Created by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane on Aug 16, 2016 @ 1:14pm

SOL III

SOL III, called 'Terra' by off-worlders and 'Earth' by its indigenous people, is the homeworld of Humanity and the former capital world of the United Federation of Planets.

A medium-sized class M planet whose surface is 70% ocean, Terra has given rise to Humans, one of the most numerous and diverse peoples of the Federation. Although they almost destroyed their homeworld through environmental damage and wars, Humans pulled back from the brink of disaster 250 years ago and formed a United Earth government. When they made First Contact with the Vulcans, the Earth (and Humans) was thrust into the forefront of galactic politics.

Humans joined with Andorians, Tellarites and Vulcans to form the United Federation of Planets in 2161. Because of existing rivalries between the latter three species, it was agreed that Terra was to be made the capital world of the Federation. All the trappings of the Federation government, as well as Starfleet Headquarters, would be located on Earth. This move catapulted the planet into the leading role in Federation affairs, largely thanks to its dynamic native people. Humans have been the driving force behind Starfleet and the Federation since their inception, and although moral and metaphysical questions remain about whether or not Humans really have moved on from their xenophobic, warlike past, the benefits of membership are obvious when the current state of the Earth is considered.

Today, there are almost forty billion Humans living on their homeworld. Crime is almost non-existent. There is no hunger, no war, and no inequality. The planetary ecology is carefully and delicately managed. Large-scale social planning has created beautiful cities that do not negatively impact upon the local environment. Long ravaged by its children, today the Earth is loved and respected by them all, and its future as the jewel of the Federation seems assured.

On Stardate 2.1607, the Earth was attacked by a Neo-Essentialist thaleron weapon. The unleashed radiation destroyed the city of Paris and poisoned the local ecology, marking a Great Black Spot upon the Earth's surface which can be seen from orbit.

Shortly afterward, the Federation Council, in an attempt to negate what they saw as too much Human political power, moved the capital world of the Federation from Earth to Vulcan, where it remains today. Starfleet Headquarters is still on Earth, but Humans are still smarting over this unexpected development.