The jump that changed the course of Humanity.
In 2271, after ten years investigating the space anomaly in Sol System known as the Neso Triangle, scientist and explorer Nick Croshaw became the first known Human to traverse a jump point and enter a new star system. As a tribute to his monumental accomplishment, the system he discovered would come to bear his name.
The aftermath was a different matter. While Humans had figured out how to reach the stars, they were still struggling with how to inhabit them. It was a contentious hundred years between Croshaw’s discovery and when a planet in the system was terraformed. Lacking an organization to oversee expansion into the system created a plethora of issues. At first, a number of private and state-owned terraforming companies raced into Croshaw to lay claim to its planets. None of them succeeded. Each company had failed to calculate exactly how expensive it would be to continually transport supplies to maintain their operations. It was obvious that a cohesive Human response was needed, but instead of focusing on a solution, countries and corporations squabbled over how land rights and mineral resources should be divided once terraforming was complete.
At the same time, there was still a good deal of fear and danger around inter-system travel. Many people who entered the jump point between Croshaw and Sol vanished. With jump drive technology still in its infancy, ships had to be manually piloted between the two systems. Out of this, a new breed of pilot was born. Nicknamed “Jumpers,” these pilots sold themselves as the only reliable way to get between the two systems, and charged handsomely for their services. It was only after flight assisted navdrives were able to utilize the recorded flight paths through the jump points that “Jumpers” changed their focus to discovering new jump points, making them the forefathers of the “NavJumpers” that still exist today.
Amidst all the chaos and confusion, a committee appointed by the World Summit, a gathering of Earth’s leaders, finally took control of expansion into the Croshaw System. The committee organized resources from various countries and companies to tackle the terraforming of Croshaw II and Croshaw III, established a lottery to grant land and mineral rights once the process was complete, and most importantly, figured out how to pay for it all.
The committee’s masterstroke was the Freeman Act, a piece of legislation that helped fund the terraforming of Croshaw while also populating it through the sale of one-way tickets. Not only were people buying passage aboard government-subsidized shuttles, they were guaranteed a place to live on the new planet. Sales were slow at first. While the public had acclimated to the notion of living on another planet, the thought of living in a new system entirely proved to be a truly scary concept. Intensive marketing initiatives and firsthand accounts from the developing system eased their fears and gradually got the public excited at the prospect. The influx of ticket sales kept the committee’s terraforming fund solvent and created an entire class of people who counted down the days until they could start a new life as Humanity’s first interstellar settlers.
The committee’s successful stewardship of Croshaw convinced Humanity’s leaders that a cohesive voice and vision was needed to aid our ascension out to the stars. In 2380, the World Summit ended with a historic announcement that created the United Nations of Earth (UNE). For the first time, we stopped thinking of ourselves as many and started seeing ourselves as one.
Croshaw I This smog planet is known for its colorful yellow and orange clouds. What makes this tiny planet beautiful also makes it deadly, since the dense atmosphere is highly corrosive and toxic.
Croshaw II: Angeli Angeli’s natural beauty is as much of a marvel today as it was when it was first terraformed. The planet’s biosphere is reminiscent of Earth’s, featuring massive bodies of water and large expanses of land dotted by mountain ranges.
Angeli’s natural beauty does not come without its dangers. Geologists continue to classify the planet as a severe seismic hazard. Strict engineering codes require buildings on the planet to have extremely thick foundations and tuned mass dampers to counteract earthquakes. Even if most of the native population is apathetic about the big one, most scientists believe it is not a question of if a large earthquake will happen, but when. Due to this seismic instability, mining is severely restricted on Angeli.
Connoisseurs of fine food and spirits consider Angeli a must-stop destination. The eclectic mix of Earth’s cultures and classes during the planet’s early days created a unique cuisine. Angeli’s trademark dish is boumbo, a thick stew usually featuring either meat or seafood.
Considered a sign of true luxury, Angeli produces some of the ’verse’s most expensive whiskeys. Distilled and barreled on Earth, they are then sent to Angeli to complete the aging process. Bottles of Angeli whiskey sold on Earth are stamped with a special ‘round trip’ label signifying its long journey. Aficionados claim that Angeli’s light, temperature and air gives its whiskey a distinct and complex taste profile. Special facilities have been built just to store the barrels and best control their exposure to those elements.
Croshaw III: Vann Vann is far from an ideal planet for Human habitation. Located on the outer edge of Croshaw’s habitable zone, the planet’s arctic temperatures make it less than optimal for Human habitation. Yet since mining was restricted on Angeli, terraforming Vann became essential to create a source of commodities in the system.
As the Empire expanded, many residents left Vann for greener pastures. Jele City remains the planet’s most populated city, though its most prosperous days are considered long past. All things considered, it still does brisk business as an affordable tourist destination for winter sport enthusiasts.
Vann’s night skies feature a stunning curtain of colorful aurora, the result of strong solar activity reacting with the planet’s magnetosphere. Inspired by the phenomenon, a burgeoning artistic culture has made a name for itself on Vann. Many artists have set up studios in large, long-abandoned buildings. Some bought the real estate cheap, while others are simply squatting. The self-proclaimed “SpartVann” style features a minimalist aesthetic and prominent use of colors displayed in the aurora.
Croshaw IV Planetary analysis indicates that Croshaw IV is a super-Earth that lost its atmosphere. After most of its resources were exhausted, locals stopped using the planet’s colloquial name and it subsequently faded from memory — a good indicator of exactly how much Croshaw IV has left to offer.
Icarus and Daedalus Clusters Current scientific research suggests that the Icarus and Daedalus Clusters are debris left over from the system’s early protoplanetary disk. Located in two lagrange points of Croshaw IV, the clusters are some of the Empire’s oldest mining fields. Centuries of prospecting mean there is little of value left here.
Travel Warning Before setting out to enjoy Vann’s beautiful auroras, please make sure to wear gear that is safety-rated for extreme cold. With nighttime temperatures regularly reaching -50° Celsius, frostbite is the least of your concerns.
Heard in the Wind “Though we might not know exactly what makes Angeli-aged whiskeys stand out, it is easy to distinguish what makes them so special. Their rich and dignified flavors excite the palette but never overpower it. It is almost as if their flavors were granted a crisp subtlety with age that has yet to be achieved anywhere else in the ’verse.” – David Kurtz, A Beginner’s Guide to Angeli-Aged Whiskey, 2912
“What we do here will shape the future of interstellar expansion. Let’s make sure we get this right.” – Clarence Ludwig, Chair of the Croshaw Expansion Committee, 06.23.2281