It is the 26th century. As Humanity begun to explore and colonize nearby star systems, they soon learned that they were not the first sentient species to travel in space. An Ancient race, named "the Progenitors" by archaeologists have left countless ruins on planets across the galaxy, housing advanced technology that the humans took decades to understand. They soon stumbled upon the Hyperdrive. A massive progenitor device capable of opening rifts in space-time through which ships could easily relocate from one end of the galaxy to the other in the matter of mere seconds relative to earth. It defied the theory of relativity and human understanding of the universe, showing how much the expanding young race still did not understand.
The Earthlings quickly learned how to use the hyperdrive, but they had no Idea how it really worked. Hoping to learn more from the progenitors so that perhaps one day the humans could build a hyperdrive of their own, they ventured into more and more remote ruins. During one of these expeditions, human explorers stumbled upon the Sphere. A mysterious mechanism on a desolate planet, devoid of all life, the Sphere was one of the most significant progenitor discoveries after the hyperdrive. Some archaeologists skilled in progenitor symbology believed it was a doomsday device of some sort. Regardless, studies continued on the machine, until it was successfully turned on-line. Around the sphere a shadow emerged, swallowing the day and those foolish intellectuals that had pursued investigation at the cost of safety. Dark and frightening. it grew larger and larger at an increasing rate, expanding outwards at just under the meter an hour, a frozen shockwave of obscurity. At least, at first- the speed of expanse of the sphere accelerated as it grew larger, exponentially larger. Those who ventured inside the sphere out of curiosity never returned, nor did they report back via radio or any other form of communication. Soon, the so-called Dark Sphere was so large the scientists evacuated the planet, then the star system. The star itself could no longer by seen. Soon, other stars went out as well in nearby systems, swallowed whole by the inky tide.
In the following weeks, panic spread across Terran space. Massive ships were built to evacuate populations in every sector, however, the physicists warned that there is little hope to escape with conventional engines. The sphere's rate of growth meant it would catch them rapidly. After some very precise calculations, they made a forecast. In a month, the sphere would reach earth. In the next, it would swallow 18 known galaxies. Nobody could tell what's after, but one thing was for certain- only the speed of the hyperdrive offered salvation, and that salvation was dubious at best.
The evacuation ships were all gathered to earth's orbit, clustered around the great ring of the hyperdrive. Not all could make it to Terra, but it was hoped more could join as the ships jumped away from the approaching doom. In the sky, the sphere only occupied a small portion of visible space. Mere dozens of stars blotted out by the nothingness, a hard thing to be afraid of. In reality though, it has almost reached the Terran's birthplace, according to the brightest minds humanity had to offer. The Hyperdrive was prepared, charged up with the thrumming generators of the entire world. It would warp the ships further and further away every 72 hours. The fate of those left behind under the wailing wall of night was not one to be contemplated.
Now the ships have made it very close to the edge of the known galaxy. The last few jump-points on the Hyperdrive's journey outwards beckon, and beyond them, the emptiness of the space between galaxies. Some more ships are joining the fleet, desperate additions from neglected worlds seeking survival. But if anyone will survive the End of All Things is yet to be seen.
- Kharbarinth -
Ambivalent (6.1)
Healthy
- Silence in the Dark -
Concerned (5)
Healthy
- Excelsior -
Content (7)
Healthy
- Providence -
Concerned (5)
Healthy
- New Paradise -
Happy (9.5)
Healthy
- Naechtlich -
Ambivalent (6)
Healthy
- Icarus -
Distraught (3.3)
Healthy
Here the hyperdrive has led them, a sense of dread fallen over the fleet. High above an alien world the fleet rests near the ancient construct that has saved them from annihilation. Both the moon, though, are shattered as if by a hammer blow. What this bodes the humans cannot say, but the death of an entire world is not an event, historical or not, to be taken lightly.
The scanner probe has debugged its systems and is fully operational once more. In the close proximity of the fleet lies several resource-rich space objects along with an unidentified space craft; an unidentified spacecraft with small amounts of power still flowing in its veins. There is also another unidentified artificial object in the distance along with several clouds of dust.
In close proximity of hyperdrive and to one-another:
Asteriod One:
One Light Element harvestable, 5 Junk Ore
Nearby Comet:
2 Junk Ore
Asteroid 2:
4 Heavy Elements harvestable
Unidentified spacecraft:
Emits strange signal
Distant Objects, Distant to Each Other but Close to the Unidentified Spacecraft
Medium-sized unidentified Artificial object
Unknown contents
Distant Dust cloud:
Unknown composition.
Distant group of yellow space rocks
Unknown composition
The scanner probe also detects significant distortion of distant star constellations. What this means cannot be said, but the distortion appears to be undirectional, and indicative of red-shifted objects before the light of the stellar bodies. Near objects or locations require three Fuel to travel to, while far ones require six. All vessels begin at the Hyperdrive, unless previously noted.