deserts would be irrigated and made arable, rocky shores and open plains would be turned into leisure and sports complexes. Wildlife would be introduced to game parks, if no natural wildlife was already present. New cities would be built. New industries would leap into existence. Prosperity would be guaranteed.
In the modern age, the developed Aubrac has become the dynamic heart of the Archipelago’s booming silicon economy. The various huge IT corporations which now administer the islands are the engine-house of this prosperity, dominated by the creators and inventors of operating and networking systems. From the forest of gleaming towers, campuses and development facilities, all wrapped in landscaped parkland, the hidden infrastructure of today’s world is reliably routed through a system of hi-def optical cables and digital links.
From Aubrac arise all IT service and support facilities, unified communications setups, telepresence opportunities, content delivery facilitators, troubleshooting guerrilla squads, web exchange activists, borderless optical networking, application management, corporate partnership consultancies, vid-conferencing suites, prestige data centre availabilities, immersive operability and anti-operability, gaming interfaces, collaboration experiences and implementative facedowns.
Many of the thirty-five Aubracian islands have been ecologically systematized and industrially managed as planned by the IT companies, but a few of the smaller islands were parcelled up into smaller tracts to be developed by private enterprise as dwellings. The corporate standards of infrastructure remain on these residence islands, with total commute accessibility to the hubs, digital holism and full leisure gateways.
One of the largest Aubracian islands, Trellin, has been redesigned as a tourist and visitor attraction, based on its large sweeps of natural rainforest (fully managed, but reconfigured as a wilderness activity interface area), and the spectacular cliffs overlooking the Midway Sea. There are no zoning controls or plans on Trellin, because of the input of many entrepreneurs from the distant island of Prachous. These powerful Prachoit families are the principal interests behind the booming economy of the Aubrac Chain. Their luxurious homes are of course not accessible to visitors, but some of them may be glimpsed from afar.
For the intending visitor, certain preparations are necessary.
Firstly, a minimum amount of convertible currency must be imported to the Aubrac Chain and spent while there. The local currency is of course the Aubracian talent. There is no official exchange rate with the Archipelagian simoleon, so currency should be bought before leaving home.
Full travel and medical insurance is obligatory, and this must include provision for funeral and crematorium expenses, and repatriation costs for relatives and other travelling companions. Every traveller, no matter what age, must be insured in this way. There are strict shelterate laws, and unless a work permit has been obtained in advance, no one is admitted to the Aubrac Chain without a recognized round-trip or return voyage certificate. Anti- importunation regulations are the strictest in the Archipelago. Erotomanes must be licensed in advance, but not all local values are acceptable on Aubrac — visitors should check with their home Seigniory before setting out.
Finally, some rather more informal words of advice to all visitors who, in knowledge of the history of the Aubrac Chain, might have residual fears about the possible danger of a thryme sting.
Here we use information from the
Workers around the Aubrac silicon lagoon are amongst the highest paid and best treated in the world. They do, though, suffer an abnormally high mortality rate, and in most cases the cause of premature death is not revealed.
It is against Aubracian law to be anywhere at any time without a supply of antidote serum.
All depictions or descriptions or even mentions of deadly insects are prohibited by law. The word ‘thryme’ may not be used (and is not used in the
There is no such thing as burial of the dead anywhere in the Aubrac Chain: all dead bodies, human or animal, are invariably cremated. Organic waste is incinerated. Sewage is subject to intensive reprocessing.
A full medical examination (including in some cases exploratory surgery) is mandatory for all visitors, not only on entry to Aubrac, but also on departure.
All physical ailments which appear while in Aubrac, however mild, chronic or medically describable, will invoke deportation orders from the authorities, and these are invariably carried out.
Although our readers will draw their own conclusions, we should add in fairness that the Aubrac Chain remains one of the most intriguing and interesting destinations anywhere in our Archipelago. The swimming is superb and the sea is clean, there is no better cuisine anywhere else in the islands, all hotels operate at the highest international standards, uninterrupted web access is guaranteed . . . and the golf courses, our researchers have reported, are incomparable. After a successful putt, though, visitors are not allowed to remove their golf-balls by hand from the cup. Automatic ball-retrieval devices, or trained staff, are always on hand to be of service.
Cheoner
RAIN SHADOW
From File No: KS 49284116, Criminal Records Office, Cheoner Municipal People’s Court.
My name is KERITH SINGTON I was born on the island of CHEONER, in the town of the same name. I am male. I am twenty-seven years old. I fit the description of tall, well-built, dark-haired, blue-eyed, no extraneous facial hair. I walk with a slight limp but have no other disabilities.
This interview is taking place in the offices of the Policier Seignioral, in Cheoner Town. Serjeant A is my interviewing officer. Caporal B is attending as Independent Policier Witness. The interview is being recorded and will be transcribed by Serjeant A.
I have no complaints about the policier treatment of me since my arrest.
I am not legally represented, but I was offered the opportunity of being represented
I understand that I have been charged with murder and that this statement may be produced in court as evidence.
I have been asked to describe my personal background before I was arrested.
I was born on RAIN SHADOW [Cheoner]. I had two brothers and one sister, but one of my brothers died when I was still little. I went to school in the big town on Rain Shadow [Cheoner Town]. I was very happy indeed at school, and I think I did well. I was always popular with the other boys. All my teachers spoke well of me, and they are willing to come to court to give evidence on my behalf.
I did have some trouble with older boys, who were always picking on me. I deny that I got into trouble. I deny that I was accused of stealing things from three other students and one of the teachers. I deny that I was involved in the incident in which another boy had to go to hospital. I deny that I had to leave the school early.
My mum and dad always loved me, although after dad went to live on RED JUNGLE [Muriseay] I didn’t see much of him any more.
After I left school I spent a lot of time looking for a job, but no one would employ me. In the end I got a job as a deckhand on one of the ferries that travels between Rain Shadow and Red Jungle. I liked this job but it never paid me much money. I used to do odd jobs to earn extra money. I deny that I was involved in any crimes. I do admit that I would sometimes take messages for other people, or carry things for passengers on the ferry if they didn’t want to have their luggage searched. I deny that I made any money doing this. I agree that I earned extra cash from time to time in ways I am not willing to describe.
