The Omenpath System
The Omenpath System is arguably the most important system within the U.S.S Dominion. The system consists of seven planets, only one of which, Omenpath, is barely survivable. The planets orbit, The Black Sun, an iconic star that emits only low levels of visible light in the violet-green range as well as four to ten times the ultraviolet (UV) light of The Sun. As human eyes cannot see UV light, the sun appears as a black balls with edges of violet and indigo flame. Individuals with Aphakia instead see a blindingly brilliant blue-white color.
The entire system is named after the planet Omenpath, called so because it is the primary source of Zelta for the U.S.S, which is needed to make energy and warp cores. The total amount of Zelta located within Omenpath will likely last millennia. However, mining Zelta on Omenpath is difficult, the high UV creates an incredibly inhospitable environment for the two million inhabitants on the planet. As such, there is repeated votes, the most recent being Proposition 816, to blow up the planet and perform mining operations in space. Such an act would be initially expensive and destroy a sizeable portion of Zelta in the planet, but would result in significantly faster and safer mining operations.
The General Environment of Omenpath
Omenpath is a large earth-like planet that would likely be habitable if not for the fact that it is within the presence of the Black Sun. For most individuals, the sky of Omenpath is a dim hazy violet. The Black Sun sits in the sky appearing as a a black "hole" in the sky, with a dull violet glow around it. The low levels of visible light results in poorly defined shadows on the planet. The Black Sun can be stared at comfortably, but, unknowingly to those who stare at it, it is rapidly and painlessly destroying their retinas. Similarly, Omenpath is below freezing at most latitudes, but unprotected individuals find themselves sunburnt extremely quickly on the planet, regardless of their latitude or altitude.
While Omenpath seems dark to most, to individuals that can see UV light, such as Violoids or those with Aphakia, the planet is significantly more vibrant. The sky instead is a hazy but bright white-violet when the sun is overhead and the Black Sun instead appears as an intense indescribable mix of white-blue and electric violet.
Equatorially, the oceans of Omenpath are not frozen over. However, the high UV light of Omenpath interacts with the surface water of oceans to create toxic air. The UV light interacts with the water to produce high amounts of pure hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2), resulting a thicker atmosphere and perpetual unbreathable fog. The oxygen further reacts with UV, generating high amounts of ozone in the atmosphere. As a result, characters exposed to the air of Omenpath must make a Difficulty Nineteen (19) Constitution Attribute Roll or receive a minus one (-1) penalty to their Constitution. This Attribute Roll must be made again every minute the character is exposed. This effect feels like an intense burning sensation within the lungs.
In addition to the chemical composition of the air, the thick air of Omenpath allows lightweight UV resistant amoeba to survive and travel in the air. These lightly fluorescent amoeba form beautiful but deadly pseudo-clouds. Breathing in this cloud infects characters, who must make a Difficulty Nineteen (19) Constitution Attribute Roll or receive a minus one (-1) penalty to both Constitution and Celerity. Additionally, if failed, the character begins to suffer from a form of pulmonary amoebiasis. Every hour the character must reattempt the same Constitution Attribute Roll until they succeed. Each failure results in an additional minus one (-1) penalty to Celerity. A Trade(Emergency Medic) roll requiring one (1) hour may be made by another character instead.
Flora and Fauna of Omenpath
The high levels of UV radiation and low visible light results in flora not commonly found elsewhere in the galaxy. UV light is not usable by chlorophyll and low levels of visible light give plants no reason to evolve the pigment. Instead, plants on Omenpath are generally a deep indigo to pitch black color, allowing them to trap as much light and heat as possible from the Black Sun. The dark flora that spreads throughout the warmer parts of the planet result in forests with low albedo. Areas with heavy amounts of flora are generally much warmer than areas, not just because of the equatorial position, but because of the flora itself. This results in a positive feedback cycle, where increasing flora makes it easier (though still difficult) for further flora to exist in the area.
Another distinct characteristic of the flora on Omenpath is how it handles the UV irradiation. In order to better tolerate the UV, flora on Omenpath have evolved efficient and resilient methods to convert harmful UV into energy for fluorescent proteins. As the Black Sun travels through the sky, flora on the planet begin to fluoresce a neon-like green, violet, and occasionally, blue. This results in areas of heavy flora, particularly those with incredibly thick canopies, to have safer UV levels and instead high visibility provided by the plants themselves. It is in these thick canopied areas that most fauna prefer to live, die, and eventually decompose, further reinforcing the positive feedback cycle of life in these areas.
The Planetary Adaptation Project: Violoids
Violoid of Omenpath.
Art by Saoulo Souza Artwork.
Violoids are a race of humanity that was developed on Omenpath as part of the Planetary Adaptation Project. Violoids have a distinct appearance not found elsewhere in the galaxy. They are typically shorter and stockier than other humans, reducing the surface area of their skin available for UV exposure. Their skin is often incredibly dark with violet undertones, providing higher, but still inadequate, protection from the UV light of Omenpath. Their head hair grows dark and highly coiled, often looking messy without regular upkeep. Similarly, their beard hair is thick and coiled, growing higher on the face than a typical human and forming a continuum down the neck and connecting to their chest hair. Some Violoids have also began to produce a chitin-like substance in their hair, creating microstructures that further reduce UV passage through the hair.
Perhaps their most distinct feature is their eyes, which are gold owing to the presence of pheomelanin, rather than eumelanin. In addition to their wider pupils, the pheomelanin works to allow in more of the low-level visible light of Omenpath, while providing a bit more protection from UV light. Retinally, Violoids have evolved a genetic advantage, they can see part of the spectrum of UV light. To them, the Black Sun of Omenpath is instead blindingly bright. In exchange, they are no longer capable of seeing the red through yellow portion of the visible light spectrum. Unlike other humans, Violoids can make out defined shadows on Omenpath, as their eyes provide them with improved contrast.
Despite having the best adaptation to the planet, Violoids are not largely in positions of power on the planet. Instead, they largely find themselves in roles requiring physical labor and a risk of physical exposure to the environment of Omenpath. This results in low salaries, poor advancement, and an inability to escape the planet. Even when they do leave the planet, Violoids are faced with new challenges. The much lower levels of UV light from other stars makes their visibility poor and their high resistance to UV absorption results in Vitamin D deficiency and general fatigue. Overall, Violoids are one of the greatest travesties of the Planetary Adaptation Project.