Independence Planetary System

Independence is a planetary system located in the New American Colonies of the Sunset Gates. It is a G-type star orbited by eight planets, three of which are extensively settled, along with several inhabited moons. The U.S. state of Columbia occupies the entirety of the system, with the sole exception of New Philadelphia, a federal district and the capital of the United States of America.

As the seat of the U.S. federal government, Independence is a major political and economic hub. The system serves as the primary headquarters for multiple federal departments and agencies, hosts the offices of major interstellar corporations, and is home to some of the nation’s largest industry associations, nonprofit institutions, and research institutes.

Independence is the fifth most populous star system in the United States and one of the country’s top tourist destinations.

Independence (Star)

G-Type Main Sequence Star.

Lowell

Volcanic, hostile world.

Notable Features: Extreme heat, magma flows, volcanic activity

Settlement: Minimal

Points of Interest:

• Chandelier Valley Caldera
• The Lowell Fracture
  • Dalton-Wando Station
• Extreme Heat Research & Engineering Laboratory (EHREL)

Orbital Infrastructure: Minimal

• Lowell Volcanic Observatory

Satellites: None

Superior

Oceanic, agri-world.

Notable Features: Maritime climate, high thermal inertia, oceanic storm belts.

Settlement: Moderate

Points of Interest:

• Edmund Archipelago
  • Superior Oceanic Research Complex (SORC)
• Kaleidoscope Reef
  • Kaleidoscope Deepwater Habitat
• Farragut Island
  • Superior Undersea Test and Evaluation Center
• Neptune Abyssal Laboratory

Orbital Infrastructure: Moderate

• Edmund Station

Satellites: 3

• Chequamegon
• Keweenaw
• Whitefish

Columbia

Temperate, capital world.

Notable Features: Temperate zones, expansive plains, mountain ranges, oceanic storm belts

Settlement: Extensive

Points of Interest:

• Columbia Megalopolis
  • District of New Philadelphia
    • United States Capitol Spire
  • Washington Bay
  • Ticonderoga
    • Ticonderoga Military Spacelift
  • Marine Corps Base Wildwood
    • BFI Academy Wildwood

Orbital Infrastructure: Extensive

• Columbia Orbital Districts
• Federal Orbital District
• Naval Station Columbia

Satellites: 2

• Trenton
  • Naval Station Trenton
  • Spaceborne Warfare Combat Center
• Easton

Chicago

Temperate, core world.

Notable Features: Continental climate, seismic instability, deep canyons

Settlement: Extensive

Points of Interest:

• Calloway Metropolitan Area
• Malnatti Metropolitan Area
• Redmond Resource Development Area
• Mercer Impact Basin

Orbital Infrastructure: Extensive

• Calloway-Malnatti Orbital Districts
• Chicago Orbital Research Array (CORA)

Satellites: 1

• Hanlon

Mississippi

Cyclonic gas giant.

Notable Features: Dense atmosphere, high-altitude jet streams, perpetual winds, stratospheric temperature spikes

Settlement: Minimal

Points of Interest:

• Mississippi Gas Extraction Zone (MGEZ)

Orbital Infrastructure: Minimal

• Lomax Atmospheric Research Station

Satellites: 192

Missouri

Cyclonic, toxic, gas giant.

Notable Features: Perpetual winds, superstorms, high-altitude jet streams, toxic aerosols

Settlement: Minimal

Points of Interest:

• Missouri Gyre
• Superstorm Barnett

Orbital Infrastructure: Minimal

• Advanced Materials Lab Missouri (AMLM)

Satellites: 101

Denali

Frozen, marginal world.

Notable Features: Polar extremes, ice-covered surface, mountain ranges, glacial movement.

Settlement: Minimal

Points of Interest:

• Adlivun Glacier
• Denali Ice Research Complex (DIRC)
• Cold Weather & Mountain Warfare Training Center

Orbital Infrastructure: Minimal

Satellites: 4

Llano Estacado

Frozen, marginal world.

Notable Features: Polar extremes, expansive plains, subsurface magma pockets, rapid cooling cycles.

Settlement: None

Points of Interest:

Orbital Infrastructure: None

Satellites: 1