Late 21st century to 2198: The Start of Interstellar Space Travel
Starting the late 21st century, humans drained most of Earth’s resources and destabilized the environment, prompting them to search for additional resources from outer space. As a result, many of the solar system’s planets and moons were colonized during the period of four decades from 2070 to 2110. In 2080, an organization called International Space Command (ISC) was formed to oversee the effort of space exploration and colonization.
While the solar system was being colonized, ISC started a new project in hope of expanding space exploration beyond the solar system. In 2080, ISC planned to construct four Titan class ships for such space exploration: ISCS Leo, ISCS Centaurus, ISCS Eridanus, and ISCS Cetus, forming the Interstellar Exploration Fleet. Each ship was designed to travel to four different solar systems.
In 2140, the Interstellar Exploration Fleet was completed and scheduled to depart the Solar System.
After many decades later, ISCS Leo and ISCS Eridanus presumably arrived to their destinations, but ISCS Centaurus disappeared for unknown reason during its travel. While ISCS Cetus was still on its way to Tau Ceti System, an alien race suddenly arrived in the Solar System in 2198.
2198 to 2243: The Attack of the Sigix
A hostile alien race called Sigix first contacted humans in 2198 and began a powerful assault on the unprepared human civilization. Realizing the nature of this deadly race, ISC sent out a burst of warning messages to all outbound ships to travel beyond their intended destination to avoid pursuit and preserve the human species. The lack of contact afterward suggested the human civilization was wiped out during the Solar War.
After receiving the warning messages in 2210, ISCS Cetus briefly landed in Tau Ceti IV a year later to deploy Project Seraph in response to the alien threat. After deployment, the ship left to an unknown destination in hope of rebuilding the human civilization elsewhere. One of the science personnel named Talas Zhirov was left in charge of this project, so he had to be left out in this planet.
An artificial intelligence dubbed “Main.C”, originally used for the ship’s manufacturing facilities, also had to be left out in this planet to start the project. One of its goals was to build a fake civilization in order to lure the Sigix. Afterward, the AI would attempt to eliminate the Sigix or at least learn their weaknesses. Any information gained through this experiment was to be broadcasted in many different directions to alert any surviving humans.
In 2218, Main.C started to populate the planet with robots that have minds of their own. These are formed by its side project called Lifeworm which could reform any consumed matter into artificial life. As a result, the first “Derelict” was born.
In 2238, after completing all surface construction, Main.C began to expand its development underground. Although Zhirov was keenly interested in it, he tried to not interfere with Main.C for fear of subjecting himself to danger and slowing down the project. Thus, Zhirov had been observing the development afar in order to remain hidden.
After completing the faux human city, Main.C began to transmit messages to the Solar System in 2243. Sometime later, a small Sigix scout class ship called the Leopard suddenly appeared without warning and landed on Tau Ceti IV. Soon afterward, Main.C’s robots emerged from underneath and confronted the alien troops by surprise. Main.C only barely won due to its overwhelming number of robots. After the battle, Main.C began to study intensely on the aliens and their Leopard ship, and attempted to replicate this alien design into its own robots and components in order to better deal with future Sigix assault.
In order to support this new endeavor, Main.C started to expand its underground complex deeper into the caves, forming Complex 0b10. This complex is divided into three primary levels: Materials, Factory, and Research. The Material levels are for mining and processing resources; the Factory levels are for fabricating parts and robots; and the Research levels are for studying the Sigix technology and creating prototypes.
2243: Rise of the Derelicts
During the 0b10 development, failed robot experiments and glitches prompt Main.C to abandon these underperforming robots. As the Derelict population grows, they develop their own communities in caves and mines surrounding the complex. So far, the two largest Derelict groups are Zionites and Warlord followers.
As the 0b10 complex expands toward their home in the cave systems, the Derelicts have grown increasingly hostile toward Main.C, even willing to cause a rebellion. Additionally, their ideology that all robots should be freed from Main.C’s influence adds fuel to the fire.
One of the more aggressive Derelicts named Warlord persistently fights against Main.C. After amassing his followers, Warlord aims to destroy their creator and take over the complex. To do this, Warlord plans to construct a giant war machine called God Mode. In the meantime, many diversionary attacks are carried out to draw Main.C forces away from the base before launching a full-scale attack after God Mode’s completion.
At one point, Zionites initiated a large war against Main.C’s army, but the failed result of this Derelict Uprising dissuades them from fighting again. Consequently, most Zionites lost hope and decide to live passively at a remote location called Zion. However, a certain robot named Imprinter still wishes that one day, a savior will arrive to lead them to battle again.