In this post, I'm giving the details of all the wonders of the Lalande 21185 System. Some require klackon-only tech, others require human-only tech, but most are universal.

Acrolectic Solenoid
Hovering ceaselessly overhead, this marvelous and unexplained structure does a great service for civilization, but especially for the one empire that constructed it. The workings of the Acrolectic Solenoid are impossible to describe without recourse to xenolinguistic paramathematics and the theory of Much Higher Functions. It is not untrue to say that it "attracts" language to itself similar to the way a magnet attracts iron filings, but it is also so much of a simplification that it obscures the truth. The Solenoid converts everything it receives into a metalingual form (a universal language, if you will) and transmits on a wavelength known only to its controllers.

All-Field
When teachers need to impress their students with an example of the miracles provided by modern science, the All-Field come quickly to mind. Though not the most technologically astounding feat in history, this application of the UFT (universal field theory) is certainly one of the most colorful and practical on this hostile new world. Based on the UFT--a successful theory that describes the basic field structure of the entire universe--this remarkable device takes advantage of the interconnectedness of all things to erect defensive fields of force around every city in the empire--even those on other planets! Needless to say, this impressive display often convinces unfriendly empires to enter into negotiations rather than fight. Any description of the physical structure of the All-Field generator are necessarily incomplete, because significant portions of it exist only in dimensions we cannot sense.

Central Service
Maintenance is the hidden cost of most great endeavors. No matter how a wise ruler strives to improve the cities of the empire, the cost of on-going care for the municipal facilities places a limit on how much can be done. That has been true of all nations throughout history, with one notable exception--the ruler who called for the design and construction of the Central Service. This bold initiative was far ahead of its time. Until then, no one had envisioned a centralized organization dedicated to maintaining the integrity and cleanliness of facilities in every city. Using the primitive automation that was available at the time was another stroke of genius. These tireless staffers, under the supervision of biological managers, proved to be the mainstay of the effort.

Combine
Some fear that the computing sciences are advancing faster than our ability to monitor or control them. To those beings, Combine is a monstrosity of technology gone awry. The rest of us, however, can see the vast opportunity for scientific progress that the melding of biological and computational brains can provide. Though the details of this engineering marvel are shrouded in government secrecy, the effects are clear. "Combine" is the accepted name for the mass-mind formed when dozens of citizen volunteers temporarily join their intellects through the medium of specially designed, hyper-advanced processors. Working in shifts, the combineers continually produce new ideas and inventive suggestions. The result is a great acceleration of research.

Eureka Institute
Despite what most people believe, the Eureka Institute is not merely a legend; this facility and its remarkable staff actually exist--or did at one time. The finest minds, scoured from all through the system (sometimes kidnapped or brought in at gun-point), were collected here and put to work--not to produce research solutions of their own, but to find a way to increase the scientific output of the entire empire. Combining elements of genetic artistry, psionic reverberation theory, and other fields in an unfettered interdisciplinary approach, this secretive little campus has harnessed some of the fundamental forces of the universe to transmit their results into every citizen of the nation. Their goal and their successful result--an ongoing rise in the overall creativity and insight of the entire population. The resulting swell in scientific achievement has been no less than magnificent.

Fleck's Genesis
An eminent and respected scientist, Fleck had little trouble convincing the powers that be to fund his proposal for the largest, best outfitted, and most expensive research facility to ever grace a planet in this system. The construction project dragged on for years, while Fleck had ever more and more elaborate and unusual equipment designed and built. Anxious and impatient with the continual construction delays, the renowned researcher moved into the nearly completed main building several days before it was scheduled to open, and began work. What actually happened the night before the facility was to officially be opened to its staff will likely never be known, but the most believable theory (based on events) is that Fleck cross-wired the hyperentropic phantasmatron with the bilateral-protonic quantinaria, bypassing both the safety cut-offs and recording devices. The resulting catastrophic release of energy (described by one witness as, "the most bizarre and beautiful explosion I have ever seen") leveled the entire complex. Fleck himself was found by emergency personnel on a nearby curb, seemingly unhurt. Without speaking, he handed the rescue workers the groundbreaking document now famous as Fleck's Genesis--two startling scientific discoveries in one simple paragraph--and promptly stepped in front of a moving vehicle.

Great Games
Gladiatorial combat is a barbaric entertainment that appeals to the most bestial and loathsome elements in our psychological makeup. Its resurgence was truly a symptom of the depths to which our species had sunk in the years following our unplanned landing in this system. Thankfully for all involved, the development of non-living, automated contestants came before civilization as we know it could collapse completely. Nowadays, regular contests between extremely lifelike robotic forms pander to the population's baser instincts--without any loss of life. The Great Games not only provide an outlet for the more vicious leanings of our species, but in the process significantly increase the contentment of citizens throughout the empire.

HeLa Turbine
The famed HeLa cell line is the longest-lived continually reproducing line in the history of genetic research. It was not until our studies uncovered the many forms of biogenic energy that we came to understand the source of this line's longevity. By some unknown agency, these long-distant descendants of Henrietta Lacks' tumor contain and produce levels of morphogenic energy that put normal cells to shame. The immense HeLa Turbine takes advantage of this power, concentrated by biochaotic funneling fields, to drive banks of giant generators night and day. These in turn provide extra power for every workshop in every city throughout the entire empire.

Julian Bureaucracy
Named after (but not developed by) a legendary figure out of Earth history, the Julian Bureaucracy is the single most complex organization ever devised. This system of running an empire (not to be confused with a system of government) is so byzantine, so intricate, so convoluted and elaborate that no one, perhaps not even the ruler nominally in charge, truly knows from one day to the next what's going on or who has authority over what--or even what type of government is in place. The resulting insecurity at every level of the government gives whoever is actually in power incredible latitude to make sweeping changes--with no one the wiser.

Living Wage
Now that one is in place, it's sometimes difficult to imagine life in a nation without an explicit, recorded social contract for all citizens. Perhaps the most striking mystery is why throughout history, large and nominally free populations allowed various oppressive economies to not only survive, but thrive without providing the basic requital that (in retrospect) was so obviously their responsibility. The first nation to add the guarantee of a Living Wage to its contract was ruled by no less than a visionary. Under the historic Amendment 32, every citizen who contributes to the welfare of the community receives compensation that is, by force of the contract, at least adequate to provide a reasonable standard of living. Anything less would be uncivilized.

Marconi Tower
Radio is not new. Towers that both broadcast and receive are not new. In fact, there were only two striking things about the legendary Marconi Tower--it's size, and the fact that it had built into it the most advanced computerized xenotranslation facility ever to exist in this system. This monumental communications device stood lofty enough to nearly reach into orbit from the surface. Designed to take advantage of every electromagnetic quirk of Lalande 21185's planetary space, the Marconi could reach to and receive from every ball of rock or gas orbiting the star. The integrated xenolinguistic capabilities allowed negotiation between the empire that owned the tower and any other nation, without exception. Needless to say, it also functioned quite well for purposes of covert information gathering.

MILQUETOAST
"Every rookie a veteran."
Developed by the finest strategic and tactical minds our civilization has to offer, the MILitary QUantum Experiential Training Operation And Simulation Technique is a highly advanced system for collecting field combat experiences and using them as holographic virtual training simulations. Biorobotic implantations in field soldiers of all stripes accumulate and transmit the sensory data necessary to generate ersatz battle situations that are realistic down to the smell of plasma-seared flesh and the texture of the mud in your boots. This allows for extremely effective training sessions that, as an added side effect, subtly diminishes the average infantry soldier's aversion to dying.

Morphon Attractor
In philosophical circles, there are fringe elements in which it is acceptable to speak of the "morphon"--a theoretical subatomic particle that is the definition of a unit of change (as the electron defines the unit of electrical charge). Those who believe in the existence of morphons rely on speculative "hyper-chaos" theories to examine the nature of these unusual particles. Certain specialists on the fringe of the fringe have postulated "attractor geometries" that could collect, align, and focus morphons for practical use. Regardless of whether these theories are true, they are the only cogent arguments that seem to explain why and how this orbiting swarm of bioactive rocks actually works. This nearly magical device, constructed using funds from a skeptical government, generates as yet unmeasurable energies that metamorphose military units, both organic and mechanical, in the field, at home, and in production. Though the cause is beyond understanding, the effect is unquestionably wondrous.

NutriNet
With the advent of instaportation technology, it was only a matter of time before someone figured out a way to use it to move foodstuffs from one city to another. It took a stroke of organizational genius, however, to design a system that could move food efficiently throughout an entire empire. Although it has not eliminated starvation, the NutriNet gives every city a safety factor on which it can rely in times of want and need.

Oceanus Field
Once again, tampering with the fundamental fields of our universe has resulted in great practical gains. The Oceanus Field is the latest and, perhaps, most impressive demonstration of our growing mastery over even the most basic forces of nature. The scientific details are difficult to comprehend by all but the few experts in the fields of Forward Vectoring and Megatonic Geometries. The end result is a micro-layer of force around the hull of every ship. This layer dynamically compensates for the drag of whatever fluid (water, space, suspended dust, or gases) through which the ship moves, which eases and speeds movement significantly. The efficient beauty of this system is that the field, once generated, can easily be extended to include every sea- or space-going vessel the empire owns, no matter where in the system they are.

Organ Bank
One of the few unequivocal benefits of advanced genetic science is that our hospitals can now artificially generate organs for much needed transplants. It is no longer true that one being must donate an organ--or even die--to save the life of another. In fact, donated body parts are less desirable and cause more complications than those grown specifically from the patient's own cultured cells. The Organ Bank is a central repository for cells cultured in advance, as insurance against the onslaught of a condition, and a modern facility dedicated to growing perfect replacement organs in the least possible time. Needless to say, the citizens of the empire find security and a measure of contentment in knowing that, should they have a dire need, the Organ Bank will provide for their health.

Penance
With great power comes great responsibility.

Disintegration is perhaps the most horrific technology ever devised by intelligent beings. Though we have uncountable ways of causing destruction, none are as convenient and easy, and all of them result in some sort of physical reminder of the horror of war--an ugly aftermath. In comparison, disintegrator weapons leave no visible trace of their victims. As a wise human once said, "Killing has always been easy. It is when it becomes convenient and clean that it ceases to horrify. Then we all become monsters."

Any truly civilized species, if it survives long enough and becomes technologically advanced enough to create disintegrator weapons, should also understand the ethical and moral problems inherent in using them. In this system, our psychology has developed in such a way that it is unthinkable that any empire, no matter how militaristic, should build such devices until their future victims have been honored. The Penance, a great, sad monument to tomorrow's dead, is our eternal reminder of the cost of using science in pursuit of war.

Psi-brator
Psionics is far from being an exact science, but there is enough certain knowledge to make this cunning device possible. The Psi-brator is nothing less than a giant quasi-crystalline psionic broadcast tower. This immoral machine continually emits signals intended to control the minds of every individual on the planet and in the system. Luckily for those who do not control the tower, the effect is subtle and not at all powerful. Still, over time, even the staunchest enemies can be "mind-controlled" into acting like friends.

Recyclotron
This massive municipal recycling project is truly a wonder of modern technology and ingenuity. Using a coordinated system of low input, high output tanks, and relying on several different processes--chemical, biological, mechanical, and physical--the Recyclotron breaks down industrial waste materials into their components (down to the level of individual atoms, if necessary). These purified elements can then be passed on to other industries and put to good use. By allowing the re-use of a significant portion of the materiel otherwise wasted in the production process, this facility can increase the city's effective overall resources--without creating any further drain on the local ecology.

Roscoe's Circus
No matter the species, no matter the planet, it seems that the young and young at heart love a circus. Brightly colored tents, strange animals, and unusual performances provide lively entertainment throughout the empire. As this famous traveling show moves from city to city under the direction of its famed ringmaster (known only by his stage name, Roscoe), it brings a little joy into lives that--considering that we're stranded for the foreseeable future on a strange planet far from home--can be worn down by too much sobriety and not enough gaiety. Though he admits to being in it primarily for the income, Roscoe does a valuable community service by presenting the touring circus every year.

Sea Guides
The legendary Sea Guides were the result of a massive genetic engineering project. In those early days of biogenic research, knowledge was not as widespread nor techniques as advanced, and the creation of an entirely new species was considered a great accomplishment. In fact, it was. This race of sea creatures were "wired" with instincts that served the purposes of naval travel. In a sense, their lives were dedicated to aiding the seagoing vessels of the empire that created them. Though only semi-intelligent, the Sea Guides were capable of forming close bonds with their owners, and of following a relatively complex series of orders. Valued for their companionship as much as their help in navigation, the guides became something of a problem in later years. Made obsolete by advances in electronic equipment, the species was no longer necessary. In the end, the Sea Guides were engineered again--raised to a high level of intelligence and given the freedom any sentient species deserves. Though they no longer serve, they still accompany the crew of most planet-bound vessels.

Singing Gardens
Few things are more pleasant and relaxing than a garden. Fewer still are more capable of eliciting emotion than music. Intensive study of the keening crystal trees of Naumachia eventually resulted in the widespread hobby of crystal gardening. This wondrous park is the culmination of the efforts of the finest, most expert crystal horticulturalists in the system--a mesmerizing series of gardens filled with crystalline trees of every description, vibrating in tonic patterns to generate overlapping areas of beautiful music. Within each zone, the melodies and complex harmonies are distinct, and in the areas of overlap, they some counterpoint others, some intertwine, and still others reinforce and strengthen one another. The overall effect is magnificent.

Sir Arthur's Stone
Our survival on this unknown world is a tribute to the strength of our species. That we have prospered is a testament to our spirit. This immense monument, carved out of a solitary mountain by the most expert craftsmen, pays tribute to that spirit and helps to maintain it through the generations. Sir Arthur's Stone is an inspiration to all who know of it.

SITW Project
This secret government project, nicknamed "SITW" by those few conspirators who have come forward to leak information (and subsequently disappeared), is an enigma. What little is known supports the hypothesis that this effort is behind the seemingly overnight rise in the general level of intelligence in nearly every one of our citizens. Fragments of documents retrieved from the smoking ruins of secret labs suggest that tampering with the city's water supply was the modus operandi. Perhaps the biggest question is why those in authority chose to keep this project a secret, when the benefits to all have been so plain and undeniable.

Taniq Planetarium
The Planetarium of Bethaldo Taniq is a magnificent structure. Taniq saw the promise in holographic projection techniques long before any others of his species. In a time when interplanetary travel was little more than a dream for most citizens, he built a theater in which anyone could truly feel as if they were traveling through space. Having been through any of Taniq's extraordinary presentations, no one could ever look on an Orrery again without feeling somehow more affected, more fulfilled, than ever before.

View From Earth
To see the Earth for the first time is a moment of staggering emotional impact. The beautiful blue globe that was the cradle of the human species inspires all of us, even those with no trace of Terran ancestry, to dream of a return to our home world. This gargantuan telescope, built and based in the space between planets, was built for the sole purpose of receiving light from that far off world (though it has provided handy maps of the planets on which we now live). General distribution of these views through the system infonets has created a tremendous longing in every citizen to return to Earth. Any nation, any empire with the requisite technology that fails to begin construction of a starship in the near future is risking the goodwill of its subjects and plotting a course for its own downfall.

Wizard Scouts
Who among us was not a member of the Wizard Scouts in their youth? Who doesn't have fond memories of weekends spent scouring the countryside for undiscovered species and unusual mutations? I'd wager there's a small pile of merit badges packed away in nearly every closet--a source of pride in early years and of cherished reminiscence later in life. None of us really cared at that age that our city benefited from the field trips and data gathering outings; it was fun, it was adventure, and we made friendships that would last a summer, if not our lifetimes.

Xenosabe Concourse
In all the history of our species and the known intelligent aliens, open communication has been the surest road to peace. This remarkable orbiting conference center is the pinnacle of peacemaking efforts in our planetary system. Removed from the confines of national boundaries, the greatest diplomats in the system are free to seek just, equitable solutions to political and economic disagreements that might otherwise lead to war--which profits no one.