Solitary Stars

First autumn after the war. You received the letter two weeks ago. Hartmann...

"... sensational discovery... couldn't tell you earlier... not a word to the papers or anyone else... I've contacted all the old-timers in the group... scientific and spiritual revolution.... Paloma will be present..."

This terse, impersonal missive, coming out of nowhere, stirs up unpleasant memories and many questions. Why this letter, and after so long? What discovery could the man who had been your mentor all those years ago, before entering the respectable and lucrative career of Observatory Director, have made?

You have no desire to see Hartmann again. Could this be a hoax, a cruel prank, even a trap? But why? Has Hartmann really written to the others? You don't even dare mention their names or faces. It's all so long ago.

*

It’s a game written in Inform 7 (6g60), but works solely with hypertext links.

The story takes place in a parallel 20th century, in the capital of an unspecified country, after a terrible war. There’s a touch of fantasy too. You can choose between three different backgrounds for your character. They won’t change the outcome of the scenario, but they will influence mood texts, dialogues and certain actions.