Our protagonist.

Also known as me, myself, and I.

She worked in her uncle's scrapyard before Noma hired her.

Taller than average, because of growing up in New Melbourne's 0.5g.

An ex-marine.

Doesn't really like to talk about her time in the military, though she didn't seem to hate it.

Knows a lot of things about ships and how to breach them.

A bit shorter than average, due to growing up in New Lima's 1.4g.

Discovered in the late 22nd century, Fluxspace travel is nowadays used as the main FTL travel method for all ships. It is sometimes described, as an extradimensional plane of existence. The most obvious difference being the vastly increased speed of light and ships seemingly breaking multiple laws of physics while inside to allow for FTL-travel in 'real space'.

Superflux is a phenomenon most often experienced when entering fluxspace while near a strong enough gravity well or another fluxspace opening, though it can also be caused by unpredictable fluctuations inside the space itself. It is a dangerous phenomenon with a less than 1% recovery rate in which a ship is subjected to enormous forces for as of yet unknown reasons.

Velocity is measured in lightyear-days - how many lightyears are traveled in one 24-hour period or sometimes lightmonth-days.

Flux point-five,  - 0.5 Gs of acceleration - is generally the standard thrust, as it allows reasonable travel times with low fuel consumption.

The advent of faster-than-light travel and subsequent colonization of other solar systems brought with it a new, yet simultaneously old problem: How do you send a message to a distant location in a timely manner?

Radio communications in fluxspace are unfeasible for distances longer than one light-year and the deployment of amplifier beacons in fluxspace has proven ineffective at best. As a result, the widest spread method of FTL-Communications is the use of disposable messenger probes and beacons, that are sent into fluxspace by a ship.

These probes signal any flux-sensor in range about their heading and velocity meaning they can be intercepted pretty easily if one happens to be on a suitable course. Most often they are aimed at the nearest system. The stations in the system are equipped to automatically intercept these probes and relay any messages, if the recipient is in the system, or launch a follow-up probe in the direction attached to the message.

These probes can be reused if they are properly intercepted. Sometimes probes are destroyed when entering or exiting fluxspace or are lost during transit. Ships usually only carry a few probes, unless they are expected to stay in interstellar space for a few months or longer.

Distress Beacons are a form of messenger probe, that are automatically loaded with the ship's position and course at the time of launch and any error message if available, plus they automatically aim themselves at the nearest system. They are generally lighter than normal probes and as a result, arrive quicker. Every ship capable of interstellar travel, carries at least half a dozen of these, usually more and they always launch multiple. Distress Beacons are not meant to be reused.

In a star system, communication lasers and radio transmissions that travel at light-speed are the norm.

Between systems exists a regular transfer of news exchange with scheduled probes.

A small mining colony near the center of human space.

Despite its small size, it has a surface gravity of about 0.501 G, because of its dense composition. The atmosphere is 1.6 bar and comprises mostly methane, nitrogen, and trace amounts of carbon-dioxide and water. Surface temperature is on average -100°C. It has a day length of over 120 hours.

Originally, it had been deemed unsuited for human colonization, but newly discovered rare earth deposits, lead to a mining company establishing New Melbourne. Most of its about 2 million inhabitants live in a cave-system-turned-colony or the elevator platform in orbit. Due to the low gravity and high pressure, blimp-like vehicles are the main mode of transportation to travel to remote automated mining sites.

Major exports include Raw Materials, Processed Metals, Water, and Terraforming Gases(CO2, CH4).

Major imports include oxygen, foodstuffs, and consumer goods.

A big colony on the outer reaches of human space.

Has a surface gravity of 1.4 G. The atmosphere is about 0.91 bar and mainly comprises nitrogen and oxygen. Surface temperatures vary greatly, 18.7°C on average. 10.3-hour days. 35% of the surface is covered in liquid water(non-drinkable)

A terra-nova type planet with conditions capable of supporting human life since discovery. One of the biggest colonies, with over 3 Billion people living on the surface and another 300 million in the system. The local fauna was domesticated pretty quickly and is nowadays used as livestock and food source. Its unique characteristics led to one of the biggest USS Marine boot camps and bases being built on the planet.

Locals often prefer the name Zerala instead of the designation New Lima by Earth.

Major exports include foodstuff and consumer goods, as well as trained Marines.

Major imports include water, raw materials, and metals from its own and nearby systems.

Torpedo Boat / Fast Patrol Boat: 10-40 meters. The smallest military Vessels. Often little more than a torpedo launcher strapped to an engine. Used in system patrol and small-scale anti-piracy operations.

(Light) Frigate: 40-100 meters. Used primarily as patrol craft or in screening roles. Small and fast Vessels often with an emphasis on PDCs.

Strike Corvette, sometimes (heavy) Frigate: 100 - 200 meters, rarely up to 250 meters. System craft that can independently engage enemies or act as a screening vessel for a fleet. Smallest ship size to be mounted railguns.

Corvette: 150-200 meters. Smallest FTL-Capable ship size. Used as patrol craft and fleet recon units. Focus usually on PDCs.

Destroyer: 200-300 meters, Basilisk-class up to 370 meters depending on the configuration. Used either as Destroyer Escort or in an anti-ship role. In the latter, they often carry multiple quick-fire torpedo batteries.

Light Cruiser: 280 - 380 meters. Fast screening vessels with an emphasis on PDC coverage.

Heavy Cruiser / Battlecruiser: 330 - 450 meters. Fast military Vessels with a focus on anti-ship capabilities.

Pocket Battleship / Stub-Dreadnaught: 400-550 meters. Battleships with an emphasis on strategic flexibility. They can be used either as an independent force or as part of a bigger fleet. They are faster than normal Dreadnaughts but carry less armor while still keeping similar offensive capabilities.

Light Carrier: 400-600 meters. Ships designed to carry recon assets and small ships into an operation. They are not designed to engage enemies on the frontlines. Possess minimal offensive capabilities, especially in longer ranges.

Battleship / Dreadnaught: 600-900 meters. Largest Hull size not designed to carry other vessels, though they usually carry one or two recon units. Best anti-ship capabilities. Rarely fly outside of a fleet. When bigger than 800 meters, they are sometimes called Super-dreadnaughts.

(Fleet) Carrier: 800-1100 meters. Capable of carrying screening ships up to 500 meters. Not intended for frontline duty. Carriers were originally designed to ease logistical burdens and lower fuel consumption during strategic redeployments.

Super-carrier / Theater-carrier: 1250+ meters. The largest military vessels ever constructed. Designed to carry enough Ships to effectively occupy any system. Only three had ever been built, each unique in its layout.

• The oldest and smallest of the three is the Sol Invictus at 1350 meters with modern upgrades. Originally designed to carry the, at the time, new Horatio Nelson-class Pocket Battleship.
• Second oldest and largest is the over two kilometers long Amaterasu. Usually patrols the core worlds and inner reaches of human space. The largest military vessel that can move under its own power ever built.
• The youngest of the three is the 1800 meter long Inti. Fastest and most modern of the three. Capable of rapidly deploying its carried vessel in case of an emergency or attack.

The USS is the continuation of the United Nations of Earth, Mars, and the Outer Planets, following the discovery of fluxspace travel and subsequent interstellar colonization. It holds increased authority and is more centralized when compared to its predecessor, especially regarding the military.

The USS Navy and USS Marine Corps fall under its jurisdiction. They are most often used in humanitarian aid and anti-piracy actions. The navy never had to fight against an organized large-scale opponent, and it is unclear how it would fare in such a scenario. System Defense Fleets and Planetary Garrisons are not under USS control.

It tries to represent all humans across all colonies fairly, though it has been criticized as favoring the core worlds, especially Earth and the Sol system. Each system can vote for a system representative democratically. These representatives appoint the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council for five years, up to 3 terms maximum.

 Secession from the USS is possible. For it to be legal, a system-wide referendum would be held and a ⅔ majority would have to vote to leave. This has sometimes been threatened, though no system has ever even held a referendum, as the systems stand to lose a lot more by leaving for no real benefit. Loss of protection by the USS Navy and potential trade tariffs are the biggest deterrent to leaving the USS.