My thoughts so far!<br/><br/><strong>1) Shelter</strong>: I LOVE the idea of a prisoner on the landing shuttle asking how they are supposed to keep warm and the warden tossing a book at her feet with the title “How to Make an Igloo” in large, happy letters.<br/>That said, I like the idea of the cubes too; they're future-y and have neat synergy with the suits. With the Cubes, I also like the idea of there being a fixed amount of cubes. The bare minimum required to house the entire populace with eight-ten inmates per cube (a recommended use which is not respected). Having a cube is a status symbol, something you earn by working your way up the social ladder. Those higher on the social ladder will hoard cubes, keeping five or six for themselves forcing underlings to go fifteen or twenty to a cube or even sleep outside.<br/><br/><strong>2) Suits</strong>: I'm more in favor of the nanotech idea. I'm imagining something that's less of a suit and more of a thin layer of nanites that gets sprayed onto the skin and functions like a suit. I'm in favor of having the 'suits' be as minimal as possible, just trapping body heat and identifying the owner.<br/><br/><strong>3) Mining Equipment</strong>: I vote for the 'mixed' approach. More on this later in section 6.<br/><br/><strong>4) Fuel</strong>: Wind energy is a great idea! It also makes a prisoner who knows how to service the turbines incredibly important.<br/><br/><strong>5) Facilities</strong>: As minimal as possible. Everything the prisoners have is money out of the Empire's pocket. I imagine some kind of chemical shower (water would freeze) is provided near the landing site. This would be a single Cube with four spigots. And the Wind Farm. Beyond this, its whatever the inmates have managed to construct themselves.<br/><br/><strong>6) Politics</strong>: This is where I have ideas >:) SO, the idea that's been floating around in my head is that there is a settlement of sorts near the landing site. This settlement has a majority of the Cubes, the shower facility, some high tech mining equipment (lasers that melt ice or rock but don't effect biologicals) and the wind farm. This settlement is also strictly hierarchical, ruled by a Queen of sorts who has managed to claw her way to the top with force or by making the right alliances. Wanting to take advantage of the benefits of the settlement means submitting the the rules and starting at the bottom (or trying to usurp power for yourself). Of course, there is safety in the system. You don't have to worry about someone stabbing you with an icicle while you sleep (or, if you do there are ways to make yourself safer). You always know where you stand. Also, there is safety in numbers; the Settlement stands together.<br/>I imagine there are those who get fed up, slight the wrong person, or just don't want to live in that kind of society. They have the choice of abandoning the 'comforts' of the settlement to live On the Ice. A loose society exists out there. Most of the inmates are fending for themselves but a small, shaky alliance exists. The general rules are very basic: 1) you keep what you can defend, 2) the Market is neutral ground. The Market being a kind of trading post where interested Icers can come together and trade, talk, or plan. Occasionally, a charismatic inmate will unite some of the Icers to raid the Settlement, steal supplies, Cubes, or precious precious ore. Much more rarely, an Icer chief will try and lead a coup of the Settlement.<br/>This might be too complex, but I like the idea of competing social structures. Its very Lord of the Flies-y<br/><br/><strong>7) Native Life</strong>: I really like the idea of native life. Perhaps this is my character's interests coming through. As a biologist, I imagine Kimb would be intensely interested in the native life. Even if its not necessarily for sexual purposes, I think it could be a really interesting element. For instance, can the native ice worms be used to harvest ore more effectively? They can burrow through ice. Who knows what kinds of things are living in the deep places of the world?