Far-Star Victoria Synopsis

The Beginning

After the 3rd World War, scientific advances and political unity brought forth The Great Recovery upon Humanity.  The pressure of dwindling resources was finally dissipated with the discovery of new powerful sources of energy and faster than light travel. Nations set aside their differences and aspired for tolerance and global progress under the benevolent guidance of the United Nations of Earth with the promise of a whole Universe to plunder.
In the year 2137, after a year and eleven months of travel, the Colonial Expeditions ship UNS Asimov reached the HD 546288 Star, renamed Victoria by Captain Boris Nikolsky.  The Victoria System is 190.4 Light Years away from the Solar System. Thus, in the astronomical charts of the Colonial Expeditions, it was considered a Far-Star.

A unique Planetary System, Victoria is blessed with the  presence of two planets in its Habitable Zone that are therefore hospitable to Human Life. They were given the names of Erebus and Elysium.

The two planets where easily distinguish by their different environments. Elysium, being closer to Victoria and having a very stable orbit, enjoyed a warm climate with little seasonal variations all year long.  Other differences from Earth are its slightly lower gravity due to it smaller size and its surface being around 65% oceans. In contrast, Erebus is farther away from its sun. Therefore, it is a frigid planet barely hospitable for Human life. It's main attraction being that it is rich in natural resources; especially it's reservoirs of the newly discovered element Aetherium.

Colonization efforts were successful in the two planets. The Astraea Corporation sponsored industrialization and mining projects in Erebus, making it the Industrial and Technological hub of the system. Minor companies and subsidiaries of Astraea Corp, such as Vitatech Research Laboratories also settled in Erebus, taking advantage of the promising new environment.

Elysium was colonized mainly by individuals and civilian groups looking forward to the benign promise of a new frontier to explore, it's pleasant climate, rich soil and abundant flora and fauna (native and imported).  Construction efforts in the main Colony where sponsored by a services and technology manufacturing company called Advanced Technologies Inc.

The early colonial period lasted 27 years and was marked by fast industrial and economical growth and prosperity in both colonies.

The Event

The last transmission from an Earth vessel was received at 21:16 hours on an otherwise non-eventful Thursday on December 13, 2184. It was the last one the colonies would receive. Warp capable starships from Earth or other colonized star systems failed to arrive as scheduled.  Days passed and a sense of dread spread through the populace as the news sweep the colonies. It was decided that the two remaining warp capable ships in the Victorian system would travel back to Earth to investigate the delay in arrivals. It was a decision the colonies would regret later after they realized the ships were not coming back for them. The Victorian System was on its own. No one knew why. To this day, the fate of Earth and the rest of Humanity's colonies in the stars remains a mystery.

The following three decades was a time of chaos and misery, the colonies where not self sufficient and still relied on imported goods to survive. Many colonists felt abandoned and marooned in a wild environment, resources where dwindling quickly and factions formed to prey on the weak.  Civilization on the colonies was on the verge of collapse.

The Reconstruction

Eventually, the local government of both colonies managed to organize effective militias and take control of the population. After realizing that the possibility that the Colonies are what remain of Humanity; plans where drafted to reduce the loss of resources, maintain social integrity and keep technology from disappearing.

Thanks to the non warp-capable, yet space worthy fleets of cargo ships that both planets possessed, a mutually beneficial treaty was formed between the governments of Elysium and Erebus. Being the breadbasket of the system, Elysium would trade food provisions to Erebus in exchange of shipments of Steam, the energy resource derived from the vast reservoirs of Aetherium located in Erebus.

The colonies made a commitment. Humanity and Civilization will live on. The legacy of Earth will never be lost.

Current Events and the Status Quo

It's the present. The year is 2512. After over three hundred years, Humanity and Civilization lives on…but the utopian dreams of the first colonists have been shattered by Human Nature.  The lack of technical knowledge and resources haves unavoidably devolved both colonies in their scientific comprehension and technology.

Elysium was affected the most, without a heavily scientific and industrial society like Erebus, it quickly fell from a space age culture to a technology level similar to the Industrial Revolution of 19th Century Earth… yet mixed with the remaining advanced technology they can find and the sparks of genius from their nascent Steam based scientific revolution. Having a favorable planetary environment also assisted negatively to the decentralization of their government as younger generations decided to splinter apart and create their own settlements…further devolving technologically into what some may call barbarism.

Erebus didn''t fare much better. They managed to keep a more advanced level of technology that is comparable to early 20th Century Earth, but it is mostly to effective care and supervision of highly advanced machinery that is now over a century old. Their shame being that they lack much of the knowledge to repair or create new models of such wonders.  But that is the least of the problems of the Erebus population.  Being the keepers of knowledge haves gives the Astraea Corporation virtual control of the planet. Their word is the law and their CEO effectively rules Erebus in a stern yet effective fashion.

Tension haves grown between the two planets, as they deal with their domestic problems of rebel factions, societal instability and lack of resources, they also deal with mutual accusations that may disrupt their long held treaty of bilateral help. Interplanetary war looms in the horizon… Only the brave, the cunning and the knowledgeable can bring any hope to the civilization of Far-Star Victoria.