Sol System
Assigned to:Octus
The Sol System is the home system of the Human species within the Orion Sector. The heart of the Trans-Solar Federation and one of the busiest systems for commerce and corporations. Humans, Skrell, and other forms of alien travel throughout the system to reach the several important bodies inside. Its earliest development spans to the first century of human exploration amongst the stars, with important locations like Mars, Europa, and Pluto being colonized locations that slowly devloped into important worlds for Trans-Solar Federation exploration, and the corporations rampant within.
Mercury (Sol I)
Mercury, the innermost planet of the Sol System, presents a harsh and barren landscape. As the smallest planet in the system, it completes an orbit around the sun in 88 Earth days, with a slow rotation period of 58.6 days. The planet's surface is a testament to its brutal environment, heavily cratered and devoid of an atmosphere, constantly bombarded by meteorites and intense solar winds due to its proximity to the sun. Temperature extremes range from a frigid 100K to a blistering 700K during daylight hours, posing significant challenges for habitation.
Despite these harsh conditions, Mercury hosts a number of human-operated mining facilities, strategically located deep beneath the planet's crust. These facilities, housed within biodomes and reinforced subterranean structures, exploit Mercury's rich iron deposits, crucial to the Trans-Solar Federation's industrial needs. The materials extracted here are vital for the construction and maintenance of Earth and Martian colonies.
Life on Mercury is far from comfortable. The planet's population, estimated at around 10,000 TSF citizens, is primarily composed of miners and ecologists. These individuals live and work in a network of heavily fortified metallic bunkers, thousands of feet below the surface, equipped with continuous air conditioning and hydroponic systems for sustainability. The environment is tough and often bleak, leading to a high incidence of drug use among the workforce.
Trade is the lifeline of Mercury's settlements. Cargo ships regularly transport the mined ores and minerals to Mars for further processing, while also delivering essential supplies like water and oxygen to sustain the underground habitats. The workforce is predominantly engaged in mining (85%), with the remainder involved in construction, maintenance, and various administrative or ecological roles.
Given the planet's extreme conditions, workers on Mercury receive Hazard Pay, a financial incentive acknowledging the risk and difficulty of their jobs. This compensation, however, often does little to alleviate the sense of isolation and hardship experienced by those who call Mercury their temporary home.
Venus (Sol II)
Venus, the second planet from the sun in the Sol System, stands as a stark contrast to its neighboring planets. Roughly Earth-sized, it is the hottest planet in the system, with a dense atmosphere that creates an extreme greenhouse effect. Venus completes its orbit around the sun in 224.7 Earth days, but its rotation is remarkably slow, taking 243 Earth days. This slow rotation, coupled with an atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide, traps heat to such an extent that the average surface temperature soars above 735K, maintaining a constant state of extreme heat.
These inhospitable conditions have led the Trans-Solar Federation (TSF) and other agencies to deem Venus unsuitable for colonization or extensive exploration. The relentless heat, coupled with the planet's volatile weather patterns, makes any habitation or long-term investment in infrastructure on Venus prohibitively dangerous and costly.
As a result, Venus remains devoid of any permanent TSF or alien settlements. Instead, the focus has shifted to Mercury, whose challenging yet more manageable conditions offer a more viable option for resource extraction and industrial activity. Venus, however, has not been entirely overlooked in the Sol System's economic landscape. Recognizing its strategic position, several plasma fuel stations have been established in orbit around the planet. These stations serve as critical refueling points for cargo shuttles and other spacecraft traveling within the Sol System, particularly those transporting metals and supplies within Sol.
Earth (Sol III)
Earth, the cradle of humanity and the esteemed capital of the Trans-Solar Federation (TSF), is a vibrant continental world teeming with life. As the birthplace of the human species, it holds a special place and pride for the human citizens within. Earth completes a rotation in 24 hours and orbits the Sun every 365 days. The planet's diverse climate and axial tilt result in a wide range of temperatures, from a frigid -184K in polar regions to a sweltering 330K in its deserts. However, Earth's climate is varied, and over millennia, humans have settled and colonized nearly every corner of its surface, making it one of the most thoroughly studied and understood planets in the Sol System.
By the 21st century, Earth faced significant ecological challenges. Rapid industrialization and population growth led to widespread pollution, with urban areas particularly afflicted by smog and toxic waste. This environmental degradation soon began to impact rural regions as well. In response to this crisis, the early Trans-Solar Federation spearheaded a movement to relocate heavy industries and their pollution for a cleaner Earth. This initiative involved relocating many industrial facilities to less developed worlds within the Federation's domain, such as Mars and Europa, emphasizing the preservation and rehabilitation of Earth's environment.
As the centuries progressed, the effort would be noticeable. By the 23rd century, Earth had successfully reduced its carbon emissions and pollution levels by 85%, a continuous and supported choice that would continue into the future. Today, Earth has transformed from an industrial hub into a lush, resort world. It has become a prime destination for vacationing and sightseeing, particularly for those not native to Earth. The planet's long history of space exploration and cultural exchange has fostered a rich tapestry of diverse alien species and cultures. Earth containing many settlements similar to original species homes and towns to foster their native culture planetside. Skrell, Tajaran, Vulpkanin, Unathi and several other small communities exist on Earth as sub societies preserving their beliefs and heritage far from home. While the TSF often encourages these interstellar migrants to embrace human customs, a dynamic blend of their original cultural practices with those of humanity naturally evolves over time to create something new.
Luna (Sol IIIa)
Luna, or more commonly known by Earth natives as "The Moon," is Earth's only natural satellite, characterized by its barren landscape and crater-pocked surface, devoid of any indigenous life forms. Its surface temperatures exhibit extreme fluctuations, ranging from a frigid -363°F to a scorching 228°F, with an average temperature hovering around -6°F. Luna is locked in synchronous rotation with Earth, meaning it always shows the same face to the planet, completing both its rotation and revolution in approximately 27 days.
In the dawn of humanity's space colonization era, Luna was a primary target for the growing Trans-Solar Federation. Its close proximity to Earth and manageable size made it an ideal candidate for early colonization efforts, marking Luna as humanity's first extraterrestrial settlement. This initial success led to significant investment in Luna's development, including the construction of numerous biodomes, until Mars and its pivotal discovery of Phoron shifted the focus of space exploration.
As the TSF's ambitions stretched beyond the immediate confines of the Sol system, propelled by the advent of proto-FTL technology, Luna's role evolved significantly. From a bustling hub of colonization, it transformed into a central node for bureaucratic and governmental activities. The establishment of orbital shipyards, extensive military bunkers, and training facilities for TSF fleet officers and military personnel marked Luna's transition into a fortress world. This strategic shift was aimed at safeguarding Earth and other key assets within the Sol system.
The aftermath of the Cygni War brought about a significant administrative shift. Luna's officials orchestrated the relocation of several TSF governmental and bureaucratic facilities back to Earth, a move reflecting the diminishing influence of traditional nation-states under the expanding umbrella of TSF governance. Despite these changes, Luna has maintained its status as a fortress world, serving as an overseeing guardian orbiting Earth. Access to Luna is heavily regulated, with stringent vetting and authorization processes in place, primarily for TSF military personnel and contracted workers.
Mars (Sol IV)
Mars, known as the Red Planet, is the fourth planet in the Sol system. Its surface, covered in red dust, presents a stark and barren landscape. Temperatures on Mars can plummet to -160°F at night, yet reach a mild 70°F during the day. The planet's climate poses several challenges, including radiation exposure, frequent dust storms, and lower gravity, complicating construction efforts. Mars is orbited by two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are essentially asteroids and have not been deemed worthy of significant investment.
As the second celestial body colonized within the Sol system, Mars holds a pivotal place in human space exploration. Its early colonization, driven by its relative proximity to Earth and manageable climate, marked a significant milestone in humanity's quest to become a spacefaring species. The first biodome on Mars was established in 20XX, paving the way for Earth migrants to settle and expand on this new world. Over the next 50 years, Mars witnessed a proliferation of biodomes, each interconnected by an extensive network of subterranean trams and trains, facilitating surface transportation.
Mars's colonization coincided with the discovery of a revolutionary mineral, scientifically named Phoron but commonly referred to as Plasma. This discovery was instrumental in advancing power systems on Mars and furthering the development of Faster-Than-Light (FTL) engines. The ensuing "Plasma Rush" attracted a surge of settlers and businesses, eager to capitalize on this lucrative opportunity. This golden age saw rapid development, with biodomes, commerce, and cities springing up across the Martian landscape. The planet's commercial value eventually led to its designation as a freeport after the establishment of the Solar-Central-Compact, turning Mars into a tax haven for corporations and a bustling hub for traders and ships under looser regulations. This also led to institutions and collages springing up around Mars offering trade careers for corporate employment and education. Not limited to, The Mars University, Martian College of Comedy, and Grand Red Library are all within Mars under their respective corporate backers.
The rise of Martian culture was marked by corporate influence and loyalty within the biodomes. Gang warfare, fueled by corporate allegiances, became prevalent, and Mars's freeport status made it a hotbed for illicit activities. Today, Mars maintains its freeport status, corporate-driven culture, and collage intuitions as popular opportunity for those living or visiting the planet . Governance is overseen by appointed boards representing the corporations that own the domes. The TSF has increased its surveillance to ensure Mars continues to serve as a vital hub of commerce and economic activity.
Inner Sol Asteroid Belt
Within the inner ring of the Sol System lies the Inner Sol Asteroid Belt, acting as the marker for leaving the inner ring, the belt is home to several mining ships from corporations excavating and drilling within moving asteroid to harvest rich minerals and plentiful plasma reserves. Stations inside the belt float in sync to avoid any collision of future asteroids, and act as refuel stations for shuttles leaving Sol Proper toward outer farther colonies in Sol or outside the system. The area of the asteroid belt is rather inhabitable as asteroids have been deemed too difficult to colonize, instead with functioning space stations to orbit within. Its clutter of rocks and debris make it also one of the more popular areas to hide and sneak within Sol, thanks to the difficulty to transponder signals and detection being invisible to even the most experienced of pilots.