The Jeffinator
Captain Manbeard
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2005
- Posts
- 8,365
The year is 2491, and the people of Earth have spread out to colonize moons and planets in other systems through the advancement of the Phase Drive, a device that allows vessels to "phase" into a mysterious, spirit-like subspace realm known as the "Echo." It is called such because it often conjures representations of people and locations from the memories of those who enter, though standard shielding technology prevents those illusions from manifesting within the vessels and materializing as real entities. It is also common practice to seal all windows and avoid looking outside when traversing the Echo, else one might see a lost lover or relative and become compromised.
Early trials of the older Phase Drives led to much tragedy, until stable prototypes of Echo-proof vessels finally began making progress around 2200. Within a few decades humans were reaching beyond the Solar System, given that short distances traveled in the Echo translated into massive distances in normal space. Mankind had managed to colonize several nearby systems before the violent first contact with the Sul Vada in 2279. Humans jokingly called them the "Space Elves," due to their pointed ears and skin, hair, and eye colors ranging from dark blues and reds to light purples and pinks.
After several years of failed negotiations and skirmishes in and around the contested borders of the Qaarn Expanse, the fighting erupted into a full-blown conflict known as the Qaarnic Wars. The Expanse -- and the wars that followed -- was named after the highest-ranking military commander in the newly formed Earth Federation, Fleet Admiral Nathaniel Qaarn.
The wars lasted for over a decade, until finally Admiral Qaarn was able to broker peace with the Goedenemos, the religious tribal leader of the Sul Vada. After a series of treaties and accords, a strong alliance was established, and Qaarn retired from the Federation Navy to pursue the Presidency. In the resulting election, he won nearly ninety percent of the votes, and helped lead Earth to a new period of peace and prosperity.
Over the next two centuries, the Great Schism caused the Sul Vada to split into two distinct cultures -- the Mos Vada, who remained loyal to their religion and the authority of the Goedenemos; and the Ast Vada, those who abandoned their ancient tribal ways and began to emulate humanity.
The Vada homeworld -- Vadomes -- became off limits to the "fallen ones," under penalty of death. However, the population of these ancient loyalists began to diminish, with a majority of the space elves joining a mixed culture blending in elements of Earth. This led to the creation of Haven, a massive colony on one of the moons of the gas giant Hedemorius. The colony turned into a great city, and became the headquarters of the new United Federation, a government encompassing humans, non-loyalist elves, and a handful of other races they encountered over the years.
Today, citizens of the Federation racial enjoy equality and prosperity on most developed worlds. In the case of our characters, we are all vacationing on Towai IV, a beautiful resort world covered in tropical islands with white beaches and pristine oceans. To maintain its natural beauty, all non-Towai vessels are prohibited from entering the atmosphere. They instead dock at one of several orbital stations and ride a Towai-approved shuttle to the surface.
So, our characters are just relaxing and enjoying their respective vacations, when suddenly, the spiteful Mos Vada loyalists launch a surprise attack on the resort world, where apparently several high-ranking Federation officials are holding a meeting...
Early trials of the older Phase Drives led to much tragedy, until stable prototypes of Echo-proof vessels finally began making progress around 2200. Within a few decades humans were reaching beyond the Solar System, given that short distances traveled in the Echo translated into massive distances in normal space. Mankind had managed to colonize several nearby systems before the violent first contact with the Sul Vada in 2279. Humans jokingly called them the "Space Elves," due to their pointed ears and skin, hair, and eye colors ranging from dark blues and reds to light purples and pinks.
After several years of failed negotiations and skirmishes in and around the contested borders of the Qaarn Expanse, the fighting erupted into a full-blown conflict known as the Qaarnic Wars. The Expanse -- and the wars that followed -- was named after the highest-ranking military commander in the newly formed Earth Federation, Fleet Admiral Nathaniel Qaarn.
The wars lasted for over a decade, until finally Admiral Qaarn was able to broker peace with the Goedenemos, the religious tribal leader of the Sul Vada. After a series of treaties and accords, a strong alliance was established, and Qaarn retired from the Federation Navy to pursue the Presidency. In the resulting election, he won nearly ninety percent of the votes, and helped lead Earth to a new period of peace and prosperity.
Over the next two centuries, the Great Schism caused the Sul Vada to split into two distinct cultures -- the Mos Vada, who remained loyal to their religion and the authority of the Goedenemos; and the Ast Vada, those who abandoned their ancient tribal ways and began to emulate humanity.
The Vada homeworld -- Vadomes -- became off limits to the "fallen ones," under penalty of death. However, the population of these ancient loyalists began to diminish, with a majority of the space elves joining a mixed culture blending in elements of Earth. This led to the creation of Haven, a massive colony on one of the moons of the gas giant Hedemorius. The colony turned into a great city, and became the headquarters of the new United Federation, a government encompassing humans, non-loyalist elves, and a handful of other races they encountered over the years.
Today, citizens of the Federation racial enjoy equality and prosperity on most developed worlds. In the case of our characters, we are all vacationing on Towai IV, a beautiful resort world covered in tropical islands with white beaches and pristine oceans. To maintain its natural beauty, all non-Towai vessels are prohibited from entering the atmosphere. They instead dock at one of several orbital stations and ride a Towai-approved shuttle to the surface.
So, our characters are just relaxing and enjoying their respective vacations, when suddenly, the spiteful Mos Vada loyalists launch a surprise attack on the resort world, where apparently several high-ranking Federation officials are holding a meeting...
