Backstory
The Origin Story
The Beginning
In the year 2000, a research group of the most advanced nations of the western world discovered bluespace technology. This technology led to large advancements in transportation technology. In the year 2001, these nations began the construction of a joint colony ship dubbed The Atlantic. The ship was finished in 2005, but one year later the authoritarian socialist People's Republic finished their own colony ship dubbed The Liberator. These two events began the Great Space Race, taking place between the Western Nations and their allies versus The People's Republic and socialist allies. In the early years of the Great Space Race, the People's Republic reformed into the United Soviet Republic. The United Soviet Republic, formed of the People’s Republic and their allies, goal was a socialist revolution across all nations.
War and Profits
After disagreements between the United Soviet Republic and the United Nations Security Council in 2056, the United Soviet Republic (USR) left the United Nations. A year later, the United Nations reformed into the Commonwealth of Orion due to the massive threat of the USR. Tensions quickly rose between the democratic capitalist Commonwealth of Orion and the authoritarian socialist United Soviet Republic, leading to a preemptive strike occurring against the USR by the Commonwealth, thus beginning the Great Systems War.
Nanotrasen at this time was a new research company, gaining renown for breakthroughs in laser weapons technology. These laser weapons became the Commonwealth’s standard weapon during the Great Systems War, and Nanotrasen's profits and influence skyrocketed.
The Golden Age
The war ended with the Commonwealth successfully destroying the last of the USR’s holdings two hundred and eighty-three years after the war’s beginning. Nanotrasen benefited greatly from the long war, becoming the largest company ever seen. The Commonwealth began expansion once again in earnest, but the Commonwealth senate quickly became bloated with every new world colonized and annexed. This led to the federal Commonwealth government becoming weaker over time, and local planetary governments' strength increased. The standard of living for citizens was high at this time, and business profits were great.
Internal Strife and the Company Cold War
The Soul Act of 2480 was passed through the Commonwealth Senate through a series of bribes from corporate interests ending the Golden Age of the Commonwealth. This led to unparalleled profit for many companies, but many systems in the Commonwealth seceded in protest of the Act. In response to this secession, the Commonwealth has been intent on reannexing what they see as revolutionaries. However, this focus has cost them dearly with Corporate influence growing over the bureaucracy for many years.
Meanwhile, the Syndicate was formed shortly after this time, due to the long term domination of Nanotrasen in the marketplace. The Syndicate is a mere loose collection of corporations, but altogether stronger than Nanotrasen. Thus began the Company Cold War.
Modern Day
In 2555, Nanotrasen had managed to bribe Commonwealth officials to give them the first plasma research station in existence, dubbed Space Station 13. With Nanotrasen exclusively getting research on this brand new field, tensions between the Syndicate and Nanotrasen are at an all-time high. As such, many in the Commonwealth have rushed to keep tensions between these two organizations lower, by getting the Syndicate their plasma research station (though this effort has been massively slowed by Nanotrasen bribes). Additionally, corporate influence is finally beginning to wane over the federal government, along with the end of many of the secessionist movements, which has led to the Commonwealth’s regrowth in power. Additionally, many officials independent of either Nanotrasen or the Syndicate are desperately trying to get the Soul Act of 2480 reversed in order to better maintain internal stability.
Organizations
Nanotrasen
Nanotrasen is the largest independent company across all of Commonwealth space. Their wealth and unrivaled corporate power have gained admiration and jealousy from many. Led by the ruthless Quentin Zandar, Nanotrasen has, in recent history, become more aggressive than ever. Conflicts in recent years have arisen between Nanotrasen and the more newly founded Syndicate, while the Commonwealth attempts to keep the situation stable. Currently, situations are at a near boiling point, due to the recent discovery of a new mineral dubbed plasma. With the two competitors vying for the ability to research this revolutionary material, Nanotrasen has managed to achieve temporary sole research abilities through bribes and threats of Commonwealth Officials. All of these underhanded tactics, has led to Nanotrasen becoming weaker than ever, and if the infant research facility “Space Station 13” is to fail, Nanotrasen’s long age of domination may come to an end.
The Syndicate
A corporate coalition founded to oppose Nanotrasen’s long run domination over the Commonwealth market. Founded by prominent corporations such as Cybersun Industries, Donk Co., and Waffle Co., when combined the market share of the Syndicate is much higher than Nanotrasen. However, the Syndicate struggles with internal unity, with many of the internal companies being long term rivals. Though struggling to maintain their coalition, the Syndicate has managed to reverse Nanotrasen’s long term growth in total market share. In the modern-day, the Syndicate is working on slowing Nanotrasen’s plasma research through corporate espionage and other underhanded tactics, and are attempting to get their own plasma research facility.
The Commonwealth of Orion
The greatest power known to all, the Commonwealth of Orion was founded on the four principles of freedom, democracy, safety, and justice. The Commonwealth has, for 211 years, been the sole known galactic superpower, after the defeat of their authoritarian rivals the URS led to a golden age of human expansion. The golden age came to a close with the Soul Act of 2480, leading to the revolt of 200 systems and a fragmenting of the Commonwealth’s once monolithic power. This revolt is finally coming to an end however with a mere 10 systems remaining in open revolt. Accompanying this is the decrease in corporate influence over politics, with both the Syndicate and Nanotrasen losing influence in recent years over politicians. For now, the Commonwealth is seeking to maintain a balance between the Syndicate and Nanotrasen, until their internal issues come to an end.
The Wizard Federation
A collective of magic users dedicated to further educating themselves and keeping their magic from lesser beings. Nearly every wizard or witch is aligned with this collective, and they are a relatively enigmatic power rarely dealing with those below them. To train, however, the Federation sends their apprentices across the stars to cause havoc and mayhem. Space Station 13 orbits lavaland, where many wizards once tinkered, and may just become a target for the next new wizard test.
The Cult of Eldritch Gods
A collective of cults banned across Commonwealth space, due to their violent practices and avocation. The two largest cults, the Blood Cult of Nar-Sie and the Clock Cult of Ratvar, have fled to the far outer systems of the Commonwealth. However, even in exile they still seek to bring their eldritch gods to the mortal plane. Many people do not believe these gods even exist across most of space, but they are terribly real. However, their forceful conversion rituals are known to be stopped by holy water, which has led to their near eradication. Their threat to the Commonwealth and Nanotrasen is seen as of little significance.
Races
Humans
Humans originate from the planet Earth in the Sol system, and are the largest and most populous race across all of Commonwealth space. Humans are currently the most powerful race dominating galactic politics.
Unathi/Lizardpeople
Unathi originate from the planet Zakora in the Ossel system. They were found by Nanotrasen in 2521, and have been treated as second class citizens since then. Though technically afforded all the rights of humans in Commonwealth space, the amount of racism in the Commonwealth has led to them being treated far worse, and they are barred from authority positions in many systems. They are currently the second most populous species in the Commonwealth, due to their fast reproduction cycles, and, accordingly, are the second most powerful. Unathi are most commonly employed by Nanotrasen, due to their early discovery of them.
Mothpeople
Mothpeople are from the planet Lampetus in the Glowima system. Found by Commonwealth explorers in 2523, the Mothpeople were seen as slightly better than the Unathi. Similarly kept from authority positions, the Mothpeople do get raises much faster than Unathi. They are currently the third-largest species in Commonwealth space and are the third most powerful race.
Plasmapeople
Plasmapeople are from the gas giant Logatio in the Zara system. Found by Nanotrasen in 2551, plasma people have quickly become integrated into local Nanotrasen stations for their cheap labor. Beyond rare to be seen outside of the local system, plasmapeople are the smallest, in population, known race. Expert engineers and atmospheric technicians, their unique racial aspects have allowed them to experiment with reactors far beyond the limits a human can. Plasmapeople are the smallest known race in Commonwealth space and are not powerful in any case.
Ethereals
Ethereals are from the planet Asma in the Glowima system. Found by the Commonwealth explorers in 2523, the Ethereals are also seen as slightly better than the Unathi. Though kept from many authority positions, the Ethereals are seen as perhaps the best of any of the races. Their success in customer service positions and general friendliness has been attributed to this success. Ethereals' bright bubbling personalities has led to them being across Commonwealth space as great psychiatrists and lower-level diplomatic assistants. Ethereals are the fourth largest species in Commonwealth space and the third most powerful species.
Locations
Space Station 13
Space Station 13 is Nanotrasen’s thirteenth non-subsidiary owned research station dedicated to plasma research. Uniquely, Space Station 13 is the only plasma research facility. Constructed in orbit of the planet dubbed Lavaland, plasma is found here and in the surrounding solar system abundantly. As one of the first actual Nanotrasen research stations constructed in fifty years, it serves many additional purposes such as:
- Genetics Research, with a team staffed by some of the best scientists from Chimera DNA Technologies
- Bluespace Technology, due to a large amount of bluespace “glitches” end with their trips ending somewhere in the solar system. An odd amount of ruins has been observed in flyovers of the planet
- Artificial Intelligence Testing: Nanotrasen, in secret, have created fully functional Ai’s under a Man-Machine Interfaces, and are testing some new versions of this technology in station
Lavaland
Lavaland is the planet Space Station 13 is currently in orbit around. Deep in the far reaches of Commonwealth space, Lavaland is one of the most recent discoveries by explorers. This planet is full of a previously undiscovered mineral known as plasma, with unique properties allowing technologies never previously thought possible. Uniquely, lavaland is also covered with an offshoot of the species Unathi, ruins of ancient wizard dwellings, and extremely hostile fauna to all life. This planet is one of the most dangerous in the galaxy, due to this all and additionally the known bluespace instability.
CentComm
Space Station 13 is located in the Ciastor sector, and every sector has one Central Command or CentComm. CentComm is a large facility currently running Space Station 13’s housing facilities, Emergency Response Teams, and the sector’s bureaucracy. CentComm is also responsible for sending the escape shuttle to retrieve the crew at the end of the shift, or due to disaster on the station. Occasionally CentComm has an officer actively keeping tabs on the station, but due to impracticality this only occurs rarely.