Vetalia Geminorum A
Contents
Overview
Also known as Vetalia Gemini Castor (from the primary star of Vetalia's system and its constellation, Castor and Gemini respectively), this artificial moon was constructed from 2151-2239 using resources mined from near-planet asteroids and is currently used as a manufacturing, research, and launch base for the Colonial Authority. It is most noteworthy as the headquarters of Integrated Semiconductor Fabrication's manufacturing division, the makers of the ubiquitous graphene semiconductors used in most modern electronic devices. Other corporations such as Quanta-Bellatrix and Fornax Nanodevices also use the moon's zero-gravity zones for their advanced manufacturing facilities, and the moon's polar region is home to the estates of many prominent citizens of Vetalia.
Politics and Defense
The moon is ruled by Supreme Mind 3.71.01, who goes by the name of "Theseus" and who has ruled since the moon's construction ended in 2240. He delegates power to the two regional Praetors who are responsible for managing their hemispheres and meeting the goals set by Theseus at the yearly meetings of the Gemini Council. Local authority is designated to various levels of bureaucracy, and the moon's defense is managed partly by the Castor Guard and the Vetalian Army's Gamma Squadron. Three major defensive platforms orbit the moon, the largest of which is Gemini Orbital and which boasts the main ion cannon as well as the moon's emergency stockpiles of nuclear, chemical, and biological weaponry. The total garrison of the planet is roughly 600,000 Gamma Squadron troops and 1.5 million Castor Guard reservists.
Demographics, Culture and Environment
Overview
As of 2299, Vetalia Geminorum A has a population of 37 million, of which 24.2 million are full sentient citizens. Of that number, 18.8 million are robots, 5 million are cyborgs, and 400,000 are fully biological humans. The vast majority live in the two main cities of the moon, Grus and Vela, both of which cover roughly 75% of the surface; the remaining population lives either on the orbital platforms or in the handful of colonies created specifically for the research and development centers of ISF's Advanced Projects Division. In addition, there are a number of animal species, mainly brought to the planet by incoming transports, that live in the moon's subterranean infrastructure, including a number of humid, junglelike plant colonies created for oxygen production and use for research in bioengineering.
Geography and Important Features
The moon itself is totally metallic, with the tall spires of the moon's major cities serving as the closest thing to geographical features. Particularly noteworthy, and unique to Vetalia Geminorum A, are the metal plants and rocks used in the robotic quarters to provide aesthetic enhancements to the planet's otherwise empty surface. The planet's easily modified landscape also makes it a prime location for the entertainment industry, with major corporations such as Carina Records and Columba-Aquila owning major recording studios and backlots near the planet's northern pole. Indeed, the moon is known as the "Orbital Octalis" in reference to the famous Octalis neighborhood of the Vetalian city New Corvus, where the vast majority of major entertainment corporations have their headquarters and many Vetalian celebrities own their primary estates. There are a number of live-action and holotheaters, stadiums, museums, nightclubs, restaurants, gardens and music halls on the planet that cater to various forms of entertainment, and the planet's connections to the Galactic Quantanet and the prototype Galactic Reality Simulator provide electronic entertainment.
Challenges and the Future
At present, there is a debate surrounding legalized casino gambling (certain forms of gambling are already legal), although opposition to it in the face of already problematic organized crime makes it unlikely that casino gambling will be legalized any time soon especially considering the excellent casinos and gambling services on Vetalia and Vetalia Geminorum B. There are also illicit entertainments such as prostitution, illegal drugs, illegal gambling, arms dealing and even, it is rumored, things like gladiatorial combat and slave trading in the darkest depths of the moon's slums and wealthy neighborhoods. Despite these problems, however, Vetalia Geminorum's financial and technological prowess ensure that it will be capable of maintaining and improving the high standard of living and economic potential that has been its hallmark for the past several decades. Nevertheless, criminal matters will likely remain a significant drain on the moon's finances and the resources of its government barring a significant improvement in counter-crime methods or a strict crackdown on illegal activity; however, given the moon's free market and libertarian culture it is unlikely that they will be willing to sacrifice their economic openness to further control organized crime.
Economy
Overview
The primary focus of the moon's economy is exports, with technological manufacturing comprising the largest share of the economy and the bulk of the exports to other planets and moons. One of the most important exports is the graphene semiconductor, whose importance to the regional economy is reflected in the naming of their regional currency after graphene itself. Other important products include solar panels, smart materials, and industrial machinery, especially fabricators and molecular manufacturing devices. Targeting and orbital computers for satellites are also important; however, due to its orbit the moon is not well suited for launching them and so the actual assembly and deployment of the parts manufactured occurs in other places, mainly Vetalia Geminorum B and Vetalia itself. Also, because of its importance to the Vetalian technological infrastructure, a number of defense contractors also produce and export their products on the planet, although the bulk of defense R&D occurs on Vetalia itself.
Currency and Fiscal Policy
Interestingly, and unique to Vetalia Geminorum A, the value of their currency is chained to the price of graphene sheets rather than freely determined on the market; currently, one sheet of graphene is worth 0.05 Solaris, producing a conversion rate of 20 graphenes to one Solaris. The stable price of graphene sheets, a factor produced both by the abundance of carbon and constant improvements in their production, enables the moon to maintain a stable value for its currency and gives it a favorable advantage in foreign markets. The use of graphene sheets as their currency reserve also aids in its stability; if there is a risk of oversupply pushing prices down, the government will use the trade surplus to buy up graphene for their foreign reserve, taking some product off the market and supporting prices.
Problems and Challenges
The planet's solid and reliable economic and industrial growth produce low unemployment and high per capita consumption, although income inequality between robots, cyborgs, and humans remains a challenge to the government. However, the large amount of international trade also makes the moon a hub for the import and distribution of illegal products, and organized crime is a serious problem despite the attempts of the Colonial Authority to crack down on it since the 2170's. Industrial espionage is also a problem, with the largest corporations operating intelligence and counter-espionage forces that approach those of the Colonial Authority itself in terms of quality, equipment, and sheer scale of operations. In fact, these corporate forces often provide valuable intelligence for the CA in its fight against organized crime, although what they offer must often be taken at less than face value due to their attempts to discredit competitors and protect their own ties to organized crime.
Monetary Policy, the Securities Industry, and Commercial Organizations
Since the early 1960's, the planet has operated its own stock and futures market with ties to the Vetalian Stock Exchange; the Gemini Exchange is the main handler of contracts on graphene and polysilicon in the Empire, and it is often a leader in its listing of new products. However, unlike the VSE its regulatory wing is still weak and the market has problems with insider trading and corruption; legislation to strengthen and expand the regulatory powers of the Colonial Exchange commission is currently in development, but it is unlikely to be finalized and passed for at least another five to ten years. The planet's financial system is a hybrid between private banks and the Reserve Bank of Vetalia Geminorum, the local branch of the Galactic Reserve System, which controls interest rates, reserve ratios, and the moon's graphene reserves and also initiates regulatory actions against member banks when necessary. Vetalia Geminorum A is a member of the Vetalia System Free Trade Zone and the Galactic Trade Council, and since 2175 has been an official node of the Galactic Quantanet FTL communications network.
Statistical Overview
Population: 24.2 million (for economic purposes, only sentients are counted)
Age Structure:
0-280 years: 67.2%
281-1280 years:20.4% 1281 and over: 12.5%
Median Age: Total: 259 years Male: 258 years Female: 260 years
Population Growth Rate: 0.0091%
Migration Rate: 1.32 migrants/1,000 population
Real GDP: 22.56 trillion Graphenes (20 graphenes= 1 Vetalian Solaris)
Real GDP Per Capita: Ğ932,231 or Ş46,611
GDP Real Growth Rate: 3.3%
Unemployment: 2.44%
Industrial Production Growth Rate: 4.5%
Exports: Ğ17.55 trillion
Products: Computer components, graphene nanotubes, industrial machinery, telecommunications equipment, advanced composites, defense equipment, solar panels, satellite computers.
Partners: Vetalia (45.5%), Vetalia Geminorum B (29.9%), Antlia (14.4%), Draco (7.7%), Misc. (2.5%)
Imports: Ğ10.34 trillion
Products: Food and water, storage and preservation equipment, inert gases, consumer goods, electrical equipment, raw carbon and graphite, space vehicles, polysilicon, steel and other processed metals, raw silicon.
Partners: Vetalia (32.1%), Antila (25.5%), Vetalia Geminorum B (12.3%), Musca Prime (10.2%), Draco (10.1%), Lyra-3 (6.5%), Misc. (3.3%)
Balance of Account: +Ğ3.66 trillion
Monetary Reserves: Ğ2.70 trillion
