The following introduction and story are based on the concepts of
Space Conquest, a procedurally generated strategy game which is still in planning. Although the game will be about governing entire civilisations, the story imagines how the lives of individuals might be effected by the decisions of their leaders and events that occur during a game session.
Introduction: The Origins of Alien Life
Many millions of light years away, there is a galaxy where life has flourished in abundance. Life which dwarves the diversity and adaptability of life here on Earth. Life which has spread to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, riding on the back of comets, which delivered their precious cargo to vastly differing environments. Life adapted to these new worlds, taking many forms until a rich ecosystem blossomed, covering the landscape with flora and fauna entirely unique to each planet.
Many millennia passed and life evolved, species became more complex, and before long intelligent life appeared in a burst of civilisation, which chimed in a new era across the galaxy.
Each civilisation built great cities and monuments to their achievements and victories in battle against their territorial rivals. On some planets, the warring factions learned to respect each other and united in a world alliance, they prospered and set their sights on the skies and the search for life beyond the stars. The races began space exploration, studying the moons and planets around them.
After many years of searching, contact was finally made between two species from alien worlds. They developed an understanding, shared their knowledge, and thus both races greatly accelerated each others technology. As their empires expanded, they brought science and civilisation to new worlds, and education to primitive races. Unfortunately, the bringers of knowledge had not foreseen the consequences of providing these savages with such powerful technology. They used it to conquer and destroy whole worlds, in their gluttonous quest for power and riches.
Story Introduction
(Procedurally generated alien portrait, taken from IBOL's examples)
The inhabitants of planet Mesu, known as the Mesuthians, are a peaceful but primitive industrial race. They have made little advancement in science and fuel their economy through mining and exporting raw materials. The resources on Mesu are rapidly depleting, and so the Mesuthians have begun construction of a gigantic colony ship to transport millions of citizens to a newly discovered planet, rich in minerals. Our story begins in a small mining colony on Mesu.
Chapter 1
The transport bus' vertical thrusters blast into life as the ship lowers itself gradually onto the docking pad of an enormous dark residential complex. The ship is outdated at best, but appears state-of-the-art when placed atop the murky tower with its jutting, cracked walls and soot covered window frames. The doors slide open and hundreds of passengers make their weary way across the platform towards their dank, decrepit apartments.
“Are you kids okay from here? I'm not really in the mood to see your father.”, Sitia had not been in the mood for nearly five years. Her daughter Kiasosa, the youngest, was just a babe the last time her parents were in the same room together.
The eldest boy, Marvoko, took his younger siblings by the hand as he turned to his mother, “We'll be fine”. Looking at her children's expressions, Sitia felt slightly guilty.
As Marvoko turned to lead the three away, his younger brother Rostu resisted and pulled back toward their mother. “I don't want to stay at Dad's, Mummy. I want to come home with you”.
Sitia smiled but lead the boy back to his brother, “Your father would be very upset if you didn't visit him. Come now, go with Marvoko, and all of you be good for your father.”
The children walked to the elevator and as they were whisked downwards, the tremendous thundering of the departing bus' engines rang searing echoes around the metal compartment - Kiasosa covered her ears and winced.
Marvoko had been waiting to confront Rostu, “What was that about? You shouldn't say things like that to Mum, you make Dad look bad. Don't you want to see him?”.
Rostu was close to tears from Marvoko's harsh tone, “I do want to see him, but it's really cold at night and our room smells”.
“Well that's not Dad's fault, you should bring more clothes with you if you're cold, and the whole building is infested with Gandwort but Dad said they're getting an exterminator in soon”.
Kia's hands no longer covered her ears, her brother's arguing upset her and she started to cry.
“Kia stop crying”, snarled an irritated Marvoko. This only upset the child further, and as the elevator doors opened, she ripped her hand away from her brother's grip and ran down the corridor, wailing loudly.
Their father had heard the commotion and stepped outside his apartment door, as the girl ran up to him he scooped her into his arms. “Marvo shouted at me!” cried Kia.
“I didn't!”, Marvo retorted in exasperation.
“They were arguing Daddy and he shouted at me!”
Draddan looked up at his sons with a concerned suspicion, “Why were you boys arguing?”
“It's was nothing Dad, seriously”, Marvo sighed.
“Fine, but don't lose your temper in front of your sister Marvo, you know how sensitive she is.”
“And my brother”, muttered Marvo under his breath.
“Shut up!”, shouted Rostu, holding back rage and tears.
“Stop it right now, why do you two squabble all the time? You don't know how lucky you are to have a brother.” Draddan was calm but assertive.
“Sorry Dad.” the boys murmured unconvincingly.
“Okay. Now who wants to come inside and have some of your Dad's secret-recipe Zarok Burgers?”
To be continued...
