Maroonica

Encyclopedia Maroonica

Who or what are the Geborga? What in the world is a Floopy? Do Nanoganics robots dream of nuclear-powered sheep? Find out here.

Marooned Timeline

2020 NASA is disbanded due to lack of government funding.
2020 The New Frontier Federation and a few other private firms dedicated to space research and exploration are founded.
2021 Private firms purchase assets from NASA from the last remaining space projects.
2023 Nanoganics, Inc. is founded.
2026 Nanoganics releases the first artificially intelligent robots, who appear as mobile trash collectors in fast food chains. The technology is roundly ridiculed.
2032 The NFF begins construction of a high orbit Space Dock for the construction and launching of space vehicles.
2041 Space Dock is completed.
2048 The NFF provides a cash infusion to the failing Nanoganics in return for an 100 year exclusivity agreement on Nanoganics AI technology.
2055 The NFF begins testing plasma fusion engines.
2059 The NFF becomes the last private space program under operation.
2064 Lieutenant Lian Fisher joins the NFF after a successful tour with the North American Air Forces.
2066 Lian Fisher is promoted to Captain and chosen as the first pilot for the Mars recon and satellite launch mission, piloting the plasma fusion powered Destiny. She is to be accompanied by a Nanoganics series 3 robot.
2069 Captain Lian Fisher reaches Mars orbit. After deployment of the MOSs, contact is lost and she is later presumed dead.
2071 John Floyd, a Space Merchanter who ran Moon missions, joins the NFF.
2072 Lieutenant John Floyd begins running supply missions to the Space Dock.
2073 The Destiny II begins construction at the Space Dock.
2074 Lt. John Floyd crashes a supply ship into the communications array of the Space Dock and is demoted to Ensign. He serves one year of maintenance duty at the Space Dock.
2082 A lack of interest in space travel lead to a shortage of skilled pilots in the NFF. This results in Ensign John Floyd being promoted back to Lieutenant and being reinstated as a pilot.
2083 John Floyd is promoted to Captain and designated pilot of the Destiny II Mars mission.
2084 Captain John and Asimov land on Mars. Shortly after, contact to the mission is lost and the mission is presumed a failure.

Anfald (Martian Races)

A smallish Martian with a peanut-shaped body in biped form with one centered eye. They have no hair or other remarkable outward features. They come in various colors, ranging from greens and brown hues for males and pink and red hues for females.

Asimov, Series 7 (modified) Nanoganics Robot

Asimov is something of a unique product. He was originally a series 1 Nanoganics “garbage collector” prototype. Due to Nanoganics money issues, they kept upgrading him in order to save on project costs. He almost accompanied Lian Fisher on the first Destiny mission, however NFF mission leaders felt the series 3 robot was more capable at the time. Asimov was continually upgraded with the latest advances and became something of a testing platform for the NFF/Nanoganics robot program. He was working so well that he was chosen to accompany Captain John Floyd on the Destiny II mission. He was later modified further by the Geborga, a race of Martian super scientists, who installed some kind of shielding technology above his viewscreen.

Atha

A female Anfald Martian, she appears to function in some relation to Ugo (possibly a medical practitioner) and is well acquainted with Ril.

Bob/Castor, Series 7 (modified) Nanoganics Robot

Castor was the original designation of this Series 7 robot. It was sent to the NFF to supposedly test “new functionality.” The robot seemed to cause a lot of trouble and had personality conflicts with nearly everyone, especially John Floyd and his robot Asimov. Castor disappeared after the launch of the Destiny II. He later appeared on Mars, calling himself “Bob” and wielding a time weapon he called the “Time Cube.” He was attempting to manipulate time when he was defeated by failing to initiate the Time Cube sequence by solving the cube, due to the fact that the Martian girl Ril ahd switched some of the stickers.

Geborga (Martian Races)

Tall, two-legged Martians, these birdlike creatures have a swooping “tail” ending in some kind of spherical object. Very little has been observed about them. They are apparently some kind of super scientists and are in some way responsible for the time travel accident that devastated Mars.

Captain John Floyd

Pilot of the Destiny II manned mission to Mars, which landed in 2084. Accompanied by the Nanoganics Series 7 robot designated Asimov. After a broken communication from the robot Asimov that indicated the mission was under hardship, it became a worldwide news event.

Captain Lian Fisher

A highly talented pilot recruited from the North American Air Forces by the NFF, Lian Fisher was chosen as the first Captain of a space exploration mission beyond the moon. She was discovered on Mars in an altered state as The Listener, with a Mindstone embedded in her forehead just like She-Who-Hears.

Destiny / Destiny II

Both of these ships were built by The NFF with plasma fusion engines. They were constructed in the Space Dock and were built specifically for space to space travel between Earth and Mars. Both are presumed lost.

Dr. Ugofandian

Only brief glimpses have been given about this strange Martian of Mars past history. He apparently opposed the Geborga’s time travel experiments because he felt they would end in catastrophe, and he was right.

Floopy

A companion of Dr. Ugofandian, he is of unknown species and origin.

Nanoganics, Incorporated

A robotic technology company that invented the Nanoganic brain, which is basically a hybrid organic structure infused with nanobots into a mainframe computer housed within the robot structure. Neared financial ruin due to lack of interest in their products until The New Frontier Federation stepped in with funding and an exclusivity deal. Nanoganics has produced seven series of robots, each one more innovative and capable than the last. Series 3 robots were the first ones to be considered sentient. Series 2 robots were the last models made available to the general public. Series 7 robots, including Asimov of the Destiny II mission, are considered self sufficient once they roll off the assembly line. They are considered under contract to the NFF but are not owned by any one individual.

The New Frontier Federation

A private space exploration firm that was created after the demise of NASA. They bought up large amounts of NASA assets and hired some of their scientists and engineers. Because of their large financial backing and talent base, The NFF outlasted all other private space exploration firms until they were the last one remaining in 2059. They have launched two Mars missions, both which have resulted in failure and loss of all personnel.

Ril

A young female Anfald Martian orphan, she has taken a liking to John and Asimov. She seems to have a hand in all their adventures, and she was even responsible for the defeat of Bob by switching the stickers around on his Time Cube. She has a sharp wit, yet also can be very sensitive.

She-Who-Hears

A female Volotrum Martian (Also known to the other Martian races as “The Dark Ones”) who is some kind of leader. She has one of the Mindstones embedded in her head, and this is apparently the source of her authority. Not much else is known about her.

The Time Cube

A puzzle cube wielded by Bob the robot as a time weapon. He never successfully triggered it because Ril switched the stickers on the squares, making solving the puzzle nearly impossible.

Ugo

The first Martian that Captain John met shortly after his landing, Ugo has been of great assistance. He led John and Asimov to an underground haven called Vita which as breathable atmosphere and fresh food and water. He even provided them with stone dwelling place at the end of town. Ugo seems to some kind of authority among the Anfald Martians based on the way they are deferential to him. This is speculation however, and Ugo has made no such claim.

Vita

The underground haven where the Anfald live. By some technological marvel, Vita has breathable air. It lies next to an underground fresh water river. The water is used to grow food.

Volotrum (Martian Races)

These tripod, elephant-like Martians are deep cave dwellers. They have deep orange, thick skin and glowing eyes. Very little is known about them other than rumors from the Anfald. They are led by She-Who-Hears, who bears a mindstone in her forehead.

The Warder

A male Volotrum Martian (Also known to the other Martian races as “The Dark Ones”) who has a rather dark disposition. Nothing much is known about him.