Delesa

Overview
Delesa is an ocean world controlled by the IAE in one of the more obscure and isolated regions of space. It was the subject of an invasion by a task force from the Aeon Consortium. Though the planet itself sustained almost no damage, the IAE's operation was forced to move elsewhere as a result.

Planetary Data
99% of Delesa's surface is covered in clean blue water as a result of no significant development on its surface or submarine areas. Extremely small islands, very rarely exceeding a kilometer in diameter, sparsely dot the surface of the water. They are the result of incredibly tall underwater mountains that once formed peaks above the surface but have since been eroded down into flat islands by wind and regular tides. More islands existed in the past but were slowly eroded until they no longer reached the surface. The same will happen to the remaining islands until the next geologic cycle when more will appear. This has resulted in no known surface life or even amphibious fauna. Delesa's relatively quick geologic activity and tendency to produce little usable land has made it a poor candidate for surface development. Underwater structures would have to be heavily reinforced against intense pressure and yet unknown aquatic creatures of variable ferocity. This along with shifting tectonic ocean plates makes it a poor choice for marine colonization as well.

The planet's atmosphere is notably very rich. Even above the cloud cover, air is still present in breathable amounts and belays any need for breathing equipment in most species. Delesa's climate and weather are also very stable. Initial observers noted that with more land, Delesa would've been "easily the most popular location for tropical development in this entire sector". The number of recorded storms on Delesa has still not reached even two dozen.

Delesa's marine ecosystem is enormous and impossibly complex. Researchers estimate that there are no fewer than 13 million species of fauna in Delesa's seas in just "shallow" waters alone. This is not counting marine flora and very probable species thriving in the planet's darkest depths that are expensive and impractical to even search for.

All observed animal species on Delesa are notably omnivorous. Even in parts where there is no solid ground where one would expect only carnivorous species adapted to the lack of plant life, the choice remains. Titanic and slow-moving creatures act as mobile reefs and host aquatic forests on their backs. These yet to be named behemoths collect floating particles of sediment and waterborne spores over millenia until they mature and act as moving ecosystems. A more common type of accessible flora comes in the form of Floatweeds which are mobile aquatic plants that often fall prey to even the smallest fish. They range in size but all variations pollinate excessively and germinate rapidly ensuring their survival and that of their consumers.

Sky Gardens
The IAE discovered the planet Delesa in secret. It's solar system is highly isolated and only accessible through obscure warp corridors and/or stable gravity wells. As such, it was prime for top-secret construction with little need for heavy defenses but also could not sustain a large amount of personnel requiring a steady stream of supplies. Delesa's lack of usable land or stable submarine space was a problem until the proposal of Sky Gardens.

Sky Gardens is a research facility in sustained levitation over the planet. Energy efficient and clean hover modules keep the Gardens aloft. The facility itself is nearly impossible to find through even dumb luck. The surface of Delesa has absolutely no discernable landmarks and Sky Gardens is constantly drifting making its location very variable. Further, systems inside the facility monitor the planet and its surroundings so if an enemy force came to inefficiently scour the planet, the personnel inside could contact a nearby fleet for help as well as prepare avoidance maneuvers. All of its activity is masked to further hinder would-be attackers.

The facility itself is opulent for a scientific institution. Well cared for plants dot the facility thriving in hovering plant pots (synchronized with the movement of the main body of the station). Elegant symbiotic insects help maintain any flora and add additional pleasantness to the atmosphere of Sky Gardens. The body of the facility is well designed and features some of the most advanced (and easy to look at) components. Delesa's natural beauty only compounds these factors. Scientists that are fortunate enough to know of Sky Gardens beyond rumors take great lengths towards being transferred there.

Invasion


Sky Gardens was invaded by the Aeon Consortium before the events of The Great War. The Consortium was given exact details about its location which enabled it to find the facility quickly where other enemies would've needed days or weeks. As personnel stationed there were just calling for support, the Aeons were already moving to strike.

The Aeons utilized a strategy of bombarding the station with boarding pods since surface vehicles were out of the question and most aircraft would have trouble navigating between the platforms. They overestimated the Garden's stability and the pods caused extensive damage to the station's structure. Numerous pods were actually thrown off course and landed in the water where the occupants likely drowned. Nevertheless, Aeon forces were able to wrestle control of the Gardens with ease while the meager security forces retreated with key scientists to isolated areas of the facility.

Relief came in the form of a preemptive battalion that deployed before the attack at learning that Sky Garden's location was likely leaked. Through sheer force and striking at the not yet dug-in Aeons, the invaders were quickly routed. In the aftermath, few lives were lost but the secrecy of Delesa was unregainable and the facility was dismantled, its scientists and projects sent elsewhere, and records mostly sealed. The IAE has left little more than a myriad of probes to monitor Delesa and talk of reusing the planet for other purposes has not yielded much.