Erimos

Erimos is the planet closest to Fere Solus, the planet can be described as being similar to Mars in appearance, and Mercury in position. It is about 51,000 km in diameter, with a mass of 6.1 x10^24 kg. It’s gravity is 11.8 m/s^2, approximately 1.2 times stronger than Earth’s gravity. It has 1 moon. Average temperatures on the surface of Erimos reach up to 450K (177°C) during the day and lowest at 200K (-73°C) at night. One orbit around Fere Solus takes 30 Earth hours.

Erimos' surface is composed primarily of iron and carbon, it’s atmosphere is thin, containing mostly hydrogen and nitrogen. There are large flat stretches of sand dunes all across the surface, with large smooth rocks and plateaus. There is no water or liquids on the surface, however, deep trenches and valleys indicate that water, or some kind of liquid ocean, existed on the surface.

There are heavy sandstorms that form without warning and can easily damage structures and is strong enough to pick up rocks and small dune-buggies.

Erimos is the only planet in the Fere Tellus system to contain life, because of the harsh environment, life is scarce. Grass and tree-like fauna exist on the poles of the planet where it is coldest.

## The Profunda Trench

The deepest trench is called the Profunda Trench which reaches 780 metres at it’s deepest point. Fossils and implants on soil and rocks show evidence of bacterial life at the bottom of this trench. Fossils have not been discovered anywhere else on the planet, likely due to the shifting sands of the dunes.

## Flora

### Viret Grass

The most common life form on this planet is the Viret Grass, a green plant that averages heights of 9cm from the ground. Viret Grass, like common Earth grass, contains chlorophyll, which gives it it’s green colour. There are arguments about Viret grass on whether it is a plant or a fungus, as it spreads through a mycelium-like surface that spreads around the roots of the plant, Viret grass also exist in clusters that may be connected. It produces spores that are carried through the wind and sandstorms.

Viret grass has been shown to know when sandstorms are approaching, as approximately 10 minutes before a sandstorm forms the Viret grass will release spores into the air to be carried away. It does not produce spores at any other time. This is likely because the sandstorm can destroy whole clusters of Viret Grass, these sandstorms will carry the spores away to a new location for Viret Grass to grow.

Because of the lack of bacteria, Viret grass, and all other lifeforms, cannot rot as there are no fungus that exist to rot and destroy it. Once viret grass grow to mature age, they do not grow or change anymore, their chromosomes do not replicate, thus meaning they cannot degrade with old age. The oldest specimen found was approximately 34 years old. Despite being able to live forever, they can still be destroyed and killed by sandstorms and other environmental dangers.

### Caudex Stems

Caudex Stems are the only type of vascular plant, they have a green rigid rubbery body, with a texture similar to a rubber balloon, that stands upright at 14cm tall and 5cm at the base, the thickest part, with the top being tapered. Caudex Stems sprout one large leaf (a microphyll) from it’s base. The roots of the plant go deep underground, presumably to absorb moisture and to be more secure in the ground, the roots can reach up to 26cm deep.

Caudex Stems are similar in looks a pinecone, this part is the leaf of the plant, as it contains chlorophyl and absorbs sunlight for energy. They reproduce through spores, like Viret Grass, but they only release these spores through the leaf of the plant. When the leaf is destroyed or damaged, a clear sap-like substance will leak out. This sap contains spores and nutrients that will spread through sandstorms or will grow near the parent Caudex Stem and feed off the nutrients in the sap. Because of this, Caudex Stems are often found in large groups together with almost all of them having the same parent Caudex Stem.

## Human Colonization

See Government of Erimos

When first discovered, Erimos was thought to be too dangerous and hot to land humans on. However, observations from orbit indicated deep trenches on the surface safe from the surface heat. In these trenches, temperatures get as low as 300K (27°C). The FoGE were the first to land vehicles on the planet and eventually people in the trenches.

Since first being landed on, multiple camps have been set up on the surface, all of which are almost self-sufficient, only needing restocked every 3 Earth months. All of the camps are solar powered.

The Inter-Galactic Space Administration have divided the planet into 4 prefectures.