Astronomical Name: 978-1949890297
Gelt Name: [Untranslated] (literally: “Shit”)
Status: Uninhabited
Summary
Mud is the human nickname for the Class E world officially cataloged as 978-1949890297. Despite its name, the planet is dry, rocky, and lifeless—with no significant mud present. The name comes from the overwhelming sulfur stench permeating its thin atmosphere, which makes the surface smell like “mud” that’s been soaking in something worse.
The Gelt refer to the planet by a name in their Mother Tongue that translates, quite bluntly, to “Shit.” The term was deemed so inappropriate that even hardened Navy personnel declined to include it in formal dispatches or field reports, instead adopting the euphemistic and equally unflattering “Mud.”
Strategic and Narrative Role
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Operation Site:
Used as the staging ground for a Compact special forces mission, Mud hosted a temporary base during the attempted seizure of an abandoned comm relay. The CNV Queen Maria Sophia and CNV Marcus Aurelius orbited the planet during this mission—culminating in the boarding and sabotage of both vessels. -
Discovery of Ancient Mech:
While sheltering in a cave, JT Austin, Mitsuko Yamato, King Edward Windsor, and Lady Elizabeth Windsor encountered a dormant giant mech buried beneath the surface.
A Gelt Warrior, upon seeing it, speculated the machine had been part of an ancient terraforming effort, possibly abandoned millions of years ago. The discovery, coupled with similar findings on Aphrodite, reinforced the belief that such worlds once served a purpose long forgotten.
Environmental Notes
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Atmosphere: Thin but marginally breathable; foul-smelling due to high sulfur content
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Terrain: Dry, rocky plains and bluffs; no surface water despite Class E classification
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Flora/Fauna: None observed; either never seeded or long since died out
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Other Names:
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Mud: Compact forces’ nickname, adopted into common usage
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[Untranslated Gelt term]: Translates to “Shit”; considered so vulgar it is redacted or euphemized in official records
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Cultural and Tactical Notes
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Tactical Value: Minimal, aside from the comm relay and symbolic positioning
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Mythic Resonance: Among Gelt Warriors, the planet’s buried mech may hold ritual or ancestral significance as a relic of a forgotten era
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Reputation: Universally loathed by field personnel from both species due to its smell, bleak appearance, and complete lack of strategic glamour
Appearances: Checkmate