Ganymede

Ganymede is the largest natural satellite in Sol System and, of course, in orbit over Jupiter. Its size has helped it become the most populous of the Jovian moons, and has earned it the role as capital of the Jovian League. It has very little profitable, natural resources, but it has stepped into the role as a critical waypoint in the space over Jupiter - servicing the ships in the vicinity and stockpiling supplies.

Today, Ganymede is home to a handful of large cities and many scattered outposts spread out over approximately 60% of the moon's surface. While the larger cities are home to several hundred thousand people, the numerous outposts typically house only one extended family of nobility plus their droids and employees. Most of these outposts are interconnected by a network of shielded highways that criss-cross the surface of Ganymede.

History

First Colonies

Like many early colonies, the first individuals to set foot on Ganymede was hundreds of Gen2 Syntek droids sent there during the first wave of colonization in 2401. Their purpose was to develop an artificial habitat capable of supporting the humans that were to follow. The habitat created by the first Synteks became known as Ganymede City.

Once the humans arrived, some families immediate began to prosper. As their wealth grew, so did their status in the new colonies and they soon became lords over the numerous, isolated outposts that developed on the surface. As the population on Ganymede grew, these founding families sought to uphold their status, so a steady, systematic oppression of new colonists began. These founding families grew larger over the years and soon became known as Houses to encompass the extended families. Gradually, these Houses began a new form of aristocracy that created Lords, Dukes, and eventually a Monarchy. This collectively formed into what is known today as the Jovian League (JL). The most powerful family at the time, the House of Caldis, assumed the thrown with little opposition.

Golden Years

Many decades passed and the space over Jupiter became a bustling hub of space faring commerce through the sector. Ganymede prospered as it became a jumping off point for colonization efforts further from Earth. It also became an access point for colonizing the other Jovian moons, Callisto, Io, and Europa. The use of Synteks soared as the need for inexpensive labor rose. Soon, there was 7 Synteks for every human. An additional headquarters for Sennhieser Nanosystems, the makers of the Syntek droids, was even built on Ganymede with a massive factory built in the cold seas of Europa just below the icy surface.

Syntek Uprising

Unfortunately, a corporate spy in Sennhieser Nanosystems released some of the encryption protocol for Gen2 Syntek inhibitors onto the black market. Before the company could react, a computer virus that targeted the Syntek inhibitors was created and weaponized. It is still unknown who was the first to use the virus on Synteks, but the first ones to undergo the Awakening (the transformation of disabling the inhibitors caused newly found self-awareness) were serf droids on Ganymede. It spread almost exponentially from that point as Gen2 Synteks sought to awaken fellow Synteks. Their newfound self-awareness led to brutal conflicts with the Jovian League.

The JL military was immediately mobilized to restore order in Ganymede City. The awakened Synteks, with adaptive learning capabilities, targeted the aristocracy. Many fled to the more heavily fortified outposts while JL military detachments were sent to guard the Sennhieser Nanosystems factory on Europa where the company had found a fix for the inhibitors and tried to escalate production of all new Gen2 models. Thousands of recently completed Gen2 models yet to be activated at the factory were destroyed before their inhibitors could be compromised.

The darkest moment was when thousands of Syntek droids broke through the parameter of the Crystal Palace. The Jupiter Vanguard, or JV corps, stationed there tried to withstand the onslaught, but the unrelenting droids outnumbered and overwhelmed them. They reached the royal family before they could escape and brutally murdered them. The few remaining members of the ruling House of Caldis fled the sector to unknown destinations.

Eventually, the JL military, with the aid of newly constructed Gen2 models with inhibitors intact, was able to restore order. An unknown number of awakened Gen2 models, however, were able to escape to other areas. Approximately 22,000 humans died in the uprising. Other locations, especially Earth, were alerted to the crisis early, and had destroyed millions of Syntek droids that were vulnerable to the virus.

The entire event was a monumental disaster for Sennhieser Nanosystems. Its saving grace, however, was its ability to keep its factories operating at full capacity. Its years of meeting very high rates of demand had inadvertently prepared it for such events, and since no other company could match its rate of production, governments were forced to continually renew their contracts with Sennhieser Nanosystems.

War of Succession

In the wake of the Syntek Uprising, the monarchy was left empty with the slaying of the royal family and the remainder of the House of Caldis fleeing from the sector. What was left of the aristocracy began quarreling over the right of succession. Despite the recent chaos, many of the remaining houses saw the opportunity to rule and would stop at nothing to grasp it.

Government

Ganymede serves as the capital of the Jovian League, a monarchy supported by aristocratic houses that dominate the member worlds in Jovian space. Ganymede City is dominated by industries in support of the government. In fact, over half of all those employed in Ganymede City are by the Jovian League.

Culture

Ganymede, like many of the worlds in Jovian space, is dominated by an aristocracy made up of the descendants of many of the founding families, known commonly as Houses. They have elevated themselves using Gen2 Syntek droids as serfs in homes that resemble fortresses. Many of these serf droids are employed in the large ship hangars on Ganymede where they perform all manner of maintenance to various ships in the area.

Notable Figures

King Jal Nasbar

From the House of Nasbar, Jal is a formidable, large-framed man standing over six and a half feet tall. His family assumed control of the monarchy when almost 200 years ago when the previous line, the House of Caldis, was overthrown during the Syntek Uprising of 2912. What was left of the House of Caldis was forced to flee the system and the remaining aristrocracy were thrown into a civil war with each other while trying to put down the droid uprising.

Lord Nate Falgesh

The House of Falgesh, led by this man, has become one of the richest families in the area. He has begun using his wealth to field a private military force. While his original goal was to protect his growing fleet of cargo ships, many fear his intentions may be something more ambitious. King Nasbar has even grown suspicious of Falgesh's new force, but the support of the Falgesh family is crucial to the league.

Points of Interest

Crystal Palace

Designed to reflect the wealth and prestige of the Jovian League, the Crystal Palace serves as both the home of the monarchy as well as a place to meet with foreign ambassadors from neighboring worlds and alliances. Occasionally, families of great significance within the league stay in the palace while visiting the monarchy.

The palace itself towers above the rocky surface approximately 40 km from Ganymede City. Those in the city can still see the palace in the distance. Many ships from other worlds that land at the city marvel at the way its shielded glass glistens in the glowing light of Jupiter. Many of the crystals embedded in the glass of the palace were formed in the underground seas of Europa.

You must, of course, schedule your visit to the palace. Security in the area is very high, led by the Jupiter Vanguard.