Quentin Landhold

System Name: Quentin
Coordinates: 46.42, 12.52
Star Type: K7II
Position in System: 2
Time to Jump Point: 3.00 days
Population: 1,884,000,000
Percentage and Level of Native Life: Fish

Description

A world of abundant raw materials, from basic industrial metals to rarer radioactive elements and even naturally-formed crystalline minerals useful in various optical products, the first settlers to Quentin were actually employees of Terran corporations hoping to exploit such valuable resources for their ambitious ventures. During the Age of War, many of these industries turned to military applications, and the planet's economy truly thrived, but with such prosperity came the desire by various neighboring governments to secure Quentin and its industries for themselves. Only the rise of the Star League saved Quentin from the worst ravages of war.

The League's dominion, which included Quentin, brought even more wealth to the world when they established a major BattleMech manufacturing plant in the densely industrialized Steel Valley region. This factory ultimately became the centerpiece for Independence Weaponry in the centuries after the League's collapse, and, in its heyday, produced scores of heavy and assault BattleMech designs - including the JagerMech, Victor, and Atlas. Immediately after the collapse of the League, however, forces from the Draconis Combine, Capellan Confederation, and the Federated Suns fought bitterly for control of this important world.

The planet still retains the scars of that fighting in the form of its caustic atmosphere - the result of a massive biological-weapon attack, launched against the world by retreating would-be conquerors in the First Succession War. The majority of the planet's population today resides in and around Steel Valley, on the equatorial continent of Morandi, which is also home to the planetary capital of Prosperity Point. The other planetary continents, El Largo in the northern hemisphere, Gladius in the south, and El Minoro in the southern polar region, are far less populous, due to the extreme cold temperatures in those regions, and the gradual decline of these outlying areas during the last few centuries of war.

Note that while majority of the planet qualifies as tundra, Steel Valley can be quite pleasant in summer.

Although ultimately a victor in Fed-Com Civil War, Quentin suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-planet. Nevertheless, Quentin today is one of the most modern planets in the Inner Sphere and is a leader among Federated Sun worlds. Since 2958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Draconis Combine has proved central to the economic integration of the Addicks PDZ, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the c-bill, in January 2999. At present, Quentin is at the forefront of efforts to develop the Draconis March military capabilities to supplement progress toward an Federated Suns foreign policy.

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Flora

Quentin's flora and fauna are as varied as its range of topography and climate. It has forests of oak and beech in the north and center of Steel Valley, as well as pine, birch, poplar, and willow. The Massif Central has chestnut and beech; the subalpine zone, juniper and dwarf pine. In the south are pine forests and various oaks. Eucalyptus (imported from Murchison) and dwarf pines abound in Provence. Toward the Mahal are olive trees, vines, and mulberry and fig trees, as well as laurel, wild herbs, and the low scrub known as maquis (from which the Fed-Com resistance movement in the Civil War took its name).

Fauna

The Mountain Ranges are the home of the brown bear, chamois, marmot, and alpine hare. In the forests are polecat and marten, wild boar, and various deer. Hedgehog and shrew are common, as are fox, weasel, bat, squirrel, badger, rabbit, mouse, otter, and beaver. The birds of Quentin are largely migratory; warblers, thrushes, magpies, owls, buzzards, and gulls are common. There are storks in Alsace and elsewhere, eagles and falcons in the mountains, pheasants and partridge in the south. Flamingos, terns, buntings, herons, and egrets are found in the Mahal zone. The rivers hold eels, pike, perch, carp, roach, salmon, and trout; lobster and crayfish are found in the Mahal.

Population

Population: 1,884,057,792 (July 3080 est.) planet comparison in the Federated Suns: 50	Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.7% (male 50,996,905/female 50,844,611) 15-64 years: 72.6% (male 400,416,300/female 400,267,675) 65 years and over: 10.7% (male 50,183,382/female 50,265,474)
Median age: total: 36.5 years male: 35.9 years female: 37.1 years	Population growth rate: 0.227% planet comparison in the Federated Suns: 81
Birth rate: 8.99 births/1,000 population planet comparison in the Federated Suns: 111	Death rate: 6.76 deaths/1,000 population planet comparison in the Federated Suns: 44
Net migration rate: 0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population planet comparison in the Federated Suns: 75	Sex ratio: at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: total: 5.35 deaths/1,000 live births planet comparison in the Federated Suns: 185 male: 5.64 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.04 deaths/1,000 live births	Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.96 years planet comparison in the Federated Suns: 52 male: 135.12 years female: 141.05 years
Total fertility rate: 1.14 children born/woman planet comparison in the Federated Suns: 121	Ethnic groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities overseas departments: black, white, mulatto, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian
Religions: Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4% overseas departments: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, pagan	Languages: English 57%, French 43%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) overseas departments: French, Creole patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.1% male: 99% female: 99%	Education expenditures: 5.7% of GDP planet comparison in the Federated Suns: 46

Goverment

Planet name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Quentin local long form: none local short form: Quen	Government type: multiparty democracy
Capital: name: Prosperity Point geographic coordinates: 48 52 N, 2 20 E	National holiday: Fete de la Federation, 14 July (2790); note - although often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 2789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)
Constitution: adopted by referendum 28 September 2958; effective 4 October 2958; amended many times	Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal	Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat
Inner Sphere organization participation: ADB, APEC, BCIE, ICC, IOC, ITUC, WCL, WFTU, WTO	Diplomatic representation in the FS: consulate(s): New Avalon

Administrative divisions:

includes main planet of Quentin plus any orbital habits and such;
Quentin is divided into 18 counties, 5 municipalities, and 2 special municipalities

note: Quentin uses a variety of romanization systems;
while a modified Wade-Giles system still dominates, the city of Prosperity Point has adopted a Pinyin romanization for street and place names within its boundaries;
other local authorities use different romanization systems;
names for administrative divisions that follow are taken from the Quentin Yearbook 3077 published by the Government Information Office in Prosperity Point.

Executive branch:

World Leader: Baron Xavier Steele
chief of state: President ; Vice President
head of government: Premier ; Vice Premier
cabinet: Executive Quentin - (ministers appointed by president on recommendation of premier)
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held 22 March 3080 (next to be held in March 3084);
premier appointed by the president;
vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Quentin (113 seats - 73 district members elected by popular vote, 34 at-large members elected on basis of proportion of planetwide votes received by participating political parties, 6 elected by popular vote among aboriginal populations; to serve four-year terms); parties must receive 5% of vote to qualify for at-large seats
elections: Legislative Quentin - last held 12 January 3080 (next to be held in December 3083 or January 3084) election results: Legislative Quentin - percent of vote by party - KMT 53.5%, DPP 38.2%, NPSU 2.4%, others 1.6%, independents 4.03%; seats by party - KMT 81, DPP 27, NPSU 3, independent 2

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Progressive Party or DPP; KMT (Nationalist Party); Non-Partisan Solidarity Union or NPSU;

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Organization for Quentin Nation Building; Inner Sphere United Formosans for Independence
other: environmental groups; independence movement; various business groups

note: debate on Quentin independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on Quentin;
political liberalization and the increased representation of opposition parties in Quentin's legislature have opened public debate on the planets's national identity;
a broad public consensus has developed that the government enjoys popular sovereignty and - whatever the ultimate outcome regarding unification or independence - that Quentin's people must have the deciding voice;
public opinion polls consistently show a substantial majority of Quentin people supports maintaining Quentin's status quo for the foreseeable future;

Economy

GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.113 trillion planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 20 $2.158 trillion $2.152 trillion	GDP (official exchange rate): $2.635 trillion
GDP - real growth rate: 1.9% planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 169 5.7% 4.8%	GDP - per capita (PPP): $31,900 planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 40 $31,100 $29,500
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.8% industry: 27.8% services: 70.7%	Labor force: 10.85 million planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 45
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5.1% industry: 36.8% services: 78%	Unemployment rate: 9.1% planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 50 7.9%
Population below poverty line: 6.95%	Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 24.1%
Investment (gross fixed): 20.9% of GDP planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 96	Budget: revenues: $1.229 trillion expenditures: $1.445 trillion
Public debt: 79.7.9% of GDP planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 72	Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 55 1.8%
Central bank discount rate: 1.5% planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 130	Commercial bank prime lending rate: 4.06% planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 157
Stock of money: $225.3 trillion planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 9	Stock of quasi money: $618 trillion planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 10
Stock of domestic credit: $677.8 trillion planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 21	Market value of publicly traded shares: $654 trillion planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 16
Agriculture - products: sea food; fish; sea fauna of all types; very small quantities of wheat, corn, potatoes	Industries: electronics, petroleum refining, armaments, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate: -2% planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 160	Electricity - production: 225.3 trillion kWh planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 18
Electricity - consumption: 233 trillion kWh planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 16	Oil - production: 1,306 bbl/day planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 103
Oil - consumption: 935,600 bbl/day planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 21	Oil - exports: 340,200 bbl/day planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 37
Oil - imports: 660,400 bbl/day planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 19	Oil - proved reserves: 1.88 million bbl planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 95
Natural gas - production: 416 million cu m planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 70	Natural gas - consumption: 13.6 trillion cu m planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 41
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 105	Natural gas - imports: 10.9 trillion cu m planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 17
Natural gas - proved reserves: 6.229 trillion cu m planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 86	Current account balance: $25 trillion planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 19
Exports: $255.7 trillion f.o.b. planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 18	Exports - commodities: electronics, flat panels, machinery, metals, textiles, plastics, chemicals, auto parts
Exports - partners: Mostly planets withing four jumps	Imports: $236 trillion f.o.b. planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 18
Imports - commodities: electronics, machinery, petroleum, precision instruments, organic chemicals, metals	Imports - partners: Planets withing two jumps
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $296.4 trillion planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 4	Debt - external: $109.6 trillion planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 31
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: $102.3 trillion planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 31	Stock of direct foreign investment - offworld: $135.3 trillion planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 22

Communications

HyperPulse Generator (HPG) in use: 1 Class A, 1 Class B
Telephones - main lines in use: 35.313 million planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 19	Telephones - mobile cellular: 59.302 million planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 32
Telephone system: general assessment: provides telecommunications service for every business and private need domestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalized planetwide: planet code - 886; satellite stations - 2 numerous submarine cables provide links throughout the planet;	Radio broadcast stations: AM 41, FM 3,500, shortwave 10
Video-Vid broadcast stations: 584 (112 Video-Vid networks with 2,000 digital stations)	Internet planet code: .laquen
Internet hosts: 14.225 million planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 13	Internet users: 42.76 million planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 22

Transportation

Spaceports: 3	Airports: 475 planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 103
Airports - with paved runways: total: 297 over 3,047 m: 54 2,438 to 3,047 m: 58 1,524 to 2,437 m: 61 914 to 1,523 m: 47 under 914 m: 23	Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 178 1,524 to 2,437 m: 112 under 914 m: 66
Heliports: 24	Pipelines: gas 1406 km
Railways: total: 21,588 km planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 81 standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,093 km 1.067-m gauge; 150 km .762-m gauge note: the 150 km of .762 gauge track belongs primarily to Quentin Sugar Corporation and Quentin Forestry Bureau; and some to other entities	Roadways: total: 940,262 km planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 89 paved: 940,262 km (includes 11,258 km of expressways)
Merchant marine: total: 102 planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 50 by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 19, chemical tanker 11, container 24, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 5

Military

Military branches: RSMD Battlemech Garrison, RSMD Navy (includes Marine Corps), RSMD Space Force, RSMD Coast Guard Coast Guard Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command	Military expenditures: 2.2% of GDP planet comparison to the Federated Suns: 75
Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 6,283,134 females age 16-49: 6,098,599	Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 5,106,730 females age 16-49: 5,008,563
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 165,738 female: 154,123

Military service age and obligation:

19-35 years of age for male compulsory military service; service obligation 14 months;
women may enlist; women in Air Force service are restricted to noncombat roles; reserve obligation to age 30 (Army);
the Ministry of Defense has announced plans to implement an incremental voluntary enlistment system beginning 3082, with 10% fewer conscripts each year thereafter, although nonvolunteers will still be required to perform alternative service or go through 3-4 months of military training