Name of World: SS Artemis
System: Uriel
Year Initially Settled: 2265
Affiliations: Explorers Inc. (owners); CHL Department of Defense (contracts and such)
Governmental Style: Corporate (Board-Ran)
Primary Languages: English, French, Japanese
Religions: Siderealism.
Primary Industries: Spacecraft Development, Manufacturing, and Repair
Current Leaders/Figures of Note: Asteria White (CEO and owner of Explorers, Incorporated) heads The Board, though many of its other members choose to keep their identities a secret out of fear of assassination attempts or corporate sabotage. Asteria is a cold and calculating woman who does all she can to see that her company is profitable.
In-Play Characters from this Location: Nebula Brume. Moxime Marianne.
Human Mutations: Spaceborn - due to many of its denizens being born on spacecraft for several generations, the people of the SS Artemis have developed lighter, generally smaller frames than planet-born citizens. Though physically weaker and generally more frail, they are lighter on their feet and adapt to space travel at high speeds much more easily than their more grounded brethren.
Geography/Biodiversity: The SS Artemis is the size of a large moon and consists of 9 different districts, from the aristocratic Atrium District - which sits atop the space station giving its residents a view at all times of the great beyond, down to the Gallows District, which houses the many non-mechanical maintenance, custodial, and service workers of the space station.
Your district determines your status, wealth, and oftentimes the career path with which you’ll be bound to. Those born in the Atrium District will likely grow to be Upper Management, if not ascend to The Board itself, or travel to distant systems to run subsidiaries or other stations for Explorers, Inc.
While the basic education system touts the idea of rising from your district to the next above it as some lofty goal, it is nigh unheard of, in reality. Additionally, many of the lower district workers are heavily in debt to their corporate sponsors (a debt which is passed on to their children and their children’s children), making living by all but the barest of means nearly impossible on the lower levels.
Level 1 - The Atrium
Aristocrats and Upper Management, Wealthy Tourists may visit this district
Level 2 - Hollywood
Home to much of the tourist and entertainment venues of the SS Artemis. From casinos to theme parks, VR Arcades, night clubs, and even television, music, and music studios and concert venues
Level 3 - The Black Hole
The third district is an ultra secure district where supposedly elite soldiers train, ultra secret experiments are ran, and the Board’s every whim and desire is fulfilled. No one aside from those trusted to run this district really known what happens here.
Level 4 - The Garden
Hydroponic gardens and livestock generation
Level 5 - Engineering and R&D
Spacecraft research, development, and advanced repairs and maintenance are performed here.
Level 6 - The Barracks
Artemis’ greater military and defense forces reside and work from here.
Level 7 - The Line
The production district where many of the skilled workers work on the production line for ships and other engineered products
Level 8 - The Wrench District
Many aspects of the station’s maintenance is handled by this district
Level 9 - The Gallows
Non-technical workers and conscripts.
History: The SS Artemis began construction by the Coalition during the Civil War, originally intended as a place to churn out vast numbers of spacecraft for the Coalition’s armies. They got as far as finishing the basic framework when the civil war ended and were left with a giant money sink that no one wanted to invest in. So, when Explorers Inc approached with the offer to buy the framework and take all responsibility over for the development of the project, the Coalition saw a way to recoup their losses and refill their treasury in a time where resources were suffering, post-war.
In less than five years, the SS Artemis was christened and set to orbit a dwarf red star as one of many space stations owned by Explorers, Inc and it has been up and running since. Still a fairly new facility, the Artemis is often touted as one of the crown jewels of the organization’s fleet.
Artemis Day - August 25, annually. A celebration with a Mardi Gras vibe that honors the station coming online for the first time.
Star Day - May 21, annually. A spring time holiday where the greenhouses are filled with colored lights and people write wishes/prayers on colored paper and tie them to trees until the trees appear to be blossoming.
Harbor Day - November 5, annually. A day when traveling Artemesians come home from Sea for 24 hours home safe with their families. The celebration consists of a large Thanksgiving style feast and everyone sleeps in the living room together, or other similar communal sleeping situation.
Christmas - December 25, annually. Artemis also celebrates Christmas in a fairly traditional manner and one of their most well-known traditions is the gigantic fake Christmas tree that's erected on level 1, The Atrium.
Bird-boned (adj.) - Particularly frail or unhealthy. Also, prone to whining a lot and playing up injuries. “That bird-boned asshole called out sick again!”
Chien (n.) - (French) Bitch, asshole, also dog! “Stupid chien took my money!”
Driving Kettle (v.) - Engines dead, using compressed air jet propulsion to slow-limp into port. “Had to drive kettle after that stray rock hit my starboard engine.”
Float (v, adj, etc) - Obscene. Similar to “fuck” without sexual connotations. “Go float yourself.”
Grav (n.) - Someone who is boring, depressing, or otherwise being a drag. “Don’t be such a grav, it’s just a little beer.”
In Orbit (adj) - Excited, overwhelmed with happiness. Also furious, hopping with rage. “Mary’s in orbit since I told her about the new project.”
Keyhole (n.) - An important choice in life. The moment when a plan starts to go wrong or things go catastrophically wrong. “Well that was a fucking keyhole, why didn’t you just stay put?”
Level 3 (adj.) - Private or secret. Not for sharing with people without permission. Just between us. “Don’t tell anyone, okay? It’s some Level 3 shit.”
Lunarious (adj.) - Beautiful or awe-inspiring. “The solar flares yesterday were lunarious.”
Mooner (n.) - Someone from off-station, a tourist. Particularly one who is loud/obnoxious or who is specifically trying to find Artemisians to sleep with. “Ugh, the guy who bought me a drink is a total mooner. Don’t let him corner you.”
Shimmy (n.) - A second, a moment. Imminently. "I'll be out in a shimmy!"
Shiny (adj.) - Used to express agreement or approval. Satisfactory, acceptable, or perfect. Very impressive, attractive or expensive looking. “You okay?” “I’m shiny, thanks!”
Sixer or Six (n. or adj.) - Militaristic or actual military personne. Also someone who is overly aggressive. “Alright there, sixer, calm down and put the gun away.”
The Sea (n.) - Space. The vacuum. Also references death. “I’m going to sea with the next shuttle out.”
Trill (n.) - To gamble, usually to excess. Also the sound a slot machine makes while it’s rolling. “You know Jim, he got his weekly pay so he’s off to trill it away.”
Turn Screws (v.) - To become a snitch. “I heard he got off light because he turned screws on his buddy.”
Wrench (n.) - Someone who is good with repairs. A mechanic rather than an engineer. Also a stroke of good luck. “Finding you all the way out here is a real wrench.”