Arken II

Arken II
Classification:	class M
Affiliation:	United Federation of Planets
Location:	Arken star system, Alpha Quadrant
Moon(s):	none
Dominant species:	Arkenites
Warp capable:	before the 2160s
Gravity:	0.7 g
Diameter:	9,200 kilometers
Equatorial circumference:	28,902 kilometers
Length of day:	20 hours
Land mass percentage:	47%

Arken II was a class M planet and the second planet in the Arken system in the Alpha Quadrant. The planet was the homeworld of the humanoid Arkenites, former subjects of the Andorian Empire and later a long-standing member of the United Federation of Planets. Arken II had a strong magnetic field. (FASA RPG modules: Star Trek IV Sourcebook Update, The Federation; ENT - Rise of the Federation novels: A Choice of Futures, Uncertain Logic; TTN novel: Over a Torrent Sea)

History

See Arkenites.

Arken II was not originally part of the Arken system. Federation astronomers believed the planet was hurled into interstellar space when its original star went nova. It drifted until caught by the gravitational pull of the twin suns Arken A and Arken B whose planetary system was still forming. (FASA RPG module: Star Trek IV Sourcebook Update)

In August 2269, science officer Sengar Hesh of the USS Sagittarius told fellow officer Karen Cahow that if his friends back home knew what a fine sia lenthar he had become a part of, aboard the Sagittarius, he'd be the most envied soul on Arken. (Seekers novel: Second Nature)

Politics

Arken II was originally part of the Andorian Empire prior to the formation of the United Federation of Planets, following which the Arkenites were granted independence. The Andorians invited Arken II into the Federation shortly after its founding, eventually becoming a full-status member in early 2165 after years of debate. (FASA RPG module: Star Trek IV Sourcebook Update; ENT - Rise of the Federation novels: A Choice of Futures, Uncertain Logic)

Geography

When Arken II drifted into the Arken system, the intense heat of the twin stars fused the sand-covered surface into a thick transparent crust. Underground rivers and lakes washed away any sand left in the grass plains. (FASA RPG module: Star Trek IV Sourcebook Update)

The Arkenites evolved as an aquatic species. Compared to Arken II, the class O planet Droplet visited by the Arkenite xenobiologist Eviku nd'Ashelef in 2381 was equally pleasant to Arkenites, partly due to its wetness, but warmer. Because of Droplet's strong magnetic field, nd'Ashelef was able to visit the surface without wearing his magnetic anlec'ven headdress. (TTN novel: Over a Torrent Sea)

Most of the Arkenite civilization on the planet existed on ocean platforms. (Seekers novel: Second Nature)

The length of a single year on Arken II was 200 standard days, which resulted in a somewhat whirlwind cycle of seasons. Summer lasted 20 days but surface temperatures ranged from 20 to 50 Celsius at the equator. Autumn was marked by rain and storms for approximately 80 days. Winter froze the planet's oceans, with equatorial surface temperatures plunging anywhere between -25 to -10 Celsius. Spring was the most temperate season and lasted for roughly 80 days. (FASA RPG module: Star Trek IV Sourcebook Update)

Fauna

The wadji was a small furred mammal native to Arken. Lieutenant nd'Ashelef kept a wadji named Germu as pet. (TTN novel: Over a Torrent Sea)