Ishimshulgi
(2021 Solomani Rim, 0401 Sol; E200478-7)
This world used to have
a thin atmosphere and a few oceans, before the
Terran corporation GenAssist
attempted improvements.
Several centuries ago, the corporation attempted to "encourage"
a native lifeform which fixed nitrogen into the soil for use by the
local
plants. The lifeform was not widespread or prolific, and
corporate personnel
were hoping to encourage it in order to expand the local agricultural
regions.
GenAssist genetically altered the bacteria for prolificity. The
alterations
worked, and in a few short years, the entire soil surface was fixing
nitrogen
at a prodigious rate - an alarming rate. GenAssist tried
desperately to
create an "antidote" lifeform, but to no avail. In a bizzare
twist of events,
one of the "antidote" attempts mutated into a strain capable of storing
oxygen in the soil. Within a century, the entire atmosphere of Ishimshulgi
was locked in the world's crust.
The Ishimshulgians are understandably embittered at being
driven into sealed habitats on what used to be a habitable
planet. Many
left the world when the debacle became obvious; the remainder filed a
claim
against GenAssist that took the corporation years to pay off. The
payments
for damages have been used to "bubble-terraform" several locations on
the
planet's surface.
-TD13 sr