Vieivaao (/ʋi̯eːeʋɑu̯/)

Vieivaao is a cold, inhabited supermoon. It orbits Teunessaa, a hot Jovian in the Läiö system (a M1.8V red dwarf; (/ːlæi̯ø/, roughly, "the one who lights"). The average surface temperature ranges anywhere between -23 and -59° F, and the moon maintains a thin though not breathable atmosphere, which clings closely to the planet. Despite its frigid surface, Vieivaao maintains a subglacial ocean and bacteria, the planet's only native life, huddle around geothermal vents. Vieivaao is approximately 74% of the size of Cradle, and 68% of its mass, but has a surface gravity almost a quarter again greater, owing to it being extraordinarily dense, at 9.21 g/cm³. Vieivaao completes one rotation roughly every 15¾ hours, and its parent Teunessaa's orbit is almost exactly 32 days. Dun (/dun/, "friend") is a companion moon of Teunessaa, which completes a full lunar cycle every 3½ days. Dun is not tidally locked, and completes a full rotation once every 13⅛ days. A small asteroid on a highly inclined orbit, known as Siilui (/ˈsiːlui̯/, "trader"), completes a cycle around Teunessaa roughly every 5⅓ years. As Läiö is small and cool, the light on Vieivaao is orange-shifted. Vieivaao was originally colonized under the auspices of the Second Committee's Colonial Mission Bureau in order to take advantage of its relatively rare siderophilic mineral content, and the original downwell mines are rich in elements such as the various platinum group metals, as well as molybdenum, manganese, gold, nickel and cobalt. Iridium, rare on Cradle as it mostly binds with iron and sinks into the core of the planet, is far more accessible on Vieivaao, and copper sulfides are common, including the natural superconductor covellite. Vieivaao, also rich in cobalt, is a supplier of raw material for lithium-ion batteries in Union space. Iron tailings are much more common than on Cradle (already very common there), and Vieivaaii jewellery and architecture incorporates significant iron use. Vieivaao in more recent years is known primarily for being the last relatively-hospitable stop before embarking on the long journey through The Long Rim, a stretch of space unreachable by Blink technology and haunted by pirates. While there are other, more welcoming ports, Vieivaao's position makes it the jumping-off point for the shortest possible route through this area. As such, it is home to the orbiting Rào Cỏ blinkgate station and numerous orbiting and downwell enterprises catering to spacers, as well as thriving black markets, both of which can be found in the Omphalic Market. Siilui, in particular, is an infamous rendezvous for smugglers and a hideout for pirates on the run. Many Vieivaaii consider this attention and activity unwelcome, and many boarded the UAS Terpsichore in 4590 to escape the heavy traffic of their homeworld and start again on Nuavaao.