Palloma, a moon-sized planetoid tidally locked in the perpetual shadow of the larger Luar within the Felo System, possesses a history marked by desperate survival and deliberate obscurity. Its tale began long before the cataclysm that shaped its current form, with the establishment of its initial human presence.

On 09 May 2600 CE, the first significant human installations were founded on Palloma's surface. These facilities likely served as support infrastructure for the grand Imperial operations, including the immense Aegis Prime orbital drydock. For over six centuries, these outposts operated, until a galactic disaster reshaped the fate of the planetoid.

The year 3200 CE brought the catastrophic event known as the Sundering. The Aegis Prime orbital drydock was obliterated, raining hyper-velocity debris down upon Palloma's surface. This horrific bombardment "scalped" the planetoid, creating the jagged, cratered wastelands seen in the lightless expanse today.

The survivors were not mere refugees, but the dedicated support staff and engineers from the now-destroyed surface facilities. Having witnessed the Empire's fall firsthand, they retreated deep into Palloma's natural lava tubes and honeycombed caverns. Within these subterranean havens, they established "The Hollow," a hidden sanctuary beneath the scarred surface.

Over the ensuing millennium, the inhabitants of "The Hollow" radically adapted to their new, dark existence. Severe climatic shifts, caused by Luar's gravitational pull and the perpetual lack of direct sunlight, necessitated ingenious survival strategies. They perfected the cultivation of bioluminescent fungi and advanced subterranean hydroponics, transforming their hidden caves into glowing, self-sustaining ecosystems.

This crucible of darkness forged Palloma’s unique culture, defined by strict population limits essential for survival. A deep-seated paranoia developed, viewing the open sky not as a frontier, but as a source of death from falling debris and hostile starships. This isolationism was not primitive, but a calculated strategy born from their acute awareness of external threats.

The Pallomans knew of the Red Sun Dominion's expansionist ambitions and the relentless greed of the Trade Constellation. Central to their survival belief was the "Sleeper Artifact," a massive, pre-Sundering logic-engine buried deep within the planet's crust near The Hollow. They believed it was vital for maintaining their atmosphere, though outsiders suspected it to be a powerful weapon.

Recently, the Red Sun Dominion's interest in the Felo system has escalated significantly. The Pallomans, ever vigilant and distrustful, have violently resisted any diplomatic envoys from the Dominion. They harbor a profound fear of being enslaved, recalling the tragic fate of the populations in the Don System.

This resistance has cemented Palloma's current status: a civilization in defensive isolation, hidden in the shadows, ever prepared to protect its hard-won survival.