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Last updated December 29, 2003                                                                                                                                                                   © 2003 John M. and Margo L. Dollan

Worlds of Interest

• Toliman

  • Baahki

    • Saphos

  • Eutresca

  • Mephinos

    • moon

    • moon

  • Asteroids

  • Comets

  • Kuiper Objects

  • Oort Cloud Objects

  • Space Stations, etc.

Other Names:  HD 128621, HR 5460, HIP 71681

From the Earth, Toliman is often outshone by its sibling, the brighter Kentauros.

Overview

Stellar Data

Orbital Parameters

Stellar Information

Slightly older than Sol, Alpha Centauri has long been famous to Humanity both for being the closest star to the Sun, but also being the closest star similar to the Sun.  Because of that, it had long been theorized that a habitable world might be found here.  in fact, when Humanity finally looked, they found two such worlds, one in orbit of each of the two components of the system.

Kentauros is the brighter and more massive of the two stars, and its outward appearance is almost identical to the Sun.  But it is older, and as such there are measurable differences.  It is a brighter star than Sol, and since it is also slightly more massive, it will leave the main sequence sooner.  But there are still eons of life left in this star, and its eventual red giant fate is not worth worrying about yet.

But that day will happen, and when it does the impact on this star system will be profound.  Certainly all of the planets in orbit of Kentauros will either be destroyed or burnt to a cinder.  And the worlds in orbit of Toliman, Alpha Centauri B, may well also be rendered uninhabitable.  The fact that Toliman will not balloon into a red giant for a billion years or more after Kentauros is irrelevant.  Kentauros rules this system, and in the end it will decide its fate.

System Data
(highlighted world is the primary world of interest)

System Information

A-I -- Asbolos:  A small and dense metallic world in a tight orbit.  There is no geologic activity, and a trace atmosphere of helium is maintained by solar winds.  The planet is tidally locked to Kentauros.
A-II -- Polyphonte:  A massive terrestrial world within a thick atmosphere, largely of carbon dioxide, with an accompanying greenhouse effect.  However, Polyphonte has a tremendous amount of water, and its surface is covered by a several-kilometers deep global ocean.  Geological activity is high, with heavy instances of volcanism.  Plate tectonics are absent.  The two moons, Agrios and Oreios, are heavily cratered and geologically inert.
A-III -- Ghellhonus:  A Gaian world with a thriving, high-level ecosystem.  A largely warm world, although there is a trend for colder winters in the higher and lower latitudes.  A single Selenian moon, Amycos, is heavily cratered and geologically inert.
A-IV -- Teleboas:  A medium-sized world with a near standard atmosphere of carbon dioxide, maintained by a cyclic system of volcanism.  Surface water is present, up to the level of small seas.  Anaerobic life is also present, in the form of mono-cellular microbes.  However, some forms aggregate to the point of forming large mats.  When the volcanic cycle lessens, every 40 million years or so, Teleboas becomes very Mars-like.

Primary Planet Data

Lunar Data

Lunar Information

Amycos is a rather unremarkable Selenian moon, very much like Earth's Luna in many ways.  It is heavily cratered, geologically inert, and low in mass.  It is, essentially, the remains of two sets of planetary crusts following the collision of two worlds which formed it, nearly 5 billion years ago.  One major difference is that the cratered highlands cover nearly all of the moon's surface, and the regions of maria are confined to small, deep craters.  This leaves the moon as being somewhat brighter in Ghellhonus' night sky than Luna is in Earth's.

Planetary Description

Geology: Tectonic-based geological cycle with corresponding effects and results. There are three main continents and a number of tectonic rafts.  Two of the continents, Amrosia and Naussica, are in the process of colliding.  The third isolated continent, Eolia, is remarkable for its red soil, and is believed to be a "fossil" continent that was once entirely desert.  There is a geological hotspot worth mentioning.  Called Surtr's Forge, it is a large region of geothermal activity, very similar in nature to Earth's Yellowstone caldera.

The world map of Ghellhonus (image copyright John M. Dollan)

Meteorology: Temperatures tend to range towards the high side on Ghellhonus, and show only a slight variance throughout the year due to the lessened axial tilt of the planet.  Consequently, the seasons are much more muted than they are on Earth, and the only extreme temperature changes tend to occur in the high elevations and latitudes.

Oceanography:  Ghellhonus is dominated by the Megantic Ocean, a globe-girdling body of water.  Its currents are relatively unimpeded by continental masses, and indeed the open southern pole aids in maintaining the high planetary temperature.  The average oceanic salinity level is about 6% higher than on Earth, perhaps reflecting a longer period of time in which minerals have been leeched into the water by erosional forces.  There are various large inland lakes, most notably Amrosia's Baltic Sea (although it is actually a fresh water body), and several major river systems can be found on all three continents.

Biology:  Advanced terrestrial and aquatic biomes, with macroscale trichordates dominating.  More primitive monochordates fill lower roles.  Curiously, bichordates became extinct in the recent geological past.  Plants photosynthesize via chlorophyll and appear in millions of varieties.  Most are rigid via an internal cellulose integument system.  Overall biochemistry is quite similar to Earth.

Intelligence:  The Cthulu Anomalies hint at a 500 million year old industrial civilization, but remains unconfirmed.  The Trundles are current community burrowers with a complex social order and very simplistic tool use.  There is no evidence of any higher level communication, or even low level sapience.  They do have evolutionary potential, however.

Colonial Information

Colonial Vessel Data:  Colonial Vessel Kennebunkport launched 2212.  Using a fusion-antimatter powered engine.  Top speed of 0.1c.  Accompanying vessel Magellan, with the same configuration, was bound for Alpha Centauri B.  The Kennebunkport fleet composed of one advance observation vessel, the Porpoise, which would precede the rest of the fleet and initiate detailed planetary mapping missions, as well as deliver several microlanders to surface sites that fall within preestablished parameters for a colonial location.  Two cargo vessels, the Redkin and Trott, also precede the colonial vessel proper, and would be inserted into high equatorial orbits.  They are not designed to land, but do contain two surface to orbit shuttles capable of carrying the compartmentalized cargo.  The Kennebunkport itself is also not designed to land, but contains three smaller shuttles, as well as twenty small escape craft, capable of holding fifteen people each.  The vessel is designed to comfortably accommodate 21 people in a waking state at all times.  There are nine waking shifts for the 45 year trip required, and three sets of duty personnel.  All other colonists remain in an induced deep hibernation state.

The arrival date for the Kennebunkport was 2257, and after several Terran-months of planetary data examination and evaluation, planetary landing was initiated in 2258.  The landing site and resulting initial community was designated New Hope, and was located in the Bear Creek Valley of the northern Saganti region, in a temperate climate region.

Colonist Demographics: Two hundred colonists total, 100 men and 100 women.  Initial married couples:  50.  No children.  Colonists are from all corners of Earth and the populated Sol System of the early 23rd Century.  Chosen because of their selected professional fields, as well as their aptitude in these fields.  The colony make up was chosen for their likelihood of producing a successful extrasolar colony.  Religious affiliation was not a consideration, and approximately 35% of the colonists do not have any such affiliation.

Initial Colonial Organization: The initial colonial government was based upon a "town council" principle, with the military commanders of the Kennebunkport retaining control.  Within the local year, however, once the colony had been sufficiently established, elections were held for  new leadership.  Throughout the entire time, emphasis remained on agricultural careers, steering the colony towards true self-sufficiency.

Colonial Time Line (local years are presented, with corresponding Earth years in parentheses): 

• (2017):  Ghellhonus is detected and determined to have a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere.

• (2100's):  A probe visit to Alpha Centauri A confirms Ghellhonus as a Gaian world.

• (2212):  The Alpha Centauri Project is launched.

• (2257):  The Kennebunkport Fleet arrives at Ghellhonus.

• 1 A^fter A^rrival (2258):  The first colonists touch down on the surface of Ghellhonus. 

• 4AA (2262):  The Republic of Saganti is officially founded with the drafting of a constitution.

• 27AA (2285):  A dissident group of second generationals (Sec-Gens) forcibly breaks from the Republic and founds a self-proclaimed empire on Naussica.

• 79AA (2337):  The Land Grant is initiated by the Republic.  Large territories throughout Amrosia are bought by  families who wish to foster various industries.  These will become the powerful Estates of the future. For now, however, they begin to form separate, almost feudal states.  The republic will weaken because of this.

• 152AA (2410):  The War of the Republic is begun as various of the still young Estates fight over commercial rights.  While many Estates feud among themselves, many more war with the Republic.  This division among the Estates is all that keeps the Republic intact.

• 157AA (2415):  The Republican Army is founded in an alliance between several Estates and the nearly shattered Republic.  New campaigns designed to end the War are begun.

• 162AA (2420):  The War ends as the Republican Army takes control of the final Estate.  Later that year, the Treaty of Bejart is signed, effectively uniting the remains of the Republic and the Estates under a tighter government.  The United Amrosian Estates is born.

• Further Developments Not assigned specific dates: 

  • The generalized movement towards orbital space.

  • The rise of technological capabilities equal to 23rd Century Earth at least.

  • A heavily subjugated Ghellhonus, by the Dominion, sees the collapse of  the old government and the return, however clandestine, of the power of the Estates.

  • In the void of the Dominion, the Estates assert control over the entire Alpha Centauri System, subjugating neighboring Baahki.

  • The Empire will continue to grow in power, and in the far future may even become a local interstellar power.