Part 1: YE-That Blue Jewel, Nares
That Blue Jewel, NaresIt is 400 YE, and the world of Nares is at peace- as, indeed, it has been for the majority of its existence. The last major conflict of its history was the anti-piracy campaigns of the late second century YE, rooting out threats to shipping in the darker corners of the world. It is difficult to call the patchwork of legal arrangements, security firms, arbitrators, and property holdings that prevails over the surface of Nares a 'united planetary government', but nonetheless a common culture and a common economy prevails. Eight billion Narestans live spread across the surface, with 200 million employed in agriculture and 200 million in research and development, either taking entrepreneurial risks in technological development or working for established R&D firms and departments. Heavy industry on the surface has minimal employment, with most industrial employment being in light consumer industries. Enough investment in industrial machinery to maintain the current industrial and technological base in maintained, but nonetheless at this point investment in current industrial technology is mature. In anticipation of future space exploration, a major shipyard complex has recently been completed in orbit over Nares, even if this may be somewhat premature. There exists no unitary military command for various security forces, militias, and private armed individuals on the planet, although the total number of persons under arms is sometimes estimated as high as 40 million.
I immediately sold the starting marine barracks on Nares- don't need it, don't want the upkeep, can use the extra 30 BC.
Tel, Nares' cool red star, has a relatively sparse inner system, dominated by Nares, a few scattered asteroids, and the irradiated world of Sedal. Sedal has a hostile, harsh environment, and is smaller than Nares- although some people have imagined exploiting Sedal industrially, the fact is that Nares will be a better home to the Narestans for the immediate future.
There has been some speculation that the warm yellow stars near Tel may prove to host planets with environments friendly to life, which could be an immense boon to the Narestans if this proves true. Even if nothing of value at all is found, the simple satisfaction of curiosity may well be worth the investment in some investors' eyes.
80 trillion credits free investment capital is available on various exchanges on Nares, with 22 trillion further being accumulated every year.
Investment Proposals
Engineering Firm Research
The primary focus of R&D investment on Nares at the moment is new advanced industrial machinery, expected to bolster the productivity of the small heavy industrial sector and kickstart future development. This is not the only focus of investment, however- various space engineering firms based in the shipyard over the planet have been experimenting with new technologies. High-performance small craft, expected to be marketed as patrol vessels and pleasure craft, experimentation with light space-based weaponry, or redundant hull and safety systems have all been experimented with by certain firms.
Our first primary research target is Automated Factories, but we need to pick up a technology on the way. Please vote between Fighter Bays, Anti-Missile Rockets, and Reinforced Hulls.
Other Research
While much of the current focus in R&D investment is focused on manufacturing technologies, both the agricultural and computing sectors have likewise been seeing significant funding. Viable optical computing is considered a high-value priority for the business and research communities, with various consumer spinoffs anticipated, while the agricultural sector hopes to see advances in automation and hydroponics allowing for substitution of heavier capital investment for current labor needs.
Please vote between Research Labs and Hydroponic Farms as our next major research target.
Continued Space Research
Development of improved spaceframes, power systems, and the development of prototype drives to test the theories of physicists that anticipate the possibility of FTL travel is underway, but progress is slow at the moment, as most focus remains on domestic infrastructural technologies.
New technological breakthroughs are on the horizon that promise a massive increase in productivity and wealth on Nares, leaving future generations richer than the Narestans of today, and the investment in new equipment parallels new research such that these new breakthroughs are likely to be implemented almost seamlessly. The future, as it ever has been, seems bright.