Jade

Continuing their drive to expand trading opportunities in the Solar System, the Galactic Administration (in association with Armstrong Cuthbert and the Trading Guild) has approved the asteroid Jade. The official map of the Solar System now shows the position of this strange green body, and a starter map has been provided to aid those searching for the Armstrong Cuthbert office. You'll find the maps at http://www.ibgames.net/fed2/maps/index.html.

We at the Fed II Star visited Jade in advance of it being opened to haulers, jobbers and traders generally, keen to discover what we could about this asteroid, which had disdained contact with the rest of the system for so long. We spoke to many people, but the most comprehensive account of Jade's history came from the Elders of the Hop Sing Benevolent Association, who are often called upon to recall the story of how life came to be on Jade. Lao Pang, one of the oldest residents of Jade, told this amazing story to our news droids:

"Shortly before the founding of the Galactic Administration on Earth, the ancient country of China faced its biggest challenge and one that it would never overcome. Centuries of over-population had slowly eroded their infrastructure and with a population of over four billion, famine and drought slowly suffocated our once proud country. With millions dying every day as nature itself turned against my people, there seemed no hope," he sighed. A glimmer of hope returned to his eyes as he spoke again. "But as the sun set for the last time on China as it was, the sky was suddenly illuminated as my ancestors' last hope, a fleet of space-worthy colonization ships, rose from every province.

"Wisely, and unbeknownst to the common man," he smirks, "my ancestors' leaders had invested massive funds into space transportation and colonization technology that would eventually become their last hope to maintain their unique culture. Capable of sustaining one thousand people each, thirty-three vessels lifted off to find a new home for the Chinese way of life. The Tianwang 33, as they came to be known, wandered Sol for a decade before finally finding their new home which they called Jade for its green color.

"For centuries, we have kept our doors closed to the outside to re-establish our culture and customs in this new environment. Only now that we are stable and the chaos from Ming's disappearance has finally subsided within the Solar System are we ready to open our doors to trade."

Lao Pang and his colleagues would tell us no more; visitors to Jade will just have to explore and see this unique culture for themselves.

http://fed2.blogspot.com/2005/05/new-asteroid-offers-economic.html