A Brief History from the Squad 51 Universe
Before the rescue missions, the space barons, and the chaos of Squad 51’s adventures, there was Earth.
The birthplace of humanity wasn’t lost in a spectacular disaster or blown apart by aliens (though it might’ve been cleaner that way). No, Earth faded the way most things do through greed, neglect, and a thousand small cuts over centuries.
We stripped the forests. The oceans died. Oxygen levels fell so low toward the end, breathing came with a price tag. The rich lived under domes. The poor paid for oxygen credits. Earth couldn’t sustain us anymore. Not because she gave up, but because we pushed too far.
That’s when the corporations stepped in. Not to save us, but to make more profits.
The Great Evacuation
The corporations packaged humanity’s survival like a product. Tickets off Earth were sold to the highest bidder. Those without fortunes had two choices: stay behind, or sign away their freedom to labor contracts on off-world colonies.
The first colonies were little more than glorified mining camps scattered across the solar system. The corporations drained them like they drained Earth, forcing generations to live and die in the shadows of profit margins. But people eventually fought back.
The Rise of the Colonies
Over time, the corporate dynasties fell. Some families clung to their wealth and influence—the so-called nobility, like the Baneer family, whose fortunes were built on the backs of those early colonies.
But others rebelled. People broke away from corporate control and built independent colonies on the edges of the known system. They weren’t perfect, but they were free.
Even now, the ripples of that era remain. Inequality lingers, though the gap keeps narrowing. Space Barons, pirates, profiteers, and opportunists still roam, but there are no more corporations officially exploiting entire planets. Progress doesn’t move fast, but it moves.
Earth’s Rebirth
And Earth?
While humanity scattered, Earth healed.
The rain returned. The forests grew back. Species thought lost forever clawed their way back into existence, some with help from scientists. The scars remain, but the planet breathes again.
Now, Earth is no longer humanity’s playground. It’s a sanctuary.
Entry is earned, not bought. Only those who dedicated their lives to restoring the planet—the scientists, ecologists, and environmentalists who spent centuries undoing the damage—are allowed to live there. They’re reseeding the world with rainforests, coral reefs, bears, even sharks.
Earth’s return isn’t a fairy tale. It’s a reminder: We broke it. But we can fix things, too.
🌍 Want to learn more about the Squad 51 universe?
I’ll be sharing more behind-the-scenes worldbuilding posts as I count down to the launch of my next Kickstarter—bringing the full Squad 51 series to life with exclusive editions and bonus content. Stay tuned!
