Pioche

Owner History

 * 3062 - Deep Periphery
 * 3095 - Deep Periphery

Planetary Info
Pioche was first settled in 2585 by colonists from the Magistracy of Canopus and Duchy of Andurien. The world possessed mild seasons all year long which combined with rich soils to make Pioche ideal for agriculture. Even after the fall of the Star League the world's population boomed, reaching 200 million.

After two centuries of peaceful farming, an asteroid on a collision course with Pioche was detected in 2799. The asteroid arrived two weeks later and the impact of the asteroid created an extinction level event. First a global firestorm incinerated the world, and for two local years the planet's atmosphere was subject to a "nuclear winter" effect that killed many of the survivors of the firestorm. The ash and dirt in the atmosphere also reduced the planet's albedo, and so natural starlight couldn't help raise the temperature. The planet was reduced to a barren cinder that was forgotten by the Inner Sphere.

Interstellar Expeditions rediscovered the world in 3062. The descendents of the few survivors of the asteroid impact had regressed to a hunter-gatherer society with a stone age level of technology. No contact had been made with these people as of 3095. Instead Interstellar Expeditions observed them with automated drones.