Ferron system

As noted historian Ariel Rutte once wrote, “If the Sol System is the Empire’s heart, and Terra its head, then Ferron is the blood coursing through its veins.” When the system was discovered in 2460, few could have predicted how vital Ferron would be in driving the economy and expansion of Humanity’s burgeoning Empire for decades, or how far it would eventually fall from its former glory.

Ferron was discovered by Pali Laumet, one of the founding members of the Sol Astroexploration Society. Composed of extremely affluent adventurers who dedicated themselves to the search for new star systems, the S.A.S. can be linked to many jump point discoveries of the time. Laumet had been sailing the expanse of Croshaw for several months already, and, low on supplies with a restless crew, was days away from having to return to Sol when his stoker, Darcy Ferron, noted that their quantum drive fuel calculations were off. Laumet, double-checking the figures, surmised that the extra burn-off was due to the pull of an unmarked jump-well. Sure enough, two days later, the crew would become the first Humans to jump to the system that Laumet graciously named after the perceptive Darcy, and upon his return, in the tradition of S.A.S, gifted the coordinates of the system as a philanthropic donation to Humanity.

After initial government surveys were complete, the system was declared an ideal candidate for settlement and opened to the public. Corporate and private interests sped to the system, eager to stake their claim. The ensuing battle for land and mineral rights grew so unruly that the UNE intervened and established a lottery to help arbitrate the disputes. After the first drawing took place, a myriad of loopholes and flaws were uncovered that had given some parties and companies unfair advantages which took years to be sorted. The government’s failed attempts at mediation served to highlight both the impotence and inefficiencies of the UNE as it struggled to cope with Humanity’s rapid expansion. Some historians theorize that the bureaucratic failings during Ferron’s lottery fanned the flames of reform that eventually lead to the dissolution of the UNE and the formation of the UPE in 2523.

Despite its troubled start, Ferron was already on the fast track to prosperity due to its wealth of natural resources. Before long it was a bustling hub of mining and trade, and, in 2529, the system achieved represented status within the UPE. Centuries of success followed as the system provided the materials necessary for Humanity to conquer the stars. In its heyday, Ferron’s population had grown enough to rival that of Sol and it was well on its way to becoming a political equal as well. But sadly, the system’s success would not last.

The first reverse of fortunes occurred in 2791 when Messer XI falsely accused the system of being home to dissidents. Fearful of the Imperator, numerous wealthy Citizens and Messer loyalists fled the system, taking large amounts of funds and clout with them. When the eventual military strike did come, it was only thanks to the legendary bravery of the members of Squadron 78 and their heroic unwillingness to kill civilians that violence was avoided, but by then the economic and political damage to Ferron had already been done.

The next blow would occur in 2832 when Shubin Interstellar announced profit losses for the first time ever in the system. The mining conglomerate cited the depletion of a major mine as the cause and noted that more site closures were expected to follow. This would prove to be Ferron’s death knell. Years of aggressive mining had taken its toll and the system by this time had been nearly picked clean. As fast as its rise to prominence had been, Ferron’s fall from grace would be even faster. Within a single decade, the population of the system dropped by nearly half and its economic health dropped even lower. Today, it is only a shadow of its former glory, the bones of a vibrant system that bled itself dry of resources for the good of the Empire.

While Ferron is far from an ideal destination for the casual traveler, the system has drawn its fair share of visitors attracted by its historical significance, as well as more adventurous prospectors hoping to find some remnants of valuable ore that may have been overlooked.

"How can we be expected to protect the people of Tram, when it’s the damn people of Tram who are killing us?"

- Clair Slovonik, Former Tram Police Captain, Governors Council Meeting, 2936-05-22

"For Ferron to return to its former greatness, we must strive to resurrect its most valuable commodity — the industrious nature of its Citizens."

- Paul Dibly, Former Governor of Tram, Re-Election Speech, 2912-09-17

For centuries, this four-planet system was an economic powerhouse thanks to Asura (Ferron III). The planet's vast deposits of rare minerals built a prosperous and populated system. Once Asura's minerals were depleted, the system became a shell of its former self. People and businesses moved away and left the planet plagued by poverty and widespread industrial pollution. Unfortunately, Ferron's other three planets offered little to elevate the system's status.

Ferron I
Due to the lack of natural resources, this small planet's most notable quality is the debate among scientists as to whether it's a protoplanet or a mesoplanet.

Ferron II
A coreless planet without an atmosphere. Ferron II was descended upon by mining consortiums desperate for more resources after the depletion of Ferron III.

Asura : Ferron III
A terrestrial planet with vast deposits of rare minerals when it was surveyed, Asura quickly ascended to one of the richest planets in the UPE. When the last mineral was harvested, the planet began to collapse into poverty.

Ferron IV
Ferron's only gas giant has an atmosphere with a thick layer of metallic hydrogen which behaves like a giant electrical conductor and can be severely problematic for a ship's sensitive avionics.