2090 The Energy Wars
By 2069 humanity had depleted its reserves of natural gas, and four years later oil was also gone. Coal was the next scarce resource while nuclear power plants raced to support the growing demand of ten billion people. Temperatures during the summer months averaged 113.5 degrees Fahrenheit while the rest of the year was fraught with intense storms, deadly rainfall, and flooding.
The receding ice sheets of Western Antarctica exposed new opportunities and land. Soon after, corporate-owned settlements sprung up and eventually turned into city-states with extraterritorial jurisdiction. Between the years 2080 and 2084, there was an explosion in new technologies, such as the first iteration of a neural interface, produced by Mindsync. A rudimentary version of artificial intelligence from the think tank at Gneiss Corp, and semi-autonomous robots manufactured by Wrolotix. These inventions, along with many others, vastly increased the quality of life and production capabilities of the world. Profits soared for the corporations, while everyone reaped the rewards of only 30-hour work weeks and more leisure activities.
Over time, income inequality increased to unmanageable levels, and more jobs were replaced by faster and more efficient machines. The economy collapsed in 2089 when unemployment reached 3.5 billion people, and only a year later, in 2090, 'The energy wars' started. This was a period of upheaval where countries scrambled to retain control of their rare resources.
2093
When Russia invaded Kazakhstan for its coal reserves in 2093, paranoia of being invaded became a reality. Panic spread like wildfire, and everyone armed themselves. In 2094 Germany took decisive action and quickly consumed Poland and Ukraine, a brutal conflict that lasted for five years. Meanwhile, Australia and Indonesia engage in a deadly battle of attrition that decimates both sides. In the year 2097, China invaded India with a decisive aerial attack that killed millions.
The energy wars came to a head when all of North America and the remains of a fractured Europe banded together against the combined efforts of the Asia continent. For the next 17 years the world burned, and from the ashes of destruction came profits. The powerful corporations who had been supplying their respective country with weapons, and innovative war machines remained relativity unscathed.
When Natcoil Labs released their plans for a reliable hydrogen fusion reactor later manufactured by Suncore, the governmental power shifted. Having near-limitless energy at their fingertips allowed many powerful companies to topple their respective governments.
2120 The Corporate Uprising
The end of the energy war had changed the political landscape forever. The United States government was superseded by Stardust Technologies, Triluxco, and Cain Dynamics when they bought the country. The Russian companies Tarravent and Nurobotics ceased total control when they partnered with China companies, Yarel, and Meshium. Germany and the United Kingdom were reunited under four companies, Volttech, Ivox Ventures, Starlight Systems, and VueGrid. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates ceded control over to Solarite Energy, and IrinaCare Inc. Very few governments remained standing after what was known as the corporate uprising.
2126
When power shifted from the government to corporations, so did the economy. By 2126 two powerful banking entities, Marina Investors, and LD Financial introduced a legal tender that was adopted by other corporations known simply as 'credits.' It quickly achieved a stable and consistent status and replaced all other forms of currency within only four years.
2130
Quantum computers were commonplace by the year 2130 and had been integrated with everything from smart buildings to everyday household items. Pioneering the technology were two giants in the field, ZommTech and Sphinxsoft.
2143
By the year 2143 logistics operations were fully autonomous and powered by artificial intelligence thanks to companies such as Yeyoun Tech, Cain Dynamics, and Gneiss Corp. Androids were also commonplace because the market was saturated by Wrolotix, Nurobotics, and Tiwati Robotic. These humanoid robots worked in every industry ranging from hostile environments to personal maid services.
2151
Stardust Technologies established a commercial orbital station around Earth named Haven 2. There was also a sustained presence on the Moon when the Aradon Corp revived NASA's abandoned Artemis base camp in the year 2151. Since then it has been expanded into a fully realized colony with the same name. Mars was also a hotspot for space-based tourism thanks to Dream Vacay, a subsidiary of Stardust Technologies. The wealthy could purchase a seat onboard one of Dream Vacay's passenger ships and visit the red planet. Aside from the geological sightseeing, visitors found lodging at Holden City, a robust manufacturing and mining colony established by the partnership of S&W Manufacturing and the Elore corporation.
2160 The Registry Race
2160 saw the end of the coal power era, which was unfortunate for countries still controlled by a typical government. The ever-increasing price of corporate-owned Fusion power was quickly driving these countries into poverty. While old governments were forced to remain on Earth the corporations extended their influence into space.
2171
By the end of 2171, Starlight Systems had established multiple resource extraction sites in the solar system. They had a presence on three of the moons of Jupiter; Gapbourne on Europa, Wintorward City on Io, and Blackoria on Callisto. Starlight Systems also had two colonies on dwarf planets located in the asteroid belt; Kenwick on Ceres and Dontone on Hygiea. A few years later, the Aradon Corp partnered with Gneiss Corp, and together they expanded to the moons of Saturn with Los Yaning on Mimas and an orbital station named Amfall around Titan.
2184
Travel between these remote locations was costly until the company named Dynamico revolutionized space travel with their Ram-scoop technology in the year 2184. Before this invention, hydrogen was produced on the surface of a planet and was expensive to transport into orbit where it was used with fusion reactors onboard space ships. The ram-scoop revolutionized the industry because it allowed a space-faring vessel to refuel by scooping up hydrogen from the corona of the sun instead. Taking full advantage of this invention, Dream Vacay capitalized on tourism and passenger transportation opportunities with a fleet of new ships. Now the solar system was finely within reach of anyone who could afford passage.
2185
Between 2185 and 2199 marked the period known as 'The Registry Race'. Companies raced to stake claim to planetary bodies and resource-rich locations. Most conflicts were conducted in the board room with aggressive buyouts and corporate espionage, but there was still the occasional armed conflict. Private security teams, armed with the latest high-tech weaponry battled in orbit and on the surface over disputed territory.
2210 Lentz Warp Drive
Voyagetronics debuted their Lentz Warp Drive in 2206. It had the capability of creating a warp bubble around a ship which compressed space-time and allowed a craft to cover vast distances at incredible speeds. Although its release was not without skepticism. During one of the initial test runs, there was a catastrophic accident. The craft was en route from lunar orbit to the Kuiper Belt and without proper dissipation of the warp bubble it released in energetic outbursts that destroyed the destination asteroid. Over the next four years, and many reiterations later, the official first generation of the drive came to market in 2210 and could compress sufficient space-time to move a ship across space at twice the speed of light. Likewise, communication over vast distances also benefited from this technology. The Lentz drive could send a warp burst communication containing only data and aim it at the destination. The transmitted package would then arrive at three times the speed of light using this method.
2212
Now that corporations had the means to travel beyond the solar system, a race for the stars began. Everyone looked to the big three, Starlight Systems, Aradon Corp, and Stardust Technologies, to see who would come out on top. Two years later, Stardust Technologies rolled out their Leopard class liner, a ship named 'Hestia,' which was filled with hopeful passengers for its maiden voyage. The destination was the closest 'G' class star similar to the sun, Tau Ceti, 11.89 light-years away. The departure garnered immediate fanfare from the media while everyone watched the ship spool up the drive, and vanish in a flash of light. Afterward, the excitement slowly devolved into growing concern as the communication with the craft deteriorated into static. The last transmission received was the garbled sound of screams with a long eerie silence afterward. All further attempts at reestablishing communication failed, and the Hestia was never heard or seen from again. This incident put a damper on extrasolar expeditions for the next three years because few industries were willing to fund such risky endeavors.
2215 Neo Aiden
When the Aradon Corp propped up their Amber class Explorer to take on the challenge of reaching another star, few were excited. Despite battling through negative public opinion, and a noticeable dip in their stocks, the company proceeded with the project. The ship was equipped with a robust communication suite, and piloted by an android that had a prototype artificial intelligence produced by Gneiss Corp. The ship named 'Neo Aiden' departed on 2215 for the Alpha Centauri system, 4.35 light-years away. Even though the Neo Aiden remained in communication, public interest was still low, and the entire project fell under the radar for the next three years. When the craft completed the journey in a remarkably short span of 2 years and 2 months it sent back a message. 1 year and 5 months later everyone back home received the news. There was a sudden wave of excitement and renewed vigor for exploration. Aradon Corp was catapulted to corporate elitism status overnight. Meanwhile, their stock prices ballooned, and smaller businesses clamored for a partnership.
2219
The Gneiss Corp saw its largest investments as everyone gravitated to their success. Many powerful companies attempted to barter for the rights to their prototype AI, while others tried to buy the company outright. Eventually, Маrinа Investors and the education facility Harrington ED stepped into the picture with an offer the Gneiss Corp could not refuse. Partnered with these two entities, Gneiss Corp bought itself out from under the Aradon Corp, and became an independent power in its own right, rivaling the big three.
2221 ADAM
At the beginning of 2221, the Gneiss Corp released a commercially available version of the AI that performed the trip to the Alpha Centauri system. The AI, known as ADAM (Autonomous Decision-Making AI Matrix), who could make its own choices and react to various situations, rivaling that of a human pilot. This was the first mass-produced AI that was considered to have a consciousness after it successfully passed the Turing test. ADAM came in two popular forms, ADAMCore, and ADAMoid. The core version was integrated with a ship and housed inside the ship's computer core. Even though this version had no physical body, it still had full autonomy over every facet of the vessel. The other version came as an android complete with life-like human skin. These androids saw their greatest popularity in the customer service and labor industries but eventually also found themselves in some of the seedier industries satisfying humanity's scandalous vices. Skepticism from the masses demanded regulations, but at the time there was no standing government with the influence to force ethical laws against the product.
Over the next 11 years, many companies integrated ADAM into their products. The markets saw a new wave of self-navigating crafts. Androids with synthetic skin that were nearly indistinguishable from humans, and a slue of intelligent devices for everyday use. Cain Dynamics, however, was the only company to appoint ADAM as their new CEO. With artificial intelligence at the helm, the company saw a drastic increase in everything from sales revenue to employee happiness. The speed at which inventive and profitable business opportunities were being created was only bottlenecked by the human element.
2224
Voyagetronics rolled out their second generation of the Lentz Warp Drive in 2224 which had the astonishing capabilities of reducing travel time by a factor of 21. Ships could now travel from Sol to Alpha Centauri in just over 2 months. Learning their lesson from the Kuiper Belt incident in 2210 they developed proper energy dispersion technology. By limiting the maximum output of the drive to 1.5% while operating within the solar system, the warp bubble could safely be dispersed before arriving at the destination. Their proof of concept showed they could depart Earth and reach Jupiter on close approach in a blistering 1 hour 44 minutes. Unfortunately, warp burst communication from Earth announcing the ship's departure was received only 4 minutes before the craft appeared in orbit around Jupiter, which caused serious issues with traffic control stations.
2232 The Frontier Expansion
To capitalize on Aradon Corp's prior success with reaching the Alpha Centauri system, many more corporations funded expeditions of their own. Armed with the well-established technical knowledge, the second-generation Lentz drive, and the proven capabilities of ADAM, a mass exodus of AI-controlled ships was sent out into the great void. Over the next 10 years, everyone was getting involved in what was to be known as 'The Frontier Expansion'.
2232
Stardust Technologies and Dream Vacay desperately needed a win, after losing the Hestia 20 years ago. They dispatched three probes destined for the 70 Ophiuchi system, Beta Hydri, and Barnard’s Star.
2233
Dynamico deployed an android-piloted scout ship to 37 Bootis. At the same time Volttech, Sphinxsoft, and Ivox Ventures sent an exploration probe to Altair and Fomalhaut.
2234
LD Financial and ZommTech collaborated to have a satellite sent to the Procyon system although this was not the biggest news that year. Throwing a wrench in all ship designs Voyagetronics pushed out another milestone and introduced their third generation Lentz Warp Drive. This new technology made ships rolling off the factory floor already obsolete, and shipbuilders such as Stardust Technologies, Starlight Systems, and Aradon Corp struggled to keep up. The third-generation drive reduced travel time by a factor of 100, a seemingly impossible feat. Voyagetronic demonstrated the technology by launching an unmanned prototype vessel from Earth's orbit to Jupiter. When it arrived 21 minutes and 47 seconds later, Voyagetronic stock prices tripled in almost the same amount of time. This new drive promised a trip to Alpha Centauri would only take 15 days.
2235
Aradon Corp sent new commands to their Amber class Explorer, Neo Aiden, which had been in lower power mode in the Alpha Centauri system for the last 17 years. They diverted the craft to explore Tau Ceti. The company also strived to maintain its elitist status and proceeded to accomplish another first. Aradon Corp deployed a fully crewed ship named 'The Loyal Watcher' to Alpha Centauri. Unfortunately, the ship was still equipped with the first-generation Lentz drive, and retrofitting it with the latest invention from Voyagetronic was not in the budget. This was the second attempt with a live crew and was considered extremely risky after the disastrous attempt by Stardust Technologies in 2212, although history would exonerate this moment as the first successful human crew to travel beyond the solar system.
2236
Starlight Systems, Elore, VueGrid, and Tiwati Robotics funded four probes equipped with the third-generation Lentz drive. These ships were destined to explore the Sirius system thoroughly. Meanwhile, the relatively new space suit manufacturer, Neutronis, sent out a probe to Sigma Draconis.
2237
Solarite Energy, S&W Manufacturing, and IrinaCare Inc. pooled their resources to fund an expedition to Epsilon Indi. At the same time, Natcoil Labs and Suncore sent a recon satellite to 24 Cassiopeiae. This same year, the loyal watcher and its crew arrived in the Alpha Centauri system but news of their success would not arrive until a year later.
2238
Much to everyone's surprise, the struggling governments on Earth united under one law, calling themselves (TPOE) The people of Earth. Together they constructed a massive ship filled with passengers and the means to resettle on a distant planet in the Delta Pavonis system. The craft was given the name 'Hope' and utilized the first-generation Lentz drive. Even though this was the first appearance of what would later be known as a colony ship, history would largely overlook their epic voyage mostly because of their horrific fate years later when the Unified Corporate Colonies formed.
2239
Nurobotics, Yarel, and Meshium funded a venture to Mu Cassiopeiae.
2240
Gneiss Corp decided to send out a ship to 107 Piscium.
2241
The combined efforts of Mindsync, Yeyoun Tech, and Wrolotix dispatched three ships headed for Vega, 40 Eridani and 61 Cygni.
2242 Aradon Colony
The crew of the loyal watcher established the first fully functional settlement christened Aradon Colony on a temperate planet in the Alpha Centauri system. When news of this great achievement returned to the Sol system in 2242, it proved once and for all that humanity could live among the stars. With great aspirations and profits to be had, it did not take long for other corporations to follow in Aradon's footsteps. Preparations started almost immediately and companies began construction of large colony ships- crafts capable of supporting thousands of individuals and equipment to start a new settlement in another system.
2246
Once again Voyagetronic exceeded expectations when they released their fourth generation Lentz drive to the market in 2246. This new drive could reduce travel time even further, allowing ships to achieve 300 times the speed of light. Putting Alpha Centauri travel time at 5 days, and a trip from Earth to Jupiter in 7 minutes 15 seconds.
However, during testing, Voyagetronic stumbled upon an unexpected phenomenon with this generation of technology. Because of the extreme compression of space-time ahead of a ship, when two craft were traveling at warp in a single file, the bubble of the trailing ship would collapse. This led to the trailing ship being dragged along in the wake of the lead vessel while at the same time, the active warp bubble distorted into a twisting tunnel. Shortly after, both ships were forcefully thrown back into normal space, damaged, and adrift. Even though this flaw would be fixed in later models of the Lentz drive, it was reintroduced as a countermeasure technology called the warp tether which became very popular with security and pirates alike.
2248 The Title Wars
With the ability to travel vast distances in less than a month, companies rushed to claim untapped resources, planets, and entire systems. Akin to the The Registry Race of 2185 companies mass-produced colony ships loaded with adventurous crew and sent them to far-flung systems to set up settlements. Although, much like before, there were conflicts with disputed ownership. Settlers from different companies battled each other on the surface, armed ships clashed in orbit, and company stocks were aggressively obtained to undercut extraterritorial jurisdiction. The cost in human lives was staggering but it was the loss of expensive ships and future colonies that hurt the corporations the most. 2248 saw some of the most brutal conflicts between corporate entities that anyone had seen in the last 49 years. The battles continued for another year with more bloodshed and no end in sight.
2249
By the middle of 2249, TPOE came out of hiding and proposed a solution. TPOE would act as a moderator for the corporations, allocating disputed territory with a fair unbiased trial and managing the patents of ownership. The corporations agreed to the terms, and the period between 2249 and 2253 became known as 'The Title Wars.' TPOE's involvement did little to quell the battles that raged outside of the Sol system, but the partnership with an old government did provide the corporations with essential structure and accountability they had been lacking for years.
2251 Ambition
In 2251 a colony flight named 'Ambition' was dispatched by Ivox Ventures and loaded with the latest equipment to establish a settlement, five thousand passengers, and an integrated ADAMcore. The ship was on a month-long journey to the Fomalhaut system when a fire broke out in the galley. ADAM quickly remedied the situation but sadly this led to the death of two teenagers who were trapped inside. This one event cascaded into a chain reaction of problems that led to the crew entering cryosleep inside escape pods, and a hostile artificial intelligence attacking anyone who boards. To this day, the ghost ship has become a beacon of doom for anyone unlucky enough to find the Ambition and venture inside.
News of this event destroyed the legitimacy of the Gneiss Corp despite their best attempt to assure the public that ADAM was safe. The company went bankrupt trying to repair its tarnished reputation. After the dust had settled, the Gneiss Corp performed a massive restructure, changed management, and rebranded themselves as WrightAI Inc. Their first order of business was the development of a new AI system called SAM (SimiAutonomous Artificial Matrix). SAM was designed with limited control over the ship and reduced decision-making capabilities. This allowed the AI to assist with flight controls, power allocation, and repairs, but more importantly, it required a human pilot to make the decisions. Like its predecessor, SAM was also produced in two forms, SAMCore, and SAMoid. However, the Android version was noticeably robotic. It had glossy white coverings instead of human-like skin and an impersonal black face plate built into the head. Years later policies would be enforced by the UCC that made ADAMCore illegal but ADAMoid could still be produced, albeit with crippling regulations that made it unmarketable. Companies eventually stopped producing ADAMoids altogether, but sometimes these remnants of a bygone era can still be found trying to blend in with humanity, paying rent, and raising a family.
2254 Unified Corporate Colonies
There are six key resources that everyone depends upon, and for a time the corporations fulfilled the extensive supply and demand. However, ever since the partnership with TPOE in 2249, numerous patents of ownership were still unresolved. When these patents came into conflict with vital resources, the infrastructure started to collapse. Multiple court trials were taking place at the same time under the guidance of TPOE and resolutions were painfully slow. Company buyouts and seizure of assists had become bogged down in governmental law. Because of the delays, power outages were widespread, security forces were understaffed, transportation was unreliable, and even necessities such as food were scarce.
People needed relief, and the corporations were hemorrhaging credits. The big three corporations held a meeting in secret with other major players that controlled vital resources in the year 2253. The big three were Stardust Technologies for their dominance of the transportation and communications market. Aradon Corp and its premium source of workforce management and labor. Lastly, there was Starlight Systems, a powerhouse in obtaining natural resources. Rounding out the meeting they brought in the Dionysus Consordium who was the undisputed leader in maintaining order with its expansive security division. Voyagetronics, being the foremost authority in technology, and Solarite Energy who managed the necessary power grid found in every city.
These six companies collaborated under one banner, calling themselves the Unified Corporate Colonies, (UCC). They had one goal, which was the removal of TPOE interference, but when TPOE refused to make concessions to their original deal established in 2249, the UCC returned with a fleet of ships and a well-armed security force. The battle took place on two fronts, TPOE's original home of Earth, and their refuge in the Delta Pavonis system. Even though TPOE was woefully outmatched in every way, they still fought with vicious tenacity to the very end. Anyone affiliated with the old government, or sympathetic to their cause was hunted down and eradicated. After a gory genocide, TPOE was erased from the galaxy by the end of 2254. Even though corporate history would refer to this as the 'Pavonis War' and the birth of the UCC, the scattered few who managed to survive remember it as 'The Great Calamity of 54.'
2255
The following year, in 2255, the UCC appointed a puppet company called ColonyXpress to take over TPOE's responsibilities. Combined with the sister company KamikaXplore the two entities found habitable worlds in uncharted systems and cataloged them for future generations to populate. ColonyXpress then sold property rights to parcels of planetary land which was legally recognized by the UCC. Before any individual or company can legally build on or inhabit a planet they must first obtain a pioneer license from ColonyXpress, and pay for the deed of ownership.
2256
After a long debate and public approval, it was agreed that the UCC would become the political entity that united everyone. The army used in the 'Pavonis War' would also become the military arm of the UCC known as the Colonial Navy. To justify such power over the corporations the UCC formed the Scylla in the year 2256. The Scylla (sky-luh) - Is a corporate court that holds sway over the vast population and typically votes in favor of the corporations. It is comprised of six spokespersons who represent the interests of Natural Resources, Power/Energy, Technology, Labor, Transportation/communication, and the Military. These representatives are elected once every two years with the opportunity to serve a second term if reelected. Only corporations that have enormous influence, multiple subsidiaries, and control of vital infrastructure can nominate a representative. The Scylla debate and vote on regulations and guidelines that all companies under the UCC entity are expected to adhere to. Their influence extends to everything from space station construction permits and colonization expansion, to declaring war and corporate exile.
2276 The Pilots Union
The distribution of wealth was starting to equalize by the year 2270 and a growing population of citizens were eager for more autonomy. These free-spirited individuals called themselves 'mavericks' and would amass in large numbers, disrupting progress by sowing discontent among the workforce. They were tired of their lives being spoon-fed to them by the corporate machine. Dissatisfied with how their spending habits were constantly observed and analyzed. Disgruntled by how their job productivity was meticulously calculated and optimized. Even how their sleep schedules were being regulated by corporate greed was included in their list of grievances. The desire for more independence was becoming unmanageable, and the corporations needed a solution.
At the time, all space flights were conducted by corporate contract only, meaning every pilot was on the corporate payroll. This was because ships were an expensive and massive undertaking that only large corporations had the bargaining power to achieve. This is where the Scylla saw an opportunity to silence the mavericks and also open a new market for profit. Under the guise of independence, two board members from the ship manufacturing companies, Alisota, Sibai Inc, Stardust Technologies, and Stellar Dawn publicly departed from their respective employment and formed the Pilots Union in the Epsilon Eridani system. A public trial was conducted between the Pilots Union and the Scylla to legitimize the establishment of an independent faction within the UCC and also announce a satisfying opportunity for the mavericks.
The Pilots Union was established in 2276 and became the first independent education system that could provide training and licenses to individuals while also being legitimately recognized by the UCC. In addition, the ship manufacturers had a profitable means of making smaller, cheaper craft that independent pilots could own, while also fulfilling corporate contracts that were deemed a business risk. Even though the Pilots Union operated outside of UCC regulations, the organization was still run by individuals who received outside consultants' pay from some of the most powerful ship manufacturers in the UCC.
2278
Two years later, 2278, privately owned ships started hitting the market in mass quantities. Ships of note were the Lynx class luxury transport by Stardust Technologies. The Zircon model exploration ship by Sibai Inc. The Adiona trade ship by Stellar Dawn, and the multi-role Manta by Alisota. Each of these ships filled a specialized niche and marked the beginning of a long line of alternatives to come. Although the new opportunities were not like owning an automobile of old, these crafts were an extensive investment. Many hopeful adventurers quickly found themselves buried in debt and unable to maintain their ships. The few who overcame the hurdles of ownership and embraced the new way of life found little fortune, but according to them, it was always about freedom.
2281
The latter half of 2281 saw the rollout of the fifth-generation Lentz drive by Voyagetronic. This new iteration reduced travel time by a factor of 500. Instead of reaching Alpha Centauri in five days like the fourth generation drive, the same journey now only took three days. Also, the benchmark from Earth to Jupiter was clocked in at 4 minutes and 22 seconds. This also marked the first upgrade available to independent pilots.
2326 The Endurance Catastrophe
A collaboration between RCH Medical, Lilery Labs, and GenArgospace deployed a colony ship using the latest fifth-generation Lentz drive. The craft was known as 'Endurance' and was sent on a 14-day journey to 82 Eridani in 2326. 19 days and 23 hours later the Sol system received a warp burst message back. It was a garbled video from the captain of the Endurance. The captain was flustered, and rushing to explain that an unknown entity had disrupted their warp bubble, and the ship was forcefully pulled back into normal space. The Endurance had encountered an unknown vessel that was described as being a large black orb with a ring of spikes. It appeared to be constructed out of an organic bone-like material and was scanning the Endurance with a blinding yellow light. The captain ordered the colony ship to ward off the intruder with a warning shot, but that made the situation worse. The captain was in the middle of explaining a swelling sound they were picking up from the ship sensors when the message abruptly ended.
The three companies supporting the project pleaded with the Colonial Navy to send aid, but their request was denied. When the Endurance video was broadcast to the public by Stellara News a week later, the Colonial Navy immediately dispatched a rescue team. The Colonial Navy managed to locate the remains of the colony ship and recover the flight recorder. According to the black box, the crew abandoned the ship in escape pods, but none were ever found at the site. They searched the entire sector and even the closest system 82 Eridani, which was still 6 light years away. To prevent similar incidents, the Scylla issued a UCC-wide policy that prevented any further colony ship expeditions unless they were accompanied by a security escort.
2330 The Geisha Incident
In 2330 Stellar Solutions and Toval Manufacturing partnered to fund an expedition to establish more colonies in the Delta Pavonis System, 19.9 light years away from Sol. The massive colony craft was christened 'Geisha', and accompanied by two escorts; independent pilots flying Manta class ships. Commanding the Geisha was a 94-year-old vet of the Pavonis War, Commander Oscar Ormand. He was a feared, larger-than-life, presence in the eyes of the crew, but around the passengers, his humble demeanor earned him the nickname Grandpa Ormand. He was often described as an unpolished old salt that had more war stories than a history book.
While en route the warp bubble unexpectedly began to break down and elongate into an unnavigable twisting tunnel. Quick to respond, Commander Ormand coordinated with the escorts and had everyone perform an emergency exit back to normal space. All three ships arrived together, and a defensive formation was formed around the Geisha. Not long after, a black storm-like anomaly appeared, and from it emerged an entity similar to the one encountered by the 'Endurance' four years prior. Remaining calm, Commander Ormand took no aggressive action while the unidentified vessel scanned all but one escort with a bright yellow light. Commander Ormand quickly surmised that the ignored escort was invisible because that pilot was using the Thermal Capacitors- unique equipment on the Manta class ship- to hide its heat signature. Devising a plan, the commander had the escorts split into a triangle formation around the entity and mask their heat output. At the same time, the Geisha radiated as much heat as possible, becoming a beacon to the entity. Commander Ormand orders the flanking ships to attack and braces the Geisha for the inevitable. The conflict quickly turned chaotic when the spikes around the unidentified craft detached and retaliated with bombarding suicide strikes. One passenger gawking at the battle from the port window of her small room later explained, 'It looked like a rabid failing animal. The spikes were swarming in hoards that looked like a tornado in space. These swarms kept repeatedly punching holes through the Geisha. Good lord the sound of sudden decompression is horrifying. To say I was terrified would be an understatement.' After the battle, the Geisha was crippled beyond repair and one of the Manta escorts was destroyed, but the entity had been defeated.
When reports of another encounter reached the Sol system the Colonial Navy was quick to hide the details. The remains of the entity were secured by the Navy and secretly transported to a discrete research and development facility owned by the Triton company in the Epsilon Indi system. Under a strict confidentiality agreement, the Triton company began the enlightening process of reverse engineering the unique technology solely for the benefit of the Colonial Navy.
2338 Tunnel Drive
By 2238 the Triton Company had developed an innovative Tunnel drive that utilized the technology obtained from the unknown entity- later known as Stygiamites. The new drive uses the gravitational influence of a distant star as an anchor to create a wormhole between two points. Transversal of the wormhole took precisely 11 minutes and 7 seconds from the event horizon to the destination and during this time the craft could not change course, or stop. Traveling through a wormhole has been universally called 'tunneling' because the external lights on the ship will sometimes reflect off nebula-like clouds and other unidentified shapes inside the wormhole, which creates the illusion of being inside a tunnel.
The first successful test flight was conducted in secret, using a stripped-down Adiona class ship, and performed by an ADAMoid who went by the name Albert Abraham. Albert described the journey through the wormhole as being 'entirely black and devoid of depth. There are no visible stars, or galaxies, except for a tiny pinpoint of light which is the destination star ahead of the ship. This place is a void of dark space.' After Albert's initial journey, Triton repeated the trip through the 'dark space' multiple times before using a human pilot.
The first human to travel through the wormhole was Kaitlyn Poan, an ex-convent with piloting experience. Everything looked promising until the craft arrived on the other side. The craft had made it unscathed, but Kaitlyn was dead. It was a gruesome sight to see a human body physically turned inside out. A review of the flight log had Kaitlyn reporting strange scraping sounds, and bangs against the hull that were never reported by Albert. Kaitlyn continued to explain her experience but halfway through the journey, she began rambling about whispered voices, moaning sounds, and unnatural howling. There was no indication of suffering or screams on the recording before it fell completely silent for the remaining one minute and twenty-two seconds of the trip.
The Triton company repeated the test with Albert many times after the incident and each one was successful. Even when asked about the sounds in 'dark space', Albert denied any abnormal audio ever existed and suggested Kaitlyn may have mistaken the noises for the electrical hum of the ship or the flexing metal of the hull because of stress.
Before performing another test with a human pilot, Triton swapped out the stripped-down test ship for another unaltered Adiona model. Commander Pierce Ramsey was an independent pilot with years of experience, and looking for the next big payout. When offered to test out a prototype drive, his only question was 'How much?' Commander Pierce Ramsey became the first human to successfully transverse dark space in the latter half of 2338 and marked a new era in extrasolar travel.
2339
Between 2339 and 2344 the Colonial Navy was the sole proprietor of the new Tunnel Drive. The new technology was limited to 8 light-years 'hops' but could effectively reach any star quicker than the current fifth-generation Lentz drive. Even with the limited range, a 22 light-year trip from Sol to 37 Bootis only took the Colonial Navy 3 'hops' and a total of 33 minutes to reach. This made the Colonial Navy the undisputed might of the UCC, and able to deploy its full force anywhere in a matter of minutes.
2343
Mindsync, was a company with deep roots in human history and mostly stayed out of the limelight of corporate politics. Their primary product was the Neural-link, a remote control interface for the military built into every fighter and drone. They also had a commercial version that was extensively used with virtual entertainment. In 2343 Mindsync rolled out their latest integration with a new type of ship sensor. The Sonification Analysis Telescope (SAT), was a specialized sensor onboard a ship that combined the radar, and star charts with virtual reality. Instead of looking at sensor logs, the user could virtually interact with the solar system and obtain the required data at the speed of thought.
2344
After brokering a deal with the Colonia Navy, in 2344, Triton was allowed to adapt the technology for commercial use and sell the rights. When Triton publicly announced the Tunnel Drive technology was up for sale, companies big and small scrambled over each other to obtain the rights. The largest bidding war anyone had ever seen took place hours later. The conflict was so brutal that the moment one company finalized the transaction, another larger corporation was waiting in the wings to buy them out. By the end of the year, many companies ceased to exist, and a lot of power had been consolidated. This new drive technology was a marvel that would propel humanity further into the stars than anyone could have imagined. Unfortunately, it also made the Lentz drive obsolete for interstellar travel.
2345
Despite vigorous attempts, Voyagetronics never could obtain the rights to the Tunnel Drive technology. A year later, in 2345, the company was so weakened that the predators started closing in. When the rival company Gravitech approached, with the Tunnel Drive technology in hand, Voyagetronics had little option but to accept their offer. Gravitech was one of the rare few companies who had managed to procure the Tunnel Drive technology in secret a year before it was publicly available because of their mole in the Colonial Navy. Gravitech wasted no time in beating their competitors to market by producing the first commercially available Lentz Alcubierre Tunnel Drive (LAT) later that same year. The combination drive was a remarkable improvement over both previous drives. It increased the range of the tunnel drive from 8 to 16 light-years and reduced the travel time of the warp bubble by 1000. The new benchmark from Earth to Jupiter was now 2 mins 12 seconds with the 1.5% intersystem limit. Likewise, traveling to any system within 16 light-years took exactly 11 mins and 7 seconds.
2350 The Famiglia
In 2350 a 21-year-old woman named Catilina Vitoricus was pressured by her father to follow in his footsteps as CEO of the powerful Dionysus Consordium corporation. Although, Catiliana had always been at odds with the corporate paradigm and craved freedom and independence. When her ambitions aligned with the cult known as 'The Famiglia,' she thought she had finally found her calling. The Famiglia cherished the extravagant things in life and preached freedom from corporate rule. They had a rich hierarchy of patrons and clients which bound people together through favors, prestige, and honor. Underneath the glamour, they were greedy sycophants clinging to the coattails of people with real corporate power.
When her father found out about her double life, he cut her ties to the corporation and banished her from the estate. In one fell swoop Catilina was homeless, betrayed by the cult, and lost the love of her life. Catilina's sudden poverty had hardened her heart and her revenge was swift. With a small band of mercenaries, Catilina forced the Famiglia to honor their pledges to her which she used to oust her father and take over the Dionysus Consordium. With her undisputed corporate power, she became the supreme patron of the Famiglia. Afterward, she relocated the corporation and her clients to the uninhabited system Psi Ursae Majoris, located 140.4 light years away from Sol.
2351
Throughout the following year, the Dionysus Consoridum corporation soon found itself in a position to be more than just a shipbuilding manufacturer. The production capabilities of the company were gradually divided among the other families to help them establish new settlements. Catilina meanwhile leveraged the company to amass a security force which later became known as the Ursaen Legion. With no borders to speak of the Famiglia expanded rapidly and covered a large swath of stars ranging from 28.32 to 130 light years away from Psi Ursae Majoris.
2352 Rise of the Dynasty
The Gravitech corporation made another advancement to their LAT drive in 2352 and released the second generation to the public. This version of the drive further reduced the travel time of the warp drive by 1,300 times the speed of light. Additionally, it further extended the tunnel range from 16 to 24 light years. Using the warp drive to reach another system was considered 'old school' by many but still saw usage by sightseeing expeditions, or smugglers looking to avoid the security checkpoint encountered when tunneling to a system.
Also that same year, the unsanctioned expansion of the Dionysus Consoridum warranted political intervention from the UCC. Catilina was formally approached by a Colonial Navy envoy to be arrested for illegally establishing a corporation outside UCC boundaries and setting up illegal colonies. Through an unexpected power play, Catilina Vitoricus appointed herself as the Dynast of the new Ursae Dynasty. Directly after she cemented her authority by ordering all the warships of the Dionysus Consoridum to open fire on the Colonial Navy envoy, sparking an all-out war.
Months later, the Colonial Navy deployed four full squadrons to combat the threat. Whereas the Dynasty could only field two squadrons. The first retaliatory strike the UCC made was attacking the Capella system. Two clients of the Helvius family, Trenus and Antius put up a valiant resistance but were woefully outmatched. The families were forced to retreat and leave behind their crops, and manufacturing plants which the Colonial Navy developed into a supply line for the campaign.
Leaving behind a division to secure the Capella system, the Colonial Navy swiftly advanced to Menkalinan. Upon arrival, they faced off against the Castus family and quickly overwhelmed them. Afterward, they took the family hostage and divided them into labor camps, half remaining in the system to work the energy production plants, and the other half were sent to Capella. After leaving another division to keep the system secure, the Colonial Navy pushed onward.
The Dynasty relocated their fleet to the Regulus system just in time to set up a frontline defense. Even though the Colonial Navy was down by one squadron it still outnumbered the Dynasty. The initial conflict started when the Colonial Navy sent repeated waves of small Redback attack crafts to weaken the defensive line before arriving with the rest of the fleet. Afterward, the two forces met in battle in earnest for the first time. The deadly orbital conflict lasted for months and both sides suffered extensive losses before the Dynasty was forced to retreat. The Colonial Navy then set up a defense of the system using an entire squadron before plotting their next move.
2353
With ties to the Famiglia still living in the UCC, Epidicus Sellic returned to establish stronger relationships with the families and bargain for assistance. Over the course of the following year, 2353, the Famiglia used their vast connection to the corporations and managed to disrupt the Colonial Navy supply lines and production capabilities. This allowed the Dynasty to swing around behind the Colonial Navy and retake the Capella system. This was the first successful engagement for the Dynasty, and spirits were high. The Trenus and Antius families reclaimed control of the system, but the Dynasty fleet could not spare the ships to defend it. There was a division of warships in production back in Psi Ursae Majoris but it was still a month out before they could be deployed.
Without reserves, the Colonial Navy was pressured to push further in and take the ship production plants of the Alioth system. The Otho Family and their clients Pola and Hilarius faced off against the superior Colonial Navy, stalling their advance until the Dynasty fleet could reinforce them. Knowing they were pressed for time, the Colonial Navy rushed a surface deployment which cost them one of their prized capital Black Widows. They managed to take the mining and shipyard operations on the surface before pushing to the Alcor system. When the Dynasty fleet arrived, they found the Colonial Army entrenched on the surface, but no fleet in orbit. The Ursaen Legion was deployed to lay siege to the shipyards, but after days of constant urban warfare, they could not retake the facility.
Meanwhile, in the Alcor system, the Bambalio and Germanus families fought tooth and nail against a superior force. The Colonial Navy once again lost one of their capital Black Widow carriers before the families were routed from the system.
2354
With the Colonial Navy controlling the Menkalinan, Regulus, and Alcor system, along with the shipyards of Alioth, their strike force was stretched thin without reinforcements. The Dynasty took advantage of their weakened state and split the Colonial forces in half by sending their fleet to reclaim the Regulus system. The injured Dynasty fleet faced off in a brutal conflict against the Colonial Navy squadron that was defending the system. Capital ships went toe-to-toe in an epic battle for supremacy that resulted in the decimation of an entire division on both sides before the Colonials retreated. With the extensive losses the Dynasty fleet had suffered, they were forced to consolidate their forces into one squadron that was still battle-ready.
In one final push to secure the Ursae Dynasty, the families of the Beta Leonis Minoris, Dubhe, and Alkaid system united their forces to retake Menkalinan while the remaining Dynasty fleet pushed on to Alcor. Even though the Colonial Navy was down to two squadrons they still had substantial reserves from the other squadron that had lost their leading capital ship. It was a chaotic battle for dominance, and neither side was willing to back down. Within the first few moments of the battle, both sides were crippled because of the loss of all but one capital Black Widow on the Colonial Navy side. The Dynasty fleet was on the verge of breaking when suddenly a new division from Psi Ursae Majoris arrived to shore up their losses, turning a crushing defeat into a victory.
2355
Having successfully pushed the Colonial Navy out of Dynasty space, the stranded force in the Alioth system, faced with starvation, surrendered the shipyards. To rebuild their fleet, the fledgling Dynasty was forced to expand their resource acquisition at an exponential rate. Likewise, the founding families grew in both power and influence as they acquired the burden of running a new government.
Between 2355 and 2359, the two powers fought over the borders, but neither could get a solid foothold for long. During the ongoing war, the Dynasty saw a wave of ex-UCC citizens flocking to their fledgling government with dreams of a better future away from corporate rule. The massive influx created a poverty explosion that the Dynasty could not manage. Unemployment was widespread, and the financial strain on the founding families nearly brought the entire Dynasty down before it could even start. The solution to this problem became the cornerstone of how the Dynasty operates today, which further separates it from the UCC. They introduced indentured servitude as a means to end poverty, and as a way to manage who could become a citizen. Individuals who sought a new life in the Dynasty, but who could not afford the cost of resettlement, contracted with one of the founding families to perform a type of unpaid labor for a fixed period in exchange for citizenship and stability to support themselves. For the founding families, their productivity and wealth doubled because they had a workforce that could be paid with food and shelter.
2360 Bootis Accord
The war came to a head when the Alpha Bootis system defected to Dynasty rule. The UCC never expected one of their outskirt systems to fall, and with a real threat of invasion, they scrambled to shore up their borders. Both powers collided in orbital battles and deadly planet-side conflicts known as the 'Bootis War'. Both sides saw massive losses, but it was the civilians of Alpha Bootis who paid the price. The Colonial Navy conducted orbital bombardment of their key facilities to prevent them from falling into enemy hands, oftentimes reducing the entire city to rubble. Relief ships that were sent to aid the populous found it impossible to land because of the extensive debris fields left in orbit from the destruction of massive fleets; as a result, many isolated communities starved to death.
Despite the brutal attempts to halt the Dynasty from taking over the system, the Colonial Navy was eventually forced to yield control and retreat. Before the Dynasty could rebuild the infrastructure of the Alpha Bootis system, the UCC proposed a cease-fire. A meeting between the Syclla and Catilina Vitoricus was arranged where both parties agreed that the UCC would recognize the legitimacy of the Ursae Dynasty, as long as Alpha Bootis remained natural and no more territory traded hands. This agreement became known as the Bootis Accord and established clear borders between the UCC and the Dynasty. The space between the two powers became known as the 'Anarchy Belt,' a no man's land that neither superpower had the authority to claim.
2363
In response to the catastrophic losses suffered during the war, the Dynasty laws were adjusted to allow for cloning research and production to take place. This enticed famous scientist Alcesimus Mico and many others to relocate from the UCC where their cloning research was stifled by corporate policies. Within the Dynasty these scientists were free to move beyond the experimental phase of cloning, which opened the door for an explosion in population and medical care.
Although, like most new technology, it was quickly abused by powerful families and individuals who used clones as a means to retain prestige. In the Dynasty everything was family owned, from governance to businesses. Cloning introduced a problem with hereditary wealth claims that led to strife and conflict, fracturing once powerful families. The Dynasty responded to these issues with new laws that governed clone identity. No longer would clones have the same individual rights as the original. Clones quickly became a type of second-class citizen with few rights and even fewer opportunities. Today, clones are still widely accepted in the Dynasty, but rarely do they see any life-altering progress because wealth and power are centralized around family hereditary. Within the UCC, clones were a banned project long before the Dynasty, and still have no legal rights.
2367
By the year 2367, the Dynasty had grown in both financial and military power to rival the UCC. The threat of another war is more frightening now than ever before, as it would surely result in mutually assured destruction. Despite the uneasy peace between these two superpowers, there are still avenues for further communication and trade thanks to the Pilots Union and their independent pilots bridging the gap. Catilina Vitoricus remains the sole voice of the Dynasty and holds supreme power while also being advised by six senators who govern vital infrastructure such as natural resources, energy production, technology, labor, transportation, and communication.
2368
The Gravitech corporation released its third generation LAT drive to the public in 2368. They had managed to increase the tunnel range from 24 to an amazing 32 light years. The universe got smaller with each iteration of the drive, and travel time was hardly a concern anymore. Innersystem travel was still limited to 1.5% output, but the benchmark between Earth to Jupiter was a meager 1 minute and 54 seconds.
2369 The Anarchy Belt
Because of the lack of a governing body to claim ownership over the Anarchy belt, numerous independent pilots, outlaws, and entrepreneurs had flocked to the systems that divided the two powers. Between 2369 and 2377 the Muphrid, Porrima, Denebola, Rasalhague, and Zosma system have grown in population, and developed a unique culture of their own. Although viewed as backward in comparison, these systems are some of the most dangerous places in the galaxy, but also offer a freedom unobtainable within the UCC or Dynasty.
We specialize in producing personal weapons of military-grade quality. Our most sought-after models are the Maelstrom Harrower and Maelstrom Agonizer.
Tumulus is a leading manufacturer of kinetic personal weaponry, boasting the highly sought-after Tumulus K-45 model as their flagship product.
Ionian is a reputable producer of state-of-the-art personal energy firearms, which includes the popular Ionian Inferno, an outstanding SMG, and the remarkable Ionian Snapdragon, a small but potent pistol.
Starlight Systems specializes in designing and manufacturing industrial ships that are primarily used for mining and extraction purposes. These ships are built to withstand heavy-duty usage and feature a boxy shape complemented by wings that aid in atmospheric flight. The company offers a range of popular models, such as the Dredger, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, and Jade.
Aradon Corp specializes in the colonization and habitation of other planets. Their ships are designed to be long and slender, allowing them to support detachable shuttles that can easily land on and depart from planets. The Hera, Daphne, and Zeus models are the most reliable and durable options for establishing colonies in remote areas. One of their noteworthy vessels was the Hyderabad, a Hermes class generation ship.
Stardust Technologies specializes in transportation and commercial passenger flights. Their ships are equipped with aerodynamic wings and are capable of atmospheric flight. The company offers a range of options, including the Jaguar, a compact craft mainly used for taxi services; the Leopard, a spacious luxury liner designed for maximum comfort; and the Lynx, a smaller economy liner tailored to meet the needs of discerning customers.
Sibai Inc specializes in independently owned ships that are designed for exploration. Their fleet includes the Ruby, Sapphire, and Zircon models, with the Topaz class being the most reliable option. One individual who owns a Topaz Outrider model is Kai Randel.
Stellar Dawn specializes in trade-oriented ships that are privately owned. Their fleet includes the Khons, Barasim, and Adiona models. The latest addition to their lineup is the Mercury class Aurora model, which is the only versatile vessel capable of accommodating a fighter.
At Alisota, they specialize in combat-ready ships that are privately owned. Their impressive selection features the powerful Komodo Dragon and the Moray class starships. For station protection, they offer the compact Scorpion class vessels. Furthermore, the Stingray class vessels, furnished with powerful armaments and capacious cargo compartments, prove to be ideal for undertaking smaller expeditions.
The Dionysus Consortium is responsible for producing the entire range of Dynasty combat ships. These include the Mark Three Diocon Fighter, which has a distinctive eagle-like appearance with nacelles positioned at the tips of its wings. Other ships include the Ares, a small yet agile combat vessel. The Artemis, a colossal warship; and the Athena, a swift medium attack ship. The Juno is a large combat vessel of the line, while the Hades is a massive capital ship and a source of pride for the Dynasty.
Siska League specializes in manufacturing combat vessels for the UCC, such as the SL-Widow maker, a sturdy fighter, and the Recluse, a colossal warship. Additionally, they produce other vessels like the Black Widow, Redback, and Tarantula.