Star Type ..........................G4 V Yellow Main Sequence

Radius ...............................6.98x105km (1.00xSol)

Mass................................. 1.66x1030kg (0.83xSol)

Temperature........................5,500 degrees Kelvin

Luminosity ......................... 5.94x1026 W (1.55xSol)

Araks I is a gas giant that has planetary rings. 38 small moons and 2 large moons revolve around it in odd cycles. None of the moons are habitable, though the fourth moon (Araks Id) may have some minerals for mining. Future expeditions are necessary to verify initial scans. Araks I is 18% volatile magma, mostly on its southern axis pole (which faces the star most often).

Araks II is also a gas giant. It has 4 small moons and 13 large moons. The largest of the moons (Araks IIc is the current name) has a trace atmosphere and some polar caps, but is far too hot for life to exist safely.

Records show that no intelligent life originated on Hentz. During the time of the Yazirian Relocation, the planet was terraformed using the flora, fauna, and environments from Waloo (in the Pavor system).

Discovered in 341 pf, Hentz was the first colony world established by the Yazirians. It was merely a mining colony for 50 years. After the discovery of the weakening orbit of Levo, the planet became the first terraformed world during the Yazirian Relocation. This lasted, in full force, for 30 years, the first 23 during which Waloo was still intact, and the latter during which environments were still being reconstructed and synthesized on Hentz. There were some changes made due to the new environment and new geography of Hentz, as well as several environmental rejections, but aside from the change the size and color of the sun and the absence of the moon, the planet is much like the original. This was a time of great social cohesion for the Yazirians as well as a time of great scientific learning about both systems, the life on the planet(s), terraforming, and transportation. The government of Waloo was similarly transported in whole to Hentz. At the end of the 30 years, the governments returned to their pre-disaster states. 

Hentz is ruled by a religious clan, the Family of One. This government evolved from that of the transplanted government from Waloo (Pavor). The head of the government is a high priest, but local politics are handled by Priests, appointed by the High Priest and overseen by the High Priest’s network of clandestine Overseers. 

Although the Mentalist rules found in the back of the game manual are not canon in a Star Frontiers campaign, referees wishing to add some spice to their game may wish to allow the High Priest and his network of Overseers and Priests to be Mentalists with the Telepath skill (but no other). The source of their power is unknown by the masses, but they maintain they are anointed and marked by their god with these miraculous abilities. Their abilities wane (treat their Telepath level as half, round down) when they get away from the Araks system, and may diminish further over time. Some people maintain that the mystery of the false uranium readings on Araks IV and the amazing mental powers of the High Priest and his Overseers are somehow connected. If these rules are used, the level of Telepath skill helps define a person’s political power as well as his general legal enforcement ability; use his Telepath level as the legal enforcement level shown below.

Onehome: Headquarters of GODCo. and the only city with a star port, though it is used only for the priesthood (shuttle ports exists in several other cities to ferry cargo to Highpoint). It is said that all roads lead to Onehome. This was also the location of the original mining colony. There are rumors that under the city, in the old foundations of the original outpost, the High Priest hides secrets of an eradicated race that once inhabited Hentz, wiped out by GODCo as a form of cleansing. Of course, this is only a rumor. 

Highpoint: There is a fortified space station in orbit around Hentz. It acts as customs and immigration, and is a living area for many who await acceptance into the cloistered existence of The Family of One. There are several shuttles that come and go daily, but docking starships are limited to one per day. This causes a back-up of ships parked in orbit around the planet at all times, prioritized by the whim of security personnel. Security is maintained by GODCo. employees who answer to the High Priest only in theory. 

Hullheal Station: Bothered by the number of ships that stop on their way to other star systems, the High Priest decreed that a new station be built, in an opposite orbit to Highpoint (so the two would never be in view of one another). This station is devoted to refueling, repairing, and supplying passersby. The prices are high, but GODCo’s technicians are surprisingly knowledgeable. All crew must deploy while services are rendered to ships (up to one crewman – presumably the captain – can remain behind), where they are ushered to the trading gallery, a large mall where they may spend their credits on tech and simple entertainment. Alcohol is limited, and fanatics are an eternal presence here, enlightening the weary traveler.

Araks IV is nothing but a cold, rocky mass. Its surface is covered with craters proving that it has seen much abuse in its existence. Initial scans showed uranium veins running through the rock, but mining expeditions failed to turn up anything at all. There are ruins of abandoned mining outposts littered everywhere on Araks IV. Additionally, a mining ship (the Ex-Cavator) crashed on its surface twenty years ago when it had engine trouble. Araks IV is known as a miner’s pipe dream, and scientists currently doubt the validity of the initial uranium scans.