Wayback System
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The Wayback System is the setting of the game. Composed of a number of Planets, its Warp Gate has not functioned for some time, cutting it off from the Core Worlds. As a result, it has long been lawless and chaotic, so the Terran Congressional Republic's Navy has dispatched the TCRN Impetus under the player's command to bring order to this anarchic frontier, repair its warp gate, and bring it back into the fold.
The game revolves around traveling from planet to planet in the Wayback System, receiving missions from the various factions to engage in tactical battles on those worlds, all to build up your strength (whether by building alliances with the factions or otherwise) in order to defeat the titular MENACE, a horrific biomechanical alien threat encroaching into the Wayback.
History & Background
The system used to be connected to the Core Worlds, but its Warp Gate was damaged approximately one hundred years ago (in circumstances thus far unknown), allowing people to enter, but not leave.[1] Judging by the following loading screen quotes from the demo:
"The place should be a petri dish, a piece of novelty we stare at now and again to remind ourselves of our baser instincts." – Core Worlds scientist
"I've little interest and zero affection for this 'Wayback.' Thinking about that backwater does not put food on my table." – Core Worlds citizen
"We are a reunited spaces – save for that damned scoundrel of a system way out where." – TCR Congressman
"If they don’t wish to repair the exit-gate, then we should shut down our side of the chute. Leave the Wayback where it wants to be: in its own filth." – TCR Congressman
"Won’t be seein’ none of you again. They’re puttin’ us on a boat to the Wayback." – Letter intercepted from TCR criminal barge
The system has a terrible reputation, known for its barbarism and backwardness, an outlier among other systems that have apparently been re-united with the Terran Congressional Republic, and even used as a dumping ground from criminals as no return has been possible from it for at least a hundred years. However, there is apparently something valuable in the system or else the TCR would not have even bother dispatching the Impetus to bring it into line--as another loading screen quote from Murdock states, ""If the Wayback were as impoverished and unsightly as the TCR repeatedly states, then they would not be here. Never watch someone’s mouth, always keep an eye on their hands."
Whatever treasure the system might hold, it is controlled by the Planetary Jingwei, its local government (not a rival faction or geopolitical entity competing with the TCR). This entity controls the Warp Gate and can determine who is allowed into the system or not, at least through the safety provided by the Gate [2]. This is why the only force the TCR was permitted to send into the system was the Light Cruiser TCRN Impetus, as a larger and more heavily-armed vessel would have been forbidden entry by the Jingwei.[3]
Content and statements, and other information referenced in developer Discord posts are subject to change while the game is in development, leading up to Early Access.
