Planetary Data

Planetary Structure
It is uncertain what the original form of New Phoenix was, although most believe that it began its life as an Arean or Lacustric planet.  The level of Eiyogsha terraforming was such, however, that plate tectonics was literally kick started, and has apparently persisted to the present day.  Active volcanism remains subdued, although there is evidence of major episodes in the planet's past.  While even the terraforming methods of the Ancient Four do not affect a planet's core, in the case of New Phoenix the presence of water and activation of the tectonic cycle has inspired volcanism of various types, and this in turn has apparently invigorated the core.  There is no evidence of past or present active influence on the core.

The Geological Cycle
Geological evidence indicates that, originally, New Phoenix had no geological cycle, and instead was a rather inert planet, with a core that was inexplicably cool for a world of its mass.  With the terraforming, however, lithospheric recycling started up on its own.  With only 450 million years or so of such activity, the planet has nonetheless developed a full array of geological features that are often found on more mature EuGaian planets.  Erosion and soil deposition have kept the land and oceans healthy and viable for life, and will likely continue to do so until the world finally succumbs to the expansion of its sun and the resulting thermal influx.

Mountain Building
Mountain building has been minimal in the past few hundred million years, but enough so that the continents have become "wrinkled", the basaltic rock deforming easily under tectonic stresses.  Thus the typical landscape is somewhat rocky and marked by almost chaotic ranges of hills and low mountains.  Some areas of the planet have much larger mountains, evidence of tectonic plates that have begun to move faster and more easily.  Even today the planet is waking, geologically, and it will continue to do so until the sun, given a lesser time on the main sequence due to its higher mass, ends it all through expansion.

Volcanism
Though uncommon, volcanoes are certainly not unknown on New Phoenix, and there is evidence of some major events in the past.  Today, there are several areas of cinder cones and strato-volcanoes, and three known calderas, all of which are quite active.  One caldera, in fact, has created a region of thermal emissions very similar to Earth's Yellowstone Park, although there are some areas where magma breaches the surface on occasion.

Evolutionary History and Major Groups of the Present Day
The origin of New Phoenix life is unknown, at least as far as what world their genotype first evolved on.  It is possible that they may have ultimately originated on the original Eiyogsha homeworld, but it is more likely that the present Eiyogsha caretaker, at the Lowell Complex, chose from genotype examples gathered from hundreds of worlds.  Whatever the case, life planted here has evolved for nearly 450 million years, and probably resemble little of life on their original world.

The primary order of animal life is marked by species with complete skeletal structures, but which also possess full exoskeletal elements.  Indeed, there are some species that look like giant insects.  However, the carapace is actually quite thin in most places, and is filled with air hollows and blood vessels, excellent adaptations for cooling in the arid climate of the planet.  Most such forms are quadrupeds, but snake-like locomotion has been adapted by many other forms.  The gastronomic system of these animals is located entirely within the torso of the animal, including the circular mouth, powered by small but extremely powerful jaws, resembling nothing so much as a squid with multiple beaks arranged in a circle.  An array of small limbs surround this mouth, and are used for drawing in food, be it meat or vegetation, while usually a single pair of limbs is longer and provides functions ranging from locomotion aid to object manipulation.  The latter was highly developed, of course, by the sapient Cath'thetiki species.

Lower forms of life range from true chitin-covered "bugs", to more fleshy grub-like forms that either burrow for protection from the sun, or secret a thick mucous that literally glues a heavy layer of insulating soil to their bodies.  Flying forms are unique in that they have developed true feathers, although they fly through the utilization of two pairs of wings, the aft pair being more for stabilization and steering than actual flight.  Nevertheless, these animals are uncannily similar to Terran birds, although their gastronomic centers, like those animals that they evolved from, lie within their torsos.  Swimming forms, like other such creatures on most ocean-bearing worlds, are torpedo shaped, and propel themselves with the use of fins.  Thus, like the avian forms, the fish-forms are remarkably similar to Terran fish.  They feed in a much more typical manner, with the mouth placed on the head, arguing for a separate ancestry of terrestrial forms.

Plant life photosynthesizes primarily through cyanophyll, with rust-colored plants covering much of the land.  In only a few regions have more conventional chlorophyll-based plants risen to dominance, and there is some genetic evidence arguing for a separate planetary origin.

Native Intelligences
The primary native intelligence, of course, is the Eiyogsha presence on the planet.  Long ago the Eiyogsha uploaded their intellects into great interstellar ships, and maintained themselves over hundreds of millions of years with a level of nanotechnology barely understandable.  That same technology saw one indivisual transform his ship into a surface installation on New Phoenix, which was named the Lowell Complex by the Hegemony colonists.  While there has never been any overt sign of active intelligence from the complex, the so-called Caretaker is nonetheless a source of great intelligence.  It may indeed have fallen into some sort of intellectual senescence, but it is equally possible that the intelligence has either chosen not to show itself to Humans, possibly seen as intruders on its multi-million year planetary project, or that the intelligence is simply beyond Humanity's ability to comprehend.

The other native intelligence is a recently evolved one, with archeological evidence of culture dating back only a few hundred thousand years.  It is possible, even likely, that the Caretaker aided the Cath'thetiki in their rise to civilization, and indeed the species may be the ultimate goal of the Eiyogsha terraforming project of this world.  Or they may be an unintentional sideline.  there is simply no way to tell.  regardless, the Cath'thetiki have developed a somewhat bronze-aged level of civilization, and have based it largely on war between clans.  While some might see this as fairly horrific, the Cath'thetiki themselves revel in the lifestyle, and seem to consider the peaceful life as anathema.

Human Colonization
The presence of a life-bearing world in this system was long known, and indeed in scientific circles this system had always been somewhat famous because of the confirmed presence of two near-Earth-massed worlds that possessed abundant liquid water.  It was not until the actual arrival of the Hegemony colony, however, that the Eiyogsha presence was discovered, and the eventual knowledge of the Ancient species was gleaned from data retrieved from the Lowell Complex.  The Renewed Contact Program of the Hegemony brought to light the ArcBuilder presence, although the ArcWay itself is the only evidence of their presence to be found.

While the planet itself remains open fir further colonization, and indeed sees an annual (Standard) population influx of several thousand people, the Eiyogsha presence on the world has been designated a Galactic Heritage Site.  The Lowell Complex is also listed as a forbidden location, with only top League scientists allowed within its borders.