YEAR LENGTH: 150 standard days CLUSTER SIZE: `G' (70,000 miles) NUMBER OF ASTERIODS: 250 DISTANCE FROM PRIMARY: 24 million to 65 million miles
This cluster is almost a minature solar system in its own right, consisting of several score `A', `B', and `C' sized earth and water bodies orbiting a central size `C' firebody (Gamma-One); furthermore, all but a few of the asteriods orbit within a common plane. These asteriods orbit at fairly evenly spaced intervals, about 5000 - 8000 miles apart, with five to fifty asteriods sharing the same approximate `orbital track' (there are ten such tracks alltogether). Gamma-Two actually marks the outer boundary of this cluster.
This cluster is a prime focus of Invader activity, second only to Alpha Cluster.
The Invaders stationed here are a nervous bunch, as are the work crews they supervise. This is not so much from fear of a revolt as it is from fear of the Dark Zone surrounding the Maw; Gamma Cluster spends three weeks each local year (about five months) passing through this region of darkness, and the locals are utterly and absolutely convinced that `dark things' visit the clusters asteriods with evil intent during this period - and hang around afterwards. While this may not be true, many of the Invader troops and work crews stationed here do go insane; their equivilent of law enforcement has had to deal with many `serial killer' types down through the decades.
ASTERIOD NAME: Gamma-Two ASTERIOD TYPE: Spherical earthbody ASTERIOD SIZE: `C' DAY LENGTH: 10 hours
At the outer fringe of the cluster (orbital track ten), Gamma-Two is an unihabitable hell-hole, a three hundred mile diamter rock with a poisonous atmosphere and a surface half covered by a sea of acid. The chemical reactions in Gamma-Two's atmosphere and surface are such that the planetiod actually glows slightly, making it the second brightest object in the cluster. Despite these drawbacks, the Invaders are intently interested in Gamma-Two, having obtained some absolutely fascinating chemical compounds from here, many of which are usefull in alchemical formula. No less than three Invader space stations orbit Gamma-Two.
ASTERIOD NAME: Gamma-Three ASTERIOD TYPE: Spherical Waterbody ASTERIOD SIZE: `C' (250 mile diameter) DAY LENGTH: 10 hours
Set in orbital track five, Gamma-Three is a pure water world, possessing a breathable atmosphere, but having no land whatsoever. Sadly, it is also devoid of all but the most rudimentary aquatic life; only a few species of seaweed, worms, and the like live in these waters. The Invaders do maintain a floating base here; a sort of punishment post for their less than ideal troops.
ASTERIOD NAME: Gamma-Four ASTERIOD TYPE: Irregular earthbody ASTERIOD SIZE: `B' (80 by 70 by 70 miles) DAY LENGTH: 8 hours
Like Gamma-Three, this asteriod is in orbital track five. Unfortunately Gamma Four is almost utterly lacking in water (all the water on its surface would barely fill a large swimming pool), and as a result its surface is largely barren. Gamma-Four is heavily laced with mining tunnels and is a prime focus of Invader activity.
ASTERIOD NAME: Gamma-Five ASTERIOD TYPE: Spherical Earthbody ASTERIOD SIZE: `B' 80 mile diameter DAY LENGTH: 12 hours
Set in orbital track four, Gamma Five has two large lakes, furthermore, it is about half covered with forest and farmland. Being the most habitable of the group is the site of the local command base for the cluster. Gamma-Five is a major Invader shipbuilding facility (its forest was planted to provide wood for spelljammer construction).
