The Rise of the Chanikov Imperium
The Chanikov Imperium is so named for Doctor Erik Chanikov, a brilliant scientist from the early twentieth century, and it is with him that our story truly begins. Though the good doctor would not live to see the birth of the Empire that would bear his name, without him it would never have come to be, for he devised the Sigma technology, and sired our Emperor, Rex Chance.
Though Rex grew up an orphan in America, far from both his father and his native nation, he grew into a somewhat successful journalist burdened by a healthy morality. As Doctor Chanikov laid the finishing touches to the first iteration of the Sigma technology he felt a need to reconnect with his lost son. The subsequent tale of discovery has been told many times, and need not be repeated here. What matters is that Rex Chance, allied with the future Empress Lucy, avenged himself of his father's murder and claimed the Sigma technology for himself.
The isolated heirs to the Chanikov dynasty remained separate from the world, perfecting their grasp over the Sigma technologies, as the Second World War erupted and devastated the world, before transitioning into the Cold War. It was only when the violence truly cooled that Rex Chance once more introduced himself to the world. 1987 saw the violence fade as sincere negotiations took place between the two sides and Rex Chance, a child of both, attended the conference.
The overbearing presence of his Sigma-conjured guardians stopped anyone rushing to deny the power of the Sigma technologies. His proposal was simple – rather than allowing their competition to fade into simple obscurity with it's belligerents, let a truly friendly rivalry drive their peaceful pursuits further and faster than ever before. For that relation to be sincere would require a far greater degree of interaction than simple peace.
Many were doubtful, despite the Sigma-forged creatures that guarded Rex Chance and Lucy Willing, when they offered their expertise in terraforming the inhospitable solar system into a playground far more conducive to human life. Controlled experiments in isolated, barren parts of the planet proved their point, however, and a decision was made to colonise the system. Not quite trusting each other, one took Venus and the other Mars, with the warning that more detailed scientific analysis would be needed before beginning a truly planetary transformation.
It was as the possibility of emigration was raised that the Chanikov's offered a further boon, and named it's price. The Sigma technology could be used to enhance the base template of a human body, though it would disintegrate on death like any other Sigma conjuration. Despite this apparent weakness, the enhanced body would be notably superior to the base human state, and far more resilient to the perils of space exploration. The price, however, was that space would not belong to the sponsors. Each Sigma-enhanced man would be considered king of his own State, consisting of as many Sigma creatures as one could control, and welcomed to join the Commonwealth of Sigma States.
Surprisingly this condition was readily accepted, as it played to the desires of the Communist and Capitalist both. In time, every man would be his own king, and rule the wealth of a small kingdom. Despite some grumbling, the Contest began in earnest, with many private individuals and corporations committing their resources to one side or another. Still, in their eager fervour, the contest remained quite friendly, with technologies being traded back and forth almost as fast as they were developed. By the close of the decade a small habitat had been carved out of the lunar surface, the first of six domes that would, together, form a self-sustaining ecosystem. Today, that six-dome colony is one of many to dot the lunar surface, and has been replicated across known space.
It took years to build and send the probes that would scan our closer planets for transformative potential, but in the end, nothing was left to chance. It was decided that a staggered process would benefit both worlds – the Capitalist capital of Mars was destined be somewhat barren compared to the lush jungles of Venus, but even that could be considered as much of an advantage as a penalty. It was in the year 2000 that the great discovery was made on Mars, one which would change the fate of humanity as greatly as the Sigma technologies.
Pioneers landed on Mars at the close of the twentieth century, establishing forward outposts in the partially transformed tundra of that red planet. They lived in a handful of six-dome colonies, monitoring the evolution of the planet that still demanded environmentally sealed suites of any who would venture outside. At the time, emigration was light – the expense of escaping Terra's gravity well great enough to discourage a mass exodus – and extensive use of Sigma creatures was required to make up the numbers for a successful colony. One such colony, based in the Promethei Terra, discovered an artificial base – an alien colony.
The aliens were long gone, however, samples of their technology were left behind. Much of it was similar, if much more advanced, versions of technology that were already known. The exceptions were based around the exploitation of a substance known as "Element Zero" to the long-dead aliens, which could be used to alter mass itself – the very source of the expense in emigration.
A deal was soon struck between East and West, unifying their scientists and engineers into a single project – using element zero to build a space freighter capable of hauling substantial quantities of Venusian atmosphere to Mars, improving the atmosphere of both worlds. These freighters would also be used to transport vast numbers of migrants once the worlds became habitable, allowing humanity to truly spread out over the solar system.
Sigma technology saw great application on earth, as well, with many who stayed paying for the augment procedure and acquiring command over their own little Sigma state (though they remained members of their previous nation unless they emigrated). Due to popular demand, the ban on experimenting with human forms was lifted, though there were stiff restrictions enforced, and the resulting creations had no more rights than any other Sigma Creature. Almost overnight, cat-girl maids became a common sight to the world, and many other such creations would follow.
Investigations into the ruined alien base soon unveiled the means by which they had reached our system, and humanity, in turn, stretched out across the stars. But the ruins also carried a serious warning – as advanced as these aliens were, they had fallen. Their empire was dust. Whoever killed them was still out there, and would threaten humanity in due course. The Commonwealth of Sigma States was not designed to repel a massive, outside invasion. Yet that structure was the origin of much of our present strength.
By popular vote, the Commonwealth was retained. The core of humanity joined into the Chanikov Imperium, a feudal state under Emperor Rex Chance and his Empress, Lucy Willing. Though they have passed on, their decendents continue to lead us with wisdom. The Commonwealth still welcomes all Sigma States that will adhere to their few rules, so those who do not wish for Imperial rule are not cast out into the bleak void.
Small kingdoms surround the Imperium, were every man is king in his own little realm. The squabbling between the Capitalist and the Communist has given way to the rivalry between the Biologists and the Mechanists, each trying to create creatures or drones that exceed the other, but we still hold on to the spirit of friendly competition that drove us to the stars. Though we have yet to encounter the ancient enemy, we stand ready to fight.
Our past demands it of us.
Author's Note: I am strongly considering an Alternative Timeline for this scenario; in which the sincere talks start in 1970, rather than 1987, as a result of the Soviet Union offering aid in the Apollo 13 disaster of that year. Note that, historically, SALT talks began in 1969 – the Cold War's Interbellum.