Archway Publishing Soldiers of Misfortune: The Other than Human Histories

Despite what scholars and scientists predicted throughout the ages, the Earth ended with a whimper and not a bang. AI ruled mankind with an iron fist for two centuries. The Earth slowly crumbled through the actions of both AI and Mankind. It was a slow death as gleaming cities, and ghettos met the same fate. Rich and poor died holding each other in terror. The end was near when mysterious gigantic vac-vessels known as Arcs suddenly appeared and scooped up the desperate remains of Humanity. The mysterious benefactors were called the Gardae who took the remaining populations on a long journey, known as the Diaspora. (Exodus). After the long journey, billions of people were unceremoniously dropped off on seven Settled Worlds chosen by the Gardae. Linked by an alien communication system called The Elemental Link (aka: TEL), the seven planets became viable and an artificial life form called the Grün was created to counter the massive loss of life and low birth rates. The enslaved Grün were classified: OTH- Other Than Human and were given no rights under Associatium laws. A central government was formed and the Associatium's mission was to eliminate Mankind's past mistakes in the name of progress. In the beginning, two companies became dominant: The Paradise Company and Asguard Inc. Both are defined by their military might, and industrial knowledge. Their fierce competition cost thousands of lives among the Settled Worlds. Not having learned their lessons on Earth, Mankind has been doing the same things over, and over again the same way and expected different results to only experience repeat failures at catastrophic levels. That type of thinking has not changed and may condemn humans to the extinction that eluded them the first time. Mankind has a chance to start over again but circumstances have radically changed through experience and technology. Humans remain mired in past behavior despite great upheavals in their failed past. A small group of people are fighting against the status quo and trying to find a means for people to move past their limited physical and mental limits. Religion, culture, corruption and greed stand against them and crush any attempts to move past the status quo.