[K,12] Epsilon Eridani System

The Epsilon Eridani system is 10.5 light years from Earth and one of the older systems settled by Humanity. It is home to several habitable planets, of which the most notable is Atlantica. At 10.5 light years from the Sol system, it is one of the closest neighbors of humanity's former homeworld, and has a total population of around 16.4 Billion individuals.

By the early 21st century, scientific observation had deduced the presence of an inner rocky asteroid belt, an outer icy belt, and at least three planets: at least one gas giant the size of Jupiter, and possibly two terrestrial planets, near the inner and outer belts, respectively. Secondary long distance surveying formally identified the planetary bodies present in Epsilon Eridani, confirming Epsilon Eridani II to be an earth-like world with liquid water and subsequently opening it up to early colonisation efforts, particularly after the initial UN planetary survey found Epsilon Eridani II to be perfect for human settlement, although lacking in any advanced animal life, as well as confirming Epsilon Eridani IV to also be immediately habitable, if less desirable. The plethora of moons, some of which were on the cusp of habitability, and a wide breadth of resources accessible to terran industry ensured a steady flow of colonists after initial settlement.

As such, Before the fall of Earth, Epsilon Eridani's stellar positioning had lead it to being one of the most active transfer systems for incoming and outgoing cargo and personnel shipments, with the local system governments barely noticeable tolls and port fees earning the system one of highest colonial gross stellar products of the age. While diminished in the following wars and governmental upheavals, Epsilon Eridani remains a desirable stopping point on many trade routes in the region.

Epsilon Eridani possesses 6 planetary bodies, that of Tantalus, Atlantica, Cascade, Sahara, Zeus and Kronos, of which two are inhabited. Zeus and Kronos, both gas giants of different classification, also possess a number of moons, though the sheer number of small planetary bodies in Kronos orbit has had most of these saddled with only alpha-numeric designations.

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Characterized as the inhabited worlds before the outer asteroid belt, the Inner System is separated into those worlds orbiting before the Turul belt - the inner, rocky belt - and the outer Sulis belt, its more icebound cousin. Significant industry operates in both belts, but years of excavation and easier access to liquid water has led to a higher permanent concentration in the Sulis belt.

Epsilon Eridani I/Tantalus:

Tantalus is a mercurian world that is far too close to Epsilon Eridani's primary for comfort, all the same, its surprisingly active vulcanism and former history as a much larger world lead it to being a treasure trove of usable minerals. While all planetary habitation and is temporary and mobile to keep up with the planetary rotation, its orbitals serve as refineries, habitation and research posts.

As such, Tantalus never has more than a few thousand individuals counted under its census data at any one time.

Epsilon Eridani II/Atlantica:

Atlantica is a "continental" world, though its oceans comprise a larger amount of its surface than that of Earth as well as being slightly smaller, if more dense, and as such it barely scrapes by on this designation. Nonetheless, featuring two large continents and one smaller, tertiary one, it is a heavily populated world that sits at the heart of the Eridani Star Kingdom. Heavily managed urbanisation has however limited pollution and sprawl has been prevented from compounding on itself and breaching protected zones. Atlantica's vibrant native plant life has largely been preserved, and complimented by terrestrial flora and fauna species from Earth.

Atlantica's two moons, Sirin ("Sih-ven") and Ciren ("Sigh-ren"), were both pushed into habitable by basic terraforming techniques and are themselves resource rich. While Sirin ended up a arid and dry world, Ciren, with its much thicker atmosphere and ring system, became a terrestrial partner to Atlantica, with numerous oceans and temperate zones, though with a far more tropical equatorial band - as such it is a frequent choice for those seeking a warm vacation.

The current population of Atlantica is slightly over 10 Billion, while Sirin's stands at 410 Million. Ciren, as a much more habitable moon, stands at 2.1 Billion. As such, Atlantica's orbits are a hive of activity.

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Epsilon Eridani III/Cascade:

Cascade is a barren world, as far as life goes, though its deep canyons and scarred craters reveal a different sort of wealth - though not the one typically sought at first. While having some measure of accessible minerals, much of Cascade's crust erupts with unique Eridani "crystals" - these precious stones are of use in a number of electronic systems and are also known for their beauty due to the way they scatter light. As such, while not extremely rare, the difficulty involved in extraction, the multiple uses and the penchant of the aristocracy has driven the price of Eridani scatter crystals to a stable high point that it has seen use as a "standard" attached to Eridani currency on at least two different occasions. Infrequently, crystal seams burst forth due to basic vulcanic forces and form a "cascade" of light through portions of the planet, granting the world its name.

Despite its harsh environment, several colonies securely sealed in domes are present on Cascade, and dozens of mining and research concerns operate on its surface and in orbit. and numerous tourist adventures seek out the infrequent cascades of Cascade. As such, the population of Cascade hovers around the 275 Million mark.

Epsilon Eridani IV/Sahara:

Sahara is a world of long, dry deserts marked with a cold, but much more habitable equatorial band, functioning as an oasis of sorts. Despite its name, Sahara is a cold, rather than hot, desert, with a thin atmosphere and low but suitable oxygen content. While Sahara's initial draw was economic, years since have seen high tech firms utilizing the cold planets other natural resources to operate heat-sensitive machinery, testing and production techniques that cannot take place in zero-g, while simultaneously not being subject to the extreme cold of a frozen outer world.

The population of Sahara stands around the 700 Million mark.

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The Zeus Local System is the designation ascribed to the Jovian Gas Giant, Zeus, and its moons and orbital objects. The Zeus Local System experiences a reasonable degree of traffic, both orbital and interstellar, transiting through on matters of industry or pleasure, and frequently utilizing one of Epsilon Eridani's well known jump points.

As a meeting point of industry and shipping lanes, a significant degree of shipbuilding activity has moved into the vicinity of Hera, Persephone and Demeter.

Epsilon Eridani V/Zeus:

Zeus is the smaller of the two Gas Giant's present in the Epsilon Eridani system, and is the main source of easily accessible basic helium and hydrogen resources for the Epsilon Eridani system - as a consequence, its orbit is littered with installations that serve that purpose.

Zeus also has a handful of moons of varying degrees of interest, with a handful of them possessing permanent populations, particular on those pushed by terraforming techniques into a measure of habitability.

A Brief Synopsis follows:
-Hera ("Earth"-like) 1.9bn
-Persephone (Arid) 500m
-Athena (Barren with underwater oceans, domed colonies) 400m
-Demeter (Arid) 300m
-Hestia (Barren, domed colonies) 20m
-Minos (Barren, domed colonies) 35m
-Aeacus (Barren, mining colonies)
-Hebe (Barren, mining colonies)
-Perseus (Barren, Research Colonies etc)

As such, around 3.2 Billion people make their home in the shadow of Zeus.

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