Jiedai Proxima

Jiedai Proxima is a remote, arid planet located on the outer edges of the United Confederation's (UC) influence. Known for its harsh climate, limited natural resources, and strategic location, the planet plays a significant role as a military and logistical hub for the Sub-Lunar Protective Service (SLPS). Despite its utilitarian purpose, Jiedai Proxima harbors a dark undercurrent of corruption and exploitation, symbolizing the broader flaws within the Confederation's governance.

Infobox

Physical Description

Jiedai Proxima is a planet defined by its challenging environment and stark, utilitarian infrastructure.

Climate and Geography

• Climate: Harsh and arid, with extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night.

• Terrain:

  • Vast, rocky plateaus dotted with jagged outcroppings.

  • Expansive desert regions with fine, magnetized sand—an environmental hazard for unprepared travelers.

  • Deep canyons and underground caverns that serve as natural shelters from the blistering heat.

• Atmosphere: Thin and breathable, but prone to sandstorms that can obscure visibility and disrupt communications.

• Natural Resources: Limited; the planet's primary exports include small quantities of rare minerals extracted by civilian miners.

History and Development

Early Exploration and Settlement

Initially overlooked during the Confederation’s expansion due to its inhospitable environment and limited resources, Jiedai Proxima became a point of interest for its strategic location along key interstellar routes. Its remoteness made it an ideal site for military operations and confidential activities.

Establishment of SLPS Operations

In 3148 Galactic Standard Year (GSY), the SLPS designated Jiedai Proxima as a primary training ground for new recruits. The planet’s isolation allowed for the construction of a sprawling military facility, where recruits undergo rigorous physical conditioning and simulated combat scenarios. Over time, Jiedai Proxima's role expanded to include a resupply depot, ensuring SLPS vessels operating in the outer regions remain operational.

Key Features

SLPS Training Facility

The SLPS Training Facility dominates the planet's surface, a fortress-like complex designed for maximum security and operational efficiency.

• Purpose: To train recruits in extreme environments, preparing them for missions across diverse planetary conditions.

• Facilities:

  • Simulated combat zones tailored to mimic various terrains and gravity levels.

  • State-of-the-art barracks and training centers.

  • High-security armories and research labs.

• Tactics: Training includes zero-atmosphere combat, interspecies negotiation, and advanced weapon systems.

Resupply Depot

The Jiedai Resupply Depot is a critical hub for SLPS logistics.

• Function:

  • Receives shipments of weapons, supplies, and personnel from across the Confederation.

  • Houses maintenance hangars for SLPS vessels.

• Infrastructure: Massive storage bays, automated loading systems, and encrypted communication arrays.

• Strategic Importance: The depot ensures the SLPS maintains a strong presence in the region, supporting operations in nearby systems.

Civilian Settlements

A modest civilian population exists on Jiedai Proxima, primarily serving the needs of SLPS operations.

• Demographics: A mix of miners, engineers, and support staff, along with their families.

• Economy: Heavily reliant on SLPS contracts, with small-scale mining providing supplemental income.

• Living Conditions: Harsh and utilitarian, with limited access to resources like water and medical care. Civilians often live in modular habitats clustered near mining sites.

Corruption and Criminal Activity

Despite its official designation as an SLPS-controlled planet, Jiedai Proxima harbors a dark undercurrent of corruption.

Colonel Richard McAllister and the Trafficking Operation

Colonel Richard McAllister, a high-ranking SLPS officer, has exploited the planet’s remote location and steady flow of personnel and resources to establish a covert trafficking network. Using the training facility as a front, McAllister has been able to:

• Recruit Vulnerable Individuals: Targeting marginalized recruits and civilians with promises of opportunities off-world.

• Smuggle Trafficked Victims: Utilizing the resupply depot’s unmarked cargo shipments to discreetly transport individuals to off-world buyers.

• Evade Detection: The planet’s isolation and the compartmentalization of SLPS operations make oversight difficult, allowing McAllister to operate with impunity.

Civilian Discontent

The civilian population, though small, has grown increasingly resentful of the SLPS presence. Allegations of exploitation, forced labor, and the trafficking scandal have created an atmosphere of mistrust and fear. Attempts to report abuses are often silenced, further fueling unrest.

Cultural and Strategic Significance

Military Importance

Jiedai Proxima is a cornerstone of SLPS operations in the outer sectors, providing:

• A training ground for elite SLPS operatives.

• A logistical hub for resupplying and maintaining vessels.

• A strategic outpost for monitoring nearby systems.

Symbol of Corruption

For critics of the Confederation, Jiedai Proxima has become a symbol of the UC’s failings. The planet encapsulates the Confederation’s tendency to prioritize military control and profit over ethical governance and civilian well-being.

Rebel Interest

Given its significance to the SLPS, Jiedai Proxima has also attracted the attention of rebel factions who view it as a potential target for sabotage or liberation. Some groups have begun smuggling anti-SLPS propaganda onto the planet, attempting to sow dissent among recruits and civilians alike.

Notable Incidents

The "Lost Convoy" Scandal

In 3162 GSY, a shipment of SLPS recruits mysteriously disappeared en route to Jiedai Proxima. While official reports attributed the loss to “navigational errors,” whistleblowers alleged that the convoy was intercepted as part of McAllister’s trafficking operation. The incident remains a point of contention within the SLPS.

Civilian Uprising Attempt

In 3170 GSY, a group of miners and support staff staged a small-scale protest after rumors of trafficking surfaced. The uprising was swiftly quashed by SLPS forces, resulting in numerous arrests and further eroding civilian trust in the Confederation.

Future Prospects and Challenges

Growing Tensions

The dual pressures of internal corruption and civilian unrest threaten to destabilize Jiedai Proxima’s role as a reliable SLPS hub. If left unchecked, these issues could undermine the Confederation’s control over the planet.

Potential for Rebel Infiltration

Rebel factions see Jiedai Proxima as a high-value target. A successful attack on the planet could disrupt SLPS operations across the outer sectors, emboldening other resistance movements.

Ethical Dilemmas

Calls for external oversight of the SLPS have increased following the exposure of McAllister's trafficking operation. However, the Confederation’s bureaucracy and its ties to corporate and military interests make meaningful reform unlikely in the near future.

Legacy

Jiedai Proxima stands as a testament to the contradictions of the United Confederation. Its strategic importance and military infrastructure exemplify the Confederation’s capacity for control and order, while the corruption and exploitation that fester beneath the surface reveal the moral decay at the heart of its governance. Whether Jiedai Proxima will remain a loyal asset or become a flashpoint for rebellion remains an open question—one that reflects the broader struggles of the galaxy itself.

References

1. SLPS Internal Reports, "Operational Overview of Jiedai Proxima," Galactic Year 3150.

2. Civilian Advocacy Coalition, "The Forgotten Voices of Jiedai Proxima," Galactic Year 3175.

3. Whistleblower Archives, "Testimony on the McAllister Trafficking Network," Leaked Documents, Galactic Year 3182.