Alpha Colony -
During the last years of Old Earth, one of the few programs left in place with international support was the Orbital Defense Program. The ODF was designed and marketed as a way to deter nuclear aggression. Being operated by a neutral AI in order to keep power balanced, it was largely successful in mitigating damage from ICBMs by launching dense tungsten projectiles to intercept them before they re-entered the atmosphere. Some still made it through, causing staggering amounts of damage to their targets and the earth's ecosystem. While it staved off nuclear annihilation, it ultimately did not stop it entirely.
Many groups of the wealthy and powerful of earth saw the construction of this system as a means to escape the coming destruction, and coordinated operations to install living spaces among the massive satellite stations in secret. Dozens of stations began to expand with these modifications and provided safety and supply for a great number of people only days before The Fall.
The inhabitants of Alpha Colony kept with the ways of upper-crust society, observing etiquette and tradition as they always have. Education was of the utmost priority since their generations to come would need to have many specialists to successfully run and maintain the stations. Over the centuries, new technologies were the answer to nearly every problem. When the food shortages loomed on the horizon, Alpha Colony developed food pills. Water shortages required the development of h2o extraction. New and better replacement systems were created and implemented when critical life support systems showed signs of wear and tear. The ongoing upgrades and discoveries lifted the standard and quality of living for those aboard the stations and created a somewhat utopian society in orbit.
In the early days of Alpha Colony, the people decided that history and wisdom would be a staple in their way of life. To facilitate this vision, some of the first major leaps in science was the development of the "Other World". Instead of relying on stories and histories being passed down verbally or by written account from generation to generation, Alpha Colony created a stasis chamber that preserves the mind of an individual at the expense of the body. The elderly are presented with a choice when they reach the point in their lives where they are no longer beneficial for the colony in body. They can "ascend" to the Other World and provide wisdom and guidance to future generations, or they can choose to expire naturally and peacefully. Most choose to live on in the whole life simulation, being called upon for their input as the colony sees fit while others choose an honorable death in the "natural way" for religious, ideological, or other reasons.
Hunger and thirst had been eradicated. Sickness and disease were non-existent. Life expectancy was up and morale was even higher. The only struggle that Alpha Colony could not rid itself of...was itself. Power hungry individuals would vie for position and authority constantly, rallying support for their promotion or, in some cases, coup. While the vast majority of these conflicts were covertly and politically fought, armed conflicts have taken place, leading to the destruction of multiple orbital stations on more than one occasion.

Naturally, Alpha Colony spawns many of the best and brightest scientists, politicians, and pilots in the world.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:34, Mon 31 Oct 2022.