12: Our Galaxy

Myria is a small planet in a rather large galaxy. It is also one of those one-in-a-million planets that supported green life. These planets are known as ocean planets to most people, and as inhabitable planets to Earthers.
In the supposed beginning, Myria was inhabited by one species: the babuks. They were a race much like humans, but requiring more water, and more sun. Human biologists still are not sure where to classify these creatures. Some of them argue that babuks are amphibians, some argue they’re reptiles, and some mammals. In truth, they fit no category made by such Earthers. These strange creatures lived in the forests of what is now known as the continent of Babuja.
In the year 8351, according to the standard galactic calendar1, a runt among his kind, Foo Foo Fumpus2 of Foojitopia, escaped from his native planet with his friend Wabu Wabu Watburnum and his uncle, Ope Ope Ormutun. Their stolen ship then went on it crash on a large, barren island in Myria, as a result of fuel loss. Foo Foo then claimed the vacant land as his own, and built a city from imported crystal in the island’s center, which he called Fumpus.
After exploring the remainder of the planet, and studying the inferior beings that inhabited its crust, Foo Foo named that place “Myria” and declared himself its king. He also gave name to the seven main land masses of the planet: Izonia, Ascalia, Retalica, Babuja, Hydrakkis, Norlanta, and Rockeraid.
Foo Foo went on to draw two types of species into Myria, one he invited to fill the lands of Hydrakkis, and the other, a few humans from the closest ocean planet to Myria (Earth), he invited to live on the archipelago of Norlanta. This was an act meant to expand Foo Foo’s kingdom, giving him power over a larger range and number of people.
Succeeding this, he created one of Myria’s famed three wonders: the Aurora, a mysterious force that surrounds the planet, enabling only those who understood it to wield its power. Unfortunately, a few philosophical humans came across this force’s use, and formed a Myrian sect called the Ja, claiming that they had developed magical ability.
Another small group of Norlanta’s humans moved to Babuja, where they shared their language with that of the babuks. Another group yet, possessed by the new technology and knowledge that was revealed to them once they were enlightened to the truth about the universe, moved to the island south of Izonia. That place was called Retalica.
The people that moved to Retalica spent years and years in experimentation, far from any civilized location. There, they could conduct more dangerous feats and could escape the confinements of the Norlantian law. A hundred years later, Retalica’s population had decreased to one, through means that none can say anything evidently true about. That one man, single handedly utilizing the machines he and his kind had created, waged war against the continent of Fumpus, Izonia, for the rule of Myria. As Retalica was only in its early stages of development, Izonia gained victory, but sensing Retalica’s strength, made an alliance with it. As proof of his loyalty to the alliance, Foo Foo Fumpus granted Retalica’s one man the responsibility of the whole planet’s defense.
Meanwhile, the humans of Norlanta, determined to understand the land more than any other, found large sources of two astonishing materials which were later labeled Boliba and Anti-Boliba. These materials strongly repelled each other, to the point of being able to lift many tones of metal from the ground. And hence was discovered what became the second wonder of Myria, and the source of the ability for Myria to manufacture hovering equipment.
The third wonder of Myria came about, supposedly, by one man. That man was known as Hasaluf Gammis-Manasan, and his invention was the teleporter. In his one and only factory, Gammana, Gammis-Manasan created the most valuable technology the galaxy had ever seen.
Now, it can only be expected that the rest of the galaxy would become jealous of Myria, and its three invaluable wonders. And so is the reason for the great war3 that Retalica must constantly fight, to keep Myria safe from the dangers of the universe.

1. See Chapter Two: Universal Constants. 2. See Chapter Seven: Our Hierarchy. 3. The Great Myrian War. See Chapter Eight: Galactic Conficts.

Excerpt from Our Galaxy: A guide for Earthers, Daniel Rutt