Allegiance: Morningstar Constellation
Primary Languages: Cantonese, English, French
Population: 584,634

Octavia is the largest aerostat on Venus in terms of population, and only second in physical size to the Shack (an aerostat made singularly for the construction of other aerostats).

Maintaing an altitude of roughly 55 kilometers above the northern highlands of Ishtar Terra, Octavia resembles an immense, mushroom shaped skyscraper. Roughly 6.5 kilometers tall, ringed at its center by four radial outrigger spars, each ending in a stablising gas envelope filled with helium. The cap of the mushroom is a hard, translucent dome than provides an open park like space while also serving as the main gas envelope (oxygen, which is much lighter than the CO2 making up most of Venus’ atmosphere, is the main source of buoyancy).

Octavia is fluted from top to bottom and a huge counterweight tethered to the bottom of the structure prevents the habitat from capsizing during the storms. Atmospheric craft and shuttles from orbit may land at flight decks near the base of the outriggers, while rail launchers assist in sending freight to orbit for later capture and transportation.

Living in Octativa

Octavia is the only true cosmopolitan city on Venus and its citizens love it for this. A thiriving metropolis in the skies, beautiful sunsets and (mostly) wonderful weather. Unlike most habitats on other planets, aerostats (and particularly Octavia) enjoy wides open spaces -it is actually a benefit as the more air within the aerostat the easier it is to maintain buoyancy. Octavia’s design was intentionally large to provide comfort and impress visitors to Venus. The aerostat has extensive housing and entertainment facilities for tourists, including its two nearby cloud diving nets and elaborate and somewhat fanciful docks for passenger airships, rotors and balloons.

Diplomatic ties

The city also functions as the designated capital of the Morningstar Constellation and hosts embassies from the Planetary Consortium and Lunar-Lagrange Alliance, as well as smaller embassies and office from most major Hypercorporations and major outer system polities.

Government of Octavia

Octavia is goverened by the Mayor, Halis Sapien, the charismatic and genderless individual who was one of the major members of the coalition that created the Morningstar Constellation. Halis is exceptionally popular and loved and admired by almost everyone on Octavia and has no major rivals.

Outside of Octavia Halis has a mixed reputation. Not everyone was happy leaving the PC behind (and indeed some aerostats are still PC controlled). Others see Halis as a Statesperson who is helping lead Venus on its own path.