Banished...To Earth

This is the first in a series of stories, set in the game world of Banished.

The planets are going to war. The talks on Jupiter had broken down less than 24 hours ago and already war efforts were in full swing, not just on Mars but on Venus, Ganymede and even peaceful Europa.

And all for what? Everyone said it would be over quickly - they always say it but nobody believes it - and in the end the world will have an answer to the age old question: dogs vs cats. Hah! As if wars have ever solved anything. Mankind loves war, if history is any indication and there is little I can do to stop it.

But I tried, oh how I tried! I debated, cajoled, argued and tried to reason with so many committees I've lost count...to no avail. Why do we have to choose one or the other I asked. Because, they said. Just because. When my grandmother once told me that Earthmen used to fight over who had the better imaginary friend, I had laughed. Who would risk their lives for such a silly reason? Yet here I am, unable to prevent a war for precisely such a silly reason.

The Planetary Council gave me an ultimatum: join the war effort or risk banishment. At least I was allowed to pick the place. I had no trouble choosing Earth, deserted though it was. Deserted that is, except for the Towers. A few scientists still lived on Earth but no one ventured into the wilderness that surrounds them. Machines were not allowed outside the Towers so why even bother?

So now we are on our way. Speeding towards Earth, an unlikely bunch of eight adults and five children. Determined to avoid war and start over. Many laughed at us, how could we survive in the wilderness without machines, technology or science? But I held my head high. After all, humans had done it once before. History could always be repeated...

- Acelyn

Excerpt from the diary of Acelyn, banished in the year 3645 UT to Earth. The Earth colony was the only human group to survive the nuclear holocaust of 3700 UT.

Read Part II.

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