Introduction

The first permanent colony on Venus, Beacon, was established in 2142 by the Beacon Foundation, which would later become the Archipelago. Following the establishment of Beacon, other city-states were founded. The first ones were four sister cities, which were also established by the Beacon Foundation. Later more and more cities were founded by various entities. 

Colonies float around 50 – 55 km above the surface, at the top of the cloud deck, and are buoyed up by their oxygen-nitrogen atmospheres. 

Design Philosophy

Most of the colonies are built out of hexagonal modules that are fitted together to form larger city-states. The first colony built, Beacon, was also a hexagonal module, the builders expected to build and connect more colonies to it in the future. The original designers were correct in their expectations. By 2300 the original Beacon colony was just one module in the larger city of Beacon.

The earlier modules built in the mid-to-late-22nd century were meant to be relatively self-sufficient arcologies. At the start of the 23rd century, builders began favoring specialization for modules as colonies and cities developed into more complex societies. By 2300, most of the major city-states had a variety of specialized modules, some focusing on industrial production and large-scale manufacturing, others focusing on agriculture or waste-water processing, etc. 

Cities take advantage of using the specialized modules by situating them below the habitat modules where people tend to live and work. The habitat modules make up the top deck and the industrial modules make up a lower tier. 

Many of the inhabited modules also have some industrial capacity built into them. The top deck is effectively a domed area consisting of houses and commercial spaces. The layer below consists of transit tubes and plumbing, electrical and communication lines. The lower levels consist of industrial and agricultural sections. At the bottom there is a counterweight where water is held in a reservoir and a fusion plant. 

Modules are designed to a uniform standard. Each side of the hexagon is 1.15km, and the apothem is 1km. Effectively, the living area is a domed section consisting of a 1km radius. There’s a variety to the population density of modules, some have more dense populations than others. The older modules tended to be slightly lower on the density side since they required more space for industrial and agricultural sections. Modules that cater to wealthier occupants also tend to have lower densities. On average, modules house 30k-40k people.

Modules are designed to connect to one another and have six umbilicals, one at the midpoint of each side. The umbilicals have transit, communication, plumbing and electrical lines. 

Transportation

Transportation within a city can vary somewhat from city to city, but most modules have a transit network built into them and when they connect to each other, the umbilicals connecting them have transit paths. The main transit station is located at the center of the module, with six paths radiating out from it. Those paths connect to the umbilicals and thus they can be used to move to other modules. 

There are two types of transit cars; cars for small parties and cars for large parties. The cars for small parties can be called up individually, and the destination selected, these cars can be privately owned and put on the network for a nominal fee. Oftentimes these cars are owned by companies who charge the passengers. Individuals can also own cars privately, though it’s up to them to find storage.

Cars for large parties are similar to buses or subway cars, they can hold large numbers of people and travel set routes. These are similarly often owned by companies who operate them and charge passengers a fee, and likewise pay a fee to the city for use of their transit network.

There are occasionally light rail or monorail systems in modules for transit within the module, not for transit to other modules. 

The umbilicals also include a pedestrian walkway for foot traffic and bicycles. 

Some modules have surface roads for automobiles, but these tend to be rare. Automobiles are seen as more of a niche hobby and aren’t widely used.

Most modules will emphasize walkability within the module, the living space is relatively compact and the central station will often have restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and other businesses located near them with housing located further out. Schools and churches are situated throughout the module. 

Transportation between cities is often done using planes or yachts. There are many people who own their own aircraft and there are also many people who simply purchase tickets for an aircraft when they want to travel between cities. Planes are often stored in hangars on the underside of the module or at the edges of the city. 

Energy

There are two major power sources for the colonies of Venus, nuclear fusion and solar. There are modules which have their own fusion reactor, all older modules had them and some newer ones have. The reactors are seated below the main bulk of the module to keep the rest of the city separated from it in case there’s a failure. 

The hydrogen used is mined off world and transported to Venus. There are mining operations on Mercury and Saturn. 

Solar energy is also an important component to Veuns’s energy grid as well. Many modules have solar cells located on the underside of their fuselages to collect light reflected from the clouds below. There are also power satellites that collect solar energy in orbit and then beam the power down to rectenna arrays floating near the colonies.

Major Habitats

Archipelago

Beacon

The oldest habitat on Venus, the center module of the city, was the first one constructed and the first permanent habitat. Beacon is the capital of the Archipelago and most of the major government institutions are located here as well.

New Miami

One of the largest colonies on Venus, it was founded in the early 23rd century. It is considered one of the financial and business capitals of Venus. 

The Four Sister Cities

The four sister cities were founded in the late 22nd century and they were the first four cities founded after Beacon was established and were considered important to the long-term viability of Venus.

Aether

One of the newest and fastest growing cities, it was founded in the late 23rd century.

Vina del Ciel

An important city on Venus, it is noted for its extensive vineyards and winemaking. 

Pulau Ujong

A major industrial city, it is situated at the edge of Archipelago airspace. 

Merovingian Kingdom

Port Albi

The most important of the Merovingian cities, and it’s the business capital of the kingdom. It is also a major hub of pirate activity.

Curacao

The second largest city in the Merovingian Kingdom.

New France

Effectively a stand-alone arcology. This habitat is considered to be the equivalent to the Palace of Versailles for the Merovingian kingdom. The king and many of his court have residences here. 

Rialto (Protectorate)

A small colony founded by Italians, it consists of only 4 modules. It was once an independent city-state, but due to political instability, it became a protectorate of the Merovingian Kingdom. 

Yarvin (Protectorate)

A neo-reactionary city-state, founded in the early 23rd century. It’s closely allied with the Merovingian Kingdom and has protectorate status. The current ruler of the colony was elected after heavy influence from the Merovingian Kingdom. 

Independents

Zeal

A relatively small colony consisting of only a few modules. The requirements for residency and citizenship are very strict. It is a financial hub for Venus and also the Solar System. It also has the highest GDP per capita in the solar system. 

Corcovado

A colony founded by Brazil, it is home to several notable pirate gangs. It is very corrupt politically speaking.

San Miguel

A colony founded by Spanish speakers. 

Concordia

Concordia practices a heavily participatory form of democracy, referring to itself as a demarchy. Most residents of Concordia live on privately owned yachts and airships, rather than in modular cities. These airships may only hold a single family or they may hold a few thousand people. There are many stand-alone platforms that these familial airships dock at regularly.

Concordia is closely allied with the Archipelago and shared Pillar Networks operate in both regions.

New Phoenix

An independent colony with a notable military. Considered a fair-weather ally to the Archipelago, it has participated in the White Fleet project. 

It is ostensibly a capitalist democracy, but it has become increasing under the thrall of its administrative state. When the city-state was founded, it specialized in manufacturing and heavy industry, but it developed an intransigent regulatory regime. Its industries have been failing as a result. 

Its capitalist economy has been watered down by an overly aggressive administrative state attempting to micromanage the economy. The administrative state is largely immune from the opinions of the voting public. The administrators who hold the most power are outside of the normal democratic process, they cannot be fired or replaced by the elected leaders. Only the figurehead director positions, which are mostly powerless, are answerable to the public. 

The city’s military has been charged with participating in anti-piracy operations, but they will often turn to piracy themselves to pad their own budgets.

Logan Station

One of the older independent colonies on Venus it is also one of the poorer colonies. During its earlier days, the colony was an important industrial hub, but due to bad leadership it has become uncompetitive and has seen its economic fortunes tumble. It is home to many pirates and gangs. A gang called the Logan Station Masters is the most powerful group on the colony and act as the de facto government.