Bellerophon
| Map | Basic Data | Planetary Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Name: | Bellerophon | 
|
| Segmentum: | Tempestus | ||
| Sector: | Eternum | ||
| Subsector: | Gothar | ||
| System: | Fillion | ||
| Population: | ~85,000,000,000 | ||
| Affiliation: | Imperial | ||
| Class: | Capital World | ||
| Tithe Grade: | Exactis Median | ||
Overview
Capital of the Gothar subsector, Bellerophon possesses a massive orbital ring tied to the world by multiple space elevators that constantly ferry cargo to and fro the world. Bellerophon is the busiest trading port in the sector, and it's oft said that if you can't find what you're looking for in the myriad of trading houses and junk stalls of the world, it doesn't exist. The world's port-ring serves hundreds of ships at any given time, and is controlled, as is the world, by the massive trade cartels. These cartels are loyal only to the value of said loyalty in Thrones, and care not who they do business with so long as they pay their debts. In fact, debtors are the only ships that will get turned away, otherwise even the most obvious pirate vessels, xeno, or even chaos ship will find a berth somewhere, provided they can sneak, lie or bribe their way past the Imperial Navy vessels patrolling space here. Bellerophon is a subject of ire for many more loyal individuals, especially in the Ordo Hereticus and Order of the Purple Communion, and each run operations to root out the most dangerous proscribed artifact trades or heretics, but, much to their disdain, any larger approach or operation is prevented by the critical role Bellerophon plays in sector trade - were the trade cartels to cease business, the bulk of the sector's trade would effectively collapse overnight, this fact, coupled with the powerful allies the trade cartels have garnered and blackmailed, ensure their control of the world is uncontested and their most important players untouchable, and their willingness to sacrifice any pawns who get caught dealing with the heretical items they trade ensures this stays the case.
Luckily for the Imperium, these trade cartels recognize a true Chaos insurrection or invasion would be terrible for business, and while the odd cold trader or cartel underboss may fall to worshipping the Ruinous Powers, the cartels as a whole do a mostly effective job at policing the more dangerous heresy. Bellerophon also is home to more naval officers than all other worlds in Eternum when they're not on assignment, though for the most part the Imperial Navy stays in their hive and port segment claimed by them, with far stricter security than the rest of Bellerophon. The Navy's Logistical Headquarters is also found in Bellerophon, both for it's ready access to Port Tecklenbor and Redobti and for the massive goods that constantly flow through Bellerophon. Bellerophon's governance is carried out by the leaders of each major trade cartel, this Bellerophon Traders League is joined by the rear admiral in charge of Naval Logistics who all advise the League appointed Planetary Governor. Bellerophon's tithe is three fold - 5% of all goods used in each transaction go to the Imperial storehouses on Bellerophon, the Imperial Navy has the right to commandeer any goods it wants (powerful in scope, though in practice this is reserved for critical needs and invoked carefully to avoid making enemies of the cartel, and Bellerophon is required to provide a large quantity of manpower to the Imperium and Guard. Guard regiments from Bellerophon are not held in high regard, as the planetside conditions and Bellerophon's history of commerce and skulduggery do not prepare them for service in the Guard - as a result, Bellerophon Guard are treated as a slightly better than average PDF, and either used in mass infantry assaults or assigned to guard unimportant locations. For the citizens who aren't affiliated with a cartel, they solely work for merchants, adepts, manufactorums, or service industries for those either part of a cartel or who bought a merchant's license from a cartel. Individuals who try to trade or sell without a license are threatened into falling in line or killed, and one Cartel's license does not buy protection from the others. This has created a violent world filled with sycophantic behavior and backstabbing to get ahead, with hive wide gang wars common when a trade deal goes poorly. The PDF is powerless to intervene, nor would they as the PDF is filled with the bruisers and thugs employed by the cartels - they are just as likely to join the gang war with PDF equipment than doing nothing. Bellerophon is a frequent target of Inquisitors and their interrogators as well as Ecclesiastical missions, though both's accomplishments are just drops in an ocean of filth.
