Horizon
I turned slowly, looking out into the distance as far as I could see. There was the turquoise blue ocean to the West and the rolling fields of green to the East. Neither mountain nor tall forest obscured my vision of the horizon. Fitting, as that was the planet's name. Horizon.
The new guy from one of the Solar habitats came up to me, huffing and puffing out of breath. He hadn't been engineered yet, and he was experiencing why it was a prerequisite for living here. The gravity was so heavy that his poor muscles ached just walking up the hill to me. He
promptly collapsed in a heap in the grass upon reaching me.
"I told you this would happen... Come on now, let's get you to the clinic for the treatment before your heart gives out." I said as I helped him back onto his feet.
Geography
Horizon is a large temperate planet with gravity a third stronger than Terra. The heavier gravity limits the height of mountains and hastens the effects of erosion, resulting in predominantly flat terrain across the surface. Airborne particulates settle quickly to provide a beautiful clear sky. The view of space at night is particularly breathtaking. This combination of features inspired the planet's name.
Other than the heavy gravity, Horizon is very similar to Terra, though with smaller yet deeper oceans.
Horizon boasts a pair of moons, one of which is bright red due to high iron content.
Fauna & Flora
Life on Horizon had to evolve to endure the heavy gravity of the large planet. Plants and animals are shorter and sturdier than typically seen elsewhere. Natural flight and gliding never evolved on this planet, and bipedal forms are extremely rare.
The expansive fields and plains are home to a wide variety of creatures that rarely peek above the grass. A favored form of locomotion for many animals is to curl up and roll down the sloping hillsides. Some have even evolved a means of undulating their bodies to accelerate while rolling.
Terran colonists have undergone genetic engineering to improve bone density and muscle strength. Terrans without these modifications find life on Horizon to be exhausting and painful. Prolonged stay without the prescribed enhancements is not recommended.
Natural Resources
Horizon is one of the most fertile planets in the Orion Spur and serves as the agricultural center of the Terran Union. The far spread fields have been cultivated to produce all manner of crops, many of which actually grow better on Horizon than they did back on Terra. Native produce is also extremely popular as many fruits have a peculiar sweet and sour flavor of surprising intensity.
Aside from farmland, there is a unique form of living crystal that is grown and harvested on the planet. These crystals grow within hidden geode caverns near the coastal regions. While they have little industrial value, they are extremely popular for architectural and interior decor purposes. They are a common export for trade with other Union planets and will grow to a limited extent beyond Horizon's gravity. However, they only truly thrive in their native environment.
Alternative Name(s)
Colony One
Type
Planet
Location under
Owning Organization
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