Shasta

Star type (Recharge time): K3V

Position in system: 2 (of 9)

Number of satellites: 2 (Hestaby, Dunkelzhan)

Surface gravity: 1.02 g

Atmospheric Pressure: Standard (Breathable)

Equatorial Temperature: 40 (Tropical)

Surface water: 70 percent

Recharging station: Zenith

HPG Class: B (Inoperative)

Highest native life: Mammals

Population: 450,000,000 (3145)

Socio-Industrial levels: B-C-B-B-A

Landmasses (Capitol city): Kitanemuk, Miwok, Serrano (Redding),Timbisha,

Shasta was discovered early in the age of exploration, and almost immediately tagged as an ideal location for a colony. Orbiting a small, orange sun, the planet’s position sloe to the primary meant that it was blessed with Earth-like conditions and an abundance of native flora and fauna. Much of the planet’s four major continents were covered in thick forests, most notably the dense interior jungles. Save for the equatorial deserts of the largest continent (Later named Serrano), the world seemed ripe for human habitation.

The biggest obstacle to colonization was not a problem with the planet itself, but with its local life forms. Several aggressive species called Shasta home, most notably the Skatha Ape. While largely confined to the planet’s thick jungles, this six-armed primate monstrosity proved to be a hazard for early explorers. Even after several early programs to push them back, populations of Skatha Apes still dwell in the Mendoza Jungle Reserve, and are considered to be a hazard for the unwary traveler. Such hazards did, however, help slow development, leaving many of the planet’s forested areas still untouched.

These issues with the native wildlife would serve to somewhat shape Shasta’s development. The resistance to push into the jungle interiors of the world lead to the bulk of the colony building being centered on the planet’s coastlines. In turn, this lead to an image of Shasta as a (relatively) unspoilt jungle paradise, which attracted colonists from environmentally-minded groups. Many of them would go on to set up their own colonies within and jungles in order to live closer to nature and escape from the growing conflicts of the period.

Over time, this lead to the planet’s population being divided into two groups; the coastal city dwelling majority, and the interior environmental communities (who in turn were in fact more of a morass of dozens of smaller, independent groups from a diverse range of backgrounds and ideologies). When Shasta joined the nascent Free Worlds League in 2290, the newly formed planetary government promised to respect the rights of both groups. More often, however, while the government was a representative democracy, it chose to ignore the wilderness groups and leave them to rule themselves. This suited them just fine, and as a result, relationships between the two groups, while occasionally strained, were still cordial for much of the planet’s history.

During the Star League era, Shasta’s reputation as an ecological haven grew, attracting tourists from across human space. While this bought a great deal of wealth to the planet, it also created some tension when a number of game reserves were set up for hunting tours.

After the fall of the Star League, the tourist trade collapsed, undermining the planetary economy. With the growing succession war and the need to offset the loss of the Bolan Thumb worlds, the Free Worlds League began mining in previously undeveloped regions of the planet. These moves were supported by the planetary government, which was desperate for the income that such ventures would provide.

These actions were opposed by the wilderness communities, but due to their smaller numbers and limited presence in the planetary government (largely by their own choice and centuries of deliberate growing isolationism) they found that they were unable to block this development. This led to a rift between the two, with many of the groups choosing to retreat further from planetary affairs. The mines also had one other side effect, in that they attracted Lyran raiders who would attack the world numerous times during the Succession Wars.

Save for a brief occupation by the Lyran Alliance in the early Jihad, Shasta remained a part of the Free Worlds League until its dissolution. In the aftermath, Shasta chose to remain independent, despite overtures from both the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth and the Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey. Rather, the planetary government decided to concentrate on healing their world, and attempting to mend fences with its divided population. These efforts were only partially successful, with many choosing to remain aloof.

Shasta was invaded again by the Lyrans in 3137, one of the first worlds to fall during operation HAMMERFALL. The planetary militia were only able to put up limited resistance, and the government capitulated quickly. The Lyrans made no effort at all to integrate the planet’s wilderness communities, rather focusing on occupying the cities and the remaining mines. The world would change hands again in 3140 when it was seized by the Wolf Empire. Unlike the Lyrans, however, the Wolves made a deliberate effort to reach out to the remote communities in their efforts at nation building. Most of the groups proved to be indifferent or hostile, but some seemed to be actually impressed by the Clan lifestyle and warrior ethos.

Today Shasta does remain a divided world. The bulk of the planet’s population live in the coastal cities. Modern and cosmopolitan, the cities boast a high standard of living and modern technology stemming from centuries of relatively peaceful life. Conversely, the wilderness communities range from agrarian communes to neo-primitive tribes. No accurate count of their population is available, a result of centuries of isolationism and remoteness, with some groups going to great lengths to hide themselves from the outside world. Under the Wolf Empire, the planetary Government has been left largely alone to rule its own affairs.

Despite nine centuries of habitation, the interior of many of Shasta’s jungle regions remain largely unexplored. Legends about as to what might lie within, from lost tribes and hidden cities to Star League storehouses and secret Word of Blake research centers. In the last couple of years, the Wolf Empire has shown a growing interest in Exploring and mapping these unexplored regions for reasons that remain unknown.