S O L A R I A
"...On behalf of myself and the entire organization, I would like to extend my apologies. We appear to have broken the sun. I know that all of you at home must be feeling a lot of confusion right now. That is very natural. I would like you to remind you that any sirens you hear are likely real, and it would prudent at this point to follow any emergency procedures you may have. I urge cooperation with any men with guns who may appear. You may shortly experience any number of side effects, such as nausea, rupturing of blood vessels, acute brain damage, blindness, and death. This is completely normal and is of no serious concern.
[Unintelligible]...I can see it, you know. It's all right here in my hand. You don't know what you're...you can't imagine...the lights. For all of you at home I'd like to say that I'm on fire and I love God very much...I'm not sure if I have eyes any more but it's alright, can't you see that? The light is my head. The sun...I'm eating...all the colors say they love me, it's alright. I want all of you at home to understand what we've accomplished here today. I want you to understand..."
-Last transmission of Felix De la Lumière, Chairman of the De la Lumière Company, aboard the spacecraft Q.R.S. Somnium.
In the murky prehistory of the 23st Century, human researchers developed a process by which material could be extracted from the core of their sun. After many billions of dollars and yen and decades of often lethal experiments, solar material was successfully used to produce fusion power; the scientists in effect growing a miniature star. The solar material was for a short time used simply as a source of electricity, a role which it filled with startling efficiency. As the research progressed, other properties of the material became apparent. An unexpectedly strong attraction between pieces of the material; an immunity to various Newtonian laws, and a defiance of most relativistic ones; and most of all, the frightening psychological effects on those working with it.
A theory was put forward stating that by equipping small particles of this material, a spacecraft would be able to circumvent the Speed of Light, thus allowing humanity to escape from the clutches of their star. Experiments beyond the comprehension of modern science occurred at breakneck pace. International conglomerates, coalitions, and cabals funneled the fortunes of their world into the project. Spaceships swarmed around the sun with probing devices, extraction devices, tearing its surface as if with scalpels and razors.
Finally, the project reached its conclusion. Metric ton after ton of solar material was extracted, treated, refined into what could be used as something between fuel and a key; later generations would call it, reverently and fearfully, Solaria. The researchers called it success.
The price of their success, however, was far greater than all but the darkest scenarios predicted. There is no record of exactly what occurred, or when, or how; if there is any evidence remaining, it is nothing we could understand. Where such knowledge is not contraband, it is considered common knowledge that the Solar System no longer exists. It is not scientific knowledge, because we do not even know what part of the sky to search for our lost home; it is ancestral knowledge, passed down from the earliest generations, the ones who fled in their Solaria-powered starships into the void.
That's who we are, child. Refugees. Orphans, lost in the black. But don't you listen to the state-sponsored storytellers, don't read the posters. We're not human anymore. We're not the innocents, because that's not who we're descended from. No. Our ancestors are the ones who did it. We're descended from the men and women who doomed the rest of their species. The ones who killed the sun. The ones who spent years prodding its corpse, carrying it in their ships. That's why your fingers look like that. That's why you have those dreams. Now do you understand?
-[redacted], transcribed by [redacted]. Found in [redacted]. Filed for destruction.
The Mod
Instead of a vast empire of aliens, in Solaria you lead a beleaguered nation of human(ish) survivors. Your past is a mystery, your people are hopeful, your ships are powered by mutilated pieces of a dead star. The galaxy is your picnic.
Of course, development is going to be pretty simple at first. Custom nations, whatever custom portraits I can make/get my slimy hands on, some flavor text. From there events, more events, alien powers, very ominous alien powers, maybe traits, more portraits, more flavor, UI flavor, techs, diplomacy, flavor, wash, rinse, etc. Long term, an interstellar cult system, a fuel system, maybe ship designs and models. But that's as may be.
As I'm writing this the game isn't even quite released, so I don't want to promise too much. Actually, I don't want to promise anything. But I'll be tinkering on this in my free time, and if any modder-type folks out there are interested in lending a hand, hit me up.
The Players
Our post-human prima donnas have the following attributes:
Name: Homo Sapiens Solis
(Informally, Solarians; informally and arguably incorrectly, Humans)
Traits: Quick Learners, Nomadic, Natural Physicists, Slow Breeders
FTL: Warp (Solaria powered)
Portraits: Human ones. But not the vanilla ones. I promise.
Planet preference: (I actually want to have this on a nation-by-nation level; I'm pretty sure I can do that)
Our cast of nations is made up of:
The Summer State
A mostly idyllic country made up of philosophers, farmers, and farmer-philosophers. Ruled by the Princes and Princesses of the unbroken Emry dynasty, which is said to have existed since the first off-Earth generation and be to sired by a goddess, besides. Detractors call them backwards; the Summerers call themselves happy.
Government: Enlightened Monarchy
Ethics: Pacifist, Spiritualist, Xenophobe
Leader: Prince Dovellio Emry
Homeworld: Paradiso, Orpheus System
Homeworld Class: Tropical
Pan Aleksandr
A nation forged in the image of one man: Alexander the Great. History being what it is, very little memory remains here of the original Alexander; in fact, discussion of Earth in general is mostly illegal. No, in the Pan there is only one Aleksandr: the one peering down at you from the billboards and television screens.
Government: Divine Mandate
Ethics: Militarist, Spiritualist, Xenophobe
Leader: Aleksandr (no, there is no title; He does not require one)
Homeworld: Aleksandria-Ammon, Ammon System
Homeworld Class: Arid
The Zodiac Group
How much can money buy? Anything, dear. Zodiac is somewhere between a corporate state and a libertarian utopia; that is, a libertarian corporation. Laws here exist to protect property and those who own it, nothing more. The people here enjoy complete social freedom, although all products ultimately come from Zodiac itself. Even utopia, if you can afford it.
Government: Plutocracy
Ethics: Individualist, Materialist, Xenophile
Leader: Director Miyako Rand
Homeworld: Cáichan, Atlas System
Homeworld Class: Ocean
Azādi Jāvedān
"Eternal Freedom." From history, and maybe from destiny. On 23rd Century Earth they had been a small, persecuted Iranian sect. One way or another, their ancestors made the escape to the stars. A community of zealots and geniuses, pilgrims in a dark new universe with only their conviction to light the way. Have they ever stopped running?
Government: Theocratic Democracy
Ethics: Individualist 2, Spiritualist
Leader: Speaker Zahra Shereen
Homeworld: Shahrazad, Khayyam System
Homeworld Class: Tundra
New Earth Repúblicas
Here, at least, is one nation where the memory of Earth sits on a pedestal. Many of Earth's values do as well, or at least those of the last centuries: democracy, liberty, human rights. Bureaucratic infighting, specters of racism. Even the Catholic Church. Yes, if you're looking for that old world charm, you want the Repúblicas.
Government: Indirect Democracy
Ethics: Individualist, Materialist, Pacifist
Leader: President Vincent Rafael
Homeworld: Nova Patria, Aeneas System
Homeworld Class: Continental
To be expanded...
The Disclaimer
Yes, soberly scientifically speaking, drilling the cores of stars might not be a feasible way of developing FTL travel. But if we're being scientific (and sober), there is no feasible way of developing FTL travel. So bite me.
(Although, if any of you physicists out there want to take a crack at how sun-matter based space travel might play out, please, be my guests. Really, please. I got a C- in high school physics.)
As an additional disclaimer, I'm not exactly what you might call an "experienced" modder. So for any of you modder-gurus out there who might be interested, I'm sure I could use advice down the road on coding or modeling or some such thing. Any volunteers who want to work on the project are welcome, more so than I have words for.
Anyway,
Watch this Space
"We apologize for the inconvenience."
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