Fifteen years before the "present" of *Shadow of the Beanstalk*, the Worlds War (often just "the War") became one of history's costliest conflicts and the first to extend past Earth's atmosphere.

The Outer Space Treaty failed to prevent national and corporate militarization of Luna. Helium-3 mining corps—Melange Mining, Crescent Co., Héliobras, Pestroka Technika, Rajanipati Limited, Xiangong, and others—escalated sabotage until the Prosperity Mining Depot attack killed hundreds of miners when life support failed.

The Lunar Insurrection was the fuse. Fighting spread to Mars (colony wars, clan resistance) and drew Earth superpowers and megacorps into shifting alliances. Haas and Jinteki colonies, Weyland assets, U.S./Chinese/Russian interests, and rebel fleets all feature in wartime accounts. The Beanstalk was threatened; New Angelinos still remember alarms and Root evacuations when Martian and Lunar rebel fleets struck.

**Aftermath:** Treaty of Heinlein; Melange Mining's He-3 monopoly; creation of the Universal Nations, Space Elevator Authority, and Martian Colonial Authority. Peace did not mean justice—especially for Loonies and Martians who felt sold out.

Use the War as backstory scars: veterans (Worlds War Vet talent), missing relatives, unexploded ordnance on Luna, and corps that "won" the peace.