The year is 2540, 300 years after FTL (Faster Then Light) travel was first devised. Spreading from system to system on waves of expansionist zeal, we sought to explore the unknown.

So much opportunity poured in from thousands of habitable worlds. Our industry was finally sated by millions of asteroid belts, barren worlds, and nebulae. We grew, yet corporate empires grew faster. Conflicts between rival factions escalated, consuming whole sectors. More is that oft-echoed battle cry, most loved by those with everything.

The UED (United Earth Directorate) was established after the events of the 23rd century nearly ended us on our cradle, Terra Prime. 200 years before we reached the stars, we were almost snuffed out of existence. But we survived and worked tirelessly to create stability and peace; many resented this oversight. Even so, many more knew the UED for what we are. The hammer of peace and the warding shield standing between humanity and destruction...

John closed the UED recruitment ad. This was all old news. You'd have to live under a rock to be ignorant about the most basic post-FTL history.

A tone sounded from his uplink. He looked up from his tablet and out into the quiet emptiness of space, where a blue and white planet circled into view. Glancing at his controls, he brought up his planned course. The next orbital transfer point was approaching. "Last Chance control, this is T-11-987B, my current ETA is 30 minutes, over."

Several moments passed. John reached for his comms but was interrupted halfway. "Copy that T-11-987B, 30 minutes. Be advised, that will be too long; the cookies I made will be stale by then, over."

John glanced at his ETA again. Smart ass flight controllers...