Galactic Guide: Nyx System
Nyx has always been a name that hangs in the shadows — a system born on the border of darkness, both literally and politically. Discovered in 2582 amid the United Empire of Earth’s great expansion, it’s a reminder of how exploration often outpaces understanding. Three worlds orbit an F-type star perched beside a dark nebula that chokes the light, giving Nyx both its name and its haunting allure.
Charted through a jump point from Bremen by lone navjumper Carla Larry, Nyx never promised much in terms of comfort. Larry’s own report dismissed it as unworthy of terraforming expense — but she left her mark anyway, naming its worlds Lou, Morgan, and Ashley after romantic conquests. The UEE never adopted those names, but the gesture was remembered fondly by those involved. These days, the system is a quiet artery for Synthworld-bound cargo, watched warily as Vanduul sightings grow near the Virgil jump point. The UEE’s message is clear: enter Nyx at your own risk.
Nyx I
The innermost world of Nyx began as a scorched, coreless sphere whose atmosphere defied every attempt at taming. It wasn’t quite a smog planet, but the same stubborn gases made it just as deadly. When surveys uncovered high-grade metals beneath the surface, miners braved the heat, and for half a century Nyx I’s riches fueled the Empire’s wars. By 2630, the planet had been stripped and abandoned — its equipment eroded by relentless heat.
Now, centuries later, a new story unfolds. In 2954, Genesis Terraforming deployed advanced terraformation platforms to scrub Nyx I’s toxic skies. If successful, this would be the first time humanity conquers the riddle of smog planets, potentially opening the door for worlds like Baker II, Cano III, and even Sol II to breathe again.
Nyx II
Shrouded in acidic clouds, Nyx II sits deceptively in the system’s green band. MIST’s 2585 terraforming study concluded that making it habitable would be prohibitively costly. Even today, the surface remains lethally hostile — a cauldron of heat, pressure, and terrain so warped that few who touch down ever linger. The planet is a deadly beauty, best admired from orbit.
Glaciem Ring Asteroid Belt & Delamar
Between Nyx II and Nyx III lies the Glaciem Ring, a dense band of rock and ice where miners, smugglers, and outcasts carve out quiet lives. It’s equal parts frontier and refuge — a place for those seeking distance from the UEE’s reach or a hideout from less lawful pursuits.
Delamar is the crown jewel of this belt: a massive asteroid hollowed into life by the People’s Alliance, who repurposed an abandoned mining base into the settlement of Levski. Founded by dissidents fleeing the Messer Era, Levski stands as a symbol of resistance and self-rule. Its inhabitants remain politically active — perhaps too diverse in belief to agree on much, but united in principle.
That idealism hasn’t come without complications. Criminal elements have long taken advantage of Levski’s open-door ethos, forcing the Alliance to battle corruption within while opposing it without. Their dream of purity in governance continues to clash with the realities of survival on the fringe.
Nyx III
Far from its star, Nyx III is a frozen colossus of water and ammonia vapor. Its turbulent atmosphere and crushing conditions have limited mining efforts, leaving it largely untouched — a silent giant marking the edge of human ambition.
Keeger Belt
Beyond Nyx III drifts the Keeger Belt, where the broken shells of mining platforms hide secrets of trade and treachery alike. Smugglers whisper of drop points still active among the rocks — a last step before vanishing entirely off the grid.
Travel Warning
Visitors to Levski are welcome, but hospitality comes with expectations. The settlement’s creed is clear: respect its laws or face the ire of its people. As the signs at Delamar’s landing pads declare, “Even if you disagree with us, you will respect our right to life.”
- Empire Report, 2955.09.19: Reports of escalating Vanduul ambushes near the Virgil jump point have sparked fear of a new assault, with three incidents in a single month.
- People’s Alliance, Declaration of Intent, 2655: “We are dedicated to building a truly egalitarian community where all sentients may feel safe and free to express ideas while working together toward enlightened self-sufficiency.”
- Observist Dark, 2945.09.16: “To truly understand Levski, you must stand before the hand-carved statue of Anthony Tanaka — dark, defiant, and unflinching — a testament to rebellion itself.”
