Rupert's Hole

Type: Arid terrestrial

Mean Orbital Radius: 0.6 AU (89,758,722.6 km)

Local Year: 248.87 galactic standard days (165.91 local Triad days; 248.87 local Rupert's Hole days)

Local Day: 20 standard hours

Gravity: 0.9 g

Mean Diameter: 14,000 km

Hydrosphere: 20% (0.02% ice)

Atmosphere: 77% nitrogen, 18% oxygen, 3% carbon dioxide, trace others 

Climate: Desert, arid and dry terrestrial climates, from temperate to tropical, with mediterranean climates along some coasts and rivers. 

Mean Temperature: 18.9 C

Trade: Industry – various chemicals and machined goods; agriculture – while much of the world is arid, there is sufficient grazing land for herds of animals, as well as farmland which produces some excellent wines.

Government: Democratic Republic; the people of Rupert's Hole elect representatives to serve in a Congress, overseen by the President.  The government is intended to be as small and unobtrusive as possible, as the population values independence, though the needs of the growing population has bred a certain amount of bureaucracy.  

Population: 95 % human, 5 % others; 2.5 billion

Space Stations: ASS, TS

Notes: Founded by Rupert Cassidy, this world was populated by those who valued freedom, independence and self-sustenance.  That spirit exists still today, even though much of the planet has been settled.  There are still large tracts of untamed land, set aside as natural preserves.  Most of the population lives in the dozen or so large cities concentrated around the rivers and sparse coastlines. 

The planet has one large inland ocean, with a few small seas, though there is a sufficient river and lake system to provide fresh water for life.  The flora and fauna are well-adapted to the dry climates of Rupert's Hole; of particular note are the treasure-berry bush, which is delicious and nourishing, and the parasitic aore fly, which is a nuisance to all living things in the bush.  Predatory zaliss birds roam the Vista Plains, and Gorlan's hunter, a slug-like creature with color-changing abilities haunts the waterways of Rupert's Hole.