Story and World

Random chance gives birth to some of the most amazing occurrences in the Universe. Space is getting smaller, and cosmic contraction isn’t the cause. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of planets among the stars which host intelligent life. Many species die out before they achieve space travel, overcome by war or natural disaster, or even their own hubris. Others, however, don’t.

As one race reaches the next inhabited planet, they may share their gifts with those they find there, or they may be wiped out by the locals and have their technology taken by force. This process repeats over and over again, and the scope of the known Universe expands. It makes sense that this would happen a few times over the countless millennia which make up existence, but it’s random chance which sees this happen hundreds of times.

So slowly, several races become aware of one another. For many, answering the question of whether they are alone in the Universe is a momentous occasion to be celebrated. For others, it is a reason to be cautious and afraid. The one comfort they all share, though, is that space travel has yet to be perfected, with considerable effort being required to get anywhere.

But random chance appears yet again. With alarming similarity to how they first reached the stars together in the past, the various planetary “superpowers” on the galactic stage discover warp speed around the same time. This completely changes the game, turning the space race into a space decathlon. Suddenly the farthest reaches of known space seemed reachable, and the idea of who owns what becoming something very few could agree on.

Wars were waged, alliances were struck and broken beyond measure. In the midst of all this chaos came the Selestium Unified Nation (or SUN for short). SUN’s reported goal was to provide a framework for the Universe through which everyone could coexist fairly and peacefully. In truth, SUN was really just made up of some of the wealthiest planets with the largest militaries, who wanted to make sure they stayed in control. Their motto, “Let the SUN rise over every world”, while intended as a strong but friendly unifier, was seen by many for the thinly-veiled threat it really was.

While there are just as many who oppose SUN as those who pledge allegiance to them, they are not all bad. Through SUN’s supervision, vast information is shared about the Universe as it becomes available. It was a SUN scientist who codified the Galactic Threat Level system for dangerous creatures, which uses the colours of the rainbow to determine threat level. Red is basically harmless, and violet is dangerous on a planetary (potentially interplanetary) scale. Untold varieties of technology are shared through SUN, so despite their menace they are capable of good things too.

Everyone wants a piece of land to call their own. As populations grow and worlds are developed, available land becomes harder and harder to come by. The stars represent hope for millions across the galaxy, ensuring their territory is out there somewhere waiting for them. How long until you answer the call?