Database and Lore

Earth

“The world of lost cause will be nothing more than a forgotten relic of our past. Its only valid point is that we won’t forget about our past actions, either,” Captain Isodore, Last captain of the last convoy departing Earth in 2203 AD. Of the many worlds of the UWA, there is one planet that surprisingly doesn’t even hold a place of importance. Planet Earth is considered to be both a tragic but valuable learning experience to the developing human civilizations. It at least serves as a launching point for developing culture and all life from which humanity spawns. Yet, it still seems to have some value in it. The real question is, what will it become in the far future? History While there is a plethora of Earth’s written history, all can easily agree that this world is the birthplace of the human race. All societies, cultures, and future colonies can attribute their former descendants to this planet. The most significant technological boom would occur in the 1800s to late 2000s. The human population would explode in numbers, and there was a plethora of various languages and religions. Many historians often commented that Earth was a beautiful world in the early 1900s, teaming with a variety of life, flora, and animals that are more abundant than most habitable locations in the galaxy. Most of this would all change by the late 1950s to 2000s. As the human population continued to climb, there was a massive disregard for the environment. Human intervention and an enormous rise in the use of fossil fuels would lead to a cascade increase in the rise of global temperatures. The ocean levels were much lower in the 1900s when compared to 2050 and 2100. Pollution due to improper disposal and waste would lead to a degradation of the global eco structure. Water pollution attributed to oil, plastics, and other wastes would wipe out much of the marine wildlife. Humanity’s population was actually as high as it currently is as of the 24^th century, although this had to live on one central planet only. Birth rates were unchecked. Estimates are difficult to conclude, but some believed that the population had reached 12 billion by 2050, with others saying it was high as 20 billion by 2135. Living conditions had become appalling for some. With rising sea levels, entire nations were displaced and forced to live in more mountainous terrain. Resources to feed the population would lead to the collapse of governments and severely weaken others. However, Earth still managed to hold out. Progression in technology would help get away from many of the things that would lead to heavy pollution and even try to fix some of the environmental damage. Sadly, it wasn’t enough. Air pollution had wrecked the breathable air that many Earthlings needed to wear unique masks to be able to operate outside. Acid rain would also be prevalent in further destruction. Drinkable water would further dwindle in some areas as oil and heavy deposits of plastic littered the ocean depths. What would be the final death blow on Earth’s environment would be a combination of two things. One was the eruption of Yellowstone National Park. The supervolcano that was there had finally burst in 2136. This would lead to a catastrophic amount of sulphuric acid that reduced the atmosphere to a gray overhang to add to the high amount of air pollution in place. At the same time, a deadly bacterium had been unleashed from one of the melted icebergs from the poles. What is simply known as toxin 23-9 was the waste byproduct created by the bacteria as it would feed off the waste and pollution. What was simply known as “Nature’s reset button” by some scientists would begin to spread rapidly to devour the pollution en masse. The deadly toxin it created would leave an orange and reddish sludge behind. It would later be called “The Orange Muck,” as it got everywhere. It was considered to be ten times worse than Red Tide and would wipe out 90% of wildlife on Earth.  By 2140, the Orange Muck was out of control. Earth had been reduced to a wasteland, and the population was dying. Earth’s population was down to 5 billion inhabitants. The poorest nations were almost completely wiped out, and it would become known as the “Great Dying.” All attempts to filter out the deadly toxin weren’t working. Any attempts to use a constructed disease to eliminate the bacteria failed. By 2140, the United Nations declared in its studies that if nothing was done in the next fifty years, the human race would plunge to 1 billion inhabitants or less. Other estimates even concluded that humanity might be facing inevitable extinction. However, technology was available for the population of Earth. By now, Luna had been colonized, and small bases had been established on Mars. A collective outcry had declared that Mars would have to become the new home. Even if Mars had a worse environment than Earth, the deadly bacteria couldn’t follow it. Water and other resources could be carefully mined from the planet. The basic fabricator unit that mined the surface could make terraforming possible. It was almost agreed that to save the human race, it would have to abandon the planet. This would lead to the great Earth to Mars Exodus. It would start in the year, although many of the convoys really didn’t start until 2149. The Exodus is considered one of the most incredible moments in human history. Even with technology that was almost on par with 24th century standards, Earth had managed to collect every individual that wanted to leave. It would take fifty to sixty years to accomplish this goal. Besides technology, the resettlement of Mars had proven to be beneficial to the people of Earth. Not everyone was ready to get up and leave despite the harsh environment of Earth. This allowed the ones that wanted to leave to do so with less competition. Convoys were continuous but not overly filled to bursting. Even if most of the transports had stopped within forty years, the Earth inhabitants would still charter to leave in the later years to come. By 2200, the population of Earth had been reduced to almost 500 million inhabitants. Those that stayed vowed that they would find a way to survive and combat “The Orange Muck.” Earth is known by many as the “Planet of lost cause.” The term really didn’t originate until after the colonization of Cebravis, thanks to the Gabatrix Experiment. Contrary to some historians’ beliefs, there were still attempted efforts and research in ways of restoring the environment of Earth. Prior to the Gabatrix Experiment, enormous resources were devoted to fixing the problem. It was believed that in time, Earth would simply correct itself. The bacteria that fed off the pollution would eventually run out of food and die off. The atmosphere would eventually resettle and perhaps be habitable enough to grow food, flora, and trees again. However, the time could be anywhere from a thousand years to even hundreds of thousands of years. Similarly, the research failed to find much. With the near evacuation of Earth, the remaining population had its own sets of challenges and advantages. The most significant impact was the fact that cities were no longer crowded. While the economies were much smaller, the mountain and lower domed coastal towns had a lot of space available. However, the toxin had still proven to be destructive to the human body. Enormous, heavy-duty filters would be the only actual means of defense, but even by 2250, these filters could barely hold out. “Death by the Muck” was a common phrase on Earth headstones and obituaries. Even then, some of the cities had still held out despite the difficulties. By 2205, Earth announced that its Exodus was coming to a close. It would create a new government, a united Earth government, to represent the remaining inhabitants. Contrary to belief, Earth still had some advantages when compared to Mars. While everything had proven fruitful on the red planet, Earth still had mining operations installed to find metals that could only be refined on the surface. Various industrial centers were still available. Luna would often “borrow” many of the things from Earth to help out in its survival. Gravity adaptation syndrome that affected Martians and Lunarians could be more easily treated on Earth, although the cloud colonies on Venus would also be established to combat this. Ultimately, the Gabatrix Experiment was the final death blow to the population of Earth. Already drastically reduced in numbers, the discovery and colonization of Cebravis would lead to another Earth Exodus movement. In 2260, Cebravis would swallow up many other Earthlings as they simply gave up on living on the beleaguered planet. By 2270, the Earth population had dropped to 50 million individuals. Rumors persisted that some cities had been completely abandoned to let nature reclaim it. However, some vowed to stay regardless. The ultimate fate of Earth was that the population had almost completely given up on the planet. Any further research had dwindled to nearly nothing. However, the population did have a breakthrough in 2272 with the introduction of a new filtration system. What would be known as the Kinsey Filter had managed to eradicate much of the deadly water as it slipped through. This would eliminate over 99% of the toxin by the time it reached the human body. Any further side effects could be combated with medication. The filter was effective enough that all surviving city populations could operate on Earth indefinitely if the filters were continuously maintained and taken care of. This single invention is considered to be a miracle by some Earthlings as they finally could live in peace. More Current History With the arrival of the UWA, Earth would become a proud member along with the other new colony planets. Unfortunately, the damage had been done long ago. With so little in population and infrastructure, Earth wouldn’t be a place of the central government as Mars and Cebravis had been long established as a place for administration. Regardless, the Earthlings depended upon the new filter systems. For the first time in over a hundred years, the Earth population was actually rising. While Cebravis and Oshun were heralded as a place of beauty and paradise, the Earthlings still tried to live with what they got. Some tourists would come to visit the “destroyed museum planet” or “planet of lost cause” since it was the original place where humanity came from. While much of the resources were elsewhere, Earthlings still managed to operate rather well in the spacious cities. Many even complemented that “Yes, the place is a hellhole, but the price for a home is very cheap.” As long as you were ready to work hard in jobs that involved cleaning and growing food indoors, then you were all set. As of 2348, the Earth population stands at about 200 million in numbers. The largest cities on Earth include Waterville DC, Mexico City, Brasilia, New Beijing, Moscowland, and Madrid. Many of the older, less commonly spoken languages such as Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese are still practiced there, along with the other surviving nations and cities that remain. In the preservation of the United Nations of the past, the Capital of Earth is routinely moved from Waterville DC, Moscowland, to New Beijing back to Waterville every ten years. The ultimate lesson that humanity has taken into account with Earth is that new worlds shouldn’t repeat the same mistake that led to Earth’s environmental collapse. The influence on this alone has transpired onto the feelings and mentality that is often reflected in the strict environmental laws of Cebravis and other colonies.  *Spoilers if you haven’t read past Gabatrix: The First Peace arc*    The most significant impact on Earth was the alliance made with the alien T’rintar clan of the Itreans. Signed in 2349, the drastic realization that the Itreans were descendants of the dinosaurs would be momentous. As a bargaining chip, Earth or “Itrea,” as it was known to the former ancient inhabitants, promised to restore the planet to its rightful glory. As agreed with the alliance, Earth would be handed over to the T’rintar clan in return for protection against the other Itrean clans. Earth or Itrea has once again turned into a focal point in UWA politics. According to the people of Earth, they were discussed prior to the exchange. Many of the Earthling inhabitants were partially nervous with the concept but open to what the alien allies could offer. The Itreans were effectively adept into restoration and terraforming worlds. The T’rintar clan promised to restore the ecosystem and environment in at least 15-30 years. Further efforts could then be made even to introduce a refreezing process to lower the ocean levels in forty years. In the first few months, the Itrean pilgrimages had begun. Ancient religions and cultural movements placed enormous efforts and resources into gathering equipment that could clean up the planet. Many of the Earthlings are starting to see signs as early as a month of open, clean pockets devoid of the Orange Muck. Criticism towards the cleaning is the belief that even with Itrea, the T’rintar clan has had a long history of being away from Earth. To most of them, Itrea is just another planet. However, some groups are pressuring this forward, hence why the cleaning efforts are slow but steady. The alliance did require certain sacrifices. Earth would have to be fully relinquished from the UWA by 2352. However, the original inhabitants would be allowed to stay. The humans that remain on Earth will become T’rintar clan citizens, and the planetary government can remain as it is untouched. While promising, many of the people of Earth are more enthralled with the concept of an alliance that can save the entire human race. While there is some resistance into the idea of the relinquishment, many UWA politicians and people alike don’t see it as too much of an issue. By now both Mars and Cebravis are the core worlds, not Earth. The loss of the planet as a member state isn’t a heavy blow as humanity spreads outward from the Sol System. As a result, Earth is left in a rather odd place. On the one hand, it is a place for humans to live on with the new Itrean visitors. On the other hand, the humans have to learn to adapt to these new changes as well.