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| Solstheim VIII |
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| SYSTEM DATA |
System Name: Solstheim Number of class-L : 2 Number of class-M : 1 Number of class-R : 1 Asteroid Field(s) : 5 Moon(s) : 2 Station(s) : 1 |
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| PLANETARY DATA |
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Position in system : 1 Mineral Content Normal metals : 60% |
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| PLANETARY HISTORY |
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Solstheim VIII was first charted in 2147 by the U.S.S. Lexington. Scientific survey reports sent back to Starfleet Command were enough to merit further investigation owing to promising deposits of dilithium crystals mapped in the northern hemisphere, but due to periodic border skirmishes with the Klingon Empire the planet was judged as too vulnerable to defend and not worth the risk of large-scale development. Harsh weather conditions on the planetary surface were also reported on extensively throughout this period; four personnel of a follow-up expedition were caught outside during a freak blizzard and died due to exposure in 2151. Problems with equipment maintenance in the cold weather forced early cancellation of a third mission to Solstheim VIIII in 2169. Commercial development by the private sector began in 2171 with the granting of a license for development and commencement of mining operations by the Deep Space Engineering Corporation. Before the company could establish a viable presence, protesters associated with the New Eden Environmental Movement landed to establish a camp in early 2173 and began harassing company employees at the construction site. Less than a month after arrival another freak blizzard devastated the protester camp: records are inconclusive but an estimated 131 people of varying ages and physical conditions are believed to have died despite having access to shelter and adequate amounts of cold-weather clothing. The camp was evacuated by Deep Space Engineering vessels; all survivors returned to Federation space to face criminal charges. In 2201 Deep Space Engineering reported a first-quarter financial loss on Solstheim VIII owing to exhaustion of dilithium deposits on the planet. After unsuccessful attempts to begin excavation of iron ore from the planetary crust the company decided to close all operations and withdraw all personnel. The last worker left the planet on stardate 220304.21. From 2203 to 2400 very little is known about the state of affairs on Solstheim VIII, although it is now believed that at some point a nest of xenomorphs was established on the planetary surface. Periodic investigations by Starfleet Intelligence into known criminal smuggling organizations revealed that the planet had become a transshipment point for illegal goods entering into the United Federation of Planets by mid-2247, but after the U.S.S. Potemkin was stationed in the system for a five-month period it was found that the smugglers had shifted to other routes. In 2400 the Empire Trading Company bought the mining license and production rights from Deep Space Engineering, with a stated intention of beginning large-scale terraforming and mining operations on Solstheim VIII. By later in the year development of a new colony site in the far northern hemisphere had commenced; this facility (known as "Raven Rock") was largely operational by 2402. It is believed but not confirmed that during initial construction workers began encountering sporadic attacks from xenomorphs which were present on the planet, leading to a corporate decision to invest in high-tec weaponry and equipment to defend the colony. By late 2406 the attacks had increased in size and scope to the point where maintenance of the Raven Rock colony was not only economically infeasible, but also tactically unsound. After the initial failure of an evacuation attempt of all remaining personnel and staff from the colony a general distress call was sent, leading to Operation: GROUNDCOM DOWN, executed by elements of the 115th Mechanized Infantry Battalion from Starbase 672: Hephaestus. At conclusion of the operation all survivors had been evacuated. |
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| PLANETARY HISTORY | File Last Updated SD 240706.24 |
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