The year is 2050, in an alternate universe we will never see. The Cold War never ended because the USSR never fell. Low burning proxy wars have finally erupted into full blown WW3. Both the American headed Union of Atlantic Allied States (ATLAS) and the USSR’s renewed Communist International Bloc (COMINTERN) are in shambles as the Earth burns in nuclear fire. However, all is not lost. Both COMINTERN and ATLAS, as well as a few independent players, have constructed thousands of ARK Ships to settle a new frontier in the sky, finding new homes for the people of the Dying Earth.
You will command one of these ships, settle on a new world and rebuild civilization. But first, who is your benefactor?
1 - ATLAS
> ATLAS is an Alliance Bloc and loosely federated group of Capitalistic and Socially Democratic Nations lead by the United States, Great Britain, the European Union (itself led by Germany and France), Australia, Japan, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
2 - COMINTERN
> COMINTERN is headed by the USSR and their chief partners, China and Brazil. Though slightly smaller in population than ATLAS, COMINTERN is more than capable of holding its own in terms of Science, Industry and Warfare. Though largely Communist in character, more Moderate Socialist countries (Brazil, Poland, Ukraine, Greece) balance out the Alliance.
3 - ORION
> The ORION Corporation is the chief financier of the Diaspora Project, and has made an absolute killing off the sale and manufacture of ARK Ships to both the Soviets and ATLAS. As such, ORION has also launched a small number of “private” ships, loaded with refugees and their own personnel, intent on carving out sovereign territory for themselves among the stars.
4- SOMEONE ELSE?
> Many self-interested groups with enough resources have been able to scratch together enough for a small ARK ship or two. Who you are, or who your benefactor is, will be dependent on further questions.