Return To The Stars
#1 of Sci-Fi
On the verge of extinction, humanity sends out colony ships in a bid to save the race. Only a few of these ships are successful and end up helping Earth. Humanity enters a golden age of technology and starts genetically modifying themselves as well as exploring the galaxy. Due to long forgotten reasons, civilization collapsed and only a handful of survivors remain, the most successful of those being the member of Nova Enclave, a city like bunker that hold a remainder of the old Republic left on the planet Jiro. This story follows Juniper, a human man in his late twenties who is part of the Enclaves Lancer Corp. Lancers are the Enclaves only way to repair and replace technology needed for the continued survival of the Enclave. Not only do the Lancers hunt down needed tech but they also scout out dangers and hunt for lost tech that could help the Enclave.
To this end, they are the lifeline to the surface world for the Enclave and the only source of intel and new tech for the Enclave and its people.
How It Began
"Since the dawn of our kind, Humanity has longingly looked to the stars in search of purpose and answers. For a long time, none were found in the stars, rather we occupied ourselves with our own planet. Nations fought restlessly over land and resources to secure their people a better future instead of looking to the heavens for it. In 2199 the world was united under the banner of the Terran Republic, a faction born out of the turmoil from the old world that looked to make old wrongs right.
To do this the Republic glassed half the globe in nuclear fire, wiping out the rest of their opposition in the Eastern Hemisphere. The nuclear detonations sent tons of debris into the atmosphere, plunging the globe into nuclear Winter. Survival was the Republic's new priority, but not for their government rather for humanity's. The brightest Terran minds set to work on the biggest project ever attempted by humanity; colonizing another world.
For years the Terran's experimented and looked to the stars, eventually finding the Hyper-lanes; lanes that interconnect star systems to one another by utilizing a safer form of warp travel known as hyper travel. With a farm of travel discovered the Arks were constructed. Five of these massive ships were constructed around humanities first Hyper-drives and filled with colonists. Tight corridors, stale air, oil/grease everywhere, and the hope of salvation was what living on an Ark was like. 2235 marked the launch of all five Arks: Ark 1 was sent to Mars; equipped with transforming technology in hope's of making the planet habitable, Ark 2 was sent to New Terra, a planet over 100 light years away, or three Hyper-jumps; equating to 50 years of travel. Ark 3 was sent to Alpha Centauri; a planet predicted by pre-unification scientists as habitable. Ark 4 set out for TOI 700 B, or Jiro by colonists classification. Jiro was believed to be humanities best shot at survival even though it was roughly 100 light years away like Alpha Centauri. Ark 5 was sent to Pegasus, a super planet by classification. One that was calculated to be habitable.
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Initially, 3 out of the five Arks successfully landed and recontacted the Republic. Arks 2, 3, and 4; the rest were presumed failures and lost with all crew. The successful colonization of extraterrestrial worlds is humanities crowning achievement. The colonies, once established, flourished and began aiding their ruined home world. Brought to the precipice of extinction and brought back by a gamble, humanity had survived and thrived; entering a golden age of advancement and evolution. Earths cold irradiated surface was restored to its former glory as green grasses and lush forests retook the surface.
By 2560 Humanity had its footing completely, marvels of engineering dotted our planet's surfaces, ships with more advanced hyper-drives transported materials to and from the colonies while scientist's began researching the heavens we were always meant to explore.
Old habits die hard as peace and tranquility breeds corruption and weakness. The Republics once pure hearted intentions turned dark as they began weaving bureaucratic webs that would entangle their colonies. Before long many once loyal colonies turned on one another and war reigned while humanity turned its gaze from the stars and down the sights of a gun.
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Records are scattered from here, what we do know is our time is almost over. Our city's watch light-less vigils over alien worlds, ecosystems destroyed by radiation and fire from the Fallen Wars or overgrown with mutant plants that smother all. Those that are left find solace in knowing how short their lives are, lives of fighting mutants and bandits, toiling in poisoned soil for meager harvests. A few of us are lucky enough to be born into one of the Enclaves, military bunkers buried deep withen Jiros crust. Our Enclaves preserve the knowledge of our pasts, and hopefully the torch of our future. This is Juniper Vira, Enclave Nova, Captain in the Lancer Corp. End Log"
Tesla
Plasteel, strong, durable, and erosion resistant. A miracle material created in a bygone age, the Golden Age of Humanity. Tons of this material made up the many ships and buildings that made our civilization, now it's all that keeps our civilization alive. The dark grey plasteel walls of Nova Enclave were comforting to Juniper, he knew what it was like outside after all. Outside it felt like you were always being watched, you were never safe; there were no corridors to funnel threats through only open fields or ruined buildings to fight in or run through. Juniper would put his hand against the plasteel wall and feel it's cool smooth surface before running it along with him as he walked down the Bluewing of Nova Enclave, a wing dedicated to military operations and Enclave security. Only a few guards currently lived here, maintaining the armories that will one day be used to retake the surface, or assisting Lancers by providing Intel or lists of needed equipment to be brought back from the field.
Lancers usually worked in duo's, an older more experienced Lancer would teach a recruit all they knew and together they'd both explore the surface, reclaiming tech or lost knowledge to be brought back for archiving.
Juniper pauses at his bunk rooms door, a sudden pang of dread flooding over him. His partner died the last time they went out. Silvus stepped on a Buzzards Landmine... it had to have been since Juniper didn't hear a gunshot or the shot of a launcher. One minute his silver haired recruit was by his side, chatting about some sort of harmonic resonator when suddenly a bang knocked Juniper on his butt and left his ears ringing. Nothing was left of him, nothing Juniper could find anyway.
Buzzards... He hated them the most of all the mutant tribes that now covered the planet. Buzzards lived in villages around this portion of the planet, waging war on one another, ram-shackling together new technology, covering themselves head to toe in old metal plates... they are the smartest tribe, and when ready for war, the most organized...
He swallowed hard and stepped through the now open sliding door to meet his new partner.