Human Civilization in Space

History

See History of Human Civilization in Space (GURPS Darkstar).

In the early 21st century, the humans of Terra began expanding into their local planetary system, establishing numerous space stations and colonies throughout the system. During the 22nd century, humans expanded further into the solar system and began mining asteroids as well as exploring distant planets. The development of reactionless propulsion in the early 23rd century led to the rapid exploration and colonization of the outer solar system. In the mid-25th century, the entire planet of Terra was suddenly destroyed, reducing the remaining population of the human race to a little over three hundred million people, all of them living on planets billions of miles from Terra. Over the next millennium human civilization grew and expanded, developing into a diverse and robust civilization spread over 1800 parsecs of space. The Federation and Phoenix Domain eventually arose as two rival governments, one democratic and the other imperialistic, but both aggressively territorial and expansionist.

The Known Galaxy

Map of known space, showing sectors of human civilization.

1. Terran Sector. Location of the first human colonies in space, it is now mostly uninhabited and very hazardous due to numerous spacetime anomalies centered on the former Sol System.

2. Old Frontiers Sector. This sector includes some of the oldest surviving human societies. A number of the planets have historically maintained their independence and resisted the formation of interplanetary government or other organization.

3. Federation Sector. The Federation is a democratic alliance of planetary governments. To be a full member, a planet must have at least a million people and not be a colony or dependency of any other government. The Federation Assembly is the governing and lawmaking body. All laws passed are subject to review by the High Council, composed of five representatives from each Federation member world. The method of choosing representatives is left to each individual planetary government. Enforcement of Federation law is carried out by the Space Rangers, the law enforcement and patrol arm of the Federation, who operate throughout the sector. Individual worlds are responsible for their own planetary defenses, but the Federation also maintains military capability through the Space Marines. The Federation is currently engaged in a fierce territorial conflict with the Phoenix Domain.

4. Corporate Sector. The Interplanetary Business Trade and Legal Alliance of Corporate and Confederated Planets (known colloquially as the Alliance) is a voluntary organization designed primarily to promote and protect the trade interests of the member worlds. It also provides a system of arbitration for disputes related to interplanetary trade and law. Law enforcement and interplanetary security are the responsibility of the Alliance Patrol, which does not patrol sector-wide but limits itself to an area of roughly 1 AU around a protected world or system.

5. Phoenix Sector. Home of the Imperial Phoenix Domain, an interplanetary empire ruled by an "immortal" emperor. The Domain is currently engaged in a fierce territorial conflict with the Federation.

6. Saga Sector. Located over 1800 parsecs from Earth, the remote Saga sector represents the outer limit of human expansion into interstellar space.

Guide to Planets

Name	Sector	Planet Type	Population	Tech Level(s)	Control Rating	Society	Starports	Notes
Center	Corporate	Artificial	1.2M	11	4	Corporate State	Class V	Excellent shipyards & freightline offices. Mercantile & tourism industries. Imports most food & beverages; exports some light manufactured items.
Mersault	Saga	Earthlike	200	11	6	Corporate State	Class I	Private research facility
Paragon	Saga	Terrestrial	473M	10/11	6	Bureaucratic Oligarchy	Class IV	Imports TL11 hardware & luxuries

Notes

Some information adapted from the Space Atlas series of books published by Steve Jackson Games.