=== Races | Historical Events ===

====== DAY ZERO ======

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===== Overview =====

Day Zero marks the catastrophic landing of the [[the_humans|ExoHuman]] multigenerational spaceship [[Last Frontier|Last Frontier]] on the planet [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]] on March 24, 2625. This pivotal event not only reshaped the trajectory of humanity's future but also marked the ending of the [[the_alpha_age|Alpha Age]] and the beginning of the so-called [[Beta Age|Beta Age]], a period defined by survival, adaptation, and the establishment of the [[Free State of Settlers|Free State of Settlers]] as the governing framework for the ExoHuman population on VOI 700 D.

===== The Crash Landing =====

The Last Frontier was struck by an unexplained missile in the Trappist-1 star system 80 years before its arrival on VOI 700 D. The resulting damage compromised its automated landing systems, forcing the crew to attempt a manual landing. Tragically, this effort led to a fire in the engine room, which spread uncontrollably, igniting fuel reserves and triggering a series of explosions.

==== Casualties and Losses ====

  * 1,500 settlers perished in the disaster, marking the single largest loss of life in ExoHuman history.
  * Extensive destruction of the spaceship eliminated most of the materials and resources meant to support the Human Settlement Plan (HSP) after landing.
  * The Last Frontier, designed as a depot of tools, raw materials, and shelter for settlers, was rendered largely unusable.

===== Immediate Aftermath =====

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The survivors faced the daunting reality of rebuilding without the resources they had anticipated. With little more than personal possessions and limited salvaged materials, they had to adapt quickly:

  * They established a makeshift camp on the future site of [[New Kourou|New Kourou,]] relying heavily on the generosity of the [[the_natives_tribes_of_voi_700_d|Native Tribes]], who initially viewed the Exohumans as celestial beings fallen from the sky.
  * The settlers abandoned the idea of remaining aboard the Last Frontier and began crafting rudimentary shelters from debris and available natural resources.



===== Effects on the Human Settlement Plan =====

The disaster fundamentally altered the [[human_settlement_plan_hsp|Human Settlement Plan]] (HSP):

  * Expansion efforts became a race for survival rather than a structured execution of the original vision.
  * Relations with the Native Tribes deteriorated as ExoHumans’ resource extraction clashed with Native cultural and ecological values.
  * The stage was set for the [[great_war|Great War]] (2629–2631), with tensions culminating in an outright conflict between the ExoHumans and the [[alliance_of_native_tribes|Alliance of Native Tribes]].

===== Cultural Legacy and Commemoration =====

==== The Day Zero Monument ====

At the site of the Last Frontier’s crash landing, a symbolic cemetery was established to honor the victims in the [[the_gamma_age|Gamma Age]]. At its center stands the Day Zero Monument, constructed from surviving fragments of the ship.
The monument’s design and inscription reflect resilience and renewal:

**Inscription:**
//What we lost defines us, but what we rebuild redeems us.//

==== Remembrance Practices ====

Since the Funding of the [[federal_confederation|Federal Confederation]] on July 4, 2631, after the Great War, Day Zero is commemorated annually with:

  * Memorial ceremonies in New Kourou and other settlements.
  * Educational programs that highlight the lessons learned from the tragedy.
  * Public readings of survivor accounts and key speeches.

===== Famous Quotes about Day Zero =====

  * //"Day Zero transformed us from a species that solved everything with technology to a species that had to find new solutions for non-existent technology."//
  * — [[georgia_hawking|Aisha Patel]] ([[supreme_councilor|Supreme Councilor]], [[communards|Communards]]), 2632

  * //"Day Zero made us suffer agonies on the scale of Tantalus: After 102 light years, and on the shoulders of generations before us, we finally reached our destination — only to be set back centuries."//
  * — [[sam_darkansaw|Jamal Johanson]] ([[individualists|Individualists]]), 2635

===== Impact on ExoHuman Society =====

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**Technological Regression** 

Day Zero marked a dramatic shift from reliance on advanced technology to improvisation and resilience. This loss of infrastructure forced ExoHumans to adopt:

  * Localized, low-tech solutions for survival.
  * A culture of resourcefulness and innovation under constraint.

**Social and Political Ramifications**

  * Unified grief and determination initially brought the survivors together, fostering a communal spirit.
  * However, the scarcity of resources and the subsequent conflict with Native Tribes introduced division and tension within ExoHuman society.

===== Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters =====

Day Zero offers a wealth of narrative opportunities for campaigns:

  * **Exploration and Salvage:** Allow players to scavenge the remnants of the Last Frontier, uncovering lost technology, personal artifacts, or hidden compartments with secrets about the missile strike.
  * **Survival Challenges:** Create scenarios where players must navigate the harsh realities of rebuilding with limited resources, forging alliances with Native Tribes or facing internal conflict.
  * **Foreshadowing the Great War:** Introduce rising tensions with Native Tribes as players take part in initial resource expeditions, encountering cultural and environmental barriers.
  * **Mystery and Intrigue:** Delve into the unanswered question of the missile strike. Was it sabotage from within, an alien attack, or something else entirely?

===== Related Pages and Further Information =====

  * [[last_frontier|Last Frontier]]
  * [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]]
  * [[equator_sections_east_and_west|Eastern Equatorial Section of the Habitual Belt]]
  * [[the_alpha_age|Alpha Age]]
  * [[beta_age|Beta Age]]
  * [[human_settlement_plan_hsp|Human Settlement Plan]]
  * [[the_natives_tribes_of_voi_700_d|Native Tribes]]
  * [[Free State of Settlers|Free State of Settlers]]
  * [[great_war|Great War]]