Pitchmire

Pitchmire

At a glance

  • World Type: Mid–rim industrial world

  • Primary Role: Hydrocarbon extraction and heavy fuel refining for the Caraphex constellation

  • Constellation Link: Caraphex (Ravel labor clades → Shardplain tools → Pitchmire hydrocarbons → Mandible Reach ship-breaking/escrow)

  • Reputation: High output, high risk; strict safety culture on paper, variable in the field; Syndicate checkpoint pressure along the Pitchmire Vector

  • Primary Exports: Crude and semifinished hydrocarbons, bunker fuel blends, industrial solvents, polymer feedstocks, gas stabilizers

  • Primary Imports: Drill assemblies, sealants and refractory parts (Talarq), beacon and permit updates (Keth), escrow compute blocks (Synthborn), rations and medical kits (Human core/mid)

Role in the galaxy

Pitchmire powers transport, industry, and shipbreaking across several sectors. Its bunker fuel blends and solvent packages are standard for rim carriers and tug fleets. Caraphex labor clades run most extraction. Licensed human and Talarq firms operate refineries. Mandible Reach relies on Pitchmire feedstocks to service ship dismantling, cutting torches, and bulk decontamination. Because many lanes converge here, the Pitchmire Vector corridor has become a toll and inspection zone targeted by Syndicates and “escort” firms.

History and USD markers

  • USD 0027.0: Caraphex constellation is formalized; Pitchmire is listed as the key hydrocarbon node feeding Mandible Reach and Shardplain.

  • USD 0036.8: First long-distance pipeline to the northern tank seas comes online; initial spill incidents cause temporary Authority sanctions.

  • USD 0045.2: Authority and insurers label the Pitchmire Vector a Syndicate influence zone; checkpoint tolls and “protection freight” spike.

  • USD 0062.4: Mixed-crew rules and escrow templates take hold; refineries adopt escrow-gated maintenance contracts to reduce work stoppages.

  • USD 0085.2: Drift in nearby beacons increases misjumps and late convoys; tank farms build emergency reserve cells and stricter seal chains.

  • USD 0088.4: Debt-to-labor rulings expand; several clades fall into multi-year service contracts tied to equipment notes.

  • USD 0106.2: Caraphex labor extortion investigations expand; Free Companies gain steady hire as escort and site-security providers on Pitchmire.

Planetary profile

Environment

Pitchmire has broad tar wetlands, shallow hydrocarbon lakes, and gas-rich subsoil. Weather is humid and corrosive near the lakes, with frequent ground fog that fouls optics and sensors. Airborne volatile compounds force mask zones during certain shifts. Lightning storms are common during the warm season, which raises flare restrictions and slows surface transfer.

Hazards

  • Volatile gas pockets near drill clusters

  • Static discharge around pipeline manifolds

  • Acidic rainfall in refinery belts

  • Sink basins in older strip fields

  • Long-burn fires near tank failures

Governance and law

Pitchmire is a licensed concession world under the Caraphex Constellation Compact. Concessions are leased to bonded firms. The Central Authority maintains a small Prefecture Office with court links to Kedra. On-world law is a mix of Authority rules and concession bylaws. Inspectors cycle through refineries and drill sites to check seals, safety labels, labor rosters, and escrow coverage. Violations trigger staged penalties: fines, output caps, forced shutdowns, and in severe cases, temporary custodial control by the Prefecture.

Courts and process

  • Tariff desk: Sets export codes and hazard surcharges.

  • Labor desk: Verifies contracts, housing, and medical access.

  • Safety desk: Audits Talarq-label compliance, flare logs, and spill reporting.

  • Appeals link: Sends fast-track procedure issues to Kedra.

Economy

Upstream (extraction)

Caraphex clades operate drill stacks, strip fields, and gas wells. Tooling and valves come from Shardplain. Field offices track output against concession quotas. Each well cluster is tied to a telemetry node and a local escrow account for maintenance and hazard payouts.

Midstream (transport and storage)

Pipelines and manifold roads feed North Tank Sea, Skarn Basin Tanks, and Hearthline Caverns (salt-cap storage). Barge trains move semifinished product to deep-berth ports. All transfers require live seal chains and matched mass readings.

Downstream (refining and chemicals)

Three bonded refineries produce bunker fuel, aviation fractions, polymer feedstock, and solvent packs. A by-products plant handles sulfur and acid neutralizers. Waste heat drives water reclamation and worker district power.

Price drivers: beacon stability in the Vector, flare bans during storm weeks, and insurance surcharges after spill clusters.

Ports and industrial districts

  • Berth K-Prime (Deep): Main export port; hard security; bonded warehouses; sample labs; overflow crew dorms.

  • Refinery Belt South: Three refineries, flare towers, rail loops, and acid-wash lines; strict protective gear zones.

  • North Tank Sea: Floating roof tanks with foam systems; drone patrols; barge lanes.

  • Hearthline Caverns: Subsurface storage; low temperature and stable pressure; preferred by insurers.

  • Manifold Road: Pipeline control yards, valve houses, and mobile seal labs; frequent inspection drills.

  • Worker Hives: Dense housing, clinics, canteens, and credit offices; rotated by clade and shift block.

  • Prefecture Yard: Authority office, courthouse annex, lock cells, and evidence cold-room for sample custody.

  • Facilitator Row: Licensed queue and document firms, translators, escrow agents, and bonded notaries.

Factions and actors

  • Concession Holders’ Council: Allocates maintenance budgets, sets local safety targets, negotiates insurance.

  • Caraphex Clade Assemblies: Represent labor blocks; manage training, lodging, and remittances; push for hazard pay enforcement.

  • Inspectorate Branch: Rotating Authority staff; conducts audits and surprise checks; coordinates with Kedra.

  • Free Companies: Contracted escort and site security; operate convoy screens through the Vector.

  • Syndicate Brokers: Run checkpoint tolls and off-ledger fuel swaps along the Vector; seek leverage over barge schedules.

  • Synthborn Escrow Houses: Hold maintenance and hazard escrows; gate repair authorizations; manage blacklists for fraud.

  • Talarq Suppliers: Provide refractory parts, flares, and safety labels; anchor warranty claims.

Security picture

On-world

Security focuses on theft prevention, seal integrity, and sabotage response. Access points require dual-factor IDs and live camera checks. Tank farms maintain drone patrols and ground sensors. Worker districts use ID gates tied to shift rosters. Spill response teams train weekly.

Off-world (Pitchmire Vector)

Convoys leaving K-Prime join escorted stacks. Checkpoints operated by Syndicate brokers attempt “inspection” delays to force tolls. Free Companies counter with documented permit bundles, live camera streams, and couriered duplicates to Slipwind and Kedra. Staged escalation rules apply: record, warn, broadcast, and call Authority escort if a seizure attempt occurs.

Society and life

Pitchmire is shift-driven. Work, rest, and transit follow refinery clocks and convoy windows. Worker hives offer clinics, food halls, education rooms, and clean gear lockers. Families of long-term workers live in buffered arrays with air filters and noise baffles. Recreation centers provide simple sports, message booths, and vid rooms. Community rules ban open flames, solvents in living areas, and off-ledger fuel storage.

Languages: Trade Common, Caraphex clade codes, and refinery shorthand. Many supervisors speak Talarq technical terms. Escrow offices use Synthborn interface phrases.

Money and credit: Wages flow to escrow-linked accounts that auto-pay housing and medical. Bonus tranches unlock after safe-hours milestones and inspection passes.

Technology and standards

  • Seal Chains: Every transfer uses serialized seals linked to mass readings and time stamps.

  • Safety Labels: Talarq-grade labels on high-temperature and corrosive lines; quarterly recalibration.

  • Gas Detection: Fixed and wearable detectors; audible alerts; auto-shut valves on threshold exceedance.

  • Fire Response: Foam cannons, inert gas dumps, and trench flood systems; drills logged and audited.

  • Data Custody: Sample vials and meter logs travel under sealed custody; duplicates mirror to Brightline.

Compliance and inspection workflow (for visiting crews)

  1. Pre-arrival: Send manifest, hazard declarations, insurance, and refinery assignment.

  2. Berthing: Receive berth ID and safety briefing. Gear check before entering any red zone.

  3. Load/Unload: Metered transfer with dual witnesses. Each step generates seal IDs and mass logs.

  4. Sampling: Independent lab pulls triplicate samples; one to the buyer, one to escrow, one to Prefecture custody.

  5. Finalization: Tariff codes applied; hazard surcharges assessed; escrow confirms payout triggers.

  6. Departure: Join an escorted lane; carry permit bundle and live beacon updates.

Common holds: mismatched mass, expired safety labels, unpaid hazard surcharges, or incomplete sample custody.

Notable sites and facilities

  • K-Prime Queue Hall: Live boards for berths, convoy windows, and weather holds.

  • Skarn Basin Control: Pipeline master board; leak detection and remote valve control.

  • South Belt Neutral Arbiter: Fast-track mediation for delivery disputes; accepts couriered video records.

  • North Foam Depot: Emergency foam mix storage with drone launch pads.

  • Clade Commons C-12: Worker advocacy office; legal aid for debt and contract reviews.

  • Refinery Three Acid Line: Newest corrosion-resistant loop; lowest loss rate; pilot for broader upgrades.

  • Hearthline Archive: Storage integrity logs and cavern maps; used in insurance claims.