Kemry System

The Kemry System is an inhabited star system in the United Federation of Planets along the Gorn Hegemony border. The system is home to the terraforming colony of Djerba on the marginally habitable world of New Tunis. Nearly fifty years of terraforming have had a visible, fruitful impact on the world, with hopes of a fully self-sufficient, independent biosphere sometime in the next two to three decades.

Until then, the Kemry system is still dependent on regular supplies arriving from Cestus III and the wider Federation.

Overview

The Kemry System is centred on a G4V main-sequence star along the Federation-Gorn border. Consisting of fourteen planets, the system is split into two major groups demarcated by sparse asteroid fields. The inner eight terrestrial worlds, of which New Tunis is the fifth, primarily lie outside of the system's habitable band, with New Tunis being the only planet remotely habitable thanks to its position within the narrow band.

The gas giants of the system consist of six jovians, ranging from 1.2 to 0.2 Jupiter masses. Kemt, the largest of the gas giants, is tenth in the system and currently features an extensive ring formation to rival Saturn, as well as a collection of sixty-eight moons.

New Tunis

New Tunis was a Class K planet prior to the start of terraforming efforts and would now be arguably Class M, or an advanced Class L. Deemed a viable planet for terraforming thanks to its position within the habitable zone, an established magnetic field and active plate tectonics, efforts were started in the early 2350s to establish a human-safe biosphere, increase the hydrosphere content and build up the planet's atmosphere so as to one day support an open-air human colony.

New Tunis is 0.98 Earth masses. The planetary atmosphere is thick enough to support an expanding biosphere, though oxygen content is still low enough to warrant breathing apparatus for colonists. Project timelines project such devices should become superfluous within ten more years. Pressure suits haven't been required for nearly ten years at this point.

New Tunis continues to experience occasional comet impacts to deliver water content to the planet's expanding oceans. Down from nearly three a month in the early years of terraforming, impacts are now scheduled to be four a year in the Southern Ocean Impact Basin, far from any settlements and to minimise any tsunami impacts on biosphere expansion areas.

Multiple small settlements have cropped up around New Tunis, primarily to support biosphere expansion plots to help establish the planetary biosphere. These are easily identifiable from orbit due to the expanding patches of greenery. None of these settlements compare to the planetary capital, Djerba, and feature populations in the hundreds at best.

Djerba

Nearly a quarter-million people call Djerba home at this point. Originally a domed settlement, the settlement grew beyond the dome many years ago, with pressurised habitation for expanding populations being the driving force.

Djerba is situated to be on the coastline when comet impacts cease and the planet's oceans are considered to be finished. At present, it is within sight of the ocean. Djerba is surrounded to the north by extensive farmlands and forestry, with growing 'native' bush as planting blocks escape and expand naturally, often with support of colonists and adapted fauna that are being introduced.

The heart of Djerba is the domed settlement, where the majority of the planet's population still resides. Built to be supportive to a growing population that would be confined within the dome for decades, it features plenty of arcades and cosy civic locales, along with communal rooftop park spaces.

Riga Layover

Riga Layover is an old, near-decrepit Hansa-class support station in orbit of New Tunis. It was old when it was dragged into orbit at the start of terraforming and well past its prime today. It consists of a maximum operating crew of twenty-five, is protected by generationally outdated shields and is armed with powerful tractor beams that have been tuned specifically for comet interception and redirection.

The primary purpose of Riga Layover in the last few years of its life is final-stage comet trajectory work and breaking, to allow for 'gentle' impacts in the planet's growing oceans. The tractor beams for this are powerful but diffuse beams to prevent breakups and secure a solid 'grip' on the comet.

The station also serves as the system's limited and rarely needed traffic control centre. Though with the small population at present, there isn't much need beyond acknowledging ships entering the system and giving them any travel advisories they may need to be made aware of.

Bright Point

Bright Point is a Starfleet Sciences/University of Delta Vega(Columbia) stellar observatory on the third planet out from Kemry. The observatory has been operating for ten years now and is studying Kemry to map specifics of the star's stellar cycle as part of a long-range study. Situated on the terminator of the tidally locked planet, the facility consists of ten staff. Two Starfleet science officers, a doctoral fellow, three doctoral students and a rotation of undergrads man the station and undertake observation and maintenance work as required.

Bright Point maintains a shuttle on site for commuting to and from Djerba for supplies, R&R and any specific emergencies that can't be handled on site.