Erim was an unwanted backwater world before the Rebellion. The inhabitants, a
mix of vilani and vargr, eke out their existence in the twilight band of this
tidelocked world where even there it is 57°C. This former First Imperium
world was heavily dependent upon offworld trade and the technology it brought in
when vargr raids during the Long Night sent it back to the Dark Ages. But the
vilani descendents have maintained the old ways of order and thus prevented the
populace's extinction. Even the old starport is functional, albeit in poor
shape.
When vargr settlers moved in four hundred years ago, there was little the
locals could do to stop them. They welcomed the vargr, hoping that they could
peacefully coexist. When the Ngath Confederation set their sights on the world,
it was the local vargr who intervened on behalf of the vilani, asking that their
lives be spared. With advocates such as these, the Confederation agreed and
has left the existing social order in place.
After the initial Vilani colony died out during the Long Night, Vargr
settlers moved in. They hoped that their proximity to the Third Imperium would
do them some economic good by acting as a commerce conduit. Early success faded
over the centuries as wars built up mutual animosity between the two races.
Anghurr, the wolf, ran a campaign on building prosperity by aligning the world
with the Ngath Confederation. He won in a landslide and renamed the world after
himself (an accepted custom). While he has carried through on his campaign
promise, the president-for-life has enacted stringent laws and has the corsair
base to back him up. He still enjoys the support of the people and will
continue to do so as long as the economy holds up.
Like Dannar (Vland 1606), Deraan was isolated for
millenia as not only is it two parsecs away from all of its neighbors, but it
doesn't have any gas giants to provide for initial refuelling operations. With
the easy pickings along the Vilani Main, it wasn't until the Third Imperium that
anyone was willing to make the investment in developing the system.
Sternmetal Horizons (SH) was the company that made that investment. Fortunately,
the ice-capped oceans provided enough hydrogen for fuel and oxygen for life
support. The cost of fuel still runs high (500 cr/ton), but that's to encourage
efficient use.
Due to their relative isolation, residents have maintained an independent
streak; preferring to remain non-aligned rather than join the Imperium. They
resisted the invading corsairs from the Ngath Confederation but in the end they
were outgunned and chose cooperation rather than risk destruction. Although the
law level remains high, the Deraanians are allowed a modicum of autonomy,
provided they continue to mine the asteroid belt and don't step out of line.
Based on library data that appears in "The Flaming Eye"
Diiron's extensive mineralogical wealth was heavily exploited during the First
Imperium. Unfortunately, this zealous approach, coupled with a lack of any
environmental safeguards, led to such high levels of pollution that the
inhabitants were succumbing to its effects. An ecologically minded leader,
spurred on by public support, shut down mining operations until conditions
improved. Centuries later, mining resumed albeit at a much more moderate rate.
The taint remains but is easily handled by filter masks. Before the war started,
the locals were hoping that the IISS would back their plan to carry out some
terraforming experiments to remove the last vestiges of pollution.
Based on library data that appears in "The Flaming Eye"
Timat's population is balkanized into three nations. Fortunately, they all get
along as there's plenty of mineralogical wealth to go around. The differences
are philosophical and cultural, but no one's views are extreme enough to incite
the population into violence.
The world's wealth is safe guarded by Scout and Naval bases as well as private
security firms. Timat is a moon of the gas giant, Deah, the only one in
the system. As such, many of the other moons are fortified as well.
Based on library data that appears in "The Flaming Eye"
Guusimka's primary, Simka, goes through phases where it undergoes high
electromagnetic activity for 150 years and returns to normal for another 2400
years. Astrophysicists have been studying the phenomenon from a research
facility on Guusimka since the early days of the First Imperium.
Early in the Third Imperium, a new survey of the world uncovered vast cobalt
deposits. An agreement was brokered between the scientists and Ling Standard
Products (LSP), who wanted to mine the metal. The most important aspect of the
deal was that no starport be built save for landing pads to haul away the ore.
The arrangement worked for centuries but as operations have expanded so to has
the size of the populace. Although LSP spun off the enterprise, the operation
shows no sign of abating. The new mining corporation, along with a sizable chunk
of the population, has advocated building a real starport. However, every time
construction gets under way, traditionalists attack the site and destroy it.
Based on library data that appears in "The Flaming Eye"
As a moon of a gas giant, Maran was initially overlooked by the Vilani. As the
Consolidation Wars wound down, further study of the system revealed that the
asteroid belts were flush with metals. Maran, although cold and dry, proved to
be habitable and a sound base of operations for ore processing facilities.
As time wore on, the world prospered. However, contact with the Solomani, and
their subsequent rule, sharply divided the world. Pro and con arguments were
made regarding Solomani rule. Ultimately, the world government fractured into
vehemently opposed camps. A strong Imperial naval presence kept violence to a
minimum. The Long Night rendered their differences moot, though reconciliation
never came.
With Vland's secession from the Third Imperium, old tensions have resurfaced.
The orbital city/starport of Meliva is officially neutral, but espionage is
prevalent as several nations have attempted to bring it under their control. The
Igsiirdi are displeased that this valuable world is coming unraveled.
Based on library data that appears in "The Flaming Eye"
Odinaga is a moon of the gas giant, Fatooh, which orbits outside the
habitable zone. It's a mixture of ice (water and volatiles) and rock. Early in
its formation it absorbed several smaller cousins, resulting in large deposits
of ore. Cities have been constructed atop each of these deposits.
Sixty years ago the world was balkanized, and prone to skirmishes over resources.
One of the local lords united the people under his rule through fairness and
strength. Unfortunately, he has no heirs. The world's history has been a
veritable soap opera and has been successfully dramatized by the entertainment
division of Makhidkarun.
With the Ngath Confederation right on their doorstep, tensions are high as is
the construction of system defense boats.
During the First Imperium, the Vilani saw little value in the world and thus
never developed it. However, the Solomani governor assigned to the world during
the Second Imperium, saw things differently. Being of Scandinavian descent, the
ice cloaked islands reminded him of his ancestral lands, at least how they were
fabled to be in primitive Terran times. With free reign to do as he saw fit, he
named the world Audhumla, after the mythological cow that uncovered the
first giants from the primordial ice and fed them with her milk.
With the demise of the Second Imperium, all pretense at maintaining either
Vilani or Imperial culture was abandoned. The formality of government was
discarded in favor of tribal groups. Immigrants are welcome, provided they
conform to or at least respect Scandinavian culture, or what the locals have
interpreted that to mean thousands of years removed.
Despite their return to an older culture, the Audhumlans have not regressed
technologically. They've integrated those elements that best suit their society
and use the wealth they've accumulated from exports to keep themselves educated
and equipped. Corsairs or privateers looking for an easy haul would best steer
clear of Audhumla. Weapons training starts at an early age for both sexes. A
mutual defense pact among the tribes ensures that incursions upon their space
are met with immediate reprisal.
Based on library data that appears in "The Flaming Eye" and "Vilani &
Vargr"
The asteroid belts of Gamgilebo have been mined since the early days of the
First Imperium. While production all but ceased during the Long Night, it picked
up again during the Third Imperium. Sharurshid was forced to sell off its stake
once the First Imperium fell, but it began purchasing the ore from the local
mining consortium once the interstellar economy was revitalized.
The Gamgilebo system is home to three stars with one of its gas giants showing
signs of possibly becoming a fourth. A research team sent to investigate the
phenomenon disappeared as Vargr corsairs overran the system. A rescue team sent
to follow up also vanished. And Sharurshid reports that it is no longer
receiving ore shipments.
Dannar is yet another mining world in Vhodan Subsector's trailing cluster of
such worlds. The world lay isolated for millenia as not only is it two parsecs
away from all of its neighbors, but it doesn't have any gas giants to provide
for initial refuelling operations. With the easy pickings along the Vilani Main,
it wasn't until the Third Imperium that anyone was willing to make the
investment in developing the system.
Sternmetal Horizons was the company that made that investment, though it took
some time before the operation became profitable. Fuel costs remain high.
Water-ice and volatiles are primarily used by the populace so there is little
left over for fuel, thus much of it has to be imported. Unrefined fuel runs
1000 cr/ton.
There are rumors that belters and miners have found mysterious artifacts
indicative of a pre-Ancient culture in the system. Unfortunately, the war and
Dannar's proximity to the Ngath Confederation border have kept archaeologists
from investigating further.