Herald of a New Dawn

Gear

Herald of a New Dawn is a colony ship of modest size and complexity. It is a “slow trip” vessel designed to survive a voyage of eight months through uncharted space. Herald was assembled at Sigil Station starting March 1, 2024, and it departed September 9, 2026. Its destination system is Amber Rismuth 2.

Upon arrival, Herald will construct a jumpgate and thus tie the colony back into the common intragalactic FTL network.

Modules

Herald has six circular modules labeled Alpha-Eta, connected to a central module labeled Eta. Each module has specialized functions:

• Alpha: Administration/Emergency Response
• Beta: Agriculture/Biotech
• Gamma: Processing/Manufacturing
• Delta: Medical/Education
• Epsilon: Jumpgate Components
• Zeta: Aerospace (including shuttles and zero-g mechs)
• Eta: Primary Engine Module

Deployment

Modules Alpha-Delta are designed to descend from orbit once and then function as hubs for the new colony. These modules all have independent reactors, living quarters, and basic manufacturing and supplies. Some quarters are packed tightly with cryosleep tubes. Almost all crew and passengers will remain in cryosleep during most of the voyage.

Tentatively, Alpha, Beta, and Delta will land near each other on clear ground near fresh water. Based on initial surveys, Gamma will land near concentrations of ore.

Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta will remain in orbit during construction of the jumpgate and then function as a high-orbit station. Epsilon will be converted to docking bays and orbital manufacturing.

Colony Charter

Herald is wholly owned by a private corporation called New Dawn Ventures LLC. The corporation holds a charter from Tanyth Aramont to settle on Amber Rismuth 2, a garden world on the edge of T’Aramont space. The corporation is 100% employee owned, so all "signatories" to the charter collectively own New Dawn, the ship, and (eventually) the colony. (Some signatories are minors and their votes are entrusted to their guardians until they come of age.)

The charter from T'Aramont allows the colony to self govern. The charter outlines three phases of colonization:

1. Planetfall: Survey the planet, land the modules, and establish a minimally-sustainable colony.
2. Jumpgate Construction: Build the gate to allow FTL travel.
3. Homesteading: On a lottery basis, signatories can develop independent homesteads apart from the main colony and relocate to them.

Some crew and passengers are contractors, not signatories. Their term of service is through Phase 2, with an option to extend.

Starting in Phase 3, the colony will pay modest taxes to the Empire in exchange for military protection and emergency assistance (as needed).