Into The Black II

A companion to Into The Black, a generation later.

Campaign Background

In Into The Black, the concept of the "jump-points" was confirmed; massive -- even intergalactic -- distances could be traversed instantaneously. The prototype Epcot....

Seventy-five years have passed. Twenty-five years of R&D required twenty-five years of testing (during which a dozen adventurous volunteers were disappeared to dimensions unknown), and now, finally, the technology is being properly exploited.

Mineral elements critical to the continued expansion of human civilization within the Eridani system exist in great and concentrated quantities in various star systems previously too distant to consider. Private mining corporations (including Zettacorp) have great motivation to exploit the richest deposits.

The United Nations controls the portal technology and authorizes private corporations' expeditions. A mega-portal near Searchlight can be configured to connect to an infinite number of approximate destinations across millions of galaxies. Expeditions are sent with a five million kilogram ton payload of constructor drones and materials pre-programmed to create a return portal, which takes about a year.

After fifteen years operation, and in the shadow of the Vegan experience, the UN has