During its surveillance of a promising planet far from Earth and its colonies, Space Probe Celeste received an encrypted Signal from an unknown source. Analysis back on Earth soon showed that The Signal was more advanced than anything human or robot technology was capable of producing.
Unable to decrypt the Signal’s message, the military released Celeste’s transmissions to the public, where it quickly gained interest from the scientific and archaeological communities. After studying images of the surface Dr Sundari Zhen, a prominent member of the Archaeological Society, announced that she thought that the new alien species was likely humanoid, as the visible ruins shared many characteristics with human settlements. Meanwhile, Professor Milton Lee, one of Earth’s leading scientists, tirelessly studied The Signal and eventually managed to decrypt and translate the message contained within.
The message was a plea for help from the original inhabitants of the planet, who called themselves Arkadians, who had been attacked by the violent Oratan. The Government on Earth quickly decided to put together a Fleet to travel to Planet Arkadia and render assistance to the besieged inhabitants, under the command of Commodore Toán Harvir. The Fleet was manned with an experienced Imperial Federal Navy force but also contained a large civilian presence, including Sundari Zhen and the Archaeological Society, as well as Milton Lee and a number of scientists of all disciplines. The Fleet also attracted the interest of treasure hunters, people keen to discover their fortune seeking riches and relics of this alien world.
Nearly three months after The Signal was first discovered, Liberation Fleet arrived in the Arkadian system. Those on board soon came to the conclusion that the wrecks and ruins of an ancient civilisation, both in orbit and on the surface, were the only signs that sentient life had ever existed on the planet. Deciding it was the best way to discover more about this alien species, and because there was no apparent threat, Commodore Harvir ordered the Fleet’s forces down to the surface of Planet Arkadia.
For the next few weeks, humanity spread across the continent of Sentosa. Settlements were constructed, including the capital Celeste Harbour, the 8 Coins mining facility and the enigmatic Sanctuary Cove. However, there was some resistance as patrols were attacked by small groups of hostile creatures, believed to be the descendants of the Oratan. Since the Oratan were weak and few in number, they were considered to pose only a small threat for the experienced ground forces led by Captain Chiharo, Toán Harvir’s second in command on the surface. Despite this, defensive Firebases were constructed across the continent. Back on Earth, assembly of a new Fleet had begun, as more colonists and adventurers gathered to explore Planet Arkadia.
Then, without warning, a huge swarm of Oratan appeared and rampaged across the continent. Although weak individual fighters, the Oratan’s incredible numbers overwhelmed the defences and forced the humans to abandon their settlements one by one. Many people were killed in the attacks, including Professor Lee, and the survivors were driven back to Celeste Harbour and the surrounding Firebases. There Harvir and Chiharo conducted a desperate defence, killing thousands of Oratan and halting their advance.
After weeks of hard fighting, the Oratan were driven off and the human forces, despite running low on many military supplies, began to retake the Firebases lost in the assault. Superior tactics eventually saw the troops wrest back control of the Firebases from the Oratan, despite large numbers of enemy units still deployed around the continent. A stalemate ensued, with Harvir’s forces unable to travel outside the Firebases without being swarmed, while the few Oratan attacks were fought off.
The stalemate eventually broke when stronger Oratan began to appear; larger and stronger creatures that prove to be much more deadly than their smaller brethren. This time the Firebases’ defences remained intact, but Harvir’s forces struggled to survive the constant pressure exerted by the Oratan and all they could do was try to hold out until the colonists on the approaching Fleet Arkadia arrived from Earth, hoping that they would be enough to tip the balance back in humanity’s favour.
Just as the Oratan looked like they were going to overwhelm the defenders, Fleet Arkadia arrived and the colonists joined the fray. Bolstered by the extra numbers, Harvir and his forces were able to crush the Oratan offensive and drive them away from the settlements, for the time being at least.
Despite the dangers of the untamed continent, the colonists soon began to venture out into the wilds. They sought to explore the natural beauty of Sentosa, study and understand the ancient Arkadian ruins and hunt for treasure at every opportunity.
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