English version (20th century midwestern American, net-accessible, alphabetic with images, alphabetical order, perspective-set:moderate liberal) and all other versions ©2221 ARCADI.
Explanation of code used.
Back to ARCADIA page - Back to K listings in ARCADIA - Back to top of this file - Back to Rachel's main page
The K-D effect centers around momons, the particles discovered to carry momentum. Altering their spins and then emitting them out to interact with the surrounding space can force the emitting object to be propelled to speeds greater than 1.0c. In practical terms, this means that a ship which is equipped with a K-D drive can partially detach itself from the laws of conservation of momentum and the rest of the universe in a 'bubble' of altered space. Luckily, this only effects the ship's interaction with the rest of the universe, not of the things within the bubble itself.
Immense computing power is required to make sure that:
Keuschburg
is one of the major settlements on the moon of New
Durban, which is in turn one of the major centers of population in
the Luyten system. Keuschburg
was founded in 2104, and began its real growth post-Wall. It is a
center of learning, administration, business and (not least of all) nefarious
activity, being one of the major starports on New Durban. Its government
consists of an ICA standard core bureacuracy,
accompanied by various corp programs for such city services as street-cleaning,
sewage, biofuel production, etc. Keuschburg is also a very competitive
place, and although this means that the programs provided by the corps
are usually pretty high in quality, it also means that occasional inter-corp
struggles occur which the central government is helpless to stop.
Citizens of Keuschburg enjoy a high standard of living, though far from
the highest on New Durban.
Like many advanced colonial cities, Keuschburg is burrowed out of the rock of the moon itself. The top levels reach up through the lithosphere into space itself, but the majority of the city is a huge cavern whose celiing is a fairly standard 10 meters or so below ground level. Street level for the city is about 100 meters below the surface. Some sections of the city, especially the central ones, are pretty much like a normal city, in that there are 'buildings' which stretch up towards the 'sky' from street level. In some outer sections, though, the city takes on a much more pragmatic appearance, with no separate 'buildings', but only separate levels carved out of the rock. A cross-section of a typical central city street is available.
Below the street level extends a basic subway system (the Tram), as well as parking and various other infrastructure elements, such as sewers, atmosphere processors and infofiber networks.
The streets themselves are pretty clean, but tend to be pretty narrow. All central streets, and most outer ones, allow for aerodyne traffic, but as usual, aerodyne licenses are available only to the rich or well-connected, and most people either take the Tram or get around by public minibus. Short distance travel is usually by walking or, in the center of the city, by biking. Either side of the streets is usually taken up with garage entrances, drive-in shops, occasional pedestrian cafes, etc.
Adjacent to and above the street level on both sides, but rarely open to it, are the pedestrian levels. These are wide (15 meters+), airy (8+ meters high) boulevards, basically structured as overhangs of the upper levels (that is, their ceilings are directly below the floors of the levels above). Various entrances and exits off of these boulevards lead to side-corridors, which give access to shops, offices, homes, schools, etc. Only rarely are these side-corridors restricted in access.
Many shops allow for a second level of pedestrian promenades on top of them, thus allowing for a layered effect in the pedestrian boulevards as a whole. The upper deck, or promenade, is sometimes occupied with cafes, small boutiques, etc., but is also sometimes blocked off to allow for private residences.
The boulevard itself will have a variety of shops, kiosks, stations and accessways. Typical shops found along such a boulevard might be autoshops (the 23rd century equivalent of a convenience store), restaurants, bars, boutiques selling the latest fashions from Petit-Terre, recruitment centers, high-quality infostations or the occasional salon. Some larger establishments (such as department stores, research libraries, corps, etc.) may have entrances or information kiosks placed along the boulevard. Security kiosks are common (most staffed, but some automatic), and all ceilings are equipped with sprinklers. The exact nature of the businesses and residences in a given area depend upon the neighborhood; like every major colony, Keuschburg has its rowdy starport section, and calmer residential neighborhoods, as well as universities, places or worship, etc. Every few hundred meters or so there will be an emergency barrier system which can isolate sections of the boulevard in case of fire, vacuum, bioweapon or other catastrophe. Trees, sculptures, benches, occasional fountains or playground equipment complete the scene.
Keuschburg's larger streets take on a more conventional appearance, with sidewalks and shops fully exposed to the vault above.
The plan of Keuschburg is rather well-maintained, considering its relative age (Keuschburg was established in 2104, and began its main growth spurt post-Wall). The city basically forms a circle, with a vast park (Biko Memorial Park) in the center. The park's main feature is a large (1.5 KM) lake, which supports a wide variety of flora and a limited amount of fauna. The lake is surrounded by small wooded areas on three sides. Above the lake, in the ceiling vault, is the city's primary solagram fixture, which rises and sets every 25 hours. Its progress is pictured in every section of the city which carries the subscription.
Biko Park (as it's usually known) is surrounded by ring roads, as well as by spoke roads which extend out from the center. All of these major roads have Tram lines under them; some sidestreets do, but far from all. The major spoke roads are Biko, Botha and Mandela. Botha runs east-west, Biko runs northwest-southeast and Mandela runs northeast-southwest. There are four major ring-roads, which are Central (which directly rings Biko Park), Tezuka, Honigeis and Major. The outer perimeter of the city is Wallside Way. Between Biko and Mandela, south of Biko Park are the government offices. These are done in the neo-bauhaus style and are generally fairly boring in appearance. Surrounding the government offices on the west and east but primarily south are various corporate offices.
Tezuka forms the major border between the inner and outer city. Within Tezuka, all buildings are limited in height (thus allowing those further from Biko Park to see it, and the solagram more easily). Outside Tezuka, height is not limited.
Just outside Tezuka, north of West Botha, is Starport Way. This section of the city is, despite the security department's best efforts, still a haven for criminals and illicit activities. Legitimate businesses along Starport include thecity's primary licensed prostitution centers, as well as various transport and travel agencies.
Honigeis is fairly nondescript, although the city is building a high-speed groundcar subway along this road. So far, the groundcar subway extends along the east side of Honigeis, roughly from North Mandela to South Biko. It is not operational yet, but should be within a few years.
Beginning roughly at Major, and extending out past Wallside, is the University of New Durban-Keuschburg. This is a major center of learning, and the Keuschburg Hardasses are among the best in collegiate sports of every sort.
Beyond Wallside, the buildings stop but the city goes on. Botha, Mandela and Biko all continue out beyond Wallside as high-speed maglevs. Mandela links off to the north and south with other parts of New Durban. Botha runs to the east towards the city's main fusion power plant and agro stations, as well as to the ICA naval base. West Botha goes towards the city's main industrial sector, secondary agro and fusion stations, and to Keuschburg Starport. South Biko runs along the east side of the University, while North Biko leads to a tertiary agro station.
All in all, Keuschburg is a moderately thriving, cosmopolitan city. It is possible to find wild fun here, but it is also possible to find a comfortable, relaxing salon or hotel to spend time in. The Mandela Institute's History and Art Museum is well worth a visit, and of course Biko Park is one of the nicer parks in Known Space. Several French restaurants in the corporate sector are excellent, and there are some fine Dali-Thai and Japanese places in the residential sectors. A person looking for more travel information about Keuschburg is advised to check with the local VISTA office and subscribe to further information.
Keuschburg's history is rather similar to many
Back to ARCADIA page - Back to K listings in ARCADIA - Back to top of this file - Back to Rachel's main page
Directions in Known Space are given with Earth-Centered Co-ordinates (ECCO, as they are sometimes called). Typically, this just means stating a location in terms of its X, Y and Z location on a grid, with Sol being 0,0,0.
Colloquial terms for Known Space include "the yard," "the big shallow" and "the inside."
Humanity's knowledge of the areas within Known Space is really quite good, largely due to the efforts of the DMTP, but general travel and trade have pushed back the limits of ignorance quite a bit. The precise quality of that knowledge varies immensely, of course, and while the precise location of nearly every hydrogen cloud near Sol is mapped with exacting accuracy, only the direct trade routes between some outlying stars are mapped, and even then with little precision. Indeed, just because Known Space is called "known," that doesn't mean that all within it is an open book.
Back to ARCADIA page - Back to K listings in ARCADIA - Back to top of this file - Back to Rachel's main page
Back to ARCADIA page - Back to K listings in ARCADIA - Back to top of this file - Back to Rachel's main page