4.9 Terran Explorations: Kzin

TERRAN EXPLORATIONS KZIN

Kzin (Homeworld) is the fourth of five planets orbiting a yellow G-type star. Before the Earth-Kzin Wars it was identified on early Terran starcharts as Archer IV, the fourth planet in the Archer system (so named after Captain Jonathan Archer, a famed Terran space pioneer). After the wars it was called the name given to it by its own indigenous species, the Kzinti.

Like Kazh (the Klingon homeworld), the gravity on Kzin is somewhat higher than Terran normal. This was one of two major factors in the development of the natural physique of the Kzinti. The other was the genetic engineering carried out on their ancestors some 50,000 or more Terran years ago, per Kzinti lore, by an advanced race of aliens known only as “the asters” in their tales. This, if true, would seem to account for M a normal Kzinti’s overdeveloped physique. Only with Kzinti females do we see a physique more like how their species would have normally developed without outside intervention.

There are many parallels between the development of life on Kazh and life on Kzin. Like the Klingons, the Kzin were visited in past by aliens (“the Masters”) from another world. their ancient ey genetically engineered the Kzinti to be their servants and Th mercenaries. By their own account the Kzinti stole the secrets of spaceflight technology from them and kicked them off their planet. They then set about building themselves first a world and then an interstellar empire.

Kzin’s present surface is dominated by the massive Deathbringer Impact Crater (which is half-submerged today). This was caused by the impact of a giant asteroid aimed at the planet during Operation Rock Drop at the end of the Third Earth-Kzin War (2058-2060). The resulting devastation killed three-fifths of the population and rendered two-fifths of its surface area uninhabitable at the time. Much of it has since been reclaimed the Ocean-Of-The-Great-Hole, which is or filled by water to form e third largest body of water on the planet. The crumbling th remains of other lesser impact craters from that event are still visible to the north and east of this body of water.

Offworlders are only allowed on Kzin on a limited basis. This is usually limited to Federation personnel affiliated with policing the terms of the Treaty of Sirius. The only other exceptions are those granted by special permission of the ruling Patriarch. All other outsiders who attempt to trespass face certain and swift death under Kzinti law. SPECIFICATIONS:

System star: 61 Ursae Majoris (Bright-Light)

Distance from system star ……………… 130 million km Period of revolution (Terran measure) …… 14.72 hours Period of orbit (Terran measure) ………… 329.85 days Mass 24 …………………………………. 9.8 x10 kg Diameter ………………………………. 7484.6 km Axial inclination ………………………… 20º Average surface temperature …………… 12º C

Satellites ……..……………………….. 1 (Little-Light) Planetary Richter Scale rating ………….. M Level of technology …………………….. current

Indigenous culture(s) …………………… felinoid (homo felis kzinti) Additional culture(s) ……………………. human (homo terran)

Major surface features: The Deathbringer Impact Basin and associated craters

Places of note: The Story-Stones of The-Cave-Homes-On-High The Great-Fight-Teaching-Place (Kzinti Martial Arts Academy) The Home-of-the-Highest-of-Kzin (Royal Palace of the Kzinti Patriarch)

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