OB-749 Polara

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Discovered by the USS *Kapteyn* in April of 2415, **OB-749** is a system which consists of a yellow main sequence star (Alpha) that is both slightly larger, older, and brighter than Sol. Also like Sol, it is a Population 1 (Metal Rich) star. It is orbited by 3 planets, one of which is Class M, one of which is Class L, and one of which is Class I. In addition, there is a artificial satellite, taking the form of a modular space station similar to the old Earth International Space Station, in orbit around the star at the L1 point of the first planet in the system, OB-749 I. Finally, the star is orbited by an asteroid field, in between the first and second planets, which includes a dwarf planet and several large asteroids, and several comets, 3 of which have been discovered at this time.

The inhabitants of Arborea V identified this system as their point of origin. [Communication Officer's Log]

# History

The USS *Kapteyn* left Starbase 381 *"Praetorian"* after sending out a Class VIII Probe to survey the system OB-749. The probe sent back information of a single Class M planet in the system, and the *Kapteyn* immediately navigated there. Upon their arrival, they discovered that the reason for the lack of data was high magnetism in the planet's atmosphere that was interfering with scans and transporters. Taking the Shuttle *Explorer* down, the personnel mentioned two sections back were forced to crashland when the engine overheated, a maneuver that killed Seaman Stango and severely injured Lieutenant Caroline Eck. While the others remained in a makeshift campsite and treated Lieutenant Eck's wounds, Lieutenant Kurian Daris and Lieutenant Commander Jacob Downy explored the jungles and eventually discovered a structure after burying Seaman Stango. After several days of exploring inside, they eventually discovered the control center of the structure, and managed to shut down the atmospheric defense system, a infra-red beam designed to target and overheat unregistered aircraft. Three turrets remained active due to their location outside of the control range of the facility we were in. Their locations are marked on the planetary chart we developed from future scans. They managed to send a signal to the *Kapteyn* for rescue after more than a week on the planet, breaking through the magnetism. However, this activated the defense mechanism of the structure, several mechanical spheres armed with laser weapons. They were able to hold them off until a shuttle from *Kapteyn* arrived and we were taken back to the vessel, from which they continued scans of the planet and then returned to base. Before arriving at base, we managed to develop countermeasures for the magnetic interference. [AAR: Crash on OB-749]

In May of 2415, a small task group led by the USS *Axalon* went to investigate subspace anomalies in orbit of the first planet. The USS *Kapteyn* has gotten locked into a tractor field and pulled through a subspace gateway. The task group managed to disable and destroy the orbital defense objects. They then began contact with a First Consul Patsun of the Polaran nation to make arrangements for the return of the *Kapteyn* and her crew unharmed. The cost of this exchange was a copy of the Federation Cultural database, devoid of Starfleet technologies. Among the return, was station doctor, Tizma 152, who had been on the USS *Hartford* in deployment to the Andromeda galaxy. Somehow she had been "unceremoniously dumped into their laps" according to Lieutenant Commander Downy. Then the Polaran people had completely retreated into subspace. [AAR - Investigation of OB-749 Subspace Anomalies]

In July of 2415, the USS *Kapteyn* was sucked into a subspace rift while engaging with Outback Raiders. [Investigation Request] [Battle Report]

# A Voyage Home

After Ki'Tanna of Arborea V identified OB-749 as her people's system of origin, the USS *Axalon* deployed to investigate the system and update the information gathered a year ago within the system. [Report]

# Planetary Bodies

## OB-749/I

A Class M planet, it is capable of sustaining humanoid life. In fact, there are several structures dotting the surface of the planet and hundreds of automated drones acting as defense and workers for these structures. However, the species that built these constructs have long since gone extinct on a miscalculated journey to escape a gamma ray pulse that resulted in them actually driving straight into the pulse. The gamma ray pulse never actually reached the planet. When they fled the system, the natives of OB-749 I took much of the animal life with them, resulting in the death of those animals, as well as the ones that remained on the planet due to lack of individuals to survive. Currently, the only detectable life on the surface is plants, concentrated in a vast jungle that covers much of the surface.

In the first survey of the planet conducted by the USS *Kapteyn*, Lieutenant Commander Downy noted that this planet would be a prime spot for colonization once the security threat of the mechanical spheres in orbit were dealt with. Having been identified in 2416 as the home planet for the culture currently living on Arbroea V, there are talks about relocating them to this planet. Nothing on this has been finalized until further data is gathered.

## OB-749/II

OB-749/II is an asteroid field between the first and second planets of the system. This field contains at least 1 dwarf planet and several large asteroids. The field is approximately 136 million kilometers deep, ranging from 503 million kilometers from the star to 660 million kiliometers. The asteroid belt offers a large range of materials, including water ice, tritanium, duranium, and dilithium that could potentially be extracted and collected through mining operations.

OB-749 II-A is the largest object currently known to exist within the asteroid field. Also, it is the only discovered dwarf planet in the system so far. OB-749 II-A is comprised of a solid, metallic core, mainly iron, surrounded by a deep mantle of water ice, and layered with a rocky crust. The largest percentage of this composition is the water ice mantle, which makes up almost half of the entire volume of the dwarf planet. This water ice presents an opportunity to set up an extraction operation to harvest fresh water from the underground water ice deposits.

OB-749 II-B is the second largest asteroid field object by mass. A M-Type asteroid, it is largely metallic in composition. Specifically, there are large amounts of Tritanium and Duranium ores present in the asteroid. Combined, these ores account for nearly 30% of the total volume of the planetoid. Due to this, a mining operation could very easily be set up on the asteroid to allow for the extraction and collection of these materials.

OB-749 II-C is the third largest asteroid field planetoid by mass. A B-Type planetoid, it features large amounts of carbon based materials in its composition, with relatively low silicon based and metallic materials present. However, almost 10% of the asteroid's volume consists of raw dilithium crystals. For this reason, OB-749 II-C is also a good candidate for mining operations, much like its larger cousin, OB-749 II-B, although for a different material.

OB-749 II-D is the smallest body in the asteroid field that has an average diameter of more than 400 kilometers. As an S-Type asteroid, it is highly composed of siliceous rock. There is a small percentage of carbon based materials in the composition of the planetoid as well, and an even smaller amount of dilithium. Although there is dilithium present, the amount is too small to recommend a mining operation for this asteroid.

## OB-749/III

The second planet is a Class L planet that is sized between Venus and Mars. Although it is quite distant from the star in the center of the system, the high geothermal heat at the equator allows a band around the planet to sustain life. In this area of the planet, there are several patches of vegetation, although no animal life is present. The planet is ringed by a collection of rocky bodies and orbited by two moons. The rings are mainly composed of metallic and siliceous in makeup, but do not possess high enough levels of any valuable materials to sustain a large scale mining effort.

III-A is both the larger and the closer of the planet's moons. Lacking an atmosphere, it is very similar in composition to Earth's moon. Due to its relative nearness to the planet, this moon is tidally clocked, with one side constantly facing the planet. However, it still orbits outside the rings of the planet.

III-B is smaller and further out in orbit of the planet. Also tidally locked with the planet and of similar composition to III-A.

## OB-749/IV

The third planet is the largest planet in the system. A Class I "Ice Giant," the ringed planet is composed of icy gasses surrounding a rocky core in the center of the planet. These icy gasses are responsible for the cyan coloring of the planet and the constant storms in the atmosphere. The rings on the planet extend far out to nearly twice the radius of the planet itself. Within these rings is a partially destroyed moon, presumably broken apart by large amounts of collisions of its lifetime. The part of the moon that remains intact is tidally locked, with the broken side facing away from the planet. A rocky moon without atmosphere, its composition is mainly a variety of silicon based materials.

## Comets

OB-749 has two short period comets and one long period comet. The first, OB-749 SP-I is a comet that currently maitnains the shortest orbital period of the three. Much like most comets, SP-I is a loose collection of dust, rock, and ice. The second, SP-II, has an orbital period just 14 years short of long period status. This was the first comet discovered in the system and is composed of the same materials as SP-I. The only long period comet in the system, LP-I, has a 70 thousand years orbital period. It is composed of the same materials as the other two comets.

# References

* Report on OB-749 System
* Story Arc: A Voyage Home