Centuries ago, a flame was lit that grew into a holy crusade. To some, they were the Sons of Man. To the Federation, they were upstart rabble, a rebellion. It was born out of the desire to win back the soul of mankind, to be freed from the millennia of heedless and materialistic excesses of Nanomak tyranny. It swept aside the Nanomak heathens and established a realm for a newly reawakened mankind, aware of its individual divinity within the universe.
In the aftermath of the Rebellion’s hard-fought freedom, came the critical decision of how its member states would be governed. In time, the People’s Union of Free Planets arose, ushering in new ideals of human rights to freedom, dignity and self-autonomy. Over the centuries, the zeal that had once united the Sons of Man slowly faded, but was never extinguished. Its embers are still smoldering in the hearts of those who uphold the old tenets.
Today, the Union is remarkably different. It is a fascinating melting pot of ideals, where religious conservatism, urban avant-garde progressivism, and a pioneering spirit of staunch libertarian individualism are free to mingle and push against each other. It spans the furthest reaches of the old Nanomak Federation, with many of its worlds still being rural, wild, and beautiful in their unspoilt and alien glory. Its cities and commercial center's bustle with the excitement of new ideas constantly being born and tested, and free enterprise. The Union is not an entity, it is a plurality.
But freedom has left the Union weak and unable to wield central authority. Its members pursue their own interests and question the need for a centralized government. In this growing power vacuum, there are fears of degeneracy, apostasy and loss of heritage. There are those who believe a return to the Faith — by force if necessary — is the only way to ensure the future of the Sons of Man. Will the iron grip of order and religious fervor return to the galaxy?
How will the Union survive its inner conflict and outer threats? Will it continue to nurture human individualism, or will it see a renewal of order and conformity?
How will you navigate the complexities of Union space? Will you push towards the outer limits and explore the great unknown, will you dive head first into the cultural milieu, or will the beat of your heart fall in step with the march of a rekindling crusader zeal?
