Venus
“ | Don't tell me that man doesn't belong out there. Man belongs wherever he wants to go -- and he'll do plenty well when he gets there. | ” |
—Wernher von Braun, Time magazine, 1958 |
Venus | |
Planetary characteristics | |
---|---|
Orbit | 108,200,000 km from primary (mean) |
Diameter | 12,103.6 km (equatorial) |
Surface Gravity | 0.904g |
Year | 224.65 days |
Day | siderial: 243.02 days solar: 116.75 days retrograde |
Mean Temperature | 735°K (462°C) |
Atmosphere | 92 atm (CO2 96.5%, N2 3.5%) |
Water/Ice Index | 0% |
Population (2013) | 23,000 |
Political Affiliation | Crystal Millennium, Fenspace Convention |
Government | Direct Democracy; Constitutional Monarchy |
Capital | Crystal Tokyo |
Venus is very similar to Earth in size and mass - and so is sometimes referred to as Earth's sister planet - but Venus has a quite different climate. Venus' thick clouds and closeness to the Sun (only Mercury is closer) make it the hottest planet - much hotter than the Earth.
(Text courtesy NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for 16 May 2004)
In the Fennish perception, Venus is associated with the Senshi - the capital and largest city of Venus is Crystal Tokyo, and the local women's clothing stores all make a profit selling leotards and short skirts. But the planet is also home to other "grrl power" fandoms and some eccentrics.
Rumours that some classically-inclined Fen plan to move asteroid 2002 VE68 from its Cytherean quasi-orbit into a true Cytherean orbit and rename it Neith are, so far, only rumours.
History
As with our previous entries on Mars and Luna, the history of Cytherian colonization is not very well fleshed out by the Fenspace collective as yet. For purposes of not leaving this section blank, assume that the Crystal Millennium were the driving force behind permanent settlement around Venus, although they found a few stations - some abandoned, some not - when Crystal Tokyo arrived. The Venus Terraforming Project began, slowed during the Boskone War, was crippled by the loss of Crystal Osaka, and got back on track in the late 2010s. More stuff happened. As we come up with interesting trivia and turn it into narrative, this notice will go away. --The Mgt.
Places of Interest
Shin-Nihon
a.k.a. the "Japan Cluster"
- Crystal Tokyo
- The prefectural capital, and the host of Castle Magellan (the seat of government of the entire Senshi faction)
- Crystal Hiroshima
- Home of both the Sailor Armed Militia headquarters and Crystal Hiroshima Hospital, the largest medical facility in Cytherean orbit
- Crystal Kyoto
- The Venus Terraforming Project's current headquarters, and the cluster's primary vacation spot
- Crystal Sapporo
- The cluster's agricultural centre, and the headquarters of the AMP. Also home to Crystal Sapporo Brewery, one of the most noted breweries in Fenspace
Crystal Osaka was also part of the Japan Cluster before its destruction in January 2013, during Operation Great Justice anti-zwilnick activity. It was the original base for the Venus Terraforming Project.
Nova Europa
a.k.a. the "Europe Cluster", found roughly 120 degrees west of Shin-Nihon
- Crystal Moscow
- Seat of the prefectural government
- Crystal Paris
- The Senshi's primary dry dock and light-manufacturing centre
- Crystal Venice
- Essentially a tourist destination (much like its namesake on Earth)
High America
a.k.a. the "Americas Cluster", found roughly 120 degrees east of Shin-Nihon
- Crystal Rio
- Seat of the prefectural government
- Crystal Seattle
- The most obviously Western of the Crystal Cities, and the cluster's primary vacation spot
- Crystal Titusville
- Home to the Senshi's heavy industry, including the faction's signature industrial-diamond manufacturing plants and StelOil's largest refinery
Others
- Doctor Drakken's "ConClave" station