Akahoshi asteroid

Akahoshi Asteroid (1432 TOR) is a carbonaceous asteroid in the Luminaire system, approximately 34.4×11.2×11.2 km in size. It is home to a small colony which has lived in the asteroid since the early days of the first Caldari-Gallente war. The asteroid sits in an unusual elliptic orbit beyond the orbit of Ortange. The asteroid retains very limited mobility using a mass driver constructed as part of the initial asteroid colony. The population of the colony is rigorously controlled, and currently stands at 38. The asteroid is graded as a Type-III artificial habitat by the Federation government.

History

In the decades prior to the outbreak of war, the Red Star corporation engaged in research to adapt humans to more readily tolerate life in space. Initial research focused on physical adaptations, but moved on to partially successful attempts to increase pattern recognition abilities. Early research suggested that the host of symbiotic microorganisms carried by all humans would complicate research, resulting in Red Star maintaining a "clean room" policy with the subjects, altering them to be able to live with no internal microorganisms. To safeguard against unintentional cross-contamination, research was performed in a small station attached to the asteroid 1432 TOR. The asteroid itself was extensively tunneled, and a mass driver constructed to launch the removed material away from the asteroid.

By the time war broke out, the Red Star subjects were physically well adapted to living in zero gravity, but suffered from mental imbalances and a tendency towards fugue. At this time the decision was made to evacuate the Red Star corporation to Tierijev. While the research station was successfully moved, the shifting balance of the war prevented Red Star from returning to evacuate the asteroid, leaving the 26 research subjects abandoned.

Records from this period of time are sporadic, but it is known that the subjects had access to genetic materials, biological equipment (including four artificial wombs of a type similar to those used by the Caldari State for the tube child program, a necessity for the sterile subjects), a small power plant and a small store of machinery. The abandoned subjects, calling themselves Arahoi'i (meaning Red Star in the dialect spoken by the majority of Red Star researchers, as well as themselves), used these to survive, building an environment based upon biological wetware. While considered obsolete, the technology enabled them to survive in a rough manner while the rest of Luminaire remained oblivious to their existence.

A Gallente miner discovered the asteroid in YC 51 while surveying outlying asteroids. By this time the Arahoi'i had developed a fully functioning colony, relying heavily on fermentation of single-celled yeasts grown in the asteroids carbon-rich rock. The miner was initially unaware of the presence of the colony, and planted surveying charges. Perceived as an attack by the Arahoi'i, they defended themselves using the mass driver, destroying the mining spacecraft. Follow up investigations by the Gallente Federation discovered the colony, which was inducted into the Federation in YC 75. While most Arahoi'i remain in the asteroid, a number have left to live outside. This is a particularly difficult choice for the immune-challenged and biologically clean Arahoi'i, who must undergo extensive medical treatment for what would be considered a debilitating immune system disorder.

Language

The Arahoi'i speak 'Orelo, an uncommon dialect of Tuapa'ani found among minority Caldari populations near Tierijev. While the language is unrelated to Achuran, the sole translation software at the time of contact with the Arahoi'i was Achuran, resulting in an Achurization of proper names (such as Arahoi'i becoming Akahoshi). Many Arahoi'i continue to adopt Achurized names for use outside the colony.

Arahoi'i Characteristics

Physically the Arahoi'i are Gallentean exhibiting classic characteristics of people living in low-gravity environments. Males typically exceed 200 cm, while females average 180 cm, all at relatively low body weight. They are comfortable in microgravity, having spent their lives (with the exception of their first four years, spent in low spin gravity) in the zero-gravity environment of the asteroid complex proper. Physically they tend towards extreme flexibility and very low strength.

Arahoi'i "live clean", meaning they do not possess symbiotic microorganisms. The entire environment of the asteroid is a limited closed system, and biological activity is strictly controlled. Outsiders who visit must remain inside closed environment suits, which are extensively decontaminated. "Wild" molds and yeast, carried by Outsiders, remain a hazard and every effort is made to exterminate these if they are found.

They were rendered sterile by Red Star as part of their policy of controlling variables in research subjects, and this sterility is hereditary. Reproduction among Arahoi'i is entirely artificial, with a creche of "reference mates" (kula hoa) produced via a process similar to that of Caldari tube children. It is likely that Red Star policies also resulted in the Arahoi'i having highly suppressed immune systems, and all Arahoi'i who leave the asteroid for extended periods of time must undergo extensive medical treatment including culturing an artificial immune system.