Earth image courtesy of NASA / NSSDC.
Key Information:
Notable Residents: |
OverviewEarth is the home of the human race, and the seat of power for the Imperial Combine.
Seen from space the planet is a mainly blue ball wreathed in white cloud, with visible continents that are coloured green, brown and grey. The polar ice caps are white. Earth is a terrestrial or "rocky" planet. Amongst the rocky planets orbiting its star, Sol, it has relatively high density and surface gravity. The rocky surface of the planet is a thin crust with relatively low density, essentially floating on a denser semi-liquid mantle. A strong magnetic field deflects a significant amount of harmful stellar radiation. Also, around 71% of the surface of the planet is covered by water, an organic solvent. Both of these attributes contributed significantly to the emergence of life on the planet. Like many planets of its type, Earth hosts a range of wildly different environments. From scorching deserts to frozen tundras, humid jungles to arid savannah, gentle meadows to lifeless salt flats, the diversity constantly surprises visitors. Some changes between adjacent environments are sudden and jarring, while others happen so smoothly that they can pass unnoticed. Virtually every environment on the planet has become a habitat for living things. The biosphere of Earth is rich and diverse, representing almost all of the known kingdoms:
The planet is also host to non-cellular life, principally millions of types of virus and a number of dangerous prions. Up until around 2350 AD, the planet's biosphere suffered an onslaught from the industrial and commercial side effects of human civilisation. Species across the kingdoms went into a decline which continued even after measures were put in place to minimise anthropogenic damage. It was not until the Restoration Project took hold that the ecosystems of the planet began to stabilise. Nonetheless, many species needed to be recreated from genetic stock, and some were unfortunately lost forever. The dominant sentient species is humanity. Representatives of other species do live and work on Earth, however there are few permanent ethnic settlements. Across the galaxy, most sentient species tend to prefer to live permanently on planets where their species is dominant. |
Population
The human population, at its peak in the 26th Century, exceeded 14,000,000,000.
In co-ordination with the Restoration Project, the Gate Initiative, and eventually the Colonisation Push, Earth was systematically and aggressively depopulated through migration. The population in the 38th Century is closer to 3,500,000,000 (→WGSF).
The majority of citizens now live in tower cities, often named after the now obsolete nations or states which once claimed the regions which constructed them. The tower cities incorporate several smart networks dedicated to renewable power, community farming, and clean transport. The size and shape of the cities provide huge amounts of free space per capita, and their efficient design generally means they have no great reliance on importation.
Part of the Restoration Project involved the careful demolition and erasure of hundreds of vacant old-style cities, and all of their attendant infrastructure including connecting roads. As a result of this, nature has reclaimed vast tracts of land that once belonged to humanity. There are incongruous clearings dotted across the landscape, containing buildings and monuments which were deemed to be worth preserving and protecting. Examples are the Eiffel Tower, the third Chrysler Building, and the more recent statue of Roima Gotharom.
In co-ordination with the Restoration Project, the Gate Initiative, and eventually the Colonisation Push, Earth was systematically and aggressively depopulated through migration. The population in the 38th Century is closer to 3,500,000,000 (→WGSF).
The majority of citizens now live in tower cities, often named after the now obsolete nations or states which once claimed the regions which constructed them. The tower cities incorporate several smart networks dedicated to renewable power, community farming, and clean transport. The size and shape of the cities provide huge amounts of free space per capita, and their efficient design generally means they have no great reliance on importation.
Part of the Restoration Project involved the careful demolition and erasure of hundreds of vacant old-style cities, and all of their attendant infrastructure including connecting roads. As a result of this, nature has reclaimed vast tracts of land that once belonged to humanity. There are incongruous clearings dotted across the landscape, containing buildings and monuments which were deemed to be worth preserving and protecting. Examples are the Eiffel Tower, the third Chrysler Building, and the more recent statue of Roima Gotharom.
Cities
Imperial City
Technically a huge palace, Imperial City is located in what was once called Geneva. It is the heart of the Empire, and the location of Empress Ecoria's court.
City of Nigeria
One of the great tower cities of Earth, constructed as part of the Restoration Project, the City of Nigeria has a footprint which stretches from what was once Abuja to the site of old Nasarawa. Like the other national tower cities, it is designed to reduce environmental impact. As a Type III city it is remarkably well-adapted to not only protect the native wildlife around it, but to actively encourage ecological stability.
The city houses the vast majority of the population of the defunct nation which gave it its name, as well as those of the historical nations of Benin, Togo, and Ghana.
The city houses the vast majority of the population of the defunct nation which gave it its name, as well as those of the historical nations of Benin, Togo, and Ghana.
City of Peru
The towering City of Peru is just off-shore, standing high above the waters of the South Pacific Ocean, up to two kilometres out from the centre of the historical site of Chimbote. It houses the vast majority of the remaining population of old Peru, as well as a small portion of the obsolete nation of Ecuador. As of 3714 ELC it was fully occupied, with a total of 15,000,000 inhabitants. The languages spoken in the culturally diverse city are known to include Hispo, old Spanish, Quechua, and Shuara (→LOTD).
Peru is a Type IV tower city, standing in Bahía de Chimbote. Its northernmost support leg is attached to Isla Blanca, the westernmost leg has an artificial foundation set deep in the sea bed, and the final leg is attached to the prominence of rock describing the southern arc of the bay. The submerged leg contains desalination plants, which are able to supplement the city's fresh water supplies when the Río Lacramarca is low. Large volumes of clean, fresh water are also reclaimed from the south leg's sewerage systems, and are fed into a network responsible for watering the many wall and terrace gardens.
Peru is a Type IV tower city, standing in Bahía de Chimbote. Its northernmost support leg is attached to Isla Blanca, the westernmost leg has an artificial foundation set deep in the sea bed, and the final leg is attached to the prominence of rock describing the southern arc of the bay. The submerged leg contains desalination plants, which are able to supplement the city's fresh water supplies when the Río Lacramarca is low. Large volumes of clean, fresh water are also reclaimed from the south leg's sewerage systems, and are fed into a network responsible for watering the many wall and terrace gardens.
Facilities
As the heart of the Imperial Combine, Earth might be expected to be riddled with the machinery of a living empire. However, due to the ongoing cultural legacy of the great Restoration Project, many tasks are farmed out to the colonies.
Heavy industry in particular is not permitted on the surface. The one exception is the planet's xtryllium refinery, which is buried in Antarctica. Orbital facilities include the Pavadene Fleetworks shipyard, the Maxus Industries Drive Factory, and of course Imperial Navy Fleet Command. Earth does have several starports, but — deliberately — few of them are equipped to accommodate large frame vessels.
Three prime gates in the system maintain the zeroth gate nexus, allowing uninterrupted inter-system communication and providing reliable, secure, and efficient transit services.
Orbital solar collectors transmit energy to the surface, which meets a significant proportion of the planet's power needs.
Three of the Solar system's various Fortress-class battle stations are located around Earth. These are Fort Sol, Fort Terra, and Fort Luna. Each of them are enhanced above and beyond the basic Fortress-class specification with very heavy defence systems. Earth's defence network also includes fracture barriers, which are virtually impervious to attack by starships.
Heavy industry in particular is not permitted on the surface. The one exception is the planet's xtryllium refinery, which is buried in Antarctica. Orbital facilities include the Pavadene Fleetworks shipyard, the Maxus Industries Drive Factory, and of course Imperial Navy Fleet Command. Earth does have several starports, but — deliberately — few of them are equipped to accommodate large frame vessels.
Three prime gates in the system maintain the zeroth gate nexus, allowing uninterrupted inter-system communication and providing reliable, secure, and efficient transit services.
Orbital solar collectors transmit energy to the surface, which meets a significant proportion of the planet's power needs.
Three of the Solar system's various Fortress-class battle stations are located around Earth. These are Fort Sol, Fort Terra, and Fort Luna. Each of them are enhanced above and beyond the basic Fortress-class specification with very heavy defence systems. Earth's defence network also includes fracture barriers, which are virtually impervious to attack by starships.
Recorded Events
In early 3745 ELC, the Eyes and Ears invigilator representing the Kosling system was present on Earth for a special project. Monitor Gordl Branathes acted up in her place (→SFTD).
The ancient oak tree growing in the grounds of Svelengarth, once the Caden family estate, was shipped to Damastion from Earth (→SFTD).
Lamis Throam convinced her partner Peshal to relocate to Earth from Shuul (→LOTD).
On 26th March 3745 ELC, Elm Caden travelled to Earth. He visited Lamis and Peshal Throam, and sought audience with Empress Ecoria (→TRD).
In the north-western corner of what was once the United States of America, vast areas of land are still desolate and barren. They were incinerated in a single afternoon during the Asia-Pacific war. Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado were obliterated in the attack, now referred to as the Bleakening of the Americas, and the whole region is now known as the North American Badlands (→FSS, ASTTS).
The ancient oak tree growing in the grounds of Svelengarth, once the Caden family estate, was shipped to Damastion from Earth (→SFTD).
Lamis Throam convinced her partner Peshal to relocate to Earth from Shuul (→LOTD).
On 26th March 3745 ELC, Elm Caden travelled to Earth. He visited Lamis and Peshal Throam, and sought audience with Empress Ecoria (→TRD).
In the north-western corner of what was once the United States of America, vast areas of land are still desolate and barren. They were incinerated in a single afternoon during the Asia-Pacific war. Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado were obliterated in the attack, now referred to as the Bleakening of the Americas, and the whole region is now known as the North American Badlands (→FSS, ASTTS).