Space Age

The so-called Space Age is one of the better explored time periods of Hiltstory, with around 40% of all games occurring in this time span.

## Background

As humanity grew too large for Earth, terraforming technologies were developed so the other planets in our solar system could become habitable. As those filled and interstellar travel became easier and more efficient, humanity spread out into the thirteen nearest solar systems to terraform and colonize those as well.

## Overall Story

The Space Age really kicks into gear when the dominant nations spread through the galaxy claiming solar systems for themselves. An interstellar highway is built to connect the majority of them to facilitate trade, police actions, and so forth.

Shandücha unsurprisingly asserts itself once again as the dominant power, eventually claiming two solar systems for themselves, while the other super powers get one each. Smaller nations, too pathetic to claim whole systems, are not worth our time.

Amongst this development are many large scale wars, small scale police actions, personal drama, romance, and karate. Well, not much karate. Not enough anyway. Let's take these events one at a time and in order, shall we?

### Heist of Deception

The Niiz K Corporation builds a secret research/development base which gets the other nations wary. Some unknown force assembles a team to break in and steal the latest project. They do not succeed.

*First appearance of Mara Rubik*

### Fear and Loathing in Niiz K

One of the guards protecting the base (in the aforementioned RPG) gets a job as the personal bodyguard to Akari Kawamoto, Vice President of the Niiz K Corporation. The more involved he gets in the affairs of state, the more troubled his conscience becomes.

*First appearance of Vanessa Cuarón, John Smith, and Heinrich Gates*

### Twin Diamonds

When a mysterious rogue planet drifts within humanity's reach, a team is sent on a mission to explore the planet and try to discover what it is and where it come from. Suffice to say, it did not turn out like they expected.

*First appearance of Ty-Ren and Anthony Spades*

### Message on Azriel V

An important politician on one of Bastion's moons is assassinated. Needing all available resources available, many police officers, mercenaries, and ne'er-do-wells arrive to assist in the investigation, many of whom have ulterior motives for getting involved.

*First appearance of Alan Knox, Monkey Quigora, Hanisen Cobb, and the Dagger*

### Taking Back Asturia

One of Fortuna's world, Asturia, is home to one of the most dangerous, maximum security prisons the galaxy has. When a disaster hits the prison and the inmates escape en masse, the guards and prison doctor mount a desperate attempt to rein them all in before they can cause any damage in the surrounding area.

*First appearance of Bernard Roe and Ty (not to be confused with Ty-Ren)*

### The Sinister Seven

Just before ending his time as prison doctor at Asturia, Bernard Roe is assaulted and forced into operating on a fugitive, all while being held at gunpoint by the person's partners-in-crime.

### The Wreckers

After a blast rocks an asteroid mining station between Niiz K and Alssyrian space, Vanessa Cuaron is sent in to investigate, where she meets Bernard Roe for the first time, and recruits his help in piecing the case together.

*First appearance of Alonso Wells*

### The Fall of Wakiza

When Niiz K learns that their chief source of power, a planetoid just barely within their jurisdiction, is planning an independence movement, they send in troops to clamp it down before it can get started. The oppressed planetoid sends a distress call, answered by Vanessa Cuarón, Bernard Roe, Ty, and John Smith, who organize the natives into a last stand.

### The Tempest

A Shandüchan scout ship, having discovered a fifteenth nearby solar system, vanishes after sending some mysterious final messages. The dominant nations of the galaxy collaborate on building a better ship, staffing it with a larger crew, and sending it out to discern what truly happened to the missing Shandüchans.

### The Great Galactic War

As scattershot pieces of information about the Tempest mission get sent back home, the dominant galactic powers get uneasy because of what may be lurking in the Tempest system, waiting to attack. The anxiety boils over into a fever pitch until a war breaks out in which many of the smaller powers are obliterated and Shandücha strengthens their power over the galaxy ever more.

### Outside

Immediately after returning from the Tempest mission, exhausted and traumatized, Bernard Roe is forced by circumstance into aiding a manhunt for a notorious serial killer who is striking in nearly every solar system.

### The Eternal Labyrinth

A final message from the Tempest mission drifts back into known space, sparking fear that Bernard Roe and the other survivors may not have been telling the whole story after their return.

### Once Upon a Time in Armageddon

When war breaks out on a completely overlooked planet, Vanessa Cuarón is caught in the middle of the conflict, and has a miserable time trying to escape before the combatants manage to literally destroy the world.

### It Happened One Week

Centuries after the death of Paco Rubio, his legacy lives on in a crime family called the Rubicinos. When Bernard and Vanessa's testimony gets one of their men convicted, the gang rallies to wreak their vengeance.

## RPGs (in order)

* Heist of Deception
* Twin Diamonds
* Message on Azriel V
* Taking Back Asturia
* The Tempest 1: Do Not Follow
* The Tempest 2: El Deguello
* The Great Galactic War

## Short Stories (in order)

* Fear and Loathing in Niiz K
* The Sinister Seven
* The Wreckers
* Fall of Wakiza
* Outside
* The Eternal Labyrinth
* Once Upon a Time in Armageddon
* It Happened One Week

## Notable Characters

Following is a list of characters who have made a minimum of two appearances in the above mentioned stories and games.

* Alan Knox
* Alonso Wells
* Anthony Spades
* Bernard Roe
* The Dagger
* Hanisen Cobb
* Heinrich Gates
* John Smith
* Mara Rubik
* Monkey Quigora
* Ty
* Ty-Ren
* Vanessa Cuarón