When the Kretonians had invaded the Sol system in 2652, they destroyed the solar collectors that were providing sunlight to Ganymede. The planet was becoming uninhabitable quickly, and scores of ships evacuated the doomed moon. Most were picked off by the Kretonians, but one large freighter, carrying various scientists and their familes, successfully ran the gauntlet and jumped into Otherspace along no set course. Wandering aimlessly through space, they rationed their limited supplies and searched for any habitable worlds. After several stops to check worlds that proved to be uninhabitable, In April of 2653 they reached the Maltar system.