<b>DISCLAIMER: The following relates to a user-made scenario of the popular computer game "Escape Velocity: Nova". There are actual companies known to have this acronym, however this ARPIA is in no way affiliated with any of them.</b>

What is Arpia? You cannot "know" what it is… You must experience it. But for those who cannot be a part of it, here is a way to do so…

http://www.arpia.be

The Arpia

"A.R.P.I.A." is the acronym of the "Anti-Raider and -Pirate Intelligence Agency", and it is an organisation of free men and women fighting for the security and peace of space traders and civilians throughout the known universe. Founded by Ekrid Malrow and Ernie Bardrien in the year 1153 of the Expansion Era (approximately 4045 AD), it has since then grown to populate planet Culuria in the almost unreachable Residio system. In the first twelve years of its existence, it has been able to fight back piracy silently, but soon, new problems arise along with new enemies. Can Arpia face them all?

The Novel

"Parmil has just graduated from the prestigious Prospera School of Space. The galaxy is hers to conquer as she leaves planet Spiciam and the Rablaor Kan star system for the very first time.

But the galaxy can be a dangerous place, and since the Society is not as present anymore, piracy thrives unchallenged.
Or does it?

A new force has begun to reveal itself. Can the face of the universe be changed by the actions of a few?

Welcome to the world of an agency."

"ARPIA, World of an Agency" is first of all the story of three main characters of different personalities and career paths, all of whom work for Arpia.

One is a "Regular", another opts for the "Shadow Warrior" position and yet another chooses to be a "Public Figure", and each one will take part in great events of galactic scale: from fighting piracy to fighting tyranny, from trading peacefully to fighting slavery and drugs, from speaking with diplomacy to conquering militarily…
But missions, fights and assignments aren't everything. Indeed, love, as always, finds its way into the lives of humans, in its various forms. So do hatred, jealousy, defeat, victory and so many more.

Explore a new world of advenure, reach beyond the limits of the galaxy, see what good and evil can be, … "ARPIA, World of an Agency" shall enable you to do so, within the comfort with which our dear Earth provides us.

The Plug-in

"ARPIA2: World of an Agency" is the true basis for the ARPIA novel. It is a game add-on of three large storylines woven in parallel among which the player must choose. The player becomes a main character of the book, i.e. Parmil, Fezzan or Birgo.

The player fights battles, frees slaves, explores the galaxy, discovers trade, protects the human race and is part of Arpia.
In the novel, you imagine Hogun exploding, in ARPIA2, you see it.
In ARPIA2 you get to choose your path. But beware: one choice can change the future, and the future holds many surprises… Do you have what it takes?

It has always been everyone's dream to fight off entire fleets by oneself, to become a big-time rich trader, to do covert ops and to know everyone, everywhere.

Well, here's your chance.
Complete with stunning graphics made by incredibly talented designers (some of them actually created EVN years before, others have since then become game designers themselves or are hoping to do so), it is another way of being Arpia.

And anyway, ARPIA2 isn't the only add-on for EVN, so if you want gameplay, go ahead.

Production/writing timeline

Started in October 2003, the "Arpia project" has now grown a lot. It started as a simple plug-in for the Escape Velocity Nova computer game, and the first release (referred to as Arpia 1) was met by enthusiastic responses from many players (and thousands of downloads). They went on to ask for more story, new graphics, new twists, …, and within two months of the initial Arpia 1 release, Peter "Pace" Craddock, the creator, went on to start writing new storylines for a sequel and expansion.

Among the new graphics team were a few highly regarded artists, among whom Dafydd "pipeline" Williams, one of ATMOS, the creators of Escape Velocity Nova. He and other ATMOS members have since then been working on ships for ARPIA2 (the much larger plug-in for EV Nova).

Because of the length of the storylines, and because of the positive responses concerning the quality of writing, Peter Craddock then decided he would try to make a novel out of the ARPIA2 storylines, and has since then received a representation offer from a literary agency.

The pebble started an avalanche, and we shall soon see what comes of it once ARPIA2 is released…

External links

The Arpia Mainframe, with forum, media, gallery, …

Escape Velocity: Nova Home Page

Ambrosia Software