Earth, 2013
Central Characters
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: How the story even begins; Stephen finds himself in a bathroom stall with no clue as to how he ended up there.
- Note to Self: A note in his own handwriting is given to him that instructs him to shave his head which, when he does, reveals coordinates tattooed onto the side of it.
- Was It All a Lie?: Says this word for word when Dana stabs him and takes off with the transmissions' data.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: How the Order disposes of him.
- Millionaire Playboy: And how. The story introduces him in the midst of a New Year's party that he was throwing.
- Off the Grid: In conjunction with current Starset lore, a transmission via an ARG component claims that Aston is what is known as the Architect; a significant, seemingly antagonistic figure in the future where the Brain Machine Interface is in control. Whether or not this is true, this has forced Aston to go underground and give his assistant, Lara, the leadership position of the Starset Society.
- Strong and Skilled: Downplayed. While he is a noteworthy engineer and capable of throwing punches (with or without the use of a custom taser of his own making), he doesn't look particularly strong.
- Love Interest: To Stephen. It goes downhill, however, when she betrays him.
- The Mole: After Stephen breaks her out of the Order's labs, she immediately stabs him (where exactly depends on what version you're reading) and makes off towards the USCOO with the flashdrive holding the contents of the transmissions. It wasn't long until the Order caught back up to her, though.Dana: It's just work.
Prox, 2047
Info under this section will also come from sources beyond the novel such as the comic in the booklet for Transmissions and the music videos for "My Demons", "Carnivore", and "Halo", among other Starset related items.Significant Characters
Quasi, short for Quasi-Intelligent Quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Utility Robot, was originally built by the FEC for Prox exploration purposes before being hacked by Thomas to become his companion; hints of personality and all. It helps recount the history that lead to their present.
- Ominous Message from the Future: The very senders.
- Robot Buddy: Quasi is this to Thomas.
- Throat-Slitting Gesture: Thomas gives this gesture to the camera being used before he quickly hides behind a rock and the video feed of the transmissions are cut off.
Prominent Groups
During their growth in power, they would build various research facilities. This would lead to the development of the Everything Machine, a device with functions like a 3D printer except for the fact that it works on the atomic level; utilizing the universe's fundamental building blocks to create perfect replicas of anything including, but limited to, a cup of coffee, the Mona Lisa, and various other items. The reveal of the Everything Machine would directly lead to companies dealing with traditional manufacturing and supplying to also go bankrupt alongside the FEC even denying them electricity; preventing further production.
Their power increased significantly, allowing them more control over the populace. Those they found worthless, dubbed Supplicants, would be sent to "Growth Zones" while being promised the distribution of basic human needs like food and shelter alongside training for a place in the resulting New Economy. However, the reality of it is that these "Growth Zones" are no more than hostile encampments where it is every person for themselves. Those who were able to stay in the New Economy were given residence within walled cities known as Forts. These Forts would be policed by the Department of Civil Vigilance and Recovery (CVR), dubbed "Carnivores" by the populace, whose tasks include taking out any opposition to the FEC.
In response to noted rising threats, the FEC took over the U.S. government thanks to uncontested votes in a special election. It was around this time that they had discovered the secret PROX project (which started in 1976 in efforts to research potential colonization of the planet). Under their supervision, the project significantly furthered development. Eventually, war would break out between them and the NFA. The FEC would fall significantly due to the majority of their controlled cities being left in ruins. While the FEC would eventually bounce back, only Fort Washington D.C. and Fort Chicago were spared from destruction. During the war, various powerful FEC families were evacuated and sent to PROX on a mass exodus.
