Venus

Venus is the second planet from Sol, orbiting it every 224.7 days. Even after its slowing during the terraforming efforts it still has the longest rotation period (123 days) of any planet in the Sol System and rotates in the opposite direction to most other planets. Even without terraforming efforts the skies of Venus are the closest place in the system to Terra, if you forgive the poisonous atmosphere and acidic rain, the temperatoure and pressure are normal and breathable air is bouyant.

From the imperial point of view Venus has had 2 distinct phases of its existence. The first, which ran until 74 IY was when the terraforming efforts were in full swing. Geodesic domes were built on the surface as hubs for the effort and it is during this time that the planets day was reduced nearly in half. This ended with the Nebulee uprising in 74 IY and the Empire abandoned the planet.

Colonisation was resumed in the 210s by the Noble Houses when they constructed the first cloud cities. After the turmoil of the Dusk War individuals were granted charters to run the cities as semi-autonomous states, creating a ruling class, and the workers of Venus formed the Worker Clades that displayed a level of class consciousness unseen in the rest of the Empire.

Geography
Most of the polulance and economic activity of Venus happens on the Floating Cities, anchored 50km from the ground and powered by powerful geothermal generators.

Some areas of the surface were partialy terraformed before being abandoned in 74 IY. After being abandoned some still make the dangerous trip to the surface, risking the anger of the Nebulee and the inhospitable conditions, in order to savgage what they can find. Since these include old Neblulee labs it is possible to find occasional marvels of technology.

Economy
Venus acts as the trade hub of the empire, its orbit opens many transfer windows compared to Mars or Luna and its thick atmosphere lets ships decellerate without increasing delta-V.

List of Cities

 * Aglaea (sunk in 229 IY for breaking its Imperial Charter)
 * Minerva (sunk in 494 IY during the Last Insurrection)
 * Rhodos
 * Rosa