The Observist: Crusader's Moons, Stanton

Greetings, traveler! With millions of sights to see in the universe, the team at THE OBSERVIST is here to make sure you get the best traveling experience possible.

Stanton System

Discovered in 2851, this system quickly turned into an industrial powerhouse after its four planets were auctioned off to massive corporations. The system’s second planet, a low mass gas giant, was originally considered to be a ‘tough sell’ by the UEE. Rumors at the time indicated that they had even toyed with bundling it together with one of the other planets. However, it was eventually bought by Crusader Industries, as the planet’s iconic floating platforms, originally built by the Navy, provided a unique opportunity to construct large-scale commercial transport ships in an atmosphere. At the time of the purchase, the Terra Gazette called the Stanton II sale the most expensive real estate deal ever done that didn’t involve any real land.

That statement wasn’t completely true. Included in the purchase of the gas giant now known as Crusader were its three moons. No one thought much of the moons when the planet was purchased, but that didn’t stop Crusader CEO Kelly Caplan from devising a plan to utilize them. Encouraging travel on the company’s line of starliners, she wanted tourists to flock to Crusader’s floating platforms for the unique experience of standing in the upper atmosphere of a gas giant, and she hoped to convince them a trip to the planet’s moons would also be worthwhile.

Caplan also let it be known that Crusader welcomed outpost development on these moons. Since space on the floating platforms was extremely limited, they encouraged companies to set up shop on solid ground as another way to increase traffic to their part of the system. Companies needed only to adhere to strict environmental standards meant to preserve each moon’s natural beauty. Many companies found the rules to be too onerous and decided against establishing any operations.

To further entice visitors and companies to Crusader’s moons, Caplan gave them names everyone would recognize — Cellin, Daymar and Yela. The names were taken from characters in a famous 25th century children’s story, A Gift for Baba, a longtime favorite of Caplan’s youth which she in turn had recently begun to read to her own children. The names turned out to be perfect, as each moon had a distinct environment that corresponded to its namesake’s temperament. It also didn’t hurt that the story’s tale of traveling through space fit in with Crusader’s corporate ethos.

Though Caplan’s plan didn’t populate the moons as much as she hoped, several outposts were built and still dot the moons’ surfaces today. Some outposts are abandoned, but many still do brisk business and need haulers to deliver supplies and snag outbound shipments. Yet, the team at THE OBSERVIST doesn’t think that outposts are the reason to visit Crusader’s moons. No, it’s these moons’ stunning pristine vistas, which feature the beautiful, swirling gas giant looming above that make a visit to any of Crusader’s moons memorable.

Cellin (Stanton 2a)

Cellin is Crusader’s closest satellite. Visitors to the moon are greeted by the massive gas giant sitting prominently in the sky above. The view alone will take your breath away and makes for some truly spectacular photo opportunities.

If you can take your eyes off the sky, then you’ll notice that Cellin’s flat surface is punctuated by dormant volcanoes. It’s from these geological features that the moon got its name. Cellin, the youngest sibling in A Gift for Baba, is known for simmering with anger over the slightest offense. Thankfully, the moon’s volcanoes aren’t as easily agitated as its namesake. There have been no known eruptions since the moon was first visited, but scientists continue to carefully monitor it for volcanic activity. Visitors are warned to be careful as the steam that vents from the surface’s many rifts and geysers is extremely hot.

Currently, hydroponic outposts comprise the main industry on Cellin. Both Terra Mills and Rayari have established outposts to experiment with the moon’s soil, in the hopes of discovering new ways to use it to their advantage. The unique tart, purple berry that was introduced into Gold ‘N Nut cereal last year was developed exclusively at the Terra Mills outpost here!

Daymar (Stanton 2b)

Daymar’s mountainous surface creates wonderful, often wide canyons ideal for exploring on an open canopy craft. But be careful, as many of the canyons twist and turn in ways that may take you in a different direction than you expected. That’s a fitting outcome though, since the moon was named for the middle brother in A Gift for Baba, who has a penchant in the story for getting lost.

Crusader’s second moon has the most resources of the three, which attracted the attention of Shubin, ArcCorp and independent miners, all of whom still have established operations on the planet. Yet thanks to the isolated nature of the moon’s valuable ore and Crusader’s protective policies, most of Daymar remains untouched by industry. Visitors are encouraged to take one of the many rover tours that are offered along Dunlow Ridge or out to Wolf Point for some spectacular views of the moon’s geographical features. The higher-end tours will often include picnics with fresh produce grown right on the surface at the Bountiful Harvest Hydroponic farm.

Despite all its beauty, visitors to Daymar should expect to get dirty. The moon is known for its fine sand whipped up by the wind whistling through its canyons. Be prepared to brush yourself off before entering your ship or make peace with the fact that you’ll be finding it everywhere long after leaving.

Yela (Stanton 2c)

The third and final Crusader moon is Yela. The moon’s water-ice crust is why it was named after the oldest sibling in A Gift for Baba, who was known for her cool and calculating manner. You can clearly see this ice crust on certain sections of the moon, while other parts are dominated by a typical mixture of soil and snow. The temperatures are quite bracing here, so plan to bring a thermos of tea or a nip of something stronger to help stay warm.

Yela’s surface has vast mountain ranges that provide spectacular views of the surrounding area. These mountains funnel the cold wind onto the moon’s icy plains and send wisps of snow and ice particles across the sky. Once you look up to track these cold clouds crossing the sky, it’ll be hard to look away.

Encircling Yela is a gorgeous ring made of various particulates and asteroids. Its blueish-green color is particularly apparent once night falls. Plan your visit right to enjoy an unforgettable view of the ring and a brightly illuminated Crusader sitting in the sky.

Finally, open canopy racers flock to the plains of Yela due to its jagged terrain. Companies have seized on this trend by constructing race courses around the moon for people to test their skills. According to some, the colder temperatures help the pilots push their vehicles harder without overheating components, which allows for faster performances. Please note that these courses do not have personnel or facilities on site, so you are racing at your own risk.

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Stanton System

Cellin (Stanton 2a)

Daymar (Stanton 2b)

Yela (Stanton 2c)

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