Barzan II

Barzan, Barzan II
INFORMATION
Quadrant:	Alpha
Star System:	Barzan
Affiliations:	Independent; Barzanian Planetary Republic Interstellar Trade Alliance (trade partners) Affiliates with the United Federation of Planets in the late-2380s. Membership in the United Federation of Planets sometime in the 25th Century.
Natives:	Barzan
ASTROMETRIC DATA
Star Type(s):	B:IV (Cool White Sub-Giant Main Sequence Star)
Estimated Age:	4.7 Billion Years Old
Number of Planets:	3
Orbital Period (Days):	5,211 standard days (roughly 14.3 Earth years)
Classification:	Class T (Ozonous)
Number of Satellites:	3: all are small bodies similar to Ceres- carbon compounds, selenides and water ice
PLANETOLOGICAL DATA
Atmosphere Type:	Toxic to Human Life; a high percentage of oxygen is elementally locked as ozone, with a potentially poisonous level of chlorates to non-Barzans
Atmosphere Pressure:	Dense
Mean Temperature:	Temperate
Hydrosphere:	Average
Dominant Terrain:	Karst caverns, low mountain ranges, cloud forests, moors, fenns, deep lacustric bodies
Gravity:	1.18g (Earth=1.0)
Day/Night Cycle (Hours):	Barzan has only moderate differences in day/night due to heavy cloud cover. It completes an orbit in 36 hours.
LIFE DATA
Stage of Life Evolution:	Unique, advanced multicellular life somewhat analogous to Earth's late Paleogene.
Sentient Population:	9.1 Billion Barzans
END OF BRIEFING
Template:Planet

At a Glance

Barzan is an anomaly within its own system. It is the sole rocky planet and it is between a hot, reducing Class J planet and a frigid Ice Giant. Barzan qualifies as a "Super-Earth" as it is almost 25% larger than Earth. However, because it lacks a substantially large nickel-iron core, its mass is less than a world of its size should be. It is also just outside of its system's "habitable zone." It is due to its dense ozone and low cloud albedo that makes the pleasant temperate. The planet has very little seasonal variation whatsoever. Languid winds from the planet's slow, steady rotation evenly distribute water and heat across the planet from pole to pole.

Barzan II was either a forced migration out of the habitable zone in the Archaean period, likely done by the Barzan I Jovian. Or it is an escaped moon from one of its neighbors. The planet has three asteroid-like moonlets, also poor in metals. The same process that migrated a Jovian into the hot zone of the system almost certainly destroyed or ejected at least two planets- their theoretical composition was likely similar to Barzan II.

Terrain

If a Human could step out onto Barzan II unaided, it would feel pleasant, if somewhat humid and with near-stagnant airflow. That same unaided Human could scent an odor similar to the chlorinated water of a swimming pool, mixed with a strong undertone of petrichor (the smell of the earth when it rains). Barzan is a dark world by Class M standards with its mean light levels similar to twilight on Earth. Its day/night cycle is 50% longer than Earth's. Supplementing this warm darkness is a great deal of floral and faunal bioluminescence. The chlorate and ozone aspects of the atmosphere have a strong tendency for creating greens, aquas, teals, and the occasional cirrus cloud of reddish-brown. All of this gives Barzan II a distinctly alien feel to non-Barzan visitors- of which there are few.

Barzan has analogous ecosystems to Earth's cloud forests, moorlands and fenns- along with expanses of non-arable and dense rock. It also has a prevalence for forming Karst cavern systems more extensive than anything seen on Earth. Where it has mountain ranges they tend to be low but severely steep and rugged. Barzan has few oceans but has extensive cenotes and deep lacustrine bodies which are chlorinated and brackish.

Unquestionably, Barzan II is dangerous by Human standards. Its low light levels and variant terrain- especially with undiscovered sink holes, fissures, and hidden dangers below undergrowth- accentuate the precarity. And this terrain, coupled with other dangers, is what forged the Barzans into being an observant, diligent, and perhaps overly cautious species that weigh risk in black and white terms. It also explains why they are so close-knitted and caring for one another, forming tight social and familial bonds.