Intai'Sei Argos Rho, Phoenix System

Colony Founded: 2166 CE

Population: 152,980

Population (Outposts on Iwato): 4,307

Capital: Thoreau Mesa

Although considered a garden world, Intai'Sei is noted for its arid climate, high temperatures, and planet-spanning deserts. However, its combination of habitability, lack of a significant pre-existent biosphere, and ample mineral resources have transformed it into an important regional manufacturing hub. The colony's industry-oriented economy has experienced sustained economic growth for the past two decades, ensuring a high level of prosperity and infrastructural development. The success and rapid growth of Intai'Sei's industrial sector has additionally been aided by generous government support in the form of low business taxes and the endowment of various trade schools to support a technically-adept and skilled labor force.

Despite its solid economic standing, Intai'Sei's colonists have had to deal with various difficulties resultant from settlement on such an arid world. Because of its growing population and the unsustainable nature of the planet's hydrosphere (and the inability of wind farms to meet increasing demand), the colonial administration was forced in 2174 to undertake the expensive ordeal of constructing outposts on Intai'Sei's satellite Iwato to mine for water-ice to adequately meet the colony's needs; in addition, opportunities for agricultural ventures are extremely limited, forcing the colony to depend heavily on imported food supplies from neighboring colonies. The planet's aridity has also acted as a barrier in attracting immigration, with many would-be colonists opting for more verdant prospects in Elysium or Eden Prime.

Only at the more temperate areas near the poles does the sprawling desert give way to sub-desert shrubland; it is therefore unsurprising that most settlements on the planet were constructed at the far northern and southern latitudes. In recent years, Intai'Sei's government has considered the prospect of terraforming the world in order to make conditions more amenable, although it has yet to draft any actual plans.


Ittaru 47 Tucanae, Eltanin System

Colony Founded: 2161 CE

Population 32,084

Capital: Allagash

Ittaru is a colony located at the heart of Alliance space, a stone's throw away from Arcturus and Elysium. The rustic world has strong agricultural roots, and has been a strong and consistent leader in the production of corn, wheat, beef, and tobacco, for which it is particularly famed.

The quiet farming planet became widely known in 2174 when the Westall Massacre took place in Gorman, a suburb located approximately 3 km to the south of Allagash. The incident occurred on March 17th, when a biotic individual by the name of George Westall - beset by a number of personal problems - proceeded to kill 56 colonists and seriously wound more than 90 others, before dying from complications associated with overexertion of biotic ability. The massacre made headlines across Alliance space, sparking a moral panic concerning biotics and their place in human society. The anti-biotic sentiment caused riots and demonstrations on various worlds, the largest of which took place on Earth. A number of attacks against real or suspected biotic individuals were also documented, including 2 murders.

Following the incident, Ittaru's legislature controversially attempted to enact a bill that would have forced biotic individuals to be registered in a database, to the effect of disclosing their status. The measure met with stiff opposition, including warnings from the Alliance that it would withhold certain funds from the colony if the bill became law. Because of this, the measure was quietly allowed to die on the floor, and was never implemented.

A memorial to the victims was erected in 2178, and the name of the suburb officially changed from 'Gorman' to 'Rossthorn' to downplay the location's association with the grisly incident.