Aegirheim Setting
Built in the shadow of Pluto, this monument to human ambition was made possible by salvaged technologies discovered beyond the Kuiper Belt. These devices defy known physics and challenge every established limitation, yet with the help of an Artificial Super Intelligence what was once myth now stands as reality. Convinced these findings point to a much larger cosmic order, the Himmelskrieger have chosen caution over conquest. Signs of distant but undeniable threats have led them to halt expansion and reinforce the Sol system, determined not to repeat the fate of colonies that now exist only as ghost signals in the dark. Some doors, once opened, cannot be closed.
The Colony Stronghold
Population ~ 800,000 - 1.1 million
(800k Citizens, 200-300k Military)
(population fluctuate depending on fleet movements)
Government ~ Scientific Meritocracy.
(led by a council charged with creating a utopia of science and human ingenuity)
Primary Export ~ Interplanetary Transport Network Data.
Primary Import ~ Anomaly Research, Colony Data.
Standerized Loadout ~ (+5 WB / -5 AB) Cutting Edge (3 DV / 3 AV)
Total Military Strength ~ 200-300k Active Duty, 500-700k drones.
Künstliche Superintelligenz ~ Disables enemy ships and tech.
(also referred to as the Artificial Super Intelligence on Earth)
Leisehammer ~ Can destroy a hostile fleet with one activation.
(creates an energy field used as a medium to transfer vibrational attacks)
Himmelskrieger ~ A large defensive fleet of cutting edge ships.
(split between Sol, the home fleet, expeditionary forces, and defsive patrols)
Sturmdrohnen ~ Unmanned drones guarding unmanned stations.
(controlled by the ASI, they allow a much broader defensive network)
Paktwächter ~ Vassals that are allowed to operate autonomously.
(to reduce costs several colonies have pledged reservists in exchange for support)
Up to 700k civilians can be armed in an emergency, with all adults receiving military education before graduating into a full fledged citizen.
Law and Order ~ Behavior is closely tracked but not punished.
(crimes treated as neurological injuries, being treated with medicine and science)
Currency ~ Three separate digital currencies run Aegirheim. Earned through contributions to society, they have specific exchanges.
Werkmark - Earned from manual labor, used for dietary choices. Zielmark - Earned through military service, used for living condition choices. Schimmermark - Earned through scientific study, used for luxury goods.
Religion ~ Stahlgeist - Technotheism focused on science & progress. (created for civic & defensive purposes, it is not fanaticism but a cultural identity)
Power Sources ~ Ätherkern - Aetheric Induction Core Technology. (harvests the stream of nitrogen and ionized particles that form the 'tail' of Pluto)
Sturmwacht - Unmanned Drone Stations Deployed system-wide to provide unmanned defense coverage, the ASI-triggered activation ensures rapid response without personnel involvement.
Lebensguss - Biological enhancement and conditioning program. Started in youth, biological nanites extend the natural lifespan of citizens by over a hundred years, doubling fertility rates and effectively eliminating birth complications. Average family has between 10-15 children in their lifetime.
Lehrguss - Training program that all citizens must graduate. Emphasizes practical, engineering, and critical thinking skills to eliminate reliance on specialized roles in crisis situations.
Faction Influence
These forces shapes the course of human events from a distance. Enigmatic, vast, and only partially understood, they are not allies, nor enemies, but phenomena we are only beginning to observe. While direct interaction remains limited or impossible, their presence is undeniable and their influence is growing.
We’ve encountered fragments of these vessels before—twisted hulls adrift, partial systems long since gone cold. Never any crew, no origin data, or even a consistent design signature that might point to their creators. Just the ruins of something made with purpose, now broken and scattered.The Faded Expanse
A recent report confirms active readings: propulsion, containment fields, internal thermal regulation—all indicative of a ship still functioning. We've narrowed its point of origin to a specific sector, though long-range scans remain inconclusive.
For now, orders are to maintain distance and observe. But make no mistake—expedition teams are already being outfitted. Whatever's out there, we intend to find out one way or another.
Named for Sheikh Zayed’s vision of unity and impossible ambition, Zayed’s Reach was the crown colony frigate sent to a distant system beyond the Kuiper Belt. At first, it was believed the mission had failed—early reports suggested it had been misrouted to a poisonous, lifeless system. Now, several planets show signs of dramatic transformation: altered atmospheres, rising temperatures, and traces of newly seeded biospheres. One orbital body even exhibits the framework of Dyson-class infrastructure. There’s no sign of hostility. Only the question of how they succeeded—and what they intend now.Lost Colony : Zayed’s Reach
Classified as extremely dangerous, these machines are believed responsible for the loss of at least one Earth colony frigate—possibly more. They leave no trace of their work behind, stripping wrecks clean of all salvageable material before vanishing into deep space. Reports suggest the resources are funneled back to a hive world—an entirely artificial celestial body of unknown origin. Traditional weapons have proven largely ineffective against them, but sonic-based systems remain our great equalizer for cosmic threats.The Hexid Machina
Initially dismissed as inert space debris, closer inspection revealed a genuine anomaly. Long-range scans show the object to be carved from a single, seamless mass of high-density granite—unfractured, uniform, and disturbingly precise. Experts speculate it was sculpted from an asteroid, though the method and scale of its construction surpass anything known to human history or engineering. Whatever markings it once bore have long since vanished—erased by time, radiation, or perhaps something far less explainable. Its surface is unnaturally smooth in places, as if polished by eons of unseen forces. There are no engines, no visible mechanisms—only faint, flickering heat signatures deep within the monolith, hinting at a dormant presence or unknown power. Most unsettling is its movement. The vessel does not drift but vanishes and reappears with uncanny precision, phasing through slipstream points on a fixed cycle—as if obeying a forgotten route etched into spacetime itself.The Floating Fortress
Recent telemetry from deep-range probes dispatched toward the Cygnus constellation has confirmed what was once only theory: the unmistakable signature of intelligent design on a stellar scale. The system appears veiled in infrastructure so vast it defies conventional understanding—orbital lattices, synchronized construct clusters, and, most notably, the slow, deliberate assembly of what can only be described as a Dyson Sphere. Attempts at contact have yielded nothing. Whatever form of communication this civilization employs is either beyond our comprehension—or entirely absent. Whether this silence signals disinterest or design remains unknown. Yet even from this distance, spectral analysis detects bio-signatures within the system’s inner orbits—patterns unsettlingly familiar. The structural complexity of the genetic data suggests a strange and undeniable kinship with humanity, raising troubling questions about our true origins.KIC 8462852 - Tabby's Star
Something has begun to grow in deep space—an organism ancient beyond measure, sentient in a way that defies biological classification. Every attempt to approach it triggers a response. Its fixation on organic life is undeniable, yet its purpose remains maddeningly obscure. We’ve designated it a cosmic-level threat, though the term feels laughably insufficient. Ships have vanished. Colonies have gone dark. And still, we’ve managed to deny it something—though we don’t know what. What we do know is this: contact with humans alters it. Without fail, it begins to drift towards Earth with sinister intent. We don’t know where it came from. Perhaps it has always been there, waiting between the stars. But it cannot be allowed to reach us. The latest data suggests it has already erased one civilization—long ago, and long before we were able to listen.The Living Plague
In the void beyond mapped space, several vast superstructures have been discovered—silent, ancient, and wholly resistant to analysis. Their scale dwarfs our current comprehension of engineering. At first, expeditions arrived driven by the same scientific curiosity that brought us there: seeking answers, origins, and some fragment of understanding. But something changed. Gradually, researchers began to exhibit symptoms—disrupted sleep, emotional detachment, obsessive fixation. What began as neurological disturbance has since curdled into something far more troubling. Though the cultists pose little threat for now, their numbers grow with each soul who abandons the dream of colonization and turns instead to worship—drawn to things they cannot possibly comprehend..Rising Cultist Activity
We’ve traced several anomalies back to Earth. While we have no intention of entangling ourselves in the planet’s ongoing resource wars or geopolitical conflicts, we do require data from the surface. There are also several emerging threats that must be monitored as we finalize off-world defensive measures. Engagement with the UEC—or any faction still clinging to primitive power struggles—offers little promise. Perhaps, in time, a credible threat will force them to see reason. Until then, they are not our enemy. Merely a variable to account for when conducting surface operations.The Sol Detachment
Research Leads
Follow-up missions are being prepared to investigate the anomalies listed below. Once a lead scientist secures sufficient personnel, resources will be authorized for immediate deployment. These sites exhibit phenomena that defy established models of physics and cognition—structures that hum in the vacuum of space, reflect in the absence of light, and scramble time perception at the molecular level. Each location holds the potential to radically alter our understanding of the cosmos—or confirm our worst suspicions. Prior reconnaissance suggests exposure may result in irreversible physiological or psychological effects. Volunteers are urged to evaluate these risks carefully. Once deployment begins, return is not guaranteed. (a great jumping off point to build campaigns from)
Quarantine Hive Mind
(posted by Sol Detachment)
"Port Mariana AI is corrupted, but data could still be valuable to the ASI. Recover & cleanse. Collect survivors for study."
- Round trip to Sol.
- Be prepared for combat.
- 500 Zielmarks/month
250 Schimmermarks/month
Ossuary Bloom Cultists
(posted by Expedition Fleet)
"We're not sure if it was built or grown but there are concerns over the attention it is drawing. Observe and report."
- Pilgrimage to Inner Oort Cloud.
- Be prepared for long deployment.
- 250 Werkmarks/month
500 Schimmermarks/month
Sturmwacht Instillation
(posted by Patrol Fleet)
"The next station to complete our Kuiper Belt defense array is ready for deployment. Tow it into position and activate the ASI."
- Round trip to Kuiper Belt.
- Expect engineering challenges.
- 250 Werkmarks/month
250 Zielmarks/month
Contact : Zayed's Reach
(posted by Expedition Fleet)
"Initiate contact with lost colony ship. Officially diplomatic outreach, you should still prepare for all outcomes."
- Round trip to TRAPPIST-1e.
- Requires diplomatic skills.
- 500 Werkmarks/month
500 Schimmermarks/month
Prism Altar Pilgrims
(posted by Expedition Fleet)
"Amid the death throes of a gas giant, former colonists have become obsessed with something that endures in orbit."
- Round trip to WASP-12b.
- Expect extreme environment.
- 300 Werkmarks/month
300 Schimmermarks/month
Contain Outbreak
(posted by Defense Fleet)
"A grouping of asteroids that has been identified as harboring Living Plague, this needs to be erradicated."
- Patrol through the Scattered Disk.
- Prepare for serious engagement.
- 250 Werkmarks/month
750 Zielmarks/month
Advanced Tech Recovery
(posted by Expedition Fleet)
“Retrieve the vessel belonging to the 'Faded Expanse' and explore the planet it seems to be orbiting with extreme caution.”
- Round trip to Gliese 581 c.
- Expect potential contact.
- 250 Werkmarks/month
750 Schimmermarks/month
Signal Anomaly
(posted by Expedition Fleet)
"Detected deep space signals originating from a system that shouldn't contain the objects now rapidly gaining matter."
- Patrol through the Local Void.
- Focused on scientific research.
- 300 Werkmarks/month
500 Schimmermarks/month
Orison Works Investigation
(posted by Sol Detachment)
"Their success is likely tied to an anomaly that they do not understand. Research and containment has been authorized."
- Round trip to Mars.
- Expect resistance.
- 500 Zielmarks/month
500 Schimmermarks/month
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