Thirat

Thirat is the secon planet in the Halat star system in the Orion Neutrality Area in the Beta Quadrant. It the only class M planet in its system, and it has one moon. It is home to an Orion colony.

From space, Thirat appears to be an inviting blue-green Class M world, but this hides a very tough environment. The gravity is 1.7 g, while the average temperature can vary from 25° to 50° Celsius, while the humidity never drops below 60%. The environment itself is largely swamp and jungle, and densely inhabited by snakes, vicious insects, dangerous planets and even more dangerous animals.

The jungles hid but slowly revealed ancient ruins that told of failed attempts at habitation and exploitation on Thirat. But slowly the Orion slave colonists learned to live with the harsh environment rather than fight against it, and their descendants became a hardy people, shrewd and canny, stronger than average and skilled in jungle survival. They were used and prized as mercenaries for centuries. They were a proud people, so much so that they call themselves Thiratin rather than Orion, and they have little tolerance for outsiders.

After the Four Years War, Thirat refused to accept Orion refugees, and this decision was respected by the Botchok Planetary Council and the Federation. In any case, the refugees who had been selected to be sent to Thirat rebelled rather than be forced to live among the Thiratin.

The de facto government is the Thirat Group, a loose confederation of local industries run by the ruling families of Teish, Nomab, Sohola, and Emark. However law and order are matters of protocol and politeness. No one gives orders, instead they make suggestions.

With a strong tradition of self-reliance, all citizens are skilled in the martial arts, whether unarmed or with weaponry. Dueling is legal - if one is insulted before witnesses, a Thiratin of any social standing may challenge the offender to a duel, apparently to the death. Members of the ruling families are not immune, nor are alien visitors, which leads to a high mortality rate among offworlders. Once a highly respected Klingon captain was slain in a duel, and there was no retaliation for his death.

Thirat's economy depends on the jungle for everything, from lumber and fibers, to chemicals and petroleum, to paints and drugs, and a wide range of minor products. There was 271 cities on the planet, mostly concealed beneath the dense jungle canopy, and holding 1.7 billion people. Transport is by air; there are no roads and few open, cultivated areas.

It has a total surface area of 1,633,125,400 square kilometers and, with 25% land mass, a total land area of 408,281,350 square kilometers. About 28% of Thirat's makeup is normal metals, 9% is gemstones, and it has only trace amounts of radioactive elements, special minerals and industrial crystals.

It has a tropical climate, a thick class M atmosphere and a 19 hour day. 

It had a technological/socio-political index of 999974-74 and a planetary trade profile of EDFDCDF/A(B).