Deepmere

At a glance

World Type: Mid-sector ocean world (Vellari constellation)
Primary Role: Large-scale kelp-fuel cultivation, processing, and export
Constellation Link: Thalassa-Nine (standards) → Brinelight (reef composites) → Deepmere (kelp fuel) → Salt Crown (brine chemicals)
Reputation: Weather-hard world with strict seal-and-meter rules; disciplined port routines; fair prices when paperwork is clean
Primary Exports: Kelp-derived biofuel (pellets, slurry, stabilized liquid), fermentation catalysts, spare membranes, food-grade kelp products
Primary Imports: Reactor-safe parts (Talarq), ship tools and fasteners (Caraphex), escrow compute blocks (Synthborn), inspection gear and beacons (Keth)

Role in the galaxy

Deepmere supplies the constellation with kelp-based fuel that runs clean in mid-sector engines and utility grids. The Vellari run the harvest, fermentation, and stabilization chain to fixed standards set on Thalassa-Nine. Brinelight ships composite equipment for farms and rigs. Salt Crown receives Deepmere’s brines and residues for chemical extraction. Carriers use Deepmere to refill after long reef or convoy legs because pricing is stable and meter seals hold up in court.

Geography and regions

Open Harvest Gyres: Designated kelp farm circles with tracked quotas. Rigs rise and fall on tension pylons.
Upwelling Belt: Nutrient-rich waters used for juvenile kelp and early ferment start. Access requires a rotating slot.
Deepmere Trench: Prohibited zone with strong currents and low-visibility layers. Only rescue and survey craft may enter.
Stormline: Seasonal band where rigs retract and traffic shifts to sheltered routes.
Shelf Cities: Fixed platforms with housing, clinics, schools, and bonded warehouses linked to the port arrays.

Government and law

Vellari Water Council — Deepmere Chapter: Sets quotas, certifies meters, and publishes harvest schedules.
Port Authority and Inspectorate: Enforces seal integrity, tests fuel content, and audits chain-of-custody.
Arbitration Board: Fast track for cargo disputes tied to water seals, meter logs, and fermentation lots.
Sanctions: Tampered seals, diluted fuel, and falsified meter files trigger confiscation, fines, and blacklist entries.
Records: All lots and transfers are logged to a mirrored registry and time-stamped for court use on Kedra.

Economy

Deepmere’s economy is direct and measurable: grow kelp, process it, ship it. The largest costs are rig maintenance, membrane replacement, and storm retraction cycles. The main value add is reliable assay. Buyers pay more for fuel tied to clear meters and clean chains of custody. Side industries include membrane fabrication, pump repair, composite strut upkeep, food kelp processing, and safety training for storm operations.

Price drivers: storm season, membrane supply, assay backlog, and corridor security between Deepmere and Salt Crown.

Ports and districts

Pelagic Port Array (PPA): Main berths, assay labs, bonded tanks, and meter-seal lines.
Meter Hall: Public counter for meter certification, seal verification, and lot reconciliation.
Fermentation Park: Fixed vats for bulk product; each vat has a visible lot ID and sample line.
Dry-Stack Docks: Crated membranes, pumps, couplers, struts, and repair bays.
Escrow Row: Licensed houses that hold release keys for high-value lots.
Crew Quarter Blocks: Sleep pods, canteens, clinics, and gear shops for short layovers.

Traffic and procedure (visiting crews)

Pre-arrival: Transmit manifest, insurance, and intended purchase or offload lots; request an assay slot if selling fuel.
Berth and safety: Accept stormline advisories; crews must attend a short safety brief during storm season.
Inspection: Beacon permits, blacklist check, crew licenses, and hazard audit; if carrying fuel, samples are drawn immediately.
Assay and seal: Lab confirms content; Port applies or validates meter seals; escrow instructions are attached to the lot.
Bonding: Disputed lots move to bonded tanks until arbitration. Clean lots go to transfer valves for sale or loading.
Departure audit: Confirm no open holds, fines, or mismatched tonnage vs. meter logs.

Common delays: missing escrow keys, stale meter firmware, incomplete assay packets, or unmatched lot IDs.

Society and culture

Life is rotation-based and punctual. Work and school schedules follow harvest windows and storm drills. People value clear logs, repaired gear, and crews that follow procedures. Off-duty time is quiet and short. Public events align with quota resets and end-of-stormline briefings. Trade Common is standard; Vellari language is common on docks and in technical training.

Factions and power players

Water Council Ops: Sets quotas and farm slots; controls stormline declarations.
Port Inspectorate: High authority on seals and assays; respected and closely audited.
Harvest Guilds: Operate rigs and gyres; manage crew swaps and maintenance schedules.
Membrane Cooperative: Produces and refurbishes filtration membranes; controls a key supply.
Escrow Houses: Standardize release keys and payout windows for large contracts.
Syndicate Toll Crews (external): Target corridor legs near Salt Crown; rarely act inside Deepmere’s jurisdiction.

Relations with other worlds

Thalassa-Nine: Standards, training, and audit methods; updates to meter firmware originate here.
Brinelight: Ships reef composites and struts for rigs; trades repair teams during storm rebuilds.
Salt Crown: Receives brines and residues; sells back solvents and catalysts.
Kedra: Recognizes Deepmere seals; hears disputes that span multiple ports or insurers.
Brightline: Mirrors escrow for large contracts and time-locks release keys.

Security and risk

Primary threats are weather, equipment failure, and fraud in fuel content or meter logs. Piracy risk is moderate on outbound legs toward Salt Crown during shortages. The Inspectorate runs random lot pulls and cross-checks device clocks. The Water Council deploys cutters for rescue and to escort bonded cargo when ordered by the Arbitration Board.

Technology and standards

Meter Seals: Tamper-evident, time-stamped, and linked to lot IDs; firmware must match current standard.
Assay Protocols: Fixed draw volumes, reference standards, and dual-lab confirmation on contested lots.
Membrane Lines: Rated by flow and contaminant thresholds; each line has a maintenance counter.
Lot Tracking: Each harvest arc has a unique arc-ID; vats and transfers inherit the arc-ID to keep chains clean.
Storm Mode: Rigs retract; ports reduce throughput; only priority berths remain active.

Notable locations

Arc-Nine Farm Ring: Stable yields; used for training and audits.
Trench Gate Station: Rescue staging on the edge of the Deepmere Trench; strict access control.
Meter Hall Annex: Public viewing windows for seal and meter firmware updates.
Membrane Yard East: Repair and refit hub; fast turnaround during storm damage cycles.
Bonded Tank Field: Segregated storage with independent metering for disputed or high-value lots.

History and USD markers

USD 0023.2: Vellari constellation formalized with Deepmere designated as the primary kelp-fuel source.
USD 0030–0040: Expansion of farm arcs and fermentation parks; first trench mapping and rescue network.
USD 0060–0065: Meter and seal standards aligned to Thalassa-Nine; Kedra recognizes Deepmere seals without exception.
USD 0082–0086: Counterfeit-seal wave triggers dual-lab assays; escrow mirroring becomes routine.
USD 0100–current: Stable output with seasonal stormline slowdowns; corridor security adjusted during shortages.

Life on Deepmere

Housing sits on fixed platforms tied to ports and schools. Workdays start before first inspections. Meal plans use local kelp, fish, and imported staples. Children learn water safety, basic assays, and seal literacy early. Public clinics focus on diving injuries, membrane polymer exposure, and hypoxia events. Civic pride comes from clean audits and on-time convoy service.

Risks and pressure points

Stormline: Throughput drops; berths and assay slots become scarce.
Membrane Shortage: Repairs slow; yields fall; prices rise.
Seal Fraud: Triggers audits and shipment holds across the constellation.
Corridor Tolls: External toll crews raise costs on Salt Crown legs.
Trench Incidents: Search and rescue operations strain local cutters and clinics.