New Eden

New Eden, also known as Altair III is a human Inner Colony and the jewel of the Altair System within the Orion Arm of the Milkyway Galaxy. New Eden is a temperate world with a similar environment to Earth, making it thriving with life. The United Nations Federation's largest city of New Geneva is located on the main continent. In total, New Eden has a population of around 7.3 million residents. Altair III serves as a cultural, industrial, and commerce center for the UNF in the system.

New Eden’s surface is geologically diverse and Earth-like in structure, comprising a balanced mix of continents, ocean basins, mountain systems, and fertile lowlands. The dominant landmass, Euravellan, spans much of the northern hemisphere and includes the majority of the colony’s urban centers, agricultural zones, and industrial infrastructure. This continent is geologically stable, underlain by ancient continental crust composed primarily of granitic and basaltic formations. The terrain ranges from elevated interior plateaus to coastal plains and river-fed deltas, shaped over time by erosion, tectonic uplift, and glacial activity.   The Velkross Mountain Range, located in the western quadrant of Euravellan, extends over 2,100 km and consists of sedimentary and metamorphic rock layers uplifted by long-past orogenic processes. Peaks average 2,300 meters in elevation, with several volcanic remnants now dormant. The mountains serve as major watersheds for the Kael and Drun rivers, two of the longest and most ecologically significant freshwater systems on the planet. To the southeast lies the Maravel Basin, a lowland region shaped by fluvial erosion and seasonal flooding. This area holds the highest concentration of arable soil and freshwater aquifers on New Eden, making it the primary agricultural heartland. It is crisscrossed by irrigation canals, rail lines, and distribution hubs that support both domestic consumption and interplanetary export.   The southern hemisphere is more fragmented, composed primarily of archipelagos and mid-sized islands formed by ancient tectonic and volcanic activity. The largest of these is the Calvaran Archipelago, a chain of six major islands and dozens of smaller landforms with rich biodiversity and mixed topography. Coastal upwellings and nutrient cycling around these islands make them ideal for aquaculture and marine biology research. Oceans cover approximately 72% of the planet’s surface and are shallow by Earth standards, with continental shelves extending far offshore. The Aurelian Ocean, which dominates the eastern hemisphere, features active thermal vents along the mid-oceanic ridge system and supports extensive aquatic ecosystems. The Tyralis Sea, a large inland body connected by narrow straits to the Aurelian Ocean, lies within a geologic depression and is ringed by coastal cliffs and terraced floodplains.   Polar regions are covered by seasonal ice caps and permafrost tundra. The northern pole includes the Caldaran Ice Shelf, a stable mass that supports scientific installations studying climate cycles and solar radiation dynamics. The southern polar region is more geologically active, with evidence of cryovolcanic structures and ancient subglacial lakes. Seismic activity on New Eden is moderate, concentrated along the Korran Tectonic Fault and several minor subduction zones, though the planet overall is classified as tectonically stable. There is no known active volcanism. Planetary crust thickness averages 41 km, with mantle convection limited to deep-seated thermal plumes rather than large-scale plate movement. Natural resources include bauxite, iron, lithium, and rare earth elements located primarily in shield zones and exposed crustal regions. Hydrological and mineral surveys are ongoing to catalog subsurface reserves and inform future expansion and infrastructure planning.

New Eden possesses a globally temperate and relatively Earth-like climate, marked by a stable atmospheric system, predictable seasonal cycles, and minimal occurrences of extreme weather. Its axial tilt of 24.6° creates four distinct seasons across most latitudes, contributing to regional climate diversity and agricultural viability. The sidereal rotation period of 28.9 hours results in slightly elongated day-night cycles, which affect surface temperatures moderately but remain within human tolerance thresholds across all inhabited regions. Mean global temperature hovers around 15°C (59°F), with equatorial zones averaging between 25–30°C (77–86°F) during daylight hours and polar regions rarely exceeding 5°C (41°F) even in peak summer. Seasonal variance is most notable between 45°N and 55°S latitudes, where deciduous forest biomes and fertile lowland plains experience regular temperature swings of 15–20°C (27–36°F) over the course of a year.   Humidity is moderate on a planetary scale, though it varies regionally. Coastal zones and inland basins exhibit higher humidity levels due to evaporation from New Eden’s extensive hydrosphere, which covers 72% of the surface area. Prevailing wind patterns and oceanic currents—driven by equator-to-pole heat transfer—help regulate regional climates, bringing moisture inland and distributing solar energy evenly. The dominant ocean current system, the Delvaran Conveyor, cycles warm water from the equator to northern temperate coasts, keeping maritime cities like Rheinholm and Castelvarin frost-free year-round. Precipitation is regular and evenly distributed, with an annual global average of 1,120 mm, ranging from 500 mm in arid inland zones to over 2,000 mm in tropical or highland rainforest regions. Snowfall occurs seasonally above 40° latitude and in alpine elevations but rarely persists long outside the poles due to relatively mild winter temperatures.   Atmospheric composition and pressure closely resemble Earth’s, with a surface pressure of 100.562 kPa and oxygen levels of 20.9% in dry air, making the climate fully breathable and biologically hospitable to unmodified humans. Weather systems are driven by a combination of differential heating, topographic channeling, and the Coriolis effect, with mid-latitude storm systems forming in transitional seasons. Thunderstorms, frontal boundaries, and temperature inversions are common but usually mild. Radiation levels at the surface remain low due to an ozone-rich stratosphere and weak solar particle flux from Altair’s stable output. Average absorbed surface dose rate is 59 μGy/h, with negligible seasonal or latitudinal variation. Ultraviolet exposure is slightly higher than on Earth due to Altair’s spectral profile, but it remains within human safety tolerances and does not require adaptive shielding for prolonged outdoor activity.   The planet's climate is further moderated by its low orbital eccentricity (0.021) and relatively long orbital period (552.4 days local), allowing for slow, predictable transitions between seasons and minimal temperature shock effects. Environmental consistency has contributed significantly to agricultural success, urban planning stability, and overall colonist well-being—solidifying New Eden’s status as one of the most desirable Inner Colonies within UNF-controlled space.

New Eden supports a robust and mature biosphere shaped by millions of years of evolutionary development under stable planetary and stellar conditions. Its abundant and varied ecosystems range from coastal reef systems and deep ocean trenches to alpine ridgelines, equatorial rainforests, open savannas, and polar taigas. Both flora and fauna exist in highly specialized and stratified ecological niches, with significant interspecies dependencies and self-regulating population dynamics.   Flora on New Eden includes a wide array of vascular and non-vascular plants, photosynthetic lichens, high-canopy arboreals, and root-networked groundcovers. One dominant plant clade, classified under the genus Tharanthus, consists of tall, fibrous trees with lateral capillaries optimized for transpiration in high-humidity regions. In arid regions, xerophytic species such as the Caedara Shrub exhibit water-storing root nodules and thermoregulatory surface coatings. Aquatic plant life includes kelp-analogues such as Marelenth, which grow up to 60 meters in the shallows and form the structural base of the planet’s marine food web. Most native flora is biochemically distinct from Earth-origin plant life, utilizing alternative pigment compounds (e.g., phycocyanin derivatives) that absorb Altair's higher ultraviolet output efficiently. Some species, like the Sol-vine, have evolved rapid phototropic responses and seasonally shed leaves that fluoresce under UV light, aiding pollinator navigation.   Fauna is highly abundant, with an estimated cataloged species count exceeding 220,000, although taxonomic classification remains ongoing. Terrestrial megafauna include the Tharnok, a six-limbed herbivore with dermal armor plating and a complex herd structure; and the Velrathi, a predator with thermal-sensitive pits, externalized mandibles, and high metabolic rates suited to short-burst hunting. Smaller fauna such as the Scytheril (gliding omnivore), Brallisk (burrowing insectivore), and Jexari (avian-like scavenger) are prevalent across multiple biomes and exhibit territorial, migratory, or cooperative behaviors. Aerial biodiversity is particularly rich in equatorial and temperate regions. Winged wildlife range from dense-feathered flyers with strong cardiovascular adaptations to membranous-gliders with passive thermals-based locomotion. Several species display ultrasonic communication and aerial echolocation, especially among cliff-dwelling nocturnal hunters. Marine fauna include large filter feeders, fast-moving predatory species, bioluminescent deepwater fish, and reef-dwelling organisms with complex symbiotic relationships. The Korrathi Leviathan, a 28-meter-long apex predator of the northern oceanic trench systems, is the largest documented animal on the planet and has been the focus of multiple long-range aquatic surveillance expeditions. Invertebrate life is both abundant and ecologically vital. Arthropod analogues with silicon-carbide exoskeletons populate nearly every terrestrial and freshwater biome. Symbiotic microbial colonies, many of which participate in nutrient cycling and soil oxygenation, form part of the planet's primary ecological engine.   While no sentient life evolved natively on New Eden, multiple species exhibit tool use, social learning, and complex communication patterns. Behavioral ecology programs maintained by the Institute of Xenobiology monitors cognitive developments in approximately 14 species flagged for potential pre-sapient behavior. Biosphere conservation is a core mandate of the Edenian Colonial Assembly, with 17% of the planet’s surface designated as ecological preservation zones. UNF policy prohibits large-scale terraforming, non-native species introduction, and unregulated harvesting of endemic flora or fauna. Biodiversity monitoring satellites and planetary sensor arrays ensure continued compliance and early detection of ecosystem imbalances, invasive threats, or anomalous population trends.

New Eden is orbited by a single natural satellite known officially as Selene, with a diameter of 3,011 km and a stable orbital distance of approximately 392,000 km from the planetary surface. Selene follows a prograde orbit with a low eccentricity and minimal inclination, resulting in consistent orbital behavior and predictable tidal influences on New Eden’s oceans and crust. The satellite is tidally locked, with the same hemisphere always facing the planet, contributing to its long-term orbital stability and making it an ideal platform for both scientific and infrastructural applications. Selene’s surface is dominated by contrasting geological regions: older, heavily cratered highlands and smoother basaltic plains known as maria, formed from ancient lava flows over three billion years ago. Crustal composition analysis reveals anorthositic upper layers overlaying denser silicate-mantle regions, with localized basaltic upwellings in the lower-lying basins. Gravity mapping by UNF orbital surveys has detected multiple mass concentrations (mascons) beneath the maria, remnants of large-scale impact events in the moon’s early history.   The moon lacks any atmosphere, resulting in wide surface temperature fluctuations between approximately –173°C (–279.4°F) during lunar night and 127°C (260.6°F) during local day. Solar and cosmic radiation levels are high on the surface due to the absence of a magnetic field, necessitating hardened infrastructure and strict EVA protocols. Despite this, Selene remains geologically stable, with minimal thermal expansion damage to long-duration structures and very low micrometeorite hazard rates. Extensive exploration and remote sensing have identified permanently shadowed craters near Selene’s poles containing water ice deposits and hydrated regolith. Regolith samples returned from Selene confirm the presence of helium-3 and other isotopes in trace concentrations, making it a candidate for future nuclear resource extraction pending regulatory approval.   The moon hosts several key installations. The largest is Lunarc-2, a fortified joint-use orbital command complex equipped with early-warning systems, communications relays, deep-space radar arrays, and long-range telemetry coordination. It operates under USC Special Operations Command and plays a central role in maintaining system-wide sensor integrity and planetary defense readiness. Additional surface infrastructure includes autonomous scientific outposts near the Acrene Basin and Tavros Ridge, housing telescopic and geophysical instruments designed to monitor Altair’s activity and interstellar radiation. Smaller relay modules dot the Selenean nearside, linking New Eden to deep-space navigation networks and high-bandwidth comms arrays across the Altair System.