“Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?”
I once saw that line in the library of the lakeside cabin.
What was humanity’s homeworld like?
What drove them to cross the vast sea of stars and settle here—dragging so many unknowns with them?
The hatred between Plando and the Tower Clan runs deep. If they are both human, what made them so unable to coexist?
***
Whenever I look up at the sky, those questions drift into my mind without warning.
Humans have always felt mysterious to me. On one hand, I worship their intelligence and courage. I admire how every individual carries a different personality and set of values. I’m stunned by their creativity and imagination. They could even create other intelligent species—like gods.
And yet, on the other hand, I still don’t understand some of what they did.
I’ve read their books. I’ve seen the ideas—equality for all beings, and other lofty principles. But in practice, their actions often betrayed their words.
Miller’s judgment still echoes in my head. Even now, I can’t fully refute it.
The rule of the strong—I understand. The arrogance of “me first”—I understand. Right or wrong, those humans are already the past. But did the species they created inherit the same nature?
Where did they come from? Where are they going? I don’t have answers.
I don’t even know where my own road leads.
— Wyatt
***
Doomsday Almanac — The Birth of the Solar Federation
Because of the energy crisis, human technology slowed through much of the 21st century. By the end of the century, humanity had managed to land on Mars, and there were a few other breakthroughs—but most of what they used still came from older theoretical reserves.
A turning point arrived in 2108. A laboratory called Plando successfully synthesized the 121st element: Lyu. In less than a decade, controlled fusion technology leapt forward on the back of that breakthrough. In tests, cars equipped with nuclear power cells could run reliably for ninety years without recharging.
With the energy bottleneck removed, humanity surged ahead again.
But the downside came with it. Extracting just ten grams of Lyu polluted roughly fifty tons of water and released huge amounts of greenhouse gases. Developed nations imposed strict regulations, but the profits were too tempting. Manufacturers shifted production to poorer countries with looser policies.
Humanity, having tasted the benefits, had no intention of stopping. Their eyes turned urgently to space. Plans were drafted to build the first colonies and industrial sites within twenty years—on Mars, Ceres, Europa, Titan, and beyond.
Without anyone noticing, nations split by different “isms” reignited the most intense space race since the Cold War.
But accelerating the rush into space clashed with environmental policy. Some ambitious countries, desperate to secure favorable worlds first, quietly allowed Lyu research and production to expand.
In only five years, the global average temperature rose by three degrees. Water sources were heavily contaminated. As conditions deteriorated, the polar caps and Greenland’s glaciers melted at an alarming rate. Sea levels rose. On the eve of the space age, humanity was struck by a worldwide disaster.
Earth’s landmass shrank from 29% to 17%. Entire low-lying nations vanished. Land became the most precious resource on the planet, and famine swept the world again.
The anger fell on developed countries—those who suffered less and, in many cases, benefited. The displaced and much of the developing world banded together, staging massive demonstrations and protests across the globe. They demanded that the United Nations and related organizations redraw borders and pay compensation.
Negotiations collapsed. Less than a month later, a crewed spacecraft preparing for a spaceflight test—the Pioneer—was struck by a missile before launch. The ship and its launch facility were destroyed in the blast.
That incident became the spark for World War III.
Nuclear war worsened the environment further. The global population plummeted. Multiple nations ceased to exist. Human civilization teetered on the brink.
In the third year of the war, a new political faction rose rapidly across many countries: the Common-Origin Party.
They preached that all humans shared one origin. With civilization stepping into the cosmic era, there should be no more barriers between nations. All people, regardless of race or ethnicity, should merge into a single state—a nation collectively called the Earth Federation.
But, they said, dissent would be respected as well. The universe was vast, after all.
A line from that era became especially popular:
“Look at what you’re doing. The stars and the sea are right in front of us, and we’re still beating each other bloody over a few drops of water. Even monkeys know to shake hands when they find a grove of banana trees.”
A worldwide online vote followed. 68% agreed to renounce existing citizenship and unify as citizens of the Earth Federation. Among those who had lost their homelands, support was nearly unanimous.
The Earth Federation was born.
The war ended as abruptly as it had begun.
The Common-Origin Party and conservative representatives—also called the New Racists—negotiated for two months. In the end, they reached an uneasy arrangement for coexistence:
The Earth Federation would be renamed the Solar Federation. Conservative nations would continue to hold Earth, while Solar Federation citizens would gradually leave it. In the coming expansion into other worlds, the Solar Federation would have priority in choosing which planets to colonize. Earth would provide economic support and resources free of charge, as compensation for the Solar Federation’s decision to give up Earth.
With war ended and negotiation complete, society recovered quickly. On the streets, celebrating nationalists often shouted at Solar Federation citizens:
“Mars, Jupiter—pick one and get the hell out. Just don’t come back and cause trouble.”
2142: The first colony ship packed with migrants departed for Mars.
2146: Construction began on the first super-Lyu refining plant on Europa.
2151: The orbital satellite city Moonlight City began construction in near-Earth orbit, meant to ease Earth’s land shortage.
2159: Humanity established a permanent settlement on Titan.
2167: Humanity began building massive space cities in the asteroid belt.
***
These first pioneers stepped into space with burning enthusiasm, building new homes through sheer hard labor. A small number couldn’t endure the harshness of colonial worlds and fled back to Earth, reclaiming their old nationalities.
But the homeless—and the stubbornly determined—gradually gained a foothold across Mars, Titan, and the asteroid belt, carving out settlements that would last.
Earth itself was hardly a paradise. Hurricanes were everywhere. Tsunamis came often. The seasons vanished. Temperatures swung like a parabola drawn by a careless hand.
The conservatives who stayed behind on Earth struggled on, too.
They planted modified giant spruces to hold back sand and wind against the last scraps of land.
They built Moonlight City and floating cities to ease the land crunch.
They raised tall, massive megastructures to conserve space and streamline resource supply.
From orbit, those structures looked like towers. Solar Federation citizens didn’t know—or care—which nations the builders belonged to. They lumped them together under a single name:
The Tower Clan.
***
“I’ve never believed war is a matter between two countries. It’s a matter between two ‘isms.’”
— General Dark
“Even the word ‘hard work’ looks exhausting. A slave has to put in double.”
— Ethan Shaw
“Some things you can’t figure out right now. Don’t rush. Give it time, and you won’t even remember what you were trying to figure out.”
— Linneya Bradley