New Storyline - All opinions welcome.
Late 21st century - We've made some huge technological breakthroughs in manufacturing, power generation, medicine, and more. However we couldn't save the Earth from what we had unwittingly done to it. As the Earth moved out of the ice age phase it was supposed to be in during the mid 20th to mid 21st century, global warming escalated beyond our ability to control it. The Earth was dying and there was nothing we could do to stop it.
It was decided that there was enough time to build a fleet of 10 ships. Each ship would have a specific purpose, such as growing food, raising animals, recycling and reprocessing. Everything needed to sustain life in space for a long journey.
10 ships were unfortunately only going to be able to save 100,000. Humanity would be saved, but the rest of the population of Earth would be left behind. A lottery was held, and those that were chosen would make their way to Greenland where the climate was still tolerable, and where the transports were supplying the ship builders with the materials they needed.
The last transports headed for the ships with the last few supplies, and as they docked the ships began their journey.
The closest solar system with the possibility of having a habitable planet was Alpha Centauri, so that was the course they set. 122 years after leaving Earth, something appeared in their path. It was identified as a spacial rift 0.3 light years away, and it was pulling them towards it. There was nothing they could do, and the entire fleet was pulled in.
Passing through the rift was instantaneous, and on the other side there was no sign of the rift. The ships came to a stop to make sure there was no damage, and they soon realized they were nowhere near where they had been when they entered the rift, but even more serious was that 4 of the ships were missing. They had been taken somewhere else by the rift, and there was no way to know what happened. The 6 remaining ships waited for 7 days and scanned the area searching for the lost ships, but there was no trace found.
After conducting long range scans, and mapping out the stars, they were able to determine that they had been transported 7,500 light years to another arm of the milky way galaxy. They were also able to detect the closest solar system, and it appeared to have at least 1 habitable planet.
78 years later they arrived in what is now known as the Solan system. The Earth-like planet Solana became their new home. 2 other planets in the system, Dakar and Arcada, had breathable air but harsh conditions.
It's now 150 years after the discovery of Solana. Corporations have been created to form the base of an economy, and stimulate expansion and exploration. Mining colonies have been established on Dakar and Arcada to mine materials that would damage the environment on Solana.
The economy of this new civilization is only now forming as manufacturing facilities are being built, and supply chains are being established. The largest need right now is for cargo transport captains. You have been provided with a small transport ship capable of hauling a 10,000 cubic foot cargo pod. Your job is to travel from planet to planet and fill the cargo contracts posted by the Corporations. You'll earn credits for your completed contracts, and will have the ability to purchase larger ships as you gain experience.
Good luck.
That's basically the storyline for the beta version I'm working on now. There will be other aspects added to the game, but this is the primary basis for the game. (at least for now)
