New Terra and Shangri-La

Despite a rocky start, the refugee humans had found life amongst the stars. While the rest of the wayward Arks were being recovered, there was still one question hanging over everything:

Where was Humanity going to go now?

A specieis can't drift in space forever, so the Federation allocated Humanity a recently terraformed planet that was yet to be given a designation and had been intended for large-scale farming operations. After a slight translation error of the word "Earth", the planet was named "New Terra". Grateful for the new home, Humanity quickly established itself on the planet and its twin moons, Elias and Dorje, as fast as possible using borrowed technology from other Federation species to create viable settlements both above and below ground. These settlements were far from the mega-cities that now cover the surface of New Terra but they were far superior to the ramshackle underground cities that they left behind on Earth. Geographically speaking, New Terra is surprisingly similar to Old Earth, although it is slightly more massive due to a difference in geological makeup. Broad mountain ranges and deep, dark, oceans cover the surface alongside massive forests and a single enormous sweeping arid desert. While a great deal of the forestry is now gone, the desert has been converted into the largest single urban landscape in known space, with the exception of the galactic capital of Chala. The mountains and oceans of New Terra still boast incredible natural beauty. Humanity were originally settled on a continent on the southern hemisphere but expanded quickly. There is still a small city on the original settlement site that houses a great deal of the governmental buildings for New Terra. It was in those halls where the idea for the Galactic Alliance was forged and the decision to enact the Shattering of Phlegethon was made. 

However, as the population began to multiply, it became apparent that there was not going to be enough space to support both the burgeoning human population and the necessary infrastructure to provide for all without creating incredible inequality. Luckily enough, there was another habitable planet in the same system. So, with the assistance of the Iodeneons and the Tyndareans, Humanity embarked on its first ever large-scale terraforming project. This was also the first major project where Humanity was not only the beneficiary, but also an equal participant. Drawing on Old Earth mythology, they named this new planet "Shangri-La". Paying homage to the paradise of its nameesake, Shangri-La is a truly beautiful world. Enormous sweeping grasslands cover a great deal of its northern hemisphere while a broad equator and tropical zone allows for a large band of pleasantly habitable area. The beauty of Shangri-La has inspired an incredible wave of artists and poets, both human and alien, into a movement that is largely referred to as "Parisidism". While it is a hotbed of art and cultural fusion, Shangri-La does still operate as its own distinct political entity from New Terra, despite having been originally intended only to house its overflow. This became especially true after the end of the Federation War where Shangri-La seceded from the fledgling Alliance under protest against the actions that humanity took during the war, specifically the Shattering of Phlegethon.

As the twin planets developed, distinct cultures began to emerge. As the initial location settled by a refugee people desperate to survive, New Terra tended towards industrialisation, pragmatism, and trying to carry on the pioneer spirit of their ancestors. Hence New Terra became hailed as the capital of Humanity. Having been established later, Shangri-La tended towards more liberal, cosmopolitan views and such became a great hub of arts and culture emphasising supporting its people. A popular saying amongst the people of Shangri-La is that "The Arks were built by many." meaning that teamwork is the key to success.