Terra system

The Terra System is the shining jewel of the United Empire of Earth. It is a strong jumping hub. Terra III commonly referred to by its star’s name, has made great strides towards becoming the cultural focus of the Empire.

Official Summary
Terra is the only system in the United Earth Empire that is named after the capital planet, rather that the star (Terra Nova) at its center. Since the discovery and subsequent exploration of the system in 2508 - 2516, Terra has grown consistently in both popularity and influence. Even during the Messer Era, Terra was one of the few systems that tried to maintain a progressive stance against the despotic reign. It was with this perseverance in the face of adversity that elevated it to be almost synonymous with Earth as the center of power in the UEE.

History
The Terra system, then designated 342A, was first charted in 2508 and explored as part of a five-system “long run” research expedition in 2516. When the first long-distance magnetic relay images of the system’s third planet resolved, the explorer crew immediately knew they had hit it big. A natural superearth located squarely in the star’s green band, Terra III was immediately recognizable for it’s astounding similarity to an untouched Earth. Lush, verdant and brimming with natural resources, Terra’s colonization was immediately obvious. Within two years no fewer than seven colonial sloships had been dispatched to the world. Astrophysicists soon staked their own claim with a startling discovery: Terra system’s unique location and makeup meant that it was a strong jump point hub. Like Sol, Terra is a G-type main sequence star. Unlike Sol, its outer planetary system never formed. Without the mass diffusion caused by gas giants and with the star’s location in the center of a dense stellar cluster, extremely stable jump points arose easily. Thus far, five jump points have been charted and scientists believe that a sixth is almost a certainty. (Theoretically, as many as twenty-four could exist, although the odds against most of them ever being stable enough for transit are astronomical.) Exobiologists, too, had an early interest in the system: massive stone ruins clearly indicative of intelligent life were discovered on Terra III’s southern continental mass. No other evidence of this ancient civilization has yet been uncovered on the planet, creating one of the most-debated archaeological mysteries of our time. Terra III was the twelfth planet colonized by the United Empire of Earth. In four centuries, owing to its jump network and location, it has evolved into a massive trade hub. Kiel, Baker, Kilian and other name systems are short hops from the star. The world’s plentiful resources, cultivated carefully so as not to impact the environment, have fueled the Empire’s Eastern Expansion Program.

Aero : Terra I
A nondescript rock world incredibly close to its star. Although rich in certain minerals, attempts to harness resources on Aero have been largely unsuccessful due to its proximity to the sun. Even the harshest environment suits are incapable of sustaining Human life long enough to conduct factory maintenance on a world with a 95 Standard Earth Day orbital period.

Pike : Terra II
The mining efforts on Pike, on the other hand, are a masterpiece of Human engineering. One of the most mineral rich planets in the galaxy, Pike is dotted with thousands of unmanned “cities” churning out tons of platinum, mercury, iron and gold every day. With three times the orbital period of Aero, Pike is still incapable of sustaining human life for an extended duration. Regardless, the lack of atmospheric storms and other weather events means that fully mobile robot machinery can operate with peak efficiency while requiring very little downtime. The mines and refineries of Pike have been essential to fueling Terra's expansion and allowing Terra itself to remain relatively untouched.

Terra : Terra III
Terra III, commonly referred to by its star’s name was the twelfth planet colonized by the United Empire of Earth. It has made great strides towards becoming the cultural focus of the Empire.

Gen : Terra IV
Oft overlooked is the fact that Terra's sister world, Gen, is also an inhabited world. This smaller planet, the outermost in the system, was terraformed roughly a century after Terra's initial settlement and is now home to the diplomatic and military aspects of the system's government.

Consisting largely of military bases, Imperial administration and housing, the world represents a conscious effort on the part of the Terran system planners to separate business and pleasure. There is an ongoing debate about Gen's representation in the Senate. Though the planet is well-populated, the inhabitants are almost exclusively government workers. Thus far, Earth has shut down any attempts to award them representation, seeing it as a thinly veiled plot to extend Terra's influence.

Marisol Belt
The only asteroid belt in the Terra System is the Marisol Belt. It is located past the Terra - Hadrian jump point, on the outskirts of the system.

Henge Cluster
The Henge Cluster is an asteroid field located between the orbits of Terra (Terra III) and Gen (Terra IV).