Vraekton IV
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Vraekton IV is the only M-class planet in the Vraekton system, deep within the Shackleton Expanse. Orbiting an F-type star, Vraekton IV is a warm and verdant planet, from polar forest to polar forest. There are no sentient life forms to be found on this hot-house of a world. The dominant forms of life are megafauna, namely dinosaurs.
Overview
Surrounded by deep oceans, the continents of Vraekton IV are abundant with flora, including ferns, flowers, conifers, cycads and fruit-bearing plants. The landscape is only broken up by shallow inland seas, which are teeming with microscopic marine life. A greenhouse climate makes the planet warm and steamy. The temperature never drops enough for ice to form anywhere on the planet. Temperate rainforests cover the planetary poles.
A great diversity of fauna roam the planet, from birds and insects to mammals and fish. However, the dominant vertebrates on the planet are reptilian dinosaurs, a mix of both carnivorous and herbivorous species. There are regional differences in the location of dinosaurs, some favouring one area of a continent over another, including both flying and swimming reptiles.
Encounters
Starfleet learned of the Vraekton system upon intercepting a Romulan Free State communique about their first scouting of the system. By October 2402, Starfleet listening stations had detected no subspace transmissions coming in or out of the Vraekton system for over a month.
A Romulan Free State observation post on the surface of Vraekton is left abandoned. The exterior entry points have been left unlocked, and the holographic camouflage has been damaged beyond repair. Most of the cargo containers and storage lockers inside the post have been emptied, the doors having been wrenched open. The post's computer core and power reactor have both been destroyed. There is no sign of the outpost's crew.
The nature of the dinosaurs is for the writer to decide. The names and biology of the dinosaurs can be created from scratch, or they could have evolved along parallel lines as the most iconic dinosaurs from Earth's history. The mystery of the missing Romulan outpost team is also left to the writer to decide. They could be in hiding, they could be three sectors away, they could have all been eaten by dinosaurs, or some fate that's much, much worse.
This is an AOR about scientific intrigue, which can lead to serious scientific inquiry, high adventure with dinosaurs, or something with higher tension, peril, or even horror.
In Play
- Vraekton IV is a lush, prehistoric world that invites awe and danger in equal measure. From orbit, its green continents shimmer under thick clouds. On the surface, every vista feels alive.
- Landing parties should feel both wonder and tension. The planet teems with life at every scale, a constant reminder that Vraekton IV has evolved without sentient interference. The challenge is to study without disrupting a perfectly balanced ecosystem that has survived for millions of years without warp drives, tools, or cities. And survive dinosaurs.