Starcharts

 

          Astrogation Starcharts widely used in the Confederacy are an attempt to create a static two dimensional representation of a dynamic four dimensional system (the forth dimension being time). Also known as a "frisbee" chart, it assumes a fixed position above the galactic plane looking down on the stars. Such charts are useful in everyday human navigation, but only when coupled with the mathematical models in the ship's computers or holographic projections of the systems. They are useful in determining relative positions of stars, but only generally because the stars are all moving at tens of thousands of miles an hour. The only reason this works is that space is so vast, that even at that speed, navigation requires only a minor course correction. 

          Originally planetary systems were portrayed in the same type of frisbee fashion, with a star in the center and its planets arranged in their orbits arround them. That system eventually gave way to the "vortex" map. SInce a sun is moving, it is actually dragging its stars in their orbits along with it. The planet orbits, then, instead of being circles or elipses are actually a spiral. A true portrayal of a planetary system in elapsed time looks like a whirlwind moving through space. Each satellite repeats the same movement with its planet as that planet revolves around its star as that star travels in its spiral arm around the center of its galaxy. 

 

 

Asa-King Astrocartography

 

          The astrocartography system used most widely within the Confederacy breaks down space into parallax seconds, more commonly known as parsecs. A parsec in linear measurement is the distance light travels in 3.26 years at 186,000 miles a second. A parsec equals 31 trillion kilometres or 19 trillion miles.  These parsecs on a two dimensional map are usually shown as either hexagons or circles. These parsecs are grouped into subsectors (8 x 10 parsecs), quadrants (2x2 subsectors) and sectors (4x4 subsectors or 2x2 quadrants). Every hex has a letter and a number that corresponds with its subsector (alphaed A-P, upper right to lower left) and numbered by columns 101 to 810 (upper left to lower right within the subsector). 

   

Depictions of Stars and Planetary Systems

An empty hex has no star. One with a sphere in it has a star present. However, 

that hex will picture the characteristics of the main habitable world in its system: 

blue for a world with water, turquoise for a water world, white for an ice world,

black for no atmosphere, tan for dry and brown for a desert planet. An asteroid

belt is a broken ring. Extreme atmospheres are also shown by a rim around the

planet. Gray shows a thin or very thin atmosphere. Bright lavender covers the

general category of corrosive, insidious (poisonous) or exotic atmospheres that

will overcome vacc suits and even in some cases star ships. A binary or trinary

system will have two spheres in it, each representing the main habital world 

within each system. If there is a gas giant suitable for skimming fuel, a circle will

appear in the upper left.  

 

Star Lanes

Star lanes and their cut offs (short cuts) are shown by straight lines. The Scout lanes (Jump 6) are shown in lavender. Confederate Navy and Marine lanes (Jump 3) lanes are shown in green. The Celeste Marchand / Ministry of Colonization and Relocation and the Civilian lanes (Jump 2) are in red. Places where the lanes overlap are shown with alternating colors. The major merchant lane in the Gamma Quadrant of the Astrea Sector is the Spinward Trail, stretching from the The Twins (J-602) to Terminus (M-310), a distance of 33 parsecs by the Jump 2 route or 35 parsecs by the Scout Jump 6 route. While the Scout route is longer, it was designed for speed. It would take a merchant vessel a minimum of 16 weeks of non-stop travelling (taking the Crowton Cutoff) to go from The Twins to Terminus or New Terminus. It would take a Scout vessel about six weeks at full Jump to cover the same distance. Very few ships exist outside of the Scout Corps with such "long legs." Scout ships are the fastest form of communication within the Confederacy.

 

Sophont Presence        

Below the star's position is the type (if any) of starport facilities, rated from Class I ( major repair, overhaul and construction failities present) to Class V (an inmanned bare slab with emergency supplies). No listing shows no known facility. Beneath the star is the name of the planet/star/system. Systems without names are known by their alpha numeric star chart position. To the left of the star icons represent military installations present: a pentagon for a naval/marine facility and a triangle for the Scout Corps. Any special notations are made to the left of the star icon, for example P stands for protectorate, (a territory with local rule but in submission to a larger political power) or an F shows the presence of a federal colony. In addition, political affiliations are represented by the color of the frame of the hex. The circle of the capitol of that group will be the same color as the frame, edged in red.

 

"No Go" Zones          

Interdicted hexes on a Confederate  AKA map fall into two categories: active and passive. The active ones will have a military presence. Depending upon the severity of the interdiction, it may be Scouts (Mathiev J-101) or Navy and Marine blockaid along the border with the Great and Glorius, Grand and VIctorious Lang Imperium (Lang L-601). Passively interdicted worlds, like those within the Osmani Empire, are monitored through a series of listening posts within each system. While the information is gathered secretly, it is with the permission of the Osmani Grand Counsel. The Scouts are there to inforce a tech ban than could destroy the balance of power in either the Empire or the Confederacy. "No Go" zones are also rated by the type of contact allowed. A hex with a red background indicates a world that is unaffiliated, but to visit would either be a danger to those visiting or the inhabitants of the planet. A hex with a red frame shows a world with a political attachment, but is completely forbidden, most likely for military reasons. A hex with a yellow "caution" background indicates a world with regulated contact, but without affiliation. A Scout beacon will usually explain what the restrictions are. A hex with a yellow frame is a world with political attachment, but under a visitors advisory. Again, there should be a Scout beacon with information on how to proceed. In general, detailed information about why worlds are posted on the "no go" list is hard to find. The Confederate Navy expects its citizens to take "no" for an answer without explanation. The causes are not listed on standard AKA maps, but there are always rumors and "unofficial" sources. That information is usually incomplete and not always accurate.

 

 

 

SUBSECTORS G - P, ASTREA SECTOR