Type X Starports & Travel Zones

[Gruffty the Hiver]

Type X Starports

X No starport. No provision is made for any ship landings.

X No starport. Generally a red travel zone.

Class X starports are generally indicative of Imperial (or other) interdiction; there is no provision for starship landings, and such landings are probably prohibited.
Note too, that the Travellers' Aid Society is not simply an Imperial organization- its facilities extend to regions beyond the strict borders of the Imperium.

X- No starport. No provision is made for any starship landings.

X: No starport. No provision made for starship landings. Most such worlds in this sector are interdicted.

X No starport. No provision is made for any ship landings.

X Quality: None.

X Quality: None.

X No starport. No provision is made for any ship landings.

X No Starport. No provisions have been made for any ship landings.

Traveller: X, GURPS Space: 0

[see the next entry for a description of a GURPS Space Class 0 starport.]

Class 0: No facilities - there isn't even a designated landing site - ships planning to land must look for suitable terrain. If the world has a high enough tech level, there will be an airport, parking lot, or wide roadway.

Copyrighted material posted here is for discussion purposes only and is not intended to infringe the rights of the copyright holder.

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

Red Travel Zones

Red travel zone usually indicates that a major danger exists within the system. This danger may be disease and the world is quarantined. The system may be involved in a war, and surface or space battles may be probable. Red travel zones are also used to show a government edict prohibiting entry to the system or world. This may be to protect a local civilization which is still developing and not yet ready for interstellar contacts, or to protect valuable resources until the government can mine them.

Red: Prohibited to travellers; local conditions can involve death or injury.

Travel Zone Classifications
The Traveller's Aid Society classifies worlds by their degree of danger to travellers, using a color system ranging from green, through amber, to red.
Red Zones are generally class [*starport type is missing!*] starport worlds, deliberately interdicted by the Imperium, or by other governmental units. Entry is prohibited, often with severe penalties accompanying violations.
Amber Zones are specific worlds otherwise accessible, but posing some danger due to war, plague, or local governmental dispositions. The amber designation means caution.
Green Zones are not otherwise stated. All unclassified locations within the lmperium are coded green; outside the Imperium, the assumed classification is Amber for Imperial citizens.

Amber Zone: Travellers' Aid Society classification for a nation, world, or system which presents a need for caution in dealings and activity. The amber code may indicate chaos, upheaval, or xenophobia in local business, politics, society, or culture, or may be applied for other reasons. Travellers should exercise caution. See also Red Zone, Travel Zone.

Travel Zone Classification: The Travellers' Aid Society classifies all worlds according to their degree of danger to travellers. Worlds are coded red (R), amber (A), or green (blank). Most red zones are interdicted by the Imperial or Solomani governments, with severe penalties for violations. Amber zones are accessible, but pose some hazard to travellers. Most worlds are green, indicating relative safety.

Red Zone: The Traveller's Aid Society travel zone classification for a nation, world,
or system which is dangerous to travellers. In general, the imposition of a red zone classification indicates the location is quarantined, interdicted by higher authority, or at war.
Quarantine indicates that a dangerous disease is present, and the danger of war is self-explanatory, but interdiction requires further discussion. Interstellar governments often find it necessary to restrict access to worlds or systems for political or military reasons, and do so by publishing interdictions. Enforcement of interdiction varies with the reason for the restriction. Interdiction may be imposed on a world if it is a military base or other sensitive installation, for the private reservations belonging to powerful families desiring seclusion, for developing societies which the government has elected to allow to evolve in isolation, or for valuable resource areas being saved for later development or exploitation.

Travel Zone: Standard form of classification for worlds in terms of relative danger. As a service to spacefarers, the Traveller's Aid Society publishes travel zone classifications which indicate the degree of danger a world presents to visitors. Standard classifications are green (no danger), amber (caution advised), and red (severe danger). See also Amber Zone, Red Zone.

Red: Interdicted. Dangerous to life and limb. Prohibited.

Red: Danger. Access to the world is prohibited. Class X starports are almost always red zones. Amber and red zones are also imposed by the Referee.
The combination of high Government and Law Level also produces the following travel zones:

  TRAVEL ZONE MATRIX
Govt       Law Level
Type  G	H	J	K	L
A     -	-	-	-	A
B     -	-	-	A	A
C     -	-	A	A	A
D     -	A	A	A	R
E     -	A	A	R	R
F     A	A	R	R	R

Red travel zones usually indicate that a major hazard exists within the system. This may be an epidemic and the world is quarantined. Or the entire subsector may be embroiled in war, and surface or space battles are probable. Red travel zones are also used to represent a government edict prohibiting entry to a system or world. This may be to protect a developing civilization that is not ready for interstellar contact, or to preserve valuable resources until the proper agencies can extract them.

Red: Prohibited to travellers; local conditions can involve death or injury.

Red travel zones usually indicated that a major danger existed within the system. This danger may have been disease, and the world may have been quarantined. The system might have been involved in a war, and surface or space battles may have been common. Red travel zones were also used to show a government edict prohibiting entry to the system or world. This may have been to protect a local civilization which was still developing and not yet ready for interstellar contacts or to protect valuable resources until the government could exploit them. Now, of course, these travel zones have no relevance to the current situation on the world; their inclusion is purely for atmosphere.

The use of travel zones is intended to assist in designating areas to avoid and areas to explore. The Referee should consider travel zones and their underlying reasons.

The local TAS travel zone rating, typically R for a red zone or restricted world, A for an amber zone or dangerous world, and G for a green zone or safe (relatively) world. Red zoned or interdicted worlds are usually either posted with warning buoys or actively patrolled by scout or naval vessels.

The Travellers’ Aid Society classification for a nation, world, or system which is too dangerous tp travelers. In general, the imposition of a red zone classification indicates the location is quarantined, interdicted by higher authority, or at war.
Quarantine indicates that a dangerous disease is present, and the danger of war is self-explanatory, but interdiction requires further discussion. Interstellar governments often find it necessary to restrict access to worlds or systems for political or military reasons, and they do so by publishing interdictions.
Enforcement of interdiction varies with the reason for the restriction. Interdiction may be imposed on a world if it is a military base or other sensitive installation, a private reservation belonging to a powerful family desiring seclusion, a developing society which the government has elected to allow to evolve in isolation, or home of valuable resources being conserved for later development or exploitation.

Copyrighted material posted here is for discussion purposes only and is not intended to infringe the rights of the copyright holder.

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

Soooooo.......!

OK, I think we have enough references to be going on with for the moment! :lol:

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

From the above references/information, we can conclude the following:

The Travellers' Aid Society (TAS)

• TAS determines which systems/worlds are classified as green/amber/red travel zones both within and without the Third Imperium, not the Imperial government.
• TAS issues reports on a regular basis, indicating which systems/worlds are currently amber or red travel zones, including when a system/world has its travel zone classification changed (from green to amber, amber to red, red to amber, amber to green);
• TAS operates facilities for travellers outside of the Third Imperium.
• TAS classifies all systems/worlds outside of the Third Imperium as amber or red travel zones for Imperial citizens.
• There are no green travel zone systems/worlds for Imperial citizens outside of the Third Imperium (bunch of wusses that they are );
• A system/world being classified as an amber/red travel zone is not the same as that system/world being interdicted by the Third Imperium (see below);
• In general, most of the systems/worlds classified by TAS as red travel zones within the 3I itself have starport type X, although worlds with other starport types have also been classified as red travel zones by TAS.

The Third Imperium (3I)

• The 3I decides which systems/worlds within the 3I itself are interdicted, not TAS;
• A system/world that has been interdicted by the 3I is not the same as that system being classified as an amber/red travel zone by TAS (see above);
• The 3I generally interdicts systems/worlds within itself that TAS has classified as red travel zones;
• In general, most of the systems/worlds interdicted by the 3I within itself have starport type X, although worlds with other starport types have also been interdicted by the 3I;
• Within the 3I itself, the Imperial Navy or Imperial Interstellar Scout Service and/or local forces enforce interdiction.
• Within the 3I itself, the Imperial Navy and the IISS impose and enforce interdiction on systems/worlds for differing reasons.

A Red Travel Zone is:

• A travel zone classification based upon information received from the IN, IISS, the Imperial government or a local government;
• Generally a system/world that has been interdicted by the 3I;
• A system/world where there are clear and high risks of death or injury to travellers;
• Where entry to the system/world is punishable, sometimes by severe penalties.
• Generally a system/world with a type X starport, although systems/worlds with other types of starports have also been classified as red travel zones previously.

 

[captainjack23]

From the above references/information, we can conclude the following:

<snip>
[*]Within the 3I itself, the Imperial Navy or Imperial Interstellar Scout Service and/or local forces enforce interdiction.[/list]A Red Travel Zone is:

• A system/world where there are clear and high risks of death or injury to travellers;
• Generally a system/world that has been interdicted by the 3I;
• Where entry to the system/world is punishable, sometimes by severe penalties.

All I'd add is the possibly irrelevant point that the IISS and the Navy are reputed and observed to impose it for very different reasons.

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

My thinking on how this operates is this:

1. The IN/IISS/Imperial government/local government decide a system/world poses a risk to travellers of some form

I told His Imperial High-and-Mightyness that those damned Nings, Nangs and Nongs on Wibble would escalate their petty civil war to outside their own system. Now they're shooting at each other when they're in other star systems. They're out of control and we need to stop them before this escalates into a multi-world conflict. Smithers, get me a Form 1A1 Interdiction - you know, the one with HIH's signature already pre-printed on it in gold. And a bring me a big mug o' coffee - this is gonna be a long one!

2. The IN/IISS/Imperial government/local government inform all other relevant parties of the risks

Ok, thanks for coming in everyone. Smithers, coffee all round, please. People, I'm sure you're all aware of the civil war on Wibble? Good. Well, they've over-stepped the mark this time. They've started shooting at each other whilst out on trading missions and it's not looking good. It's affecting local trade and traffic, with my ships having to run about like an amnesiac Vilani cook at a wedding reception. So I've got The Boss on capitol to OK an interdiction. Everyone happy with that? Good. Thanks for your time people. Smithers? Coffee, now!

3. The IN/IISS/Imperial government/local government declare the system/world as interdicted

Right, Wibble is interdicted. Smithers, get copies of the interdiction notice to the governments on Wibble, the IISS, the guys at Corporate HQ on Capitol and the heads of the local systems. And bring me more coffee!

4. Whichever organisation declares interdiction informs TAS

Hello? Is that the local TAS office? Yes? OK, I'll hold....right, uhm, well, it's kinda important I speak to someone who's not the janitor...thanks. Hello? Hell-oooo? Ah. Thank you. Yes, this is Lt Smithers from 501st Fleet HQ, on behalf of Admiral Jones. I'm just calling to let you know that Wibble has been interdicted. No, no, nothing to do with coffee beans. They're shooting at each other so Admiral Jones interdicted the world. Yes. Yes. Yes. No. No. No, there's no direct IN involvement at the moment, just system entry prevention patrols. No, no blockade. Yes, if they enter, the patrols are authorised fire after a warning. No, the IISS aren't involved in the interdiction. Right. Yes, we think the system needs re-classifying to a red zone, given what's going on there. OK, thanks. No, no thanks. I don't need to talk to the janitor again. Yes, I'm sure he's a very nice person and an excellent janitor but.. yes, but...OK, goodbye.

5. TAS then codes the system/world amber or red, based upon the information received from the organisation delcaring interdication

Right. Wibble, Wibble...... Ah, here it is. OK. Nope, wasn't amber before. OK.

Subject: Re-Classification of Travel Zone Notice: Wibble system (0101/Wobble/Flobble).
Importance: Medium.
To: TAS Central Office, Capitol; IN 501st Fleet local HQ; IN High Command, Capitol; IISS HQ, Capitol; IISS Local Office;
Message; Civil war escalating rapidly. Out-system starship combat evident. Local IN HQ has declared the system interdicted. TAS has therefore re-classified Wibble as a Red travel zone, effective 187-1105. Please ensure that all sector, subsector and local maps are updated with this information. For further information please contact the interdicting IN HQ. Message ends.

There. "Now click send"? Oh, right <click>. Sent. Now for some coffee.

6. TAS issues a travel information notice indicating that

Acting on information provided by the IN local HQ, the system of Wibble (0101/Wobble/Flobble) is reclassified by TAS from a green travel zone to a red travel zone due to a recently issued IN Interdiction notice. Travellers are forbidden to enter the system and will be challenged by IN patrols should any vessel enter the prohibited area. Ends.

 

[RandyT0001]

You forgot the part where TAS/Navy tells the IISS to update their maps/UWP data about Wibble so that traders and other ships will have updated maps ASAP.

 

[EDG]

I really dislike the association of Travel Zones with TAS though. It means that if you're outside the Imperium, you can't have Amber and Red zones, which means you have no idea looking on a map whether or not a world is dangerous, even if the region is run by another interstellar government or there's a local equivalent of the TAS. The Imperium can't possibly be the only government that has that sort of classification in place.

I'd much rather say that the Travel Zones are determined by whatever the local interstellar government or TAS-equivalent is (and if that's the Imperium and really is the TAS, then great). They may not call them Green, Amber and Red Zones, but they're shown on the maps as such because they're functionally the same thing.

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

I really dislike the association of Travel Zones with TAS though.

I can see where you're coming from on that but Traveller is actually very, very, consistent about the fact that it's TAS that classifies systems/worlds as amber/red travel zones (Traveller??!! :shock: Being consistent??!! :shock: About something across all versions of the game??!! :shock: <faints>).

It means that if you're outside the Imperium, you can't have Amber and Red zones,

Oh, yes you can because amber/red travel zones outside of the 3I will be shown on the maps provided by TAS through their facilities, be that inside or outside of the 3I. Those maps of non-3I space will show those systems/worlds that TAS has classified as red zones. Remember, as far as TAS is concerned, any system/world outside of the 3I is an automatic amber zone anyway; there's no such thing as a green system/world for a 3I citizen outside of the 3I, according to TAS.

which means you have no idea looking on a map whether or not a world is dangerous, even if the region is run by another interstellar government or there's a local equivalent of the TAS.

By reading into all the references, it's clear that, whilst TAS is primarily a Third Imperium-orientated organisation, it does operate facilities outside of the 3I and provides travel advice and maps of other areas of space outside of the 3I.

The Imperium can't possibly be the only government that has that sort of classification in place.

Oh I agree that TAS is probably only one of many such organisations, but I can't find any mention of another such organisation by name in any of the books (if I had, I'd have posted details in this thread).

I'd much rather say that the Travel Zones are determined by whatever the local interstellar government or TAS-equivalent is (and if that's the Imperium and really is the TAS, then great). They may not call them Green, Amber and Red Zones, but they're shown on the maps as such because they're functionally the same thing.

Indeed, they are shown on the maps as amber/red zones outside of the 3I but its clear that, from the point of view of someone living in the OTU, TAS is the primary source of travel zone classifications.

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

You forgot the part where TAS/Navy tells the IISS to update their maps/UWP data about Wibble so that traders and other ships will have updated maps ASAP.

Points 3 and 4 cover that but I haven't explicitly stated that the IISS and TAS update their maps on receipt of a change of travel zone notification. Logically one would assume they would amend their maps straight away so as to be up-to-date at all times.

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

A type X starport:

• Is not actually a starport, at all;
• Does not have any technical facilities for the construction of starships;
• Does not have any technical facilities for the repair of starships;
• Does not have any technical facilities for the maintenance/overhaul of starships;
• Does not have any technical facilties to refuel starships;
• Does not maintain a supply of fuel (either refined or unrefined) for immediate access by starships;
• Does not have facilities to enable starships to land (no orbital facilities, no ground-based facilities - no pads, no docking bays, no berths, no hangers);
• Indicates that both the IISS and the IN have confirmed the absence of any facilities for the landing, maintenance/overhaul, repair construction and refuelling of starships, across the entirety of the system/world;
• Can be associated with interdiction (by the In/IISS/Imperial government or local government);
• Can be associated with a TAS red zone classification for the system/world.

Basically, should a ship land on a world with a type X starport, the pilot picks a flat spot on the ground by the hydrogen source (stops the ship from falling over) or lands in the hydrogen source, the crew pulls out the fuel line(s), throws it/them into the source and begin pumping it on-board.

If the ship needs repairs - well, unless you've got the parts, machine tools and equipment already on-board, you're not going anywhere fast. If your ship crash lands - hang on tight and pray you survive, because there aint no starport fire and rescue service here. Landed here and run out of supplies? Then it's time to put that not-very-often-used Hunting skill to use, cos there's no McD or BK franchise on this starport. Cos there aint no starport

 

[atpollard]

A type X starport:

• Is not actually a starport, at all ...
  [snip]
  ...Cos there aint no starport

• 
  
  The Type E Starport can be as little as just a marked place to land with nothing else, so I agree that Type X really is NO STARPORT!!
  
  Even a TL 0 savage can paint a landing square on a rock outcroping, so type X has nothing to do with TL or facilities.

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

I envisage type E starports as a flat, de-grassed circular area with a *big white cross* painted in the middle, a few solar powered or portable fusion generator powered lights, a reasonable TL automated electronic beacon system, a shack to sit in and eat yer sandwiches and drink yer tea when it rains and possibly a chain link fence around the edge to mark the perimeter. No security, no customs, no passenger terminals, etc. A large(-ish) surface or underground tank full of water (unrefined fuel) and a pumping system run off a just-about-capable fusion generator.

And that's it.

<......wind blows a tumbleweed across the pad........a tattered Imperial flag flops and flaps in the breeze......rubbish skitters across the ground, heading for the nearest corner to pile up........Jethro steps out from the shack, a-jawin' some tobaccy....."Weh-lllll, lookee here, Martha! We dun gone got ourselves some visitors! Break out the moonshine, Martha, cuz we gonna have ourselves a right-fancy time tonight!". He spits, and gits him a mean, ornery look in his eye...."Say, you in the fancy pilot suit, you ever play one o' these? [he strokes the stringed musical instrument he is holding] Nah? Weh-lll, you bitter lern yeself quick, boy, cos ahm-a fixin' to have me some real fun tonight!" [he plays the opening bars of "Duelling Banjos"]......... :shock: >

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

I believe Marc Miller used the term "a metal shed and and a windsock" to describe a Class E starport.

I believe that if a planet has EVER been visited by the scouts, then it gets an E Class starport (they mark the spot on their maps.

This is NOT exactly like canon though since in the OTU, starports are Extraterritorial Property of the Imperium, not the planet. So you have to have SOME kind of border to show where the planet ends and the Imperium begins. A landing beacon on a barren world, doesn't meet that classification.

 

[AKAramis]

A type X starport:

• Is not actually a starport, at all ...
  [snip]
  ...Cos there aint no starport

• 
  
  The Type E Starport can be as little as just a marked place to land with nothing else, so I agree that Type X really is NO STARPORT!!
  
  Even a TL 0 savage can paint a landing square on a rock outcroping, so type X has nothing to do with TL or facilities.

• 
  
  To me the big difference isn't so much the markings, as the expectation of the locals that people landing at a E-port may be willing to trade, and so there is likely to be a reception committee...

 

[rancke]

I believe Marc Miller used the term "a metal shed and and a windsock" to describe a Class E starport.

I believe that if a planet has EVER been visited by the scouts, then it gets an E Class starport (they mark the spot on their maps.

This is NOT exactly like canon though since in the OTU, starports are Extraterritorial Property of the Imperium, not the planet. So you have to have SOME kind of border to show where the planet ends and the Imperium begins. A landing beacon on a barren world, doesn't meet that classification.

It's pretty moot if the world is empty. I've always believed that Class E starports had a radio beacon (provided and serviced by the Scouts if no one else was around to service it), but I can't off-hand think of any quotes to back that up.


Hans

 

[atpollard]

Within CT at least, a class E starport is defined by what it does not have more than what it has:

It does not have shipbuilding facilities (class A & B)
It does not have repair facilities (class C)
It does not have unrefined fuel or Star Port Authority personel (class D)

It does have a marked landing area.

It could be quite large with many local port workers. It could have links to the planetary highways, railroads, a seaport and an airport. It could have multiple passenger gates and a separate freight terminal. None of these things are forbidden and none of these things are required.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

atpollard brings up a good point, I think maybe we are all guilty of reading too much (or too little) into what a starport actually is...

Obviously, a Class B starport at TL 8 will be different than a Class B Starport at TL E and different at POP 4 and POP A. Whether the world is on a major trade route will have a big effect on it as well.

I think the problem is that there is not a class of starport that encompasses the LAX or LHR or JFK airports. They do not have manufacturing capabilities, nor can they do annual maintenance (I don't think they can anyway). But they all have repair capability and are HUGE in terms of volume of traffic. Those types of Starports SHOULD have refined fuel, but you only get refined fuel with the manufacturing capability of a Class B starport.

I think Class C starports should have refined fuel available. OR, have the possibility.

Maybe it should read:

Class C Starports have repair facilities and unrefined fuel. Some may have refined fuel (determined by GM).

Then the population, TL and trade status of the world could be used to determine if it makes sense for that particular port to have refined fuel.

I don't think that minor tweek to the definition of a Class C starport would ruin canon. You could still have a Class C starport without refined fuel, representing the smaller size ports but for the larger worlds, or one on an Xboat route, you could have refined fuel.