The icy world of Taranus lay too far from Aqui to be truly habitable, and attempts to colonize it were abandoned. Instead, it was subjected to extensive mining, and continued to supply Aquinas and Aquinus with needed raw materials. Taranus held a population of 17 million, and was ruled by the Miners Guild, a council consisting of all the mine owners on Taranus. They employed a para-military corps, the Miners Guard, consisting of 100,000 well-trained men and women. The Miners Guard maintained order, and enforced the rulings of the Miners Guild.