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Kruger 60B is a violent flare star and during its stellar flares it brightens dramatically. Unshielded personnel may be subject to unsafe amounts of x-rays and ultraviolet rays. Unprotected electronic equipment may be subject to damage by electromagnetic surges. Ensure you are aware of all local safety measures while in this system.
Personnel working on the planets orbiting Kruger 60B are most at risk and should follow all current safety procedures, at all times. All injuries or changes in health during or following time spent here should be reported to medical personnel immediately.
While these flares are not normally a danger to personnel and equipment on the planets orbiting Kruger 60A, visitors to these planets should still familiarise themselves with current emergency procedures to follow if a flare alert is made.
Kruger 60 is a second wave colony. Danger from the flare star Kruger 60 B combined with less than perfect conditions on Kruger 60A-1, led to the system being overlooked during the colonisation period.
Discovery of a natural wormhole leading from the Troy (DM-39 14192) star system to a point near Kruger 60 altered things, as it made travel from Troy to Kruger 60 economically possible. The Trojan government auctioned off the mining rights to the system and mining operations began shortly afterward.
All the Kruger 60 planets are rich in heavy metals and Kruger 60A-3, Kruger 60B-1 and 60B-2 contain substantial deposits of rare minerals. Kruger 60A-1 acts as the 'economic centre' for the region, having the families of the working population. The planets are owned by the Eastern Mining Company (EMC).
Only Kruger 60A-1 is capable of sustaining life. This is only possible at the equatorial regions and technology is required to keep the populace alive during the cold seasons where temperatures never rise above freezing.
The large amount of heavy metals on Chrome make it approximately 1.8 times denser that standard (Earth). So while it has a much lower diameter the extra mass gives it a gravity of just over 1G. Chrome has a very low axial tilt and seasonal variations come more from its slightly elliptical orbit. The large polar caps of Chrome retain large amounts of water and give the planet a high albedo (reflecting light and heat into space).
The plant and animal life that was brought from Troy after it was colonised has managed to spread much further north and south than the original life forms. The Eastern Mining Company have also sought out plants and animals from other worlds that can cope with the conditions here.
Kruger 60A-2 is a cold world with low air pressure. People travelling on the surface must wear heated environmental suits to survive.
Sinai is almost identical to Chrome geologically, but its smaller size gives it a gravity of 0.71G. Most mining occurs beneath the surface. Engineers fit airlocks into tunnels and fill them with warm air so that workers don't need environmental suits. Underground mining towns (mostly temporary facilities that are now abandoned) have been built in the wake of mines. Several lava tubes have been discovered, the longest over 100km long. Three of these were turned into transport tunnels, however it is now cheaper to move workers by dropship and only one remains in operation.
Anyone visiting Sinai is advised to travel with a guide when travelling to unmaintained areas as some of them can be hazardous.
Kruger 60A-3 is a smaller and very cold planet. Jade takes its name from the 6 centimetre thick dark green layer of dust and rocks that cover much of its surface. It is thought that this is an impact layer that was created relatively recently in geological terms. Despite the almost uniform surface appearance Jade has a wide variety of different minerals and rocks just below the surface. Deposits of trapped ice have been found in between the minerals and the surface layer.
Mobile mining camps work the surface of Jade, with mining tunnels abandoned after they are played out.
Kruger 60A-4 has less to offer than the other planets in the Kruger system. However its low gravity makes removing what is there much cheaper.
Mobile mining camps work the surface of Rim, with mining tunnels abandoned after they are played out.
Kruger 60B-1 has a very fast rotation, with days lasting just 12 hours. It has a large iron core and a strong magnetic field. The field can damage unshielded electronic equipment. Electrical currents have been known to flow across the surface of this planet during the largest stellar flares and this has caused some unusual substances to be created.
The risk of flares from Kruger 60B make this world dangerous to work on. During a stellar flare the amount of exposure someone is subjected to can be lethal in a very short time. Miners working on Magneto set up portable radiation camps and then dig tunnels beneath them. Mining tunnels are abandoned after they are played out.
Anyone visiting the planet is advised to use space suits with full anti-radiation or NBC protection. Anti-NBC or Anti-NBC 6-Hit forcefields are also recommended, as a back up - not an alternative. Lightning storms can be a hazard for dropships. Electronic equipment must be demagnetised and shielded before approaching the planet. Radio operators should obtain specialist equipment as conventional antennas have been known to attract lightning strikes.
Kruger 60B-2 lies within the habitable zone of its star, however the violent flares from Kruger 60B regularly sterilise the surface and have prevented advanced life from evolving. The most advanced life found so far has been microscopic sea based life that gains some protection from the harsh rays of the local star from the density of water. This sea-life has created small amounts of free oxygen in the atmosphere and removed most of the hazardous gasses, however it has not created an ozone layer.
Although air pressure and surface temperatures are sufficient to allow the use of breathing equipment at low altitudes, anyone not wearing protective equipment during daylight hours would receive a unsafe amount of radiation exposure. During a stellar flare the amount of exposure someone is subjected to can be lethal in a very short time.
Anyone visiting the planet is advised to use space suits with full anti-radiation or NBC protection. Anti-NBC or Anti-NBC 6-Hit forcefields are also recommended, as a back up - not an alternative. Underground shelters must be used during flares.
Kruger 60 B-3 has been described as a large dirty snowball, as it has so much water on and even below its surface. Deuterium, tritium, hydrogen and oxygen are all extracted from polar.
The risk of flares from Kruger 60B make this world dangerous to work on. During a stellar flare the amount of exposure someone is subjected to can be lethal in a very short time. Additional heat from flares also causes expansion and melting in the icy surface and this can lead to avalanches, underground flooding or tunnel collapse. Miners working on Polar set up portable radiation camps and then dig tunnels beneath them. Tunnels are coated with waterproof insulation material that keeps water out and warmth in. Mining tunnels are abandoned after they are played out and usually collapse within a few years.
Anyone visiting the planet is advised to use space suits with full anti-radiation or NBC protection. Anti-NBC or Anti-NBC 6-Hit forcefields are also recommended, as a back up - not an alternative. Underground shelters must be used during flares.
Personnel travelling on the surface of Polar should also carry global positioning devices, as the white surface and lack of permanent landmarks, make it extremely easy to get lost.
Kruger 60 B-4 is the smallest and least interesting planet in the entire system.
The risk of flares from Kruger 60B make this world dangerous to work on. During a stellar flare the amount of exposure someone is subjected to can be lethal in a very short time. Miners working on Before set up portable radiation camps and then dig tunnels beneath them. Mining tunnels are abandoned after they are played out.
Anyone visiting the planet is advised to use space suits with full anti-radiation or NBC protection. Anti-NBC or Anti-NBC 6-Hit forcefields are also recommended, as a back up - not an alternative. Underground shelters must be used during flares.
Kruger 60 is a dominion of the planet Troy and is defended by the 9 Star Combine military.
There are two military bases, one located at the starport on Chrome and the other on Decker. They are usually manned by small numbers of troops, and maintain 'listening posts' in the region. They also have a well developed missile system to protect the wormhole. A starship is nearly always in orbit around the star system for defence of the wormhole, and this is usually either SCS Goldstar or SCS Creditor which carry out 8 month tours of duty in the region.
The civilian police forces have a generally low key approach, as there are some no go areas. However they are generally very well equipped and well trained. They are private contractors employed by the mining company. The police have been infiltrated by local mafia influence and individuals within the force may be in the payroll of such an organisation.
Kruger does not have its own intelligence forces. The Trojan Intelligence Service are responsible for the protection of the Kruger 60 System and the wormhole from outside forces and have use of the facilities at both of the military bases. The Combine Intelligence Service also have jurisdiction in the system as it is part of the 9 Star Combine. Both services are authorised to call upon the local military or police for logistical support, however they usually prefer to use their own personnel and equipment.
Kruger does not have its own national anthem (either for the system as a whole or for the individual planets). Instead it uses the national anthem of the 9 Star Combine. The 9 Star Combine national anthem is Ode To Joy by Ludwig Beethovan.
For information on outside interest in Kruger read the power bloc strategic intentions.