For centuries, the distant region of space known as The Reach was considered inaccessible. That changed when a Nautilan Gate appeared in New Haven, a system on the frontier of the Reach. Acting as a funnel between the Sentarin Clusters and further systems with the Reach, New Haven has become one of the most strategically valuable systems known to humanity. Now, the five major powers of the Sentarin Cluster have their eyes on it.

However, they were not the first humans to arrive.

Nearly nine centuries ago, settlers departed aboard generation ships, eventually reaching New Haven after over a dozen generations. Their descendants established The Free State, spending nearly a millennium travelling here to build a new home, had the system to themselves for less than a generation. Before, by some cruel irony, the gates appeared in orbit over their most treasured moon. New Home, a largely unexplored world with a stable atmosphere, abundant life, and vast wilderness. Its only major settlement is the Free State colony of New Port. Orbital scans have also revealed a native sentient species, technologically primitive but possessing its own societies and history.

Now ships from across human civilization can arrive in New Haven almost instantaneously.

The Free State considers this an invasion. They demand independence, sovereignty, and payment for access to their system. The great powers have little intention of granting them control over the gateway to an entire unexplored region. To the great powers, Haven is an opportunity. To the Free State, it is home. To its native inhabitants, it is simply their world. Beyond New Port lies an entire region waiting to be claimed. The Reach has opened and nobody knows what waits beyond the next gate.