Theras

1% Argon

0.2% Carbon Dioxide

**Theras** (also known as **Gardenia)** is the third planet in the Thaika System and the homeworld of the Birran species. It is also the first natural known world with life to Birrans. Theras has one natural satellite, Altum, which was a desert world, but has been terraformed. Theras is most associated with the Economic Republic of Theras as it is the capital of the said nation. Theras is one of the most important worlds in the Cosmoria Galaxy's entire history, as it served as the birthplace of the Birran species, which would quickly become one of the most prominent species across the local universe. Thanks to this, Theras is held in extremely high regard in almost all Birran cultures, serving as the spiritual homeland of all who bare the title of Birrankind. Due to its importance in Birran history, Theras stands as the single most universally shared object in Birran culture across the Cosmoria Galaxy, and as a result, is by far the most guarded world to Birrans as a whole.

Despite how much it is beloved by Birrans today, the aforementioned species did not seem to worry about the overall care of the planet, letting artificial climate change run rampant throughout hundreds of years, deforesting many life filled forests, causing countless species to go extinct, and pushing the planet's resources to the very brink. But despite all this, Birranity would manage to reverse the damage done by their forefathers with time, and they would do all that they could to keep Theras as it was from Birrans beginnings, even halting the natural process of continental shifting.

Theras is much greener and more habitable than it was back in the earlier ages thanks to the population crash of most of the large cities. Each building, home, and city is required to have small plants or grass growing by them as well as in their lawns. There were even a few cities that were closed off and abandoned.

## **Biology**

The terrestrial ecosystem of fauna on Theras is highly diverse. Many reptiles are seen crawling in the forests, while amphibians are seen swimming in the lakes and rivers. Theras has an extremely high amount of species, with large rainforests containing over fifteen thousand unique and individual species.

Theras is often known for it's aquatic ecosystem of fauna, with apex predators like Irridalli seen sailing the tropical seas, or the majestic and highly intelligent Krayens are seen preying on smaller fish. The deep sea of Theras is an unique environment, without any sunlight, life has evolved far differently that in the shallower areas. Bioluminescence is a common trait in these deep parts. Most life is gliding through the sea motionlessly, only moving when escaping or attacking, as energy is rare and precious at these depths.

The plant organisms on this world are made up of trees and flowers, with only a few dozen of grass species, even less bush species and almost no brush and fungi species. Although the grass species are few in number, they grow fast and cover wide areas. The trees and flowers cover a lot more though and because they use up most of the nutrients, other species like shrubs and fungi haven't been able to reach higher numbers.

The wonders seen on the surface are also seen underwater. A huge variety of corals and aquatic plants have made their home in the waters of this world, both living in harmony with each other, at least in most cases. Some species have developed into more aggressive forms, effectively trying to force their species wherever there's water for them. This has lead to the decline of some other species, but also to the rise of new, specialized predators.

## **Climate**

Theras has one of the most diverse climates in the entire Thaika System. Its climate is varied depending on each hemisphere, with areas warm enough to creating boiling deserts, while others are cold enough to create mazes of icebergs. Temperatures also range from being cold enough at the poles to freeze water and warm enough at the equator to fry an egg on a metallic surface. Each region of Theras has a unique biosphere able to support a variety of plant and animal life.

Theras' overall climate is very temperate, so much so that it's often used as the exact model for a temperate world. Its position in its system allows carbon-based life to flourish across all of the planet's surface, orbiting within a so called Habitable Zone for life of its caliber to exist on.

This climate is also kept in check by the planet's inhabitants, using artificial climate generators in order to keep a desired temperature and climate in the various regions of the planet. These climate generators have also allowed Theras to become more habitable to life then it was originally.

## **Population**

Being the homeworld of Birrans, the global population is around 4 trillion currently, far over what the natural holding capacity is. The population numbers exclude the inhabitants of orbital habitats and space cities. Most of the population resides in the dense megacities, which reach far into the atmosphere, while the rest live in parts of reclaimed nature, mostly farming for fun.

## **Birran impact on Theras**

### **Negative Effects**

As the Birran species rapidly progressed through the typical technological stages, from the discovery of electricity, to the invention of industrialism, it would have an affect on the wider world around them as artifical carbon dioxide emissions would cause the global climate and temperature to artificially rise. This caused many of the planet's icecaps to melt, endangering the life that inhabited them and raising the sea level.

Along with the climate, the planet's natural resources would almost be exhausted to the very limit thanks to the ever-growing population's increasing demand. Much of the planet's native forest lands would be totally destroyed as they would demolish the trees that make up them for the countless resources needed from them. As well as most of Theras' natural oil and uranium reserves.

Non-biodegradable resources, such as plastic, were also left all across the planet's surface, with particular emphasis placed upon the planet's oceans. Thousands of tons of plastic would be left in the oceans, leading to a process known as: *"Ocean Acidification,"* which in layman's terms, turns the ocean into acid, endangering all life on the planet that relies on the ocean. This is by far the most long reaching affect on the planet early Birrans caused, as many thousands of tons of plastic from the old times still remain in the ocean to this day.

Theras would also be given countless artificial satellites by Birrans, covering the planet's orbit with communication, weather, and mapping satellites, along with orbital telescopes. Though these would grant Birrans a much more advanced understanding of the planet they existed on. It had an unattended side effect, as vast amounts of orbital debris would be created throughout the decades that these aforementioned satellites were in orbit around the planet. This threatened to coat the planet in a blanket of debris, preventing the Birran species from venturing into the wider universe at all. However with time they were able to mitigated the problem.

The increasing urbanization of the world also caused the extinction of countless forms of flora and fauna, as they are unable to exist within an urban environment. Not only that but Birrans made a habit of just killing them outright to have access to resources exclusive to them such as ivory.

### **Positive Effects**

Birrans have also had a profound positive affect on planet Theras, the first and foremost being the reversing of damage done by them. As the species reached the type one stage, they would gradually remove the excess carbon dioxide emissions created, restoring a more natural climate cycle on the planet.

Not only that, but many extinct species destroyed by Birrans would be brought back from the dead with the use of cloning technologies. These include the Irridalli, the Salatrians, and the Quirot Fish. Countless other species of flora and fauna have also been brought back into the world. Along with those destroyed by Birrans, other species that were long dead by the time of Birran evolution were also brought back and were given controlled environments for them to flourish.

Many floating sanctuaries have been constructed across the planet's oceans, allowing many species to live in controlled environments free from any natural or otherwise threats against them. Along with sanctuaries on Birran, many have been constructed in orbit around the planet, as well as being placed on other colony worlds.

Thanks to most resources used by the populace being extracted by extra-planetary colony worlds now, the resource strained planet has begun to have its natural resources replenished. These include oil fields, precious metals, fresh water sources, and massive forests to inhabit unurbanized environments on the planet.

The protection of the planet itself is a major aspect of Birran life on the world. Any asteroid that poses a threat to the Theras and the life that inhabits it are destroyed by Birrans before it even crosses a thousand kilometers in the planet's orbit. As well, Thears has remained untouched by any large scale intragalactic or intergalactic conflict involving the wider Birran species, as its location is often hidden from other intelligent species.