Flandry's Men On Dido

The Rebel Worlds, CHAPTER EIGHT.

Citizen Willig, boat pilot (but we don't know whether he survives).

O'Brien dies during the descent to Dido.

Ensign Thomas Havelock is trained in emergency procedure.

Saavedra is the communications officer.

Felipe Kapunan is the medical officer.

Chief Petty Officer Robbins.

Two first names: Yuan; Christopher.

Others.

How Dido got to be the way it is is similar to other such stories in the Technic History. Probably:

Dido began like Venus;

a large asteroid hit it;

most atmosphere was blown off;

the thinner atmosphere allowed evolution of photosynthesis etc;

although amino acids are dextro-, not levo-;

the collision also caused the extreme axial tilt and rapid rotation;

turbulent oceans despite no moon;

much tectonic activity;

droughts;

no ice ages.

One of several freak planets in this future history.