Stranded

In my last post I promised to divulge exactly why Terminus is in such a state of trouble and panic. The answer is simple: Commander Brewer and the rest of the Terminus colonists are stranded, without any contact with the rest of humanity, in a distant, uncharted, unknown corner of the Universe with no way of regaining communication or any chance of returning.

How exactly did this happen? That answer, a bit longer.

About 1000 years in the future, mankind has expanded their reach by exploring and settling colonies on other planets in other solar systems within the Milky Way, yet have never come in contact with any other sentient or living extra-terrestrial life, and the idea of their existence has become somewhat of a joke among explorers. Space exploration was going far beyond many thought would be possible, however, this wasn't enough for a pair of scientists. Humanity has always dreamed to explore the far-reaches of space, and with their current technology they weren't able to cover the ridiculously vast distances required to even leave their own galaxy. A gate is designed, known as the Marco-Erickson gate (named after its two inventors) that is able to transmit matter (and data) nearly instantaneously to a far corner of the universe.

The device is a pair of "gates." The first gate is able to shoot off the second gate to a distant point in space; however, there is no real way to aim it, or, once it's there, of knowing where it is. The gate, however, is attracted to mass so the gate has a higher probability of landing near systems. Once the second gate is placed, the first gate is able to transmit matter directly to the second gate, and the second gate to the first gate. In other words, having two gates is like having a portal, having one gate is like having a massive slingshot that you can't aim.

A group of settlers, lead by Commander Brewer, passed through this gate and began to build a colony. There was no way of knowing really where it is as the star orientation was obviously completely different, but that wasn't really their top concern. They found a planet near the gate, a part of a larger solar system. They name the nearby planet, as well as the system as a whole, Terminus.

Though humanity had never before encountered one, there was an alien race living on Terminus that the humans never noticed before they fled: a struggling race known as the Caer (Sah-EER) who were working on recouping their strength after a great conflict. Being fresh off of war, and having an alien race settling on their planet, they became worried and fled, but not before discreetly destroying the gate that brought the human threat to their home. With the gate destroyed, the humans become forever stranded on Terminus with no hope of ever returning. As the Caer rebuild their numbers, they watch the humans cautiously; monitoring the human's communications and gathering all the intel they can.

Tension Rises

Commander’s Log (December 26, E3032)

Interception has been confirmed. Initial theories involve rogue Work-Class engineers working on unregistered terminals. The IS is insisting on a thorough investigation and complete secrecy, while the Work-Class cries ever louder for transparency to remain, as promised. Though I agree they should be informed, I have no authority over the IS. As the months go on, however, it’s become harder to take protocol seriously.

3 years 101 days.

Commander’s Log (December 28, E3032)

Paranoia is spreading. With transparency compromised, the Work-Class is left to rumors and speculation. They seem to have reached the conclusion that no one in the IS will even acknowledge as a possibility. Numerous Work-Class units have begun scanning for UCBs, many more have attempted unauthorized access to the IS network resulting in IS retaliation. Unless an answer is found soon or the IS re-installs transparency, Terminus will be at risk of a level of disorder that the colony cannot survive.

3 years 103 days.

As mentioned before, humans have never encountered an alien race in all of their exploration of the Milky Way, and as such, the thought of ever finding them has diminished into almost a joke. This is why what's happening to Commander Brewer a turning point, and why he, as well as other leaders, remain skeptical, as well as why paranoia and fear are spreading like wildfire and why Commander Brewer is so desperate solve it.

In my next post, I will explain why Terminus is in such a desperate position.

An Empty Frontier

Humanity had long since given up on the idea of extraterrestrial life. With the advent of interplanetary travel and colonization, astronomers assumed it was only a matter of time before the human race came in contact with another form of intelligent life. To prepare for this, and to solidify the human influence in the universe, the Intergalactic Federation of Humanity was created. This Federation acted as a union between the countries of the world that had no real influence on Earth, but determined that all extra-planetary colonization would be created under the new government.

In 2798, after hundreds of years and humanity stretching its influence across the Milky Way, however, the numbers of citizens living in and born to the IFH outnumbered the population on Earth, and as a result, the IFH became the reigning and official government of all humanity including the nations on Earth. National and local governments still held power within themselves, but were all united under the IFH.

However, the life that was expected to be found had never shown its face. Earth, as far as the humans could tell, was unique in its ability to create intelligent life. Life-seeking protocols were becoming a thing of a joke, and the idea of intelligent extraterrestrial life were fading into myth and superstition.

This history jumps back nearly 900 years before my previous post to briefly describe some details of humanity's history before the invention of the Marco-Erickson gate that would propel humanity further into space than was thought possible. Humanity had united itself under one flag to prepare themselves for the future of inter-species relations which had never come to be.

Obviously, this changes, but it's important to note humanity's history with the idea of extra-terrestrial life in order to understand how the narrative plays out in the future once humanity has begun exploring the unknown depths of space, beginning with Commander Brewer and the Terminus colony.

A Taste

Commander’s Log (November 2, E3032)

Rumors of recent apparent interceptions has caused many raised eyebrows from the outskirts of the alpha colony on Terminus along with scoffs from a few of the more experienced in the IS hall. The most recent intelligence gathered suggests that this may be a valid report of interception of our communications, and as such I have ordered a precautionary encryption be placed on any and all official records. The Work-Class take this as proof of the rumors they have heard and a threat to transparency; the IS insists the precautions are unnecessary and a dangerous boon to paranoia. I have determined that the precautionary encryption remain in place only until such time that the possible interception is disproved. In the highly unlikely event an UCB or PEL is found or the interception is proven, discussion with the IS will be necessary to decide the proper course of action.

3 years 47 days.

This is a glimpse inside the world of Project Orbit: an entry from the professional log of Commander Franklin Brewer. Faced with the bleak and harshly unknowable future of the colonies, he is the acting executive branch of the fragile society that dots the Terminus system.

As time goes on I'll be posting more and more about the history of Terminus, but I'll leave this post as just a brief snippet. More to come, I promise.