The Florian come in two types :
Barnai are short, weak, and of high intelligence,
while the workforce is comprised of Feskals, who are large, muscular, and of low intelligence

---

The Tanar system has no Gas Giant ; it comprises 2 planetoid belts and 3 other planets.

Tanar has a diameter of 11,200 km and a gravity of 0.88g

• Water occupies 70% of the planet surface
• The atmosphere is dense - don’t forget to wear your filter masks!
• Tanar is a rich, agricultural, nonindustrial garden world with a agricultural-oriented industry
• Tech Level 8 (Information Age) (~1990 CE). Look, they have cell phones and computers!
• The category-C starport is enough for the scarce population. Its major activity is freight.

It’s population is only 6 million inhabitants (almost all Floriani)
2 million live in the capital, Natura, another 2 million live in middle-sized, touristic cities, such as Sun City, Floweria, Paradise, Reston-Sea, Mysteriosa, …
The rest (Feskals…) live and work in the Wilderness in giant ranches and farms scattered on the planet

Migrants and Feskals are welcome to reinforce the workforce.

Tanar is considered as in orbit (so to say) of Vadada, being only Jump-2 from the latter industrial-military, crowded (8 BILLIONS inhabitants!), world. Some Vadadans also like to retire to the Tanar countryside.

Politics : The government is a representative democracy, Floriani-style : the representatives are randomly selected for a 4-years mandate.
However, most Tanari have more or less the same political alignment, based on individual freedom, caring about their own matters, entrepreneurship, but also ethics, discipline and tolerance for whims. As soon as the Tanari Parliament votes a law, everybody is abides 100% by it.
With such a small tax base, the government finances are poor, and the infrastructures are deficient. That's why delimiting huge "natural reserves" is convenient for the government finances.

Law Enforcement Due to the main ideology, there are no prohibitions (law level 0). However people are self-disciplined and respectful. Also they have no second thought over reporting lawbreakers. (there’s a TV niche for shows with just that)

There IS an underfunded, undersized police force with worldwide jurisdiction, mainly targeting non-Florianis.

In the cosmopolitan places, corporate and mercenary¹ law-enforcement forces are employed. In the Wilderness, people are left to defend themselves.

¹”incomplete data”

The economy is thriving, its strengths being :

• the export of quality foodstuffs of plants and animal meat and by-products. Tanar is considered "the breadbasket" of the League
• tourism, with an Ancients archeological site and several national parks
• dynamic, competing agro-industrial conglomerates

Imports are manufactured and tech goods
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:50, Sat 09 Sept 2023.

Having cut his ties with his Merchant career, Sven was trying to enjoy some time on a garden world.

Even after all of the years, breathable and that much open, uncontrolled space were still a bit unsettling. He did not really miss having tech constantly around him, but he was definitely watching for the next opportunity, monitoring news of ship arrivals.

Meanwhile, he did enough engineering work to not cut into his pension funds. Having done the obligatory trip to see the archaeology site, He stayed close to the starport.

The Employment Authority for non-Tanari is - conceivably - near the Starport, which is near the capital, Natura. Small hotels for off-worlders and travellers complete the Starport village, surrounded by kilometers of warehouses in all directions.

At the EAnT, Sven managed to have his résumé automatically sent to all incoming ship... Then he watched through the window as some ambulance was picking up some unfortunate guy who had collapsed on the sidewalk.

With nothing currently needing his attention, Sven does an almost subconscious check of visible aspects of the environmental controls and backups. Air conditioning is not what he would class as life support, but that is what Tanar uses, when there is anything at all. Damn primitive, unreliable tech, sloppily maintained.

Irritated again by that he focuses on the ambulance and the guy that collapsed. What happened to him anyway? Too much of this garden world environment? Sunstroke, I think the visitor welcome and warning documents said. 'orientation' they called it, then had the gall to make it a joke by linking that to 'orienteering' that might be needed. He automatically glanced at the environment reader on his sleeve. It had told him when he was approaching short term duration exposure limits on his 'outdoor' excursions.

OOC: EDIT: If Sven is really paying attention to his environment, I guess he should at least roll recon
Sven Glanz rolled 7 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,4.  Recon check for EAnT surroundings.

This message was last edited by the player at 00:58, Sat 09 Sept 2023.

A tall old Feskal was mopping the floor. He noticed Sven pensive at the window, so he approached the Barnai.
"Oh, poor bloke. Life not easy for us poor Feskals on Tanar. We work hard on the farms and then we die". The Feskal went on mopping. Sven noticed the used uniform of the worker, and hoped that the moper's breathing mask and filters were in a better condition.

The environment reader told Sven that the airlock to outside was leaking the poisonous air inside. That's what's happening when there is no team of inspectors to check the life support and give out tickets.

The ambulance departed, and the street was completely deserted. Sven felt very lonely.

Sven commiserates with the Feskal, "That is the way it is for others, in many places. The universe has little sympathy. Stay well".

Noting the out of tolerance environmental reading, Sven puts on the mask ready at his belt, then verifies the source. When was maintenance last done on this airlock? Taking out his tablet, he gives it voice instructions. COMMS>>>Wake Agent. Agent, Lookup contact information for the administration and legal jurisdiction for this location. Start A/V recording.
This is Sven Glanz, offworld vistor. I would like to report that the airlock with tag reading from the plate at the airlock at this location, is in need of maintenance. My personal sensors indicate that it is leaking atmospheric contaminants from the exterior.
End recording. Send the recording to the administration contact, with a copy to enforcement. Attach my id and contact information. Notify me if there is any reply. Priority 6 for administration, 3 for enforcement. Execute and sleep agent.<<<END COMMS
That should take care of that problem. That level 6 will get through immediately, only if I am not doing much else. The 3 will interrupt most things. I wonder if this is just sloppiness, or work overload? My reader is no better tech than they have here.

Putting the tablet away, he moves away from the airlock until the reader shows fairly clean air before removing the mask.

In the silence of the drowsiness of the Employment Authority for non-Tanari building, Sven can hear a faint "ping" behind a door, at the end of a corridor. The label of the door says "Security".

However, Sven now hears a "pong" coming from his agent on his sleeve, and several pongs echos across the people's computers and phones. [and also other PCs on Tanar]

"BREAKING NEWS - Exclusive from Petruccilli News Corporation - Petruccilli, the freshest fruits, so smooth, for the elite! - A 300-ton ship, The Old Lady's Hope, has lost its power plant and is going to crash on the surface in 3 hours! Stay tuned on PNC!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:19, Mon 11 Sept 2023.

Sven glares at the inoffensive source of the news bulletin. Damn useless sound byte. No actionable information. All that is good for is scaring people that the sky is falling, and to up their ratings. 3 hours? coming from where, how fast? projected impact point? Would the damage only be to an area the size of the ship, or a kinetic missile that could take out a city, and change the climate for years? And 'going to crash'? Nothing available to intercept, slow, divert it? The starport deals with freighters daily. If that is close and slow, to match the 3 hours, a shipyard tug should have plenty of time to match then stabilize the orbit. Further out and faster could get trickier, depending just what is available. You don't spend more than a decade as a Merchant Marine without learn a little about celestial mechanics.

That ping in security was just ahead of the notification flood. Related? Won't hurt to be close enough to snoop, if something is happening there. Meanwhile let's see if I can pull a few real details about that ship from more reliable sources.

Not needing the camera, he gives subvocal instructions to the agent program, while ambling over to lean on the wall near the security door. COMMS>>>Wake Agent. Agent, if the local primitive data net is not being overwhelmed by information requests, get details about the ship Old Lady's Hope, and it's current orbital parameters. I expect spaceport traffic control has the information. Provide audible priority 2 notification when complete. Execute.<<<END COMMS

A fit gentleman with the bearing of a naval officer stood at the window and talked with the clerk.
- Fifty creds, you said? The regulatory notice said it was fifteen, wasn't it? Alright, no problem. I assume this little increase in taxation would allow the system to work even better, and get me the best offer, right? - The man handed cash to the clerk, separately 15 and 35.

...
- Yes, that's right. Danila Bodrov, Expert Pilot and Capable Gunner. Yes, preferably double position.
...
- No, I'm not in hurry, I can wait for a while. Maybe will visit your local Ancient's sites. Not that long? Nice, I'll wait here.
...
- Yes, thank you. Here is my number.

After finishing the application, Danila looked around the room and noticed a lonely Barnai. He had plenty of time, so he decided to talk to the stranger. He approached the Barnai:
- Hello! Do you mind if I sit here?
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:46, Wed 13 Sept 2023.

The little clerk - her name was Xanara, the tag on her shoulder sayd - snorted.
"There's not much to visit anymore. Six months ago, the site was devastated by unknown gangsters. PNC says those were Glorious Empire saboteurs. I'm telling you - if any Aslan comes here looking for work, he can expect to be unemployed for long!"

She turned up the volume of the TV in the empty waiting room. The TV was set on the Petruccilli News Corporation channel. The news experts were debating whether the Old Lady's Hope would crash near the starport, it's destination.

Xanara gave Danila a wink: "That's what happens if you fill a ship with shrews. I can tell for sure that you're not going to be employed by those poor souls!".
She then focused her attention to the show.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:40, Wed 13 Sept 2023.

At the query addressed to him, Sven focuses a bit more on his surroundings, He says, "No law against it".
OOC: On a law level 0 world, that is a small joke. Roughly meaning, it's not reserved

Assessing the stranger before him, Hmmm, Military bearing. Does not sound local. Here at EAnT. Likely from off world.

He follows up in a more friendly tone, "Hello. Call me Sven. I could use a bit of distraction from speculation on an orbital mechanics problem without enough data".
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 17:56, Thu 14 Sept 2023.

Danila squinted, figuring out the situation in his mind.
- I guess their trouble is not simply unrefined fuel. You only need refined fuel for a jump, while the reactor and maneuver drives work just fine on unrefined fuel. There should be something else in it... Anyway, a ship with an acceleration of 6G could intercept this cargo ship, match speed, dock, evacuate the crew and evade the collision with the planet, if it takes off no later than 75 minutes before the out-of-control truck crashes into the atmosphere. Tell me please, Miss Xanara, could you call the spaceport and ask if they have already sent a rescue boat to meet the truck? Because they should have already sent it, and if by any chance for some reason they haven’t yet, then you have an excellent pilot here who could pull it off! - Danila did not miss the chance to brag.


- Nice. Thanx, Sven, - Danila sat down at the table. - Name's Danila. You are an off-worlder here, too, aren't you?

Sven nods, "Although I grew up not far from here, astronomically speaking. A couple of jumps on one of the faster ships.

In case no one has thought to say it yet, welcome to the Floriani breadbasket.

Anyway, I was just being annoyed by that PNC news byte lead-in that is so enthralling …", he hesitates a second to remember, Zara? No, started with X. Xalara?, Xamara? Ah!, "Xanara over there. No details that an educated person could use to make their own assessment. Just a hook to scare people, and increase ratings. Just business, and borderline ethical".

In reply to Sven Glanz (msg # 13):

Danila nodded.

- I agree absolutely. Moreover, in my opinion, the media have long crossed this line of ethics and are devouring people’s time, hooking them on dopamine stimulation, exploiting the brain’s habit of looking for news. The habit, all other things being equal, is very evolutionarily useful, but has now turned into a trap. I used to resent this, but now I’ve adopted the habit of media abstinence and simply ignore all the news. I have found that it does not harm me at all - it does not impair my awareness of the world, my income or my effectiveness. If something is really important, it will not pass me by anyway. Seven days in hyperspace is especially conducive to such practice!

Outside the window of the EAnT a man appeared, dressed in comfortable yet stylish outdoor and/or space wear though he still managed to look a little scruffy in it. He appeared to be talking - loudly - to no-one in particular, but when the figure looked around a communicator was visible in his left ear.

"Don't worry, Darcey - I've got you covered. The Tibolt run went just like I said it would, and we came out with more than enough to cover the Vorn fiasco and still make a profit on the side. You'll get your cut in short order."

There was a pause as the figure listened to the other side of the conversation, before he broke into a grin.

"Hey! Have I ever let you down? Wait, don't answer that. Anyway, I'll be in touch, I'm waiting to hear back from a few different people, but I have a good feeling something big is coming our way. I'll talk to you soon."

His left hand reached up and touched the communicator, ending the call, and the man turned around and entered the EAnT. He smiled and nodded to the Feskal mopping the floor, offering a cheery "Hello!" before moving across to the counter, removing his filter mask as he went.

"Hey Xan! How are you doing today? Are the ectopian purple lotuses flowering yet?"

Only then, as he waited for Xanara's response, did Wade take in the noise coming from the TV on the wall of the waiting room.

"Well, that's one way to make an entrance. Better hope it's just a ship malfunction, rather than terrorists."

Sven grimaces slightly and says, "Easier said than accomplished. The supposed news, which really should be classed as entertainment in the guise of news, is very persistent at getting in our face and ears". He jerks a thumb at the source of the noise.

Evolutionarily useful? He pauses a few seconds to evaluate that. The idea passes some basic logic tests, and he mentally notes it. "I had not considered news gathering from that perspective before. Seems accurate. Still applies too, but sponsored news feeds are a very poor source of accurate data. I find completely ignoring all news impossible, but I can counter it with real information. This ship for example. I have a query in to the local data net to get public information available from traffic control. See what that really says."

Sven’s Agent click-clicked and started to whisper in Sven's right earphone :

The Old Lady’s Hope is a recently (as 5 weeks ago) registered merchant ship, on Thrush, belonging to Commander (retired) Beto Arark.
A similar ship (same size, same owner, similar name - “the Lady’s Hope” -) exists and was build 40 years ago for the Zebulo Corp.
I guessed you wanted to know more about that ship.

(Displayed a list of travel locations in the FL. It is clear that the ship spent 50% of its time outside of the League. Reputation: normal)

32 years ago the Zebulo Corp. was sued for smuggling, distorted accounts, and tax evasion. The charges were lifted. The Zebulo Corporation was dissolved. Beto Arark became the owner and changed the name from "Dawn of Zebulo" to "The Lady's Hope"

(Displayed another list, 6 times longer, of travel locations, mostly within the League. Three different captains mentioned as tenants. Reputation: good)

6 years ago, the Lady's hope was reported stolen by a group of Aslan swindlers.

It's current orbital parameters are unknown. the Tanar Space Authority issued the following statement

Result of the search within 900,000 km of Tanar, with enough mass and thrust to reach the rescue : The Pride of Tanar, currently on geostationary orbit at 31,491 km.
I guessed you wanted to know more about that ship.

The Pride of Tanar is a 1000-ton spaceguard [OOC the coastguards, in space] ship, offered by Vadada to Tanar 12 years ago.

(Displayed extracts of various vids of the welcoming of the ship: marching bands, solemn speeches by the senior member of the parliament and the director of the Space Authority, garlands, Tanari dancing folk dances.)

Since then, there have been eight public op-eds and denunciations in the medias about the state of the Pride of Tanar. I guessed you wanted less details about the complaints, so here is a summary: due to budget constraints, it is said that the PoT is in disrepair, understaffed and under-trained.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:39, Sat 16 Sept 2023.

On the TV, the anchorwoman was saying "You know, Kenneth, yesterday I was shopping by Petruccilli's, and I said to myself : what a wonderful variety of meat displayed! And I was already feeling the scent of the barbecue I'm organizing next Sixday... wait, we're just getting some hot news!

"BREAKING NEWS - Exclusive from Petruccilli News Corporation - Petruccilli: nobody is cheaper. - Ship in distress to avoid crash by 0.1 light-second!"

- The people's [and PCs'] computers and phones "ponged" with the headline. -

"The people of the ship are nevertheless going to die when their breathable air is exhausted.", hurled a pundit on the show.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:37, Sat 16 Sept 2023.

Xanara had a smile which, it seemed, took half of her face [think Julia Roberts]
"Oh Wade, we'll talk about the lotuses later", she stamped her feet and pointed out the TV.

"Can you believe what's happening? The Old Ladies' Hope? It must be filled with viragoes, or maybe some retirees and widows shoved all their pensions funds into a single ship?"

- Any real news about the ship, so far?

When the agent notification gets his attention, he quickly taps his ear to let Danila know he is busy for a moment, and subvocalizes, COMMS>>>Acknowledged. Agent report.<<<END COMMS Listening to the report, he interjects at appropriate points. COMMS>>>… Correct. …  Correct. …  Accurate. … Monitor for updates to the official TAS statement. If practical, bypass, and read data from the operator logs.<<<END COMMS

Thinking about the reported data, and some possible discrepancies from other sources, He somewhat slowly reaches up to tap his ear again, indicating the interruption is over.

"Not a lot" he says thoughtfully. "Space Authority is officially playing dumb. Public statement is basic neither confirm nor deny info on a drifting ship. Still looking to see if I can access the raw data to make my own assessment. I did get some history records on a ship that matches the profile. Also that there is a 1000 ton spaceguard craft at geo-stat that should be able to intercept. Oddity with that, is that there has been a lot of" air quotes "news complaints"  end air quotes "about budget constraints, lack of maintenance, under staffed and under trained. That is odd since other information is staying that the economy is booming. You would think that with the amount of high quality food products shipped out of here, they would prioritized anything related. So is the complaint news typical junk, or is the 'official' news about the economy incorrect? If both are accurate, I would speculated that there is serious redirection of resources intended for the ship into someones pocket." Continuing to himself, And that would be a safety and ethical issue. Improper maintenance would be a safety issue as well. How corrupt is the local system beneath the veneer?

He scowls at the new headline. That would make it about 3 planetary diameters. Moving at a decent relative, but close enough for many 'rescue' options, even if the ship can't be salvaged. Unless that 'distressed ship' has a lot more problems than a dead power plant, breathable should last plenty long enough.

"Damn! How are these headlines getting onto my comm? This is supposed to be a TL8 world. These headlines should not be able to override my settings like that. … Unless they have access to the imported Space Authority equipment."

OOC: Watch out for the shifting between sub vocal to the hand comp, thought stream, and "actual voiced" content. There's all 3 here. Too much?

Player finds the headlines useful, but Sven does not :)