Status: Capital of the Compact of Humanity in Assembly
Location: Built on an artificial island in Victoria Harbor, off the coast of Hong Kong, Earth
Governmental Function: Seat of the Compact Assembly, Compact Security Council and Supreme Court
Key Features:
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A densely urban megacity.
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Constructed as a neutral, Earth-based seat for interstellar governance.
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Notable for its layers of bureaucracy, heavy security, and centralized planetary and interstellar administration.
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Houses the offices of the Secretary-General, President (after 430 IE) of the Compact and various Compact-level departments, including Office of Colonial Development (OCD).
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Hypergate access enables regular travel from across the Compact.
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Despite its importance, it’s often regarded as aloof or even disconnected from the frontier colonies and outer core worlds.
Cultural Notes:
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Politically cosmopolitan but perceived by many as out of touch with colonies like Amargosa and Gilead.
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Occasionally targeted for criticism by colonial politicians (such as Douglas Best), who see it as both the heart of Compact power and the symbol of its bureaucratic stagnation.