Earth 1901

In the year 2947, a nuclear war broke out between the most powerful nations on the planet, including the United States of the West (formerly the United States of America) and the Great Alliance (containing Australia, most of Europe, and Southern Asia). Nearly every government fell to the war instantly, leaving only the smaller, insignificant nations untouched. Before the war, the planet had been a very technologically advanced world, and some used this advantage to take to the stars as the war broke out. After the war, Earth was left very changed. Like on Earth 19, humans fought valiantly against radiation and strange, dangerous mutations, but those with the means to protect earth had already fled. Eventually, by 2985, human life perished altogether from the planet. Due to mutations, some species of animals died out within years, and others found themselves with an inability to reproduce, leaving only the creatures most untouched by the radiation. However, without food, these animals eventually died out as well. Without any animals, the carbon dioxide in the air dwindled and plants were no longer to be found. With the air thick with oxygen, fires were very frequent, decimating whatever was left. Eventually the ozone layer was stripped away and the Earth was scorched. By 3002, all life had disappeared from the planet, leaving it desolate.
The humans that had fled to the stars established new societies on new home-worlds, however, some turned to piracy, most notably Jadon Villarreal. Also called the Builder, he traveled far and wide in search of habitable worlds. On one journey, he happened back upon Earth. Seeing the despair all across the planet, the Builder rescued those he could and sought out a home where they could live in peace and prosperity. Only once he saw the horrors of what had happened back on Earth did he turn to piracy. He saw the same governments that had destroyed Earth rising up in the stars, and has vowed to fight them wherever he can. He had many allies, and the governments were weakening, opening an opportunity for long-needed change. However, after going on an expedition to the far reaches of the universe, he found an artifact, and disappeared from the entire universe. His allies still fought the governments in his absence.