====== Events/Encounters ====== ===== Major Events ===== ==== Terran Era ==== South American countries experience economic prosperity, accelerated by the construction of a space elevator in La Tagua, Columbia. Space Elevator enables mass colonization of Mars, and large scale space construction projects. Extremely lucrative due to transportation of minerals and ore from mining asteroids. La Oruga project led by a united South American space program, with support from NASA, ESA, China, Russia, India, etc. At least initially. Interstellar travel becomes plausible with the development of miniature singularities as power sources. Funding problems persist due to political conflict, waning interest from public. Very eclectic mix of people who want to be "founders" and join the voyage. Issues with class and power pervade selection process. Initially program included several ships going to the most inhabitable "nearby" exoplanets. The term "founder" used for all La Oruga passengers and crew to create a psychological investment in the colony on Mariposa that only their descendants will get to see. Insular culture on board the ship leads to reuse of ancestral first names down through generations. ==== Launch ==== La Oruga left Earth's orbit at some point in the 22nd century. To denote the landmark occasion, there was a calendar reform leading to the launch year being called 0 TE (Transit Era). Launch Day, the start of the year, begins when La Oruga officially left Earth. Additional calendar changes include adapting the calendar to have even numbers of days per month, based on the year length of Mariposa, and making the day cycle match that of Mariposa. ==== Mariposan Life Discovery ==== La Oruga was fitted with sensors for space observation, for scientific purposes and to study Mariposa as the destination approaches. In the year 38 TE, the sensors detected signs of intelligent life on Mariposa - structured light patterns suggestive of Industrial Era. The Directorate did its best to suppress this knowledge, which was helped by the scientists who discovered it being extremely pro-Directorate. Ironically, both the Directorate and Rift refer to this knowledge by the same name - the Mariposan Secret. The Secret slowly starts to be exposed to the general public, which prompts the Directorate to become more authoritarian due to the public outrage. ==== Quarter Century Celebrations ==== Every 25 years TE, the Founders have a celebration for their continued survival, as well as the mission and hope for humanity. The first one is particularly exciting, as is the fourth at 100 TE, as there is a lot of joy. Later ones are marred with social tension depending on how well-known the Mariposan Secret is at that point in time. ==== Theseus Day ==== Theseus Day is a day of remembrance for previous generations. The first one occurred the day after the last original Founder died, and each subsequent one is 80 years afterward. Though it's a day of remembrance, it's also a festive affair, with presentations and celebrations honoring the work that the previous generations did and the advancements that they made. ==== Cruise Mode ==== A planet near Mariposa, dubbed Axios, is identified as an alternate destination, but the Directorate refuses to change course. This is due to the belief that Axios lacks enough natural resources to build power plants required for a colony - the ship's Singularity Engine only works in space. The Directorate orders that the ship be put into Cruise Mode. This does not allow for acceleration or course changes of the ship while the inner ring is rotating, and was intended for short term use protecting the inner ring. ==== Thorium Discovery ==== Sensors on La Oruga pick up a rogue planet in interstellar space, with a strange energy signature. Upon investigation, the Founders discovered ancient alien structures but not the source of the power signature. One Founder finds a heavily processed Thorium crystal and smuggles it back aboard the ship. This is believed by Rift to solve the energy problem on Axios.