Yridia II is an ocean planet
with water covering approximately 99% of its surface. Human life
on the planet is primarily restricted to the several dozen island chains
that dot the surface...the tops of the tallest submerged mountain chains
on the planet. Life has been harsh for the colonists who came to
Yridia II, but it has also been free. Far from the Empire or the
Rebellion, the original 1,000,000 colonists have not only survived on this
serene ocean world with limited dry land, but they have successfully adapted
and begun to thrive. With only several thousand square miles of useable
land available for colonization, its maximum usage was paramount.
In the early colonial days, the original colonists built their places of
worship and governmental centers on these island chains (i.e. the Yridia
II Government Complex), and so it remains today.
Early in the history of civilization
of Yridia II, when their Imperial suppliers began to stop their trade runs,
the colonists unanimously decided to return their culture to a simpler,
feudal based system in order to survive. Each sub-culture of the
various clans, religions and families constructed immense wind-barges and
floating cities, separated into independent "Houses" and went their own
way on the oceans of Yridia II. With the serene Yridia II climate,
simple flotation support was all that was needed to create moderate-sized
floating cities...each could house several thousand inhabitants.
The ocean contained several hostile forms of life but is typically an abundant
food source. The Yridian colonists have thus become accomplished
seamen and fishermen. However, within two generations, several large-scale
sea battles ensued between several of the Houses over control of the remaining
Imperial-age technology. Weapons, computers, communication equipment,
luxuries and medical technology were becoming scarce and thousands died
in these battles, often fought with nothing more than bladed weapons, slugthrowers
and fast attack boats armed with only primitive ramming devices.
Several years ago, one of the feudal
Houses was contacted by a consortium of off-world smugglers (some suspect
the Hutts of Lyccos II) and limited amounts of over-priced technology began
to permeate the culture. Although more weapons exist on the planet
(limited blaster technology is available, but most weapons are slugthrowers),
more medical technology and basic equipment has also been imported.
The natives do not seem to want or need more. With their massive
floating cities, sail barges, and support facilities, the Yridian colonists
seem content to live off the produce of their world.
The several Imperial and Rebel diplomatic
missions recently sent to the planet have been greeted by hordes of colonists
who more often than not despise their more technologically advanced "guests".
There also have been several reports of the natives simply falling upon
a party of diplomats or smugglers unprovoked, then pillaging their aqua-skiffs
or water-speeders for weapons, food, supplies and equipment.
All non-human species are warned
to not land on Yridia II as the colonists have become extremely xenophobic.
The two moons of Yridia II Koros
and Fenris are small, lifeless hunks of rock.
Yridia IX is a moderately successful
colony world that specializes in mining the nearby Itaana Asteroid Belt
for lommite. This asteroid field, lying in a almost perfectly circular
orbit at the outermost fringes of this system, is incredibly rich in various
metals and ores required for all sorts of modern industrial operations.
It is rumored that the mineral wealth in this belt rivals that of the hidden
Source Worlds of Corellian Engineering Corporation. Unfortunately
for the several small independent corporations that mine the precious lommite
(used in the manufacture of transparisteel) found in abundance in the Itaana
Asteroid Belt, the cost of transport back to the Inner Rim precludes them
from making much profit. The lommite mines of Elom, also located
in the Borderlands and recently joining the New Republic, has experienced
similar difficulties. However, the mines of Elom are almost exclusively
contracted for the New Republic industries, so their transport costs are
more than made up through volume sales.
Consequently, since Yridia IX has
declined to join either the New Republic or the Empire, it's corporate
customers are primarily individuals, small Outer Rim based Corporations,
planetary governments and the like...no where near as lucrative as supplying
an entire Starfleet. In some ways, this suits the colonists on Yridia
IX just fine. Far removed from galactic politics, the Corporations
decide their own pricing and clientele. More than one unscrupulous
pirate or bounty hunter has docked at the infamous Yridia IX Starport...locally
known as Eden...The citizens of Yridia IX as well as all sorts of underworld
visitors have been know to regularly frequent the various bars, nightclubs,
brothels (serving all sorts of alien and human tastes) and gambling dens
present in Eden. The pleasure dens of Eden have been frequented by
almost every pirate, smuggler, bounty hunter, gambler, thief, assassin
and One of the local bars at the Eden Starport, the Flailed Wookie, even
has a signed picture of the famous Rebel heroes, Han Solo and Chewbacca
in their early days, hanging above the ancient Endorian oak bar.
Despite the abundance of lawless
visitors to Yridia IX, the local Constabulary does a surprisingly good
job at keeping the violence to a minimum. Since all weapons are officially
banned within the limits of Eden, random blaster fire is a rare occurrence.
This suits the local Corporations and colonists who prefer a homeworld
with minimal disruptions. However, one would be hard pressed to find
a soul on Yridia IX who would not be interested in making a quick profit
even if at the expense of a family member.
The Starport is of exceptional quality
and facilities, considering its remote location in the galaxy. The
Stellar class StarPort serves all of the Corporate interests in-system
as well as the illegitimate spacefarers. Almost every few minutes,
various freighters, tugs, mining vehicles, pirate or smuggler ships can
be found arriving or departing Eden, making Yridia IX one of the most active
trading centers in the Minos Cluster.
