Astraesto
A New Galaxy, A New Start, A New Home
What is Astraesto?
A galaxy built for Humanity, to rise beyond our mortal coil, and take our place amongst the great stars of the Universe. A world without conflict, without the fight of resources - for they are endless, a world of peace like we have never known. We shall be reborn anew in this Galaxy, that I know.
Astraesto - named for the Galaxy in which it takes place, is a science fiction and fantasy World, that follows the exploits of the Human race, as they colonise and expand throughout a galaxy that some argue appears tailor made just for them. Even in a world of post-scarcity however, the alure of power, and deep-seeded nationalism, has brought conflict in a world where there need not be. Competition reigns, between individuals and nations alike, seemingly neverending. Yet still, there are cases to be made of unity and cooperation between Humanity, often exemplified in minor - yet deeply symbolic, acts.
Even through its challenges, Humanity has thrived, marking claims to thousands of planets, spread across most of this Galaxy and beyond. The vast distances between them solved through Humanity's greatest invention, Faster Than Light Travel. A creation deeply shrouded in mystery, and beyond the skills to comprehend for most. A last boon of The Homeland, the ancient and seemingly unfindable motherland of Humanity, long lost to the denizens of Astraesto.
It is now the 5th mellenium, and the Federation of Anfieden and Allied Planets has grown from small beginnings to the Galactic Hegemon of the Galaxy. It is rivaled only by the 4th Imperial Republic of Jerace, the newest in a line of Empires desperate to enact their rule upon Humanity. Meanwhile, the smaller powers of the Galaxy squbble amongst themselves, looking for the scraps left behind by the Superpowers.
While the existence of Alien Life - in the form of vast amounts of fauna and flora, is a long established fact of life for those within Astraesto, intelligence to rival man has never revealed itself. Indeed, many doubt such a possibility at all, and have long been content to Galactic dominance of their species. Though rumours persist, echoes of a distant civilization not unlike Humanity's own, home to creatures beyond human conception, and perhaps, comprehension.
Don't forget to check the Homepage for the Nations of Astraesto, the Galactic Atlas, and the Characters, these categories contain the most developed parts of this world. Consider articles without an icon to be older articles and highly unlikely to be accurate, or well written
The Allure of Space
Venture unto the stars my friends, explore the endless plane. The site of wonders beyond imagination.
The allure of space, the desire to discover and explore, has long gripped Humankind. Such was its temptation, that it led to the colonisation of Astraesto itself. Across many years, much of the unexplored has been discovered, with an endless array of planets, moons, stars, nebulae, and more rewarding humanity's efforts.
Huge advanced space-faring vessels foster such exploration, massive in size and scale, these ships are each equipped with great engines, capable of performing Faster Than Light Travel, ensuring the vast distances of space are but a small obstacle, rather than an infallible one. Requiring monstrous amounts of power to ensure both functionality and longevity, smaller ships capable of FTL travel are incredibly rare and incredibly expensive.
Across the years, humanity has come to spread across vast swaths of the Galaxy, though the vast majority of its people, and its most powerful nations, reside along the Terran and Jorus arms. Fragments of civilization can be found across the entire Galaxy, with often just a few hundred individuals laying claim to entire planets. While success and riches are common enough for more and more to attempt such a lifestyle, an increasing number disappear into the void, never to be seen or heard from again.
Battles Across the Stars
To travel through that void carries inherent risks, for piracy and war have long ravaged the desolate spaces in between worlds. Most ships carry some degree of protection, but there is little one can do against a determined pirate or a warship.
While space travel is convenient, and popular, it ranks among the most dangerous activities in Astraesto, especially for the everyday citizen. Even in times of peace, where the major nations are fully devoted to protecting their space, pirates lurk in endless numbers. Space is endlessly vast, and in that void numerous ships do battle every day.
Each interstellar capable navy and each ship are uniquely suited to numerous different roles in the pursuit of victory. The three-dimensional nature of warfare in space has led to various diverse and innovative tactics. Five millennia of conflict have led to numerous advancements in these tactics, and the innovators are often rewarded with victory, even when against the odds.
Warships in the 5th millennium are often broadly specialized into three distinct roles, long-range artillery, close-range brusiers, and strike craft carriers. Using a mixture of missile, kinetic, and energy weapons, fleets and ships usually begin combat from incredible ranges, armed only with long-range sensors. Assuming both sides refuse to back down from the initial provocation, they continue to move closer to one another, unleashing more and more of their armaments. By the time visual contact is confirmed by the eye, rather than technology, it has become too late to back down, with a successful withdrawal becoming increasingly difficult. It is at this moment, that a ship may go in for the kill. Every weapon fired is near impossible to intercept, and strike craft are at their most effective when supported in full by a warship. Before long, a ship emerges victorious, though many admirals and captains rightfully prefer the dishonour of defeat, to the destruction and loss of their ships and crew, causing many battles to conclude long before it gets to that point.
Great Galactic Highways
A testament to the ingenuity of our species, and to the power of cooperation, even between our once enemies.
The Great Transgalactic Highways are one of Humanity's greatest achievements. Transportation hubs found in some of the most populated areas of the Galaxy, allowing near-instantaneous travel across thousands of light years, far faster than even the best FTL engines found on individual space vessels.
Built by the Grand Highways Initiative, the construction of the Transgalactic Highways was the result of a huge cooperative effort between the nations of Astraesto. Spearheaded by the Federation of Anfieden and Allied Planets, and the Galactic Hegemon, the Empire of Apalareas, vast numbers of equipment, resources, and manpower were poured into the project.
Five such Highways were built by the initiative, connecting hundreds of planets, and even entire nations to one another. In the centuries since their construction, war and corruption have destroyed or weakened many, and the resources required to maintain them have grown exponentially. Only three of the original five Highways remain in operation, each protected by vast numbers of naval vessels and static defence, befitting their importance.
The Highway ensures our continued survival, and is key to our prosperity, I will not abandon it to Jerace, but neither still, will I see it destroyed.
The Nations of the Galaxy
A Galaxy and its satellites, ready for the tacking. A thousand nations, disparate in power and strength but equal - always equal, in ambition. Deep-seated nationalism would have them believe the Galaxy is theirs, a place for them and them alone. Allies, only a temporary truce to defeat a greater threat, or to preserve some semblance of Galactic dominance, however fleeting it may be. None has ever proven the strength to fully take the Galaxy. Still, the Universe advances ever onward unto eternity, and eternally, shall this species war amongst itself, every new Kingdom, Republic, or Federation merely setting the stage for its successors. It's an unending story indeed.
The Galactic Sovereigns
No known force in the Galaxy is stronger than that of the Galactic Sovereigns. Their power is absolute and without equal. They control vast militaries, with economic and political power to dominate the rest of the Galaxy. By their very nature, there can be very few at any moment, and the wrath of a single sovereign stretches far, far enough that there is nowhere in the Galaxy safe from their retribution.
The Galactic Powers
There is a triarchy of powers within Astraesto, weak enough that any war against a Sovereign would end in certain disaster, but whose support is important in ensuring Galactic balance. They have each carved out their spheres of influence, often under the watchful eye of the Sovereigns.
For the many minor nations of Astraesto, see: The Nations of Astraesto
All Banners created by SparkyTheSec0nd using Armoria
Galactic Periods
The History of Astraesto can be broadly separated into several notable periods. Usually, but not always, centring around the dominion of a new Galactic Hegemon.
The Golden Age of Discovery
48 AC - 2295 AC
The first, and longest of the Galactic Era's, the Golden Age of Discovery saw Humanity's first forays into the Galaxy of Astraesto, following the disastrous and enigmatic Scan Break. Under the control of the New Terran Republic many grand expeditions characterized the period, with tens of thousands of stars, planets, and more discovered.
Many important planets and star systems that dominate the Galaxy today, first saw their discovery and settlement during the Age of Discovery, including Envis, Moneyye, and Avanor. While settlements on these planets initially started small, surviving on only what they could forage from the planet, as populations began to skyrocket, and new interstellar capable ships were constructed, the first makings of cities began to form. For the vast majority of this period, the planet Horizon served as the geopolitical, and economic centre, as it served as the capital for the New Terran Republic.
The Golden Age would come to an end due to the 1st Galactical War, which saw the 1st Imperial Republic of Jerace and Republic of Osheni decisively defeat the New Terran Republic, gaining control of the Galaxy.
Hegemony of Imperial Jerace
2307 AC - 2913 AC
The Terran Republic has fallen, defeated by its own creations. War has proven its worth, and now two nations, once allied, must contend with one another, for control. Let them fall apart as my Republic did I say. Let them break and burn, and learn the consequences of ambition.
The end of the Golden Age of Discovery saw two nations take centre stage, the 1st Imperial Republic of Jerace, and the Republic of Osheni. While both these nations were allied and joined forces to defeat the New Terran Republic, they were ultimately left as foes, as both sought new territory in the wake of the 1st Galactical War. While Imperial Jerace was the superior force, and the nation by which the period is named, the political power of Osheni was instrumental in shaping the future of the Galaxy for millennia to come.
Imperial Jerace
The dominion of Imperial Jerace hinged on the strength of its impressive Imperial Navy, which supported a vast exploratory and colonial effort, mapping many portions of the Galaxy missed during the Golden Age of Discovery, and constructing new cities across numerous planets.
The Imperial Republic would eventually fall, largely due to internal strife, and widespread corruption, exacerbated by a failed war against the Osheni, and the formation of many new nations, during the period.
Republican Osheni
Primarily focused on trade, and political power, Osheni never had a significant military force, and certainly not one able to contend with Imperial Jerace. Like Jerace, Osheni was heavily interested and invested in colonial efforts, though often through privatized ventures.
The Republic would survive Jerace's Hegemony, and became the strongest power - though not the Galactic Hegemon, during the centuries following Jerace's fall, remaining an important power even in the modern day.
Hegemony of Apalareas
3206 AC - 3409 AC
Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash
A disputed Hegemon certainly, but one whose impact remains today, even if it could not fully impact those at the time.
The Hegemony of the Empire of Apalareas, was a short-lived, though historically significant period of Galactic history. The union of the Kingdom of Apalachi, the Kingdom of Apreas, and the Falchan Kingdoms, Apalareas was a militaristic power, though weakened heavily by a divided populace.
Its Hegemony is the most disputed of any in history, as its overall strength was rather limited, and it rarely if ever exerted any sort of Galactic influence. Many minor nations and powers saw the period as a time to gather strength and further their own influence. The Empire's eventual fall, a multi-decade-long process, with several rebellions and threats of civil war, led directly to several smaller nations becoming powers themselves.
2nd Hegemony of Imperial Jerace
3964 AC - 3997 AC
The resurgence of a once great power, seemingly stronger than ever before. Their pride would prove their downfall, as they could not see any nation rising against them as the Federation and her allies did. Jerace's Hegemony was far more a lie than Apalareas ever was.
Jerace would return as the Galactic Hegemon during the final century of the 4th mellenium, as the 3rd Imperial Republic of Jerace. An overwhelmingly militaristic power, the sheer scale of the Imperial Navy was often enough to defeat any substantial rival, and intimidate any who would oppose them.
Their Hegemony was relatively short, their domination holding for only decades, rather than the many centuries of Apalareas, and the previous Jeraci Republic. A group of many nations, spearheaded by the Federation of Anfieden and Allied Planets, the Kingdom of Apreas, and the Republic of Osheni were key in stifling Jerace's power. The Kingdom of Apalachi's support of the Imperial Republic forced the scales of power on Jerace's side, with many at the time believing it an unbeatable power.
Jerace's 2nd Hegemony would ultimately lead to the 2nd Galactical War, fought thousands of years after the 1st, easily the deadliest and most impactful of all wars in Human history. The Pact of Anfieden, and the Jeraci-Apalachan Coalition would battle for decades. Many hundreds of planets were subjected to the full might of interstellar militaries. At their peaks, the Imperial Navy, Interstellar Navy, Republican Fleets, and both Royal Navies totalled hundreds of thousands of warships, and many more auxiliary and support ships.
Despite massive casualties, and the surrender of Apreas and Osheni during the Avanor Accords, the Federation would successfully defeat Jerace, utterly devestating the Empire in the process. In so doing, the Federation cemented itself as the new Galactic Hegemon, the undisputed power in the Galaxy.
Hegemony of the Federation
4040 AC - Present
While many have come to question the hegemon's of the past, the Federation's is unquestionable. They pretend Jerace remains a rival if only to extend their own strength in reply, Envis alone possesses the strength to defeat half the Galaxy.
The Hegemony of the Federation of Anfieden and Allied Planets is the current era of Galactic History. With their massive success during the 2nd Galactical War, no force capable of challenging their dominion arose following the war.
The Federation's Hegemony has lasted over seven centuries, and unlike those that came before, it shows no signs of diminishing power. With undisputed military dominance, a huge population, the most powerful economy, and numerous allies both within the Galaxy and outside it, there is no questioning the Federation's dominance of the Galaxy.
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