“Due to its acceptable atmospheric conditions and solar system positioning, b-Exagora has been earmarked for future colonisation[33][34]. As is industry standard[7], this requires a minimum of a century of terraforming using the most economically-favourable development techniques. The site is remote and therefore security can be guaranteed, but it remains easily servicable by an extant ten-monthly interplanetary supply shuttle with only minor modifications to the existing route[Appendix 3b]. Elements of the terraforming require either sophisticated machinery or hard human labour, and non-exposure to hazards including radiation[35] and natural disaster cannot be guaranteed. Security would be innately guaranteed without further investment for a penal facility: due to inhospitable terrain, absconsion attempts would rapidly result in expiration. Therefore we propose that b-Exagora, like many other planets undergoing terraforming, is an ideal site for a penal colony.”

—Excerpt from the conclusion of the Exagora Development Committee's “Future Directions 823PE” report.

Redemption Reform Facility was built twenty-five years ago to house 1500 inmates serving their sentences by hard labour. It is situated on b-Exagora to facilitate the terraforming process.

The terraforming has been in development for two decades now, but underfunding and lack of technological expertise has hampered results. The atmosphere is now breathable; oxygen concentrations are maintained by Pro² Atmo1-4™ oxygenation machines at 20.13kPa ¹⁾. No non-human lifeforms have been implanted, but the water cycle is functional and recognisably-habitable geographical formations are present. This means that although there is no topsoil or independent oxygen-producing systems, there are rivers, seas, and an important absence of supervolcanoes. Gravity is slightly less than that of Elysium.

Less than 0.0001% of the planet surface is inhabited. Apart from the prison complex, there are a few scientific facilities and data stations. All necessities of survival are deposited by the supply ships.

Redemption Reform Facility is a stop on the supply ship run between several systems with mining outposts and other terraforming stations. Due to the travel time, inmates are those who have been handed longer sentences²⁾. The sentences are necessarily in denominations of years. The journey from civilisation consists of at least 3 years on the supply ships. There is no resident means of interplanetary transport on b-Exagora. Those wishing to terminate their employment and those who have served their sentence must wait until the next supply ship to leave.

b-Exagora receives the full service of interplanetary broadcasts.

Inmates have restricted access to external media and all access is timed and monitored. Communications outside of the prison can be earned by the inmates as rewards for good behaviour, but any such communication is monitored by the guards.

Although Redemption Reform Facility was built to house 1500 inmates plus 300 guards, the current prison population runs closer to 3000. The expansion of habitable planet surface has led to further accommodation, but due to upkeep costs of the scientific stations, other prison services have not been improved proportionately. Lack of funding for new accommodation blocks has resulted in overcrowding. For the guards—whose numbers have not increased—the reduced enforcer:prisoner ratio is a continual source of stress, which has caused some guards to show greater authoritarian tendencies.

The prison complex follows a basic layout. There are the main cell blocks, Alfa, Bravo and Charlie; the basic facilities (vehicle depots, two generators, warehouses, medical clinic, and domestic block including kitchens) and the scientific terraforming buildings, including the Pro² Atmo1-4™ oxygenation machines and water filtration systems. There is a basic gym in the prison, which the prisoners have free access to in their spare time. The support station with the root of the space elevator—the space elevator last seen de-orbiting and falling out of the sky—lies half a mile outside.

Inmates have freedom of movement around the main prison, although the warehouses and depots require the correct clearance level on your keycard. Inmates are assigned cooking and cleaning duties: there are no paid staff members to manage domestic affairs. However, the prison meets all basic requirements for healthy living. The food, preserved and bland as it is, provides all essential nutrients and appropriate sustenance. The water is safely potable, the heating adequate, and no diseases of poor hygiene or water safety are present on b-Exagora. Colonists are screened for communicable disease before entry.

There is a separate complex for the prison guards, with an enforced perimeter. This is off-limits to all inmates. The layout and contents of the interior are not generally known.

Prisoners are permitted to wear clothes either brought with them or made from the materials available in the prison, but if necessary they are issued with a standard outfit of a white t-shirt and plain trousers.

Redemption Reform Facility accepts prisoners of all security risks. It is a mixed facility for criminals and prisoners of war. There is no distinction of accommodation or work assignment based on length of sentence or severity of crime. The majority of the inmates are members of one of the prison's several gangs (see the gang pages).

A majority of the prisoners have cybernetics. Most of these are simple replacement limbs or organs, but some are sophisticated sensory devices or dangerous weapons. A controversial Elysian court judgement considers cybernetics a part of the person, and as such does not allow their removal even in the case of prisoners with cybernetic weapons.

The day-night cycle of b-Exagora takes only 15.01 hours, too short for the inhabitants to comfortably follow, so the prison follows a 24-hour schedule, with work taking place at any time of day or night. The cold and dark of winter night shifts regularly causes some grumbling among the prisoners, but any who grumble too loud are likely to only be assigned more day shifts in summer, when the uncomfortable heat is just as bad.

Prisoners' work tasks in the Facility include domestic work, mechanical maintenance, operating terraforming machinery, building construction, driving to and from the scientific stations, occasionally helping the Facility staff with low-security tasks, and grunt work of data gathering and terrain surveillance. The guards have the power to reallocate prisoners to work groups at will.

Redemption Reform Facility has a full complement of reinforced walls, live surveillance, keycard access checks and biorecognition software for those areas of the prison with restricted access. A major component of security is the use of collars. Each inmate is fitted with an electronic collar³⁾ upon disembarking at the Facility. These collars are not removed until a sentence is served and one has departed the Facility and is being released back into civilisation.

Made of light metal and silicon, the collars are generally dormant. However, all Facility staff can activate the collars' security functions with voice commands. The collars respond by temporarily muting, paralysing, or inflicting severe, but fleeting, neuropathic pain on its wearer (see Calls). They do not cause physical harm. The official purpose of the collars is strictly stipulated as the control of inmates when absolutely necessary and where other methods of de-escalation have failed. However, it has not been observed that the collars have any activation criteria other than an authorised voice speaking the command, or that they have a cool-down time. The collars appear to be fitted pre-programmed and have been seen to remain functional despite severe physical damage. How they work is not public knowledge, and any inmates found attempting to interfere with their operation will be subject to disciplinary measures.