Encyclopedia Galactica: Achilles
Achilles is the third planet in the Terra/Sol system. This planet bears some resemblance to the Earth/Sun system’s planet Mars. It was an early target for terra-forming. Scientific research indicated that the planet had once been home to multicelled life. The native life forms (mostly algae-type plants) disappeared, likely because Achilles’ atmosphere has slowly dissipated over the last 3 billion years or so. When discovered, Achilles’ atmosphere ranged from 50 millibars in the low regions to as little as 3 to 5 millibars at higher elevations.
The first target of the terra-formers was to increase the planet’s atmosphere. It was decided to use the planet’s natural volcanism for this purpose. The planet is still geologically active, and has two of the largest volcanoes in the Terra/Sol system. The problem was that they weren’t spewing enough gas to keep up with the slow loss the planet was suffering. To accomplish their goal, the terra-formers proceeded to build the largest gravity inductor in all of human space. When operated this huge machine (the size of the Old Earth country of Holland) causes the stimulation of the planet’s internal tidal forces. Causing increased volcanism and thereby the release of additional gases into the atmosphere. Currently Achilles’ atmosphere is composed mainly of carbon dioxide gas, but the terra-formers are in the process of towing large water asteroids into orbit around the planet to be used at strategic times to try and add oxygen to the atmosphere.
To make the terra-forming self-sufficient, the Orion government has developed several industries. A thriving plastics industry on planet makes use of hydrocarbons supplied by Achilles’ ancient algae-like plants. These are buried just beneath the planet’s surface. Additionally despite the planet’s rather low density, it developed in a sufficiently Terra-like way to contain many of the precious heavy metals that are in high demand. As a result, a profitable mining industry has developed. Still fully a third of the planet’s work force (the planet contains a population of approximately 128 million) is employed by the Orion Federal government in the business of terra-forming.
