The War for Luna
The early days of space exploration were both dangerous and tedious. Rockets used by Earth’s nations relied on primitive multi-stage systems, requiring precise calculations to save enough fuel for the return trip. Despite these challenges, technological advancements led to the successful colonization of Luna in the 2060s, with various nations staking territorial claims on the barren lunar surface.
However, the limited real estate on Luna quickly led to conflict. Territorial disputes escalated into the first interplanetary war, marking humanity’s descent into a brutal conflict over control of the Moon’s resources. The use of nuclear weapons in the conflict proved catastrophic—both in space and on Earth. Strategic detonations rendered much of Luna’s surface uninhabitable, while Earth suffered a devastating nuclear winter as fallout from orbital detonations drifted into the atmosphere. Civilization on Earth teetered on the brink of collapse, with survivors struggling in a world marred by radiation, failing infrastructure, and a severe resource crisis.
The Formation of the United Nations
Nearly a century after the war, the remnants of humanity began to rebuild. Isolated settlements re-emerged across Earth, and old national borders faded as survival took precedence. Recognizing the destructive cycles of the past, the remaining world leaders consolidated their power under a single banner—the United Nations of Earth (UNE), later shortened to just the United Nations (UN). This newfound unity brought stability, allowing humanity to turn its gaze back toward the stars.
The UN's first major breakthrough came in propulsion technology. Through intensive research into fusion technology, scientists successfully developed the Epstein Drive—an efficient fusion-based thruster that rendered traditional chemical rockets obsolete. This leap in propulsion allowed the rapid recolonization of Luna and, subsequently, the expansion into Mars, Europa, Ganymede, and other celestial bodies within the Solar System.
The Rise of Piracy and Militarization of the UN
As space travel became more accessible, independent prospectors and corporate-backed mining expeditions spread across the system, exploiting asteroids and planetary bodies for resources. However, with expansion came lawlessness. Piracy surged, with raider groups establishing hidden bases in the asteroid belt and beyond. These rogue elements attacked trade convoys and hijacked resource shipments, threatening the stability of the growing colonies.
In response, the UN transitioned into a militarized entity, shifting from governance to enforcement. A vast fleet was constructed, equipped with cutting-edge weaponry and advanced AI-assisted targeting systems. With these warships, the UN systematically dismantled the major pirate factions, tracing their funding to corrupt megacorporations and cutting off their support. Within a decade, organized piracy was all but eradicated—at least within the core systems.
The Discovery of the Plasma Barrier and Frameshift Drives
With piracy contained, the UN turned its attention to deep-space exploration. Probes and warships were deployed beyond the Kuiper Belt, but they soon encountered an unexpected phenomenon—an immense field of high-energy plasma at the edge of the solar system, seemingly held in place by the Sun’s radiation. Every attempt to breach this barrier failed, as even the most reinforced hulls were vaporized by the intense heat and radiation.
Turning to theoretical physics, scientists revisited pre-war studies on gravitational manipulation and space-time distortion. Over the course of several decades, they developed the first Frameshift Drive (FSD), a revolutionary propulsion system capable of creating a localized distortion in space-time. By riding a gravitational wave, these vessels could bypass the plasma field and traverse interstellar distances with distances cut by a factor of 100. However, early FSD technology had severe limitations. The power requirements were enormous, restricting their use to specialized "Jumpships"—massive vessels designed solely to carry and operate the FSD. Additionally, FSDs required precise calibration and could only be activated outside the gravitational influence of major celestial bodies. Despite these challenges, humanity had finally unlocked the means to explore the stars beyond Sol.
The Creation and Use of Jump Gates
As humanity expanded beyond the solar system, traditional propulsion systems like the Epstein Drive proved insufficient for interstellar travel. In the early 2280s, scientists developed Jump Gates, massive structures capable of creating stable wormholes between distant points in space. These gates allowed ships to travel vast distances nearly instantaneously, bypassing the slow, resource-heavy Frameshift Drive (FSD).
Jump Gates required precise alignment with another gate in a distant system. Once aligned, the gates created a temporary wormhole, allowing ships to pass through. However, misalignment could send ships off course into uncharted or hostile space. The need for precise calibration meant that not all systems had direct access to gates, making FSD travel still necessary for many journeys, often taking years to reach nearby systems.
The strategic importance of Jump Gates became evident as factions fought to control gate routes, ensuring quick access to valuable systems and resources. Today, Jump Gates remain a vital part of humanity's interstellar infrastructure, with their control shaping the balance of power across the galaxy.
The Colonization of Cascadia and the UN's Overreach
With interstellar travel now possible, the UN initiated colonization efforts in nearby star systems. One of the first major discoveries was the Cascadia system—a binary star system with a habitable, Earth-like planet (Cascadia I) and a mineral-rich, barren world (Ula). Cascadia I, despite its lack of intelligent life, boasted a temperate climate and lush biosphere, making it an ideal candidate for colonization.
As settlements flourished, prospectors on Ula uncovered vast deposits of exotic minerals, alongside the ruins of what appeared to be an ancient alien civilization. With these new resources, the colony rapidly developed into an economic powerhouse, rivaling the influence of the core worlds.
However, as Cascadia grew in power, the UN saw an opportunity to assert control. Fearing that an independent Cascadia would disrupt their dominance, the UN deployed a fleet to re-establish direct governance over the colony. When the Cascadian leadership refused to comply, the UN launched a military occupation, triggering the UN-Cascadia War.
As interstellar travel expanded, the UN established numerous colonies, research outposts, and mining operations in newly discovered systems. One such system, designated Epsilon Serpentis, showed initial promise, with a habitable planet and vast mineral deposits. However, early settlers in the system began exhibiting erratic, violent behavior within a few years of colonization. Entire settlements fell into chaos as colonists abandoned rational thought, forming savage warbands that attacked both UN forces and each other with brutal efficiency.
UN scientists attempted to determine the cause, but every expedition either disappeared or returned with reports of horrors beyond explanation. DNA analysis of afflicted individuals revealed a fundamental alteration—something had rewritten their genetic structure, irreversibly driving them into madness. With no cure in sight and escalating casualties, the UN made the difficult decision to quarantine the system, deactivating and locking down its jump gate. The official explanation was an “uncontrollable biosafety hazard,” though classified records suggested something far worse had occurred. Whatever had caused the mutations was no longer detectable, yet its effects remained permanently embedded in the settlers' genetic code. Thus, the Hellspawn were born.
The UN-Cascadia War and the Tragedy of Ula
The conflict began with skirmishes between the UN fleet and the Cascadian defense forces. Unbeknownst to the UN, the Cascadians had secretly developed their own formidable fleet, built in hidden shipyards across the system. When the UN task force attempted to impose control, the Cascadians launched a surprise counteroffensive, crippling the initial invasion force and forcing the UN into retreat.
The UN, unwilling to accept defeat, escalated the conflict. Deploying a second fleet, they resorted to their most devastating weaponry—nuclear silocraft from the days of the War for Luna. Targeting key Cascadian strongholds, they launched a full-scale bombardment of Ula.
However, the UN had miscalculated. The exotic minerals present in Ula reacted unpredictably to the nuclear detonations, triggering an uncontrolled chain reaction. Within moments, the entire mantle of Ula fractured, rendering the planet uninhabitable and killing millions. The catastrophe sent shockwaves through the galactic community.
The Fall of the UN and the Cascadian Counterstrike
In the aftermath of the disaster, the UN sought to suppress the truth, pouring trillions of credits into propaganda and misinformation campaigns. For a time, it worked—until Cascadian survivors, operating from hidden bases on Cascadia I, executed their final act of vengeance.
On the anniversary of the UN’s founding, a disguised Cascadian fleet infiltrated Sol, using civilian transponder codes to bypass security. As they reached Luna’s commercial sector, they revealed their true allegiance and launched a full-scale nuclear assault. The bombardment shattered Luna’s crust, rendering it a molten wasteland. In the final moments before impact, Cascadian leaders broadcasted the truth of the Ula disaster across all channels, exposing the UN’s crimes.
With Luna destroyed and the truth revealed, the UN collapsed. Colonies across the galaxy declared independence, and the once-mighty fleet was torn apart by rebellion. The power vacuum led to the rise of new factions, from pirate warlords to corporate militias, all vying for control over the remnants of the shattered empire.
The Aftermath and the Rise of the BA
With the UN's reputation in ruins, colonies across the galaxy declared independence, and the once-mighty fleet was torn apart by rebellion. The power vacuum led to the rise of new factions, from pirate warlords to corporate militias, all vying for control over the remnants of the shattered empire.
One of the most prominent of these emerging factions was the Berruti Alliance (BA), formed from a coalition of private security firms, former UN officers, and ambitious corporate leaders. Starting as a small mercenary group, the BA rapidly expanded, offering protection, governance, and economic stability in exchange for loyalty. By the 2300s, the BA had become a dominant force, effectively replacing the UN as the leading power in known space.
The Reawakening of the Hellspawn
In their push for new colonies, the BA sought to establish control over previously abandoned systems. Unaware of the Hellspawn quarantine, they reactivated the jump gate to Epsilon Serpentis, believing it to be an uninhabited world ripe for settlement. The Hellspawn had endured. Though whatever had caused their transformation was long gone, its mark remained in their very DNA. Centuries of isolation had turned them into a brutal, relentless force, capable of tearing through even the most advanced military units. The BA had unwittingly unleashed a nightmare long contained by the UN.
Upon arrival, the BA settlers were immediately attacked by a massive Hellspawn fleet, haven detected the approaching FSD drive signature and knowing that fresh prey was arriving. The initial attack had the BA settlers believing that they would easily win the fight as their weapons shredded through the Hellspawn ships, however the attack never ended as the Hellspawn unleashed their massive numbers upon the fleet. After 9 brutal hours, the BA fleet was no more, either destroyed or scattered.
Perseus Expanse
Five years ago, in 2328, the Jumpbridge connecting the Perseus Expanse to the rest of known space was abruptly severed. The order did not come from within the Expanse—it was cut from the other side. The Gate's systems in the Expanse was erased remotely, making it nothing more than a large chunk of metal. The Berruti Alliance (BA) forces stationed within the Expanse were caught as off guard as the independent colonies. BA high command offered no explanation, and attempts to contact the core systems were met with silence. Engineers stationed at the Avtan gate worked for weeks to rebuild the gate’s matrices, but without a corresponding response from the other end, the gate remained inert and too dangerous to use.
In the years since, all factions have given up hope of reopening the Jumpbridge. Without the ability to realign it from the other side, restoration is impossible. The Expanse remains effectively sealed off from the rest of known space.
The official statement from the BA’s core leadership—transmitted through secondary relay channels—cited "security concerns" and the need to prevent "cultural contamination." BA leadership claimed that growing ideological divergence between the Expanse colonies and the core systems posed a threat to political stability. Critics were quick to point out that the Expanse’s colonies were far from politically unified—most were under BA administration, and no significant separatist movements had been reported prior to the severing.
Even the BA forces left stranded in the Expanse were not given further clarification. BA governors and fleet commanders in the Expanse issued their own statements of reassurance, but behind closed doors, frustration grew. BA assets in the Expanse were forced to operate independently, with no logistical support from the core systems. Supply shortages, political uncertainty, and growing resentment toward BA leadership destabilized the region.
UNITE accused the BA of attempting to consolidate power, using the severing as a pretext to eliminate political competition in the Expanse. The BA denied the accusation, but the timing raised questions. Several of the Expanse colonies were showing signs of rapid economic and technological growth, independent of BA trade networks. The severing effectively locked out this competition, reinforcing the BA's monopoly over interstellar trade.
FORGE intelligence operatives suggested that the true reason was technological in nature. Shortly before the severing, FORGE research teams detected anomalies in the Expanse’s gravitational field. Small but measurable fluctuations were recorded along the system's outer edges—disturbances inconsistent with known celestial activity. Initial reports speculated that the anomalies could be tied to long-dormant precursor technology or an undiscovered natural phenomenon. BA command dismissed these findings as sensor malfunctions, but FORGE’s analysts have continued to investigate.
Despite five years of isolation, the BA has shown little interest in reopening the Jumpbridge. With the gate disabled on the far side, even the most advanced engineers in the Expanse have admitted that restoration is impossible without external assistance.
The current year is 2333, 5 years after the Hellspawn Reawakening and 45 years after the Battle of Cascadia