Meridian System
¶ System Information
- Affiliation: League (civilian administered)
- Star Type: White dwarf (Meridian Prime)
- Estimated Population: ~8,000 (transient)
- Points of Interest:
- Meridian Station - Civilian trade and logistics hub
- Meridian IV - Distant ice giant
- Sparse metallic asteroid belt
The Meridian system is considered a "dead" system, with its white dwarf primary providing little warmth or resources. Despite its inhospitable nature, the system's strategic location has made it invaluable as a waypoint for civilian trade and military logistics.
¶ System Details
The Meridian system contains:
- Meridian Prime - White dwarf star, the system's primary
- Two rocky planetoids - In close orbit, tidally locked and heavily irradiated
- Sparse asteroid belt - Consisting mainly of metallic fragments with limited commercial value
- Meridian IV - A distant ice giant in the outer system
The system's lack of habitable worlds or significant natural resources would typically make it unsuitable for development, but its strategic positioning near classified military installations has driven its importance as a logistics hub.
¶ Strategic Importance
While officially a civilian trade system, Meridian's proximity to the Anchorage makes it crucial for League Intelligence operations. The system serves as:
- Last major resupply point before classified installations
- Neutral ground for intelligence operations
- Buffer zone providing operational security
- Logistics hub for sensitive military supplies
The civilian nature of the system's administration provides plausible cover for the movement of military personnel and supplies to and from classified installations.
¶ History
¶ Early Survey and Settlement (2670s-2681)
Initial League surveys classified the Meridian system as "economically nonviable" due to its dead star and lack of exploitable resources. The system was marked for minimal development and largely forgotten by mainstream colonization efforts.
Despite this, a small consortium of independent freight haulers established a modest fuel depot in the system, seeing opportunity in its position along emerging trade routes. For over a decade, Meridian Station remained a barely-profitable fuel stop, little more than a lifeline for ships in distress.
¶ Strategic Investment (2695-2700)
League Intelligence, recognizing the need for a logistics hub near their classified installations, identified the struggling Meridian Station as an ideal cover for their operations. The system's inhospitable nature discouraged casual traffic while its strategic position made it invaluable for covert operations.
Through shell companies and intermediaries, League funding transformed the humble fuel depot into a major trade hub, giving the system new life and purpose.
¶ Present Day
The Meridian system now serves as a crucial logistics hub that maintains plausible civilian cover while supporting sensitive military operations. The transformation from dead system to thriving waypoint raises few questions among traders who prefer profitable ignorance to dangerous curiosity.