A year after a devastating galatic war, humanity is trying put the pieces back together. However, humanities very nature may prevent it...

Anthology Background

The year is 2284 and humanity had spread across the galaxy with reckless abandon. Establishing colonies, bases and even vast cities on every habital planet that was reached. Hundreds of space stations and star ports were built in systems that didn't have a planet that was habital or could be terraformed. Vast amounts of natural resources were consumed in the race to expand humanity through out the stars. Humans also encountered and befriended several alien races. But the human race must have gone one planet too far.

In 2278, began the Solidarity War with an alien race called the Bogaar, which left the galaxy in chaos. Tens of millions humans and alien allies were killed in this power lope-sided five year long confrontation. With their superior smart weapons, the Bogaar relentlessly attacked human establishments. Nearly all of a vast armada of warships were laid to waste from the onslaught. It looked as though the Bogaar would march all the way to Terra, but as suddenly as the war began, the invaders retreated back to their home-worlds sending a single, vague message that simply said not to enter their territory.

A year after, it is still not clear where the Bogaar territory boundaries are. Some ships that wander too close are quickly attacked and never heard from again. A wide zone has been established between the two factions. Within this zone, now know as the Wastelands, the fragmented human race venture lightly fearing provoking another war. This lawless area, littered with destroyed or abandoned cities, colonies and mining facilities, has become a haven for pirates, smugglers and other low-life. A few locations provide some sanctuary and are typically seedy taverns aboard defunct space stations or rusty barges.

Besides the resources lost during the war, human men were the largest loss and are now a rare commodity. With a gender ratio of ten to one, males of breeding age have all but become prostitutes. Pampered and protected. Even with Life Engineers frantically creating children in the laboratory, it will be years before a balance is renewed. Women are strongly encouraged to bare children either naturally or artificially. But, women are now the ruling class holding the society together...and they like it that way.

Scenes from 'Undertow' The Blood Moon Shadows