Star-Wrecked: The Sanctuary Run
You are a deserter, a soldier who chose freedom over a pointless death in an endless war. With a stolen ship and a ragtag crew, you must cross a perilous sector of space, hunted by the military you abandoned and the alien swarm you fled. Manage your resources, navigate treacherous star systems, and confront the ghosts of your past to reach the one place you might be safe: Sanctuary.
0
Plays
4
Characters
7
Events
📖 Story Backstory
The introduction and setting of the world, including its history.
For over a century, humanity, united under the iron fist of the Terran Hegemony, has been locked in a brutal war of attrition against the Swarm, a galaxy-faring insectoid species. The Swarm is not a mindless force; it is a collective consciousness, driven by inscrutable motives, communicating through a psychic resonance known as the 'Chorus of the Void.' Hegemony propaganda paints the war as a glorious crusade, but for soldiers on the front lines, it's a meat grinder. Conscription is indefinite, and dissent is treason. Whispers of 'Sanctuary'—a hidden, independent colony beyond Hegemony control—are the only hope for those who dream of a life outside of combat. You and your crew have just deserted from the 77th Orbital Drop Infantry after refusing a suicide mission, and are now fleeing through the Orion Spur's Edge, a poorly charted and dangerous sector of space.
👥 Characters (4)
Characters in this story. You will choose who to play as when you start.
Alex Ryder
Protagonist
A former Corporal in the Hegemony's infantry, Alex is a pragmatist hardened by the horrors of the front lines. They initiated the desertion not out of grand ideals, but from a simple, powerful desire to live. Now the de-facto leader of this small band of fugitives, Alex is weighed down by the responsibility for their crew and haunted by the soldiers they left behind.
Jax
A master ship mechanic who was just shy of retirement before the Hegemony extended all service contracts indefinitely. Jax knows every bolt and wire of the 'Wanderer' because he was the one who kept it running for the military. He's cynical and trusts no one, believing 'freedom' is just another word for a slower death. His expertise is the only thing keeping the ship from falling apart.
Lena Petrova
A brilliant communications officer who was fast-tracked due to her technical aptitude. Lena is the heart and moral compass of the crew. She's a true believer in the legend of Sanctuary and was the one who found the potential coordinates. Her idealism can sometimes blind her to the immediate dangers, but her hope is what fuels their journey.
Kaelen Vance
Neutral
A former Hegemony Naval Intelligence field agent, Kaelen Vance was burned on a covert mission and left for dead. He survived and reinvented himself as a freelance information broker and bounty hunter. He operates with cold, detached professionalism, his loyalty extending only to the highest bidder. He is a master of infiltration, sabotage, and quiet elimination.
⚡ Key Events (7)
The Long Haul Begins
The 'Wanderer' drifts silently in the shadow of a large, iron-rich asteroid. The initial shock of the escape has worn off, replaced by the crushing weight of reality. The ship's status is grim: fuel is low, supplies are meager, and the hull took a beating during the escape. Jax reports from the engine room that they can't make more than two FTL jumps without refueling. Lena has found two potential points of interest on the star-chart: a dense, unstable asteroid field rumored to hold salvageable wrecks, and a supposedly abandoned Hegemony relay station that might have fuel, but could also be a trap.
Whispers in the Static
While en route, a strange, rhythmic signal cuts through the ship's comms. It's not a language, but a layered, chittering harmony that seems to scratch at the edge of hearing. Lena is mesmerized, identifying it as a weak manifestation of the 'Chorus of the Void.' Jax is agitated, urging Alex to block the signal immediately, warning that it's how the Swarm 'tastes the air' for prey. The signal seems to be affecting the crew's concentration, and a low sense of dread begins to fill the ship.
Hunters and Hunted
A shrill alarm blares from the command console. A long-range sensor sweep has picked up a Hegemony patrol cutter, designation 'Vigilance,' on an intercept course. They've been found. Their FTL drive is still recharging from the last jump, so a headlong flight is impossible. The 'Vigilance' is faster and better armed. Nearby is a chaotic nebula of charged dust and stellar debris, a treacherous but potentially effective hiding spot.
The Ghost Station
Arriving at Relay Station 734, the crew finds it eerily silent. Power is fluctuating, emergency lights cast long, dancing shadows, and a klaxon wails in a distant section. Log files are corrupted, but show a sudden 'containment protocol' was activated before the station went dark. The fuel pumps are functional, but accessing them requires navigating the station's unstable systems and discovering what caused its demise.
A Desperate Bargain
The Wanderer docks at Scrapper's Orbit, a bustling, lawless habitat carved into a massive asteroid. The air smells of ozone, unrefined fuel, and alien food. The crew needs supplies desperately, but their Hegemony credits are near worthless here; barter is king. The station's broker, a four-armed alien named Grish, offers a deal: a full stock of fuel and supplies in exchange for a 'favor'—retrieving a data-core from a derelict ship in a nearby radiation cloud.
Swarm Infestation
A miscalculated FTL jump drops the Wanderer into the middle of a developing Swarm asteroid nest. The Chorus of the Void is deafening here, a psychic scream that frays the nerves and causes visual distortions. Outside, chitinous structures grow like fungus over asteroids, and dozens of Swarm Drones crawl across their surfaces. The ship's sensors are overwhelmed, and navigating a safe path out will require utmost precision and steely resolve.
The Commander's Voice
A secured, high-priority message cuts through all channels. It's from Commander Valerius, Alex's former commanding officer from the 77th Orbital Drop Infantry. It's not a generic Hegemony broadcast, but a personal appeal. He talks about duty, honor, and the shame of desertion. He offers a path to redemption: surrender at a designated coordinate, and only Alex will be held accountable. He ends the message by mentioning the soldiers who died on the suicide mission Alex refused.