<br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">A Troubled Past</span></div><br/>The stars. They have dotted the night sky for as long as man has recorded history. It was also one of the places man desired to be. After all who wouldn't want to fly among burning balls of gas? Yet in the year of 2012 flying among the stars was nothing more than a dream without wings. That was until the first of the artifacts were discovered.<br/><br/>The first artifact was found in the Colombian Glacier in Alaska. More specifically in a crevice of the glacier. The glacier had been melting over the past several decades, thanks to global warming, and once the artifact was retrieved it was placed into the hands of American scientists who studied the artifact for nigh on eighteen years. During that time America was able to make leaps in technology that amazed the rest of the world.<br/><br/>After a compromised intelligence mission back to the glacier, America was forced to make a press release about the artifact and other countries began to wonder if that was the only one. America stated that it had been the only one they had found, although, through research unearthed during a cleaning operation, it was revealed that the Colombian Glacier had migrated to Alaska from Antarctica and these artifacts seemed to be from a more advanced civilization prior to our own. This news set off a gold rush to see if there were other artifacts buried within the frozen land of Antarctica.<br/><br/>Russia, China, Britain, Spain, and Japan were able to fund expeditions to search for the artifacts, but after a year of fruitless searching everyone these countries were about to pull the plug on their searches. That was until Russia hit pay dirt. Within a single year the major superpowers laid claim to artifacts buried in their own corners of the globe. Exponential advances in technology, space exploration, and even in human evolution took place due to the knowledge gained by these artifacts, although what these artifacts looked like and what they could do were kept under lock and key. This advancement would lead to the longest world wide peace that the earth had seen in it's history; lasting almost four decades. This was held in place all due to a project named Terra.<br/><br/>Terra, was to act as a shield to protect the, so called, peaceful society that Earth had become. The Nations of the world united in order to terraform a newly discovered, and highly resourceful, planet to be used as a prison for those society deemed undesirable. The project was to be overseen by a system of AI's, but human guards were also put in place to ensure the prison's sense of humanity wasn't lost, as well as to make sure that the entertainment was always on time. Yes, far from being a jail where prisoners could be fed and relax for the rest of their days, the planet had been outfitted with several arena's where those sent from earth would have to fight for their survival, all for the entertainment of a rich few.<br/><br/>Meanwhile Earth's peace grew fractured as jealousy and distrust swept over the world. Those who were classified as "Evolved" were to be immediately captured upon discovery studied by their respective governments. Those deemed fit were militarized and used as soldiers in a shadow war between countries to gain information on one anothers technologies. However, the evolution of humanity had grown to levels beyond containment as nearly all of the newest generation found themselves born different from those before them. Humanity fell into it's most primal of reactions of fear and distrust which eventually lead to an all out war over Meta-Human rights. This war would shatter the peace that lasted nearly half a century and would leave the Earth lifeless and baron.<br/><br/>Any hope to revive the once fruitful planet was crushed and the survival of humanity now rested on the shoulders of Terra.<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">The Present Situation </span></div><br/>On the prison planet only convicts, guards, and a small amount of survivors who fled Earth remain of what was a great race of people. The guards, after receiving no communication from Earth for several days, soon panicked at the knowledge that their home was gone forever. This information spread throughout the planet's prisons causing those captive to riot and even the guards joined in the mutiny. Law and authority no longer mattered, for what was the point of holding those separate from a society that no longer existed. Those lucky enough to escape from Earth were the ones that made it away before the "event" that brought complete devastation to the planet. Those that survived range from civilians to military personnel. Their pasts are unknown but one fact remains, those on Terra are now all that is left of humanity.<br/><br/>After arriving on the Terra the survivors found themselves on a planet with abundant resources and self-sustainable power. The survivors also found themselves in the midst of absolute anarchy. What remains of the Earth military is in a constant struggle with factions of former prisoners and surviving Meta-Human Revolutionists. The tempers from the war that consumed Earth still flare high and, left unchecked, threaten to consume Terra as well.<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">Terra</span></div><br/>Terra is mostly covered in a vast wasteland, though areas such as savannas, deserts, volcanic mountains do exist. The water supply is mostly found underground, leaving life on the surface devoid of lakes and oceans. Weather is almost always a problem; if its not a thunderstorm to pound and soak you, then the high levels of humidity and fog will leave you anything but dry. Precipitation is heavy yearly and it is a large factor in the colonies' water reservoirs. Although the days last longer than nights on Terra, the nights can be considered the most alien portion of this world because if you can glimpse through the clouds, you'll find the sky illuminated by not one but three moons.<br/><br/>Being first and foremost a prison planet, the only urban areas are those surrounding the arenas with only a scant few mining settlements to offer hope of life. Most civilians stick to these urban areas since most of the planet sits untouched. Large scale battleships and transportation frigates, the last remaining from Earth, can often be found at the center of some settlements.<br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">How Far We've Come</span></div><br/>Technological Advancements have lead to progress in the fields of Cybernetics, Artificial Intelligence, etc.<br/>--Cybernetics are common place and applied in many ways, whether it be implants for amputees or upgrades to improve the senses or other factors of human body.<br/>--Mecha, machines of war piloted by an individual, are commonly deployed in military sorties.<br/>--Artificial Intelligence systems are used in vehicles, handheld devices, and even housing centers making for a very easy experience with most daily activities.<br/>--The Internet of this age has advanced into large virtual world, that anyone may lay claim to with the proper equipment or implant.<br/>--Energy sources are mostly solar, plasma, and electricity. Ways to convert these energy forms are commonly practiced.<br/>All and all this world is in a golden age of technology, yet the poverty line is much higher than Pre-Terra life.<br/><br/>Human Evolution has also advanced rapidly since the early cases. Reported abilities range from psychic manifestations to physical manifestations all the way to elemental manipulation. Mutations do occur, though are extremely rare and do not live through infancy. Meta-Human politics are still very new and most Meta-Humans are still viewed as freaks.[/color]