GURPS Solar Adventures Wiki

## GURPS Solar Adventures

GURPS Solar Adventures is a homebrew hard sci-fi setting for the GURPS roleplaying system. Partly inspired by The Expanse, it creates a setting involving real physics in the 25th century for an adventuring party of around 150 character points each.

Weapons

Vehicles

Technology

Locations

Space Combat

Human Variance

Culture

## Timeline

**2024:**
Russia’s
economy collapses due to the lingering costs of a failed invasion of Ukraine
and Syria and economic sanctions by NATO. Vladimir Putin attempts to change the
term limit restrictions to run for a third term in a row, but is ousted and
replaced with a more populist leader who promises to rebuild both Russia’s
strength and relations with the West. The United States elects a Democrat as
the GOP continues to lose strength across the nation. Through Saudi Arabian
aid, Syria stabilizes into a shaky and poor state. ISIS is reduced to a shell
of its former self by 2024 and is no longer considered a major threat.

**2025:**
A
right-wing sovereign citizen group holds a rally outside the White House. Upon
being confronted by police attempting to contain their spread, the protesters
draw concealed handguns and open fire. 15 militia are killed, as well as 4
Capitol Police officers. After the 2014 Bundy Ranch Standoff and 2016 Malheur
Wildlife Refuge Occupation, the 2025 White House Shooting results in further
crackdowns on right-wing domestic terrorism.

**2026:**
A
rolling line of entries results in all of Eastern Europe (except for Crimea,
which is still unrecognized Russian territory) joining NATO with an implicit
promise of European Union membership. The United States ratifies a full
universal health care bill, but is unable to further gun control legislation
(except for California, which continues to crack down on magazine limits and
cosmetic features to the point of putting Picatinny rails and bipods on their
restriction list for assault weapons).

**2045:**
Eastern
Europe is fully consolidated under the European Union, with Russia left as the
only holdout. In the face of increasing globalization, the largest nations in
South America and Mexico begin talks to form their own united government.

**2050:**
South
and Central America consolidate to form the Latin American Union (LAU). The
European Union establishes a centralized government, forming a body not unlike
the United States. Caribbean nations petition for admission.

**2051:**
Russia
joins the European Union. Without warning, North Korea fires artillery at Seoul
(the majority of which lands in empty rural areas or is shot down by
anti-projectile CIWS systems) under the reign of the elderly Kim Jong-un. North
Korea is invaded by the European Union, China, and United States.

**2052:**
The
North Korean military is reduced to tatters by the combined forces, and Kim
Jong-un is killed in Russian bombing of his palace. With the *juche* system dismantled, South Korea
integrates its hostile neighbor into a unified Korea and begins efforts to
reconstruct.

**2056:**
NASA
and the ESA combine to form the Atlantic Space Agency (ASA). Development begins
on finalizing a human mission to Mars.

**2057:**
The
LAU, Canada, and the United States enter a politico-economic union, the
American Union (AU). Passport controls are abolished to allow free travel among
North, South, and Central America. Right-wing protests in the United States
result in 5 deaths.

**2059:**
Caribbean
island nations are allowed membership in the AU, bringing the entire New World
under a single union. Fossil fuels become a minority in favor of nuclear,
hydroelectric, and efficient solar power. Vehicles begin switching to hydrogen
fuel cells en masse.

**2061:**
The
ASA performs their first manned mission to Mars, with an expected travel time
of 1.5 years, aboard the world’s largest spacecraft, the *ASA Redrunner.* The *Redrunner* carries
a crew of 20, expected to establish colony structures and stay for 10 years
before gathering supplies and taking off on a slower 2 year journey back to
Earth.

**2062:**
The
*ASA Redrunner* lands on Mars
successfully. The colonists immediately begin construction of their homes and
hydroponic farms for the next decade.

**2065:**
In
an unexpected development, cold fusion is achieved through the discovery of the
Fleischmann-Pons Particle (a subatomic particle that can be used to bombard
frozen deuterium-tritium pellets and energize them with a very low energy
cost). Work is immediately begun on testing and converting power plants and
spacecraft engines to fusion engines.

**2071:**
The
Mars colony project is brought to a successful close. The *ASA Redrunner* habitation capsule blasts off from the surface of the
planet to begin its 2 year journey home. The colony is left behind to be
inhabited by the first permanent colony. On Earth, fusion reactors start to
supersede all other power plants. The world energy crisis is solved.

**2073:**
The
Mars colonists successfully return to Earth, heralding both the first mission
to another planet and the first return from one. Later in the year, another
manned mission is launched to the moon.

**2101:**
Moon
colonization begins.

**2102:**
Mars
colonization begins, using the existing infrastructure left behind by the *ASA Redrunner*.

**2110:**
Asteroid
mining via remotely operated drones begins.

**2130:**
Earth
hits a population of 10 billion people. The Moon (officially reclassified as
“Luna” by the ASA) reaches a population of 456, while Mars reaches a population
of 201.

**2142:**
Construction
begins in the atmosphere of Venus for two city-sized floating colonies, where
walking outside with nothing but an oxygen mask and acid-proof hooded jumpsuit
will be possible. Plans are drawn up for the first of a planned 12 space
station colonies.

**2190:**
Construction
is finished on Sky City 1 and Sky City 2 in the atmosphere of Venus, held aloft
by fusion-powered engines. Spacecraft have grown in speed to the point where
travel between Earth and Mars is achievable within 2 months. Medical science
has advanced to the point where the average human lifespan has reached 110.

**2195:**
The
first space colony, Neo-Berlin, begins construction orbiting Jupiter using a
Stanford Torus design.

**2201:**
With
the advances in space colonization, very similar geodesic domes and underground
tunnels allow for the first permanent human habitation of Antarctica and the
North Pole.

**2209:**
Neo-Berlin
is completed and used as a base for the colonization of Io. It is established
with a population of 2,500.

**2210:**
The
first Io colony is established with a population of 40, regularly resupplied by
spacecraft from Neo-Berlin. Luna reaches a population of 2,500, Mars reaches a
population of 40,000, Venus reaches a population of 500,000, and Earth reaches
a population of 11 billion.

**2249:**
The
International Colony System begins construction in a far orbit around Earth,
intended to ease the burden of housing on the planet. Each of the 10 Bernal
Sphere space stations is expected to maintain a capacity of 20,000 people.

**2250:**
The
first manned mission to Pluto commences. As it will take approximately 10 years
to reach, the vessel (the *ASA Disney*)
is fitted with an experimental cryogenic stasis system to test its feasibility
and reduce the need for consumables aboard.

**2251:**
The
next space colony, Neo-Tokyo, is completed in orbit along the upper portion of
Saturn’s ring with a population of 2,500. Cyberpunk and anime fans on Earth
unofficially declare October 3rd, 2251 “Kaneda Day” in honor of *Akira¸* the first media to feature a
fictional Neo-Tokyo, and hold mass celebrations.

**2260:**
The
manned mission to Pluto is completed. Out of the crew of 20, only 7 survive the
cryogenic stasis process. They begin setting up a meager shelter and conducting
experiments while maintaining contact with Earth.

**2264:**
The
third space colony, Neo-NYC, is completed with a population of 3,000. It’s the
largest space colony in existence at this point and features a replica of One
World Trade Center as its centerpiece.

**2270:**
The
first space station in the International Colony System is completed, Eclipse,
and populated with the first 10,000 people. It takes the record for the largest
space station in history at 10 miles in diameter. After decades of political
wrangling, China successfully leads the formation of the Pan-Asian Confederacy
(PAC) while the Middle East joins the European Union. Except for Africa, the
world’s governments have united into 3 large blocs.

**2303:**
The
Pluto colony is killed by a rogue meteorite impact, destroying almost all
pre-fabricated structures established.

**2310:**
The
fourth space colony, Neo-Seoul, is completed with a population of 4,500. Earth
reaches a population of 13 billion, Mars reaches a population of 2 million,
Luna reaches a population of 20,000, Venus reaches a population of 1.5 million
(its maximum intended capacity), and Io reaches a population of 2,700, and the
Eclipse station reaches a population of 15,000. The smaller colonies
intentionally remain stagnant to avoid overtaxing their populations.

**2399:**
On
the eve of the 25th Century, the second International Colony is
completed, Dusk. The colony beats the record set by its predecessor at 15 miles
wide and starting with a population of 20,000.

**2400:**
In
a startling display, the government of Mars elects an extreme right-wing
president. President Julius Renfro declares the planet’s independence and
breaks away from the Earth government to form the Martian Commonwealth. A lack
of military spacecraft with capable weaponry prevents Earth from immediately
responding.

**2405:**
Earth’s
first spacefaring capital ship, the EG
*Hyperion,* begins construction in an Eclipse dry dock as the Martian
Commonwealth engages in brutal subjugation of its Earth-born population.

**2407:**
The
EG *Hyperion* is completed and travels
to Mars to demand an immediate surrender of the Commonwealth. When attacked by
small personal spacecraft and anti-orbital cannons, the *Hyperion* opens fire with missiles and completely destroys the
capital city of Rade. 500,000 are killed and the united Earth governments are
condemned publicly for their aggression. The loss of their leadership results
in the dissolution of the Martian rebellion, and the *Hyperion* deposits a garrison of 20,000 soldiers as an occupying force.

**2415:**
The
third International Colony is completed, Dawn, with a population of 20,000 and
the same size as Dusk. Construction of smaller colonies is temporarily halted.

**2450:**
A
second attempt is made to colonize Pluto, with a perfected cryogenics system,
initial complement of 400 aboard (including civilians and infants), and faster
ship speed for larger vessels allowing for travel times of only 1 year between
Earth and Pluto. Smaller ships (like shuttles) are capable of such speeds that
travel between Earth and Mars by them is achievable in only 6.5 days.

**2451:**
The
Pluto colony is successfully established with the 400 aboard. In a touch that
many find somewhat humorous, the self-contained town in geodesic domes is officially
named Disney Memorial. Construction of the fourth International Colony,
Twilight, commences with a projected completion date of 2453.

## Latest activity

Photos and videos are a great way to add visuals to your wiki. Add one below!

File:Placeholder