Ballard Nebula Expanse

Ballard Nebula Expanse

The Ballard Nebula Expanse is technically a collection of very large Bok globules,[1] and was first surveyed by the Union Science Corps – Galactic Survey Program in 2901. The survey was very superficial, recording the size and density as well as its location. It was named Ballard Expanse, after a Sci Corps Astrologist. The globule was and is know to many other space faring civilizations and as many different names. In 5020 a long lost Terran Colony was found to exist inside the Globule. The United Earth Colonist Ark Shenandoah, one of the three Ark[2] convoy leaving Earth with destination Cygni Alpha was considered lost when only the Hudson and the Delaware arrived at the intended destination. Back then the Hyper Jump technology was used by Terrans for FTL travel. During the Jump phase an accident (cause and details unknown or lost) caused the Shenandoah to cross a much greater distance and emerge in Real Space inside a dense cluster of Bok Globules. The density of the matter and the condition of the damaged Ark forced the Colonists to set down on a planet inside the Ballard Nebulae. Over three thousand years they were completely isolated and believed to be alone. Earth became a mystical place of legend. The lost colonists called their small but highly developed region of space New Worlds Commonwealth and the Ballard Expanse they called home is called Veil of God by the Mini Terrans. The Mini Terrans became a Union Member Society and the Ballard Expanse is now officially called the NWC – Region.

While NWC ships are uniquely well designed to operate within the Matter cloud conditions, normal civilian ships find it dangerous and difficult. Therefore two Transfer Access Points exist: Gigamon Space Station “NWC-Region Hub” and “Golden Bazaar Sobody's Seat” Space Bus Travelers to and from points within the NWC area can switch from regular Space Bus to NWC operated Long Range Ferries.