Dathis II

Dathis II is the M-class homeworld of the Dachlyd. Dathis II is an arboreal world with several oceans. The Dachlyd word for Dathis II translates to "nest" with similar connotations as Terran "earth".

Location

The Dathis system is part of the Sagittarius Arm in the Alpha Quadrant. The closest Federation starbase to the Dathis system is Starbase 12.

Solar System

Dathis II is the second planet (counting outward from the star) in an eight-planet solar system orbiting the star Dathis.

Features

Like most of the Dathis system, Dathis II is host to a large, rotating number of Dachlyd freighters. Asked on one occasion for a specific number regarding this fleet, Cadet Rogg only remarked, "More than once the orbiting freighters have partially eclipsed the planet's surface."

Seckrops University orbits Dathis II. The campus is on one of the only remaining planetoids near the planet.

Geology

Since early in its history Dathis II has been subject to frequent meteroid bombardment. More rare (though more common than comparative Terran history) were regular asteroid impacts. Fossil records indicate that life on Dathis II has been subject to several extinction-level events (ELE). Early Dachlyd History is punctuated by cataclysms resulting from the impacts of one or more asteroids. Due to developments in Planetary Defense, asteroid-related disasters remain in the past of Dathis II.

Impact craters in various states of erosion are a unique feature of the planet's surface. (Some researchers propose that the craters remaining from previous asteroids may have sheltered Dathis II life from subsequent asteroids.) Many craters have become overgrown with the abundant flora. A couple of the craters from ELEs have since become seas.

Weather

Rain and seasonal meteor showers are to be expected.

Flora

Dathis II abounds with plant life, ranging from prosaic ferns to eerie, triffid-like lifeforms. Visiting Terrans have compared the ecosystem to that of early 20th century (Terran) notions of Venus, albeit poetically. More erudite botanists note that the planet has ten times more plants than planets of comparative volume and atmosphere. Many theories have been put forth to compete for explanation of the seemingly superfluous species of vegetation. The wide variety of flora has an almost as broad range of uses in Dachlyd culture; the plants are used for food, utensil, decoration, religious ceremony, etc. As a result, many Dachlyds appreciate flora even on worlds with comparatively sparse vegetation.

Each region of Dathis II has a native plant associated with it:

• Squamos - the shield bush or "sssquarti" (a taro plant with lozenge-shaped leaves of yellow and green)
• Taelend - the swizzle vine or "kasstick" (a somewhat-brittle, ubiquitous epiphyte which grows in shades of mauve)
• Kassilend - the king's crown or "gly-taass" (a variegated bromeliad of six iridescent colors considered sacred by most Dachlyd and gaudy or outlandish by most other races)
• . . . (et al.)

(Despite research expeditions by xenobotanists, no sentient manner of plant life has yet been discovered on the surface of Dathis II.)

Fauna

The animal life of this planet is notably reptilian with almost no mammals (excluding various bat-like forms). In addition to the lack of mammalian life, there are no avians (birds) - this ecological niche is filled by large, flying insects and the aforementioned bats.

Comparative xenobiology suggests that life evolved on Dathis II as it might have on Earth, had mammals not ascended to dominate the food web.

Culture

Dathis II, while being the homeworld of the Dachlyd race, is not the seat of Dachlyd culture. Starship, sub-light freighter, and space station -dwelling Dachlyds outnumber their homeworld fellows. It is more accurate to say that Dachlyd culture is rooted on Dathis II and has branched off from the homeworld. The colony worlds of the Dachlyds began along the same vein as Dachlyd settlements upon Dathis II. Dachlyd society is not hegemonic. Rather it doctrinally opposed to hegemonies, a sort of tradition of egalitarianism.

Because of the history of respect for others, Dachlyds have at times petitioned outside aide from the UFOP in order to expeditiously resolve disputes and reach compromise. Extremism and despotism are not widely understood except by those Dachlyds studying political science or xenocultures.

Part of Dachlyd respect for unique views is a tendency towards stubbornness: a Dachlyd will tolerate other perspectives while maintaining its own. Among Dachlyds there may be a chance of exchanging ideas. Conversely, when dealing with alien cultures whose views oppose their own Dachlyds have earned a reputation for adamantly refusing to accept the foreign views. Sometimes it has proven impossible to even convince a Dachlyd that its views are the same as a non-Dachlyd's.

Science

There is a growing trend in Dachlyd industry supporting biotechnology. The developments which receive the most interest and acclaim specifically deal with lifespan-terminated engineered organisms, sometimes referred to as "lifespanned engineered organisms" or by the acronym "LEOs". Many advances have been made in designing organisms with specific functions to replace architectural or mechanical constructs.

The theory behind replacing traditional, crafted buildings and goods is simple: Most living organisms require simple chemical compounds to grow and regenerate. Traditional technology relies on many refined elements and compunds, and sometimes dangerous (toxic, volatile, etc.) substances as well. Therefore a LEO is cheaper and safer than its inorganic counterpart. Also, inorganic technology is static, where a LEO will grow to fill its designated niche and adapt as it is used to be more efficient. The developments in lifespan-terminated engineered organisms, while suffering some setbacks, have become a large portion of Dachlyd industry and continue to progress through diligent research.

Currently, the Dachlyd have not engineered any biological vessels capable of spaceflight. Some advancement has been made in supplementing or replacing space station systems with bio-engineered creatures.

Precautions: In order to prevent uncontrolled populations of engineered life, Dachlyd scientists have created organisms which require synthesized food. As a further precaution, LEOs have no reproductive systems. This lack of dangerous organs also saves on the cost of creating and supporting an engingeered organism. An additional precaution is that LEOs are "lifespan-terminated" meaning that they live set length of time, whether hours, days, months, or years depends upon their function and their artificial genes. Having a set lifespan reduces instances of mutation and also ensures demand for new replacement organisms. Finally, there is "The Gap". "The Gap" is a political and ethical boundary which governs the creation of biological entities: Rules limit development to lower animal life, autotrophs and plants being outright banned; further any creature displaying sentient behavior to the extent of self-awareness must be euthanized and further development of such organisms halted. By requiring a diet which does not naturally occur, lacking natural reproduction, dying after a determined lifespan, and not being capable of producing its own energy nor being conscious, a LEO presents only a marginal risk to naturally occurring lifeforms.

Rumors: Among elite scientists and certain philosophers, there are whisperings that any biologically engineered organism capable of surviving the vacuum and raw radiations present in spaceflight would need to be at least somewhat sentient to be capable of governing its complex functions.