This game follows the same vein as several other games, originally run on the Spacebattles forum and later here. If you wish to see some examples, I'll point you to
Outpost 3,
Outpost 4,
Outpost 5,
Outpost: Exodus,
Outpost Delta and
Outpost: Outcast. For those who (understandably) don't want to trawl through six threads, I present the background as written by the maker of this series:
In a Sol system, one multiverse away, mankind first spread amongst the planets with relatively primitive technology. The first colony to Mars was kept supplied by nuclear pulse drive ships – codenamed Orion. By the time the turn of the millenium came, asteroid mining was becoming economically viable using first generation Ion Engines, and plans for a scientific outpost on Titan were completed. Industrial production of nano-scale materials was being looked at, AI research while basic was providing promising vision within a few decades, engine technology was improving to allow for STL interstellar mission. Anti-matter was being synthesized federation wide at particle accelerators in milligram qualities per year, to study containment, transportation and first-generation proof-of-concept type power generators. And despite Einstein's cruel trap appearing inescapeable, plans to slowly spread to surrounding systems were being made.
However, a glorious future was ground to a halt, as in 2040 it was discovered that life in system as a whole was doomed. The system was about to be engulfed by a storm of extra-solar radiation of rapidly increasing lethality from a supernova in relatively short order, from the direction of Wolf 359. Plans and technologies were developed, forecasts made. And the end result looked bleak. Propability of all life dying to the last bacteria within the system was rated at 90 percent. Propability of mankind surviving as a technological civilization: zero.
It was estimated mankind had only ten to fifteen years to evacuate, depending on vessel speeds, to anywhere over 7 Light years away from the approaching doom, preferably slightly further.
So, humanity has chosen to abandon the cradle. Three four five several separate Outpost missions are about to be launched into nearby starsystems beyond the destructive effects of the supernova, to be followed by three several different Ark-missions, so that the fate of humanity does not rest on the success or failiure of any single vessel. The intention is to launch a vessel carrying industrial assets, and land on the planet. The Outpost vessel will then be disassembled to prepare a colony, so that the Arks - each carrying as many humans as possible and little else - can arrive safely.
The Outpost missions face a large challenge. They have scant years to prepare as best as they can for the incoming, hopefully millions strong, humans. Yes, billions will die due to lack of transport capacity. Thankfully, the population at large has not yet realized this and is tirelessly working towards building equipment and ships, in the false hope that they all will be saved. Practically all western infrastructure on Earth was repurposed to build the Ark-vessels. Eiffel Tower and Golden Gate Bridge ceased to exist 6 years ago. The colony on Mars was abandoned 4 years ago. The entire rice production of China for the past decade has been processed into liquid nutrients to allow for supplies to the massive cryo storages of the Ark vessels. The (much expanded) International Space Station became part of the Outpost 1 superstructure. There are no storages left to raid.
And all hell will break loose on Earth, once people realise that United Federation leading council has been feeding them bullshit for over a decade, and that all their efforts have managed to potentially save only a few million people, as opposed to the billions living in Sol system.
Conditions at the target planet are entirely unknown aside from estimated gravity and presence (or lack) of an atmosphere. The availability of construction materials beyond base metals cannot be guaranteed. Due to the extremely tight schedules in evacuation, reliability of equipment packed and even the vessels themselves is unknown to a degree rarely seen in the products of an industrialized society.
Yet, no other options remain, if mankind is to survive at all.
Can you ensure not only ensure continued survival of mankind... but regain the once so bright and prosperous future that seems snatched away by the cold hands of reality, to become a true power once again?
Anyway, I'm hoping to live up to the mark set by those who have run this game before me, assuming there are those who are willing to take part?
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Topic: Mission: Outpost 9 (Interest Check) (Read 692 times)