The nine (or debatably ten) planets of Earth's solar system had barely begun adapting to interacting with one another when the strange transmission arrived. Allegedly from the administrators of an alien empire so distant it was as unfathomable as impossible to travel across, the message was oddly benign. Their coalition had grown too large and unwieldy, so a vast swatch of planets just outside Earth's solar system had been given over to those planets to be dealt with as they saw fit. First things first, the planets needed to be explored, their positions charted, and their peoples given the warmest welcome that could be afforded. To that end, the Allied Solarian Exploration Force (ASEF) was formed, and the Mercurian starship K'nthalsk was fitted for the journey. Equipped with a diverse crew from various planets and walks of life, the ship would be tasked with being the first to set foot on bizarre, bewildering, and biologically diverse worlds--and (optionally) live to tell the tale. Follow the crew on their many and varied journeys through the unknown regions of space, and share discoveries, triumphs and tribulations with them. (Cover by the glorious @Fennagin )
14 parts