Historical Background

!!!Warning: this article contains spoilers!!!

Humanity had endured wars between the Great Houses on Earth for thousands of years, climate change, plague and starvation. Then **Phage**, a viral disease, arose and destroyed the majority of life on Earth. Soon, humanity's sources of food were depleted, crops devastated and water poisoned. Within 20 years, Earth was decimated, cities overgrown, the only remaining law: the Houses. They had retreated to their shelters, euthanizing any who showed signs of the disease and taking in those that could be proven immune. The result was a world with a bleak future, but humanity held on and made some progress. In fact, the Houses had started to communicate again. Humanity found ways to cultivate safe foods and water. Plans were in place to venture forth again in an attempt to re-colonize. However, an asteroid of the size of a small moon approached Earth and the only way was to leave Earth. Earth's scientists had long ago identified several planets revolving around nearby stars. Humanity worked tirelessly, harvested the best ideas, and developed a plan.

Four great ships were built. One of these is the 'Dauntless'. Just below the speed of light, those ships with about 125,000 immune survivors in cryo-suspension each, aimed at two likely new home systems separated by a mere two light years. Both were the best last solution for Earth. The total travel time is about 10,000 years, 1,000 years of acceleration, 8,000 years travel time and 1,000 years of deceleration. The year of departure was about 4525.

Every 200 years, two shifts wake up to 'caretake' - to monitor the 'Sleepers'. The Sleepers are sealed in large fluidic suspension containers, the 'Vats'. Each Vat contains just over 260 human beings in a deep, stable cryo-sleep. There is a total of 8 Vats per module and 60 modules per ship, i.e. about 124,800 Sleepers per ship. The crew decks are the primary living and working area. They include the crew quarters, the medical bay and the laboratories, were samples of tissue and fluids collected from the Sleepers are analysed. The shifts sample a cross-section of the population regularly to ensure their safety.

Each of the ships has a tactical squad, whose sole purpose is to eliminate any hostile threat to the mission. Very highly trained and surgically and genetically modified.

## The Happenings on the Dauntless (Prologue)

It's July 11525, i.e. 7000 years after departure of the four great ships. The tactical squad, controlled by the player, is woken from cryo sleep by the emergency protocols of the Dauntless. Directly after their awakening, they are contacted by Dr. Mortimer Rhamus via comm. He explains, that the protocols were initiated because of murder and a **Phage** outbreak. The ship is on lockdown. Dr. Rhamus said, that he saw Dr. Emily Jensen murder Jason Taft. Dr. Jensen was the lead immunologist of the shift. She and her team worked to troubleshoot issues related to long-term cryo-suspension and physical degradation. This is done by collecting and checking samples from the fluidic chambers to analyze viral stasis and immuni-systems stability. Jason Taft was the lead engineer of the shift. Dr. Rhamus wants the squad to kill Dr. Jensen, because she's highly volatile.

The first encountered infected was Dr. Kelly Masters, eating flesh from Marty Deveraux, one of several engineers. Normally, advanced symptoms of **Phage**, like hunger for flesh and aggression, develop over the course of about 8 months. However, the members of the tactical team are immune to this new form of Phage, because of their genetical modifications. On the crew deck, Dr. Rhamus again highly recommends to terminate Dr. Jensen on sight. Several infected are on the crew deck. Among them is Jason Taft, who was said to be killed by Dr. Jensen. In Crew Quarters A, the player encounters the first survivor, who is not infected, Rodger Crayson. Rodger Crayson is a mechanical engineer and a hobbyist hacker. He gives the squad the access code to his room (3782) to get the hacking-tool, which is needed to enter the locked down labs. After hacking the laboratory door, the squad is contacted by Dr. Jensen via comm. She says, Dr. Rhamus locked out the squad's cryo systems and data implants and that the squad's being deceived by Dr. Rhamus. She believes Dr. Rhamus has lost his mind or he has always been a functional psychopath. The lockdown and recent events are a direct result of unsanctioned experiments Dr. Rhamus has been conducting on a number of Sleepers in Vat Bay 1c. Over the course of five or six shifts, he was tampering with the genetic structure of Phage and injecting virus into a number of sleepers, gathering regular tissue samples. He bypassed all security alerts, which would normally be triggered, when Sleepers are tampered with. Dr. Jensen explains, that she found out about this, when she was going into the medical bay late in the evening to get a sleep aid and bumped into Dr. Rhamus. She noticed a few drops of blood on the counter and took a sample, because Dr. Rhamus has always been a bit creepy. She gave the sample to Dr. Kelly Masters to run a few tests. The next evening when everyone was off-shift, Dr. Masters and Dr. Jensen analysed the sample. It was Phage, but unlike anything they had ever seen before. Dr. Rhamus modified the DNA of the Phage, so it doesn't trigger an immune response. That means the virus doesn't need to fight the host's immune system and it can take over the host much faster than ever before. The symptoms of the modified Phage are almost instantaneous. However, they didn't have enough time to understand exactly what Dr. Rhamus has done with the virus. They incinerated the sample the next morning. Dr. Jensen also admits, that she triggered the lockdown after discovering what Dr. Rhamus was doing to the virus and after viewing the results of his handiwork. Since she is the Senior Scientist, she had access to the emergency protocols. She asks the squad to collect a sample from one of the victims, take it to the lab and place it in an analysis chamber, so she can remotely analyze it. Furthermore, she mentions, that time's running out, because they are all scheduled to re-enter cryo in 12 hours. If the second shift awakes, there is no telling what will happen.

In the labs, two more infected are encountered. A tissue sample from one of them was placed in the analysis chamber. While the analysis is ongoing, Dr. Jensen asks the squad to get Dr. Rhamus' logs from his room in Crew Quarters B to better understand what he's been doing. Furthermore, she asks to check the Cryo bays and the rest of the deck and rescue any survivors. However, no other survivors were found. The logs of Dr. Rhamus say, that he made a breakthrough discovery, but they confirm, that he has been testing on live subjects - Sleepers - during the last 8 years. Dr. Rhamus' Phage mutation allows the virus to distribute and inject modified DNA encoding into human t-cells, changing them to regenerative stem cells, which could lead to full Phage cure. Furthermore, it could be the gateway to regenerative therapies, life longevity and the end to disease as we know it. However, flawed in its current form, not quite ready for human trials and Dr. Rhamus' approach was highly unethical. The logs were handed over to Dr. Jensen. She asked the squad to check for Captain Fisher in his room, because she sent a note to him several days ago, when she found out about Dr. Rhamus' experiments, but never heard back. In the meantime, Dr. Jensen tried to delay the next shift. In the Captain's room, there was a stain of blood on the couch, but noone was there. The squad went down to the Vats and encountered the infected Captain Fisher and some infected Sleepers. Furthermore, the Vats showed some kind of organic growth in it, which caused the systems to trigger the sterilization protocol. The protocol couldn't be stopped. Dr. Jensen analyzed samples of the cryosuspension fluid and found that the virus propagated itself through the fluid distribution system, so many - if not all - Sleepers are infected. The sterilization protocol separated the systems, isolating uninfected Sleepers. The Dauntless began to eject Vats. Each bay is self-contained other than the fluidic suspension systems. Those systems become self-replenishing. That means, the Vats will fly uncontrolled towards the destination, ultimately passing it without slowing down. After ejecting the Vats, stage two of the protocol will start: complete sterilization of all life aboard. The last hope of the squad, Dr. Jensen and Rodger Crayson are escape pods aboard the Dauntless. They have self-contained cryo bays and an automated flight control system programmed to decelerate towards its destination: Beta Cyrae. Dr. Jensen and Rodger will try to reach the pods on the crew deck, while the squad has to activate the emergency escape system on the bridge of the Dauntless and then to use the escape pods on the command deck.

On the bridge, the squad finds Dr. Rhamus. He explains, that he will continue research on Phage, although he didn't intend to threaten the mission and to kill all those Sleepers. He only wanted to help and still believes, that his research is beneficial. He explains, that the start of the outbreak was that Dr. Kelly Masters snooped around and got bitten, which spread the infection through the crew deck. He found out, that Phage wasn't left behind on Earth. Each Sleeper carries Phage, hibernating deep in their nerve tissue. Dr. Rhamus did not really infect the Sleepers, but created a serum, which causes the Phage to manifest. The serum then begins to mutate the Phage virus, which should render it harmless. However, it mutates the human host. Dr. Rhamus explains, that he will use both escape pods on the command deck himself, because the mutated Sleepers have taken a liking to him and he wants to take them, his samples and his research with him. He says he has to go to continue his experiments, when the Vats arrive at their destination. Dr. Rhamus is defeated and the squad escapes with the escape pods.

Rodger and Dr. Jensen made it to an escape pod, too. Dr. Jensen managed to reset the timers on the crew's cryo-chambers.

## The Arrival and the Following Five Hundred Years

The arrival of the great ships other than the Dauntless at their destinations is called the Arrival. The Arrival was around the year 11,725, i.e. about 200 years after the happenings on the Dauntless. People started colonizing star systems. After the Arrival, the **Houses** went to work fighting out for power. In the end, the House Farland won and immediately established an Empire that is called the **Sovereignty**, which is the ruling power in the universe. Power is controlled by the Sovereignty, but for the most part, the government is a democracy. Free enterprise, taxes and elections. The core systems of the Empire expanded to several hundred star systems that have been colonized and are under Sovereignty rule. The Dauntless itself has never been found. But the ejected Vats spread the infected Sleepers across this area of space.

There were seven wars since the Arrival, which is less than on Earth in the same amount of time. But the difference is, that these seven wars have been held both in space and on the ground. Hundreds of thousands have died. These wars have left large swaths of derelict war equipment, ships and debris scattered across the core systems, which is the basis of existence for the **Scavvers**.

## The Recent Events and Aznari Ruins

The player is woken by Dr. Jensen. She explains, that the player has been in deep cryo-sleep for 700 years, i.e. it's the year 12,076, and that the rest of the squad is dead, because their cryo-chambers malfunctioned. They picked up the escape pod of the squad about a week ago. They got a tip from one of Rodger Crayson's freighters. He has his own freight hauling business now with 20 ships in total. He's running a brisk business running commodities in the core systems. Rodger and Dr. Jensen were found ten years ago and Dr. Jensen has been looking for the squad ever since. Dr. Jensen explains, that Dr. Rhamus did not die, but he's here. His minions have saved him somehow, placed him in an escape pod and linked his trajectory with theirs. But she assures, that he paid for his mistakes and he will continue to pay for a long time to come. He's the reason, why they are in this place and he's critical to their mission.

They are in one of many ancient ruins found on planets throughout the colonies. Other life forms lived here millenia ago. However, nothing more than those ruins is left of them and not much is known about them. But they seem to have colonized many planets throughout the systems in the area. They found many different simple life forms, but no other intelligent life. Dr. Rhamus detected an energy source below these ruins, which he's currently investigating. They are using this site on **Achmedius III** as a research facility. Dr. Rhamus and Dr. Jensen are researching the Phage mutations he instigated on the Dauntless. Dr. Jensen wants the player to directly speak to Dr. Rhamus deeper in the ruins. Dr. Rhamus expresses his condolence for the other squad members and explains that his experiments have set off quite a drastic series of events that have spread across the colonies, causing quite a stir. He expected mutations, but several hundred years of uncontrolled mutation have evolved Phage into a major threat. In fact, the Phage genome injected into human flesh has mutated into an alternate, intelligent life form. Unlike the previous plagues that destroyed our planet, this mutated Phage triggers the limbic cortex - unlocking the fight, flight, feeding and fear mechanisms, but leaving high levels of reasoning and learning in place. Phage woke, learned and continues to seek out their brethren. Also, they seem to be spreading the virus to small outposts and regions in the Borderworlds, the fringes of colonization as humans move further into the distant reaches of space. Today, Phage seems to have arrived at an equilibrium where the mutation has stabilized, though they are still finding variants in their genome. This is, presumably among other things, what Dr. Jensen and Rhamus are investigating. They sample host specimens. This research is highly illegal, that's why they are hiding their research in places like these ruins. Dr. Rhamus knows, that he is responsible for this misery: he created aggressive, intelligent zombies, that can fly spaceships assimilating and eating human beings. He's really sorry about this mistake and tirelessly works to solve this problem he created. And he's probably the only person with a solution to the problem. Should the Dauntless ever be found, he'd likely be locked away for life, but Dr. Jensen and Rodger Crayson kept his involvement quiet in the hopes, that he can remedy his mistakes.

Dr. Rhamus has some ideas that could help negate the situation, reduce the number of Phage, and end their spread. Their major weakness is, that they can't reproduce. The only way they can increase their number is assimilate other human beings. This is done by attaching polyps to sedated human beings. These secrete a green liquid, extend tendrils into the flesh of the person being assimilated and eventually recode their DNA. This process takes days, sometimes weeks, during which the host is completely vulnerable. During this time, a serum can be injected into the host, modifying its DNA, so it's no longer able to reproduce. Further, the serum mutates the spinal polyps of the host, so they excrete a pheromone that attracts Phage and at the same time alters Phage sensory perception. This change in sensory perception makes these altered Phage hostile towards other Phage. The entire process starts a sort of self-destruct mechanism that can wipe out an entire coven. However, to inject the serum into the host, a team of mercenaries has to enter the covens and wipe them out. Dr. Rhamus mentions, that the player is perfectly suited for this job, as he's resistant to the viral effects because of his genetical modifications. Dr. Rhamus takes a blood sample from the player to create an injection, that makes anyone the player recruits resistant to Phage.

Dr. Jensen and Dr. Rhamus join the player's team to get to the ship of the doctors and to get the players to the trade station, where he can find some trained mercenaries. However, **Scavvers** attack the ship, while the team's still in the ruins. They have to go deeper into the ruins to find another way out.

Deep in the ruins they find one of the rumored inner chambers. There, the player is hit by some kind of electrical discharges from some pillars in the chamber. Then they meet the **Jhemm** in the form of a crystalline object, which cryptically speaks to the player. It tells the player, that there are infinite parallel universes and they have waited for someone like the player. They did before in other universes and always will be waiting in other parallels. It's a test, THE test. It tells, that the player is one of few. It tells, that the Ghornath are coming and they want to wipe out humanity: "They come, hard pressed. Their machines of hardened alloy pushed to the limit. They come fast with seething hatred, intent to wipe you and your people from this plane of existence. There is so much suffering on their ships and many ships converge to this place, this time. So much suffering. The pain travels ahead of them through the distance, a wave before the storm. They are many. More than Jhemm, more than you. Cruel, hard and without remorse. They remember, but you do not. None of you remember, a flaw in your genetic makeup as a species and a gift. There may be hope." Then images of armor-clad wariors battling across eons on alien battlegrounds pierce the player's mind. He sees the carnage, feels the pain of defeat over and over again as the same pattern repeats itself time and time again through the millenia. The vision is etched in the player's mind, a shadow memory, without detail but clear in its message. All that has come before; the wars, the training, have all been to ready humanity for this final confrontation. And through it all, you are there and others like you. Jhemm continues: "Correct. You are the children of my makers, lost, and found many times. Your seed perpetuates, wanes and waxes across time, space and dimension, a last best hope for peace. A frustration for the Ghornath, for that, is how their name would sound to you, what they call themselves. Gifts will be given, and you will Ascend. One was given here, the first, and many more can be taken by you. Find us again in other places, like this one. You must Ascend many times before you will be ready. Every Ascension after this one will grant you a unique power, that will aid you in combat. Hone your skills, gather your people, prepare. I have encoded your matrix with an aure. You are marked for Ascension. You must prepare. Seek out the other ruins like this one, remnants of the last Junction. We will speak again..."

Dr. Rhamus says, that there was some form of energy transference and scans the player. He's reading an energy aura emanating from the player that was not there earlier. It's similar to the energy reading he was getting earlier, but much more powerful. He and Dr. Jensen heard the Jhemm speak as well, but they did get any memories transferred. Dr. Rhamus suggests to follow Jhemm's advice and he knows someone who has been studying ruins like these their whole life.

On the surface, they encounter some **Scavvers**. They have taken the FTL drive from the ship, so the ship's stuck in this system. However, when they are on the trade station, Dr. Jensen and Dr. Rhamus will take a shuttle to their primary research facility, several systems away from **Achmedius**. Dr. Rhamus wants to identify other locations where there may be similar ruins via the energy readings. They gift the ship to the player and Dr. Rhamus suggests to meet Scarby Hurzog, who might be able to help out with an FTL drive.