DISTANCE: 10.5 light years from Sol
NEIGHBORING SYSTEMS: Tau Ceti 5.5 lys Sirius 7.8 lys 82 Eridani 12.4 lys
EPSILON ERIDANI is a relatively young orange-red dwarf with a system that is still in the process of forming. Yet there are four distinct planets in orbit, including three small rocky worlds and one gas giant. There is also an inner asteroid belt, an outer asteroid belt, and an icy cometary belt at the distant edge of the system. Though the star itself is somewhat deficient in heavier metals compared to Sol, the innermost regions are rich in valuable Eridium ore.
BALDUR is the first planet in this system and has nearly three times the mass of Earth. It also has an extreme axial tilt which is believed to have been caused by a massive impact during the early stages of the planet’s development. This extreme tilt results in a continuous orbital cycle where the northern hemisphere faces the host star for half of the year, while the southern hemisphere faces the star during the other half. With surface temperatures ranging from as high as 150 C to as low as -65 C; half of the planet becomes exceedingly hot and geologically volatile, while the other half cools and solidifies into a thin crust of frozen desert. This ongoing process switches hemispheres every 128 days. Baldur is also orbited by two small moons named, Taranis and Esus.
In 2144, the Epsilon Eridani system was designated by the Mining Guild as the location of their secondary headquarters and became the third star system outside of Sol to be colonized by Humans. It was also the first interstellar colony to maintain a permanent presence by SolCorp security forces. All administrative functions were under the direct supervision of the United Earth Conglomerate (UEC); however, the regional mining operation was allocated to a subsidiary corporation. Through a series of undisclosed business deals and political favors, the Jovian Mining Consortium (JMC) was granted the highly-coveted contract. Due to the fact that conditions on Baldur were unsuitable for prolonged Human habitation, the JMC began construction on a modular space station in orbit above the planet. Within four months, PERIPHERY STATION became both the primary base for their mining industry as well as the permanent residence for the colonists in this system.
Relying primarily on what was considered by some to be cheap, expendable labor; the JMC employed an ongoing reserve of indentured workers. Most often, these individuals were born into lives of perpetual destitution or, in a few cases, were convicted of minor criminal offenses which made it even more difficult to gain employment. Trusting in the promise of a better life in the outer colonies, many people chose to accept indentured servitude rather than enduring a lifetime of extreme poverty back on Earth. These workers generally received on the job training as miners, freight operators, and other low-skilled and hazardous occupations.
PERIPHERY STATION is constructed unlike any other space station found throughout the Human colonies. Rather than consisting of modular compartments with connections built in for attaching additional prefabricated units, the JMC has merely chosen to assemble newer sections over or on top of older existing ones. Over time, this has resulted in a massive assortment of mismatched pieces which appear to be in constant disarray. According to the census of 2233, this station now provides varying levels of living environments for nearly 1.5 million people.
Although the corporate administrators and dignitaries live in relative luxury in the newer sections of the station; the indentured workers, who make up 85% of the total population, typically inhabit the older levels where they often exist with only the minimum of basic necessities. Maintenance on these outdated sections tends to be infrequent and the residents are often forced to contend with failing air recyclers, rationed water levels, and gravity generators that break down without warning. Many of these indentured workers and their families feel that they’ve evaded a life of extreme hardship on Earth only to find themselves in yet another impoverished situation in which they have no way out. Wide-spread poverty has led much of the population to committing questionable acts simply to survive. Stealing, pick-pocketing, and random theft is rather common among those who reside in the lower levels. There has also been a steady increase over the years in black-market dealings as well as a variety of other illegal activities.
This colony has continued to remain one of the UEC’s primary assets since it was first established almost 90 years ago and has played an integral role in furthering Earth’s corporate agenda. The Jovian Mining Consortium was more than willing to accept a greater level of government involvement in exchange for major tax incentives and a larger profit margin. Company administrators appointed by the Mining Guild, known as Guild Barons, acted as direct representatives to the UEC and were responsible for the overall management of this colony and its facilities. Seen by many as merely political “puppets”, these Barons were motivated most often by their own greed and lust for power.
Shortly after the Human race’s first encounter with the hostile Zendathu species in 2182, Baron Cyrus Faust was appointed as the new regional administrator over this colony. When the UEC began to increase its military presence in preparation for war, Faust was quick to take advantage of the situation by promoting PERIPHERY STATION as an enticing destination for shore leave for their security forces. He established dozens of civilian-run bars and casinos, granted permits to open brothels and pleasure domes, and even hired professional performers to entertain the troops.
During the war, the Epsilon Eridani system was too far removed from the heart of the conflict to be directly affected by any of the major battles. Instead, the JMC contributed to the war effort by expanding its mining operations across the planet’s surface and throughout the two asteroid belts. Billions of tons of Eridium-D were extracted every month and shipped to Earth to insulate the inner hulls of their newly constructed battle cruisers.
To this day, PERIPHERY STATION maintains its long-standing tradition of providing a self-indulgent respite for its local military as well as its upscale clientele; catering to wealthy travelers, politicians, and business executives. However, unseen by most visitors, the majority of the station’s population, residing down in the lower decks, continues to exist in poverty; often being treated simply as replaceable labor within a vast corporation.