Coratanni Cartel
Thawne
- Intent: To submit cloud city but better but also criminal
- Image Credit: Tryingtofly,MitulMistry, Eric Felten, Damnagy, lovetina0726
- Canon: No
- Links: Coratanni Cartel, Nadir, The Brethren, Helix Syndicate, Bareesh Kajidic
- Military Base Name: Ersal
- Classification: Criminal Citadel
- Location: Lish
- Affiliation: Coratanni Cartel[Primary], Nadir, The Brethren, Helix Syndicate, Bareeh Kajidic, The Underworld
- Wealth: High
Of course, that is not to say that everyone else in Ersal is poor. The city itself is very much a transient community, and thus there is a constant flow of people and wealth. This brings a certain amount of stability to the cities economy, and allows even the least well off to at least survive.
- Stability: High
This stability however should not be mistaken for Safety, and murders, robberies, and all sorts of crime on the less fortunate and foolish is still rife throughout Ersal.
- Population:
Permanent residents are generally men and women who work for the patrons of Ersal, than being members of The Coratanni Cartel, Nadir, The Brethren, Helix Syndicate, and of course Bareeh Kajidic. Even this fluctuates however, though each of these organizations keep a healthy amount of their members within the city at all times.
- Accessibility:
Though not exactly a secret, the city itself is tucked well into the atmosphere of Lish, a massive gas giant that is known for it's great storms. This allows Ersal to remain hidden from most sensors and detectors, it's presence cloaked by the natural effects of the atmosphere around it. Of course, once one actually makes it through the atmosphere itself, Ersal is an absolutely massive complex of floating buildings, and it isn't all that hard to find.
Actually getting into Ersal itself is fairly easy, provided you have prior criminal connections...or a ton of money. Entrance to the city is regulated well enough by it's patrons, however it is entirely populated by criminals and people with no morals. In the end, if one wants to get into Ersal, they need only pay the price.
- Description:
The city itself is not a single municipal, but rather several composing a larger landscape. Most of these are controlled by the Patrons of Ersal, The Coratanni Cartel, Nadir, The Brethren, Helix Syndicate, and Bareeh Kajidic. The largest section of the city is the Central platform, controlled and originally constructed by the Coratanni Cartel, watched over by Kara Thawne.
Of course there are dozens of other sections, each with their own purpose.
Despite their odd pattern, the sections of Ersal are linked through a single defensive network. This is what in fact creates the 'city' itself. Though each section is separate, they are in fact all protected by the same Defensive Umbrella. This allows Ersal to protect itself from raiders, criminals foolish enough to cross the Patrons, and even Galactic Government which might seek to arrest the people of Ersal itself.
In short, Ersal is on the short-list of largest shadowports in the galaxy, serving as a haven for criminals of all sorts.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Pyramid: Controlled by the Coratanni Cartel, the great Pyramid at the very center of Ersal is both a rather gaudy landmark, but also the central focal point of what little authority actually exists within the Criminal Citadel. The Pyramid itself is a gigantic cross between three separate functions. The first is of course as a keep, built of highly resistant materials and containing shield generators as well as defensive emplacements the Pyramid is where any 'last stand' would take place if the city were ever to be assaulted.
The second function of the Pyramid is as a Spice processing plant. With Coratanni's control of several of the Galaxies largest spice mines, as well as deals with both Nadir and Helix, the Cartel processes vast amounts of spice every day, supplying many worlds within the Galactic Core and Outer Rim.
As a final function, the Pyramid also serves as a projection of power. It is the very middle of Ersal itself, and being controlled by the Coratanni Cartel it serves as a reminder of who ultimately controls the chaos within the Criminal Citadel. Though the Cartel doesn't pretend to exert any sort of rule of law, the Pyramid does display that ultimately Ersal does only exist because it's Patron's allow it to.
This is rather important, given who operates within Ersal itself.
Nadir Red Light District: Located in one of the inner sections of the city closer to the Pyramid, the Red Light District is the foremost place for… entertainment that can be found in the city of Ersal.
Neither a slum nor a seedy section of the city, Red Light strives to provide even for the most diverse of palates. Whether their customers desire red, green, blue, or something even more exotic, the experienced entertainers are ready and willing to satisfy those desires. So long as the credits keep flowing, anything and everything can be obtained here.
As with the other districts controlled directly by one of the Patrons of Ersal, Red Light is protected by well-trained and well-equipped security. Damage to property or personnel will incur a swift boot in the arse.
The Brethren's Court: Controlled by the Pirate group known as The Brethren, this section of Ersal is dedicated entirely to a single massive arena playfully known as 'The Brethen's Court'. Within this arena men, women, and sometimes children are thrown into the sands and made to battle. Thousands from across the galaxy come to watch the blood-sports, betting and reveling within the fights.
Designed for maximum variety, the arena within the Court is capable of shifting and changing within only a few minutes time. This allows the fights to remain fresh and new, giving fights new terrain and sometimes even obstacles.
Of course, The Brethren's Court has another purpose. Not just a simple blood bath, the Brethren also utilize the arena as a way of recruiting. Fighters who win multiple rounds and combatants who manage to impress are often recruited and brought into the various Pirate Crew that operate The Court itself.
Bareesh Bar: Choosing not to control an entire district, the Bareesh Kajidic instead has chosen to operate only a single establishment within Ersal.
This establishment takes the form of a bar, though it's simple appearance hides it's true nature. The Bareesh Bar, as it is playfully known, operates as a central network for Mercenaries, Soldiers of Fortune, and any other man or woman who sells their military service. Functioning as a standing point for contracts, the Bareesh Bar allows mercenaries to connect with one another as well as employers.
Due to it's nature, the Bareesh Bar is known as one of the safest placed in all of Ersal. No one is dumb enough to go looking for trouble here.
Helix Communications Array: Though not the only array within the city limits, the Helix Communications Array is by far the most far-reaching and advanced located within Ersal.
When the Patrons of the city first arrived Helix set up and created the inter-communications network within the City itself. This of course gave the Syndicate a small leg-up on the business that went on within the city itself, and as a result the Syndicate made money utilizing this system.
Like one would expect, this array is incredibly well guarded and secured.
Other: Ersal is a city true to form, that means it has most of what you would expect to find in a regular municipal district in the galaxy. There are Warehouses, docks, apartments, various restaurants, and a myriad of entertainment sections that one can visit if they really want to.
Of course being compromised almost entirely of a criminal element, Ersal is also the perfect place to find most illegal goods and there is a thriving black market for almost anything one can imagine.
SECURITY
- Rating: High
Shield Generator.
Laser batteries.
Ion batteries.
TurboLaster Towers.
Orbital defense cannons.
Garrison:
Coratanni Runners.
Coratanni Execution Squads.
Nadir Clan Soldiers.
Bareesh Bruisers.
Helix Syndicate Enforcers.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Ersal is neither ancient, nor even particularly old.
As far as established Shadowports in the galaxy go Ersal is actually one of the youngest, having really only come into being over the last year or two. The initial construction of Ersal was commissioned not by a Government or any larger galactic force, but by the Coratanni Cartel.
Having seized control of a large portion of the spice trade within the Galactic Core as well as throughout the outer rim, it became more and more obvious that the Cartel needed to further expand its processing capabilities. The sheer volume of Spice being demanded by the galaxy at large required larger facilities, bigger shipping lanes, and the capacity to produce faster. As such, Kara Thawne, created what would eventually become the core of Ersal.
Located within the expansion regions, the Cartel constructed a floating outpost, then a simple Spice Processing Plant.
As time went on however this processing plant became more lucrative, and as it grew so did the city around it. After a few months time the Processing Plant received upgrades. Docks, warehouses, and even residential zones were created. As this all grew, more people slowly began to be drawn to the Outpost itself.
Capitalizing on this appeal, the Coratanni Cartel Contacted it's allies within the Cabal.
Using funds from their various legal and illegal entities, the core members of The Cabal quickly grew and supported Ersal. Within a matter of months the Outpost developed into a full blown city. Defenses were built, sections were allocated, and very quickly what was once a simply Spice Processing Plant became a massive Shadowport.
Ersal now functions as a place of business, but also a projection of power of the various members of the Cabal.
