Introduction
Early
in the third millennium, almost by accident, man learnt to travel
readily not only within but beyond his own system. Colonies were
set up on Mars and soon after that an outsystem planet very similar to
Earth was found. Unfortunately, a long period of wars, terrorism
and plague left Earth depopulated and impoverished. Recovery was
slow, and only possible due to the rise of a new religion.
Worship of the Goddess began as a mystical cult among the survivors in
North America, but spread very rapidly, accompanied by a political
philosophy which led at last to a united Earth.
Shortly
after the wars erupted, a combined effort of South East Asia and
Australia had established a colony on the new planet, which the first
settlers called Tios. Other ships followed, but the breakdown of
civilization on Earth left the colonists isolated for centuries.
The colonies on Tios flourished but the Tiosan seas hid a dreadful
menace, which erupted without warning and almost wiped them out.
Eventually, communication was reestablished. However the Tiosans, in
isolation and under sporadic raids from the sea, had developed their
own semi-feudal culture and religion. Their leaders feared the
influence of Earth and the Goddess. Although a short but bitter
war ended in stalemate after an invasion of Mars failed, the Tiosans
were able to set up a blockade of Earth and Mars to prevent any further
contact.
When
this story begins, the Tiosan Empire has expanded to other systems, and
appears to be at the height of its power. However, major problems
were becoming apparent, and action had become urgent after the
discovery of traces of a powerful, alien civilization. Life on
Earth, under the rule of the Goddess, was prosperous, secure, and for a
few, dull and boring. Some of these became officers in the
Outfleet, a small number of ships controlled by the minds of the crew,
and used to infiltrate agents into the Empire.
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