Distant Travels - Part I


Hi there rookie and welcome!


The year is 2196.
Earth as we knew it, has seized to exist,
and the place we call home, has become uninhabitable.

Increasing levels of greenhouse gasses from the use of fossil fuels,
human overpopulation, continuous deforestation,
and overuse of land for agricultural food production,
have taken it’s toll on our once beautiful blue marble.

Oceans have dried up
and the few water holes that remain
take up less than 10% of the earth’s surface and
are a source of continuous battles
between earths remaining survivors.

Many feared mankind could well become extinct,
leaving nothing but the insects for them to thrive,
on what once belonged to humans most imaginative creations and technologies,
now reduced to nothing more but toxic waste.

In an attempt to regain some control on the situation,
engineers thought of building closed dome structures.
The idea however was soon abandoned,
because resources would be inadequate
and pollution and waste management would be a nightmare.

It did not take long for mankind to realise
it would be forced to seek shelter elsewhere,
instead of trying to fix
what had become unfixable.

It was clear that future generations
would need to start from scratch,
while trying to avoid the mistakes,
that lead to earth’s demise.

Thanks to some brilliant minds,
the help of technology and the willingness of the people,
’V-Topia’ was built.

One of man’s largest contraptions in space.
but one that could only support a small number of people and animals
and which would allow for the controlled cultivation of food
and even an artificial recreation of nature’s circle of life.

Although this sphere seemed more sustainable,
it could only provide shelter to a handful lucky few.

Those that remembered,
and were used to feel the real earth under their feet
could however not cope in V-Topia's artificial environment

Under the highest secrecy project ‘Distant Travels’ was launched.

A new breed of human explorers were being taught and trained,
to fan-out in small teams and sent to search for new habitable planets
ready for accepting human life.

This is where I come in, as I’m your captain, JRKAOS.
Together we are going on a mission,
and an adventure in search of new planets we can call home again.

You were either incredibly foolish or incredibly brave to sign up for this mission,
as many dangers and obstacles lie on our path.

However if you are brave enough and listen to what I have in store for you,
we might just be among the lucky few to return from this mission
and able to share the amazing discoveries from this trip
for all mankind to enjoy.