#audrine

Overview

- A gas giant rich in Vortium, a compound vital to the process of creating reinforced transparisteel

- Located in the Mid-Rim; Vortic System

- Orbited by Zenith Station, which serves as the headquarters of Zenith Holdings

Affiliation: Officially neutral.  Currently administered by Zenith Holdings.

Flora and fauna:  Known native species include the Oswaft, large flying animals native to its upper atmosphere.  Knowledge of the ecosystem believed to exist in the planet’s upper atmosphere is limited by lack of research.

History

Discovery

The Vortic System was discovered by the Empire in 50 BTC.  Dismissed as a remote, uninhabitable system with little strategic or economic value, further charting of its worlds was not a priority for the Sphere of Expansion and Diplomacy.  Enjoying both its remoteness and its exotic upper atmosphere fauna, the eccentric Moff Audrine Sevellis of Kaas City laid claim to one of its planets. In 48 BTC, she built Vortic Outpost, a small space station around gas giant Vortic 5, intended to serve as a vacation home and wartime shelter for her family.

Vortium Mining and Audrinite Refining

Surveys of the planet, which Sevellis commissioned herself, revealed that it was rich in a previously unknown compound, which Imperial scientists christened vortium.  Sevellis sponsored several research projects at the behest of her grandson, Rynton, who was working on lommite processing.  In 20 BTC, he patented a process which used audrinite, a compound he created from vortium, to produce a stronger variant of reinforced transparisteel.  

Moff Sevellis expanded Vortic Outpost, establishing a full-time independent mining and refining operation.  Ever the loyal Imperial citizen, her company extended favourable pricing to the Empire and its allies. She oversaw its operation until her death in 10 BTC, when Sevellis Resource Management (SRM) was transferred to Rynton Sevellis.

Under Rynton’s administration, SRM maintained a research and development focus.  Though they patented several processes, audrinite and reinforced transparisteel remained SRM’s flagship products.  It was during audrinite negotiations with the Chiss Ascendancy that Rynton met Imperial diplomatic envoy to Sarvchi, Iela Roane.  In addition to securing the contract with the Ascendancy, Roane ended up marrying Rynton Sevellis, joining their clan.  She assumed station administration duties, and was the catalyst behind its controversial sale to Zenith Holdings.  

Acquisition by Zenith Holdings

SRM’s lucrative vortium mining operation, the space station, and their audrinite plant were sold to private company Zenith Holdings for an undisclosed sum in 2 ATC. Industry observers believe the transfer was a calculated political move, as Zenith Holdings independence from the Empire enables the newly-rechristened Zenith Station to become a profitable, neutral hub.  Fallout in the Empire suggests that many view the Sevellises, who retain the patent on audrinite, as profiteers, but no official response has been issued.

Zenith Station

Currently, Zenith Station is administered by the company.  In addition to serving as the galactic HQ for Zenith Holdings, the expanded station houses the refinery, the mining operation, SRM’s main laboratory, employee housing and recreation areas, and several large private residences, including the historic vacation estate of Moff Audrine Sevellis.  The latter serves as the Imperial Diplomatic headquarters, a position currently filled by Iela Sevellis.  

Information on Zenith Station's defenses and docking facilities will be made available shortly.