In the three-hundred galactic years after humanity's Grand Arrival at several homeworlds throughout the Milky Way galaxy, almost 200,000 solar systems have been settled or mapped by the human race.
From each homeworld, a nation has spread across its...
"I must say," a tall, green-eyed man says in his steely voice, stirring a drink in his hand, "thinking back to my old self, I never would've believed we'd come this far."
He turns to the window and peers outside.
"Then again, I can only say that because I have the privilege of perspective."
He takes a sip from his glass, followed by a long, contemplating breath. The alcohol-infused flavors rise to his nasal cavity. Shining greenish light reflects off his eyes as he gazes at something bright.
"I don't think there's anybody else sharing that privilege these days."
He turns around to the empty room, sitting down on his lavish chair. He flicks his wrist above the armrest, where a small map appears. Flipping through the holographic Air-display menu, he chooses a destination.
"I wonder," he says calmly, a low mechanical hum rising around him, "what would the people of today never, ever believe was coming next?"
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GA 340 / 8 / 30 7:15
- Near the Westward Nios-B Warpgate -
Bathed in the mesmerizing blue light of the Oceancloud - a large reflective nebula in the Perseus galactic arm of the Milky Way - one massive structure of rotating concentric rings pulses intermittently with energy.
The Westward Nios-B Warpgate, one of three such gates in the Nios-B solar system, launches another volley of client ships towards their destinations.
Through these, spaceships entering and leaving the system find a faster, easier way to travel between stars.
Among streaks of bluish gas and dust and the angular structures of two small space stations - hundreds of ships, all miniscule in comparison to the gate, form lines and order in the hustle and bustle of daily life.
White light crests the edges of all in view, shining from an immense White Giant star, Nios-B itself. The rays are harsh yet softened by the wispy gas in the region where the Warpgate is situated. In the distance, the tail of the Sylph ice-cloud can be seen, twinkling with blue and white light. The Warpgate orbits the star close to the edge of this belt of ice asteroids.
"Arriving vessels," a bright, masculine voice, the Warpgate Patron AI, broadcasts instructions on local comms. "Welcome to Nios-B. Please occupy the correct Gridlane. Vessels hailing from Norma territories, align and proceed through Border Control & Scanning Gridlane 3, heading Down-North from your entry point. Failure to comply will result in defensive measures."
As lines of ships queue up into busy gridlanes to jump, a small, sleek-designed Lexon frigate exits warpcruise near the stargate and approaches it, intending to jump. On its side, the code ISF-FT-296 is embossed, indicating that it is a Frigate Training vessel hailing from the Institute of Spacefaring – the ISF.
