Obsidian

Obsidian was planet in orbit of the star Loki, located near the Romulan Neutral Zone. It was given its name by Federation observers, due to its dark surface covered with black volcanic glass.

Obsidian's atmosphere, while class M, had a nearly non-existant ozone layer which, combined with the high radiation output of its star, made Obsidian a harsh desert world. Still, numerous lifeforms survived here, including a sentient humanoid race.

People
The people of Obsidian were distinugished by their dark-olive complexions, sharp features, and angular bodies. Two distinct cultures existed among the Obsidian people: the city dwellers, who took permanent refuge from the desert in the oasis settlement of Kalara; and the nomadic tribes who roamed the deserts and mountain ranges. The two groups maintained little contact, with the city dwellers considering the nomads uncivilized animals, and the nomads called the residents of Kalara "Tamed Ones", ignorant of the ways of desert life.

One aspect of desert life was the concept of the Sunstorm Truce. During solar storms, all hostilities between tribes were put aside, and no person could be refused shelter from the sun's deadly output.

The people of Obsidian had very basic theological beliefs, with a personified force of Good, and an opposite force of Evil: the Fiery One, who is depicted with red hair and eyes of flame.

History
In the 2290s, faced with an increase in cancers and infant mortalities due to Loki's increaseing flare activities, the people of Kalara called on the Federation for help. A small Starfleet mission was established, under the command of Captain David Rabin. However, most of Rabin's efforts to improve life on Obsidian came to failure, leading him to suspect sabotage.

At almost the same time, the Romulan Star Empire, with the help of a mad Vulcan named Sered, took advantage of the religion of one of the desert tribes to cast Rabin and the Federation as forces of evil, and force Starfleet to abandon the planet. In the end, these efforts were unsuccessful.