People of Fornax

The People of Fornax are the inhabitants of one of Jupitor's moons, Fornax.

Government
Fornax has an elected ruler, with the current being Zorravac. The means of the leader's election is unstated though the government is possible an absolute Elected Monarchy with Zorravac's wife being granted governance of Fornax during his absence.

Language
Fornax has a language with some comparable syntax to those of Earth. The word Vonsoom means Wife in their language. Names among them include Zorravac as a masculine. Volaca is an example of a feminine name.

Culture
Fornax architecture and customs can be compared to those on Earth. They most resemble those of Earth's Middle East region. Iconography features an hourglass like shape (two triangles with the points touching) prominently. Monogamy is the norm on their world. They have a religion that has some characteristics of the Ahbramic religions and the concept of infidels; non-believers. Aside from this, and the values of peace, honesty, and fellowship little else is known of their moral convictions.

Technology
Fornax structures prior to Earth contact consisted largely of blocks cut from crystals grown on or in the moon. They developed a friction based method of energy production utilizing crystals on their home world.

History
Fornax was visited by the Earthman, Professor Cardos eight years before the Burau of Space Affairs would approve an official mission to the planet. Professor Cardos' ship crashed upon Fornax's surface and it was through the benevolence of Zorravac that his life was saved. The initial language barrier took some time to break but the prospect of other visitors from Earth encouraged Zorravac to readily learn the English language. Cardos withheld details about his past and his flight from those who had saved him, on Earth Professor Cardos was convicted for the murder of his two assistants while conducting an experiment. His motive was ruled to be personal gain; specifically sole credit.

Fearing that one day he'd be found on Fornax, Professor Cardos deceived Zorravac by telling them that the people of Earth make political satellites out of other worlds by first deceiving, then conquering, and enslaving their people. Professor Cardos eventually convinced Zorravac that friendship with other Earth people would be impossible. To keep Fornax safe the planet would have to develop missiles to dissuade Earth from invading. Professor Cardos came up with a multiphase plan the first of which was to develop such missiles and strike the Earth prompting the planet to send a ship to retaliate.

Over the course of a few years after breaking the language barrier missiles capable of leaving Fornax's gravity and reaching Earth where developed using Crystalline power and casing. These unarmed missiles reached Earth though both failed to strike their intended targets- provided by Professor Cardos. As anticipated Earth sent a rocket to investigate, though unlike Professor Cardos' ship the one sent by Earth, the Orbit Jet, successfully landed though expended it's fuel in doing so.

Zorravac, still uncomfortable with the plan set forward by Professor Cardos, did not send any delegation nor force of arms to the landing site. Instead from a distance Zorravac observed as a small group consisting of five persons made their way to the capital building after calling out the word Hello, which he knew to be a greeting. The lack of a forceful response caused Zorravac to deviate from the plan, despite what Cardos had told him. Zorravac went personally to meet the greeting with a guard and got conformation that the five where from Earth. He informed them they where not the first Earth people they'd met and in his native language instructed his guard to bring Cardos out. The leader of the five Earth people, one Rocky Jones spoke of an intention for trade and a need of assistance. The appearance of Cardos caused on of the five, Professor Newton, concern until Cardos assured him he was a changed man thanks to the hospitality of the people of Fornax.

Needing the crystalline power of the Fornax people to get his rocket home Rocky Jones invited Zorravac into the rocket to explain the situation of it being out of fuel. After being thus informed and seeing the Rocket as a marvel of technology due to it's steal and other alloys unfamiliar to him Zorravac invited Rocky and his companions into the palace for some relaxation. Rocky and Winky stayed behind while Vena Ray, Bobby, and Professor Newton enjoyed the hospitality of the Fornax people. Seeing how Vena Ray and Bobby interacted amiably with his wife and daughter respectfully strengthened Zorravac's feeling that he had not been told the honest truth by Cardos who insisted to the Earthmen that the missiles had only been meant to attract their attention to Fornax.

Away from the guests Zorravac did not confront Cardos directly about the the prospect but probed by asking if Cardos was certain that it was impossible for the people of both worlds to be friends. Cardos reiterated what he had told Zorravac before and proceeded to instruct him on phase two of the plan. Firing a missile, with a live warhead, at Earth every month for four months. This caused Zorravac to scowl feeling increasingly unwell about the situation, he told Cardos to look upon the rocket the Earth people had come in. Cardos informed him that it'd eventually take Zorravac to Earth in order to negotiate the planet's surrender. This was enough for Zorravac to let his suspicion be known, telling Cardos that he'd long been told that Fornax was surrounded by enemies and that only here on Fornax did friendship exist. Zoravac then left, too angry to continue conversation and still wishing to restrain his agitation.

Zorravac was then made aware that Rocky Jones and his co-pilot, Winky, had been involved in a scuffle in Cardos's lab- having been spying on the operation even while he'd been in the room. Knowing the Space Rangers had weapons but had refused to use them- opting instead to fight with fights- Zorravac to settle his own mind didn't take Cardos' word on the matter and investigated on his own terms. Unable to settle his mind- his old friend Cardos pleading he not listen to what the Earth people where saying and the Earth people remaining cooperative even while subject to suspicion.

Zorravac decided that the only way to find out the truth, was to go to Earth himself. He placed Professor Newton, Bobby, and Vena Ray in the custody of his Vonsoom and made his intention to travel that world known. Specifically to Cardos whom he now felt a resentment towards- a feeling of having his trust betrayed. Confident now that the Earth people where telling the truth, but yet to be certain of it, he instructed his people to assist in adapting the Orbit Jet to use Fornax crystalline power as propulsion.

The time that followed only showed continued cooperation taking place as the rocket was made ready to launch. Zorravac allowed the Earthman Rocky Jones to make the test flight alone. Despite a moment of communication lose Rocky Jones returns in the morning settling more of Zorravac's concern. With his plan unravelling Cardos begins to plot another way to avoid authorities on Earth. The next flight takes Zorravac and Rocket to Earth where Zorravac learns fully the truth about Cardos and the people of Earth confirming what the Earth people had told him about the United Worlds.

However during his absence, Fornax is invaded by another power- Officius. The Officiuns having many of the attributes Cardos had insisted the people of Earth do. With the assistance of the United Worlds the Ophecian invader's rocket is destroyed and Cardos who had aided the invaders to avoid Earth's authority taken into custody.

Physiology
While outwardly of a Human appearance the people of Fornax show a high tolerance for heat and capacity to look upon bright light without protective wear, from a certain distance. Their tolerance is such that they can hold a heat producing crystal with their bare hands, rub it against stone until it's glowing hot, and feel nothing doing so. Despite Fornax being a moon the world has a higher gravity due to internal composition, they are presumably twice as strong as people from Earth as everything from Earth weights twice as much on Fornax. Their endurance in this gravity exceeds that of Earth people.