Keiñei

Keiñei (PX̂R-1d; ICCD Esshaii 3.B.1.4.7.4//4) is the fourth planet of the Řaqani system with a KIPU Habitable Planet Classification of M4n0. It possesses a number of natural satellites including five large asteroids, however the largest of which is a large pale body known as Ueqai. Its surface is 45% land by area divided between three large continents. The remaining 55% of the surface is water coming in the form of two large oceans and numerous large seas and lakes across the surface of the planet. It is the original homeworld of the Keiñuan species.

Keiñei is situated comfortably within the habitable zone for organic water-based life, and its entire land area including the poles is dominated by rainforest with the most arid regions featuring extensive grassland. This biological productivity owes its existence to the planets extreme volcanic activity which constantly regenerates the atmosphere with water vapour and carbon dioxide, perpetuating the planets idyllic greenhouse climate. The planets climate is prone to feedback loops caused by sudden changes in greenhouse gas levels, and it has gone through several periods of extreme glaciation and aridity in its history which have been responsible for many mass extinction events. The latest of these was caused by early Keiñuan industrial activity, resulting in a 10K average temperature increase that lasted 2394 years before it was undone by terraforming.

Topologically the surface is relatively flat, but is frequently marred by chains of volcanic mountain ranges and enormous caldera lakes. The planets extreme volcanism also makes Keiñei's crust very mineral rich, a fact which rapidly accelerated Keiñuan technological development and industrialisation.

The Cislunar Habitat cluster in orbit around Keiñei is the capital of the Psohx̂ract Union. The planet itself is designated a national monument on which no permanent habitation or exploitation is permitted in order to preserve the ecosphere. However it is a popular tourist destination, especially for safari tours of the planets diverse environments. Ruins of the pre-fall Keiñuan civilisation still remain in stages of advanced decay.

History
The Řaqani system formed 9.6 Billion standard years ago, during which Keiñei was created in the inner system before migrating to its current position. At some point afterwards Ueqai was captured along with the five main asteroids that orbit the planet; Aeqa, Kasřa, Huřonu, x̂iqey, and Ñei. Organic, unicellular life first emerged 6.2 Billion years ago and soon diversified and colonised the entire planet. Avian life tended to be the most successful due to the regular requirement to migrate away from a supervolcano, and for colonising new volcanic islands in the vast oceans.

The Keiñuans are descended from a group of avian omnivores that evolved quadrupedal movement and entered a trend of increasing cranial capacity, eventually evolving into a morphology classified as a type 2 biped. The volcanic activity of the planet became an issue for the progression of the species as it impeded their ability to successfully develop complex agricultural societies. As soon as they did, however, the abundant resources of Keiñei lead to a extremely rapid technological progression and industrialisation.

Overexploitation of natural resources by Keiñuan industry combined and unregulated oceanic and atmospheric pollution triggered a positive feedback loop of globally increasing temperatures and aridification. It was predicted that the planets temperature would rise by over 7K, and that only a fraction of the population would be able to be supported. Initially a quasi-closed system of domes was envisioned to perpetuate comfortable life on the planet until the damage could be reversed, however political corruption, social uprisings and concerns from the scientific community that pollution from the domes would continue to worsen conditions caused the project to be scrapped.

Over a century later the now fully spacefaring Keiñuans considered a different solution; relocating the population to their off-world colonies and artificial habitats constructed around the Řaqani system. With resource scarcity becoming an ever increasing problem the option was met with surprisingly little political resistance, and despite the scale of the endeavour almost the entire surviving population was evacuated from the planet by [date].

For the next several thousand years, Keiñei's climate continued to degrade, with volcanic outgassing accelerating the process and causing a peak average temperature 10K greater than it was prior to industrialisation. With the Keiñuan invention of the FTL drive and the economic productivity it allowed, resources were set aside for a terraforming project to return the planet to its formerly lush state. First, a number of metallic asteroids and Ueqaian Strata was brought into position over the planet and broken down for use in swarms of orbital mirrors that would cool the planet down. After the mirrors were completed and the temperature, engineered microorganisms were introduced that would rapidly fix greenhouse gases from the atmosphere over an accelerated timespan. In the mean time hundreds of thousands of species that went extinct during the crisis were slowly reintroduced over several millenia.

Over time the ecosystem returned to its old rainforest-fuelled equilibrium. By the time the Psohx̂ract Union was established all the orbital mirrors had been dismantled leaving only a ring of leftover material that can still be seen in the present day.