The Bazaar

[Sjet]

The Bazaar

There have been places like this through out time: places were trade between disparate and waring Empires could be achieved without interfering with the status quo. The deserts of Saharan Africa were a prime example of this, or the planet of Eden set up by the United Federation of Planets in the 23rd Century. Since then other such sights have tried to attain this level of infamy and fame, but few have been able to attain the grandeur of The Bazaar.

Before the Dominion War the planet of LV-779, a rocky world in the inner edge Goldilocks Zone of its parent star, was a none entity. A number of interstellar empires had glanced towards this world for colonisation purposes over the centuries, but its arid climate and near hostile atmosphere made it labour intensive to terraform. Sand dunes, rocky expanses, and a banded glass desert make up the local topography. The creation of the glass desert at the planets equator produced a crude but breathable atmosphere, nudging this desolate and lifeless rock into the lower range of the M Classification.

With the advent of war how ever, it became a smugglers paradise. Gun runners, bootleggers and refugees from the war zone fled to LV-779: choosing the harsh climates of the desert to the whimsy of fate. Here the foundations for The Bazaar were laid down: agreements were struct, concords were finalised, and a loose trade alliance of smugglers and independent operators began to call this world their home. Warehouses, show rooms, supply depots and ship yards were set up on the surface in the shadows of the glassy cliffs of the Band Desert.

Then came the Shoal. With high warp speeds now dangerously impossible, and the threat of local navigation hazards, The Bazaar turned from a port in storm to a home away from home for many of its regular visitors. What had once been a area of space that could be crossed in two days at warp seven, became a two month wide crawl: and half way through lay The Bazaar, a place to rest, trade news on the local spacial anomalies, and trade goods that no tax inspector would ever see.

Anything can be found in in The Bazaar, from spare intermix chambers for Federation starships, to prohibited substances like ketracel white and Substance D, even the trafficking of live sentients. There is no law on The Bazaar, no Federation oversight or Cardassian Union picket ship. Law and order is maintained by the Grand Master and his Guards, and their rule is absolute and final, with the tacit approval of both Orion Syndicate and the Ferengi Grey Market. No one knows the identity of the Grand Master, but it a well documented fact that his Guards are led by a Jem’Hadar by the name of Eighth.

The United Federation of Planets rates The Bazaar as a hazard to shipping, and is on the list of band planets for the Starfleet Merchant Marine.
The Cardassian Union, to this day, refuses to acknowledge the existence of this world so close to their vested interests, though it would be noted they have increased spending on rebuilding their navy to combat ‘a piracy problem’.
This guide book, on the other hand, would point that most tourists to the Bazaar have often reported they’ve never seen anything quite like it, and upon leaving they have a new appreciation for their lives.

As is to be expected tours to the The Bazaar are booked a year in advance, so book your safari into the Shoal today at your nearest TacNet kiosk today!

“Out And About For 10 Credits a Day: The Perseus Arm & Its Hidden Wonders”
Europan Tourist Press
2378

[Nevian]

Grass desert? Banned or prohibited port by the UFP?

[Sjet]

It's a pirates paradise, my own take on Mos Eisley and Tortuga. A place where the rouges of the Alpha and Beta Quadrant can meet and trade as civilised folk, whilst doing uncivilised things. Should make for an interesting plot if the only place to get the replacement parts the station needs (or had, a thought there.).

And to answer a question asked the Tim Allen did bring two large anti matter storage pods to the station, but their just pods: containers. The M/AM reactor the station uses for power has been cold steel for years, and it was turned off in a hurry and poorly moth balled: would you want to turn that thing back on without a healthy supply of spare parts?

And look on the bright side: The Bazaar sounds a little like Vulcan, Sai'tan should feel right at home there.