KOI–947.01 was a planet located in the KOI-947 System of the Far Spinward Colonies. Pelican Colony was situated on KOI–947.01.
History
Prior to 2049, KOI–947.01 was the crash site of a vessel built by the alien species dubbed the Engineers. The ship was overtaken by members of the Fulfremmen, a species created by the latter, and abandoned. Over time, the ship merged with the mountain under which it was located.[1]
KOI–947.01 was later terraformed by Weyland Corp between 2049 and 2056. Though the planet's soil harbored no native plant life, its fertile state meant that a minimal amount of work was required. Thereabouts, Pelican Colony was established, and the settlement became an agricultural powerhouse dubbed "the breadbasket of the Frontier". Following the formation of the Three World Empire in 2088, KOI–947.01 became a subject world of the 3WE along with the rest of the Far Spinward Colonies, of which it was a part.[1]
In the early 22nd century, a panoply of cosmic phenomena severed the Far Spinward Colonies from the Middle Heavens in an event dubbed the Isolation. Unlike a number of other colonies in the sector, Pelican Colony survived more or less intact, though its population dwindled significantly, and Pelican Colony shrank to a single city. Moreover, the loss of contact with KOI–947.01 caused food prices in the Middle Heavens to skyrocket. Following the desolation, it was speculated that any surviving worlds in the FSC would import foodstuffs from KOI–947.01.[1]
Roughly a year prior to 2186, KOI–947.01 was hit by a radiation storm as its local sun experienced an anomaly. The surface of the planet was rendered uninhabitable, and its population reduced to zero. During 2186, the pirate organization Gorham's Marauders traveled to KOI–947.01 aboard the Spirit of Trafalgar to find and kill the Fulfremmen underneath Pelican Colony; however, the ship was sabotaged, and crashed near the outpost. Shortly after, an expedition from the United Nations Interstellar Settlement Corps' Great Mother Mission arrived at KOI–947.01 to investigate Pelican Colony and retrieve its Long Data Disc, resulting in an incident and an encounter with the Fulfremmen.[1]
Climate and terrain
The atmosphere on KOI–947.01 was breathable, and initially boasted sunny yellow skies and a mean temperature of 24°C. Following a solar anomaly, however, the sky was locked in permanent sunset and laden with dust, with the landscape becoming arid and temperatures soaring to 40°C. The heat, coupled with strong winds, led to extreme weather events such as firenadoes and wildfires. Even so, the air remained palatable. KOI–947.01's northern hemisphere featured mountain ranges with deep valleys, steep–sided river gorges, and sweeping grass plains. Rivers and expansive river deltas straddled both hemispheres, while deep rift valleys, rocky plains punctuated by cave systems and sinkholes, and sprawling deserts were located in the south. Terrain around Pelican Colony proper consisted of fertile farmlands, though such areas were rendered largely non–viable by the change in climate.[1]
Economy
Resources on KOI–947.01 included agricultural products and oxygen, methane, and nickel.[1]
Population
According to Weyland Corp statistics in 2071, KOI–947.01's population stood at 6,500,000; however, the actual number hovered around a million inhabitants. Following its isolation from wider civilization, the planet's population gradually dwindled to 100,000, and was reduced to zero after a solar radiation storm.[1]
Points of interest
Prominent locations on KOI–947.01 included Pelican Colony and the Skritio Caves; the latter was, in fact, the ruined hulk of an ancient Engineer vessel. Other landmarks included Hoppipolla Lake and the Godafoss Falls.[1]