Template:Branch-Gov-Project The Hapan Outpost Project (HOP) was a major operation that can be associated with multiple facets – exploration, colonization, development and security. On the surface, it was the largest colonization project in the history of the Hapes Consortium. But the lasting effects of HOP would be the expansion of the Consortium’s footing to the far reaches of the Hapes Cluster, establishing security and a firm foundation for future developments.
Background
The Hapan Outpost Project began as a vision by King Jessy James I in the year 4032. As news of the Galactic Civil War intensified, King James proactively sought to strengthen the Consortium’s defenses by expanding its control to every corner of the Hapes Cluster. He looked beyond the temperate worlds of the Cluster, where the Hapan population was densely isolated. Instead, it was his vision to establish a footing for the Consortium at every major planetary body in the Cluster.
Jessy James charged his newly formed Ministry of Industry, and the first appointed Minister of Industry, Ariath Windcloud with the task of organizing a coalition to complete this major operation in as short amount of time as possible. With the help of Prime Minister Zell Jaak, Minister Windcloud developed a blueprint for a colonial settlement. The settlement, or outpost, would provide facilities for scientific research and exploration, as well as defensive installations. With this blueprint in hand, Minister Windcloud sought out assistance from the other regional Archons – Lord Alex Tylger, the Archon of the Rim Worlds and the wookie Mythathiel, the Archon of the Interior Region, to oversee three teams to simultaneous seek and colonize unpopulated or sparsely populated worlds.
Phases
Template:Portal-MoInd-Projects Minister Windcloud divided the project in three phases to maximum the efficiency of charting and mapping the worlds to be developed, gathering the necessary resources and labor for the project, and the actual colonization itself.
Phase I
Phase I consisted of the charting of the unpopulated or sparsely populated worlds in the Hapes Cluster. Minister Windcloud sought the assistance of the Royal Hapan Navy for this task, and utilized their expertise in reconnaissance missions to gather data in a general census of the Cluster. The information that was reported back was used by Minister Windcloud to formulate a highly-specific “attack” strategy. Mapping of the systems was crucial, in order to maximize the efforts of the builders and resources, while minimizing the time required in travel and materials hauling.
Phase II
Phase II, which operated simultaneously with Phase I, involved the assistance of the Royal Hapan Support Corps. Their task was to haul the necessary resources to specific staging points in the capital systems of each Cluster region – Lorell in the Rifle Worlds, Alsace in the Rim Worlds, and Abaem in the Interior Region – plus the Hapan Capital System. HOP utilized the extensive labor of the Hapan nationalized corporation, Ahketon Mining Corporation, which was operating in the Tirsa system, in order to provide the materials for the project. The labor force required for HOP was significant, but was easily met as a call for pioneers and prospective entrepreneurs was issued throughout the Consortium.
Phase III
Phase III was the actual colonization phase. Armed with the outpost blueprints, materials and labor, colonizers gathered at the staging points and dispersed to the selected worlds. Minister Windcloud and Lord Tylger oversaw the operations in the Rifle and Rim Worlds, respectively. Lord Gane Lant, who became the Archon of the Interior Region in the midst of the project, and the Royal Hapan Marines assisted in the operations in the Interior Region. In a span of six months, the Hapan Outpost Project was completed, with the very last outpost completed around May 4033.
Aftermath
In June 4033, an official press conference was held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry, Pinnacle Star, in order to announce the end of the Hapan Outpost Project. It was deemed a complete success by Minister Windcloud, announcing that the Consortium had established its influence throughout the far reaches of the Cluster. Lord Tylger praised the project as a great achievement for the Hapan scientific community. The efforts of those that participated in the Hapan Outpost Project were rewarded by King Jessy James with medals of construction. Minister Windcloud, for his leadership in the project, was granted the Golden Wings Medal.
To this day, the results of HOP are still significantly felt. Numerous scientific and technologic advancements were achieved through the research done at the outlying worlds of the Hapes Cluster, including developments in survival technology in harsh atmospheric conditions and research in the exotic flora and fauna of the Cluster. Several colonies itself have begun to expand, and more and more Hapan pioneers and entrepreneurs are seeking new challenges in relocating to the recently colonized worlds. More significantly, however, the project fulfilled the vision of King James, by providing a sense of security in solidifying the borders of the Cluster, where the Consortium’s presence can now be felt at every corner of Cluster space.
References
Completion of the Hapan Outpost Project – announced on the HNN
