Garlax

Summary
Garlax is a water world with almost no land masses and the home world of the Garlaxians. It is rich in ore used in scrith and harbonite.

Joining the Federation
Garlax joined the Federation in 2967 after nearly two decades of negotiation. Worries about what allowing Federation companies to conduct business operations there would mean for the local culture and sense of independence prevented any deal from being made to the satisfaction of both parties until the tidal plant disaster of 2966. The primary source of power used for Garlaxian cities is a system of hydropower plants that convert the kinetic energy of the waves into electric energy by rotating enormous screws. These plants experienced a simultaneous failure in 2966 due to a software malfunction causing city-wide blackouts that lasted for 37 local days (lasting 29 hours each). In the last few days of this event, a fleet of space pirates, emboldened by the planet's unusual vulnerability and armed with amphibious starships, began raiding cities. Only intervention by the Haspel corporation averted disaster. Garlax joined the Federation in exchange for crisis relief supplies soon after.

Since joining, the Garlaxian community has revolutionized metallurgy. The cost effectiveness of massive construction efforts has increased dramatically and heat shielding on starships is more affordable than ever. Garlaxians have found success in specialist jobs all across the Federation, utilizing their unique individualized physiologies to excel in work environments in ways no other race can. They are also commonly employed in service and entertainment due to their famous charisma.

Climate
Garlax is covered almost entirely with saltwater, with only 60,000 square kilometers of landmass above sea level. No individual island is more than 40 square kilometers. The only life on any landmass is there for momentary rest. The handful of mammalian creatures that beach themselves to sleep or eat a meal in peace disturb the sand too much for flora to grow, often burrowing to hide from the sun.

Deep under calm waves and several hundred fathoms of water, the cities of Garlax are protected from any harsh weather. The cities are quite warm, having been built on hydrothermal vents. These vents also provide the power each city runs on. Further from these vents, it can approach zero degrees Celsius allowing some creatures to grow to enormous sizes. Garlax is host to many creatures that grow perpetually, with no signs of deterioration from aging. Many trenches of Garlax still lie unexplored, as even the most advanced drones stand little chance of returning from them.

Politics
Garlax uses a representative democracy based on a two-party system. The current dominant parties are the Federalists and the Traditionalists. The Federalists favor further integration into the community of the Federation. They seek to reduce or eliminate tariffs for interplanetary commerce and deregulate Federation resource acquisition on Garlax. They oppose reckless military spending and argue that that money can be better spent investing in industrial infrastructure, thereby strengthening the economy.

The Traditionalists strive to bring the planet back to the position it was in before it became aware of the galactic community. They oppose economic advancement and job creation, instead favoring military strength and cultural independence. Consequently, Garlax is the only planet in Federation space that is not under the protection of the Haspel corporation.

Manaan
To accommodate visitors to the planet, Garlax created the city of Manaan in 2973. The city floats on the surface of the ocean using a pontoon system. Without the protection of the Haspel corporation, the city is patrolled instead by several thousand security drones. The novelty of such a location makes it a popular tourist destination, which in turn makes property there expensive. The streets are littered with restaurants, hotels, and shops catering to off-worlders. The city has expanded since it's creation to a current size of roughly 27,000 square kilometers.