The World of Starhyke
THE BEGINNING
Whilst Earth was still the centre of human activity, over-population and depleted resources had forced the human race to reach out and find other planets for their resources. First contact with alien races was a harsh lesson; emotions made the human race an easy target to other species that took advantage of our good nature and naiveté.
Space travel was abandoned, the anger and pain of defeat was turned inwards and so began the Great War that raged over the planet for almost 200 years, bringing Earth to the verge of extinction. In the year 2584 the human race made an agreement with a clinical alien society that offered to help them suppress the emotions that caused the anger, fear and envy, which had kept us at war for so long. A molecular compound was introduced on a planetary scale slowly dissipating all human emotions.
100 years later the alien race was destroyed. They hadn’t realized how much emotions ruled our way of thinking. One by one alien races were forcibly conquered. All alien races encountered had only 2 choices; remain under human control or be wiped out of existence. Earth scientists introduced molecular inhibitors that resulted in all conquered races becoming drones. The human race had learnt from early experiences that capture resulted in the need to escape. The inhibitor proved an ideal failsafe against reprisal.
IN THE YEAR 3034
Earth has begun to look outside its own immediate galaxy for new conquests, and one of the last remaining free alien races is now under threat. The Reptids are peaceful in nature, however they will not bow to human dominance. They have developed a biological weapon with the potential to re-awaken human emotional consciousness and intend to detonate it in Earth’s past, in the hope that the terrible events that have befallen the galaxy since the human race’s suppression of their emotions will be reversed.
Upon discovery of this plan, the Dreadnaught Nemesis, the most advanced ship in the Earth fleet – and the only one capable of time travel - is dispatched to destroy the Reptid race and their weapon before they can deploy it on Earth. However, as the ship begins to timeslip, a Reptid commando manages to sneak aboard and detonate a small prototype of the weapon, infecting the Captain, her crew, and even the ship’s computer systems in the process. When the crew awaken to find themselves orbiting 21st century Earth, they discover that not only has the timeslip magnified the effects of the device, but they are also beginning to feel something new and almost overwhelming…emotions!
For the first time in their lives the crew are experiencing the full range of human feelings, and their attempts to assimilate them as quickly as possible result in many humorous situations as each crewmember chooses a personal outlet for their newly-found emotions. From chocolate cravings and midnight trysts to strange obsessions with furniture and a new appreciation for the party life; each crewmember tries to deal with their new personality traits in their own unique way. Out of their own time and out of their minds, they must find a way to complete their mission and return home to their own time without causing permanent damage to this one.
THE CREATION OF A NEW WORLD ORDER
With the capture of alien races came new technologies and the lack of emotions made the human race undefeatable. As the centuries passed hybrid humanoid species were created. Cyborgs such as Dotty were created to pilot starships; their android components ideal for faster calculations and quick piloting skills. Soldiers were bred for battle, utilising the characteristics from more aggressive and stronger civilisations.
The advancement of technology has led to a concentration of power. The gap between the very rich and the rest of society has ceased to be; money is no longer required or sought after. The average human lifespan is 400 years. If a human is considered a value to society their brain pattern is digitally stored in a database where upon their death a new body is cloned from their DNA and the mind is reintroduced so they can continue their work. Some less intellectual humans are used as temporary vessels for the stored consciousness and are given menial tasks such as maintenance or cleaning duties.They are considered nothing more than a transport for the brain patterns of deceased officers until a replacement body can be cloned.
Traditional two-parent families are considered pointless in a society in which marriage is considered nothing more than a practice based upon an emotional response. Procreation is achieved through careful DNA matching between suitable candidates; in most cases the donors never meet, the infant is raised in a biologically grouped crèche facility. As the children grow, they are taught within a military environment where they are placed within correct educational remits which best suit their DNA profile and parental structures.
There are no criminals; on the rare occasion that a crime is committed, the penalty is death without re-cloning. Religion in all its forms has almost vanished, and the few remaining faiths have no influence on the people who follow them. Politics are no longer required; Earth and its dominions are run by the Admiralty using positronic computers for guidance as they plan the growth of the Human Race.
New forms of propulsion mean that travel within the solar system is possible; using quantum technology ships can breach the time-space barrier to travel anywhere within a matter of seconds. Time travel is banned and only 1 vessel within the fleet has this capability as a deterrent to stop other races from attempting chronological travel.
Dreadnaught class spaceships house powerful self-aware computer systems. Holographic counsellors (S.E.R.C.H. - Ships Emergency Recovery Computer Hologram) to provide tactical and combat guidance during battle are installed. These powerful starships have the latest technology and crews picked by DNA selection.
