ストーリー シーズン1

工事中

プロローグ

---

In the beginning…

In a time before the current galactic calendar was established, the two central factions on Earth – the Empire and the Federation – took to the stars, each beckoned there by a different promise: for the Empire, it was glory; for the Federation, it was freedom.

Inevitably, there was conflict between the two factions, and from this divide the Union sprang forth: a group claiming allegiance to neither faction, their call to the stars was separate and wholly their own; for the Union’s vision was one of progress.

As the factions carved out their own sections of space, the Sol system and the Earth gradually became the centre of what would come to be known as the Core Systems. As they grew, each faction also discovered a powerful artifact for themselves: the Bastion, the Oracle and the Nexus. These artifacts were found to be ancient, far predating any recorded human history.

With the discovery of artifacts also came the discovery of Quantum, a material found inside the artifact’s aged circuits, as well as in smaller quantities on other planets far beyond the Core Systems. Quantum was a near miraculous substance, a vast source of energy capable of instantly changing its own molecular structure. Its appearance heralded a new age of technology, and swiftly the factions became caught up in a frantic struggle for power, with each of them fighting over every scrap of Quantum they could find.

These skirmishes soon blossomed into an all-out war, one which might have brought about the end of humanity, had it not been for the sudden destruction of the Sol system, and the Earth along with it. The cause of this terrible event is still unknown, and over the course of galactic history the finger has been pointed at all three of the known factions. It is possible we may never truly know what happened to humanity’s home.

However, the complete annihilation of an entire star system shook the faction leaders into drastic action. In the area of space that the solar system had once occupied, they brokered a peace between the three factions. This would be the first meeting of the Universal Council, a conglomerate in which representatives from the Empire, the Federation and the Union would oversee each faction, in order to prevent such a calamity from happening again.

Today, it has been five hundred years since the destruction of the Sol system. Quantum is scarce, and its use is highly regulated by the Universal Council. Though the lives of people within the factions are relatively peaceful, tensions between the factions are on the rise once again. This fragile peace could shatter at any moment, and it is up to the voters of the Council to maintain the balance of power in the face of impending war.

Are you ready to make your mark on the world of PlanetQuest?

Chapter 1: The Catalyst

---

The Catalyst

Report from the 17th conference of the Universal Council: time of ζ Sagittarii 3.32

Held on board station Ignis, in the neutral center of the Core Systems.

Councilmembers for the Empire: Ji Young-Joo, Moira Craine, Gloria Morell

Councilmembers for the Federation: Áurea Adonis, San’a, Elijah Burke

Councilmembers for the Union: Aish Fenix, Haley Nguyen, Mandla Bankole

The following is a transcript of the briefing on the relevant vote for those involved in the Explorer program:

Three planets on the outskirts of Federation space have reported several large blips in their communications network. From the information being provided, it seems the signal isn’t so much being cut off as it is being replaced by another. The blips follow a consistent pattern, which would indicate a conflicting signal emanating from somewhere out beyond the Core Systems. The miners on Vargas, the farthest out planet affected by the blips, have claimed to hear whispers cutting through the static.

It would appear that something is calling out, perhaps even to us. But if not to us, then to who, or to what? Regardless, for a network powered by the Nexus to falter in such a way is certainly irregular, and this situation more than merits some kind of expedition. However, due to the Council’s continued efforts to evacuate those affected by the Quantum fallout in Kepler-7, our resources are limited, and we can only afford to send one fleet. It may be worth sending an investigative force of technicians and researchers, so as to fully analyze the source of the signal if it’s discovered. On the other hand, the signal’s origin or surroundings may well be malicious, in which case the use of a military force would be more advisable if we want to recover it at all. Thus, the vote placed before the Council is as follows:

Should the Council send an investigative force beyond the Core Systems, or a military one?

Your faction contact will issue a statement shortly in your respective vote channels before the commencement of the vote.

Federation Storyline

Transmission from San’a, Valkyrie of the Federation and representative of President Lee

Good sol, Explorers. Allow me to be the first to formally welcome you into the Universal Council on behalf of the Federation. Such a clear expression of modern liberty is heartening to see. As you should have already noted, this current vote concerns our faction directly; our mining colonies are a vital part of our trade agreements with other factions, and effective communication on planets like Vargas is crucial to maintaining production. SpyreCorp, the overseeing corporation on Vargas, has understandably withheld this from the Council, but there have already been several… accidents caused by these “blips” in the network. I have been assured by a representative for President Lee that she is currently working with SpyreCorp to provide temporary backup communications, but that this may take some time.

Meanwhile, we should do everything we can to prevent this signal from doing more harm to Vargas and any other planets. To my frustration, the rest of the Council is unmoving in their decision to only send one fleet, even though the Kepler-7 incident involves only the Empire and the Union. Nonetheless, we must work with the options given to us, and excel. As Federation citizens, I am sure you are no strangers to this. The voting will be opened fifteen minutes from now, and whichever option has the majority will be the single vote cast for the Federation. As such, you would do well to discuss with your peers before deciding. How we proceed is up to you, Explorers.

Stay vigilant.
San’a

Voting Results

The Universal Council has consolidated the votes of each of the factions: Military 1 (Empire) , Investigative 2 (Federation,Union)

The final vote is in favor of sending an investigative fleet beyond the Core Systems, to locate and investigate the origin of this mysterious signal. The necessary scientific equipment, as well as adequate military protection, has been provided, and the fleet will be departing soon.

Station Ignis

Radiographers, Quantum researchers, and extra-Core experts gather around their assigned ships, doing last minute equipment checks. A figure moves among them, stepping in time with the dissonant hum of the machines. Her gait is purposeful, impatient. A flash of blue glances off the Union insignia on her collar. When she passes, members of the crew straighten up and refocus - no one wants to be on Sera Varse’s bad side today. The tails of a trenchcoat whip up behind her, catching the draft of a low-spec Quantum Drive. She surveys the crowd and furrows her brow. So much talent, dragged away from Kepler-7 on a wild goose chase. People could still be out there, her brother could still be out there; caught in the wreckage, waves of Quantum energy ripping them apart-

She inhales, and allows the smoke to calm her down. It smells like home, filled with screams of metal and whispers of circuitry. It’s ten years now since she joined the Council’s forces, ten years since she last set foot on the rain-soaked streets of Arnum. Briefly, Sera makes space for remembering. She thinks of mother, of the fields, and the thick copper wires in the scrapyard. If what the Feds are saying is true, this signal’s like nothing they’ve ever seen before. Sera knows what that means: the likelihood of her fleet returning from this mission is slim.

The lights on the landing platform slowly grow dim. Sera assists with the final checkups and ushers her crew inside their ships. She glances over their faces as the boarding ramps pull up: Keiran, Dana, Selin. Some names she remembers, others she does not. On the bridge, the shutters on the command ship’s windows glide open. The expanse of space beckons, its grim void inviting them in. They’ve begun tracking the signal, though it’ll be a day's travel before they reach it. If they don’t come back from this, she’s never seeing her brother’s face again. Better come back then.

As the metal hull of the command ship detaches itself from station Ignis, Sera Varse settles into the back of her chair and smirks. If the stars wanted to take her, they were going to have to do a damn good job of it.

Panopea Transmission

3rd report on the investigative mission from Vargas, outside Federation space

Our fleet has successfully tracked the unknown signal close to its source. Despite speculation in my last report that the signal may have simply been caused by rogue technology drifting through space, we have followed the signal to a solar system, which comprises around fifteen planets and two stars. Upon arrival in the system, our ship’s sensors were assaulted by ambient interference (detailed below). This, along with increased proximity to the signal, made it harder to estimate the signal’s exact location. Thankfully, after orbital analysis of several planets, as well as further decryption of the signal, we believe our technicians have found the planet from which the signal originates. We have dubbed this planet Mímir. At the moment, we are preparing to descend to its surface, and will continue to narrow down the signal’s location from there.

There is, however, another matter which I believe should be brought to the Council’s attention. As stated previously, upon entering the system the equipment of the Panopea, along with that of the rest of our fleet, began picking up strong readings from all directions. Further analyses of the planets confirmed our initial suspicions: the planets within this system all contain high-density deposits of Quantum, to a degree unheard of even in previous expeditions beyond the Core Systems. What’s more, these planets appear to have rich, flourishing ecosystems, with a huge variety of flora and wildlife. This is again quite irregular, and those in our crew with expertise in biospheres have suggested the two phenomena – of Quantum deposits and increased bio-diversity - might be connected.

I would suggest that the Council send several cargo and mining vessels to our location, in order to begin excavation and recovery of these Quantum deposits, while the Panopea and its fleet proceed with the rest of the mission. This will also help eliminate some of the interference, and allow us to speed up our search. I will contact you again once a base has been established on the surface, though with the increased interference from Quantum it will still likely take us several days to pinpoint the signal’s exact coordinates.

Transmission ends.