Byst

Byst

Location	Allegiance	Starport	Climate	Atmosphere	Hydro %
(-12.89, -15.54, -6.13)	Independent	III	Infernal	none	0%
Gravity	Diameter	Moons	Avg. Orbit R	Stars	Day Length
0.24	1,903	–	0.15	M1 III	31
Population	Government	CR	TL	Resources	Year Length
12 million	Corporate	6	9	Abundant	18.04

Languages

Amerish, Esperanto

Background

Byst was originally settled just over a century ago by a Colm-based mining corporation, with Mr. Kord listed as the sponsor. Its highly abundant radioactives made the company very wealthy in short order. That wealth led the colony to declare its independence and completely sever ties with Colm.

The colony consists of 8 domed cities and several semi-permanent mining operations. All of the domed cities started out as smaller mining operations, and active mining continues beneath each of them. There are several abandoned mining settlements across the planet over mines which have either played out or otherwise become economically non-viable.

Shortly after declaring independence from Colm, the Byst Mining Company (BMC) shifted its mining responsibilities from contract labor to a genetically engineered slave race. The Byst Lightworlders were tailored to the rigors of mining on Byst, having radiation resistance and bodies adapted to working in a low-G environment. One unexpected attribute of their slave race was natural telepathy and ESP abilities.

Byst has evolved to have 4 distinct classes. At the lower end, there are the Byst Lightworlder slaves. They have limited rights: they are allotted meager food, housing, clothing, etc., in exchange for working long hours. Most eventually succumb to mining-related diseases or injuries.

The next strata of Byst society are the security forces. They are almost exclusively composed of Spartan Series I-D bioroids, which, owing to their genetic self-destruct feature, are illegal in most systems. They are tasked with keeping the workers in order, serving as police and customs, and manning the system’s defense fleet.

The middle strata consists of ordinary employees of the company. Most of them are Colmites, though other systems are represented among this population. The final strata are the upper crust – major functionaries, shareholders, etc. Among them, it is en vogue to consume monstrous quantities of food and drink, leading many to become extremely obese. The low gravity prevents them from suffering most of the physical maladies which would ordinarily accompany their girth. Such obesity is a status symbol and standard of beauty on Byst.

The major cultural events on Byst revolve around feasting, oratory, and “high” festivals which are little more than bacchanalia. The lower two rungs of society are not included in these entertainments. Among the Spartans, wrestling, boxing, and martial arts are the preferred entertainments. The slaves are reduced to singing, dancing, and their own strange spiritualism.

Port of Byst (Class III)

Byst has a utilitarian highport, used primarily as a staging point for bulk freighters. Recreational facilities and lodging are minimal – a few cheap rooms meant for transient spacers and a handful of watering holes and restaurants for starship crews. The resident population is almost entirely made up of Spartans and Byst Lightworlders; other workers commute from the surface for their shifts.

Each domed city has a small downport. They see mostly shuttle traffic – cargo and passenger service to the highport. Small freighters can also be found there, usually seeking to purchase radioactives in exchange for other offworld goods. Likewise, all of the smaller settlements have shuttle ports, many of which are capable of receiving vessels of up to hull class +8. Traffic to these ports is less common, but many small traders prefer to buy and sell directly.

Government

Byst’s government is patterned as a typical corporate state, with a board of directors, CEO, COO, CFO, and other standard corporate officers. Shareholders are the only full citizens, with the right to come and go as they please. Everyone else is either beholden to their contracts or is a slave.

Religion

There are several religions followed by the non-slave population, and religious freedom is generally the norm. The exception is among the slave populations. The Spartans are programmed from birth to follow a belief system that sets martial excellence, duty, and honor as its highest virtues. Deviations from this belief system are not tolerated by the BMC.

The Lightworlders have their own mystical tradition which plays heavily on their psionic abilities. It is officially outlawed by the BMC, but many of their overseers turn a blind eye to it, believing that repressing their religion will reduce morale and lead to a reduction in productivity. It is also hard to track, as it is often communicated via psionic links in a semi-oral tradition rather than having books, liturgies, or any obvious outward signs beyond simple artwork.

Byst Racial Template (136 points)

Byst Lightworlders were genetically engineered for mining operations on Byst. While they cannot survive on the surface, they require less radiation protection and are better able to recover from radiation exposure than baseline humans. They are also stronger and have more endurance than a typical lightworlder.

Born with minor telepathic and ESP abilities, many are very powerful with one or both Powers. Other abilities are not unheard of – some have exhibited high degrees of psychokinetic Powers. The more powerful psis are actively hunted down by the BMC.

Attributes: ST -1 [-10]; HT +2 [20].

Secondary Attributes: HP +1 [2]; FP +2 [6].

Advantages: Avatar [1]; Emotion Sense 2 [9]; ESP Talent 1 [5]; Exposition Sense [1]; I Know What You Mean [1]; Fit [5]; Long Arms [20]; Long Legs [10]; No Muscle or Bone loss in low-G [1]; Radiation Tolerance 5 [10]; Regeneration (Slow; Radiation only -40%) [6]; Resistant (Disease +8) [5]; Synchronize [1]; Telepathy Talent 1 [5]; Telerecieve 3 [42]; Telesend 3 [21]; Visions (Dreams) [5].

Disadvantages: Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Social Stigma (Subjugated) [-20].

Features: Increase height by up to 2’ over the norm for the lowered ST, but weight is

15% to 25% lower than normal. Their compact frame allows them to squeeze into places that normal people can’t fit, but this is balanced by their extra height (needing to duck under

doors and so on). They have silvery-white or platinum blond hair, and light gray to black skin with silvery sparkles.