Boundary Theory Crafting - Story

What is Boundary?

Boundary is a first person shooter set in the void of low earth orbit. Players are pitted against each other in brutal zero gravity combat in dizzying environments that will test both their mettle and tactical skill.

The Official Story of Boundary

Nothing so far! Currently, the only thing we know about the universe of Boundary are three factions: the Solar System Defense Force, the Vacuum Exiles, and Space Pirates(translated literally from Chinese).

The Theorized Story/Universe of Boundary(CAUTION: FAN MATERIAL AND NOT OFFICIAL)

This section will be split up into multiple sections, each detailing a specific part of the universe and its justifications for why. Objectives are: remaining consistent with the lore provided, a focus on realism and accuracy, and creating a justifiable backdrop to the Boundary game.

Let’s get started.

A Short History of the early to mid 21st Century

Boundary is set in the near future, around the 2070s. Earth’s global culture and political climate is extremely similar to the one we know in 2020, owing to the stability provided by the globalization of world economies as well as free access to the internet. The four major political powers of this universe are as follows, ranked in no particular order: The United States of America, The People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation and it’s Protectorate States, and finally the European Union. These four powers make up the United Nations’ Security Council, which as of the 2070s, acts as more of a super-government rather than a global forum.

The people of Earth are witnessing the beginnings of a new era. With the invention and application of commercial fusion energy, the world has met and exceeded its necessary power needs without the continued usage of fossil fuels (this will be important down the line).

However, the commercial use of fusion energy requires a large amount of deuterium and helium to be sustainable. Deuterium as a hydrogen isotope is mined from the Earth’s oceans on an industrial scale. Helium, specifically the helium-3 isotope, is not as readily found on Earth and has been a bottleneck in energy production for decades. But, this problem has solved itself with humanity’s first step into the cosmos, the race coming into contact with its closest source of helium-3: the Moon.

Camp Armstrong was founded firstly as a moon colony by the now defunct NASA, which then became a mining station after the corporate rush for helium extraction, and as of 2070 hosts a substantial population that mirrors a major city on earth. As a hub for interplanetary travel, Camp Armstrong’s space elevator(Michael Collins Memorial Station) sees a considerable amount of industrial traffic, with its exports consisting of the most precious element in the solar system: Liquid Helium-3. Massive space tankers ferry this new gold between the Moon and Earth, helping fuel mankind’s future in the stars (210,000 cubic meters at a time).

With prosperity reining in the four major powers, the rest of the world is beginning to unravel. In the Middle-East the lack of oil money has destabilized governments, with civil disturbances creating violent fundamentalist movements. In Central America the growing power of exploitative corporate groups has begun to oppress much weaker governments and citizens. In South Asia, the once prosperous industrial nations are slowly decaying with the push of manufacturing to the African States, which now have replaced Asia as the primary manufacturing center of the world.

Left behind, many of these ignored countries have banded together to stall the development of Earth’s Orbit, and in extension, space at large. These nations fund multiple terrorist organizations in developed countries, hoping to drive public attention away from space development and towards growing social problems on Earth. Though, some of these governments have begun to fund small sects of space forces, deniable assets that privateer and pirate helium tankers, smuggling these riches back to Earth to support draining financial reserves.

With the growing threat of Terrorism and Piracy, the United Nations passes the Outer Space Defense Act, which creates the Solar System Defense Force (or shortened to the Space Defense Force by some). However this act’s restrictions on engagements limits the force’s ability to combat many of the threats it faces, and many tankers still fall victim to piracy.

With low-orbital hijackings on the rise, many major corporations turn to private military contractors for protection. Although dangerous, this industry is as, if not more lucrative than helium mining. The most famous of these companies are called the Vacuum Exiles: a group of ex-SSDF soldiers now under private employment. These men and women are considered the very top tier of hirable guards, masters of zero gravity warfare, and are paid accordingly.

But as private armies clash with government backed pirates in Low Earth Orbit, the United Nations passes the Revised Space Defense Act; giving the Solar System Defense Force wide reaching powers and removing its previously restrictive rules of engagement. Lines blur as S.S.D.F. forces engage Vacuum Exiles in customs inspections gone wrong, and heavily armed pirates attack both S.S.D.F. and Vacuum Exiles orbital stations in daring and deadly strikes.

Now, the Boundary has become a battlefield.

Factions of Boundary

Solar System Defense Force

Created by the United Nations’ Outer Space Defense Act, the Solar System Defense Force is primarily manned by soldiers from member nations. Most of these personnel are recruited from China and the United States’ respective Space Forces, with the Russian Federation following closely behind.

The Solar System Defense Force operates the largest standing space-going military fleet, which is primarily focused on peacekeeping and customs enforcement. They are also the largest military organization in space, with a large funding budget from the United Nations to back it up.

As a mixing pot of different nations, each of the major U.N. security council members provides a niche within the organization. However, the United States and China are considered the primary powers that work together to bring peace to Earth’s Orbital Sphere.

The Solar System Defense Force is based off of the United States Coast Guard in operations, but with more overarching powers.

Vacuum Exiles

Officially incorporated in Melbourne, Florida as the Orbital Security Company, the Vacuum Exiles is actually a subdivision within the overarching defense corporation. Consisting of a number of marines comparable to a large platoon, the Vacuum Exiles operate primarily on helium tankers and stations as hired security. 

Though the company does have a few smaller corvettes at their disposal, they are used as mostly transportation and logistic vehicles rather than warships.

The Vacuum Exiles are unique among their competitors as they recruit exclusively from ex-Solar System Defense Force personnel, and even then the selection process is extremely vigorous. It is estimated that only a handful of these recruits end up working as actual guards onboard helium tankers, with the rest ending up as standard Orbital Security Officers(who are nothing to scoff at either).

Space Pirates(Various Subfactions)

Funded in large by smaller governments, the various pirate gangs, privateers, and terrorist groups in Earth Orbit are decentralized and underfunded. However, their work is both a necessary evil for the nations that survive on black-market helium-3 sales as well as justifying the prices mining corporations set on the critical resource. 

It is difficult to fully describe the scale and diversity of this faction, as each and every gang has varying methods and reasons for entering such an occupation. However one thing is clear amongst them: the money, the infamy, and the freedom is much more than any of the other two factions could ever dream of offering.

Terrorists, self-sustaining pirates, government privateers, all fall under this banner.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rz0LOSRPllQpXIRfY-E-pLXMb57f2hzOakIKevwIn5Y/edit?usp=sharing