Timeline of the universe


Ancient era

Two alien races dominate the zenith region; the Calibans and the Puppeteers. The Calibans, expansionists and belligerent, dominate several subject races and exploit many slave races. The puppeteers, manipulative and secretive, scheme to remove this threat to their existence. At this time the Humans are still making their first steps on their mother world.

The conflict is resolved when the plots of the Puppeteers and the uprising of the Horusians, a powerful subject race of their adversaries, cause the destruction of the Calibans.


Paradise

The freed slaves of the Calibans form an alliance; the Kingdom of Paradise. The Horusians construct their worldships and leave for the Greater void. Two former subject races of the Calibans, the Drak and the Ombrians, establish stable but isolationist political entities.nova.jpg (6328 bytes)

At the end of this era, the Puppeteers fade from the perception of others, the Kingdom of Paradise crumble in decadence and Hades, the sun of the Caliban homeworld, explode.


Babel era

The Humans start exploring from Babel, their native system. Beginning with slower-than-light generation ships, then using faster-than-light colonization bases, they expand into numerous star systems. The Terran alliance become the Federation of planets but most of the new worlds are governed by colonial administrators.

Torn by internal crisis, the Federation of planets implode when the conflict between mechanicists and geneticists, the secession of the Babel asteroid belt and the independentist drive of the colonies degenerate in open civil war.


Black veil

Isolated, the colonies experience a deep technological regression, while the central human sphere is ravaged by the war. Mystical and esoteric interest is on the rise because of the general sentiment of despair.

cen.gif (10609 bytes)The warfleet of a vanquished faction of the civil war flee to the zenith region and take control of several worlds by force of arms. Soon they squabble between them and become rivals. Nothing is heard from Babel where the war reach a paroxysm.

 


Solarian era

Among the newcomers in the zenith region, the Solarian cult emerge victorious. Their theocracy, the Solarian hegemony, control most of the area but strong political and religious unrest remains. The Federation of planets is replaced by the Imperium Millenium, an aggressive state who intend to restore the authority the past federation had over the colonies. War with the Solarian hegemony ensue, and the Imperium destroy itself when one of his weapons, the specter warriors, escape all control.

The decadence of the Solarian hegemony is hasted by the growing of the others newcomers organized as noble houses and the emergence of a new religion, the Universal church of Serena. To prevent the lost of faster-than-light technology to the mass destruction of the war, the Space guild is created which regroup the scientific and technical personnel possessing the related knowledge.


First empire

The Space guild organize the large scale space transport in the zenith region. Hysala, the strongest of the noble houses, create the Empire of zenith by federating the other houses and establishing a concordat with the Universal church and the Space guild.Others smaller states, mostly republican in structure, are gradually conquered, but a strong rival is found when contact is made with the Empire of phoenix. Several wars ensue with the Empire of phoenix slightly gaining the upper hand.

A discord on the choice of the imperial heir cause a civil war. The empire divide between the Empire of Arcadium and the Empire of zenith.


Strife age

tboltsm.jpg (3103 bytes)The others houses and the Universal church show little support for either pretendant, enjoying their greater independence. Secessionist attempts abound, some of them successful, and further fragment the region.Initially on the offensive, the Empire of Arcadium is plagued by the weak personality of his emperors and political instability. Slowly the Empire of zenith take the advantage.

Eventually a coup replace the emperor of Arcadium by a tyrant, losing any political justification for the claim to the imperial crown. The Universal church give his support to the Empire of zenith.


Grey veil

.While the Empire of zenith reunite during a long civil war, a general economical recession take effect. Once again isolationism and mystic pursuit are on the rise. The Badoon, an alien race, gain strength and expand, while the nobles houses nearly destroy themselves in vicious covert conflicts. Meanwhile hostile AIs named Liches threaten to render the metaweb useless, worsening the economical crisis.

The last Arcadium forces surrender at Tirion and the Liches are defeated by the Virtual alliance, a gathering of AIs proponent of a peaceful coexistence with humans.


Second empire

The Empire of zenith regain his dominance, with the megacorporations playing the role previously held by the nobles houses. Only the Universal church  has enough political clout to balance the imperial authority. After some initial conflicts, treaties are made with adjacent states: the Empire of phoenix, the Badoon Kahari and the Ombrian assembly. The Virtual alliance is recognized.

Political struggle between the Empire and the Universal church break into open war when the church is caught researching banned technologies: genetically replication and mass mind-controlling.


Present

Stricking first, the Universal church is able hold his own despite the imbalance of forces. As the war drag on the inevitable victory is denied to the Empire because many of his planets make their bid for independence.

The Universal church split into three main orders, while the Empire fail to prevent the birth of new powers. The larger of these is the Free world capitol, patterned after the late Federation of planets. Forces of disorder threaten to cause a new veil, but some strong forces of cohesion (the Space guild, the Empire, the Free world capitol and the Virtual alliance) keep alive the hope of a new stability. The neighbors of the zenith region look across the border and try to guess what will come next.