Ascension Station

Formerly Known As: United Nations Colony Vessel (UNCV) ASCENSION

Date Commissioned (Earth Calendar): Mar 13 2073 CE

Date Launched (Earth Calendar): April 21 2088 CE

Arrival Date (Earth Calendar): Jun 19 2096 CE (Year Zero DC & - 9 SC)

When the breakthrough into developing an engine that could propel a vessel at near light speed was achieved in 2072 CE, the world changed. Brazil which had made the breakthrough at the same time as the Soviets and the EU, gifted it's prototype to the United Nations. Swiftly the UN in conjunction with Brazil and the Sino African Space Corporation (SASC) began to construct a viable colony vessel in earth orbit. At the same time the Soviets & their American allies were engaged on building their own vessel in Cislunar space, both groups intended to send their respective colonists to Barnard's Star, 5.96 light years from Sol.

UNCV Ascension arrived in system in 2096 CE, a preliminary scan of the inhabitable planet revealed that their were countless structures and other features on said planet. Designated LAZARUS the crew debated about whether or not he planet could be settled given that their appeared to be structures and evidence of native sentient life. For some time the debate raged then finally someone stole a shuttle craft from the Ascension's hangar bay and flew down to the planet.

Ryu'ichi Dyson, astronaut first class, earned himself a place in legend as well as stern rebuke & discharge as a result of his actions. Though his act proved that while the planet had once had sentient life on it, that sentient life appeared to be no more. Also while he had made his landings, the ships Genius (AI) had detected the presence of two artificial objects orbiting LAZARUS. One was orbiting at an equatorial level while the other orbited at a meridian level. Both objects were artifical but the Ascension's Genius could not work out what there purpose was. They did conform to the profile of a habitat or even a vessel, they appeared to be two 'rings'.

After determining that there was no sentient life, nor was the environment in any way hostile, the crew and the Genius agreed that the world was viable for settlement. And it is this moment that Dysonists (the followers & admirers of Ryu'ichi Dyson) claim that settlement of LAZARUS began. Others though would dispute this date, leading to two separate calendars that had an eight year difference between them. Moving into a stable orbit the colonists were disembarked onto the new world.

In the aftermath of the initial settlement, a skeleton crew remained on board Asension. Given that the vessel had setled into a la grange orbit it was felt that the one time colony ship could serve as an orbital platform. And so it was decided, two years after the initial wave of settlers had landed (2 DC or -7 SC) UNCV Ascension was renamed Ascension Station in a short ceremony attended by the skeleton crew, the vessel's Genius and officals from planetside.

Now in 2336 CE (239 DC & 231 SC) Ascension serves as the headquarters for UN Exploration Command (UNEXCOM), the training facility, armoury and HQ of the UN Gendarme Corps (UNGC) as well as the main manufacturer & deployer of communication, meterological and navigation satellites (LAZCOMNET). Currently as it stands several thousand people call Ascension Station home, the bulk of these being military, technicians, skeleton crew and scientists. Ascension is in regular contact with the three other colony vessels; Novo Mir, Takarabune and Calypso when its in system. Both Novo Mir and Takarabune have been converted into orbital platforms like Ascension. Calypso however has remained a vessel and is used by the colony to make journeys back to the home system.