New Texas

By

Charles Combahee

Edited By

William J. Wilson

Note: planetary data will be submitted soon. (Editor)

New Texas is a Goldilocks world which orbits Beta Hydri—a G-Class star that is over twice the size of Sol. The climate is Earth-like with mainly vast plains with some scattered deserts and forest.

New Texas' economy is mainly agricultural. The world is famous for its primary export: the Cowzard. Cowzards are weird creature as big as an Earth bovine. The animal looks like an Iguana with steer horns atop its head. It has half the fat and twice the protein of Bison, but taste better then beef. It is only found on New Texas and so far any attempt to raise it on other worlds has resulted in the creatures going berserk and the meat being inedible.

New Texas is also known for its limited mining of laser crystals. The mines on New Texas produce some of the best crystal ore in the Terran Sector. LaserJewel LLC has its main headquarters on this planet and owns three quarters of the crystal mines on the world. The remain mines are owned by independent companies or family-owned.

The planet was discovered by Frank Monroe a civilian who settled here, and was going to have his company run the whole planet when a business rival hired a genetic scientist to sabotage his efforts.

The scientist engineered the Feroci a strange Ape-Lion like creature that has nearly human intelligence. The creatures were released on the planet and quickly became a serious threat. They have a stone-age culture but seem to be naturally cunning at hit and run tactics of fighting. Efforts to eradicate them have proven nearly impossible since any major bombings or poisons would harm the Cowzards.

Mr. Monroe nearly went broke trying to pay workers to mine and take care of the cattle when he hit upon an idea. He offered free land to any who could settle it and live there at least three generations. This solved his problem since so many people want land, but very few will likely last long enough to claim it.

Since the Feroci are a constant threat nearly everyone goes around armed.

The Cowzards do not do well being penned in and mistrust anything bigger than they are. This coupled with the rough terrain has resulted in two unique forms of transportation: The (Human Operated Robotic Steed Equine) Horse and The (Multipurpose Utility Loadbearing Equine) Mule these robots have proven very versatile and popular.
With the Feroci attacking, the Cowzards being herded by armed people riding Horses and Mules it is easy to see why this planet was named New Texas.

New Texas is a firm supporter of the Interstellar Alliance. The people chafed under Imperial rule, as Empress Bowman nationalized the mining and ranching industries on the planet. During the earlier years of her reign, New Texas was among the worlds that were banding together to revolt against the Empire. The Bug War, however, changed all that.

The world was liberated from Bug control in 2774, after the bugs had their way with it. It took another twenty years before the damage was erased, but ranches are back and mines are operating (all independently or corporate-owned now).