Editing Stars Without Number: Back in Black (section)

=== Golden Empire ===

The Golden Empire is a system of only one inhabited world, mostly TL1.  It imports higher TL equipment whenever it can sneak them past customs, and ruthlessly keeps it under Imperial control.  Aesthetically the world of the Empire is similar to Medieval China, and seems to have based its post-scream and collapse culture on those records purposefully.  Mandarin is the most common language (although the educated elite also learn English.)  

The Golden Empire is an exceptionally fertile world which managed to retain numerous genetically engineered crops through the Silence.  Even with only primitive farming techniques it produces a large surplus.  It manages a few valuable exotic agricultural products, and also attempts to trade in slaves (although the State does its best to stamp this out.) Further, the Empire produces an unusually high number of psychics for its population (for which there is no apparent explanation), although they are by no means numerous.  

The State is currently attempting a Prometheus Project on the world, which has been partially successful.  The Emperor cooperated and allowed it to continue, until he had sufficient TL2 capacity to tighten his grip, and then began to stonewall the project.  He has been resisting all further efforts to spread greater technology, because he fears it will end his rule.  He doesn't dare have open military conflict with the agents of the State, but there is currently a heavy shadow war and layers of intrigue between the Emperor, the various nobles, and the NGOs administering the Prometheus Project.

Trade to and from the Golden Empire is not discouraged, per se, but cargo will be inspected thoroughly both coming and going.  The State maintains a geosynchronous space station with a beanstalk lifter.  Atmospheric craft are NOT allowed to land on the planet.  All persons and cargo must go through customs at both the top and bottom of the beanstalk, and they are deadly serious about what you may or may not take with you.  

The State thus has tacitly interdicted the Empire.  They will not allow the Empire to gain any spaceflight technology, or full membership in the community of worlds, until they take on a less tyrannical form of government (Ideally, a puppet emperor.  Is that less tyrannical, really?  The State thinks it probably would be.) They also have nuclear-equipped gravity rods on the station, and can obliterate the Golden Empire with button-pushes whenever they want to.  However, the loss of life resulting from the ensuing crisis of instability would kill millions.  The Emperor, the Nobles, and the State are all aware of these facts.  It's really only a question of how much blood will be shed in the process of civilizing this world.  

The Emperor himself is allowed a single unarmed shuttle equipped with a Spike drive, but refuses to submit himself or his diplomats to State Customs via the Beanstalk.  For that reason, it sits unused on the station.  

'''Vital Statistics'''
*Coordinates: 04.02
*Government: Tyrannical Empire, with meritocratic bureaucracy
*Laws & Restrictions: State-imposed embargo on technology in or out.  Planetary society is tyranny, whether anything is illegal or not depends entirely on the sufferance of the empire.  Expect any goods above TL1 to be seized, with or without compensation.
*Population: 30M
*Languages: Mandarin, English
*Technology: 28M TL1, 2M TL2.
*Fleets: 1 Non-militarized shuttle.  1 Geosynchronous station with beanstalk that terminates near Imperial Capital, space-side customs controlled by the State.  No NIFP protection, no extraplanetary facilities.

'''Trade'''
*Supply & Demand: -2 Agricultural, -1 Sapient, +1 Postech, +2 Military.
*Goods: 1. Slaves. 2. Clothing. 3. Livestock, Common. 4. Livestock, Gengineered. 5. Metawheat. 6. Housewares, Basic. 7. Metal Ingots, Common. 8. Native Artwork. 9. Tools, Basic Hand Tools. 10. Pretech Junk (!).
*Trouble: As per Tyrannical Worlds.
*Friction: 5. 
*Notes: Trade is heavily restricted.  Have a plan, friction can be modified downward and price substantially upward with the application of Adventure.