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diff --git a/doc/STORYLINE b/doc/STORYLINE index b8da1a4..6079955 100644 --- a/doc/STORYLINE +++ b/doc/STORYLINE @@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ FACTIONS PLACES - INDEPENDENT COLONIES + INDEPENDENT COLONIES (Colonial Militia) - Ghant system planet Ghant - Alexandria outpost (Colonial Militia) + Alexandria outpost Battleship custodian planet Seymour @@ -30,8 +30,9 @@ PLACES asteroid field - - Brogha system + - Brogha system planet Brogha + Cantor observatory HOUSE LINDBLADE @@ -74,72 +75,86 @@ PLACES Kiana system Kiana Prime +TIMELINE + + Exodus -5000 years + Great War -300 years + The Karelian Incident -50 years HISTORY -The Great War + "History is poetry by those who lie, those who are mistaken, + and those who do not know" - Tsu-Khan proverb + +Reach for the Stars + + Since the beginning of time history of mankind had been written + in blood and fire. While many modern historians state the Exodus + as the the turning point in human civilization it certainly did + not precipitate an era of peace. Wars for resources and territory + would be commonplace for millenia to come. - Over 300 years ago, the great war between the Colonies and the Tsu-Khan - Empire almost wiped humanity out of existence. With respect to the cause, - it was a war like any other: resources and territory. The Empire had depleted - most of its natural resources and launched an ambitious project to find - a suitable location for a new homeworld. Exploration and conquest led - to the inevitable encounter with the Colonies. +The Great War + + For the Tsu-Khan, the Great War was no different. Around 300 years ago, + The Empire had depleted most of its natural resources and had launched + an ambitious project to find a suitable new homeworld. - Most of the human population was ignorant of the presence of alien lifeforms - in their galaxy. The scant pieces of evidence that did exist were well-kept - secrets by the political leaders of the time. The Colonies were controlled + At the time, most of the human population was ignorant about the precense + of alien lifeforms in their galaxy. The scant pieces of evidence that did + exist were kept secret by the political leaders. The Colonies were controlled by several Major Houses, each with their own agenda's and changing aliances. None of the House Lords had the motivation to order a thorough investigation into a mad man's testimony of outer world creatures. - The ware come without warning. On the edge of know space, in the Caroli system, - two new colonies had been founded outside the jurisidiction of the great houses. - The settlers were finishing the construction of their hyperspace jump gate, to - connect the system to alied borderworld systems. Unfortunatly, the Tsu-Khan - Empire had located a few suitable planets just a few parsec away. + The war came without warning. In the Caroli system, on the edge of know space + and outside the jurisidiction of the great houses, two new colonies + had been founded. The settlers were finishing the construction of their + hyperspace jump gate, to connect the system to alied borderworld systems. + Unfortunatly, the Tsu-Khan Empire had located a suitable planet just + a few parsec away. - The Andros colony was the first to fall. It didn't take long for the Tsu-Khan - battle group to destroy the defenceless setlement. By the time they arrived at - the Corthio colony, the local alliance had scrambled any battleship it could - find to fend the invasion. The Colonial fleet was no match for the overwhelming - superiority of the Tsu-Khan ships. In a few hours, the battle was over, and the - Corthio colony was reduced to ashes. - - The story repeated itself across the Borderworlds. These independend world were - usually inhabited by pacifist that had escaped the turmoil of the central worlds - or had a mutual understading with one of more of the great houses. The Tsu-khan + The Andros colony was the first to fall. It didn't take the Tsu-Khan + battle group very long to destroy the defenceless setlement. + By the time they arrived at the Corthio colony, the colony had scrambled + any battleship it could find to fend the invasion. The Colonial fleet was + no match for the superior Tsu-Khan ships. In a few hours, the battle was over, + and the Corthio colony had been reduced to ashes. + + The story repeated itself across the Borderworlds. The independend world were + usually inhabited by pacifist who had escaped the turmoil of the central worlds + or had a mutual understanding with one or more of the great houses. The Tsu-khan did not care, and the majority of the Bordworlds was utterly obliterated. What - remained was a few primitive settlements scatered across the smoldering remains + remained was a few primitive settlements scattered across the smoldering remains of the Borderworld planets. The relations between the Borderworlds and the Major Houses were strained with conflicts of interest. The central planets didn't really care unless some economical or strategical advantage was involved. Slowly the Houses got drawn into the the war, and after almost a year of hostilities most of the House Lords found their armies - involved in a full-scale war. A war they realised, they couldn't win. + involved in a full-scale war. A war, they realised, they couldn't win. With the Borderworlds out of the way, and the Tsu-Khan fleet at the border of every - Major House, there wasn't much they could do to oppose the Empire. It was in this - dark hour of history that a secret meeting took place that turned the fate of history. - Five small ships, each carrying one of the remaining House Lords arrived at their - rendez-vous point on a small neutral planet near the centre of the Colonies. + Major House, there wasn't much they could do to oppose the Empire. But in this darkest + of hoursa secret meeting took place that turned the fate of history. On a small, + neutral planets, near the centre of the Colonies, five small ships met in secret, + each ship carrying one of the remaining House Lords. The Alliance - The planet used to be the stage for the House Council, by then a long forgotten + This small planet used to be the stage for the House Council, by then a long forgotten tradition, where the Lords of the Major Houses used to work out their differences with dialog, or discuss current events. In the years before the Great War, this tradition had been neglected and oposing views were usually solved with a friendly border scrimish followed by a royal monetary compensation. - These times were over. For them, this war wasn't about money, power or territory. + These times were over. This war wasn't about money, power or territory. It was about survival and it was clear by now that none of the Major Houses possesed sufficient strength to fight the Empire on its own. A new alliance was formed and it was decided that it should not only include all the Major Houses, but also any independent system that was still capable of fighting. The Lord of the house Lindblade, who's territory had been on the front line since the beginning of the war, and considered - as moderate amongst the Hosue Lords, proposed to assemble a fleet in the Lindblade + as moderate amongst the House Lords, proposed to assemble a fleet in the Lindblade system to prevent the Empire from gaining a foothold in the Central Systems. Within days, the largest fleet in human history had united under one banner. Out of fear, @@ -179,8 +194,7 @@ The Alliance News of the victory spread like fire through the Colonies, and the battle became legendary even before the Alliance fleet had returned. The heroic tales of the fleet plowing through - the Emperial forces like a knight with a spear, gave birth to the name - "Battle of The Lance". + the Emperial forces like a knight with a spear, gave birth to the name "Battle of The Lance". Turning of the Tide @@ -201,11 +215,11 @@ I. Chocolate milk chocolate was a hard to find commodity. And fresh milk? You'd have to have almost criminal connections to find it. fortunatly I had, and I did. These were times for celebration. I had spend the loan I managed to get - from the local planetairy bank on a small transport ship and I had just + from the local planetary bank on a small transport ship and I had just finished my first day of marmitium transport from the Regula mining operation to Alexandria outpost. Not the glorious life I had gotten used to on the central planets, but at least a decent one with its small pleasures - once in a while, like the cup of chocolate milk. The hundred credits I payed + once in a while, like this cup of chocolate milk. The hundred credits I payed for it made sure it rivaled the best Keldorian brandy, without the flavour of slightly fermented rodent droppings and the associated legendary hangover. @@ -287,6 +301,42 @@ II. Surprises more permanent presence didn't make any sense at all. I picked up the small metal spoon lying next to my cup and stirred my hot milk. "I wouldn't worry to much. They've probably discovered some interesting radiation in the neighbourhood and now they want to turn it into a weapon. You - know these kind of people, of it goes kabooom, they immediatly like it" + know these kind of people, of it goes kabooom, they immediatly like it. "Besides", I continued, + "the system has been quiet for months. I haven't seen a pirate in ages". + + The tone in my voice couldn't hide my longing for more dangerous and exiting times, + but those days were over. I had choosen a new path, and I was not about to ruin my plans + because of a few curious events. I emptied my cup and wished the bartender good night. + + I couldn't sleep that evening. I didn't know what troubled me more: the prospect + of my new life, the memories of the old one, or the strange events of today. When a man + is troubled, he has to start walking and with the silence of the night as a blanket, + I got out of bed and went out on a stroll. + + Nights are strange in space. Without sun to rise and set, the sky looks always the same + and only the clock dictates when it is time to sleep. 2 am standard colonial time. + It still felt like night: most of the establishments on the station were closed + and the sound of busy peoples voices was replaced by the quiet hum of the electrical + installations. + + I wandered aimless through the empty corridors until I reached one of the large + space windows on the upper level. It was almost like the vaste, empty space + behind it was reaching out, trying to stir something in the back of my mind. + I wasn't sure why but I could not shed the feeling that something was about + to unfold. I turned around to head back to bed when suddenly a faint + tremor went through the station. It was hardly noticable and most people + would probably ignore it, but I knew exactly what it was. + + When a ship drops from hyperspace into normal space, it will send a small shockwave + into the surrounding area. This is not a shockwave of something traveling through space, + but rather a disturbance of the fabric of space itself, with a distinct rythmn + an experienced pilot could easily recognize. I could have ignored it too and + go back to sleep, but the intoxicating effet of the mystery dragged me back to the window. + + A ship had arrived, and it had to be close. Hyperspace-tremors do not travel very far + and it would take one hell of a pilot to jump this close to a planetary body. The slightest + miscalulation would have spread out his atoms over the face of planet Ghant. The bright moving + spot between the stars had proven he was either good, or very lucky. From what I could tell + it was on its way to Alexandria.
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