G.L.A.D.I.U.S.

The Hub

Deep in the all-embracing nothingness of the cosmos rests the center of Universe. This illustrious orb of commerce and communication is known by every species as the Hub.

Through thick clouds of nebular stardust is the Jupiter-sized central precursor station, its strange metals emanating a pulsing light as if to reflect on its own nature: it was a thriving artificial planet bustling with beings from all corners of the Universe. It was very much alive.

Within its burnished shell lies a city of gargantuan proportions. The outer docks, which cling to the surface like leaves to a branch, see all manner of ship come and go. From merchant vessels to military frigates, none is the stranger.

Once one passes the prescript security checks, they would find that though the Hub is indeed an incredible utopian paradise it is not devoid of inhabitants living in poverty. The poor can often be seen strewn out over the streets or sitting cross-legged on corners to collect Credits from kind-hearted strangers. Several welfare organizations work to keep these beings from starving, though that effort can oftentimes prove futile.

Deeper into the bowels of the Hub, the poor seemingly fade into a gradient. Though it is an obvious shift in scenery, it is not an unwelcome one. One would find here many hundreds of thousands of stores lining the the Outer Poverty Ring (as the residents of the Hub have taken to calling it) where one can find military-grade weaponry, rare and advanced technology and software, ships, shuttles, food, and even indentured servants for sale if one looks hard enough.

Even further in still, within the Inner Ring, lies the upper class residential buildings. Structures such as apartments, hotels, gentleman's clubs, bars, and corporate offices might be found here. The Inner Circle surrounds the Core, the most important object in the entire Universe.

It is the thing that tethers the races together, that binds all living things and encompasses them in harmony and peace. Within the Core lies the all-important voice, the booming thing that calls to all reaches of space. The High Union. This sect of representatives is made up of members from every species- one of each. Their job is to represent their home-planet and race (of course), delegate important matters to appointed persons, and arbitrate disputes should they arise. At its base, the High Union is the grounding force of the Universe.

It wasn't until fifty years after humanity reached out into the abyss and clasped organized space by the hand did they finally gain a place within the High Union. That was five years back, in 2235, when Representative Holmes was elected as Earth's representative. It was a chaotic election back in humanity's colonies, naturally. That fact did not help their advanced neighbors in the far reaches to look upon them with respect.

Holmes was not born on Earth, but rather on the recently-inhabited planet Stella. Stella, a world of lush vegetation, was humanity's first leap into the unknown Universe. It wasn't until 2205 when Holmes discovered a unique mineral deposit deep within this beautiful planet's crust. These minerals could be manufactured into Stella Alloy, an incredibly durable and lightweight metal that's now widely used in the human military for armor plating and weaponry.

Holmes was commended for his discovery, which consequently landed him the United Nations Medal of Technological Advancement. When it came time to elect a representative to the High Union seat, he was an obvious candidate. However, a bombardment of attack campaigns proved seemingly insurmountable obstacles to overcome.

"Would you want a spaceborn representing Earth?"

"What could someone who only knows Stella do to help Earth?"

These were the primary attacks used against him during his run for representative. He was ultimately given the position thanks to the combination of resolve and humbleness. Together, he and his fellow representatives form the single greatest, most efficient government in existence.