Chapter I — Isolation
The Hart Star System, an astral community that serves as a home to many people. Societies of humanity, mountain folk, ancient races, and beastly beings are scattered throughout on planets, moons, and even just traveling through the Black Sea itself.
There are plenty of great aspects about our System, whether it's the fascinating inventor spirit found in the Avion, the mechanical genius of the Mōndures, or the abominable nature of mankind. However, the Hart is not perfect, there is more than a fair share of pirates, raiders, smugglers, and no good places you want to visit. Although there is just as much bad as good, the Hart has a system, a dynamic relationship.
However, a chaos tore through the Hart. A distant and mysterious enemy, the Dominion. Their fleets appeared and affected nearly everyone to some degree. Some communities have become garrisons of their armies, others enslaved, while some completely destroyed. Luckily, most of the time the Dominion didn't bother with long-term operations and they just wanted some resources before continuing their savagery on the Hart. For years they fought local defenses, sometimes pushing through, sometimes deciding the reward wouldn't be worth the fight it would take. Now, a majority of the Dominion has turned their attention elsewhere, leaving behind a still considerable and no joke expeditionary force to guard their interests here in our corner of the galaxy.
Despite the carnage that wrecked world after world, one batch of humanity remained relatively clear of the storm. The people here dwelled on a nameless planet in a town called Solitude. Their world was not sought by the Dominion, primarily because they didn't know it was even there. Not many Hartborn themselves bothered to visit the humble planet. However, the people of Solitude and the surrounding communities just outside of the bigger city were not primitive despite their quiet reputation. They worked hard and smart, they were thinkers, designers, and acute traders. They were aware of the danger in the Hart, and they were sure to avoid its eager eye.
For years, the methods were successful. Trade was done discreetly. Observation was done unknowingly. Growth was achieved without recognition. Solitude was secure, but just as a river runs through rock, cracks begin to form.
The years of the Dominion's peak went by, and the outside struggle continued. People were destroyed, conquered, and unimaginably subjugated by an unthinkable tyranny. Desperation. This idea, this feeling, this is what led to Solitude's end of isolation.
Rumor spread throughout the Hart System. Was there a place of safety? No worry? Where could one find this sanctuary? Some people were unluckier than others, and yearned for peace. How does one get to this Haven?
Chapter II — Arrivals
On an early winter morning, a foreign-looking ship appeared within orbital range of the rather lonely world. The City of Solitude had managed to put together a simple Star Defense system, boasting a couple of Orbital Defense Platforms paired with a small but punch-packing patrol force, so when the scanners picked up an unexpected ship in system space, an attentive response was in order.
Second Shield Squadron managed to easily track down the rogue ID and call in the Absent Wonder to seize its movements with the Gravity Tractor Cannon. It was easy — no evasive behavior out of this one, almost like it didn't mind being caught — and so it was "escorted" down to the Solitude Star Harbor.
Upon landing, a team of Lancers awaited to receive the unexpected guest. The landing doors dusted open, the dock ramp extended downward, and out stepped a singular Avion, a man of the bird-folk. An eagle-looking thing too by the looks of it.
By standard protocol, the Lancers are directed to take in suspicious visitors to the Justice Complex. This guy shows up without notification, no communication, and willingly gets apprehended. We call that fitting the bill for suspicious visitor.
Inside the Justice Complex, the Sentry Initiative carried out their duty of questioning and background checks. The mystery began to unravel. Our Avion friend arrived here not for business, not for an attack or any crime, but because of a rumor about a haven. He was desperate, and informed the Sentries that there were more Avion awaiting nearby to follow his lead should his discoveries pan out successfully. This situation had become an interest of higher authorities.
The Solitude Assembly read the report of this unusual situation at an impromptu Summit. It was determined that Commander Gryphon would meet the Avion to handle the matter directly. A meeting was arranged between the two.
The Commander arrived at the Justice Complex flanked by Sentries, inviting the Avion to walk through the city. It was best to treat this as a conversation, not an interrogation. Along the journey, the Commander asked this man what his ultimate goal was, and the Avion responded,
“Your home is a wonder. You managed to avoid the Dominion. This is a luxury. You have done well to maintain this gem. You have the right to keep this life.
But know this. Some day you will not. Others did not sooner. Like us. The Dominion struck quick. Our home is no more. They feared us. They removed the threat. Chain us if you need to. It is better to be caged here than hunted out there. They will return.”
Not much could be said after a delivery like that. The bluntness of the Avion sent an early winter’s chill throughout the city. They were known to keep talks short, but those words hit like daggers.
Days passed to allow the Solitude Assembly to consider the matter. Representatives had to decide if they were in favor of allowing the Avion to live amongst their human society, to imprison them indefinitely, or send them on their way back into the stars.
As the Solitude Assembly Summit began, an interruption came from the doors — a young Lancer gave an urgent shout… Orbital Scanners picked up another ship…
Chapter III — Dawn of a New Age
The Solitude Assembly made the decision to permit the Avion to not only live in Solitude, but to begin the construction of a community just outside the city in the Lonestark Mountains. Figures those winged people would wanna be somewhere up high. After that second ship arrived the Solitude Assembly already had the know-how to assume what that ship sought. A group of humans were aboard and weren't as smooth or humble as the Avion—they were skittery and a bit more resistant to being escorted down to the Star Harbor. They also wouldn't come out of their ship, it took the Lancer Greeting Party nearly half an hour to coax them out, and when they did… altogether and armed. Eventually we got to the matter at hand. Similar story as before.
The Assembly Representatives knew that the guns of Solitude couldn't be pointed at these people just looking for safety, it was time to get to work—especially since more were expected to come.
Months went by, and the occasional ship of a few refugees would swing in. Thankfully different worlds were also getting on their feet by now or these newcomer waves might have been too much to handle. It was hard enough with the one-to-two ships at a time.
Avion and human refugees arrived to settle, and as the small crowds came through the same phrase could be heard as they holo-commed off-world friends and family: “We've made it to New Haven,” seeming to give this world a name. It seemed to fit. Solitude would eventually get too small; more cities would take flight. The Solitude Assembly needed to be prepared to not only allow communities in, but to govern them, aiding them with law and order, protecting them, and helping them grow.
The Solitude Assembly called in our old Avion friend, Representative of the Lonestark Settlement, and a handful of mayors from local townships such as Knifepoint, Kyros Watch, and Fyrcoast to discuss that issue of government.
In a formal agreement, the scattered communities across the planet formalized their unification under Solitude: the New Haven Republic. A planet that could and would aid and protect those in need.
The Grand Assembly was born, and Commander Gryphon earned a promotion to Chancellor of the Republic. Morale was high, ambition was flying, but this young Republic knew that the now-named “New Haven” could only maintain itself at a certain capacity of settlements. This dream of a Republic would have to extend into the Star Frontier—and that was a whole other challenge.