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Valhalla A-2 is the only habitable planet in the system, as such people generally just refer to the planet as Valhalla. At 35.8 light years (l.y.) from Earth, it was one of the later planets to be colonised from Earth. The initial colony fared well, and expanded rapidly.
At 0.92 G, Valhalla has a slightly lower than standard gravity. However, surface atmospheric pressure is 0.87 of standard, with a slightly lower than standard proportion of free oxygen. The overall effect is that conditions are slightly more fatiguing than a standard environment.
Valhalla A is a relatively dim star, and it is only due to the near proximity of Valhalla's orbit that the planet is inhabitable. Even so, the average surface temperature is much lower, around 10 degrees centigrade at the equator. The mid and higher latitudes are arctic in nature. There are no significant seasons on account of the low orbital eccentricity, low axial tilt, and short solar year. Hence the inhabited region is latitudes between 30 degrees north and south, land accounts for 37% of the surface.
In spite of these constraints, there is still ample room available for habitation. Large tracts of land are unutilised and densely forested. Raw materials are abundant. The local biology is somewhat less competitive than native Terran varieties, and in most inhabited areas has been displaced.
The Valhalla Military consists of 160,000 men and women, of which two thirds are reservist militia (Valhallan Militia). Of the remainder, the regular ground forces (Valhalla Defence Force) comprise 35,000 and the navy (Valhallan Navy) 18,000.
The overall level of equipment is obsolescent, on account of the relatively low level of local technology. The ground forces are mostly lightly equipped. The navy consists of 2 'battleships', 4 'cruisers', 9 'destroyers' and sundry support craft. The reality is that while the ships are perfectly adequate for local patrolling, customs and anti piracy duties, they would be completely overwhelmed by an equivalent tonnage modern ship. By way of comparison, a Valhallan battleship , cruiser, or destroyer has comparable capability to an Eridani or Pegasan destroyer, frigate, or escort respectively.
Unlike the military, the police are administered at a local level. Each of Valhalla's 10 Districts has its own police force run by its own sheriff. The majority of the police are stationed in cities or large towns and smaller villages are often served by only one or two officers.The police have only been armed since 289 AI. After the attacks by Valhalla First began the sheriffs were forced to divert funds into arms and training. Initially small armed response units were tried, but when they proved ineffective more and more police were armed, until eventually, the entire police force had weapons. To fund this, police numbers have had to be cut back. Each District now only has around 1,000 serving officers and during the worst times of Valhalla First attacks, police travelling into targeted areas were given protection from military escorts.
The police forces buy second hand forcefields and weapons from the Valhallan Military. They therefore have a much lower standard of equipment than the armed forces. Some police officers have taken on second jobs in order to buy their own body armour or other military equipment. Many of the officers with second jobs work as security guards for companies like Telluras Weaponry or Wilkinson Laser where they are able to obtain staff discounts for weapons and forcefields.
Valhalla has just one intelligence service. It is called Valhalla Military Intelligence and is part of the Valhalla Defence Force. The exact size and capabilities of the VMI are unknown as all operational details are classified. It is believed that the Centaur Intelligence Agency, Combine Intelligence Service, Eridani Republic Department of Intelligence, League of Independent Worlds Investigation Bureau and Royal Pegasus Intelligence Taskforce have all lent training instructors to the VMI in the past, although this can not be confirmed.
The Valhallan national anthem is The Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner.
For information on outside interest in Valhalla read the power bloc strategic intentions.