View source for California Nebula

[[File:California-Nebula.png|thumb|300px|California Nebula]]
The '''California Nebula''' is a [[nebula]] approximately 1,000 ly away from [[Sol]]. It is lit by Menkib, a Class O star 1,244 ly away from Sol and 200 ly outside the nebula. The nebula itself is approximately 100 ly in diameter, and another nebula, [[NGC 1333]], can be found below it.

HIP 12424, a small [[Empire|Imperial]] mining system on the fringe of the [[Core Systems]], was once the closest human colony to the California Nebula at 950 ly away. Since late 3302, the [[Alliance]] has made a considerable infrastructure investment in the California Nebula, establishing numerous scientific facilities there along with outposts to link the region to the Core Systems.

== History ==
=== The Pharmasapien expedition ===
The [[corporation]] [[Pharmasapien]] deployed a number of deep-space probes to the California Nebula in 3113 in an effort to find possible alien technology. Readings from the probes were apparently promising enough for Pharmasapien to infiltrate its rival, [[Azimuth Biochemicals]], and hijack the exploration [[megaship]] [[Hesperus]] after it embarked from Li Chul on an expedition to the [[Barnard's Loop]] region in mid-3113. All of the Azimuth personnel aboard the Hesperus were killed by Pharmasapien sleeper agents, with the exception of a small group who escaped in the [[Proteus]], a secondary exploration craft. The Pharmasapien agents rerouted the Hesperus towards the California Nebula, but it never arrived, as a surviving member of Azimuth's security team released toxic gas throughout the megaship. The Hesperus came to rest in Perseus Dark Region KC-V c2-2, and Pharmasapien seemingly made no further attempts to investigate the California Nebula.

=== Alliance interest and development ===
The California Nebula first became of interest to the galactic community in June 3302 with the discovery of a [[Thargoid Barnacle]] site on planet C 6 in the California Sector DL-Y d4 system by CMDR Wooblytickle.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/57555e7a9657ba916d671d92 GalNet: Freelance Report: Fresh Fruit Meets Bitter Harvest]</ref> Additional sites were subsequently found elsewhere in the system, as well as in California Sector BA-A e6 and California Sector LC-V c2-10.

In October 3302, the [[Alliance]] deployed a flotilla to the California Nebula to study the Barnacles as well as a number of [[Fungal Life|fungal]] structures called [[Bark Mounds]] that were discovered on the fourth planet of California Sector BA-A e6. On October 13, in a controversial move, the Alliance announced plans to build a research outpost there to continue studying the structures. The campaign was successful, and Mic Turner Base became the first colony in the California Nebula.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/57ffa0799657ba41393e6062 Community Goal: Alliance Outpost in the California Nebula]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/58121e669657baae4fb5e602 Galactic News: Alliance Campaign Concludes]</ref>

The Alliance began expanding its presence in the California Nebula on December 22, with a second campaign personally overseen by [[Alliance Prime Minister]] [[Edmund Mahon]]. This resulted in the construction of Mahon Research Base in HIP 18077, intended to serve as a center for xenobiological and astronomical research.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/585bf2dc9657baeb212dbb59 Community Goals: Alliance to Build New Outpost]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/586e658f9657ba316ad4e04e Galactic News: Alliance Campaign Concludes]</ref>

On April 11, 3303, the [[Asteroid Base]] Darwin Research Facility was quietly opened in the California Sector BV-Y c7 system.<ref>[[Elite Dangerous: Horizons]] - 2.3: The Commanders</ref>

A third Alliance planetary outpost, Redmarch Laboratory, was opened in the California Sector JH-V c2-12 system on April 22, 3303. This prompted speculation that the [[Federation]] and [[Empire]] might eventually be drawn to the region to contest the Alliance's claim.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/58f9e0e1ac70587e7d2e87e4 Galactic News: Alliance Continues California Nebula Expansion]</ref>

The Alliance announced another outpost campaign on May 5, 3303, this time focusing on the California Sector HR-W d1-28 system, resulting in the construction of Ford Research Laboratory.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/590b43829eae423404361ccf Community Goal: Alliance Outpost Campaign]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5914768cffec215865005701 Galactic News: Alliance Campaign Concludes]</ref>

=== Strengthening the supply line ===
With the number of colonies in the California Nebula continuing to grow, it became necessary to establish a stronger supply line to support the outposts. On November 10, 3303, the Spinward Marches Alliance Concern launched a successful campaign to build an agricultural facility in the Synuefai LX-R d5-28 system, midway between the nebula and the Core Systems.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a046156cd1bcd605d084ddc Community Goal: Feeding California]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a0daa20fe8db84ebd520cfe Galactic News: California Campaign Concludes]</ref>

Despite the exclusively scientific focus of the Alliance colonies, however, the California Nebula was nearly overwhelmed by a sudden wave of crime in the final weeks of 3303. Five [[megaship]]s traveling in the vicinity of the California Nebula were raided and left adrift by pirates and terrorists: Aquarius Class Tanker WKS-559 in California Sector BA-A e6, Dionysus Class Agricultural Vessel FGK-342 in Synuefai LX-R d5-28, Gordon Class Bulk Cargo Ship FPR-42 in HIP 18077, Samson Class Bulk Cargo Ship AK-302 in California Sector BV-Y c7, and Thomas Class Bulk Cargo Ship KS-92 in California Sector JH-V c2-12. With the Nebula on the verge of being completely cut off, the Alliance launched a massive rescue effort to eliminate the criminals and retrieve victims' escape pods on December 29. While the operation succeeded, Alliance believed a larger threat loomed on the horizon. It was unknown where the criminals had originated from, but Alliance intelligence surmised that they had been driven out of their home systems by an unidentified second faction of agitators.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a3ceddbf2f337081c104768 Community Goal: Rescue Operation in the California Nebula]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a4e555b16547567fa0c61d6 Galactic News: Alliance Campaign Concludes]</ref>

In the wake of the conflict, the Alliance drew up plans to install a new station along the route to the California Nebula to further bridge the gap between it and the Core Systems.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a73324ae0c5d750f8229b51 GalNet: Alliance Initiative]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a7c786cb2837d3bb878893b GalNet: Alliance Campaign Comes to an End]</ref> The resulting [[Orbis]] station, California Gateway, was opened in the Synuefai EB-R c7-5 system on February 27, 3304.

A campaign to construct another connecting outpost was launched on July 26, 3304 and overseen by the Turner Research Group. MEL 22 Sector GM-V c2-8 was chosen as the future site of the station.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b59de8ad567cc2cfc588865 GalNet: Alliance Initiative (July 26, 2018)]</ref> The campaign successfully concluded on August 2, 3304,<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5b631e1b3fe0825ca008ffdd GalNet: Alliance Initiative Concludes]</ref> and Viridian Orbital commenced operations on September 13, 3304.

=== Kumo Crew expansion ===
At the behest of Pirate King [[Archon Delaine]], [[Kumo Crew]] partnered with [[Kavanagh Spaceframes Ltd]] on April 15, 3307 to launch a campaign to construct five new [[Orbis]] [[starport]]s across the galaxy to stimulate trade. One of the five systems targeted for development was HIP 18390, in the vicinity of the California Nebula.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/607829bacb6b0e2b0577a60e GalNet: Archon Delaine Campaign to Build New Starports]</ref> The galactic community responded enthusiastically to the request, ensuring that all five starports would be built.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/6081598334917a484f12b3ed GalNet: Archon Delaine Starport Campaign Concludes]</ref> On April 29, 3307, the starport California Freeport opened in HIP 18390 under the control of the Kumo Council. Notably, Sirius Atmospherics and Sirius Mining, two divisions of [[Sirius Corporation]], were also present in the system, fueling speculation that Archon Delaine may have received financial support for his starport project from Sirius.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/608bf1dcfa046a4b415de708 GalNet: Kumo Crew Starports Open for Business]</ref>

[[Thargoid]]s [[Incursion|invaded]] HIP 18390 and damaged California Freeport on May 13, 3307, part of a larger offensive that affected nine other systems. Another Kumo Crew starport, Fort Xeno in HIP 62154 in the [[Coalsack Nebula]], was also one of the victims of this latest assault in the [[Second Thargoid War]]. Archon Delaine reacted with fury to the news, and vowed to take revenge.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/609d356236963173f4177e37 GalNet: Mass Thargoid Strike – Emergency Declared]</ref> Notably, the incursion in HIP 18390 marked the first time the Thargoids had targeted a human colony in the California Nebula, and also the first time Thargoid ships had been reported in the region.

== List of Inhabited Systems ==
=== California Nebula Colonies ===
As of May 20, 3307, the California Nebula contains 7 inhabited systems with 7 ports, and has a total population of 569,245.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1"
! System
! Allegiance
! Stations and Surface Ports
|-
| California Sector BA-A e6
| Alliance
| Mic Turner Base
|-
| California Sector BV-Y c7
| Alliance
| Darwin Research Facility
|-
| California Sector CQ-Y c5
| Independent
| The Quarry
|-
| California Sector HR-W d1-28
| Alliance
| Ford Research Laboratory
|-
| California Sector JH-V c2-12
| Alliance
| Redmarch Laboratory
|-
| HIP 18077
| Alliance
| Mahon Research Base
|-
| HIP 18390
| Independent
| California Freeport
|}

=== Connecting Outposts ===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1"
! System
! Allegiance
! Stations and Surface Ports
|-
| MEL 22 Sector GM-V c2-8
| Alliance
| Viridian Orbital
|-
| Synuefai EB-R c7-5
| Alliance
| California Gateway
|-
| Synuefai LX-R d5-28
| Alliance
| New Beaumont Dock<br/>Perseus Hold
|}

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
California-Nebula.png|California Nebula
Inside-California-Nebula.png|Inside the California Nebula
California-Nebula-2.png|California Nebula
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

[[ru:Туманность Калифорния]]
[[Category:Galaxy]]
[[Category:Nebulae]]