DISTANCE: 11.4 light years from Sol
NEIGHBORING SYSTEMS: Altair 9.8 lys Sigma Draconis 11.2 lys Eta Cassiopeiae 13 lys
61 CYGNI is a binary star system made up of two orange-red dwarfs which orbit each other at an average distance of 84 AUs. This great separation between them means that the additional effects of heat and light on the planets within this system are negligible.
61 Cygni A hosts three rocky worlds, two gas giants, and a dense field of dust and large asteroids.
61 Cygni B is orbited by two rocky worlds and one gas giant. Beyond this lies a debris cloud of dust and icy material.
The entire region contains high concentrations of Besselium ore.
HIKARU is the second planet in orbit around the primary star, 61 Cygni A. The landscape of this world consists almost entirely of lush forests, subtropical jungles, and wet grasslands. Water covers approximately 65 percent of the planet’s total surface and is comprised of two large oceans, dozens of seas and lakes, and a countless number of interconnecting rivers and tributaries. Hikaru has only a minor axial tilt, resulting in very moderate seasonal changes with an overall temperature that is slightly warmer than Earth. This has allowed for more efficient photosynthesis and plant growth and has contributed to the great variety of unique vegetation. This planet also has two small moons called Aoi and Akai in reference to the twin Baku in Japanese folklore.
Although no sentient life has ever evolved here, this world is the home of a multitude of diverse creatures including birds, insects, reptiles, mammals, and various aquatic species.
The 61 Cygni system was first colonized by Humans in 2148; making this the fourth star system to be permanently settled outside of Sol. The private investors who helped finance the original mission were all members of the spiritual community known as the Beacons of Amaterasu. In association with Hoshi Enterprises as their corporate benefactor, they relied primarily on faith as they embarked on their distant pilgrimage. When they arrived in the system, they found the planet Hikaru to be a virtual paradise. The unblemished landscape of their new home provided a bountiful supply of indigenous fruits, vegetables, and grains, as well as an exotic collection of plants and vegetation; many of which proved to be extremely beneficial for a variety of medicinal purposes.
Hikaru was subsequently designated as a global natural preserve with strict environmental regulations put into effect to prevent over-cultivation and large-scale industrialization. Although Hoshi Enterprises established numerous factories and mining operations throughout the binary system, only sustainable agriculture and farming practices were permitted on the sanctuary world. This eventually led to a form of symbiosis between the spiritual community and the corporate employees wherein the colonists shared their food, supplies, and even their homes, while Hoshi Enterprises was responsible for providing their manufacturing needs. With their primary ore refinement facility located on the largest moon, Akai, even the building materials for most of their settlements were constructed off-world.
Although the planet Hikaru is distinguished for being a haven of religious freedom and expression; it was the great abundance of provisions, medical supplies, and refined Besselium ore that quickly allowed this system to become a valuable member of a growing interstellar community. Initially, the United Earth Conglomerate was already heavily invested in three other colonies outside of Sol and was content to maintain a policy of non-interference in the development of this particular system. So long as the Cygnians, as the colonists came to call themselves, continued to abide by the rules and regulations of the UEC, they were permitted to focus on their spiritual lives and business operations without the recurrent intrusion of a corporate bureaucracy.
As news of this colony reached the people of Earth, thousands of individuals looking for employment with Hoshi Enterprises, as well as those searching for spiritual enlightenment, began immigrating to this system every year. According to the official census of 2233, Hikaru’s population has grown to over 6 million people who reside in seven separate prefectures; the largest of which is Neo Seiiki. Nearly all of the company workers live side by side with the individuals in the spiritual communities and many of them have even integrated their beliefs into their own personal lives. The Cygnians have a unique view of the world that is fundamentally bright and optimistic. While they are certainly aware of the darker aspects of Human existence, their main focus is the celebration and enrichment of life and a deep awareness of the transcendent energies which permeate the entire universe.
The Cygnians are inherent explorers and many of the second generation colonists on Hikaru began enrolling in Hoshi Enterprises’ Tansaku-teki division as scientists and medical technicians. This exploratory branch was assigned to search neighboring systems for new resources and was responsible for the preliminary surveys of both the Gliese 876 and Altair star systems prior to their colonization. They have also found themselves in the unique position of representing the Human race on two separate occasions. When the Brekka first initiated contact with their sister colony in the Altair system, an emissary from Hikaru was chosen to act as a liaison to this advanced alien race. A decade later, they encountered the Undari while surveying their homeworld. This noble, yet reclusive species was impressed with their passive and respectful demeanor and eventually consented to a modest trade agreement.
During the Zendathu-Human war, the Cygnians were initially reluctant to take part in the violence. As devout pacifists, they contributed to the effort by providing supplies and medical assistance to those most affected by the conflict. They even attempted to find a diplomatic solution, but were eventually forced to conclude that defending lives with violence was justified when dealing with a ruthless alien species that could not be reasoned with. Their relatively small security division began to grow as an increasing number of second generation colonists began to volunteer. Eventually, the Cygnian Defense Fleet became an integral participant in the war against the Zendathu.
After the war, the UEC began to tighten its hold on all of its colonies and essentially committed a corporate takeover of Hoshi Enterprises’ operations within the Sol system. This blatant act prompted the Cygnians to assemble with representatives from Altair and Gliese 876 to sign a mutual defense accord which consequently led to all three systems announcing their independence from Earth. This association of colonies, better known as the Free Worlds League, was never intended to function as a subsidiary government. Instead, each system continued to retain its own individual leadership, while establishing a formal agreement to band together in times of crisis.
In recent decades, the Cygnians have devoted a great deal of their efforts to developing better relationships with both the Brekka and Undari races. They have also continued to remain close allies with the people of Alpha Centauri and Tau Ceti over the years; the Centaurans because of their sense of honor and cooperation, and the Cetians because of their humanitarian attributes. Although they maintain active trade agreements with several other Human colonies, they have become extremely distrustful towards the UEC for systematically expanding its presence throughout nearby systems.