Baalat Gebal

Balaat Gebal is the second planet of the Byblos Planetary System within the Calypso Deeps. An archipelagic world, it is the only planet in the system to host a biosphere amenable to human life. It is also host to alien ruins, the initial detection of which led to the entire planetary system being placed under quarantine by the League of Nations. Despite this, Balaat Gebaal has several settlements on its surface.

Physical Characteristics

Balaat Gebal’s surface is primarily covered by ocean, with only small isles and archipelagos within the planet’s tropics. Beneath these islands are extensive cave networks, and their coastlines are dominated by swampland. The planet is orbited by two moons, Yarikh and Nikkal.

Population

Roughly 20,000 people reside on Balaat Gebal. There is no official local government, with the planet and wider planetary system operating within a system of functional anarchy. Initial colonisation of the planet occurred during the Interstellar Dark Age, though few communities lasted more than a decade. Raiding was commonplace during the Dark Age, and colonies were abandoned and reclaimed. With the Veiled Triangle becoming an established smuggling run in the 23rd century, the population of Balaat Gebal has grown and more settlements have become permanently inhabited.

Biodiversity

Balaat Gebal’s native biosphere is notable for its evolutionary maturity. Though not as diverse as the ecosystem of Earth was, Balaat Gebal is host to numerous unique examples of exobiotic life. Some flora and fauna have drawn comparison to those of Earth’s prehistoric eras, but this is not a comparison that can be extended to the entire ecosystem. It is also notable for being resilient against Terran species, which do not outperform the indigenous life with the same ease seen in other biospheres.

One of the most recognisable examples of fauna on the planet is the Byblosi Whale. They are distinguished by their striking patterns of deep crimson and violet, broken by swirls of gold and white. They are known to grow to nearly 300 meters in length, and feed on swarms of creatures that resemble mollusks or crustaceans. In spring, the whales calf in the algae forests found in the shallower seas of Balaat Gebal. Byblosi whales are also found in the lesser researched and deeper oceans, where they have been seen exhibiting evasive behaviour.

Points of Interest

Alien Ruins

Within the undergrowth of Baalat Gebal’s islands and beneath its oceans lie ancient alien ruins. With a surface comparable to that of obsidian, these immense structures extend from the planet’s bedrock, yet the majority do not appear to have openings nor passageways. The few that do, are filled with chambers and corridors that extend for kilometres beneath the waterline. Submerged regions are often flooded, though some moon pools exist and open up into vast halls. These rooms have provided researchers deeper glimpses into the alien structures, but so far, no expeditions have recovered any artifacts nor found insights into the structures nor their builders.

The most prominent of these structures is the Byblos Spire, a 4km tall obelisk that was the first of the alien ruins to be uncovered. It was the discovery of these remains that led to Baalat Gebal and the wider Byblos system being quarantined by the League of Nations over unproven fears that they were linked to the Scinfaxi. Surrounding the Spire and its host island is the Archipelago of Meshif, whose own series of alien ruins are known as the Flooded Labyrinth. These ruins have been found to have a disproportionate number of openings and passageways, prompting researchers to believe that a path into the otherwise inaccessible Spire exists.

New Sudd Landing

Established on the eponymous island of New Sudd, New Sudd Landing is the largest settlement of Baalat Gebal. Acting as a convenient landing site, the colony has been abandoned and reclaimed several times since its founding. Since the Veiled Triangle was first crossed, New Sudd Landing has had a permanent population, which stands at roughly 10,000 people. The majority of these are contract workers from the moons of Ahiram, researchers studying the alien ruins of the neighbouring Archipelago of Meshif, and freelancers operating in the local area.

New Sudd Landing boasts several landing zones, each one acting as the centre of its own subcommunity. Connections between the zones act as concourses that are filled with various commercial enterprises. Subterranean districts within the island’s cave networks tend to host the more disreputable business operations, including blood sports. Events featuring the local wildlife and occasional human competitors are notably popular.

Site 07

Site 07 is a decommissioned research facility that had been operated by the Byblos Joint Venture Partners for over a decade. When the site was abandoned in 2279, an exclusion zone was dropped whilst supporting infrastructure and private security operations were withdrawn from Baalat Gebal. The complex was reportedly used gathering and researching samples collected from the native biosphere, but exploration of the complex has revealed drydocks, sub pens and underwater enclosures suggesting a focus on capturing, studying and perhaps breeding local maritime species.

Those revelations have led to comparisons being drawn to the oceanic stations used by the Thule Corporation, an organisation known for its work regarding hybrid species. Local folklore appears to support this, claiming that teeth of a Centauri White Shark were recovered from the carcass of a Byblosi whale by divers operating close to Site 07.

References

1. "Byblos Ruins 'Not Scinfaxi In Origin'". Champlain Group.
2. "NCU Suspends Byblos Spire Research Amid Rising Piracy in Calypso Deeps". Champlain Group.
3. "Byblos Planetary System". Champlain Group.
4. "Xenologist Team Disappears Investigating Byblos Spire". Champlain Group.