Introduction to biospheres

When the problem of Earth's overpopulation reached catastrophic dimensions and the plan of other worlds' colonisation misfired because of the lack of volunteers, the Earth's Government decided to introduce a very restrictive law. Even for the smallest offence, people were assigned to penal colonies. No one cared about the protests. You broke the law or maybe you were just the member of the family of a person who did it and you got the assignment straight away. Suddenly, a large number of "volunteers" appeared, who had to be transported to their new homes.

Concept drawings of Maximus-class space ship

The huge long-range cargo ships of Maximus-class were built, which transported on its board a dozen or so biospheres filled with people. Each biosphere is self sufficient and it is constructed in such way, to make sure its inhabitants would be able to survive on the new planet even in extremely adverse conditions. Unloading these micro worlds is really easy. Maximus approached the chosen planet and started the engines of the biosphere. The huge egg majestically flew into the air and slowly made for the goal. The same engines helped to bring the biosphere to a stop at the new land and this way the new penal colony was created.

In order to avoid the rebellion during the journey, the biospheres were cut out of the command module called "Mother". However, the "volunteers", heroic colonists, were able to move between the biospheres. Visits not always were peaceful. Therefore inhabitants made a simple weapon, so to be able to defend their life and property.

Sample biosphere interior

The biospheres were constructed in such a way, to closely resemble the Earth's landscape. All the plants and the soil were to be used later to build up the colony on the new planet. Closed water circulation was shaped as streams and rivers. The soil stocks to make the arable fields were shaped as hills. Trees and plants made the small copses.

The ship Maximus XV was carrying fifteen biospheres. Many biospheres were the first instalments and their inhabitants were to be the first to settle the new world. Some of the biospheres were the consecutive instalments. Therefore, you can find there hospitals, scientific laboratories as well as the whole stations used for communication with the Earth.

First batch of biospheres. Standard.

Biosphere A

Sample view of Biosphere A

Biospheres from the first batch are being sent to planets which natural environment is not fully identified. Here prisoners have an abundance of everything they may ever need so they can easily adjust to any conditions. However, assignment to this type of biosphere is treated as the most cruel punishment, since they usually land on an unknown territory and the number of catastrophes greatly outstrips the number of successfull landings.

Usually biospheres are divided into three zones: residential, industrial and underground. For safety reasons, they are connected with short-range teleports instead of regular passageways. When one of the zones fails it's easy to quickly cut off the remaining ones which is of great importance when you're in outer space.

In the residential zone of Biosphere A people have built a strongly fortified base, thanks to which they were able to survive the first attack of aliens. That's the place where Space Hack sets out for his mission from. That's where he will be coming back when the battle is over.

The Biospheres of special purpose

Most of the biospheres are to enable people to survive, but there are also some biospheres of special purpose. They aren't sent as a first ones, their destination are already existing colonies. They are to complement the biospheres' functioning and to help their inhabitants to survive.

Sample view of a medical biosphere

Medical Biosphere (Biosphere H 08-03)