Geography
Equatorial circumference
|
46,208 km (1.153 of Earth) |
| Total land mass |
20,400,000 km2 (0.137 of Earth) |
| Largest land mass (size) |
Victoria Island (4,000,000 km2) |
| Population |
700,000,000 |
| Largest land-based city (population) |
Nero, Victoria Island (4,500,000) |
| Largest water-based city (population) |
Uhnglah (9,250,000) |
Demographics
71% Zaldan
12% Bolian
9% Human
8% Others
Capital City: Nero, Victoria Island. This city is situated on the eastern coast of
the largest land mass on the planet.
History & Politics:
Bellatrix IV was first settled by about 25,000 Human retirees in 2276. They setup
their settlement at the present day location of Nero and began to construct a small
city to live out their years on the tropical island surrounded by warm ocean waters.
Shortly after settlement, large deposits of dilithium were located below the ocean
surface. Word of this was soon to get out and a Zaldan (Federation amphibian
species) resource exploration company set up mining facilities. The economy boomed
and there was a massive influx of Zaldan population. They took up residence largely
under the ocean but on land as well.
As dilithium production went into full swing and the population broke 5,000,000 it was
decided that a local government should be set up. A legislative government was put in
place with a unicameral parliament. The first session of Parliament declared the
itself the interim government of the Democratic Union of Bellatrix. An application
was immediately sent to the Federation Council requesting status as an independent
colony within the Federation.
The application was granted and in 2306, Bellatrix gladly took it's place in the
Federation General Assembly. The planet continued to thrive, it's population doubling
every 5 years through the 2330s when it began to level off.
The population has been predominately Zaldan since the 2280s but there are also large
Bolian and Human populations. Other species, almost entirely Federation member races,
make up 8% of the population.
The government put in place a strong local system of education and social services as
well as infrastructure development soon after it's establishment. In 2314, its
largest project to date began, the terraforming of Bellatrix III. After nearly three
quarters of a century the project is well underway. Other major infrastructure
undertakings included the development of a series of underwater domed cities so that
the gill-free citizens could journey to the main centres of the economy. A large
landing facility was also built on Victoria Island as well as a series of satellites
launched for the purposes of weather control and communication.
In recent years, the political situation on the colony has become a bit shaky. In the
early 2370s a minor party which supported independence outside of the Federation began
to attract much more support. The demands of the Dominion War resulted in the massive
extraction of dilithium causing the economy to be put into to question. Many citizens
were outraged and flocked in large numbers to support the Trixian Freedom Party which
came in fourth place in the 2375 elections and in second in 2379.
In a move to hope to prevent the continued growth of this movement, the Federation
recommend that Starfleet place an outpost in the Bellatrix system. Plans were already
underway to construct a new Fleet Yards and this project was moved to orbit of
Bellatrix IV, with the support of the Bellatrix government which also hoped to prevent
the increase of the support of TFP, and began construction in 2376.
Current Political Situation:
Major Parties:
- Progressive Social Union (PSU)
- Trixian Freedom Party (TFP)
- The Party of United Democrats for the Federation (Federation Unity Party -- FUP)
- Zaldan Strength Movement (ZSM)
- Bellatrix Liberal-Conservative Party (LCP)
Results of 2379 General Election (seats by party):
LCP - 94; TFP - 88; FUP - 60; PSU - 55; ZSM - 21; Others - 11,
Current Government:
Coalition: LCP/FUP/PSU - led by Chancellor Zok Pelaquara, leader of LCP.
