H3L: The Battle For Tortuga Thread - Writer's Club

Hi all

I wrote this quick Backstory for Tr3a of GARM studios, currently developing the cool "H3L" cyberpunk mod. Hope you like it!
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"H3LL" is a fast paced tactical multiplayer FPS featuring three technologically advanced races engaged in a desperate struggle for the deadly mining planet Tortuga - and the incredible secrets it holds in its strange, dark heart.
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It is 55666: during a routine probe of a new starcluster in the Alpertine system, deep space resource-exploration corporation Loftleader Industries discovers planet XB426. There are no signs of life but there's a breathable atmosphere, and rich mineral seams lying near the surface.

Within three months of their arrival, Loftleader observe the entire planet disappearing and reappearing five times at random intervals while safe in high geosync orbit . Each time it takes one hour to arrive back. A scientific phenomenon of this type and scale has never been witnessed before. Loftleader realize the incredible potential of this planet which they name "Tortuga".

Another six weeks pass and there planet remains where it is. The Loftleader research team have limited resources but a lot of technical skill, and decide to risk landing on the planet in order for Advanced Surface Analysis. The atmosphere is clear on descent, but soon a huge electrical storms cuts all access to their mothership, and on-board navigation systems are fried.

Moments later the entire planet - which is a third larger than New Earth's own moon - once again completely disappears in a massive dimensional warp. But when it reappears an hour later the team, and their drop ship have gone forever.
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Another six months pass. An entire war fleet of battle cruisers from three rival alien races are now in long range orbit around Tortuga. They have intercepted the transmission to Earth from the empty Loftleader mothership, and to here to claim the planet for their own.

Strategically, they are in a three-way stalemate: each faction hates the other two, and no two factions want to form an alliance against the remaining group. Nobody wishes to engage in direct space combat unless necessary, as it is simply too dangerous. Besides, there's always the cost of the ships to consider. There are easier ways of resolving their difficulties..

Hacking Loftleader's ship reveals the last distress message sent from their research team:

[start] "Mayday, mayday. This is Loftleader planetary research team Alpha. Violent atmospheric electrostorms are damaging navigation and we're going to crash land on XB426, planet Tortuga. Its entire structure is.. it's like we're viewing it through a huge distorting lens. If you can hear this message please help us.. we're being torn -" [message ends]

Where six months before there was nothing but bare rock and sand there now stand three huge Space Elevators. Nobody knows who constructed these or how it was accomplished. These STs - Sky Tethers - are hollow towers each twelve thousand miles high and half a mile in diameter. They're made of a superdense chain of carbon pico-tubes. Each of the three factions have quickly discovered these immense black towers are the only safe way both onto and off Tortuga.

The disappearance of the planet happens in regular cycle once every thirteen weeks. It's still unknown how the Dimensional Warp affecting the planet is being regulated. All factions however have detected intense microwave emissions from three Micro-Class black holes nearby, suggesting they are stabilizing the entire planet, as well as providing each ST with incredible amounts of 'dark-energy' power.

How the micro black holes actually connect to each tower, the nature of their energy-exchange and how this relates to the D-Warp phenomenon as a whole is still a mystery. The biggest question of course is, where does Tortuga actually disappear to.. and what happened to the Research team from Loftleader?

Of course, none of the companies involved with Tortuga realize the true importance of this stabilzation process. They are only here for the resources they think the planet can provide and all other priorities are rescinded. Mysteries are merely theoretical; of current concern to each rival group is that they simply establish the largest ST-Base possible at the planetary end of their particular tower. It is from there that the true fight can begin.

Every time Tortuga reappears after D-Warp, all physical structures are left standing but no life forms remain. For each faction, all that counts is that the other two factions are utterly destroyed - on time and under budget.
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There are three rival factions on Tortuga:

• First are the "Surtt", a group of techno-spiritual zealots. They pledge their holy allegiance to Nidhog, the giant serpent with golden eyes. They see Torguga as a sacred land belonging to their bloodthirsty imaginary deity, and want to let it fall back into the infinite Warp for good. They feel this can only be accomplished by destroying the other two STs - and finally their own. But obviously not before they strip mine the entire planet and make a healthy profit..
• The second faction are the "Nillians", a tight band of pirates & traders who basically hate everyone who doesn't get their side splitting cosmic joke - "Why Bother?" - and the only answer that provides them with 'maximum fun'.. "Chaos!" Arriving on this miserable rock was a bad idea; their base is costing them an arm and a leg to build and maintain and now they can't wait to leave Tortuga for good. Before they leave however they want to grab what they can - and cause as much violent mischief as possible. If they aren't having a good time then one thing's for certain: nobody else is.
• Finally, there are the "Heigols", a race of sentient cyborgs controlled by their Master A.I, the self-styled "King Jayavarman the 8th". His only purpose on this planet is raw power. The inferior minds of the Nillians and the Surtt will not be allowed to destroy the only means of transporting the planet's valuable mineral deposits into space - and from there back to New Earth, where his secret army of transhuman bionoids grows in strength & size daily.

Time is short, base building is expensive, the planet is unstable - and there are enemies to kill. But of course, researching the Dark Energy Towers and the mystery of the Warp itself is always an option..

"H3ll: The Battle For Torguta": choose your faction - fight for your cause - claim ultimate victory in the fight of your life!
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Features (features go here):

Use alien war technology in-game with hyper-advanced Warp and Black Hole based tech:

* Slow time itself when under heavy fire
* Protect your mobile heavy weapons with shields
* Deploy miniature singularities against your enemy
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Edited by: Swanson420