DISTANCE: 15.9 light years from Sol
NEIGHBORING SYSTEMS: Procyon 13.1 lys Chara 14.9 lys Sirius 16.7 lys
GROOMBRIDGE 1618 is an orange-red dwarf which is chromo-spherically active and classified as a flare star. A total of five planets have relatively circular orbits and consist of three rocky worlds and two gas giants. Beyond this is a dense field of silicate dust located at the distant edge of the system. This star also has nearly twice the amount of heavy elements as Sol and the entire region is filled with substantial amounts of Riesenium ore.
VASSAGO is the second planet in orbit and is a young, volcanically active world with a landscape made up entirely of charred black rock and rivers of molten lava. The planet’s atmosphere is comprised mostly of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide and surface temperatures can reach well over 250 C. Vassago contains significant quantities of valuable metals that can be readily extracted from below its surface.
Bourne Industries and the Reinhold Corporation had remained frequent business associates for more than four decades; collaborating together on several different mining operations over the years. When an unmanned survey probe transmitted its initial findings from the Groombridge 1618 system, it was confirmed to contain nearly twice the amount of heavy elements as Sol. The Reinhold Corporation proposed yet another mutual partnership with Bourne Industries for the purpose of establishing a permanent mining colony in this system. In 2168, the two companies constructed a modular orbiting space station above the planet Vassago. Designed similarly to the outpost in the Procyon system, COPERNICUS STATION became both their primary base of operations and the permanent residence for the colonists as well; making this the ninth system outside of Sol to be colonized by Humans.
Within six months, the first mining facility was officially established on the surface of Vassago where raw Riesenium and other valuable metals were extracted for a variety of industrial uses. Mining on this hellish world was both grueling and dangerous work, but their efforts quickly paid off as the huge quantities of metallic ore that was obtained far surpassed those in any other system.
Located over 13 light years away from the nearest Human colony, this system was on the fringe of known space and the colonists were often forced to depend on themselves for many of their basic needs. Obviously, both the Centaurans and the Sirians made frequent supply runs and provided whatever assistance they could towards their joint business venture. However, considering the propulsion engines used at the time, the closest aid was three weeks away and the colonists often had to face any immediate emergencies on their own.
Fourteen years after the initial construction of COPERNICUS STATION, an unknown spacecraft appeared unexpectedly at the edge of the system. Several visiting ships docked at the station went to investigate and found that the vessel was manned by an alien species who called themselves the Chun. They were refugees from a world which had been conquered by a hostile race known as the Zendathu and had escaped aboard a stolen transport in the hopes of finding help for their people. However, less than 12 hours later, a second alien vessel arrived which was manned by the Zendathu themselves who were searching for their fugitive prey. After only a single attempt by the Humans to communicate, the Zendathu opened fire with a powerful array of weaponry. The only advantage the Humans had was their greater numbers. Yet, two of their ships were still destroyed before the remaining four were able to incapacitate the enemy vessel. Afterwards, a small group of Humans boarded the Zendathu ship to find that life support was damaged and both the cold-blooded crew and hundreds of Chun prisoners were dead. The Humans also discovered that an automatic self-destruct sequence had been initiated and they barely escaped with their own lives before the enemy vessel exploded in a blaze of radiated debris. It was later discovered that, just moments before the explosion, a single Zendathu survivor had transmitted a message to the Beta Comae Berenices system. It was not a plea for help, nor a request for assistance. Instead, the message was both simple and foreboding. “We have found new prey.”
The Human race quickly realized that it was not prepared for a war with this advanced alien species. Earth and its colonies immediately began increasing their security forces in preparation for possible future attacks. The Centauran Navy made it their highest priority to establish a permanent military presence in this system. They also constructed a major shipyard which utilized alien technology obtained from the stolen transport to build a new fleet of advanced battlecruisers. However, after six years without any further incursions, even the highly-trained security forces began to grow increasingly complacent.
In 2188, perimeter sensors detected a gravitic disturbance as three Zendathu vessels emerged from a portal in netherspace. Most of the military forces that were posted there were caught by surprise and nearly half of the shipyard was damaged before they could even launch their new battlecruisers. The patrol ships, which always remained on high alert, fought a fierce battle, but were eventually overpowered as well. The Zendathu were relentless, continuing their onslaught until all of their defenses were depleted and they soon gained control of the entire station.
Eight days after the alien occupation, an armada of ships, led by the BIC-566 CARPATHIA from Alpha Centauri, arrived in the system to take back the outpost. Several vessels in the fleet were damaged or destroyed, but the Zendathu were ultimately driven out and the Human military forces were able to reclaim the station. The colonists who survived the brief occupation told stories of how the Zendathu moved throughout the station in packs searching for prey. Many of these individuals had been forced to watch as their family and friends were torn limb from limb and eaten alive. Even after the colony was secured, some of them could not bear to remain here after witnessing so much horror and bloodshed. Yet, for others, this incident only made them more determined to rebuild what they had worked so hard to achieve. As the military increased its forces to provide greater protection, the number of new colonists increased as well; many of whom were eager to “kick some lizard tail”. During the long and devastating war that followed, the colony suffered frequent attacks, yet they never again allowed the enemy to regain control.
The inhabitants of COPERNICUS STATION have all come from many different backgrounds and nationalities. Most of those who have relocated to this distant outpost gave up less hazardous occupations elsewhere for the incentive of higher wages and didn’t transfer here out of any desire to become “pioneers” on the edge of nowhere. Still, they are generally very proficient at their work and extremely proud of all that they have accomplished. According to the official census in 2233, this station now provides both residential and workplace environments for nearly 275,000 individuals.
In the late 22nd century, when the UEC began to enforce several unpopular new policies, representatives from this system joined with those of Alpha Centauri, Sirius, and Procyon to establish the Centauri Union and officially declared their independence from Earth’s corporate empire. This alliance not only provided added military defense and economic support to all of the member systems, but also instantly granted the colonists with new rights and freedoms and gave them a voice in the overall procedures of this interstellar government.
Since then, this industrial colony has continued to remain a valuable asset; providing both raw materials as well as ships for these independent systems. COPERNICUS STATION has, in recent years, also become a frequent port for those heading out into the more distant regions of uncharted space.