Earth

Homeworld of Humanity

Earth is the third planet within the Sol Star System and the Homeworld of Humanity. Earth is one of the five planets within the Milky Way Galaxy that was able to harbor intelligent life. Earth is the capital planet of the Solarian Federation, with a population of over 45 billion in arcology cities, towering metal skyscrapers, massive underground cities, and self-sufficient city ships. Large sections of the planet, such as the Amazon Jungle, Antarctica, and most of Africa, have been turned into nature reserves and parks where little to no civilization of any kind is allowed, outside of small towns and non-polluting cities. Most governmental activity is done on Earth's only moon, Luna, and on the constantly moving city capital of New Eden, the first city Post-Imperial Revolution on Earth's surface.

Ecosystem

Earth's original ecosystem was already being drastically damaged by a combination of pollution, climate change, overpopulation, and political corruption. By the year 3000 CE, much of the planet's native species had died off, with only a select few being kept captive within laboratories, collections, or as simple DNA in cryo capsules. When Earth was shot with a concentrated beam of stellar energy by the Falmir Imperial Union during the First Imperial War, practically all life on Earth died within an instant. Only small bacteriums that died off soon after and 68% of Earth's natural water remained intact. For 600 years after, the Earth was covered in deadly radiation that made it impossible for life to recover, effectively sterilizing the planet. Once humanity rediscovered Earth, they quickly remade the planet's atmosphere and re-terraformed it to its original state. After discovering the DNA capsules within deep, underground laboratories and lost spaceships, many extinct species made a comeback, like polar bears and elephants. In the modern day, Earth's biosphere is one of the most well-kept and managed in the entire galaxy.

History

For a long time after the colonization of the Sol System and other nearby star systems, like Proxima Centauri, Earth suffered from overpopulation, global warming, pollution, and political corruption within the United Terran Republic. Many indigenous species on Earth, like polar bears, cheetahs, and blue whales, went extinct, with only their DNA being saved. Billions of Human lives lived in poverty within megacities that vented both choking pollution and deep-seated corruption. Earth's moon, Luna, had been transformed into an ecumenopolis where the government and upper-class elite lived. In the year 2926 CE, Humanity made first contact with the far less technologically advanced Brek on Angetha, their Homeworld, and in 2930, the first sapient aliens landed on Earth. Both Humans and Brek had significant cultural influences on each other, resulting in many small-scale, unsuccessful revolutions against the United Terran Republic. In the year 3112 CE, Earth made second contact with the far more technologically advanced Falmir Imperial Union. The Falmir Imperial Union had discovered Humanity, the Brek, and their homeworlds and demanded their surrender to the empire. Both replied no, starting the First Imperial War, lasting a total of 91 Earth days. The war ended with an Imperial victory after the Union fired the Eyes of Sav' Torus, a Nicoll-Dyson laser-like megastructure, at Earth. Earth's atmosphere was burned away and collapsed, killing all life on its surface, 45% of all Brek, and 87% of all Humans. The only things that remained on Earth were the destroyed ruins of the fallen United Terran Republic and 68% of Earth's natural water. With no options left, Humanity and the Brek surrendered to the Union as a slave race. Over nearly 350 years, much of Human and Brek culture was destroyed, with Human religions, such as Christianity, especially targeted and Earth fading as more myth than fact. Surprisingly enough, Judaism and Buddhism survived through small cults, though they had been changed drastically. After the Imperial Revolution, which involved both Humanity and other enslaved alien races uprising and repelling the Falmir Imperial Union, Humanity, now under the banner of the Solarian Federation, rediscovered Earth in the year 3576 CE and with stolen terraforming technology rebuilt the atmosphere to be suitable for Human life. Finding animal DNA within underground laboratories and abandoned spaceships, they rebuilt the biosphere of Earth. Today, Earth remains the capital of the Solarian Federation and the single most important planet to Humanity.

Tourism

Although not the most populous planet, Earth is one of the most common planets for tourism, education, and art. Most who come to Earth come to live in peace, learn about Human culture and history, study the ecosystem, create art, or write poems about it. One of the most popular poems about Earth is "Terra's Love" by Harrison Devlin in which he writes about his love for both his wife, Lucy, and the Earth.

I love thee, Lucy, as Terra does love the Sun, With a passion unending, a fire that burns bright. Thou art my world, and in thee, I find my All, My hope, my heart, my very life. Thy beauty is like Terra, my love, Fresh and green and growing, ever new. Beneath thy feet the grasses wave and whisper, And in thy eyes the oceans deep and blue. Terra does love thee, Lucy, as I do, With a love that knows no bounds, A love that will never die.