System: Izar

Izar's parent star is actually part of a binary system that consists of a cool, orange K0 sun orbiting a blue-white B5 subgiant. Because of the substantial distance between the two stars, planets were miraculously able to form close to both stars, but only the closest world of the smaller star had developed a breathable atmosphere and enough surface water to support life when it was discovered early in man's journey into space.

However, Izar's orbit, roughly half again as far from its parent star as Terra is from Sol, rendered it a cool world. In fact, with clouds and storms common -even over the interior of the larger landmasses of Celta, Eddin, Morope and Trantara - nights on Izar were particularly cold. Though this did not faze the native evergreen woods that covered most of the hilly mainlands, colonists quickly learned that the only way to make use of the world's fertile soil for their own crops was to encapsulate their farms beneath environmentally sealed domes.

Izar also boasted substantial natural resources, including rare earths and industrial-grade metals capable of supporting a robust manufacturing industry, and the early settlers quickly attained a level of self-sufficiency with minimal off-world support. Thus it came as little surprise on Terra when this world declared its independence during the Outer Reaches Rebellion, or that the Terran Alliance sent a doomed expedition to reclaim it in 2236.

After an unopposed landing, the Terran troops found the capital deserted. Despite this unchallenged occupation, Terran squads sent to scout the thickly forested hills around the city invariably failed to return. Though the Izarians were armed only primitively, they had expert knowledge of the local terrain. The Terrans, unable to move their cumbersome high-tech weapons through the woods, remained at a serious disadvantage throughout the conflict.

As much as the rebels in the hills, the women of Izar did their part as well. Posing as pretty, dumb locals, they often showed themselves more than willing to entertain a homesick soldier on a cold night. Such men frequently ended up with a knife in the belly, or scratches from sharp fingernails tinged with an alkolyde nail polish that brought agonizing death within minutes. Despite a few women being shot when they could be proved guilty - and even when not - this didn't change anything. The Terrans kept losing troops to the nightstalkers as the nights on Izar were cold.

Apart from the planetary capital of Promise Point, Izar boasts a second major spaceport in the city of Rhyss on the southern Trantara continent.

There are no functional factories located on this planet.