Ares

The Ares System is a harsh, high-tech outpost of the Republic, centered around its desolate main world, Ares. Despite its advanced technology, Ares remains a poor and non-industrial planet, sustained by imported goods and an economy driven by specialized research and innovation rather than manufacturing or natural abundance. The oligarchic governance maintains order and stability, ensuring the planet fulfills its niche role within the Republic, but it struggles to balance the costs of survival with its lofty ambitions.

Star System Information

Ares orbits a stable K-type main-sequence star, casting a dimmer orangish but steady light over the system.
Celestial Bodies:
Ares I: A small, tidally locked rocky world with a molten core. Extreme surface temperatures make it inhospitable.
Ares II: A large, barren asteroid heavily mined for rare metals and silicates.
Ares III (Ares): The main inhabited planet, characterized by its desert landscape and high-tech infrastructure.
Ares IV: A minor gas giant with a single moon, its atmosphere rich in helium-3, which is harvested for fusion reactors.
Argo Belt: A wide asteroid belt with occasional mining outposts and a small research station.
Ares V: A hydrogen gas giant with a ring and an array of moons.

Geography

Ares is a barren desert planet with a very thin, tainted atmosphere and virtually no surface water. Its landscape is dominated by rugged canyons, rocky outcroppings, and vast, windswept plains of reddish sand. Surface settlements are rare, with the majority of the population living in domed cities or underground habitats. These settlements rely heavily on imported resources to sustain life, as the planet's environment offers highly limited agricultural and industrial potential.

Society & Culture

The society on Ares reflects its harsh environment and resource scarcity. Life is shaped by the oligarchic rule of the technocratic elite, who prioritize efficiency and innovation over social mobility. Most citizens are employed in research, technological development, or the maintenance of critical infrastructure, with little room for leisure or luxury. The lack of natural wealth and significant manufacturing leaves the population heavily dependent on off-world trade, fostering a pragmatic and disciplined culture. Citizens take pride in their intellectual contributions to the Republic, but tensions simmer over the oligarchy's strict control and the precariousness of life on a resource-starved planet

Economy

Ares’ economy has no significant manufacturing base, as the planet’s infrastructure is devoted almost entirely to research and development. Local production is limited to small-scale, specialized facilities, incapable of supporting broader industrial needs. The planet’s wealth is primarily intellectual, with exports consisting of patents, designs, and cutting-edge prototypes rather than physical goods. This reliance on high-value but intangible assets creates a fragile economy, heavily reliant on imported food, raw materials, and manufactured products. Even helium-3 and hydrogen harvesting from the nearby gas giants and mining in the asteroid belt serve primarily as supplementary income streams rather than transformative industries.

UWP: A520533-E De Ht Ni Po

Starport
Class A
Size
5 Medium
Atmosphere
2 Very Thin/Tainted
Hydro
0 0%–5% liquid surface
Population
5 X00.000s Hundreds of Thousands
Government
3 Self-perpetuating Oligarchy
Law level
3 - Low
Tech Level
14 (E) Very High
Trade Code
De - Desert, Ht - High Tech, Ni - Non-Industrial, Po - Poor

Owning Organization

The Free Peoples Galactic Republic