The story so far…

2020 – Oil reserves on Earth are almost spent due to critical mismanagement and wastefulness by most superpower nations. Most of these superpowers fight wars against the few countries which are still controlling the last remaining fossil fuel sources.
2034 - 2042 – Most small to middle sized nations lose independence to war mongering countries. The European Union officially declares political unity, establishing a single central government in Brussels, while expanding military operations in the Middle East and Africa. The United States of America annex Mexico and Canada to gain control of vital resources after eight years of war. Many of the still unconquered African nations join in a great alliance to create a new superpower and counter the European imperialism.
2050 – Micronesia, Japan, China and Russia sign the Treaty of Unification in Tokyo, creating the Central Asian Hegemony. Most Asian nations join the CAH a few month after the signing, the rest are conquered over the years.
2051 – The North American Republic and the European Union sign a non-aggression treaty and defensive pact against the Central Asian Hegemony.
2062 – Civil wars and revolutions in South America end; all South American states officially join their northern neighbor. Australia and New Zealand join the European Union in an economic and military alliance.
2071 – 2083 – World War 3. America and Europe / Australia declare war on Asia. According to history records, the declaration of war was meant as a preemptive strike. However, it is difficult to sort out propaganda from truth, as most records are damaged or lost. The world’s population is reduced to approx. 5.9 billion from 7.3 billion.
March 17, 2083 – Allied troops defeat Asia’s last line of defense near Beijing. According to our records, the Alliance soldiers were greeted as liberators by the people. This is highly disputable. The central Asian government was dissolved, Asian territories surrender to the allied forces.
2109 – 2111 – The Middle Eastern nations and the African Alliance, war torn and mostly destroyed by each other and the superpowers, officially request to join the American-Eurasian Alliance in order to bring stability back to the regions. The treaty is signed by all parties after two years of negotiations.
February 2, 2141 – Prof. Dr. André Chaville publishes his Unified Cold Fusion Theory at the Académie Européenne des Sciences in Paris. Most scientists disregard his theory as a mad mans delusion.
November 11, 2169 – The first successful start of a cold fusion reactor is accomplished in Munich, former Germany, by scientists at the Technische Universität. Most states within the Grand Alliance are astonished but scared, as the European Union now has the most powerful source of energy on the planet at their disposal. However, balance is kept due to Americas still superior military might and war is avoided.
January 2, 2174 – President Raymond Charles Dakota II of America proposed the treaty of New York, suggesting that the Grand Alliance officially establishes a central government, to avoid any further bloodshed. By civil vote, the Alliance accepts the proposal. The senate of the new Republic of Earth is established in Zurich of former Switzerland. The day is declared Earth Day, a worldwide celebration.
2198 – Cold fusion technology has been spread throughout the world, finally ending the resource crisis that plagued mankind for almost two centuries. On March 13, the Senate signs the “Bill of Human Exploration and Expansion”, resuming space programs that were abandoned long ago.
September 17, 2201 – Dr. Catherine Chamberlain reveals a new propulsion system prototype at the scientific summit in Seattle, based on cold fusion technology. Her new engine is dubbed Hyper Drive. First successful tests are commenced 3 months later.
January 2, 2203 – The Senate orders the construction of three great starships based on Hyper Drive technology: A space miner to harvest resources from asteroids in the Sol system, a colony vessel to send to Mars, and a science vessel, build for long range exploration. The construction took over 20 years due to a rather brutish trial and error approach. At the same time construction began on a central starport, located in the middle of former China.
2225 - January 1, 2227 – Earth’s first colony ship, the Majestic, is sent to Mars. The Senate of Earth declares that the human race shall now be united as the Terran Republic, as a sign that mankind is no longer bound to the cradle, Earth. Senator Sarah Johanson is elected first President of the Interstellar Republic of the Terran People. Tomorrow, on Earth Day, our science vessel, the TRS Chamberlain, will launch into deep space.

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Good so far, keep up the good work!

Chapter II, pt. 1 – “It’s paradise, sir.”

The first two months of the voyage were not as exciting as the press at home made the people believe. The Chamberlain’s route lead her through two star systems, where CC hoped for, well, something. What they actually found in the Amber and Brindle systems were giant versions of Luna, Earths satellite. The gravity of those things was so intense that the landing robot couldn’t really compensate. They pulled the already heavily damaged machine from the surface just 15 minutes after landing.

“At least we got a set of shiny, shiny rocks, eh?” Commander Schneider said to one of the ensigns. But that was pretty much it – until the 1st of March. They entered the Tacitus system as scheduled, to analyze a strange, purple star that didn’t really match any of the specifications in their databases. It was breathtakingly beautiful, emitting a rather soft light. What they found was two gas giants - and a planet with water.

“Water? Are you sure lieutenant?”

“I’m positive, captain. Scanners pick up large oceans of what appears to be H2O, sir. They’re just… purple, thanks to the sun here.”

“Take us into orbit. I want a full scale analysis.”

The planet was gigantic, easily twice the size of Earth. However, it appeared to present itself in perfect conditions for human life. Gravity, pressure, atmosphere – it almost seemed like it was screaming ‘stay here!’ at them. What was most astonishing though was not only the conditions the planet had, it was that magical number the ship’s computer attached to it. The screens read ‘Class: 26’.

“Guess we have something to report now. What do you think, sir?”

“I think you’re on to something here, Günther. Prepare a subspace comlink to Central Command. Tell them we found… paradise.”