In the late twenty-first century, Earth's resources began to reach dangerous levels of depletion. Almost every nation's efforts were channelled into finding an alternative to sustain our overpopulated planet. While some looked to create artificial or replicated resources, most efforts were focused on the unknown beyond our solar system. Numerous citizens from all walks of life volunteered for Biblical ark-like projects and were jettisoned into the cold void of space following predetermined routes that should have led to new worlds.

Most of the arks were never made contact again, but one triumphant day in 2101, Earth received a transmission. One of the Ark's had found a stable planet, a new Earth. Not only had they found one stable planet but several neighbouring solar systems that continued one if not more stable planets. The resource-rich galaxy was previously unheard of. The ark's navigation data proved that it had passed through a wormhole that had sent the vessel far further than its limited light speed engine ever could have propelled it. 

<Society redevelops, terraforming frustrations and failures, class divide>

<Leading to our story...>

Maintenance and technical support ship finds itself drawn into preventing a war between two factions.

Responds to a distress call finding a science vessel with no one on board left alive. Salvages what they can, taking the ship's black box. Investigation reveals that the ship was testing a new form of bioweapon. The crew finds themselves pursued by both factions who want the weapon back all while realizing that they have been exposed and only have a matter of time left before they begin to suffer the same fate.