Atorm (planet)

## Atorm

**Atorm** is a planet located in the Atorm System in the Territory Region in the Unclaimed Regions. On its surface, Atorm is a dead world with a rocky terrain pocked with craters. Underneath, the planet has a closed-off extensive cave system filled with breathable gases. The caves underneath are host to a variety of species, including the sentient Atorm who share their name with the planet. The Atorm race's advanced technology makes them one of the more advanced races of the galaxy. The technology is especially adapted for mining the valuable minerals amongst Atorm's crust, making Atorm a trade hub for mining companies.

## Ecology

Atorm is a planet located in the Atorm System in the Territory Region in the Unclaimed Regions. The planet orbits around a sun and lacks any moons. The surface of the planet lacks an atmosphere, allowing it to have been continually battered by meteors over the millennia. This causes the planet's rocky surface to be pocked with thousands of craters. The rest of the surface is barren with no notable features except for its various rock formations.

Underneath the surface of Atorm, there is a completely different environment. Underneath the rocky crust of the planet, there is an extensive cave system that stretches throughout the entire planet. These caves range from narrow tunnels to large chambers that span for kilometers. The interior of Atorm is speckled with valuable minerals, some of which produce breathable gases that have allowed life to develop in the undergrounds of the planet over millions of years.

The caves of Atorm have an extensive ecosystem. Bioluminescent species of fungi grow in patches throughout the tunnels, serving as food for the occasional herbivorous species that roams the tunnels. Throughout the other caves, various species of predators stalk the mostly pitch-black tunnels. Many species of annelids dig through the rock creating new tunnels. A majority of the species that live under the crust of Atorm are mostly or completely blind, creating an echolocation based ecosystem.

There is large clusters of urbanization scattered throughout the caves. Many of the cities are built into the rock walls of the underground cave systems and are highly protected from the blind predators of the caves. Larger, more modern spaceports are built with access chutes to the surface, allowing them to serve as trade hubs for off-world travelers. Many mining operations are located in their own tunnels dug within the cities.

## Inhabitants and culture

Atorm is the homeworld of the Atorm race of the same name. Atorm has a semi-large population of 200 million, mainly comprised of Atorms. These populations are mainly clustered in the underground cities.

Despite their lack of any appendages, the Atorm are a surprisingly advanced race. Atorm culture is one of peace, with most Atorm living out their lives in the narrow tunnels of their subterranean cities. These cities are built into the rock walls of the underground cave systems of Atorm and are highly protected from the blind predators of the caves.

Atorm society lacks any leaders, with each Atorm caring only for themselves and their offspring. Atorms only congregate with each when digging through the sediments and creating new tunnels. Atorm culture treats mining as a public event, with digging often being an Atorm's only form of recreation. This means that most of the Atorm technology is dedicated to mining.

The main language of the Atorm is Atormish, a language rarely spoken even by the Atorm themselves. Despite this, Atormish is the most commonly spoken language on Atorm.

## History

The Atorm race first evolved on Atorm from a burrowing worm species. They were able to develop advanced technologies due to the valuable minerals in the caves throughout the planet. This caused the Atorm to develop space travel technology by around 1,500 YBO. Atorm astronauts first encountered the OGC at 654 YAO, and thus gained membership in the government.

Though the Atorms still remain a part of the OGC, they are minimally involved, since Atorm itself is too far away to be directly involved in any galactic events. This makes the planet a unique circumstance with it being a member of the OGC while being located in the Unclaimed Regions.

## Government and Economy

Even though Atorm is a member of the OGC, the OGC, due to Atorm's location, has little to no control over the entirety of the planet. The Atorm themselves have a loose government, lacking any leaders, with each Atorm caring only for themselves and their offspring. In the end, the main governmental body on the planet is the various mining companies that travel to the planet for trade, with their staff serving as security and officials on the planet's spaceports. These spaceports have become the unofficial capitals of the planet.

The Atorm's advanced technology makes them one of the more advanced races of the galaxy. This technology is especially adapted for mining, making Atorm a trade hub for mining companies. Atorms has multiple chutes that lead to underground spaceports, allowing a constant flow of the planet's valuable minerals to be exported.