ANNATAR III
M-CLASS TERRESTRIAL PLANET
Annatari Homeworld, Neutral
POPULATION
~35.16 million
CLIMATE
Mild to cold, frequent fog and cloud cover, frequent rain and storms
MAJOR EXPORTS
Benamite, Chrondite, Cryonetrium, Garnesite
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ASTRONAUTICAL ASSETS
- 11 ground-based spaceports
- 1 orbital space station
- 2 'major' flagship vessels, ~25 crew
- 60 'minor' starships, 1-man crew, ~30 passengers
- More than 120 unmanned drone ships
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
Annatar's government structure most closely resembles that of a half-direct democracy. Though day to day operations and overall global trajectory are spread among separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches, major amendments to the Annatar's primary constitution and body of laws must be approved by a majority of regular citizens. Additionally, any citizen has the ability to protest or introduces amendment to policies through a petitioning structure.
While allowing the entire body of Annatar's citizens to participate and be heard in government in an educated manner seems like a daunting and behemoth task, the Annatari lifestyle of being tightly integrated with their technology has made it possible. Paying attention and participating in government affairs is considered an honored responsibility for all Annatari adults and the vast majority undertake it with unprotesting nonchalance.
GALACTIC ATTRACTION
The planet is host to a good variety of natural resources worth trading, in very rich quantities. The Annatari, though reclusive, have been generally pleased to do business as long as the buyers are willing to arrange for pickup.
Visitation to the planet itself is tolerated, though the Annatari prefer that foreigners have a clearly stated purpose for any trips to the surface, including an estimated time of departure that is prudently reinforced primarily through financial duress. Due to the rainy ecosystem, there is not much to attract a tourist economy, though it is rumored that the Annatari's shielded metropoli can be a wealthy shopaholic's dream come true.
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FIRST CONTACT & PATH TO FEDERATION MEMBERSHIP
Federation science teams based out of Betazed were observing and following the Annatar space program closely, beginning in 2356. Though the Annatar were close to breaking the warp barrier, teams were conflicted by the Annatar's almost exclusive usage of drone-driven space travel and much debate on whether or not first contact should be initiated on the Annatar's success ensued.
The deliberation came to an abrupt halt when the Dominion War broke out. The observation teams were forced to halt their studies and withdraw, due to the Occupation of Bajor in 2374, and all preparations to meet the Annatari ceased. It wouldn't be until four years later, well after the Treaty of Bajor was signed and peace had confidently settled in, that the observation teams would manage to return to Betazed and discover that the Annatar had broken the warp barrier during their absence, during the hot conflict.
Unfortunately for the Annatari, their very first drone vessel to successfully accomplish warp caught the attention of the Jem'Hadar vessels patrolling in the vicinity, which led to the craft's immediate destruction. Jem'Hadar scouting vessels then attempted to determine the destroyed craft's origin point, but gave up a short time later when they lost the warp trail, leaving the Annatar homeworld unmolested. The negative experience rattled the Annatari. Already cautious by nature, the harrowing near-miss almost made the species swear off of spacefaring entirely. Reluctant to give up, they instead decided to continue their development, but restricted their testing within the bounds of their home system.
When the Federation teams returned and realized what had occurred, they elected to gently introduce themselves and the Federation. At the Annatari's tepid reception, they attempted to explain the recent history of the sector for the Annatari's benefit. Understanding thusly reached, the Annatari cautiously accepted the Federation's offer of a controlled introduction to the greater galactic neighborhood.
Annatar eventually applied for and earned Federation membership in 2399.
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WITHDRAWAL FROM THE FEDERATION
In 2416, the Annatar suddenly and shockingly withdrew from Federation Membership. Regional analysts speculated the reasons were due to the increase in local tensions between Starfleet and neighboring minor powers (specifically
Echomet). The relationship between the Federation and Annatar remains cordial.
Reference:
FNS: Annatar Regretfully Withdraws From Federation Membership.
