicate that the Miyavine had more or less died out by ]]-18,700\\. The reasons for this are unknown, but current theories include a genetically programmed “time-bomb”, which caused the Miyavine to become sterile after a certain number of generations.
[edit] The Vilani Era
Naarsirka exploratory vessels first visited Medurma at about - 8,000. A number of exploratory mining bases were established during the years of the Ziru Sirka, reaching a total population of fifty thousand, but the harshness of the environment ruled out any prospect of further development.
[edit] The Solomani Arrive
The Solomani first made a detailed survey of the Medurma system at about -2,150. The settlement programme which followed was sponsored by a number of corporations with Asian, European and North American origins. The landings began in -2,099, and the period which followed was known as the Cleansing – any Vilani inhabitants were deported or killed, and any evidence of Vilani settlement was systematically erased. Follow-up surveys by the Solomani revealed extensive deposits of gold, platinum, iridium, palladium and traces of Lanthanum at DeepLevel. With their superior technology, corporations such as Metallurgias Generales were able to exploit these deposits.
[edit] The Coming of the Ihatei
Ihatei ships spreading into former Second Imperial space reached Medurma at about -1000, during the depths of the Long Night. Contact with the Humans resulted in a schism among the Aslan colonists. The Alignment Wars which followed left a lasting mark on Medurma – many Aslan renounced the Way of Kusyu altogether, and were absorbed into Human society. The reintroduction of Jump technology allowed scientific progress to accelerate, and brought a new expansionistic phase to Medurman culture.
[edit] The Medurma Pact
In -524, an agreement signed by the governments of Medurma and Dipa (Dagudashaag 2223) established the Medurma Pact, an interstellar state which grew to cover much of what is now Pact subsector. Fit its height, the Pact reached a solid TL11. The historian Bryen Colveni draws many parallels between the Pact and the 'infant’ Sylean Federation, particularly in their political and military structures, in his text “False Dawns”, and suggests that the Pact had the potential to become the core of a much larger state. Its militaristic nature would, however be its downfall; after about -250, the Pact was in almost continuous conflict, particularly in the Slaver Wars with the Aakhri Empire to rimward. The state was economically overextended by the ongoing warfare, and was in decline by -10.
[edit] The Imperial Era
Medurma capitulated to the expanding Third Imperium in 90, and was designated as sector capital in 274. The Viisarikaa family, which had given the Pact the majority of its Regents since -350, now became the Ducal family of Dagudashaag Sector.
In 311, the food potential of a form of plant life at DeepLevel was realised, and extensive harvesting Operations began three years later. The Symmond’s Tree became part of the staple diet of many Medurman inhabitants.
In 615, Julianne Viisarikaa killed “Emperor” Karl I in battle, to restore stability to rimward Dagudashaag, and install Cleon V on the Iridium Throne.
In 862, DeepLevel Harvesting LIC was formed.
In 1051, the IISS recorded that Medurma had achieved a High Common Tech Level of 16.
In 1114, Karyn Dea Viisarikaa (then aged 24) became Sector Duchess of Dagudashaag, following the death of her father in the ongoing warfare on Lenashuuk (Dagudashaag 1640).
| This article was copied or excerpted from the following copyrighted sources and used under license from Far Future Enterprises and by permission of the author. |
| – J. Duncan Law-Green - Signal-GK Issue #2 - HIWG |
Categories: Worlds | HIWG | Era: Milieu 1116 | Library | Non-canon | M
