DAY ZERO

Day Zero marks the catastrophic landing of the ExoHuman multigenerational spaceship Last Frontier on the planet 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 Alpha Age and the beginning of the so-called Beta Age, a period defined by survival, adaptation, and the establishment of the Free State of Settlers as the governing framework for the ExoHuman population on VOI 700 D.

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.

• 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.

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, relying heavily on the generosity of the 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.

The disaster fundamentally altered the 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 (2629–2631), with tensions culminating in an outright conflict between the ExoHumans and the Alliance of Native Tribes.

At the site of the Last Frontier’s crash landing, a symbolic cemetery was established to honor the victims in the 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.

Since the Funding of the 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.

• “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.”
• — Aisha Patel (Supreme Councilor, 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.”
• — Jamal Johanson (Individualists), 2635

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.

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?

• Last Frontier
• VOI 700 D
• Eastern Equatorial Section of the Habitual Belt
• Alpha Age
• Beta Age
• Human Settlement Plan
• Native Tribes
• Free State of Settlers
• Great War