Horizon

Horizon was the first colonial world after Destiny.

**Location: Milky Way Galaxy/Sirius System**

**Planet Class: Garden World**

**Horizon** is the first planet orbiting white dwarf star Sirius B in the Sirius System. It is a habitable world in early stages of life, with only unicellular organisms in its oceans.

Humans detected Horizon as an Earth-type world via telemetry in 2124. After more surveys indicated life, ample fresh water and breathable air, the Republic upgraded the planet to a colonization priority. Commanded by Captain Ronald Taylor, the crew of Gaea Ark made planetfall on the garden world in 2152.

Horizon is the first place that humans discovered the supremely rare mineral Unobtanium, which enabled faster interstellar travel and better, cleaner energy production.

## Physical Characteristics

### Geology

Horizon is a relatively young planet roughly 250 million years old compared to the 5.3 billion years of Destiny and 4.5 billion years of Earth and is geologically stable. It is a bit larger than Earth, with a radius of 6,521 km, compared to the 6,378 km radius of Earth. Horizon's surface is empty deserts and towering mountains.

### Atmosphere

Horizon's atmosphere is very similar to other life bearing worlds humanity had seen before. A nitrogen-based atmosphere with oxygen. Although it had a large amount of helium in its atmosphere, its atmosphere was completely breathable for humans.

## History

### Colonization

After what happened to Earth, and after the colonization of Destiny, colonizing other worlds became a priority for the Republic. Telemetry data showed that a habitable world orbits Sirius B, and its colonization became an important priority. The Republic used the same Ark ship that brought colonists to Destiny, Gaea, to colonize Horizon. The colonists finally landed on the planet in 2152.

### Discovery of Unobtanium

* **Main Article: Unobtanium**

Several years after the colonization of Horizon, scientists discovered a new mineral. After a year of research, it was proven that this new mineral is a room-temperature superconductor. The discovery of this new mineral soon opened the first interstellar commerce line between Horizon and Destiny. Unobtanium also assisted humanity in the invention of matter-antimatter engines which enabled faster interstellar travels at 99% the speed of light.

### Second Republic

After the fall of the First Republic, the colonial administration on Horizon didn't accept the rule of the newly established Commonwealth and declared itself the Second Republic. Second Republic lasted only lasted for 40 years and was finally defeated at the Battle of Horizon.

### Commonwealth of Man

After the Battle of Horizon, the planet came under the control of the Commonwealth in 2263. During this era, Horizon saw a golden era of economical boom. Today, Horizon has the largest naval base in human territory and is an important military world for the Commonwealth.

## Economy

### Trade

Most important trade of Horizon is its Unobtanium resources which enables interstellar commerce. Destiny relies heavily on these resources.

Horizon is also the largest exporter of titanium, and has many titanium mines on the surface. Titanium is in such abundance in fact, that entire spires of the element rise up from the ground.

### Starship Industry

Horizon is the largest and most active shipyard of the Commonwealth. Ships like the *Majesty*-class light frigate were built there.

### Corporations On Planet

Horizon is the home of many corporations. They either has industrial facilities or commercial/administrative offices on the planet.

## Military

Horizon is one of, if not the most important headquarters for the Commonwealth as well as the main supplier of military and civilian spacecraft, and the location of the Commonwealth's largest and most active shipyard. Interstellar Navy of the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth Marine Corps maintain headquarters on Horizon, as well as many primary Naval Intelligence bases, which includes the highly classified CASTLE Base. It is also where the Commonwealth's most elite troops, including the ODSTs as well as the Spartans, are trained. Horizon also has its own Central Command.

While Destiny is rightly seen as the Commonwealth's commercial, political, and cultural center; Horizon is undeniably the hub of its military power. The Sirius Defense Fleet is a full strength Carrier Group with the *Thunderbolt*-class supercarrier CISV *Aurora* at its core.

Eighteen repair and refit space stations, such as Anchor 9, orbits Horizon. They help in repair, refit and other services to Commonwealth Navy starships.

Orbiting around Horizon is a semi-mobile array of twenty Orbital Defense Platforms (ODP), equipped with heavy MAC Guns known as "big sticks," some of which in place as early as 2237. They are in turn defended by multiple wings of single ships and tactical multi-role craft. In addition, there are also about 100 to 150 warships stationed in the Sirius System at any time.