Landgrab: Vincennes

Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Cutting edge. That's the proud slogan of the world of Vincennes. Whether it comes to technology or fashion, Vincennes leads the way. Its people are self-confident, proud of their achievements and firm believers in progress. Vincennes is the (self-proclaimed) most technologically advanced world in the Domain of Deneb. Its economy is the powerhouse of an entire sector. Almost four million sophonts pass through its starports every month – on business, as tourists, or as immigrants eager to grab their share of Vincennes' rapidly-expanding prosperity.

And yet, the slogan carries another meaning. Vincennes is potentially the blade that could tear the Domain's peace apart. Any high-population industrial world has the economic power to overbalance and dominate its neighbours: but when a planet can arm its local defence troops to a higher standard than Imperial Marines, the danger increases immeasurably. Add to this the fact that Vincennes is ruled by a dynasty of absolute monarchs older than the Third Imperium. Unchecked by any domestic restraints, they have in the past shown themselves perfectly willing to defy the Imperium and engage in military adventurism. The people of Vincennes believe it is only right and proper that they bear the honour of playing host to the subsector capital: in truth, the Deneb government hardly dares to turn its back on this world for a moment...

LIBRARY DATA

(This is based on the RSB, and is the canonical data on which the rest of the landgrab is based. It can be considered "common knowledge" about the world.)

Vincennes/Deneb (1122) A/899AA6-G Hi In Cp -113 Im K7V M7V G1V

Capital of Vincennes subsector in Deneb Sector, Domain of Deneb.

Vincennes is currently the only industrial world in the Domain of Deneb to have reached a level of technology higher than Imperial standard. The population lives either in underwater metroplexes around the world's sole continent, or in 71 gravitic cities which can vary their altitude to suit the prevailing weather conditions.

The system layout is somewhat unusual. Vincennes is in the life zone of the K7V star Undraczech, but it actually orbits that star's dim red companion, the M7V star Ember. Depending on whether Vincennes is between the two stars or on the far side of Ember from Undraczech, its mean temperature varies by approximately 85 K. This wide thermal range leads to tremendous storms sweeping the planet on a regular basis.

The third star in the system, Guazhirniim, orbits at a great distance. Its own planetary sub-system includes the agricultural world of Paven, which produces most of Vincennes' food supply.