Marzion IX
MICHEL/SICULUS-1
A union of unions, siphoning a gas giant one moonful at a time
Planetary Survey
Marzion IX is the characteristically direct name for the ninth planet settled by the Marz Union. As has become routine for MU, they have taken a resource-rich world at the edge of Alliance space and invested heavily in mining and production, transforming the anonymous terrain into an immense network of extraction hubs and refineries.
Unlike other Marzion worlds, IX is a gas giant – the largest planet in the Michel/Siculus binary star system. It is surrounded by a ring system and an array of moons, glittering like a string of pearls and each playing a vital role in Marzion’s production line. Michel and Siculus are known locally as “the Dancers”, due to their elliptical orbits around a shared barycentre. A debris field has formed around them, with the few planetoids within being smaller than some of IX’s own moons.
Marzion IX represents an unusual frontier for the Alliance: mining of gas giants has never been attempted on this scale before, nor with this much investment.
IX’s atmosphere is rich in helium and notably stormy, with concentric “waves” of turbulence frequently erupting across its surface. Interference from these storms has prevented accurate imaging of the planet’s core, which remains under study. It also makes the harvesting of gases as difficult and dangerous as it is lucrative; approximately 8% of the atmosphere consists of vaporous precursors to RC.
Marzion has constructed a number of proprietary IXTIS orbital structures mined from the many moons. These atmospheric gas-extraction rafts descend into the gas giant’s depths, rising again at the end of a shift with tanks full of precious vapour. Each is capable of supporting a workforce the size of a terrestrial city, and each operates as a worker’s co-operative under the collective helm of the Marzion Union. The moons also support life, extensive cities providing everything from permanent hab-blocks and processing plants to factories, space ports, and entertainment districts.
E/I/R
Economy
Marzion IX exports RC precursors and helium to Alliance planets, and imports consumer goods, high-tech tools and entertainment for its populace.
Research
Scientific divisions aboard the rigs study the planet’s composition and analyse the debris field of the local star system. There is significant interest in IX’s core, which is currently unmapped due to electromagnetic interference.
Industry
IXTIS extraction rafts collect, refine and package valuable gasses from the planet for refinement and later distribution.
Demographic Review
Marzion IX is governed by and for its workers, with a centralised industrial economy similar in structure to a navy. Each IXTIS raft is a ship within a fleet, with a captain (overseer) in charge. Each captain is under the authority of a central Admiralty Board, and that board reports in turn to the Marz Union. IX is a crew of crews, a union of unions, and it provides for all that live under its sails – just as they provide for it.
The Marzion worlds form a supply chain that feeds the alliance with vital materials: not luxury goods, but the common necessities of life – and in such abundance that none within shuttle distance of a Marzion planet may go unclothed or unfed.
Cultural Evaluation
The Marzion culture can be summed up as care without unnecessary sentiment. Marzionites know that others will pick them up when they fall, and provide them with whatever they need to get the job done; in turn, they lift and support others whenever they are in need. Pride is found in teamwork, in mastery of one’s craft, and in helping the entire group to give their all.
IX is a harsh workplace; discipline is needed to navigate the gas giant’s moods and claim its treasures. Marzionites may be spoilsports to crews from other planets – but, when lives are on the line, they spring into action with a courage and efficiency that has given them a reputation across the Alliance for heroism. The preservation of life, from daring rescues to coordinated relief efforts, is given a focus in their culture that other civilizations give to historically significant military victories.
The interconnected relationship between the various rafts and the moons is as symbolic as it is practical. Each contributes something vital to the whole and none can persist without the others. This is expressed in Marzionite values of working for the collective and valuing every contribution, no matter how small or menial. The constant need to shuttle between the moons and planets, and to ride out storms on the planet proper, has also led to a strong culture of “sailorcraft”.
Food rituals are conspicuously absent – a life on call has led to a preference for short, nutritionally dense meals. Marzionites show a preference for high-impact sports, the better to unwind after a mentally and physically exhausting shift. They are also known for their shanties and work songs, which can vary wildly from one raft to the next.
Diplomatic Positioning
Marzion IX is the newest Marz project, but it operates under the same codes and is subject to the same laws as its elder siblings. While these industrial regulations can be overruled by Alliance law, their strictness means that Marzion worlds often receive the benefit of the doubt compared to other planet-states. In particular, IX and Viront Z85 often butt heads: the latter competed with Marz for mining rights in Michel/Siculus, and its laissez-faire culture is at odds with Marzionite collectivism.
