(because there can never be too many of these LPs)
Let’s Play Aurora: Divided HumanityIn August 2025, an experimental deep borehole drilled in the Altiplano in the High Andes struck an unusual geological formation of extraordinary density at a depth of over five kilometers below ground. Six weeks later, the first mineral samples extracted from the borehole were flown to the University of San Andres, where it was discovered that these new minerals did not fully obey the laws of known physics. Termed “Trans-Newtonian” (TN) minerals, they existed only partially in our universe, and in sufficient mass could alter the laws of physics around them.
The publishing of these discoveries sent shockwaves around the world, and governments and corporations alike were quick to grasp the possibilities that TN minerals offered. In particular, hydrogen-infused Sorium (termed HiSor) offered a completely clean energy source that promised to end the looming energy crisis. The TN revolution spread like wildfire, and by 2027 nearly a quarter of all academic papers published dealt with TN phenomena or applications in one way or another.
However, the greatest outcome of the TN revolution was undoubtedly in the area of spaceflight: the incredible energy density of HiSor fuel and duranium hulls which reduced the effective mass of a spaceship allowed viable and even cheap interplanetary travel and colonization. This was further boosted by the discovery of TN minerals on other planetary bodies by further borehole operations. The period from 2035-2065 is now remembered as the First Golden Age of colonization, with colonies being established on Luna, Mars, Mercury and the Galilean Moons of Jupiter. TN minerals also allowed instant (faster-than-light) communications between these colonies and Earth through the ansible, invented in 2041.
However, the power of TN minerals did not solely extend to the scientific and industrial spheres. In July 2057, following a period of increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea launched eleven nuclear-armed ICBMs at Japan. All eleven were shot down within one minute of launching by a then-secret network of meson cannons by Japan. While some countries later criticized the Japanese for being the first to employ TN technology in weapons (although several nations had secretly done so by then), the clearly defensive nature of their actions kept global opinion on their side. Invasions by Chinese and joint American-South Korean forces rolled over North Korea, leaving a tense frontline between the two along the mountains of North Korea.
The Second Korean Crisis was resolved at the Busan conference, where the terms were that China would allow South Korea to annex the North if all US forces and bases were to be removed from Korea, along with the dissolution of the military alliance with the US. While the backroom dealings at that conference are unfortunately lost to history, it is known that the Chinese were able to achieve such favorable terms owing to the far greater number of Chinese troops in theater as compared to the American and South Koreans. For those wise enough to recognize it, it was the implicit acknowledgement that war between the nuclear powers was no longer unthinkable.
The nuclear powers of the world began clandestine research into TN missile technologies with haste, hoping to make their arsenals relevant again. This was complicated by the far greater speeds at which TN missiles were able to travel compared to their conventional counterparts, cutting down the decision-making time of a country under nuclear attack from fifteen minutes to as little as ten seconds. To circumvent this, many nations turned to automation to reduce response times, at the risk of cutting human leaders out of the loop entirely. Russia was the first nuclear power to announce an ‘automatic second-strike’ policy, turning over its launch systems to automated mode instantly if a TN missile launch was detected anywhere in the world. Other nations followed suit quickly: by 2067 all known nuclear powers had some version of this policy in effect, with thousands of new TN missiles pointed at their rivals across the globe. Only diplomatic treaties that prevented the placement of TN weapons in outer space limited the extent of this arms race.
Finally, at 20:31:28 UTC on the 4th of March, 2071, the nations of Earth launched all their TN nuclear missiles in what is now known as the Last World War. The aggressor or cause of this war is also lost to history, but as there were no significant international tensions or crises in the weeks before, it is commonly theorized that a false alarm triggered the automated second strike of one of the nuclear powers, leading all of them to instantly launch their missiles in retaliation. Within a minute, nuclear detonations in the thousands blanketed Earth’s continents, killing at least five billion instantly and kicking off a nuclear winter that plunged Earth into the darkness of a new ice age. Another three billion would die in less than a month from radiation poisoning. Two minutes later, a salvo of twenty TN missiles would hit Luna, targeted at the various substantial national colonies on that body and killing a further thirty million there. Less than two million would survive the devastation of the Earth, being those lucky enough to make it aboard the few relief ships sent from Luna.
The sudden and total loss of Earth would also cripple the survivors of humanity. By 2071, Mars, Luna, Ganymede, Europa and Io were fully terraformed with atmospheres capable of supporting human life, but the vast majority of industrial infrastructure and research capability was still located on Earth and subsequently lost. With no resupply from Earth, the numerous tiny colonies of the asteroid belt withered and died on the vine.
On Luna, internecine fighting broke out into a vicious, if ultimately limited war between the settlements of the nuclear powers that were attacked, with corporate colonies taking sides as well. Meanwhile on Mars, with the loss of central control from Earth, local governors took over in the interim and directed all resources toward rebuilding and replacing the industrial base lost on Earth before they faced total economic collapse. It was in this environment that the Confederation of Neutral Settlements was founded in May 2071, as a diplomatic avenue between twenty-two colonies to resolve disputes over territory and as a vehicle for inter-settlement trade. This would become the Federation of Mars, with a pact of mutual defense amongst its constituent colonies, and comprising about a third of all humans on Mars. Over the next seven years, the Federation would eventually grow to include all settlements on Mars, with the last holdout being the American state of Hesperia, which signed the Federation Articles in May 2079 under threat of crippling economic sanctions.
Meanwhile on the moons of Jupiter, the colonies on Io, Europa and Ganymede and Callisto were driven to unify also by economic pressures, but in this case more urgently than on Mars. Ganymede had the largest population by far amongst the four moons, and as the majority of those were corporate colonies and colonies of the minor powers on Earth, there was little cause for political fighting. The Galilean Satellite Alliance was formed in July 2071, and from its inception encompassed nearly 80% of the population of the moons, with the remainder quickly joining. The last holdout, the corporate colony of BHP-Io, joined the Alliance after a worker’s revolt in December 2076.
In July 2088, the Federation of Mars launched the first voidship purpose-built for war, the cruiser Polemos. She immediately set course for Luna, and there her captain delivered an ultimatum from the Martian Senate: cease the civil war on Luna and join the Federation, or the Federation would ‘intervene’ to stop the conflict. Under the implicit threat of orbital bombardment, the Lunar colonies agreed to a ceasefire and joined the Federation of Mars.
The Polemos Incident, as it is known today, had several far-reaching effects on Sol politics. The tiny mining colonies of Mercury petitioned to join the Federation in exchange for economic aid, while the then-independent Republic of Titan joined the Alliance, which was renamed the Outer Systems Republic. The Republic immediately began a crash-shipbuilding programme, focused on cheap and numerous gunboats. The Federation meanwhile, maintained that it would not use the threat of force to compel other polities to join, and that the Polemos Incident was solely motivated by humanitarian concerns to limit casualties so as to preserve what remained of humanity.
For the last decade, the Outer Systems Republic and the Federation of Mars have struck a balance between military expenditure and industrial expansion, neither side willing to be the aggressor in another war.
In December 2099, with the launch of the geological survey ships RVS Andes and FNS James Hutton, both powers have signaled their intent to expand into the unclaimed and unpopulated areas of Sol, to colonize rather than rebuild, to once again spread humanity across the cosmos. Both powers have stated their desire to unite what remains of humanity, but resist being absorbed by the other. Whether the unification of humanity occurs by words or force – or if humanity will survive the latter – remains to be seen…
StructureThis will be a narrative LP, where you (the readers) submit orders for one side, and I control the other. Orders will be divided into Strategic Orders, covering what your side researches, produces and ships built (all things in the population and production window) to be submitted every year, and also Fleet Orders, where you order your ships around (can be submitted in between any updates). To reduce the need for micro, you can also leave standing orders: e.g. use all available freighters to transport automines to X until X has 100.
It’s also important to note that
I will not be designing components or ships for the forum side. This is because I don’t want this game to end up as me designing ships to counter myself.
I will also not be using the espionage mechanics within the base game. Instead I will introduce a new mechanic of intel spending that consumes wealth, giving you a chance at seeing the enemy’s ship and components specs, to be explained in a later post.
Audience Participation Aurora affords a great deal of freedom in renaming things in-game, from individual ships to system and colony names, which anyone can suggest. In terms of characters, there are 4 types to choose from:
-Naval officers command ships and thus will get a lot of mentions, but are also the most likely to die one way or another. If your character is a naval officer on a ship, your orders will take precedence for that ship.
-Ground Force Officers command ground units, which are used to invade and defend planetary colonies.
-Civilian Administrators grant bonuses to the colonies they govern. If your character is a civilian administrator, your orders for production, shipbuilding, etc. in Strategic Orders take precedence.
-Scientist research new technologies and components. If your character is a scientist, your orders for research direction in Strategic Orders take precedence.
Game settingsReal Stars off, orbital motion only for planets & moons, automatic and political promotions on, precursors and swarm on, invaders off, inexperienced fleet penalties off, maintenance on, no auto jump gates. NPR settings are secret.
House rules-NO MISSILES! Owing to the destruction wrought by TN missiles both sides have signed a treaty to never use missile technologies again.
-No more than 2 DSTS per body. You can build more of course, but any beyond the second have to be shipped to another colony.
-Infrastructure will be converted 1 to 1 for underground infrastructure if unloaded at an asteroid. This is because I think that underground infrastructure is too limited and expensive in the base game.
-Financial Centers can be moved at one FC per standard cargo hold. Seeing as you’ll probably need to build them to keep up with intel spending.
Choice of FactionBoth factions start out with equal amounts of population (500mil), equal installations of every kind, equal amounts of starting minerals, approximately equal immediately minable minerals (about 1.5 times homeworld minerals) and research done (except weapons techs). However, their fleets differ greatly in armament and doctrine.
The
Federation of Mars controls Mars, Luna and Mercury. Mars is their capital and home to all research, industry and shipyards, while Luna is a mining and financial powerhouse. Mercury is a small mining colony that is still in the process of being terraformed.
A vote for the Federation is a vote for cruisers, destroyers and frigates wielding particle beams and gauss cannons.The
Outer Systems Republic controls Ganymede, Europa, Io, Callisto and Titan. Ganymede is their capital and home to industry and shipyards, Europa is their research and financial nexus, Io is the mining breadbasket and the least populous, Callisto is their fleet maintenance base. Titan is home to a small amount of mining and is also being terraformed.
A vote for the Republic is a vote for gunboats, carriers and escort destroyers armed with meson cannons and railguns.So vote for which faction we will be playing!
Poll
9 (37.5%)
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Topic: Let's Play Aurora: Divided Humanity (Read 18251 times)