It is 2162. Colonisation of the whole solar system is no longer beyond reach of humanity.

We live in an era of interplanetary travel, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering and nanotechnology. We live longer, we can fix and enhance our genes and those of our children, create new species of plants and animals to suit our needs. Robots and artificial organisms perform for us more and more work each year. Computers have reached computing power unimaginable for past generations. All that progress is founded on single element - unavailable on Earth isotope of Helium-3

Initially extracted from lunar and Martian regolith Helium-3 means the same for us, what coal and oil meant for industrial era – it is the gold of our time! Unlimited source of safe and clean energy. However, the progress of Moon and Mars colonization renders lunar and Martian deposits increasingly difficult to extract making the operation less and less profitable. Prosperity of almost 20 billion people on Earth and colonies in the inner system is increasingly dependant on fuel imported from distant parts of the solar system.

There however, with our quiet permission, arises the wild west of our time! Countless companies, corporations and cartels extract Helium-3 from the asteroid regolith and gas giants, with no regulation or supervision of any Earth-based organization or government. They conduct research too unprofitable, dangerous, impossible or illegal on Earth, and settle their disputes with guns and mercenaries. Distant space became a shelter for all kind of malcontents, anarchist communes, sects and criminal syndicates. National states and international organizations are too weak, divided or simply uninterested in doing something about it, as long as the stream of Helium-3 flows, and their own space installations remain undisturbed! There beyond the asteroid belt, a dangerous game is played, with its rules uncontrolled by anyone on Earth. A game with consequences difficult to predict. A completely New Game!

Fragment of a speech by Francois N'dy Assembe on the International Forum for Security of interplanetary travel. June 17th 2162.