Unlike in many space strategy games, the basic setting in Astro Protocol revolves around the projected model of the universe, not in the actual space itself. In short, different factions across the universe have achieved a parallel development of the simulation and thus they seek to take full control of this framework.
Despite Astro Protocol being based on a simulation of speculations, its founding factions believe that this protocol is a key to predict cosmic power relations of a distant future. Therefore every alliance aims to secure their positions before the execution of The Great Calibration – the point where the simulation becomes analogous with the reality. In the universe of Astro Protocol this is basically the closest to interstellar interaction, as FTL and other similar concepts are out of question due to physical constraints.
Ships
Actual spaceships are extremely complex vehicles, and their manufacture requires strong strategic justification. In the Astro Protocol, the relatively expandable ships are basically models of highly advanced theoretical ships. These future designs might still come with interplanetary limitations. In the simulation, however, even the most restricted ships can be sent and placed anywhere in the galaxy that is reached by the projection mapping. This allows the ship performance to be analysed in advance under varied alternative conditions – even in an extreme combat against other competing modellers. The ships thus have a dual role: serving both as versatile computational models and as reflexive equivalents of potentially real ships. The computational revolution behind this process has also led to a situation where any tech-savvy can copy and assemble their own starfleet, at least in theory. However, the successful management of the models still requires the in-depth understanding of an entire faction of organised space engineers.
Factions
Factions of Astro Protocol are essentially interstellar alliances within the galaxy, based on specific interests. Some are originating from the organic modeling of intelligent species (humans and aliens). Whereas some factions have born as cyborgs fused with machinery, or virtual ghosts that have found their transcendent way of functioning and living on the platform. Minor factions may also be formed from a mixture of these species, as rebellious sub-groups may hack Astro Protocol and use its unconstrained galactic network to choose their allies away from their assumed home planet.
In the game, full version will have six major factions with additional minor factions as well, but here are the backstories for the first three major factions:
United Tellus
A collective of humanist institutions funded numerous research programs that ultimately led to the development of the Astro Protocol platform. Preserving the future of humankind was set as the defining goal by administrative governments. Main research is ultimately carried alongside with military operations.
Due to regulations by Gaia-centric precautions exchange and expansion with unknown ecosystems is significantly slowed down. This has caused a regrouping of alternative protest movements taking control in the marginal peripheries of Astro Protocol. The main mission of armament prediction is still strongly supported by active development.
Yimono Union
A hegemonic empire of the galaxy that has gradually coerced multiple lifeforms to transform into standardized ghost-form. This state of being is efficiently optimized for platforms like Astro Protocol and allows rapid colonization on diverse areas.
Yimono Union has a highly hierarchical structure of government based on the age of immortality in the total prediction. However, the high level of synchronization with the simulated platforms still exposes the blindness of its implicit glitches and loopholes.
Santri Syndicate
Santri Syndicate is a shadow alliance of resistance movements that are targeting status quo rulers of Astro Protocol. Eventually Santrians are seeking to diminish the whole platform to its bare minimum. This is done by breaking the projection with deep hacking of its underlying structures. Santrians also aim to bring destruction to any entity pursuing immortality.
Santri Syndicate adheres to a belief that Astro Protocol is a harmful apparatus for all lifeforms and is dedicated to oppose all equivalent systems for that reason. In order to further their mischievous missions a range of Santrian lifeforms have been expanded into virtually virulent forms. Advancement of Santri is mostly based on space piracy across the Astro Protocol network but they lack some basics of building their own infrastructure.