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. They are the largest and most populous race across all of SIC space. With unmatched ambition and rapid expansion, humanity finds itself the largest empire of the present year, 2517.
Lizardpersons/Vuulen
Vuulen originate from the planet Sangris within the Val System. The first species humanity has encountered outside of the Sol System, the Coalition's invasion of Sangris in 2401 marked the beginning of a troubled history between humans and vuulen. While the passage of time and more lenient xeno policies have seen the creation of several habituation stations, designed with the intent to integrate the lizards into human communities. While they enjoy significantly more rights than in the past, corporations such as Nanotrasen still exploit the apprehension surrounding vuulen to extend them less pay and protection under company policy.
Phytosians
Soon™
Plasmamen
Plasmamen are the animated remains of humans who have died in plasmafires which are then exposed to pure plasma environments. Technically the first xeno species humanity has encountered, the initial experiments with baroxuldium (also known as plasma) were disasterous, spawning the first generation of plasmamen in 2384. Holding onto glimpses of all the lives that perished in the fire, each plasmaman continues their newfound existence with apathy and detachment ever-present. Often confused regarding their past identities because of these overlapping memories, they continue to work in SIC space, often resuming their past occupation.
Mothpersons/Ex'hau
Ex'hau originate from the low-g planet of Wallalius within the Deria System. One of two space-faring species that humanity has uncovered, the significant decentralization of their people in their body of space means widespread, constant conflict and tension. While physically distant from the Sol and Val systems, some mothpersons still find their way to SIC space in search of a new life, sometimes as an escape from their old one. As humans are primarily suited to one-g environments, any ex'hai that wishes to work on a standard station often has to undergo significant treatment and therapy in order to make their bodies able to withstand the stress of standard gravity.
Ethereals
Soon™
Preterni
Preterni of the present day originate from the mechanical world of Ur'lan on the fringes of the Val System. A species uniquely produced from highly-advanced lathes that were created by the ancient Vxtrin people, the preterni expand and lay claim to much of the Vxtvul Empire's old technology, ensuring their continuation through the re-activation and maintenance of several preterni lathes. Highly at odds with humanity due to their scrapping, destruction, and subversion of several Vxtvul creations, the Remnants and the Coalition exist in an uneasy cold war, neither desiring to openly attack the other, while they secretly try to combat and parley over the immensely valuable technology present in Vxtvul ruins.
Polysmorphs
Soon™
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.
Central Command
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.