Lyccos System
The Lyccosian star is currently
in the waning millennia of its existence, as the Lyccosian star (called
"Veriats" by the local colonists) is a rapidly expanding red giant.
When colonization of this system and the others in the Minos Cluster was
initiated by the Empire about 75 years ago, two remaining planets were
identified in the system, Lyccos I and Lyccos II. Each of these have
apparently had their entire ecologies and terrains completely overturned
during the past 10,000 years as searing heat and radiation relentlessly
continues to expand through the system with the Veriats' corona.
The Imperial Survey Corps scientists who first studied this system for
potential colonization suspected that an ancient, pre-Old Republic civilization
existed on Lyccos II. Lyccos I, a small planetoid located in an orbit
of approximately 0.05 AUs, is already slowly spiraling to its destruction
towards the ever-expanding Veriats gas giant. Even in protected domed
environments, life on Lyccos I is not possible due to the extreme heat
and radiation planetside (Imperial recon droids had recorded temperatures
above 900°C on its surface prior to their own destruction from the
searing heat). Within the next one or two thousand years, Lyccos
II with all its ancient treasures, is anticipated to suffer the same fiery
fate. But before this eventuality, the Imperial Survey Corps has
recommended limited colonization of the system to exploit any remaining
natural resources and to allow Imperial archaeologists time to study the
ancient civilization found on Lyccos II...
Lyccos II
Image by Alduin dor Lammoth
The Lyccos System, created by
GARonin@aol.com
The planet of Lyccos II is a
contradiction and by the reckoning of most Imperial sociologists should
not even exist. Upon discovery 83 years ago, the Old Republic (followed
by the Empire) identified the presence of ruins and thousands of artificial,
subterranean caverns indicating the presence of an ancient, wondrous civilization
predating the Old Republic (i.e. greater than 4,000 years old). Although
the planet's surface was now much too hot for colonization, the immense
subterranean caverns, often spanning hundreds of kilometers) were apparently
utilized by the former natives to escape the expanding heat of their dying
sun. Unlike the recent colonists, it is presumed this ancient civilization
did not have unlimited (albeit expensive) access to an interstellar economy
for water, food, medicine, and other vitals for continuing life.
Imperial archaeologists assume that the Lyccosians simply died of starvation,
thirst and/or disease.
During the height of the Empire,
millions of colonists and scientists seeking refuge from the Emperor's
oppressions decided an existence in obscurity in the Minos Cluster was
preferable to life under Palpatine's rule. Consequently, an odd mix
of pirates, rogues and some of the brightest intellectuals in the galaxy
can be found here. Fortunately, the cavern system on Lyccos supports
a tolerable lifestyle, even though breathing masks are recommended to protect
against the natural accumulations of various subsurface pollutants such
as hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide. As such, each of the larger
cavern systems has developed into a city-state of its own, with its own
crime lord and/or scientist as its head. Often the ancient Lyccosian
ruins are used as palaces, markets and domiciles. Over the past couple
of decades, this system has enjoyed relative peace, as the scientists need
the crime lords to provide needed supplies, food, entertainment, etc.,
and the crime lords require the scientists to maintain their alien environmental
systems and help catalog the strange and wondrous technologies discovered
here prior to their sale off-planet. Each of the "cavern-states"
enjoys a certain degree of independence as various Sullust, Hutt, human
and Twi'lek leaders jockey for control over the very limited resources
on the planet. A total of 29 major cavern states are known to exist,
with possibly thousands of smaller, independent caves populated and interconnected
within the crust of the planet. Transport between caverns is usually
by massive repulsorlift barges that regularly roam the caverns, bringing
much-needed supplies and personnel throughout the planet. However,
the wealthier colonists often have their own repulsorlift speeders.
Although not much of the Lyccosian
civilization remains on the surface, the intertwined, subsurface system
of caverns contains many ancient ruins, libraries, artifacts and technologies...remnants
of their civilization. Although these technologies are primarily
little more than artifacts and oddities to the technologically superior,
hyperspace age Imperials, they are still wondrous and beautiful examples
of a dying world. Many are suited to providing life within the gloomy
and dark confines of the caverns. For example, some of the oxygen
and water recirculating equipment surpasses even the latest systems used
in the Imperial star fleet. The old structures and ruins are also
amazing in their own right. Built into the sidewalls, floors and
even ceilings of the caverns to maximize the most efficient use of the
limited space, they are blocky and unattractive, but extremely functional.
An elaborate and independent communication and environmental control system
is also located within each cavern.
Life on Lyccos II is harsh.
With the various leaders continually vying for control of larger apportionments
of credits and resources, there is no central command or governing authority
on the planet. As such, many pirates, raiders and even some former
Rebel Alliance personnel enjoy an uninhibited lifestyle on Lyccos II.
Far from the prying eyes of the Empire and the New Republic, the citizens
of Lyccos II consider themselves independent...However, a brisk smuggler's
trade with the Empire and New Republic controlled territories is enjoyed...