Backstory

Данная статья освещает историю Космической Станции 13, которая вполне может быть неправдой и не обязательно известной экипажу станции.

Давным давно, в далёкой галактике...

6 июля 1948 года на Земле произошёл первый контакт с инопланетной цивилизацией за последние несколько тысяч лет. Пришельцы умело скрывались от общественности почти целый век, пока публика не была готова принять инопланетных собратьев по разуму. За 500 лет до постройки Станции 13 - 6 июля 2050 года - Объединённое Земное Правительство предоставило публике обоснованное и неопровержимое доказательство того, что человечество - не единственная развитая цивилизация во Вселенной. Также было предоставлено доказательство того, что, из-за совершенно чуждого образа мышления, формы жизни враждебны. Человечество больше не одиноко. Человечество - больше не высшая раса.

Погибающая и загрязнённая Земля сфокусировала все свои ресурсы на колонизации космоса. Были колонизированы ближайшие планеты, с которых в глубокий космос были отправлены огромные корабли-колонии. Большинство научных исследований и изобретений были направлены на колонизацию и "защиту" от инопланетных рас. Человечество было больше похоже на моровых крыс, меняющих всё, чего коснётся рука человека. В новой космической религии исчезают многие различия, а форма правления возвращается к раннему феодализму... Последующие 200 лет человечество со скоростью лесного пожара распространилось по Млечному Пути, совершенствуясь и развиваясь, исследуя новые технологии.

Звёздные Войны и Великий Раскол

A few generations of humanity war between themselves for dominance and other alien species for survival. Most xenos encountered during this time are wiped out entirely, genocide and planet cracking having become a staple of human warfare. There comes a time when even nostalgia has been lost for Earth and the yellow sun she circles and any resemblance to a united species is gone. When there is so little little external threat anymore humanity faces its wrath inwards again. Records from this time are sporadic and first-hand accounts muddied by rumor and propaganda but it is clear that this is no golden age of peace.

The reasons why are lost to time, but it was not a xenos threat that shook humanity down. It was that which shook humanity since time immemorial -- war. The vast wormhole highways that kept humanity in contact with itself were bombed on both ends. Humanity was lost in the void and ravaged by hellfire and slaughter from all sides; from all fronts; from all faces. For many decades technology and history are lost and bastardized in a vast anarchy. Different sects of humanity, separated by unfathomable gulfs of empty space, take different approaches to restoring order. In this time several xenos species encroach on space previously held by humanity, even those systems closest to Sol. Far from this center, in the fringes of inhabited space, it is not traditional government but megacorporations that rule. Far too vast for oversight they are interplanetary nations onto themselves, ones without borders and without scruples. For two hundred years they have fought for space dollars and intellectual properties, content to let those old portals to humanity far gone lay derelict in the vacuum.

Modern Day

This is one of those regions of space turned towards the almighty spacebuck. The year is 2548. Piracy and despotism is technically lower than in most areas of war-torn human-occupied space, though the people still feel by and large oppressed and unsafe.

Nanotrasen

Nanotrasen is the largest manufacturer and employer in known space, though not by much. Their business practices and fabulous wealth have garnered both power and ire from interest groups and other corporations. Their company laws are the standard by benefit of inter-corporate agreements and simple mathematics of weight. In 2541 stocks began to fall and Nanotrasen began to fear their days of dominance were nearing their end. Research teams scrambled while the supercorp invested in their military forces, sending waves of panic through both market and populace. In 2543 a Nanotrasen top secret mining operation, known only as Code R, made a discovery in a sunless system -- massive gas giants of a strange purple vapor with unknown and powerful properties. Rapid research revealed it to be an extremely potent energy source, and Nanotrasen was revitalized through various projects surrounding the substance. Plasma, as it came to be called because of its ease of gaining incredible heat, was only found in large amounts in this one region of space and around dead or missing star systems. Nanotrasen became the largest seller and researcher and still hold this position in the current year through a system of jealous guarding and corporate espionage of secrets.

Central Command

The home office of Nanotrasen's day to day affairs, CentCom is a secure and centralized space station at a classified location. Everything about them is thorough and professional, and to date there have been no successful attacks or infiltrations reported to the company newsletter. It comes fully stocked and self-sufficient at all times and is a safe haven for all employees of Nanotrasen's many holdings. There's even an advanced neural programming lab and vast cloning bay to provide excellent and rehabilitative health care for elite Nanotrasen employees! Note that repeated use of neural programming can lead to incompetence, extreme hatred for clowns, and homicidal urges.

Syndicate

A vast criminal enterprise of revolutionaries, pirates, and government-sponsored no-goods, the Syndicate is a force much feared in the region and has proved time and again too wily and resilient to be taken down. They seem unusually focused on Nanotrasen and their plasma production at a level which no one in living memory can recall seeing before. Their reasons why are shrouded in mystery and enigma, but chances are good it's all about money and spite -- and with access to new and rare technologies that even the supercorp cannot obtain, Nanotrasen has lost many an enterprise to Syndicate machinations.

Space Wizard Federation

Although not technically part of the criminal syndicate, they fulfill a similar role. They are a parasitic and criminal enterprise of self-serving mutants that have achieved an intrinsic natural control over many universal physical processes. Or they are a violent and expansive group of high-tech criminal masterminds with a flair for theatrics. Or they're performing actual magic, but that's just plain ridiculous. Only the lowest of planet-side rubes would believe in real wizards. For one reason or another these humans of incredible and unknowable power have decided to band together and use their gifts for evil. They steal, they kill, they obliterate and break out of jail. There is never a moment when a space wizard is not being sought out by supercorporate security forces to either be imprisoned or used to their own ends. Nanotrasen, however, is one of the few powers that refuse to interact with the space wizard federation, and their constant rocking of the boat and denouncement has become a dagger in the side of these magical miscreants. Central Command has taken to warning all stations daily of wizard attacks from anyone who is even remotely close to their systems.

Human Interests

Mostly idealistic drunks and misguided activists pushed to extremes because of fervor and syndicate ties, human interest groups implant revolutionaries and brainwashed assassins throughout the largest corporations with the intent to subvert control and extend their reach to the stars above. Nanotrasen is one of many targets from these rag-tag nationalist hopefuls.

Other Companies and Corporations

Working mostly through syndicate mercenaries and questionable business practices, all the other supercorporations and business interests of the region are gunning for each other and the secrets Nanotrasen holds.

The Derelict Station

Hidden deep inside Nanotransen space, is a mysterious station, known simply as 'The Derelict': another plasma research station of unknown design and builder. The station was allegedly built by the third uprising of the Soviet Union, however, not even CentComm is sure on its origins. The truth behind what became of the derelict station is also unknown, as the station has never been boarded by Nanotransen employees. Any dark secrets that it holds are a complete mystery.

Space Station 13

Space Station 13 is the name Nanotransen engineers have given the Mk XIII Plasma Research Orbital Facility. Mass produced by Nanotransen factories, the Space Station 13 model is infamous for being the second least defensible PROF to date. However, the benefits to its research capabilities have more than offset the cost of building a replacement station, and with the wide-scale use of neural programming and vat cloning on its plasma research facilities, labor is essentially free. Each station is given a randomized nonsense name in an attempt to hide it from Syndicate spies.

Reasons for Existence

• Plasma research, especially exothermic potential: dedicated science teams on hand for this purpose at all times. Since Space Station 13's construction, tighter regulations on research limits have been drafted in this field, bringing up a lot of questions from high-ranked employees.
• Genetic research: Nanotrasen has a lot invested into military and security groups. Those modifications which could give their forces a leg up in both being hired and maintaining control would prove extremely valuable.
• Blue Space research: teleportation technology has been rediscovered from before the Schism. Wormhole travel, the industry standard, is dangerous and prone to incorrect destinations. Existence of a parallel universe of proportionate size and filled with blue radiation has been recently uncovered, and both the properties of this mysterious area and the hazards of the technology used to access it need to be found out. For this reason, teleportation rigs have been provided and miniaturized versions of these devices have been placed in secure areas.
• Artificial Intelligence field testing: a new generation of thinking machine has been developed. Rumor has it that it's based on theoretical human brain designs, though darker rumors say that actual brains taken from unwilling 'volunteers' are used in either the production or maintenance of these new systems. The newest version of one of several available models has been graciously provided by CentCom and entrusted with the electronic systems on board the station. No errors are expected and psychorobotic specialists have been provided for station convenience among the medical staff.
• Secondary directives: while a particular use has yet to be determined for the new station at this time, you can expect to see the station become used as a mining outpost, refueling station, supply depot, prison work release program, or some other application before activation is complete.

Features

• Self-sufficient environment!
• Fully stocked medical bay!
• Advanced immortality measures!
• A courteous and helpful security staff!
• The latest and safest energy systems!
• Behold the wonders of scientific advancement!
• Olympic sized pool and lavish corporate housing!†

†Ongoing construction