Athens

[Roger]

Athens
P/2027(34Tauri(2020)B)04

Orbital Distance: 8.975 AU

Rotational Period: 26.9 Years
Surface Area: 460,188,688 km2 (90.2% that of Earth-That-Was)
Population: 1,075,000,000
Terraformed: 2360
Affiliation: Empire of Athens

Athens is a sizable world orbiting Georgia at approximately the midpoint of the system.  The planet itself is remarkable for the unusual speed at which its weather fluctuates with storms forming seemingly out of nowhere, temperature fronts sweeping over vast territory quickly, etc.  The unpredictable and perhaps "freak" nature of Athen's weather has little effect on the actual substance of it.  Athens does not suffer more powerful storms, more rainfall, hotter summers, etc. than is average.

Athens' original claim to fame is still on of the planet's leading industries.  Athens has been the quarry of the 'Verse for two hundred years providing exquisite stone primarily for projects back in the Core.  Over time this has developed an unparalleled stone-working industry from quarrymen to architects, masons to sculptors.

Following the Unification War, Athens took on a leading role in the system to compete with Hera's former dominance (Boros would later rise to challenge them both).  When the Wars of Independence finally pushed the Alliance out of the system, Athens staked out on its own but soon after began to establish itself by force in the vacant place left by the Alliance.  Athenian forces seized numerous nearby planets and moons and established the Athenian Empire.

Athens is notably more militarized than most societies with armed soldiers, secret police, etc.  However, Athens is open and welcoming to outsiders (within reason) and openly courts foreign commerce and investment.  Athenian citizens themselves are fairly well off, but non-Athenians of the Empire have greatly restricted rights.