Broken Mask

One hundred-fifty years from now, humanity has spread throughout the stars, colonizing far flung worlds and distant star systems. After a period of chaos and disparate fighting, the galaxy is now split across three powerful supranational governments. Earth and the Sol system remain in the grasp of the most powerful western nations, their efforts towards the stars coordinated by ENTAC, the Earth Nations Treaty for Allied Colonization.   In strong opposition to ENTAC stands the SRU (Sino-Russian Union), a dominant military power comprised of several former Earth nations having suffered near total annihilation in the wake of the third World War. The SRU initially found itself plagued with cultural and political idiosyncrasies that nearly ended the great empire before it even began. As such, the Union maintains a strong, homogeneous society, strongly dependent on the central ruling powers. In some circles, the moniker of the "Union" is used as a subtle joke, referencing the blatant societal and economic divisions that hinder the SRU in nearly every endeavor.   While these superpowers maintain dominance throughout the most explored and traversed regions of the galaxy, pushing both for control, and the prevalence of their government, the Unified Federation of Sovereign Systems represents a third option. A collection of unique nations with no Earth counterpart, the Sovereign Systems began as a rogue colony of the United Nations, launched even before the formation of ENTAC. Thought dead and abandoned midway through their sub-light journey, the colonists arrived years later to find the galaxy transformed by FTL technology. Building in secret, they worked to carve an independent power from the distant Solaris system. But it wasn't long until they were discovered. Fearing reprisal, the system found itself in the grips of a vicious autocracy, the Terran Imperial Confederacy, obsessed with the unification of the systems independent colonies. Immediately inspiring rebellion, the Solaris system conflict became known galaxy-wide, with the SRU and ENTAC involving themselves heavily. But after seven long years, Solaris found itself free, replacing the previous state with the government of the UFSS. While the colonies previously heading the rebellion remained independent, the UFSS formed to protect the system and regulate international relations. Because of their neutral posture, the Federation skyrocketed in power and territory, with dozens of colonies in other systems joining the Sovereign Systems, While smaller and less powerful than both ENTAC and the Warsaw Peoples Republic, the UFSS knows from years of fighting how to fight and win the most extreme of conflicts.   Today, the Federation stands strong. Hundreds of colonies dot the most distant worlds, and galactic civilization is growing quickly. Humanity has made significant advances in science, medicine, and our understanding of the Universe. People live longer than ever, and the standard of living for most has increased significantly. However, pirates, slavers, and criminal syndicates dominate lawless space. In the darkest corners, and the three nations stand poised on the brink of war. Rumors have it, some unknown entity has set its sights on humanity, and conspiracy theorists claim they hold control over society in subtle, yet powerful ways. On the surface, all is quiet. But the relative peace the galaxy shares may soon be violently uprooted...