Diaspora

The Diaspora (2285-2325) is the second wave of human colonization beyond Sol system.

After the Third World War, Earth environment was ravaged. And its sole ruler, Haber Corporation, did not invest to make it more liveable. A large wave of emigration from Earth started, mostly toward to Mars. But the red planet could simply not host the billions searching for a better life.

As such, outer space colonization became a widespread dream, further fueled by the memory of the successful launch of the Earth's Pride toward Epsilon Eridani.

A massive diaspora occurred over a fifty year period, with generation ships heading out to several nearby systems to establish colonies. Those with enough money were able to buy ships to strike out on their own, including a group of australian environmentalists and the infamous self-titled king Tolan Oberon.

In this fifty year period at least 25 registered colony ships left earth. 17 made landfall in 12 different systems. The rest were never heard from again.

Systems settled during the Diaspora

The "old worlds" founded during the Diaspora are:

• Tau Ceti, by colony ships Inamorata and Harapan
• 61 Cygni, by colony ship Enlightenment
• 1 Orionis Cluaran, by colony ship Evergreen
• Ayizan - Lacaille 8760, by colony ship Sunflower
• Sirius, by colony ship Ibn Battuta
• Arcturus
• Toliman - Proxima Centauri
• Tolan kingdom
• Wolf 359
• ...and 3 other systems yet to be defined

Life of the early colonists

At the time, faster-than-light travel was deemed as physically impossible. As such, upon embarking on a colony ship, its passengers knew they would definitely leave Sol and live in an isolated community forever. There would be no turning back, no outside help, should their colony fail. Furthermore, upon embarkment, these colonists accepted they would spend the next decades in the ship, and possibly die before landfall, only for their children to see the promised land.

Yet, the idea of creating a brave new world -one virgin of past mistakes and forever isolated from Sol's corruption- appealed to many.

As such, colony ships were mostly populated by (rich) idealists. The common ideal cemented a strong cohesion on most colony ships and on most early colonies after landfall. A few ships however knew rivalry and strife during their journey.

After landfall, early colonists usually focused on establishing the foundations of their settlement: women were encouraged to have many children, men worked in construction, and all worked in the fields. Education was important too, as knowledge had to be passed down to further generations, when the colony would become able to sustain a scientific class.

This pastoral life left its mark on the cultural heritage of many "old worlds". These years, spanning a few generations, often pass as a golden age of enthusiasm and purity. But not all "old worlds" share this history: for example, Sirius immediately established a urban civilization, whereas Tau Ceti's planet Pontianak was founded in a mood of despair.