Backstory

Year 2047

The USA signed a no-restriction technology/power treaty with Japan. This political move ensured that the US would continue having access to cutting edge developments in biotechnology and electronics, and allowed Japan to survive beyond their power-choked grids. Tensions rose between developed China and the Japanese/US coalition.

The large orbital structure was now visible by eye from earth. Its proximity was much closer than the moon, so one could see if drift across the sky several times each nychthemeron. The power grid was well planned across the structure, and astronauts could traverse long distances across the platform, recharging the electric fuel cells along the way. As a stop gap measure, several conventional nuclear power plants were constructed on the orbital station, and served as hubs for energy intensive work.

The dark side of the platform that faced earth, away from the sun, was proving to be very inhospitable for labor, so InTech went about installing massive reflector dishes that could deliver light across a perpendicular plane. Under these conditions on the T-shaped station, F. solaris was put under rigorous engineering and directed evolution to generate viable strains that could survive on little more than sunlight, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

Year 2056

China led a campaign of massive emigration and engulfment of most of the South Pacific islands. Because the takeovers were not military in nature, no other world government responded. Throughout this time, the world was on edge, as China simultaneously developed an unmatched nuclear power and weapon development program. Many of the intellectual and socioeconomic elite fled China to seek asylum in other countries out of fear that their overreaching system would collapse on itself.

The station had grown large enough that as it went across the sky, it would cast a moving shadow, much like a thick cloud. The mass of the station necessitated its further orbit from earth, which also had the added benefit of taking it out of the flight path of the numerous communications satellites littering the sky. Rumors on earth had started that some of the ultra-wealthy had already purchased real-estate in space.

F. solaris was now able to grow into a thick biofilm. Small experimental domes were built by the layering of a F. solaris membranes. These domes demonstrated the ability for the multicellular structure to maintain pressure, to nearly earth's atmosphere.

InTech developed thrusters that generated a propulsive magnetic fields relative to the earth’s magnetism to speed the orbit of the station. This increased the centrifugal force on the leading face of the platform to nearly earth's gravity. The orbit of the platform was such that it was always chasing daylight. This enabled the perpetual capture and reflection of constant light using large refractive discs on the perimeter of the station.

Year 2065

Europeans across their continent become the minority, and their already dwindling population groups soon lost most of their political influence.

Rocks, minerals, and bulk organic matter was shipped off the dying earth to the orbital station, to serve as substrate for further terraforming efforts. A division of the platform, about 250 square kilometers, was walled off with barriers reaching upwards of 2500 meters. Across the top of these barriers, the F. solaris biofilm spread to form the membrane that would serve as the atmospheric containment of the area. Much to the benefit of the engineers, this process was naturally expedited by the now rapidly growing phototroph. The bacteria quickly sealed openings in the membrane, much like a wound would heal.

Year 2074

In order to respond to the growing threat of massive emigration from the north, the African continent (previously the African Confederacy) requested alliance with the USA. After a dramatic 3 month conference, the American continents unified under a central government with leaders from all the ex-countries, now segmented into semi-sovereign prefectures of the Greater States of America. The GSA then declined to aid the still under-developed African nation.

The containment of the sector on the orbital platform was complete, and massive amounts of nitrogen were pumped in to pressurize the area. Psychologists, artists, and professional landscapers collaborated in turning the stark metal wasteland into earth-like terrain. Boulders from earth were lined on the edges of the zone to mask the walls and make them look like mountains, and soil was spread like a carpet across the steel canvas. They christened the enclosed habitat with the name Calydon , and construction was begun on a neighboring sister enclosure to be named Pleuron. At their juncture there was a service dock for space vessels known as the Laphrion.

A cohort of private wealthy persons optimistically submitted themselves for the first ever human trials of cryostasis. Most were also transported to the orbital station for safe-keeping and patient sleep until the time which Calydon might become habitable for humans.

Year 2083

Japan's borders were heavily threatened by Chinese immigration, whose foreign policy now essentially consisted of “Let us do what we want, or we will increase our weapons programs.” Tugboats filled with people from overpopulated regions of China began coming over-seas to Japan’s shores. In response, Japan allowed the refugees to land, but held them in internment facilities. Tensions continued to rise, and the GSA sent troops to fortify Japan’s borders, because there was no other nearby neutral staging area.

A balanced ecosystem began to take hold on the orbital station. This was largely due to the routine sloughing off of excess F. solaris, in particular at the site where the membrane met the south body of water. This provided an excellent source of complex carbon and nitrogen-containing biomolecules. Those who were adventuresome and could afford it began to flock there and take residence with minimal spacesuits. Several of the people in cryostasis began the slow defrosting process, and most survived the process. Others had volunteered to remain frozen for longer, and some experienced complications in the thaw and were kept in a holding pattern until the revivification technology would be improved.

In a mixed blessing, the membranous layer of F. solaris blurred vision of the earth, so the residents of the space haven could no longer directly bear witness to the hell brewing below. The occultation of the earth, moon, and sun were so gradual that most did not even notice. Calydon's primary enclosure, maintained by the F. solaris biofilm, was a large square grid with a variety of recreated ecosystems and earth-like features. Some of the original architects stressed the importance of crafting features on the space station that would bear striking resemblance to earth, even as far as constructing a magnetic-north mountain range and a huge body of water on the opposite face of the grid.

The turbulence on Earth was also felt on Calydon. Concerned about the future of their lives on the station, charismatic leaders began to spread messages of learning self-reliance, should the Earth stop sending resources. Concerned that they might start losing autonomy on Calydon, InTech began to set precedents for organized, rationed distribution of food and resources to the space colonists. This was generally seen as a benevolent and logical move for the main financial sponsor of Calydon to regulate these aspects of life, but some people began to grow concerned that their reliance on InTech might not work out for their best interests.

Year 2099

The new Garden of Eden had been born with flaws. The Calydonians grew discontent with InTech's growing stranglehold and monopoly on the operations and resources of Calydon and organized the dissolution of the corporate grasp, leading to Decentralization.

It was not a peaceful transition, and much of the beneficial technology and infrastructure the moribund company had worked so hard to develop and build was disabled or dismantled. During this period there was little order, and people began to form their own organizations and groups, many that had profound disagreements with each other. It was as though the fateful Tower of Babel had been built as Calydon, but while its residents had dwelled in a new haven, paradise was fractured yet again.

Year 2100

Decentralization on Calydon was a catalyst for the instability of earth's warring nations. It was a microcosmic echo of man's inability to cooperate and unwillingness to submit to the yolk of any other. Earth breathed its last gasp as thousands of nuclear warheads were exchanged. The announcement of the exchange came only in the form of radio silence to the people in orbit. It is rumored that there may still be a few surviving humans on earth on the outskirts of civilization where radiation levels are low enough to eke out a living.

Serendipitously, in the last hours several large space arks scrambled to escape earth, filled with experts and mismatched refugees alike to populate the orbital refuge. Despite the havoc wrought by Decentralization, the star dock Laphrion on the station received most of the ships' cargo in automation. No one on Calydon would ever consider taking a shuttle back to earth, for fear of the radiation and inability to return to the sky.

It was the dusk of the 21st century. The disastrous war was still a living memory, and the scarred earth laid testament to human’s destructive capability at the height of their civilization. This was not nearly the end of the story, however, as man would continue to struggle to retain existence in their imperfect second home of Calydon.