The Human race is now entering the fifth millennium of the Common Era, a chronology based on the old Christian calendar. In the year 4021, Humanity has been free of the scourges of internal quarrels and war for centuries and enjoys the rule of a stable, centralized democratic government dedicated to the well being of all. Most of the hard physical work is now done by a multitude of specialized robots, thus allowing Humans to express their imagination in the domains of the arts, sciences and technologies. All basic needs and essential services are free to all, thus eliminating starvation, homelessness and poverty, while salaries from an employment or profits from a commerce are used to pay for luxury products and services, as well as for entertainment. Humans are in consequence free to work on improving their physique, perfect their intellect or dedicate oneself to his/her children or grandchildren.
Crime has nearly disappeared in the society of the Human Expansion, the name of the human civilization throughout the stars. This is due partly to the general welfare level and partly to the use of mental introspection techniques able to verify rapidly and without risk of error the guilt or innocence of an individual. However, the use of these mental introspection techniques are severely regulated and controlled at multiple levels, in order to avoid abuses in their use. The death penalty, while still existing, is now very rarely given, and only in the case of the most horrendous, cruel and violent crimes.
The domain that has however most influenced the society of the 41st Century is that of space exploration. The invention in the 32nd Century of the molecular propulsion system, which allowed for speeds well above that of light, had finally opened new horizons for the Human Race and gave the planet Earth a salutary reprieve by allowing the emigration to the stars of its surplus population. The planetary systems settled by Humans now form a confederation named ‘Human Expansion’, which counts 26 inhabited solar systems. The best talents, as well as the resources still available after all the essential needs of the population have been satisfied, are now directed towards space exploration and colonization.
The only major deception of Humanity to date is the apparent rarity of intelligent life forms presently coexisting with Humanity in the Universe. While ancient traces of many alien civilizations have been found on a number of solar systems, some of them millions of years old, only three intelligent alien races have been encountered directly to date by Humans. Two of those races were too early in their technological and social developments to risk the unpredictable consequences of a mutual contact. The third race, originating from Epsilon Eridani, proved to be of an extremely aggressive nature and was thus ostracized after a particularly bloody incident between Eridanis and Human merchants. However, the search is continuing through the stars for a race Humans could call a friend.