DarkStar One

DarkStar One
European Windows cover art
Developer(s)	Ascaron Entertainment ltd.
Publisher(s)	CDV Software, Kalypso Media
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows Xbox 360 Cloud (OnLive)
Release date(s)	Microsoft Windows EU: June 16, 2006 NA: August 14, 2006 Xbox 360 EU: June 18, 2010 NA: July 20, 2010 AU: August 19, 2010 September 13, 2011 (Games on Demand)
Genre(s)	Space trading and combat simulator
Mode(s)	Single player

DarkStar One is a space trading and combat simulator game developed by German studio Ascaron and published by CDV.

The PC version of the game was officially released on June 16, 2006 in the European Union, August 14, 2006 in North America and subsequently digitally via (GOG.com) on December 17, 2006 (English only), and (DotEmu) on May 19, 2008 (English, French, German). The Xbox 360 version was released on July 20, 2008 under the title Darkstar One: Broken Alliance by Kalypso Media, featuring 1080p and improved gameplay.

The DarkStar One is an advanced, partly organic starship that was built by the protagonist's late father, Simon Jarvis, using technologies from an ancient race. Jarvis was the co-founder and co-owner of a security firm, SimRob Industries; and his business partner and friend, Robert Altair, gives Jarvis's son Kayron, the protagonist, the starship after his father's death. After Kayron becomes familiarised with the controls of the DarkStar One, Robert tells him the manner of his father's death. The weapons system on Jarvis's ship had been sabotaged by a former co-pilot of his, called Jack Forrester. Robert therefore identifies Forrester as a traitor and murderer.

While Kayron sets out to hunt Forrester down in revenge, a series of attacks takes place on research stations across the Galactic Union (GU). The attacking ships, identified simply as drones, appear to be a type of vessel completely unknown to the GU, and Robert convinces the Galactic Council that they are of Thul – that is, non-GU – origin. This therefore antagonises all races within the Galactic Union against the Thul.

In a state of heightened tension, military units are mobilised to the GU's borders in anticipation of galactic war: precisely what the Union was founded to guard against. Unfortunately, this leads to an escalation of unrest already present within GU territory: border disputes between the Arrack and Oc'to, and an increase in piracy and smuggling in the more remote and independent systems.

Soon Kayron meets a pilot called Eona, who – enigmatically – is also looking for Jack Forrester, but she does not divulge why. Eona's mysterious past, of legally questionable nature, means she has many contacts otherwise unavailable to Kayron, mostly linked to the criminal underworld. She becomes Kayron's co-pilot.