{%hackmd theme-dark %} <style> div#doc { max-width: 100%; } </style> PdS - 2,000,000+ Years Ago Scattered signs of spacefaring civilisations exist from this era, from varying levels of development. Classical Vox appeared to have incorporated elements from these older civilisations, but no living trace of these cultures exists. Most artefacts of this era belong to cultures which seem to have shared the present (6th Century FSC) level of technological development. Scientists speculate endlessly about the lack of living civilisations in spite of the past existence of post-spaceflight cultures. The general plateau of development in particular is a hotly-debated topic, as there are no signs that Kardeshev-Scale Type II or Type III civilisations have ever existed. Some believe the extinct cultures found the means to rapidly advance themselves into forms we lack the ability to even recognise. Others, however, believe that space colonisation may not be the escape from a Great Filter that we hope it is. The proponents of the latter theory assert that each predecessor has been destroyed by factors that existing life will be - or presently is - subject to. The threat may be in the form of self-replicating machinery or spaceborne life which seeks out civilisations to destroy, but as the current life in the galaxy is highly visible to each other through Bluespace communication and travel, this is seen as unlikely. This possibility cannot be ruled out, however, if such a threat remains hidden and dormant. One other possibility is that civilisations have chosen to seclude themselves in paranoia, to protect themselves against threats emerging from the dark to extinguish species who cry out to the stars with space-probes and messages. Proponents of this theory claim that in the unexplored stars in our galaxy and beyond, there is a Dark Forest of silent ships and worlds, full of predators waiting to snuff out loud, foolish young civilisations. PdS 2,000,000 - 500 Years Ago Xenoarchaeologists place this era as the beginning of current forms of sapient species known to the galactic community. Though developing at different paces, each of the present-day cultures with the exception of the Vox developed fire and tool use, civilisation, and eventually spaceflight during this period. The coincidence of the span of time in which most of the known species developed Bluespace technology has been a source of intense debate. Artefacts of the Vox Chorus can be dated to almost anywhere within this period of time, though they stop abruptly with the advent of the Vox Collapse. Much of the archaeological history remains sealed away and inaccessible behind violent hyperspatial storms. Probes traversing the interstellar space with archaic chemical engines have been sent by various research initiatives in recent times, but it will be many, many years before those bear fruit. Ancient Syebenaltch Before the unions came together under the high-matriarchy, the Rachnid natural tendency for rivalry and seclusion manifested more violently. Reh'himl was fractured into many separate kingdoms each warring for dominance for most of its history. With the number of world-war equivalent battles reaching into the double-digits. These wars only came to a halt with the development of nuclear weapons, and the burning of several forests that shaded the planet from its suns deadly radiation. This led to the modernization of the planet, and the species banding together to avoid the total collapse of their planet's ecosystem from the fallout. Ancient Earth The Night of Fire Incident occurs on Earth. In the wake of an all-out nuclear missile exchange, all major powers dissolve overnight. A horrific number of people die, both from the explosions, and afterwards from the resulting radiation, disease, famine, and nuclear winter. PdS 70 - Teceti hosilities between North and South PdS 50 Reh'himl develops Bluespace communications, and soon afterwards, realise that they are receiving interstellar transmissions from a distant star. The plethora of discordant and patchy signals are quickly realised to be intelligent in origin and are studied with intense scientific interest. After long deliberation, they decipher that the aliens refer to themselves as "Vox", and their homeworld "Shoal". Syebenaltch gives their best attempt to translate their language, but interference and distance prevents them transmitting a greeting back towards the alien culture. PdS 52 - On Teceti: Conquest of the North by the South PdS 25 After dedicating many busy years to the effort, Syebenaltch develops Bluespace FTL travel and begins exploring the stars. Their efforts are split between devising a route through Bluespace towards the Shoal, and with exploring their local star systems. Following several arduous years spent refining and improving their Bluespace Drive technology and their space vessels, one science vessel eventually makes it almost to the Shoal - only to discover it trapped within a raging Bluespace storm. The storm explains the interference in the transmissions from it, and why Reh'himl couldn't seem to reach them with the messages they broadcasted in return. Now much closer to the alien world, the Syebenaltch ship manages to beam a greeting through, and are shocked to receive tens of thousands of messages in reply. Reh'himl scientists sift through these for many years as they begin the long process of establishing relations. After a period of difficult first-contact transmissions between the combined Syebenaltch unions and many, many representatives of the Shoal, Syebenaltch scientists come to some realisations. First, that the Shoal has been trapped by a turbulent pocket of Bluespace they refer to as the Reef for a very long time, and second, that the Shoal is but the edge of their territory, though they've lost all contact with their other worlds in a sudden collapse. Syebenaltch explorers find very little in habitable candidates during these early years, but nonetheless begin constructing orbital habitats and outposts in nearby systems to Reh'himl. In the mostly-barren systems surrounding Shoal space, a new type of exotic matter is discovered and described by Shoal scholars as "Phoron". Its many paradoxical properties make it an incredibly useful material in ship propulsion, Bluespace manipulation, and biomedical applications alike - though many years pass before all these uses are discovered. FSC 0 On Earth, the Solar Confederation is officially founded, but the Lepiton Storm known to them as the Oort Barrier precludes contact with them until FSC 250. During Syebenaltch exploratory voyages, their ships discover the existence of another sapient species and civilisation. Taking a more measured approach than with the Shoal, they study these new aliens for some time to gauge their disposition and societies more closely before they make contact. This species refers to themselves as "Serpentids", their star as "Levis", and their homeworld as "Haruspex". Learning that the Haruspician cultures are largely city-states joined together under a planetary monarchy, Syebenaltch infamously make contact with the Haruspex oceanic navy during the middle of a training exercise. The resulting chaos leads to the then-Queen of Haruspex quickly becoming aware of the interstellar diplomats and beginning a far more orderly dialogue than in the Shoal-Syebenaltch contact. The Haruspex-Syebenaltch contact leads to the two worlds becoming fast friends, though Haruspex asks for their existence to be kept a secret as they begin the process of preparing themselves for life as an interstellar culture. FSC 25 The First Phorid A freak accident in a Reh'himl phoron research laboratory results in a Rachnid perishing in a hellish phoron fire, then quite disturbingly re-animating as a new form of phoron-based life. They would become known as the first victim of a full-body Phoronation - the first Phorid. Medical researchers race to try and understand this phenomenon, and the Shoal seem to have no experience with it despite knowing of Phoron's existence. The patient is kept alive in a Phoron-rich environment, but their doctors are appalled to discover them suffering from severe retrograde amnesia, remembering only some of their learned skills and nothing of their past life. Appearance of the Celestial Fleets It is discovered to the alarm of both the Shoal and Syebenaltch that some Vox ships have begun to escape the treacherous Bluespace of the Reef. The largest group seem to belong to a distinct, cohesive culture of space-going Vox who refer to themselves as the Celestial Fleets. Their representatives seem to prefer that the Fleets seclude themselves from conflict, but prove eager to engage in trade and exchanges of crew and skills. Afterwards, the establishment of direct physical interaction between Syebenaltch and the Shoal is met with jubilation, as many long-thought impossible meetings come to pass. This momentous occasion is somewhat soured by the subsequent emergence of Shoal space piracy, owing to the largely lawless state of the Shoal, and the desperate nature of some of its inhabitants. Nevertheless, Syebenaltch's first inter-civilisation trade routes, migration, and cultural exchanges are established. Despite the challenging differences in their ways of life, this contact is regarded fondly - and, crucially, it is thought to have arrested the on-going collapse of the Shoal. Grave Stars Catalogue With the discovery of tenuous passages developing through the storm around the Shoal, ships from Syebenaltch, the Shoal, and the Celestial Fleets begin exploring the surrounding space. What they discover are barren worlds and ruins - signs of ancient Vox civilisation, but no signs of any life. FSC 50 Kalixcian Bluespace Epoch Over in a distant reach of the Orion Spur, another world develops Bluespace technology, this time a world with two starkly-different species. In the binary Bezuts system, on the planet Kalixcis, two sapient species evolved: Elzuosa and Sarathi. Their world is one of political turmoil, with many different forms of government still warring for territory across the planet. Nevertheless, their ascent to spaceflight is a momentous occasion, and the Bluespace Drive technology is - one way or another - adopted by all the Kalixcian nations with the ability to fund a space program, each seeking to take to the stars. The competitive nature of the Kalixcians pushes them into an age of rapid exploration and expansion, wherein they race to exploit the resources of the galaxy to gain an advantage over one another. Haruspex Emergence Tecetian Unity Crisis FSC 80 - Kalixcis-Teceti First Contact Another Bluespace-communicating civilisation is discovered, this time from a warm, distant terrestrial planet known by its native "Kepori" inhabitants as "Teceti", in the "Reki" star system. The planet at the time of contact has been in the midst of a near-extinction as a result of rampant industrialism, and two major cultures are hostile to one another in the north and south of the planet, divided by an uninhabitable equatorial region. Unusually, first contact with the Kepori did not occur with their homeworld, but rather with a society residing in a number of space stations in the planet's orbiting ring - known locally as "Larisafa". The Larisafa stations are relics of a time before their planet's ecological collapse, and the Kepori living aboard them are long-adapted to life aboard the stations, unaware that The revelation that they are not Discovery of Mothfolk Still isolated within the Sol system, the Solar Confederation makes the startling discovery of Mothfolk in scattered locations around Sol. These human-derived genemods seem to have lived in small, isolated communities for a few generations, but had been trapped in remote outposts and left oblivious to the existence of other humans. Nobody has any idea of who is responsible for their creation. Tecetian Terraforming Initiatives > Terraforming accident, leaving a part of the desert completely moistureless > ban on terraforming for a year > unigov backpedals and instead encourages terraforming other planets instead of teceti to test terraforming equipment before using it on teceti > north/south get into a race on who can successfully terraform as many planets than the other Creation of the Texe'geuhiml Galleries A ring-world megastructure constructed around Mea'awa, a gas giant past Reh'himl which acts as a testimony and museum for the Rachnid people. As a joint-effort between the Tati'zion, Deu'Texe and Strixiyos unions, the galleries are used to store and display the greatest works of their species. New discoveries, guildcrafts, and inventions of famed guildmasters are added each passing day from Rachnid whom wish to have their work marveled by the universe. To be expected, the Texe'geuhiml Galleries is one of the biggest places to visit for any tourist to the system. FSC 199 - Teceti Planetary Unification (Actual unification this time), Larisafa Ring remains independent ### FSC 200 - Invention of the Positronic Brain The Sophisticated Synthetic Intelligences Guild on Reh'himl develops a revolutionary new form of processor: positronics. Though their inner workings are not fully understood, they demonstrate a limited ability to learn and adapt to stimuli, and are far more compact and power-efficient than competing electronic technologies. Each positronic brain develops its computational structures in a unique way, requiring the initial training of each brain to be individually nuanced. While slower to produce in large number than software-based programs as a result (which can simply be duplicated and function identically to one another), posibrains are immediately recognised as far more versatile and safer to use in environments requiring complex reasoning and pattern recognition. The first production runs of positronics are quickly adopted, with use in dangerous and difficult environments such as military applications and disaster-response being highly popular. Frames and chassis for almost any conceivable application are devised in earnest, and soon are seen in service jobs, financial institutions, hard labour, and many other roles. Haruspex is an eager adopter of the technology, integrating positronics into their already highly-automated lifestyle. Some scientists hope that eventually, the use of positronics as soldiers will allow "humane" war to replace the burden and sacrifice of the past. Detractors of this stance however, argue that civilian casualties by famine, disease, and wars centred around population centres could pose an even greater threat to life if the risk to warring parties is no longer a risk to sapient soldiery. War against insurgents, guerrilla fighters, and Proof of Positronic Sapience FSC 225 FSC 250 The Solar Confederation finally escapes the Oort Barrier, making contact with the wider galactic community. The sudden appearance of the Solarian ship startles a Kalixcian vessel on the far side of the barrier. Prospective: SolGov emerges at a crucial time politically to act as a neutral party, allowing them unusual latitude to do things such as establish timekeeping standards and defuse a dire political situation - perhaps between the PGF and either other Kalixcian powers, or the Syebenaltch-Haruspex-Teceti bloc? Alt: Awful bush wars or proxy wars with the Shoal, smaller powers, etc.? Early Expansionist Era - Final Flight of the Candor, founding of the Saint-Roumain Militia The ISV Candor, a private colony initiative ship, makes an ill-fated voyage into the Frontier. The ship crash-lands on the planet Illestren - their intended destination, but far from the intended landing point. Roughly six-hundred of the four-and-a-half thousand crew perish, and the rest find themselves stranded in a desert, weeks from any hope of rescue, and with highly-dangerous xenofauna seeking to prey on them. Fortunately for the crew, a group from the crew itself had some survival skills to help preserve the group: members of the Society of Solarian Survivalists. Though the loss of the Candor's armoury meant they they had only antique hunting weapons to defend themselves with, these proved invaluable in both defending against hostile life, and securing food sources from the land. Realising their best chance at survival was a long trek through snow to circumnavigate a mountain range, the Candor survivors made a caravan and salvaged what they could from the wrecked ship. In the harrowing journey through snow, the crew faced hypothermia, starvation, and fatal struggles against groups from their own number in their journey to safer lands. Estimates place the number of casualties during this journey at around another four hundred people. At their destination, the colonists settle the town of Vickmara, using the equipment salvaged from the Candor to finally establish the colony. In the years afterward, the Society of Solarian Survivalists would found a religious hunting order known to this day as the Saint-Roumain Militia. Its adherents devote themselves to further honing the survival skills that served them well in the disastrous founding of their colony. FSC 272 - Universal Equality and Justice Clauses FSC 280 - Founding of the Nanotrasen Corporation Nanotrasen is founded by investors from Bezuts and Sol. The Solarians represented large swathes of business interests and capitalists who wanted to escape the heavily regulated and regimented society of Sol. Nanotrasen Parts Ecosystem FSC 311 - Invention of Cloning FSC 350 - Teceti Terraforming Efforts Begin to Bear Fruit FSC 360 - Nanotrasen Colonial Boom FSC 370 - Zohil Colony Program In a bid to establish a firm control of lucrative trade routes, the United Republics of Free Zohil begins a program of colonisation in the Frontier worlds towards the Great Storm. FSC 373 Founding of Luna-Town by Zohil Serving as the focal point of their colony efforts, the Zohilian colony of Luna-Town is founded within the Frontier. Unfortunately, these efforts are quickly undermined by piracy, a decline in the trade routes along which the colonies were settled, and the escalation of Zohil-Gezena conflict back on Kalixcis. FSC 385 - The Zohilian Withdrawal As a result of the dire situation back in Zohil, their colony effort comes to a halt, funding is cut off, and Zohil begins to funnel personnel and materiel back home towards the war effort. FSC 386 - Rise of the Frontiersmen By this time, Zohil has completely withdrawn support for the colonists they left in the Frontier. Problems in Zohil colonial space reaches a breaking point as a highly-organised band of pirates calling themselves the Frontiersmen terrorise the region. FSC 390 - Founding of the Colonial League of Independent Planets In light of the scattered Zohilian colonies banding together for mutual defence, the member groups decide to officially declare themselves the Colonial League of Independent Plants. Each member retains internal authority, but pledge each other military support and guarantee each other's independence. The Colonial Militia earns themselves the moniker "Minutemen" in honour of their triumphant success in the Battle of Luna-Town, where they shot down a Frontiersmen cruiser in under a minute. United Republics of Free Zohil is overthrown in a coup funded by the Pan-Gezenan Federation, creating the Zohil Explorat in its wake. The fall of their Zohilian opponents is a short-lived celebration, however, as the Explorat throws off their yoke and quickly becomes an even fiercer opponent to the PGF. FSC 400 - Fall of the Frontiersmen FSC 421 - Colonial League Xenobiological Disaster BARD EXCERPT > Mid 421: > Reports emerge from various colonies almost simultaneously of large unknown masses of xenofauna previously unseen assaulting mineshafts and underground facilities on planets. > > Late 421: > After several skirmishes, a company of Colonial Minutemen fights a large-scale battle against a hive of hostile xenofauna and is slaughtered with nearly no survivors. Accounts from the few remaining members of the battalion are taken for analysis. > > 422: > The Unknown Threats Division is formed, a prototypical version of the modern BARD to combat the then-unknown threat. > > 423: > Attacks continue to mount. The UTD begins developing specialized infantry tactics and equipment for usage by the troops while they continue to hold off infestations where possible. > > Early 425: > After two more years of stalemate, the UTD finalizes development of the First Xenofauna Combat Arms Manual, alongside an array of effective equipment designed to bring the fight to the xenofauna hives. > > Mid-Late 425: > With arms and tactical information transported, the first successful hive assault begins, torching the structure and gaining valuable research data for further attacks. > > 435: > By this time, most of the hives directly near Colonial Minutemen affiliated colonies are destroyed, removing most of the threat associated with the hostile xenofauna threat. In victory, the UTD renames to the Biological Assessment and Removal Division, signifying the now-known threat they have triumphed over. 507: (This is in the future, correct in the CMM/CLIP doc?) After over 70 years of successful operation, continually working to stamp out xenofauna warrens and assist in biological disaster response, including disease control. They continue to patrol the Frontier and protect against xenofauna incursion. Creation of the Installation Project Gateway FSC 479 - The Inter-Corporate Wars begin The Inter-Corporate Wars begin, which is the name given to the series of conflicts between Nanotrasen, and their political and corporate opponents. Almost two centuries after Nanotrasen's founding, the company has grown so large and powerful that strikers are not enough to curtail them. Early in the war, Nanotrasen abandons control of The Installation and leaves its inhabitants to their fates. The Hole In The Centre of Everything Bluespace Artillery The Gateway Horror FSC 497 - End of the Inter-Corporate War The Inter-Corporate War ends with a ceasefire, with both sides fighting to an exhausted standstill after eighteen years of bloody fighting. Neither side can really claim to have won, but neither wants to admit they lost. In the days following the war, a mercenary company is founded by crew abandoned by both sides, calling their new company the Inteq Risk Management Group. Their policy of recruiting from Syndicate and Nanotrasen crew, regardless of prior allegiance, makes them unpopular with the two previously-warring sides. To the aimless or estranged fighters of the Inter-Corporate Wars however, an outlet for their skills proves a popular career. Inteq's services prove invaluable to the highly-unstable Frontier worlds, especially to independent crews and to the Colonial League. FSC 498 - New Frontiersmen Attack Luna-Town Celeste Station Crisis Regilix, the unstable, but highly mineral-rich moon of Kalixcis, is discovered to have had its process of tidal destruction into a ring disturbed by unchecked mining practices. It was originally thought that as Regilix broke apart - a process which would have taken millennia - it would have resulted in the natural formation of a planetary ring around Kalixcis. Scientists now believe that within centuries or even decades, Regilix will break apart into larger pieces and rain down in devastating meteor impacts across the surface of Kalixcis. In spite of civil unrest and protest to these mining practices, little change has been made by any of the Kalixcian powers. Nanotrasen Reforms In the wake of the Inter-Corporate War, Nanotrasen has seen most of its holdings lost, its influence curtailed, and most of its board of directors either dead or resigned following the disastrous conflict. The people who have replaced them have been trying (against what the company would, prior, have considered its best interest) to instil more ethical practices, fighting against the company to improve it from within. Above all, however, they realise that the ceasefire must stand, and that the complete collapse of the company will lead to such chaos that FSC 504 Present day.