In 2068, most of humanity lives in small homes developed and managed by the one world government. The affluent, able to afford private security, reside in free cities scattered throughout the globe. The wealthy are mostly generational old money and the new rich comprised primarily of “crypto revolutionaries” of the 2020s.
The discovery of the mineral Bennium (Bu) unlocked the ability to travel the galaxy. Immediately, teams were sent to explore and find a source for more Bu. The planet Irateth, only 500 light years from Earth was found to have the mineral in abundance.
The World Government/Free City Coalition for Space Exploration (COSPEX) was formed to recruit individuals to travel to Irateth to extract the precious resource. The coalition has developed advanced, automated robots called M.A.R.M.O.T.s to aid in mining operations and resource gathering.
Although the journey will be perilous and fraught with unknowns, there has not been an opportunity to amass this kind of wealth in over 50 years.