- This game contains adult content.
CEPHEUS - Far Horizons
The year is 2122. Humans have settled much of their home solar system, with colonies as far as the moons of Saturn. While Earths governments have largely become closer and more unified, disagreements with Earths colonies have resulted in new conflicts and a new kind of Cold War.Presently, the solar system is in a state of relative peace. Both Earth and her colonies have resumed their biological ambitions - to explore, to multiply humanity, and to reach beyond their current bounds.
Fifteen years ago, the Earth Space Development Agency (ESDA), proposed the first manned exploration mission to the furthest reaches of the solar system - where the USA Earth governments New Horizons unmanned mission of the 2010s had been sent.
Thus, Project Orpheus was born. Although a number of unmanned missions had been sent after New Horizons, this would be the first manned mission to Pluto, Charon, and (if circumstances permitted) into the Kuiper Belt.
Two years ago, in 2120, DRV Far Horizons was launched towards the outer solar system. Space travel was, if not common and expected, relatively safe and routine for the times. In order to sustain a possibly multiple years-long mission, Far Horizons was built overly large and for a smaller crew than similar ships of its size. This allowed for hydroponics and life support that could sustain a crew for many years.
This game will be about the crew of the Far Horizons and an episode in their mission to the edge of human space. The ship is presently in orbit above Charon, having spent almost the entire past 6 months above Pluto. While in orbit above Pluto, the crew have made numerous landings. The ship has spent the most recent 2 weeks in orbit above Charon, and no landing has yet been attempted on Charon.
(Note: At its heart, this is a game about social interactions with the backdrop of space exploration and science. While the setting is supposed to be a harder brand of science fiction, I make no attempt to enforce a purely scientific/hard sci-fi vision on this universe. (i.e. I am not a scientist in real life.) Also, while the setting could sustain Industrial Science Fiction (like the movie ALIEN, for instance, or even John Carpenters THE THING), it is not specifically an Industrial Sci-Fi/Horror scenario. I would say that, depending on circumstances, horrific things can happen. It is space, and a very confined part of space when it comes to sustaining human life. Accidents and not-so accidental things do happen out there, and these characters are a long way from civilization.)