Covenant of Oretani / COVOR

Title: The Covenant of Oretani

In the twilight years of the 25th century, deep within the isolated Oretani system, a story of survival, faith, and transformation unfolded—one that would be etched into the annals of human history.

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### The Collapse

When the Ferron-Oretani jump point collapsed, the Oretani system was plunged into an unprecedented crisis. Cut off from the United Earth Empire (UEE), the thousands of terraformers and their families were left to fend for themselves on a world still unfit for human habitation. Supplies dwindled, and the hope of rescue faded with each passing year. What had once been a promising venture became a struggle for survival.

The initial years were marked by chaos. With no communication with the UEE, the people of Oretani II quickly realized they were alone. The space stations orbiting the planet, once bustling with activity, became tombs in the void as life support systems failed. On the surface, the colonists were forced to adapt to an environment that was only partially terraformed, with harsh conditions that threatened to undo what little progress had been made.

### The Fall

Civilization on Oretani II began to crumble. Advanced technology, so crucial to survival, became increasingly difficult to maintain as spare parts ran out and knowledge faded. The colonists, many of whom were skilled engineers and scientists, were forced to revert to more primitive means to survive. Over time, their society regressed, and what remained of the old world was lost to the sands of a hostile planet.

Yet, in the face of these dire circumstances, a new order began to emerge. Leaders rose from the remnants of the terraforming teams, those who could inspire and guide others. These individuals, who had once been scientists and engineers, now became the priests and prophets of a new belief system—The Covenant of Oretani.

### The Covenant of Oretani

The Covenant was born out of necessity, forged in the fires of survival. At its core were principles that had allowed the colonists to endure in the face of overwhelming odds: self-reliance, self-defense, and, above all, the utter refusal to waste anything.

The Covenant taught that every resource, every scrap of material, and every breath of air was a gift from the planet—a planet that had nearly claimed them. Waste was seen as the ultimate sin, a betrayal of the sacrifices made by those who had come before. Those who squandered resources were labeled as heretics and cast out from the community, forced to wander the wastelands of Oretani II alone, a fate worse than death.

Salvage became the highest form of worship. Old technologies, once discarded as obsolete, were repurposed in ingenious ways. The people of Oretani II became master scavengers, finding value in everything, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.

The Covenant also emphasized self-defense. With no hope of external aid, the colonists trained relentlessly to protect their dwindling resources. Every man, woman, and child learned to fight, their skills honed against the planet’s harsh environment and the dangers that lurked within. To be unprepared was to invite death, and the Covenant preached that only the strong and vigilant would survive to see the promised future—a future where the Oretani system would be reborn.

### The Momentary Reopening

Decades passed, and the legend of the Oretani system became a whisper in the corridors of the UEE. Then, one fateful day, a fleeting anomaly occurred. The Ferron-Oretani jump point, thought to be permanently collapsed, suddenly flickered back into existence. For a brief, shimmering moment, a narrow window of opportunity opened.

The Covenant, ever vigilant and resourceful, saw this as a chance to make their presence known. An exploration fleet, composed of the bravest and most skilled members of their society, was dispatched through the jump point. Equipped with salvaged technology and makeshift equipment, the ships crossed into the UEE, intent on gathering information and asserting their beliefs.

However, the exploration fleet’s arrival was short-lived. Just as they began to explore, the jump point collapsed once more, sealing the system off from the rest of the galaxy. The fleet was stranded in Ferron space, unable to return to Oretani II or communicate their findings to their home.

### The Covenant’s Revelation

The Covenant’s leadership viewed the brief contact with the UEE as a revelation. The exploration fleet, upon encountering the UEE, had discovered a civilization that was fundamentally opposed to their principles. To the Covenant, the UEE was not a distant ally but a collection of heretics whose wasteful and corrupt ways represented everything that was wrong with the galaxy.

In the view of the Covenant, the UEE’s reliance on excess and its disregard for the sanctity of resources were abominations. The fleet’s leaders returned with a new mission: to purge the galaxy of the UEE’s influence and ensure that their own society’s values would prevail.

The Covenant’s teachings evolved to reflect this newfound purpose. Their doctrine now included a mandate to combat the UEE’s influence and ensure that their society remained pure and untainted by external corruption. Every member of the Covenant was trained not just in survival and self-defense, but also in the arts of diplomacy and warfare to resist the perceived heresy of the UEE.

### The Legacy of the Covenant

Back on Oretani II, the Covenant continued to thrive and adapt, fortified by their new mission. The people lived by their principles with a heightened sense of purpose. They saw themselves as the last bastion of true faith and discipline, and their teachings guided every aspect of their lives.

The brief appearance of the exploration fleet was a turning point in their history. It confirmed their belief in their mission and solidified their resolve. The Covenant’s leadership remained steadfast in their commitment to purge the galaxy of what they saw as heresy.

The people of Oretani II awaited the day when they would be able to challenge the UEE directly, their faith and conviction unshakable. They continued to build their world from the remnants of the old, their society a testament to resilience and faith. The Covenant of Oretani had ensured their survival, and it would guide them into whatever future lay ahead—whether that future brought them into conflict with the UEE or left them as a legend of unyielding faith in the stars.