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War\Zone: An Original Strategy Quest

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[x] The Galaxy - Reach for knowledge and majesty. (Transstellar)

Will we meet other constellations eventually? Or is there no intersection between the Universes?
 
As a vote update, it is currently a 5-5 tie between The Star and The Compass, with one vote each for the other two options. Accordingly, I'll keep the voting open a little while longer in hope of a tiebreaker.

As an aside, I was kind of surprised that voting is weighted so strongly in favor of the first two choices. If anyone is interested in explaining their rationales for voting, I'd be interested in hearing (part of me thought everyone would run for the implied biggatons, or maybe its more in the themes presented in the last post?).

Nevill said:
Will we meet other constellations eventually? Or is there no intersection between the Universes?
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There is some level of overlap for each constellation, especially at the top and bottom of each spectrum. The Star will see some of the more advanced factions from one of the Emerald constellations, as well as some of the lower tier ones from The Compass. That, and parts of Amethyst show up everywhere. However, no constellation crosses over completely.

This is mostly for balance reasons, as every civilization is intended to have a chance of prevailing against any other they may face. Not necessarily in a stand up fight of course, but that's what diplomats, spies and superior mobility are for.
 
Ill switch my vote I guess.
[X] The Compass - Reach for adventure and discovery. (Early Interstellar)
 
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3 - A Compass to guide your path
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] The Compass - Reach for adventure and discovery

    =\\//=​

    With one more effort, you reach out to The Compass. Again, you see the stars flowing towards you as you are pulled even further into the constellation. Your journey is far shorter this time, and soon you come to a halt.

    For several moments, there is complete stillness as you float amongst the azure lights. Then, six of the multitude pulse brightly, before they come racing towards you. Your hand flies to your face to shield against the sudden brightness. After a few moments, it is over, and your hand falls away to reveal the six stars. They are close enough you can easily reach out to touch them. You can see images dancing clearly across their surfaces, no longer confined to the eye of your mind.

    Hesitantly, you reach out towards the first of the six stars. It is covered in images of familiar flags, interspersed with dull grey starships passing each other in the void, weapons trained on one another in suspicion. A lavish party is the next scene, the partygoers laugh through their revelry as soldiers clash outside of the windows. Finally, you see people in suits moving pieces on a chessboard, Cheshire grins on their faces.

    "When our ancestors looked up at the stars, they often imagined a world where we had all banded together. Petty differences and outdated nationalism abandoned in the name of a common humanity. Science and progress have jumped leaps and bounds, but human nature is a far more resilient thing."

    "When we finally made it to the stars, we brought our grudges and suspicions with us. Nations established new borders and flew new flags, but the principles remain unchanged. There is some comfort in this though; it proves we are by far stubborn enough to survive any challenge the cosmos can throw our way."    ​

    ​
    The second star shows a multitude of smaller spacecraft, their hulls painted in a myriad of bright colors. They are flitting to and from a bone white space station, like a school of fish around a whale. You can see a starship landing on a dusty field, traders meeting underneath the shade of its hull. Finally, a metal skeleton surrounded by tiny machines, carving parts from it like a great ruin slowly being fed upon by carrion birds.

    "I can only imagine what people must have felt when the gate network failed all those decades ago. It must have felt like the end of the universe, being suddenly cut off from everything and everyone. Still, civilization is a resilient thing. People from every corner slowly got back on their feet, banded together to pick up the pieces of the old worlds."

    "Sure, things aren't the same as they were in the history books. Life is a bit harder, things a bit smaller, the galaxy quite a bit bigger. That doesn't stop life from finding a way though. And maybe, one day, we'll reach heights even the people in those histories never could."    ​

    ​
    You turn towards the third star, only to be confronted with an image out of a fantasy. Unlike the space craft of the two previous scenes, the ones in this vision look like old-fashion wooden ships which decided to take to the heavens, their hulls surrounded by rings of blazing light. You see men adorned in fanciful costume planting their flag upon scores of worlds, claiming all they can see.

    "The Empire was amongst the first to discover the properties of the Luminous Aether, and with it, the possibility of leaving our home for new worlds. We have travelled the Empyrean Currents, bringing the light of civilization to all corners of the cosmos. This obligation is not without challenge, but the might and courage of the Imperial Navy have carried the day without fail."

    "The engines of our industry and knowledge continue to derive new wonders for our people. The governors and magistrates ensure that our trading companies provide unchallenged prosperity, while the aegis of Her Majesty's armies keeps them from harm. Suns beyond counting now shine down upon our Empire, and by the grace of Queen and Country they shall never set."    ​
    ​
    Your fourth selection shows a lone starship sailing into the unknown, silhouette of a blue planet painted on its hull. That is quickly replaced by a squadron of ships warring against an unseen enemy, the same emblem on their hulls. The next scene is that of a parade under a violet sky. You can see a great mass of unknown beings lining the street, their features blurry beyond recognition. The subjects of the parade however, visibly bask in the favor of the crowd. Finally, you observe six figures standing under a banner, their hands grasped in friendship as flashbulbs glitter in the foreground.

    "Was our intervention against the Vion politically motivated? 'Course it was, you don't mobilize millions of men just because it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. We were the new kids on the block, and committing ourselves helped buy what could be decades of good will and favorable concessions."

    "Still, it wasn't all politics. The UE had a moral obligation to intervene as well. We saved millions of sapient beings in the Rift Worlds from death or occupation. And at the end of the war, as we stood amongst our allies and celebrated a hard won peace, I could look around and know they'd have done the same for any of us. We're the big kids on the block now, and if there's one lesson that still holds true, it's talk softly and carry a big stick."    ​
    ​
    Continuing onwards, you find yourself staring at the image of a sleek white vessel gracefully hovering over the desolate surface of an alien world. The scene skips, and you now see the saucer landed. Two people stand on the edge of a mountain, surveying the land below. Unlike the third star, this image does not feel like one of conquest, but rather exploration. The ship hovers back up into the sky, leaving the site of its departure pristine.

    "To think it's only been fifty-five years since all this started. Barely half a century and over seventy species join together to explore the stars. Not through violence or intimidation, but diplomacy and negotiation. A feat that none of the old empires could have accomplished."

    "As we look forward to this final frontier we must remember the principles our great union was founded upon. Our fleets are tools of discovery, not imperialism. They are not meant to start wars, but to prevent them. So long as we continue to adhere to these principles, we will continue to boldly go into the unknown."    ​

    ​
    The final star shows you an image of a burning world. You can just make out the shape of familiar continents through the enormous clouds of dust and ash. Next, you see a great starship, far larger than any previous, taking to the stars with great fanfare. That same ship is now accompanied into the void by many others, while onboard you see life continue much like any city you've ever seen. The final scenes are only subtly different, the same ship silhouetted in front of numerous stars, always searching for a final destination.

    "Do I think we'd still be out here if The Starfall hadn't happened? Well, yeah. I mean, how could you not want to be out here? There are wonders the people back on The Homeworld could scarcely imagine, and we see them every day. It probably would have taken longer, and there wouldn't be as many of us, but we would be here."

    "There was a man, I don't remember who, that said human history was a timeline of exploration. Whoever said that was wise beyond their time. Starfall taught us some hard lessons, but we can't let the loss of our home prevent us from appreciating the majesty of the cosmos, even as we search for a new place among the heavens."    ​



    =\\//=
    ​
    To which possibility do you reach?

    [] The Familiar
    [] The Remnant
    [] The Fantastic Empire
    [] The Peacekeepers
    [] The Explorers
    [] The Nomads

    [] Reroll (Select a new group stars in The Compass, reduces number of choices to 3)
    [] Return (Can only be taken once, choose another option from The Sapphire Constellation)

    =\\//=
    ​
    And so, two years and hundreds of threads apart, we end at the same destination. Given the magnitude of the decision, I'll try to be pretty liberal with answers if there are questions about any of the options.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [] The Familiar - ???
    [] The Remnant - EVE Online?
    [] The Fantastic Empire - ???
    [] The Peacekeepers - I think I've heard of this, but not sure...
    [] The Explorers - Star Trek
    [] The Nomads - ???

    That said, it's One or Two for me. Maybe Six, but NOT Three and I've already got To Boldly Go for my Star Trek...

    Edit: Okay, just remembered that this is supposedly an Original Quest...
    @Thermidor
    Are these Original Universes inspired by existing ones? Or are they existing universes taken in an original direction?

    Or are these original settings that just so happen to remind me of existing universes?

    [X] The Remnant
     
    Last edited:
    [X] The Familiar

    Good old humanity to the stars, bringing with it the corruption and wars of the modern day. I will vote for this one since its probably the future we will get if Earth ever achieve FTL. No illusion of peace and friendship just cold hard reality.
     
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