Five Parsecs From Home: The Voyage of the Power Cruiser - Introduction to Lissen

Lissen

Planetary diameter: 7628 miles (slightly smaller than Earth)

Gravity: 0.97G

Atmosphere: Thin

Hydrosphere: 45%

Population: 127,358 at last census.

Government: Captive

Tech Level: Analagous to late 19th Century Earth

Lissen is a tectonically active, low-tech agri-world, with a technology level is similar to late 19^th century Earth.  Long-distance transport is by steam train, local travel by either beast-drawn carts or primitive internal combustion engines, communication is primarily by telephone and telegraph, occasionally by horseback dispatch rider to more isolated regions. 

It has a basic starport, with a Scout base.

The planet has a 45% hydrosphere, thin, hazy atmosphere, and is near-earth sized (7628 mile diameter).

Population at last census was only 127, 358 people.  Weapons are strictly controlled.  Only daggers can be carried outside the home.  Long-bladed weapons are controlled, firearms are banned for the general populace.

As a subservient colony world, Lissen has a captive government, controlled by Pactolus, who deliberately restrict the influx of technology.  Food shipments are sent directly to Pactolus.  The small population are almost exclusively employed in the agricultural operations.  Chalma is one of the main crops grown, a native variety with seeds that yield a sought-after oil when crushed. Gene-modded Terran import cereal crops are also grown, and the local fish-analogues are a popular food source both on- and off-world.

Farming is mainly in the valleys, air quickly becoming too thin to breathe without supplements in the upland regions.  Scientists believe that the planet started with a thicker atmosphere and a large ocean, but these have gradually been attenuated over millions of years.  Located closer to its star than Terra is to Sol, Lissen has been subject to strong solar winds that have stripped away much of the atmosphere, the reduced pressure resulting in the seas also evaporating.  Originally very warm, the planet as a whole has cooled considerably with the thinning of its insulating blanket, to the point that small polar ice caps have developed.  This is what actually makes Lissen fairly habitable for humans, its original hot, humid form would probably have been too unpleasant for colonisation.  In another few million years, Lissen may well end up like Mars, the oceans entirely gone and only a faint wisp of atmosphere remaining.  It is only Lissen's magnetic field that has prevented this fate overtaking the planet already.

Human habitation is confined mainly to the coastal areas, this is for two reasons.  Firstly, the aforementioned thin atmosphere means that these lowland areas are where breathing is easiest, especially given the prevailing low technology levels (minimal breathing apparatus).  Secondly, fairly low rainfall across the planet makes irrigation essential for arable farming and this is most easily arranged near the coast where primitive desalination plants pump sea water through the sluice runs.

The Pactolan government exerts huge control over the Lissen puppet government, which is little more than a mouthpiece.  Technological levels have been kept deliberately low, partly because the strong solar wind causes frequent malfunctions, but primarily because it makes it easier for Pactolus to keep the scattered population in order.

Three main factions vie to control events on Lissen.  One merchant cartel (the "export cartel"; Influence 4, Power 2), controls the argicultural industry, restricting the output to maintain artificially high prices for all its members for the produce sold off-world.  Another merchant cartel (the "local cartel"; Influence 3, Power 3) enforces strict quotas on fishing and crops, pushing the prices up for what is sold locally.  It is in the cartels' interests to maintain the low technology levels to ensure maximum profits for their members, for the minimum of investment.  Finally, there is Caras Barbok, a charismatic leader (Influence 3, Power 2) campaigning against the puppet government.

The low technology levels make it easy for off-world outlaw groups to land undetected and there are rumoured to be several such hideouts on Lissen, hidden in isolated valleys.  As long as food production and shipping is not disrupted in any way, the government are indifferent to their presence.  Some of the hideouts have been abandoned or relocated as the colony has expanded.

The system contains a gas giant and several smaller planets, all of which are uninhabited.