Pots is the fifth planet of the red dwarf Kepler-186 system, 582 light-years from the Sun.

History

Kepler-186f was a very promising planet with a radius similar to Earth’s to be discovered in the habitable zone of another star. Colonization started in 2083 when the first groups of people arrived to prepare a hospitable habitat. The whole process was well documented as the colonists made regular videoblog recordings. Famously, in one of the vlogs the colonists were having a discussion about the planet’s name and they all proposed their own ideas. Most of them referenced deities from various mythologies to keep up with the way Solar System planets were named, but one colonist, Claude Durant, taken by surprise by the question he hadn’t had given any thought before, just blurted out “Pots”, as he was washing dishes when the vlog was being made. The response of the other colonists was so enthusiastic that they used the name “Pots” as a joke between themselves in the following vlog entries, and soon everyone else was using that name. Only then did the name become official.

In 2086, after 3 years of base constructions, the second wave of colonists, most prominently scientists, arrived on the planet, and soon more followed. The planet was thoroughly explored by drones and sonars and first cities were established around research centers. In 2096 the planet was opened to more colonists, especially farmers who were given free land on the planet in exchange for an obligation to work it.

In 2099 when the Collapse happened, the people of Pots lost all contact with the Earth. Unrest grew as different groups of people tried to use the opportunity to seize control over the planet. Crime rate skyrocketed and a group of scientists formed neighborhood patrols to protect the peace, which met with a strong backlash from the farmer colonists. A series of riots, known now as the Red Week, followed and a number of scientists were killed by an angry mob. This in exchange caused the scientists to use experimental military technology against civilians.

The Red Week ended when a new religious group, known as the Followers of Om, came into the light. A group of robe-clad men and women, the Priests of Om, used unknown powers to halt riots. They claimed to have received a blessing from the almighty god Om which allowed them to perform superhuman feats. The Priests sided with the common folk and hunted down scientists – some were killed in public executions, some behind closed doors, others were believed to have had found a way to escape the planet.

The Priests took control of the scientists’ facilities and formed a church. Most of the planet’s population joined the Church of Om, while the others were shunned and often killed by the believers. Some claimed that it was all an elaborate ruse of the scientists to take control over the people, that only the scientists who opposed the idea of tricking the common folk were killed and that the powers given by Om were a form of technology nobody understood. Others believed that the Priests, who rarely revealed their faces, were members of an alien race. Still, the Church of Om grew strong and took active control over the planet.

When the voidshift ended and communication with other planets was restored three decades later, Pots was a different planet altogether. The Church of Om had its own army loyal to the Priests, and quickly began to spread to other colonies. No other corporation, government or organization was able to establish a lasting presence on the planet, although many tried. The most notable conflict was the so-called War of the Dandelions in 2132, when the Alliance of Common Planets tried to take control over the planet. After months of warfare the ACP managed to take the city of Germeli, only to flee weeks later when the contingent was attacked by Om Followers.

At the moment there are two major cities on Pots – the capital Om City (previously New Moscow) and Germeli. Both cities are surrounded by smaller farming and mining settlements. There’s no official government leader and no diplomatic relations with other planets. Most other governments, notably the ACP and Alpha Kingdom, regard the Followers of Om as a terrorist organization and the planet of Pots is considered a hostile and unwelcoming world.