Daros IV is the fourth planet in the Daros system, orbiting an F class white star (Daros) at 1.4 AU, or roughly 200 million kilometers. Its year is 1.65 Earth years and it has a 28 hour day. It is orbited by two moons.
Though larger than Earth, a scarcity of heavy metals gives Daros IV a slightly lower density and gravity, 0.9 g. It is a class M world, the only one in its system, with a normal atmospheric density and a hot and arid climate. It is marked by large deserts, small greenish-blue seas and areas of yellow-green vegetation. Areas near the coast of the main continent can support life, but the vast interior desert is rendered virtually uninhabitable by intense heat, a lack of water, and poisoned soils. Few native plant of animal species remain, and most are harmless and rare; however, there are a few dangerous predators.
Daros IV has a total surface area of 504,900,000 square kilometers and, with 62% land mass, a total land area of 313,000,000 square kilometers. About 31% of its makeup is normal metals, 13% is radioactive elements, 6% gemstones and 6% is industrial crystals, with trace amounts of other special minerals.
It had a technological/socio-political index of 987754-54 and a planetary trade profile of BCFFBDG/A(A).
It was home to an Orion colony.
Government
Daros IV was governed by the Council of Trade, comprised of the senior members of the Five Families that dominated the world. These Five Families were the Kerav, Althori, Simri, Keros and Beldav families. Each Family operated its own merchant fleet and ran separate commercial ventures, though the Council itself obtained exclusive trade treaties with several of the richest worlds in the sector, and its members acted as middlemen for these transactions.
Each of the Five Families was a collection of Orions related by ties of money and blood, bound together into a comparatively cohesive economic, political, and social unit. Status within each family rested on two factors: wealth and birthright. Those Orions who were part of the original Family by unbroken descent had superior status to those who belonged to a cadet branch or associated clan. Federation sociologists classified the Families as patriarchal, governmental, and corporate. An estimated 90% of all the Orions on Daros IV are affiliated with one of the Five.
The Althori Family was the oldest and richest on Daros IV, with holdings and trade contracts concentrated on planets with abundant minerals and natural resources. Federation merchants reported that the Althori Family appeared completely uninterested in closer ties with the UFP.
The Kerav Family was the second oldest, and its virtual monopoly on luxury goods gave it both prestige and wealth. However, it is known that the Families that control resource and technology contracts are able to charge the Keravs high prices for their products and services.
The Beldav Family was the third most senior clan. Its clients provided the Family with low- and mid-level technological goods for resale on less developed worlds. Based on reports received from off-planet sources, Federation analysts believed the Beldav and Althori Families were closely allied and formed a working majority within the ruling Council of Trade.
The Simri Family ranked fourth among the Five. Its mineral holdings often placed the Family in direct competition with the Althori, but the Simri Family usually joined with the Althori-Beldav coalition in the Council.
The Keros Family was the youngest of the Five. It held extensive agricultural lands and contracts on at least six different planets. In the ten years before 2272, however, several natural disasters affecting vitally important crops were believed to have seriously weakened the Keros Family's financial and political position.
History
Daros IV was an Orion colonized world lying just outside the Klingon Neutral Zone on the Federation side, settled by the families of trading captains. By the late 23rd century, it had been isolated from mainstream Orion civilization for decades, and according to Starfleet Intelligence, had never been used as a base of piracy. However, it had become a center of trade for a dozen worlds around it, with a lucrative market for rare and illegal commodities.
Being so desolate and barren that its inhabitants never bothered to develop local industries, and with rich veins of radioactive ores located too deep in the vast central desert of the main continent to support large-scale mining operations, Daros IV relied almost entirely on interstellar trade for its prosperity and economic stability
By this time, the Federation was new to this area of space, but several companies and independent merchants had already tried and failed to break the Orion monopoly with the neighbouring worlds, which preferred their traditional agreements with the Orions to offers from untested alien newcomers. Starfleet Intelligence suspect that the Five Families also maintained control over their clients through a judicious combination of bribery and violent intrigue.
These neighbouring worlds were comparatively primitive, so much so, in fact, that the Federation would have forbidden contact with them under the Prime Directive, given the chance. The native cultures were irreparably distorted by an unbalanced mix of primitive socioeconomic and political patterns with modern technology. Federation officials were dismayed by the attempts of Federation merchants to cash in on this unfortunate situation.
According to Starfleet Intelligence, Klingon interests visited Daros IV along with a number of unidentified vessels in 2272. Later that year, the Federation starship USS Eridani Star arrived to investigate the Klingon presence. Michael Thorn was one of those assigned, and was later reported missing.
Locations
Almost also economic activity of Daros IV took place in its bazaars, either in the High Market or in the Shadow Market, located nearby.
The High Market is located just outside the Daroskelar Starport, and is the centre of legitimate mercantile activity, completely controlled by the trading representatives of the Five Families. Federation merchants and corporations are not allowed to conduct business independently here.
The Shadow Market meanwhile was a peculiarly Orion institution, serving as a center for trading activities prohibited by Federation law. In contrast to the High Market, no Family names are ever used inside the boundaries of the Shadow Market, and all transactions are regarded as matters between anonymous individuals. However, in reality, the Five Families exert as much influence inside the Shadow Market as they did over the rest of the world.
Flora & Fauna
Few native plant or animal species remain in Daros IV's harsh conditions, and most are harmless and rare. However, at least three species of dangerous predators still survive in the deserts and mountain ranges of Daros IV: the Morakos, the Slethi and the Korgasant.
References
- FASA RPG: The Orion Ruse
- FASA RPG: Star Trek IV Sourcebook Update
