Re: Discussion topic - rewriting (future) history....?

G'day guys,

I'd would love to post more of the geopolitical sketches, but I don't
have permission sorry. I haven't tried googling any yet, but I would
assume that uni based geopolitical experts probably have similar grade
sketches kicking about. Google is your friend ;)

As for the alternative history from way back when. For what its worth
I've gone and dug it out and stuck it below. I wrote it nearly a decade
ago now (went on the gzgpedia list back then I think) just to show how
much flexibility there was in the existing published timeline at that
time (which I wove in here, I'm obviously not challenging Jon's
copyright). I wasn't seriously suggesting it as a replacement, just to
show that you could get a radically different take on the list of events
that had been included in the published material and that that was good
as people could paint it as they wished. For instance, it was pointed
out the OU came out rather well, but that wasn't actually intentional
(more an oversight of not passing out enough "don't you get smug you did
this" chits).

Its early entries are now as out of date as any and I've learnt a lot
more about sketching scenarios since then, so don't take any of it to
heart. I was mainly trying to point out that things didn't have to
follow the prevailing views of the 2002 worldview (which was colouring a
lot of assumptions and opinions around the gamer interpretation of the
GZGverse at the time).

Cheers

Beth

>>>>
2014	Increasing tensions over the future of Gibraltar culminates in a
Spanish invasion. Factional rifts within the EC and the UKs continuing
resistance to complete integration with the other members of the EC
means that while Spain is condemned for taking military action it
suffers no real punishment as a result of its land grab. This proves too
much for a UK already wary about being swallowed by continental Europe
and it withdraws from the EC in protest.

Interest groups and lobbyists within the US continue to successfully
stall the implementation of widely available, affordable alternative
fuel sources.

Unlike their US counterparts members of the Arab nations have seen the
writing on the wall and channel portions of their oil based wealth into
research and investment in alternative power sources. The first major
success comes when a young EC educated engineer puts the first Muntasir
generator through its paces in the Egyptian desert. A combined solar
panel-wind turbine its unique raised elliptical profile means it can
harness the two great power sources of the Middle East, the sun and
wind.

2016	After years of periodically intensive warfare Russian is
flagging in its attempts to keep control of the secessionist states.
Russia is further isolated when Latvia and the other Baltic states
strengthen ties with the EC. The central Asiatic states, looking warily
at China to the East and India to the south, move to establish a new
federation of their own funded by their increasingly stern control of
their oil resources. Political and diplomatic wheels are set in motion
as negotiations over the return of the Romanovs to Russia begin. The
idea is not universally welcomed, but the weary Russian peoples are
looking for inspiration after decades of economic woe and their
increasing isolation. This process leads to the crowning of Tsar
Nicholas III in St Petersburg in 2018.

2023	Partly in reparation from the lingering impacts of their
colonial policies and partly to facilitate access to resources the EC
sponsors the metamorphosis of the twenty-year-old African Union into the
Economic Union of African Republics. Arab African countries do not trust
the EC motives and remain outside of this new Union, with only the
Central and Southern African states making the transition.

In danger of being overwhelmed by the surrounding trade and political
power blocs, the seventy-year-old League of Arab states (LOAS) swallows,
or suppresses, old rivalries and solidifies its position as a global
player, admitting a number of new member states. Their first unified act
is to begin construction of Muntasir fields in the desert plains of many
of the member states.

Increasingly restrictive taxation laws and a weakening of US protection
of technological and medicinal patents see research firms drift away
from US shores looking for more conducive conditions and fewer barriers.
Unexpectedly, coincident social reforms and changes to fiscal policy
within China and Japan see them become the biggest benefactors of this
redistribution of research investment.

Australian scientists begin an agricultural exchange program with the
EUAR to facilitate the introduction of new drought tolerant crops and
efficient water management systems into Africa.

2027	On the Eve of the celebration of the creation of the independent
State of Palestine and a new era of prosperity for the region a series
of nuclear explosions engulf Israel. The world is stunned at the
senselessness. Theories abound about extremists infuriated by the idea
of the People of the Book once again at peace and eyes are turned to
neighbouring states as well as to apocalyptic terrorist organisations
from a number of religions. While the west goes on to accept it as the
vile act of an Islamic terrorist group, residents in the Middle East
(struggling to live with the aftermath of the explosions and
contamination, which envelop the entire area) continue to search for
real evidence. With the world under increasing economic and
environmental pressures little of the promised aid reaches the area and
only the members of the LOAS provide any real support for those caught
up in the tragedy. Much of the financing of this support is facilitated
by a lucrative energy supply deal struck with the EC as the early
Muntasir fields come on line.

 With the global clamp down on the trade of ivory and conflict diamonds,
the last of the EUAR rebel groups enter the negotiation process and soon
there is peace across south and central Africa.

2032	With the proceeds of their reforms and new investments swelling
their coffers once more a Japanese consortium of companies and
government agencies support the Gilderstein Foundations FTL research
programme. This proves too much for the US which sees the Gildersteins
acceptance of the Japanese rather than the (more restrictive) US offer
as the ultimate slap in the face and the US imposes subsidies on
imported Asian goods. This infuriates its APEC partners and the US
market share in southeast Asia is slashed, an extended period of
distrust and economic tension begins.

Due to the success of their new agricultural program the EUAR rides out
the worst drought in a century without recourse to calling for
international aid.

2035	Changing global weather patterns plunge Russia in to extended
periods of extreme drought, while the Indian subcontinent is hit by a
series of large earthquakes and widespread flooding. The resulting
economic hardship undoes most of the good work that twenty years of
moderately progressive governments had brought. Waves of refugees and
then rioting and violence spread across north and central Asia. Crime
lords quickly move in and begin trafficking environmental refugees
across Asia and northern Europe.

2037	After years of sectarian and separatist violence and
retributions cross the increasingly ravaged subcontinent, further
economic woes and unrest brought on by the collapsing environment see a
small band of Sikh fundamentalists strike out at the Indian Government
and detonate a small nuclear device in Delhi razing most of the city.
The Prime Minister loses his entire family in the bombing of Dehli and
orders the army to occupy Amritsar. Consumed by grief at the loss of his
own family in Dehli, the commander in chief of the Indian forces turns
the action into a retaliatory strike and massacres the entire population
of the Sikh city.

The biotech company Bormann International begins trialing a new strain
of beetle resistant tubers in central Europe, harvests are anticipated
to rise by 350%.

Changes in south Pacific climatic regimes see Australia, New Zealand and
Papua New Guinea extend substantial aid to their South Sea neighbours. A
formal trading bloc known as the Organisation of Oceanic Unity (OOU) is
established.

The EUAR begins selling their surplus grain to China.

2039	After repeated attempts to broker agreements with Malaysia to
end their support of guerillas and civil unrest within Indonesia, the
shaky peace fails and Indonesia invades Malaysia and after months of
intense fighting they reach as far north as the Thai border. What
remains of the organised Malaysian fighting forces retire to Borneo,
where brutal jungle fighting ensues.

Bormann International confirms the potential contamination of local
crops with their trialed gene.

Scandal erupts in Odessa as a local newspaper journalist is found
murdered after initiating enquires into the campaign financing of the
local mayor. The Tsar relocates his family to their estates in the
Ukraine, though he remains behind to maintain his position as the
figurehead of the CIS.

The US economy continues its slow downward trend as an ongoing series of
misreporting scandals come close on the heels of a market correction on
inflated tri-vid stocks. This in combination with fears over access to
fuel oil sees confidence in US markets slump and the dollar drops below
the Euro for the first time.

2042	The EUAR restructuring finally in place it follows the example
of the EC and becomes a federal super-state  the Pan-African Union. The
abolition of internal state borders, and the adoption of a single
constitution based on tribal councils unified under a representative
federal government paves the way for a unified future in south and
central Africa.

Members of a new generation of the House of Saud win recognition within
the LOAS for their on going work with the survivors of the Holon-Wint,
as the devastation of Israel is known. Outside the LOAS though their
actions are more controversial due to their advocacy of a powerful mix
of discipline and faith  a mix that serves the desperate survivors well,
but is seen as oppressive by people not faced with the same harsh
realities.

2043	In the same way as the EC and PAU had restructured themselves
from leagues to superstates the LOAS begins its transformation into the
Islamic Federation. The widespread approval for the ongoing endeavours
of the House of Saud is recognised when they sweep general elections
held for the first IF governing council.

A failed peace agreement leads to further clashes between the IC and
Malaysian resistance forces. As a result, the IC move to quell their
Malaysian opponents once and for all by overrunning their final
strongholds in Borneo.

Christian fundamentalists within the US strike at government sponsored
research facilities in a wave of protest at the legalisation of human
genetic manipulation for the treatment of inheritable disease. The
destruction of five research laboratories and the crippling of six
research hospitals puts an already seriously over-stretched health
system in peril of collapse.

The potato crops of Europe and northern Asia rot in the ground as a new
weed plant ravaging the area poisons them, the Russian economy collapses
as their food reserves are exhausted. In the space of sixteen weeks, a
succession of five Chief Ministers to the Tsar find their position
untenable and resign. Looting becomes common place and thousands starve,
thousands more are plunged in to virtual slavery as organised crime
lords seize control of the food markets in Russia. The CEO of Bormann
International commits suicide. China and the central Asiatic states
protest cross border incursions and appeal to Moscow to stop the flow of
refugees and more importantly to call their military in to line and
cease the raiding parties. Moscow is helpless and local Generals
effectively have carte blanche. Other Asian states are hit hard by their
own food shortages and economies are further undermined by the loss of
their major markets in Russia and parts of eastern Europe. One casualty
is the South Korean government, which suffers a landslide loss in
general elections as the extent of entrenched corruption is exposed by
the famine. Unfortunately, the new government finds reform frustratingly
hard to achieve and it soon loses credibility too.

The release of a cheap HIV vaccine within eight years of the first
cheap, universally available HIV treatment kit closes the door on the
final great threat to African social stability.

2045	China is outraged when two Russian fighter planes and supporting
coastal patrol boats claim that a Chinese super-freighter has crossed
into Russian waters and force it to make landfall in Vladivostok. Cross
border raiding becomes more intense and the Chinese lose patience with
international calls for calm and send in troops. When the brother of the
wealthiest crime lord in Russia attends a UK brokered peace summit
between Russia and China, only two months after the crime sponsored
assassination of Tsar Nicholas III, China withdraws in disgust and
fighting on the Sino-Siberian border intensifies. The Beijing Government
attempts to enforce its border claims against an unravelling Russia,
which is now financially and politically bankrupt. Only the strong
leadership of a few noted generals, not the least of which is the new
Tsars youngest brother, prevent the entire CIS collapsing in to anarchy.
North Korea reaffirms its long-standing alliance with China as it too
has to face a self destructing neighbour state.

Utah is rocked when one of the new nuclear reactors brought on line to
ease pressure on the national power grid is destroyed by a runaway
reaction after eco-terrorists sabotage its coolant system. The US
financial market totters, dropping 25% of its value, but does not fall.
This sharp drop in the market highlights inequity in employment rates
and wage levels and there are threatened strikes and civil disobedience
by racial groups in the south and along the seaboards as welfare
qualifications are tightened. The federal government intervenes, sending
in the army to keep the dockyards working, fearing the consequences of
further losses in market share.

With much of the rest of the world in turmoil the IF achieves increasing
success with its Muntasir fields, capturing energy supply contracts with
most of the Asian and European nations. Even their local rival, the PAU,
signs a small resource trade deal with the IF.

2046	The Korean peninsular is caught up in a wave of posturing, claim
and counter claim after a south Korean aerobus is shot down by a North
Korean air defence battery. North Korea quickly calls upon its Chinese
ally for support when the South Koreans deploy missiles along the
border. North Korea gives South Korea ten days to withdraw the missiles.
When the deadline passes a combined Chinese-North Korean force makes a
lightning strike, capturing or immobilising all the mobile missile bases
and then taking Seoul in a short but brutal conflict.

2047	With the military in tatters and law and order seemingly a
distant memory in much of Russia, unrest prevails in the CIS as food
shortages and harsh weather persist. Infuriated with the corruption
stealing provisions and ammunition from his soldiers, the commander of
the eastern front reorganises his forces and institutes a local
cease-fire. Called to account for his actions Vasili Sakov returns to
Moscow, but his train is attacked on route. A week later he emerges
alive and leads a successful coup, capturing the Chief Minister and his
cabinet. He announces the formation of a communist military government
and puts the Tsars household under house arrest. Within days all but one
of the Tsars brothers either join him in detention or are found dead.
Leading his loyal troops from the southwest General Peter Romanov
marches toward Moscow demanding the release of his surviving brothers
and the return of his other brothers bodies so they may be given
funerals befitting the royal family. He meets resistance on route as
units loyal to Sakov attempt to block his advance, but Peters numbers
are swelled by subordinates and their troops from across the western
half of the CIS. Peter's forces reach the outskirts of Moscow, but halt
as his brothers lives are held to ransom, and a stalemate ensues. Then
in the first use of orbitally inserted assault troops the Chinese
respond to a request for support from the new communist government by
reinforcing a three pronged attack by Sakovs troops on Peters position.
Additional Chinese troops arrive by high altitude planes and yet more
reinforcements arrive via more conventional land transport. Peter is in
a difficult position and his decision as to whether to withdraw or
attack is made for him when the heads of his brothers are delivered to
him as part of the payload of a low level bombing run. The new Tsar and
his forces withdraw south and enter the Ukraine. Belarus, the Baltic
States and the Ukraine all denounce the communist coup as a mix of
Sakovs forces and Chinese troops line their borders. The Tsars makes a
direct broadcast to his people, ensuring his continued fight on their
behalf and promising to use all weapons at his disposal to protect them
should Communist forces breach their borders. The EC mobilises its
troops and intimates to Beijing that they will support the Tsars cause,
any further Communist expansion westwards will not be tolerated,
whatever the cost. A tense few days pass as the world waits to see the
outcome of this brinkmanship. Without warning the Communist forces begin
to move, an overeager EC commander responds by launching a wave of
missiles, but when it is realised the Communists are withdrawing the
Tsar orders his air defence to bring the missiles down. Even though
largely successful a few missiles still make it through and war is only
averted when a Ukrainian fighter pilot out of ammunition and low on fuel
sacrifices himself to prevent a missile striking the local Chinese
command. A demilitarised zone is declared along the Communist-Tsarist
borders. After solidifying their new border positions the Communists
turn their attention inward, instituting widespread social
rehabilitation, political restructuring and public works. Many of the
crime lords secretly seek refuge in the Americas. With this process
firmly underway, the fragile peace in the region is shaken, but not
broken, when the Communist states announce the creation of the Eurasian
Union. The peace is again tested when the remaining Commonwealth States,
realising that divided they will be picked off by the EAU, unite to form
the Romanov Hegemony.

With a steep rise in the crime rate fuelled by the ongoing recession
within the US, the federal government proposes tightening of gun control
as more people die during the course of a crime in the US than fall in
the first 3 weeks of fighting in the second Russian Civil War. The
governors of the southern states oppose the move and a further split is
added to widening differences between a relatively affluent,
technologically comfortable north east, environmentally devastated
mid-west and poverty stricken, struggling south. The other members of
the Organisation of American States, as well as the EC, PAU and even the
IF all offer financial and technical aid on the condition that trade
subsidies are removed and the US comply with World Bank calls for fiscal
reform. The Isolationist federal government refuses the aid rather than
go against popular opinion and scale back public works.

2049	When the Bormann blight hits the US only weeks after an outbreak
of a new haemorrhagic form of the mosquito born Fortescue River virus
the US finally turns to the world for help. The move is too late and the
US economy collapses. Hope that accompanies the election of a new
President is dashed when religious fundamentalists bomb the White House
during the inauguration, killing the Speaker of the House, many Senators
and Congressmen from both parties, the CEOs of seven of the richest
companies in America, the President and the Presidents (same-sex)
partner. When it emerges that a man known for his advocacy of the
abolition of states rights is the highest surviving member of the chain
of command there is an uproar amongst the governors. Initially a policy
of appeasement and attempted cooperation ensues as the unlikely leader
attempts to get on with the job until new elections can be held. This
ends when ongoing disharmony over racial differences in employment lead
to rolling strikes in the power industry which cripple further industry
in general. A Presidential Mandate is put forward allowing for the use
of military men in the distribution of services, strike breaking and law
enforcement. Southern governors are outraged and state militia are
mobilised to oppose the entry of federal troops. Sickened by what he is
asked to do the Army Chief of Staff refuses to follow orders and resigns
his position. Many other officers follow suit. In the belief that his
nation is descending into anarchy and that military dissent is leaving
the US dangerously exposed to the new communist power of the Eurasian
Union General Parham declares the creation of a military government.
Many states ignore the military proclamation, violently opposing the
armed forces attempts to assume control. Worse still the US military
fractures and the world watches in trepidation to see who has the real
power and who is in control of the nuclear arsenal.

2050	General Parham requests UN military involvement to restore order
in the US, but the Security Council is divided and the request is
ultimately refused. The military government turns towards Britain and
Canada for help. They are initially reticent to send in troops and they
hold back looking for a less interventionist approach. When the
commander of forces in Texas launches a nuclear strike on Colorado and
threatens Mexico with a similar fate, the US looks likely to fracture
into at least three warring, nuclear capable, factions. The Canadians
and UK quickly mobilise a Pacification" force and begin landing troops
in the north and east. The lightning strike through the Gulf of Mexico
disables part of the southern command structure, but Mexico is
destabilised when fighting spills across the border into Chihuahua and
Coahuila. The US factional commands do eventually capitulate after the
Royal airforce successfully immobilises the bulk of the factional forces
with well placed EMP bombing operations.

With the loss of their northern markets and distrust of increasing EC
and UK interest in north America the US inspired Organisation of
American States is dissolved and is replaced by the
Brazilian-Argentinian lead League of Latin American Republics. Angered
by the ongoing presence of Canadian troops in Mexico, the LLAR requests
their removal. The UK-Canadian coalition declines stating the need to
stamp out lingering factional resistance in the area. Assuming their
involvement in the US has absorbed all the UKs fighting ability the LLAR
turns to age-old scores as bargaining chips in the Mexican problem. The
LLAR intimates that it will use force to recover ALL territories
occupied by "Colonial Powers" and troops are mobilised along the
Argentian coast. Realising the implications of this move, but unwilling
to withdraw from northern Mexico as fighting intensifies against US
guerillas, Britain advises that it will use any weapons in its arsenal
to protect its subjects in the Falkland Islands. The LLAR continues to
press the point and blockades the Malvinas. When Canadian and UK
Paratroopers are orbitally inserted on to the Falklands and a Royal
Naval taskforce is sent into the South Atlantic the LLAR decides to bide
its time until the UK military is significantly weakened by its on-going
engagement in the US.

Recovered from its expenditure in the war with Malayasia, Indonesia
turns its attention to the Spratly islands. The Philippine government
recognises that with its economy and security weakened by the collapse
of their US allies they can ill afford to lose the resource rich
Spratley islands. Vietnam also opposes the Indonesian claims and island
hopping skirmishes break out. Confident that its Malaysian policy will
serve it well throughout southeast Asia the Indonesians invade Mindanao.
When word reaches Cebu and Luzon that rather than massacres and
religious oppression at the hands of their invaders the citizens of
Mindanao are actually experiencing an improvement in living conditions,
the rest of the Philippine islands capitulate, one after the other, to
the Indonesians. All of the Indonesian islands are integrated into the
new Indonesian Commonwealth.

Fearing continual IC expansion the Gilderstein Foundation calls upon
protection from the Japanese. The Japanese dispatch a battalion of foot
soldiers to fortify the Gilderstein island and send a number of naval
units to protect the Straits separating the Gilderstein installation
from IC forces patrolling the northern Philippine islands.

In response to the expansion of the IC and the mobilisation of their
troops along the Papuan border, the final steps in the federation of the
South Pacific states are completed and the OOU formally federates to
become the Oceanic Union.

2051	In response to appeals for help from Communist revolutionaries
fighting for autonomy in Haryana, Utta Pradesh and Nepal, the Eurasian
Union crosses the Himalayas and invades the Indian sub-continent.

The Japanese space program continues to help with the construction of
the Gilderstein Foundations L5 orbital science facilities.

2053	A new Indonesian government angered by the continual flow of
drugs and other smuggled goods down the Thai peninsular close their Thai
border. When this fails to inspire change to their north, and keen to
eradicate the corruption and hedonism perceived to be rife across the
rest of southeast Asia, the IC attack across their northern border and
push north toward Bangkok. The Thai military does put up strong
resistance, but disease and logistical problems see them pushed back and
the forces of the IC push on into the heart of Thailand across the
border into Myanmar (Burma).

2054	Vietnam and Laos declare war on the IC and come to the aid of
the remaining Thai and Burmese forces. A daring submarine strike at
Hanoi through the Gulf of Tongking by a new class of IC vessels causes
massive Vietnamese casualties. Political intervention hampers the
national militaries effectiveness and the war goes badly for the
Indochinese. Political will falters as the IC roll across Indochina and
the casualties mount. When the Indochinese allied forces lose control of
the Irrawaddy and are pushed up into the Patkai Hills in the west and
Chaine Annamitique highlands in the east in a final act of desperation
the allied forces call upon the Eurasian Union to send support. The
Eurasian Union, still primarily occupied in central Asia and northern
Europe and equally unimpressed with the state of Indochina, is not
immediately forthcoming. The Indochinese hopes are completely dashed
when the Eurasian Union and Indonesian Commonwealth sign a
non-aggression pact and the IC agrees to respect the Yunnan border. The
surviving members of the Indonesian allied command flee and the IC
formally accepts the surrender of the various Indochinese states.
Clashes with the resistance fighters continue in the north however, and
despite cajoling, diplomatic envoys, intimations and outright threats
the Indian and Bangladeshi governments do not stop their small, though
significant, supply runs across the old Myanmar border. The Eurasian
Union uses this indirect attack on its IC ally as an excuse to renew its
Indian offensive. While the same high tech forces sent in to support the
Russian coup are used as a feint and dropped into Jammu and Kashmir, the
IC quietly allows the Eurasian Unions conventional forces to skirt the
Himalayas and drive straight into the flank of India and Bangladesh.

2057	Keen to formalise their ties in the face of the expansions
occurring in Asia, Britain, Canada and the United States unite under the
Crown and create the Anglian Confederation. The Nebraskan ex-Admiral
Dewsbury is elected by clear majority in the first US elections held
since the commencement of the second American Civil War. His leadership
position within the AC is confirmed when his election is formally
acknowledge and he is appointed first Lord Governor of the territory
previously known as the United States of America. Sensing weakness when
Dewsbury agrees to withdraw AC troops from Mexico the LLAR responds to
small pockets of lingering racial discontent in the region declaring
that the AC has no mandate to rule over the ex-Hispano-US peoples. Its
confidence inflated by substantial military construction, minor
concessions by the AC in the Caribbean, a financial down turn in the AC,
and a call for appeasement by many Anglian citizens, the LLAR takes its
claim to the international courts. Frustrated with the slow pace of
their legal campaign and unsettled by the reinforcement of the Falklands
the LLAR secretly forments unrest in the south, supplying money and arms
to anti-AC resistance movements. When a LLAR sponsored militia group
seizes control of the federal government buildings in Albuquerque
Dewsbury has no choice but to send in the federal law enforcement
agencies to end the siege. The commanders on the ground mishandle the
operation, and emergency workers are prevented from extinguishing an
inferno sparked by the agencies actions. Ten city blocks in a primarily
Latino neighbourhood are destroyed. This leads to renewed civil unrest
in Latino quarters in a number of southern states. The LLAR use this as
a pretext to vent their frustration and they decree California, New
Mexico and Texas as LLAR territory under foreign occupation, launching
an immediate invasion of these areas from their bases in Central America
marking the beginning of the War of the Americas.

2059	Amateur astronomers across the global note the disappearance of
the Gilderstein Foundation's L5 Lab from orbit. The Foundation releases
a statement saying that it had suffered a malfunction and been
inactivated and spun off from the L-point it occupied.

Recognising the ACs increasing self-absorption as it battles the LLAR,
the EC adopts the mantle as the global philanthropic benefactor.
Considered by many to be a cynical move it does serve the ECs purposes
ensuring that its free trade agreements and access to resources remain
strong.

2062	After persistent rumours and a spike of high-energy particles
after a flash event near Jupiter, the Gilderstein Foundation reveals the
true nature of the disappearance of the L5 Lab.

With increasingly severe impacts of climate change modifying the cycle
of the Nile and shrinking aquifers the IF appeal to the PAU for
cessation of the construction of a series of dams south of the Kabalega
Falls. The PAU refuse to comply and accuse the IF of trying to bribe
them when they offer aid and trade in recompense for abandoning the
construction of the dams. As their completion looms the new dams are
destroyed in a nighttime raid by elite IF forces. The PAU protest the
action, and the millions wasted on the dam construction, claiming they
have every right to ensure their precious water supply. The IF points to
the downstream needs of its people and the ecological disaster that
would ensue if the As Sudd wetlands were lost. The PAU mobilises troops
along its northeastern border and the IF also move troops in to the
area. The EC sponsor a peace initiative, proposing that the opposing
leaders meet in Paris. When both sides fail to respond and remain
focused on their troop movements the EC begins a series of military
exercises in the Mediterranean and threatens to impose sanctions. The IF
and PAU both agree to attend the Paris Peace Conference, but it is
really only a cosmetic compliance as long and intermediate range
missiles are installed within the region by both sides.

2063	In an attempt to increase global unity the Gilderstein
Foundation in conjunction with the UN sponsor an international
trans-solar probe is that is sent to (and returns from) Barnards Star.

2067	Finding global rivalries to be counterproductive, the
Gilderstein Foundation builds on its earlier, largely independent, work
and sends the first manned FTL mission out of the Solar System.

Religious fundamentalists of every creed question whether humanity
should be travelling to the stars. Conservative factions attempt to gain
power in many areas. While these attempts at grabbing power do not
succeed they do manage to obtain significant influence in certain
spheres.

2069	Seizing upon the symbolism of the act rather than the
practicalities, both the AC and the EC launch FTL craft and begin the
colonisation of interstellar space.

2070	Fearing the AC will use its FTL capability to circumvent the ECs
direct and indirect control of terrestrial resources and weaken the ECs
position, the EC provides in kind loans which facilitate accelerated
completion of FTL craft by the IF, PAU and RH. With these superstates in
space competition flourishes in the interstellar shipping and resource
exploitation industries, preventing the AC monopoly feared by the EC,
but also providing these intermediate powers with significant boosts to
their economy, causing some commentators within the EC to question the
logic of continuing assistance and potentially weakening the ECs
position in the long term.

2072	Financially and politically exhausted, the LLAR sues for peace
in the War of the Americas and cedes all territories in North and
Central America to the AC. With little chance of recovering its losses
and with AC naval and airforces patrolling the major shipping lanes
through the southern oceans, the LLAR looks to space as a means of
expansion.

Taking the time to develop a drive system free from the fuel problems
dogging the western engines, the Eurasian Union launches its first FTL
ship and renames itself the Eurasian Solar Union. Within months its
methodical approach pays off as the EC and then the AC suffer jump
losses as drives fail. The ESU then catches anti-Communist detractors by
surprise when within months it unveils and launches a significant
colonisation fleet escorted by a fully-fledged stellar defence force.

2075	The LLAR finally complete and launch their first FTL craft,
followed soon after by an ESU trained IC mission. With stellar and
interstellar travel proving to be a lucrative business, avarice begins
to creep in and divides between rich and poor widen once more. No nation
is exempt, but after the death of Prince Saleh Al Saud from Maha flu the
governing council of the IF begins to develop a particularly bad
reputation. When a hard-line cleric replaces a Jewish scientist who had
worked for three years to prepare for his position upon a survey mission
to Kappa Ceti formal protests are lodged both by the Jewish and
scientific communities within the IF. When these protests are not only
ignored but mocked, much of the hard won respect that aid after
Holon-Wint had won was lost. The Jewish scientist is granted a position
on the UN survey and colony initiation mission to Sirius. On his return
fifteen years later he instigates a debate within the Jewish community,
which culminates with the decision to begin again and partition the UN
with a settlement claim for the newly surveyed Epsilon Indi system.

The EC renames itself United Federal Europe.

2096	With their infrastructure finally in place, the formal
establishment ceremony and the signing of the new constitution brings
New Israel in to existence, centred on their main colony world in the
Epsilon Indi system.

Internal politics turn into ugly scenes in the European parliament. The
Germans stage a walk out when all North Sea fishing rights are given to
the Spanish, the final in a long string of divisive decisions made since
the southern states gained control of a number of important portfolios
and committees.

2098	Never happy with the loss of the Isthmus of Panama to the AC,
the LLAR take offence at border incursions by AC troops, supposedly
trying to apprehend pirates sheltering in the Golfo del Darien. These
clashes quickly escalate into all out war and the AC executes a long
planned invasion. They send brown water naval vessels up the Amazonas,
Sao Francisco, Parana and Negro Rivers, while landing foot troops along
the Cordillera Occidental mountains and on the Oyapock and Morawhanna
plains. When they find the jungle fighting hard going the AC public
begins to protest, fearing the war will bog down into a long drawn out
affair, like the First War of the Americas. In a calculated move, aimed
at delivering a quick resolution to the conflict, the AC release a
potent flu strain debilitating their ill prepared opponents and causing
international outrage. When asked about this years later General
Fitzgerald remarks they forgive you the world if you win. Within two
years the LLAR has lost all ability to fight and loses all possessions
on Earth. Survivors of the League government and its supporters flee to
the small Brazilian colony on Santa Rico

2099	The AC solidifies its claims on the particularly rich system
their surveying team recently discovered by establishing a settlement on
Albion.

The ESU host the inaugural Interstellar Games. Noteworthy not only for
the new sports showcased, but for the rich art and cultural festival
that accompanied it.

2101	 When the French UFE President castes a deciding vote awarding a
major defence tender to a French company rather than its German rival,
the struggling and unstable UFE finally disintegrates. Germany, Austria
and several East European states all disenfranchised by the apparent
domination of the UFE by its southern members withdraw in protest and
found the Neu Swabian League. Fearing legal challenge allowed by certain
articles of the UFE constitution, the remaining members of the UFE
(notably France, Italy and Spain) dissolve that organisation and reform
as the Federal Stats Europa. Quick to see the advantage in selling arms
to both sides the Mafia stirs up tension and very soon border incidents
are common between NSL and FSE forces on the many originally UFE settled
worlds. With little additional provocation these clashes intensify into
open warfare. As they retained the bulk of the UFE military assets on
the colony worlds, initially the FSE have the advantage and they overrun
the NSL settlements of Trelleborg and Flensberg, Wittenberge, Kecel and
Lienz, despite determined resistance from the poorly equipped colonial
militias. On Earth Baden, Wurttemberg, Bayern and parts of the Rhineland
fall to a lightning FSE armoured thrust.

2102	Further FSE advances into Germany falter when General Janos
Matthias is given command. His academy friendship with the FSE commander
sees him anticipate the next strike and the NSL forces halt the FSE
armour at the battle of Breznice. Unfortunately a stray shell strikes
his headquarters and the General dies of his wounds shortly after. An
attempted counter-thrust directed by his replacement is not as inspired
and it succeeds in regaining territory up to the Danube. The war
continues intermittently for another three years.

2103	While the Terran and Inner Colony theatres of the Trans-European
war stagnate, the Outworld battles intensify. The NSL commando raids and
planetary assaults on a number of FSE colonies and bases have only
limited success. The NSL prove incapable of backing up their successful
hit-and-run strikes on FSE installations with full-scale assaults.

2104	The UN and AC sponsored treaty of Saarbrucken brings a the
Trans-European war to an end. The treaty confirms territorial boundaries
on Earth and the Inner Colonies and establishes spheres of influence in
the Outworlds. In their economically weakened state neither of the
protagonists is able to effectively protest against the treaty
conditions, considered less than satisfactory by both sides.

2110	 Air attacks on Moresby by the IC airforce heralds the start of
their Papuan War with the OU. The relatively low-intensity war is
dominated by IC successes for much of the first year, as they inflict a
crushing defeat on the under manned 6th Infantry Division at Aitape
before going on to take the Long Islands, Admiralty Islands and
establish a beach-head on the New Islands. The strong IC advance is
finally stopped at the Mouths of the Fly River. Their troops rout upon
seeing the Presidents Guard break in terror when the OU mount the first
ever Grav-charge, launching their Grav propelled combat vehicles on mass
over the heads of their own infantrymen down into the centre of the IC
position.

2111	 Flush with success, the OU forces seize the initiative and
launch an assault on IC territory. Using two armoured and three infantry
divisions the OU quickly overrun Traigan, Jamdena and Timor. Reversals
in the Battle of Ramang in the South Banda Sea see the OU advance halt.
In turn this leads the war slide in to another quiet phase and peace
negotiations commence. The IC do attempt a renewed offensive late in the
year, but it lacks conviction, both on the battlefield and back on the
home-front, and the war grinds to an inconclusive close.

2112	 The UN negotiated peace initiative, headed by the Canadian
General Secretary Thomas B. Sydney, leads to the signing of the Sydney
Accord, which officially ends the Papua New Guinea War.

2123	When the IF intelligence forces gain information about a coming
cleansing of the Indian subcontinent the IF ruling council attempts to
send in troops to protect their religious brothers. Sadly the available
troops are no match for the disciplined ESU border divisions and the IF
are reduced to artillery strikes. With no on to protect them, Muslims
are massacred in an anti-Islamic pogrom that grips the Indian
sub-continent. Once the real reason behind the IFs aggression becomes
known the ESU rhetoric on the floor of the UN falls silent. While UN
diplomates are consumed by frantic manoeuvres aimed at avoiding a
full-scale escalation, the Beijing government deals with the horror of
the situation in its own way. Sickened by the act of its regional
officials, a blatant breach of the constitution at the core of their
multi-cultural Union, the central government removes them from power and
summarily sentences them to a life of hard labour on a gulag asteroid.

2124	With the settlement of further colony worlds the difficulty of
maintaining a strong centralised government leads to further
liberalisation within the  ESU.

The increased financial pressure put on the citizens of the NSL by on
going tension with the FSE in the colony worlds leads to the
disaffection of the member states who are not gaining as much direct
benefit from the colonies. In a bid to strengthen their position these
states form a pseudo-trading bloc of their own. The ESU then signs
substantial manufacturing deals with the Polish- Czech-Slovak trading
bloc. When the German and Austrian dominated NSL government allows the
RH merchants free access to markets across the NSL-RH border in return
for mining rights in the main RH system the Poles and Slovak commercial
organisations are furious. With ties strengthening with the ESU and
weakening with the other NSL member states, the northwestern trade group
decides to withdraw from the NSL and petitions the ESU to formalise
their trade deals by admitting them as "economic partners.

When the New Israelis and the Islamic Federation both file claims for
the same resource rich system within hours of each other tension
inevitably mounts. With the death of the IF foreign trade minister in a
flitter accident the hard line parties gain complete sway of the
coalition in control of the ruling council. Within months the new IF
government begins retaliating for setbacks in space by imposing bigoted
restrictions back on Earth. This leads to a complete breakdown of
relations with minority groups within the IF, such as the Jews and
Christians.

2127	The Russian peoples have benefited significantly from the
support of their Chinese comrades and the balance of power within the
ESU slowly shifts away from complete Chinese domination. As a symbol of
their emergence as a true interstellar power the ESU holds a referendum
around the relocation of some of their government bodies to a colony
world. A resounding majority embraces the vision and the first Party
Congress is held offworld in the mainly Russian-settled colonies centred
around Nova Moskva.

During her speech at the ceremony to mark one hundred years since the
Holon-Wint the President of New Israel announces she has
incontrovertible proof that a consortium of Arab terrorists were
responsible and that the Jewish government swears to stand by the age
old pledge of never-ending war against the anti-Zionists. When
approached later that evening for comment the hard line Rabbi Avraham
Yoffe's stated he had not seen the evidence, but had faith in his
President and he reiterated that the Jewish state would take each and
every opportunity to avenge the destruction of their homeland. Humanity
would not have to wait long to see what the Rabbi meant by this as
within hours Operation Jerichos Interface and Airborne units assaulted
and destroyed all IF bases in the disputed system, before going on to
take a number of other IF holdings within the Inner Colonies over the
following months. The shadow war spearheaded over the last few years by
the Intelligence and Special Forces was now well and truly in the open.

2128	When the AC establishes a major undersea salvage operation off
the coast of the Caroline Islands the IC feels threatened and somewhat
cheated. However, border clashes with the ESU have reduced the IC's
capacity to respond in the short term so they hire LLAR mercenary forces
(the San Deseado Interface Brigade). Jittery after months of inaction
and aware that their IC employers may find it difficult to pay their
mounting bill, the mercenaries exceed their mandate and make a
pre-emptive strike on the AC as the first of the salvage is brought to
the surface. The AC threaten to invade the Carolines and surrounding
islands to secure the salvage site to their satisfaction. Fully aware
that they could not sustain conflicts with the AC and ESU the IC
desperately attempt to conciliate the AC by letting the LLAR brigade go.
Unfortunately the transport plane crashes shortly after take-off and the
LLAR accuses the IC of a massacre of their troops. The IC protests its
innocence, but the LLAR persists with a UN resolution for compensation
and atonement. The offworld LLAR feel betrayed when the other Terran
based powers side with the IC, stating that the deaths were the result
of an unfortunate accident. Furious at the perceived injustice the LLAR
unilaterally strikes at the IC settlement on Easter. In an ironic twist
both sides must rely heavily on Mercenaries in this conflict and it
becomes known as the "Mercenary War". Primarily financially motivated
and lacking a cohesive motivation many mercenary units see action for
both sides at some point in the conflict. This is just a symptom of what
eventuates as a very scrappy and inconclusive war where the only real
winners are the bank balances of the various mercenary units.

Rebounding from their clashes with the small but spikey NI, the IF
shifts the direction of its major colonisation drive. This brings it on
a collision course with the PAUs axis of advance and the two powers
clash over spheres of influence in space. Attempting to maintain the
mantle of elder statesmen that the EC had fashioned for itself, the FSE
enforces a peaceful solution. Cynics also note that the enforced peace
also benefits certain partly-government owned FSE commercial enterprises
that were finding it difficult to maintain profitable trade routes with
so many areas on alert.

2129	Anxious to regain their Easter Island assets, the most important
being the base station for the worlds main space elevator, the IC
commits itself to hiring the highest reputed Mercenary unit, despite the
fact theyre Dutch. The Van Koost Armoured Legion quickly recaptures the
Easter Island from the LLAR for the IC, with a minimum of damage to
their important infrastructure there. The Turkish mercenary forces
captured in the process are quickly released, but the regular LLAR units
are held for questioning for an extended period. In a retaliatory
measure, a Swiss strike force in LLAR employ raids a major IC logistics
centre in Manila. The raid is a failure though as the Swiss are repelled
by local IC forces exercising with Japanese mercenary troops. Fearful of
discovery by their other major employer the IC, the Swiss attempt to
cover their presence and execute a speedy and unhindered withdrawal by
making use of nerve agents. As anticipated by the Swiss there are heavy
casualties and while it is known that mercenaries were involved their
identity remains unknown. Nevertheless the Japanese despise the tactic
and initiate severe protests in the UN assembly.

2130	Shi'ite fundamentalists, tired of the growing extremism of the
Sunnis currently in control of the ruling council and its regional
governing bodies, declare independence from the IF on the Outworld
settlements of Abu Haman and Sad Al Bari. Saudi lead attempts to regain
control of these colonies fail as the IF military forces are also
disaffected with the increasing loss of freedoms within the IF and the
bulk of the 2nd Islamic Legion, sent to suppress the rebellion, switch
sides after landfall and join the fundamentalists under the banner of
their charismatic leader Mullah Saeed ibn Aamir. Making the most of this
turn of events, the insurgents quickly declare the formation of the
Saeed Khalifate. In an effort to raise hard currency to support their
venture the SK soon decides to hire out their armed forces as mercenary
units. Their IF training serves them well and over the next few years
the Khalifate's mercenaries earn themselves the reputation of being
among the toughest units in the human sphere of influence.

2131	 The IC maintains its policy of using mercenary units for their
island protection, while their regular units are posted to mainland
bases. Unfortunately a bureaucratic miscalculation of the tallest order
results in NI and IF mercenaries groups both being posted to Easter.
While not normally a problem, the mercenaries are a pragmatic group who
look beyond nationalist concerns, a riot breaks out when a group of Jews
celebrating the birth of their commanders first son accidentally runs
into a car load of the IF returning from evening prayers. The brawl soon
spreads and quickly engulfs both the units and most of the island. Both
forces' contracts are promptly revoked and, to save face, several IC
Defence Ministry staff responsible for the hirings are severely
reprimanded and posted to unimportant positions on minor IC holdings in
space.

2132	The signing of the Freisland Charter formally ends the Mercenary
War. The LLAR views the Charter as a moral victory as the IC are forced
to pay heavy reparations for the San Deseado Brigade incident. More
importantly, the Charter lays out a code to which all mercenary units
and their employers are expected to adhere without exception. The
majority of nations and power blocs that either supply or employ foreign
mercenary troops are signatories, agreeing not to hire any unit that
does not comply with the terms of the code.

As terraforming advances and favourable native climates lead to rapid
expansion of colonies on the most favourable worlds conflicts inevitably
arise between the many players on each planet. The largest of these
conflicts is between the ESU and AC forces on Chi Draconis VII. This is
only a prelude to five years of increasingly frequent "border
skirmishes". The colonies of minor powers are often caught in the middle
of these clashes or, worse still, targeted by more powerful neighbours.
This leads to loud protests and division on the floor of the UN.

2133	Radical French Christian separatists in the colony settlements
of Bretonneux, Doullens and Compville declare unilateral independence
from what they perceive to be the increasingly hedonistic FSE. Elements
of the Colonial Legion are sent to quell the insurrection, but they
initially suffer setbacks as local opposition is more determined, better
equipped and on a larger scale than expected. The Legion troops are
finally able to defeat the separatists' main forces once their external
supply lines are cut by a blockade of the planet. However, resentment
among the populations remains high and their ability to wage a low
intensity conflict remains despite the loss of offworld support. The
Colonial forces are ultimately drawn into a prolonged and dirty
guerrilla war with remaining local troops and the chocolat boite posting
becomes a common duty rotation for FSE escorts.

2135	Taking advantage of freer access to resources and land on the
colony worlds the AC has pursued massive immigration and engineered
population growth programmes on its most promising colony worlds. Albion
proves the most successful of these enterprises and when its population
is on a par with Englands an act is put before the government to
relocate the Parliament to Albion. Despite the immigration policies
there is still an immense shortage of transport visas to the colonies
and there is fear on the streets that by moving the government offworld
with so many billions still confined to Earth will lead to a growing gap
between those affluent enough to reach the colonies and those left
behind. Analysts sceptical of the move point out that by moving the
Parliament offworld the government is leaving the majority of the
population in a situation of restricted resources, but without the
ability to take their grievances directly to Parliament. The reigning
monarch, Charles V, attempts to calm the people by remaining on Earth,
but he is eventually forced to bow to government pressure. He does
manage to argue successfully for a compromise and it is eventually
agreed that he should divide his time between palaces in England,
Vermont, Ottawa and Albion.

2136	Once established on Albion the government of the AC renames
itself the New Anglian Confederation and begins revising the
Constitution. The stated aims of the revision were to update the
Constitution to make it relevant for the new era. While the need to
include all related colonies as independent members is the oft quoted
example of needed change, the modifications are deeper and go to the
heart of the freedoms of their citizenry. The first to feel the power of
the NAC governments new marshal powers are the citizens of the ESU
quarter of a shared colony.

2137	The ESU protests "the hostile actions and intents of the
Imperialists", but when the NAC occupation forces are not withdrawn the
ESU leadership declares war on the  NAC. These acts mark the
commencement of the five years of intense space and land warfare that
comes to be known as the First Solar War. The conflict rages through the
Inner Colonies and the Outworlds with equal ferocity. ESU forces assault
NAC settlements on Salzburg, but the defending forces acquit themselves
well and intense fighting sees the ESU suffer heavy losses. The ESU
Naval Infantry Assault Division fair better in their assault on the
important NAC Outworld base on Lancelot and the base falls to the ESU.
Despite this, it is not until the inconclusive skirmish between NAC and
ESU space units off Grendel that major Naval offensives by both sides
begin.

Weary of being trampled by both sides of the First Solar War offensives,
and equally sick of being run over rough shod when the NSL and FSE fall
out. The minor powers (PAU, IF, IC, OU, RH, NI) begin a stealthy
revitalisation of the UN.

2138	Operation Jester, an NAC counter-thrust against the  ESU is
launched with the initial rapid thrusts against the ESU possessions on
Mariana and Trelleborg going well for the NAC, but the momentum falters
as an attempt to take the major colony of Chiang is beaten back. The NAC
2nd Drop Cavalry also suffers heavy losses in their failed attempt to
retake Lancelot.

With their regular ESU subcontractors caught up in the ongoing conflicts
the PAU signs a major fleet construction deal with the NSL. The other
members of the minor powers consortium sign similar deals with both the
NSL and FSE.

2139	The ESUs 15th Guards "Zhukov" Division and the 135th "Tyulenev"
Division land on Flensberg and invest the NAC settlement of Faith.
Defended only by Local Volunteer Reserve troops and the 3rd Infantry
Brigade of the reformed Gurkha Rifles, the colony nevertheless manages
to hold out for nearly nine months until relief forces under General
Pauline Chappell beat the local blockade and drive off the ESU
attackers.

2140	A new NAC operation, Season's End, sees the NAC overcome heavy
ESU resistance and seize the ESU outposts of Mikhailovka and Showyang,
vital forward observation points.

The revitalisation of the UN increases in momentum as the remaining
independent nations and colonies sign on the process in an attempt to
avoid absorption by the larger ambitious power blocs. The entire UN
infrastructure and organisation is reviewed and overhauled and the first
steps in the formation of the replacement bodies are taken.

2142	Financially and materially fatigued the ESU and NAC finally
agree to meet each other over the negotiating table. This results in the
Freisland Accord, which formally ends the First Solar War. The NAC
publicly hails the war as a major victory, while the ESU is more
reserved and focuses on the acts of recovery. Human rights activists
demonstrating against the NACs Parliamentary decision not to lift the
restrictions on movement and freedom of speech with the end of the war
are silenced in a series of dawn raids.

2143	The first sitting of the new Security Council sees the formation
of the United Nations Space Command. Created to enforce a ban on
conflict in the Core systems, and to provide peacekeeping forces where
required in the inner colonies the NSL, NAC, FSE and ESU are less than
happy with its existence. However, as they race to consolidate before
their rapidly growing colonies over extend themselves these large powers
are not in a strong position to resist it. Pressure form the large
powers does see some restriction of UNSC powers however, and the UNSC
lose the ability to operate in the Outworlds in anything except a
scientific-research capacity.

The first test of the UNSCs new power is attempted by the NAC, who tries
to incite their population to rise up and destroy the UN levy centres as
a symbol of their refusal to bow to a global government by stealth.
Viewing the bans as something that effects a government and colonies far
out there, rather than close by on Earth the citizenry of the NAC are
not moved and only token moves are made on UN buildings. Reading this
passive resistance as the warning sign of future insurrections sure to
come, the NAC institutes a population relocation policy, uprooting
entire communities from across their holdings on Earth and sending them
to other sites on Earth or scattering them across their colony worlds.
This causes widespread unrest, but with so much of the population in
turmoil and with so many NAC troops on the ground there is very little
that can actually be down to resist, for now.

The NSL makes its own attempts to test the UNSCs power, this time in the
Inner Colonies, but the commanding Admirals are astounded when the force
sent to oppose them features many of the vessels recently supplied to
the minor states, but flying under UNSC registration not that of the
purchasing powers. While a major outlay, the minor states wager that by
removing the continual threat of absorption and freeing up trade routes
this new fleet and others like it would quickly pay for themselves. This
faithias borne out with the cessation of hostilities within the core
worlds leading to an overnight trebling of the value of the regional
financial markets.

2145	Annoyed at what they perceive to be underhanded tactics of the
minor powers and threatened by the economic surge of powers such as the
RH the ESU moves to restore its position in the balance of power. The
first evidence of this is a surprise strike against the RH by ESU units,
which heralds the outbreak of the Second Solar War. Equally impacted by
the presence of the UNSC and concerned over an increase in the ESUs
power base, the other major powers are quickly drawn into the conflict.
The NAC and NSL throw their support behind the RH justifying their
actions as a move to counter the savageries of "Communist aggression".
The FSE is angered by breaches of their space by NAC operatives moving
to strike at ESU communication relays. When the ESU presents the UN with
evidence of an NAC-NSL lead massacre of ethnic Bhutanese on an Outworld
colony the PAU and FSE join the beleaguered ESU. The war does spread to
several inner colonies and then briefly on to Earth when NAC troops try
to wrest control of the Hawaiian Islands from the OU-Japanese
independence monitors so that the archipelago can be used as a forward
base against the ESU. An uprising of the local, recently independent
islanders ends with their brutal subjugation as the NAC command
pre-empts revolts elsewhere by making an example of the Hawaiian
islanders. Immediate action by a coordinated UNSC land and naval force
neutralises the situation and prevents the war intruding in to the Core
system again.

2146	The war moves in to a new period of escalation as the ESU
launches a major campaign to regain its possessions lost as a result of
the First Solar War and the signing of the Freisland Accord. In a series
of short but bloody campaigns the ESU colonies on Trelleborg and
Showyang are liberated from their NAC occupation forces. The war does
not go all the ESUs way however, and on Dnestr RH defenders bravely beat
back a joint FSE-PAU invasion force keen to take the Tantalum mines and
the FTL component manufacturing plants in the nearby towns. Despite the
RHs hopes that failure would magnify tensions between the African
commands and the French forces under their control, the reversal is not
a devastating one for the FSE-PAU forces and they merely fall back to
regroup without hindrance in the vast outback of this sparsely-settled
world.

2147	After fierce and prolonged fighting, the ESU finally retake
Mikhailovka, using it as a base of operations for strike raids against
the NAC settlements of the previously peaceful Bifrost and Valhalla.

This intensification of the war in the colony worlds loosens the
strangle hold of the major powers on the people of the Earth. A number
of disenfranchised states break away and many ethnic peoples take the
opportunity to seek freedom under the umbrella of direct UN citizenship.
Most notable amongst the defectors is Nicholas Montgomery, a brilliant
young researcher who had been heading up the NACs research in to pulse
torpedos. The NAC demands his return claiming the team sent to bring him
out did so against his will. The loss of their chief researcher does
slow the NACs pulse torpedo development process, but the work does
continue unabated.

2148	Admiral Sir Andrew Le Throux instigates the NAC Operation
Dryland, a surprise attack on the PAU settled world of Grand Lahou.
Despite strong resistance from the PAU and their FSE Naval
reinforcements, the NAC assault is stunningly successful, taking the
major townships of Bouna and Markounda in a rather lopsided affair.

2149	Buoyed by the success of Dryland, the NAC is joined by the NSL
in Operation Galahad, a joint strike to regain Lancelot. General Lech
Pawodowski of the 57th ESU Combined Division leads the defending forces
to success after success as they beat repeated attacks by the NAC-NSL.
The war of attrition can only favour the NAC-NSL forces though as they
are able to pour fresh troops in to the fray, while Pawodowskis numbers
dwindle. After seventy days of spirited resistance Pawodowski surrenders
with full military honours and leads the remaining one hundred and forty
survivors of his Division into the horrors of captivity.

2150	NSL forces attempt to sure up their position by capturing the
FSE settlement of Di Persano, but System Defence forces repulse them
before they can approach orbit. A PAU strike force dedicated to the
recapture of Grand Lahou is more successful, managing to achieve orbit,
but they are all but destroyed when they are surprised by the arrival of
the majority of the NAC Home Fleet concentrating for a major assault on
the ESU naval yards in a neighbouring system.

2151	 RH assault forces, lead to believe they would find support
among the local people, land on the ESU colony of Nizhneudinsk. The
levels of support are not as high as they had anticipated and they are
fall in to a prolonged campaign to capture the major townships. NAC
political agents continue their attempts to incite civil unrest within
this ESU, this time by trying to persuade the Manchu government on
Chiang to rise against the ESU. Mindful of what the loss of ESU
protection may well bring, and distrustful of NAC promises the Chiang
leadership remains firm.

2152	Boer Voortrekkers seize their opportunity to make good on long
held plans for expansion and assault across their common border with
Iylichograd. The ESU tries unsuccessfully to resupply its colony, but
action near Nova Moskova diverts vitally needed troops. The Boers use
NSL supplied artillery to batter the local militia in to submission
before claiming a large area of this subtropical land, renaming it Neu
Transvaal.

Operation White Feather is launched by the NAC in the Chi Draconis
system in an effort to push the ESU out of the region. The NAC success
are mixed, with fierce fighting is space and on the ground. The Anglian
forces are ultimately defeated by an age-old tactic of the peoples of
the ESU, reliance on their superior knowledge of local weather
conditions and the sheer weight of the defending forces. Realising that
the ESU is unlikely to crumble before them the NAC makes the calculated
decision to try to destroy their allies and bring about their downfall
in that way.

2154	Over stretched, suffering from the loss of strategic colonies
and with increasing civil unrest on Earth, the FSE leadership finally
chooses to withdraw from the Second Solar War rather than risk the
collapse of the federation. After short, but productive talks a peace
treaty is signed with the NAC-NSL-RH alliance.

While internally cohesive the PAU is no more capable than the FSE of
sustaining the pressure of a major interstellar war for such an extended
period. It initially takes a seat at the negotiating table, but when it
is suggested they give up rich agricultural lands in the Kambompo Delta
to the NSL they stage a walk out. Despite the ESUs strong desire to
provide the PAU with supporting troops, and by doing so give them a
reason to remain in the alliance, there are no troops to spare and the
PAU is forced to attempt the liberation of its lost colonies by itself.
After a string of minor successes it finally turns to the liberation of
Grand Lahou. In a last abortive attempt the exhausted PAU forces make
the push for Grand Lahou, but when the remnants of the PAU fleet are
crippled their leaders have little choice but to rejoin the peace
negotiations.

2155	Feeling its isolation, the ESU makes one last and desperate
attempt to resist the machinations of the NAC. Deciding to strike at the
NACs heart, rather than risk exhausting itself on a long slow roll up of
the NACs flanks, the ESU assaults the Winchester system with a massive
task force. The ESU ships are prevented from reaching all the way into
Albion, but they do manage to secure a position around the original NAC
colony in the system, the frigid mining world of Winchester. By cutting
off the NACs supply of Tantalum from the mines there and silencing the
communications relays housed in the vast underground caverns of
Winchester, the ESU hope to panic the NACs parliament in to withdrawing
their troops from the main theatres and giving the ESU forces there some
respite. Unfortunately for the ESU, the NAC political agents posted to
the base tell the Planetary Defence forces horrific stories about what
awaits them if they were to give themselves up to the Red and yellow
peril. Their fear sees the Defence forces hold on stubbornly through
Winchester's long and bitter winter despite suffering miserably. Judging
that the infantry forces will eventually prevail the ESU withdraws much
of its fleet to redeploy where it is most useful rather than let is lay
idle while they wait for the fall of Winchester.

2156	The NAC government calls for large-scale withdrawal to the
Winchester system to ensure the security of Albion, but wiser heads
amongst the military prevail and a more coordinated and disciplined
redeployment of troops is executed. Naval units under the renowned Rear
Admiral Dame Jayne Oppenburger jump into the Winchester system and
soundly defeat the ESU fleet there. The ESU land forces initially opt to
stay where they are, believing that the NAC fleet would never risk
firing on them from space as that would risk the collapse of the ice
shelf and the loss of their own citizens in the attempt to shake the ESU
troops loose. The ESU forces couldnt have be more wrong. After hours of
intense bombardment 95% of the ESU and all of the NAC on the planet lay
dead. The remnants of the ESU fighting force, in danger of death from
exposure if not utter annihilation from orbital beam fire, are unable to
resist the marines landed to secure the ruined base. ESU forces
elsewhere fair better though, and the tide of war swings once again in
the ESUs favour, with the reclamation of many of its lost colonies,
though there are no significant gains of new ground.

2157	Following several false starts and lengthy negotiations mediated
by UN representatives, the Second Solar War is finally ended with the
treaty of Khorramshahr. Once again there is unrest amongst Human Rights
activists as marshal powers introduced during the war fail to be lifted.
The government becomes increasingly agitated as the Central Park and
Trafalgar Square Sit-ins stretch into their 13th week. Troops are
finally sent in to disperse the illegal demonstrations, but violence
erupts when a protestor strikes out at the heavy-handed treatment.
Relief quickly spreads though as commonsense appears to prevail with the
withdrawal of the troops. This relief soon turns to terror when the
Paladins are sent in. Such blatant slaughter of NAC citizens by their
own military does not sit well the general populace and rioting breaks
out in many of the cities. In a few locations the people rise in open
rebellion.

2159	The NAC manages to quell much of the insurrection, but the harsh
terrain in the southeast of the North Americas works in the insurgents
favour and they resist all attempts by the NAC government to restore
order. A strong belt of resistance stretches from the provinces of
California and Texas down into northern Mexico. After years of reversals
in the area the NAC troops are withdrawn to the borders of the
neighbouring provinces after the rebels secure Los Angeles, Houston,
Guadajara and finally Mexico City. The provinces declare themselves
independent from the NAC. Sympathetic uprising in the colonies of Austin
and Fenris also prove successful and they opt to join forces with their
cousins on Earth, renaming themselves New Pasadena in the process.
Betting that the financially strained NAC is in no position to launch
itself so quickly into a new war the OU supports the LLAR sponsored push
for immediate UN membership for the new nation. The NAC does not give up
on its territories so easily though and moves to retake Texas. UN troops
move in to prevent the advance, though they are not as successful at
protecting Fenris and Austin from harassment. The NAC refuses to
acknowledge the independence of the new nation and threatens to use
whatever means necessary to retake the lost land. The LLAR states it
will retaliate in kind if this were to occur. Small-scale clashes break
out on a number of shared colony worlds as tension grows between LLAR
and NAC forces. When a large NAC strike force sent to retake Fenris
gives itself up to the local government the NAC command is put in an
intolerable position. Such an outright act of defiance can not be
tolerated, but rebuilding after the last solar war has been slow and
continued uprising across South America, in response to the threats made
against Texas, means the NAC does not have the available man power to
make good on its promises.
After much diplomatic protest and sabre rattling the NAC grudgingly
accepts the declaration and Free Cal-Tex is formally recognised.

2163	After decades of decline the IF hits rock bottom. A few powerful
warlords, the most prominent being Ahmad ibn Abu-Bakr, control the
military and the ruling council is recognised by all as an increasingly
corrupt, intolerant and distant government. Islamic fundamentalists
pledge to end this sorry and inequitable state of affairs and during the
triennial meeting of the Ruling Council the revolutionaries seize power
in New Riyadh. Refusing to surrender peacefully the old regime fight
back. The attempt is unsuccessful and only Ahmad ibn Abu-Bakr and a
handful of his supporters escape. The escapees return to Abu-Bakrs
forces preparing for the first of many battles in what becomes a
two-year civil war. Eventually the old powers fail and lead by the
reforms of the charismatic Haroun al-Qudsi the IF enters a new era of
prosperity. Its culture blossoms and its Muntasir once again form the
backbone of the African, and West European power grids.

Fearful of what a progressive IF could achieve on Earth and in space the
NAC and ESU move to restrict is power. This leads to low level
hostilities in the Inner colonies and renewed tension along the ESU-IF
borders.

2164	ESU forces in their remaining holdings on Iylichograd move
across the border into the Neu Transvaal colony reclaiming the mineral
resources. The Boers withdraw to the jungle areas and embark on a
guerilla war against the occupying ESU.

2165	NAC precipitate the Third Solar War with a "blitzkrieg" attack
to regain worlds lost to the ESU following the treaty of Khorramshahr.
The initial NAC successes falter as the FSE enters the war in support of
their old allies the ESU. The FSE not only provide men and materials,
but they also provide capital so that high grade IC and the LLAR
mercenary contingents can be hired.

2166	The Third Solar War escalates further as the NSL launches
attacks on the nearby FSE frontier. The NAC bolsters its Special Forces
capabilities by hiring NI mercenaries. Still bitter over losses suffered
in the past the RH opportunistically attacks an ESU convoy and then
refuses safe passage for IC and LLAR mercenary units through its space
forcing them to take time-consuming detours around RH assets.

2168	ESU Naval forces surge in to the Treralis system and attempt to
take the RH-held settlement of Tsitsihar. Fleet Admiral Jia Dehuai leads
his forces to success against the system defence forces, but at high
cost, leaving the assault forces too weak to create a robust space-head
in the face of fierce resistance from the Planetary defences.

2169	Sponsored by NAC agents, the French separatists in Bretonneux
and Doullens overthrow the local FSE military bases, secure the
government buildings and proclaim the New French Republic. An
insurrection in Compville persecuted along similar lines fails when the
mainly Italian forces stationed there prove too strong for the
separatist movement. Overcoming the dissidents attempts on their base
the Italians cripple the separatist command with a well-coordinated
strike on its headquarters.

2170	Unwilling to loose the opportunity to secure a wide breech in
the main axis of FSE expansion, the NAC employs Scandinavian mercenaries
to overrun Compville, resurrect the insurrection and see its leaders
installed as the new government. After a bitter fight the Scandinavians
defeat the Italian forces stationed there, as well as the Greco-spanish
reinforcements sent to assist them. The formation of the separatist
government is facilitated and Compville joins the  NFR. As little more
than an NAC puppet power the NFR tries to legitimise its existence by
removing any internal opposition to their existence. The bloody purges
do nothing to placate the diplomatic world and diplomatic recognition by
the NFR continues to be denied by the UN as the FSE lobbies hard to be
allowed to reclaim its colonies from what it considers to be NAC remote
control.

In this midst of this turmoil, Haroun al-Qudsi sends shock waves through
religious circles when he reopens Mecca to non-Muslims. Declaring that
the only way forward for all religions is to return to the respect and
brotherhood seen in the days after the Holon-Wint.

2171	 The Third Solar War enters a relatively quiet phase as the
protagonists pause to reconsolidate, involving themselves in little but
minor skirmishing and diplomatic posturing. The major powers use the
next few years to rebuild their depleted forces as an uneasy state of
"peace within war" ensues. Many students of history right papers on this
period drawing comparisons between it and the Cold War two hundred years
earlier.

2173	During the Sumani IV peace conference ESU and NAC peace
negotiators are assassinated by operatives from Ahmad ibn Abu-Bakrs
Sitin extremist terrorist group. His attempt to cast aspersion on the IF
and bring the weight of humanitys greatest forces down upon his moderate
enemies fails as the strength of the explosion used to kill the
delegates is misjudged and the crucial forensic evidence placed to
direct blame at the IF is destroyed in the inferno. The years of
distrust between the NAC and ESU leads them to blame each other and the
identity of the real culprit goes unnoticed. Outraged by each others
denials of culpability and dismissing the lunatic ravings of Ahmad ibn
Abu-Bakr about IF involvement out of hand, the ESU and NAC declare the
peace process impossible. The death of the moderate ESU President Xi
Xidang in the explosion allows the more militant members of the Party
Congress to gain control and the newly rebuilt defence forces are again
placed on high alert. From its opulent chambers on Albion the NAC
government also matches the move and the foes fall at each others
throats again as the Third Solar War re-intensifies.

2176	IC archaeologists discover the remains of a non-human
civilisation on an IC settled rim world. While the anthropological and
scientific communities debate the authenticity and significance of the
find, the major religions go through a period of major sectarian
violence between hard line conservatives and other members willing to
embrace the idea of wider creation.
There are rumours that the IC military R&D division removes materials
from the location, but this can not be confirmed.

2177	A lightning strike by an ESU fleet on the NAC Nagisa system
signals the start of the next "hot phase" of the Third Solar War. The
Nagisa colony falls quickly, preferring to accept the ESU Admirals
generous terms for surrender rather than face a threatened orbital
bombardment from the Admirals warships. Meanwhile, a combined force of
NSL regulars and Swiss mercenary units strike at FSE settlements on the
shared inner colony of Flensberg.

2179	The colony of Bradley on Fliescher II greets the arrival of the
136th Gloucestershire Regiment with little enthusiasm. They do not
begrudge the troops themselves but see them rather as a symbol of the
exploitative NAC administration and the hardship it has imposed. When
the Gloucestershires begin to falter in the face of the well disciplined
troops under General Henri de Pascalle a local resistance movement take
shape, doing what it can to end the Gloucestershires stay. In spite of
these internal, as well as external, pressures the Gloucestershires hold
on determinedly and resist de Pascalles troops for nearly six months.
Broadcasting to the ecstatic citizens of Bradley, de Pascalle pledges to
defend them with everything he has, using his immense reputation he
convinces the FSE to establish a substantial base there to extend FSE
protection to the newly liberated people and forestall NAC attempts to
assault from their other colonies on Fliescher II and regain the colony.

2181	 On Kayleigh, NSL and then NAC armoured forces are defeated by
brilliant tactics of the new leader of the LLAR mercenary units
stationed there. Refusing to believe that such a small force managed to
defeat four armoured divisions the allied command relieves the local
commander, General Heinrich Vortsheimer, of his command. Shortly after
he commits suicide, unable to live with the shame of his ignominious
reverse.

2182	In another attempt on the strategically important Tsitsihar, the
ESU lands Khalifate mercenaries as reinforcements for the offensive
against the RH units deployed in the colony.

2183	The UNSC Survey Cruisers McCaffrey and Niven are sent to
catalogue the features of the nebula near Lagos IV, on the fringe of PAU
space, thought to be the source of unusual energy readings originating
in that vicinity. When both ships fall silent and fail to return the PAU
send a follow up mission into the area. The PAU Captain finds
identifiable debris from the Niven, exhibiting obvious signs of battle,
but no trace of either the McCaffrey or any hostiles. In response the
PAU put its Naval forces on high alert and send a task force lead by the
Battlecruiser Kinshasa to the New Lusaka system, which neighbours Lagos
IV. The final message from the taskforce indicates it is under heavy
attack from an unidentified hostile, by the time reinforcements lead by
the deadnaught Ulwandlekazi arrive only debris remains to greet them.

Mercenary units in ESU employ continue to serve them well with IC
mercenaries capturing NSL possessions on Salzburg and SK troops helping
to finally wrest Tsitsihar from the  RH.

2184	The frequency of unexplained attacks increases and spreads
beyond PAU space into the jurisdictions of other nations. The sets of
warring parties continue to blame each other rather than publicly
embrace more exotic possibilities. Behind closed doors however, the
leadership of both sides realises that something far more important is
happening. Initially, suspicion is directed toward a secret
developmental program by one of the minor powers, the UNSC or even one
of the larger interstellar corporations. The main suspect is the IC,
given the discoveries on their rim worlds. Incontrovertible proof that
the mysterious attackers are aliens comes when an NAC patrol squadron
surprises, and destroys, two alien vessels in an intense battle near
Angel II. The bodies retrieved from the debris are undeniably alien. All
nations in the human sphere of influence agree to an immediate
cease-fire in the face of such a powerful non-human threat.

2185	Despite the cease fire tensions still run high (especially
within diplomatic circles), but the militaries of both main powers (and
several of the smaller nations) are finally coming inexorably together
in the face of a much greater threat.  The Battle of Sulaxar marks the
first co-operative action between the ESU and NAC against the aliens.
The two sides cooperate surprisingly well, given the tension that still
exists between them in pockets of the lower ranks.

In mid-year, by the Terran calendar, the UN Assembly declares that a
state of war now officially exists between all the nations of Humanity
and the race known as the Kra'Vak. The (First) InterSentient War (the
Xeno War as it was quickly dubbed by the media) has truly begun.

2186	The cohesive nature of a joint response to KV aggression falters
early in the year when an NAC Admiral does not wait for his more
cautious ESU counterpart when alien forces are reported off Caleb.
Commodore Farris escapes with barely a quarter of his force and accuses
the ESU of purposefully standing off from the action in order to gain
control of the Caleb system. Fissures begin to open in the fragile human
peace, but one person in the NAC upper echelons has the strength to put
the lives of millions, dependent upon cohesion, before national pride
and she leaves a copy of the bridge logs with the UN General Secretarys
office. The logs clearly show that Commodore Farris own decisions were
mostly to blame for the losses he suffered and so the diplomatic
repercussions gradually settle, the NAC embarrassed, but unable to point
the finger at anyone but Farris. The crisis past, cooperative operations
resume, though a deep distrust between the major powers persists.

The KV offensive gathers momentum and late in the year the first surface
assaults by KV troops are reported.

2187	The NSL outworld of Rheinhold is the location of the first major
success against KV ground forces. A combined force of NSL and NAC
marines, long used to operating together, aid local Militia units in
defending the colony from an attempted planetary landing by the alien
invaders. The KV institute a siege of Rheinhold, which stretches for
five long months, and repeated attempt to land forces on the planet
surface. The KV are finally driven out of the system by the arrival of a
large UN lead joint task force, made up of NAC, NSL, Dutch and Free
Cal-Tex ships (the first time FCT servicemen had operated with the NAC
since their independence nearly thirty years before).

Elsewhere humanity does not fare so well, and the aliens continue to
make inroads toward the core systems. In order to prevent widespread
panic, virtually no information is released to the public concerning
what is happening on the worlds taken by the  KV. Unfortunately the
reticence to speak on the issue just fuels rumours of massacre,
genocide, slavery and feeding frenzies, resulting in widespread panic
anyway. The bulk of the population, which is still concentrated on Earth
and in the core systems swings in favour of pulling all forces back from
the outworlds to defend the Core. While politically acceptable, such a
defensive concept does not find favour with the Military, nor
(naturally) with the colonial population. The divisions between the
colonials and the core worlders, which had begun nearly a century before
widens still further, to epic proportions, this insidious division will
come to govern many future events in the Human sphere of influence.

2188	When a survivor of the UNS McCaffrey drops in to orbit of Lagos
IV in a biomechanical pod he is almost incinerated in orbit, the
inhabitants of Lagos IV fearing a plague carrier. A UN xenospecialist on
Lagos IV manages to convince the local government to stay its hand until
a UN quarantine force can arrive. Seemingly in a state of catatonia the
crewmen continuously repeats a simple message  a set of coordinates and
an invitation to meet a friend, over and over, in every surviving human
language, one after the other. Piqued, but suspicious the UN decides to
follow up on the invitation, sending a top level UN ambassador, one of
the foremost xenospecialist teams and a joint NAC-ESU taskforce. They
are greeted by the strangest of biomechanical amalgams. After an
unnervingly alien, and frustrating inconclusive meeting, the Humans
leave unsure of anything, but the simple fact they have made contact
with a second Xenosentient species, the Sa'Vasku. Obviously immensely
powerful, even more so that the KV, the human delegates return home
numb, unable to assure the various leaders as to whether the SV will
prove to be friend or foe. Encounters with the SV throughout the coming
years of the Xeno War do little to crystallise the situation, as SV
ships appear, as if at random, sometimes hostile, sometimes friendly,
sometimes observing some event before leaving without a single word. The
technological abyss that lies between the SV and Humanity makes it
impossible to contact the SV unless they wish to initiate it, and
mankind remains ignorant as to their true motives or agenda.

2189	The KV continue to push toward the core unabated. Mankind seems
capable of scoring only minor successes against the KV onslaught. Late
in the year, the KV mount a rapid thrust deep into Human space. The
attack is haltered when it reaches Centaurus, where fierce resistance by
allied human fleets and the orbital colonies of the Centaurus system
manage to repulse the KV, at the cost of heavy losses and extensive
damage to available systems. The ability of such a large enemy fleet to
penetrate so deep into the heart of human space frightens the nations of
Earth into closer co-operation against the  KV.

2190	A brief lull in the fighting is welcomed by a war weary populace
and a Military keen for space to rebuild. Unfortunately it is quickly
apparent that the KV are doing exactly the same thing, consolidating
their gains and regrouping after their defeat at Centaurus.

2191	 Human hopes of respite are dashed when the KV offensive
resumes. The assaults follow a different pattern now. They are steadier
and more co-ordinated, lacking the piecemeal, almost piratical, strikes
characteristic of the earlier years. Completion of a number of new
weapon systems sees Mankind better able to battle the KV, but they still
cannot overcome their incessant surge and human forces inevitably give
ground before the KV advance. The fighting is spirited though and the
rate of withdrawal is much slower than it had been in the past.
Nevertheless things do not look good as the KV waves strike at system
after system and still no one at home knows the fate of those left
behind.

2191	 A FSE patrol force stationed in the Rhone system does not wait
to find out the origin of the small alien ships it detects jumping in to
the system, thinking it could be a new faction of the KV - the ships are
obviously too technologically inferior to be SV, despite their
biomechanical appearance. The Phalon Conglomerate attempts to convince
the FSE commander to cease fire, but his fear makes it impossible to
sway him and his vessels soon succeeds in the destruction of one of the
Phalon ships. The remaining Phalon ships do escape, but losing their
ship and its valuable cargo to such an inflexible opponent disturbs the
Phalon sense of whats equitable and they seek reparation. Without any
means of communicating with humans the Phalons opt for retaliatory
attacks. They soon become dissatisfied with this approach though, it is
such a waste of potential resources and markets. Eventually proper
communication is established and the two races begin to get a firm
picture of each other. This does not make them any easier to deal with
however and diplomatic relations remaining frustratingly chaotic for he
UN representatives as the various Phalon factions interested in
alternative outcomes act to suit themselves, some siding with Humanity,
some with the KV and all seemingly without logic.

2192	The KV pressure on Humanity is unrelenting and in the Terran
mid-year a small KV force successfully slips through Sol's system
defences and reaches Mars. It hits several orbital facilities before
defending fleets can intercept and destroy the invaders. With the true
scale of the KV threat now blatantly obvious to the civilian populace
panic takes hold. Apocalyptic cults run rife, mass suicides and a
breakdown in civil order ensues. Only wide appeals by the major
religious, scientific and Military leaders of Earth stem the tide of
rising anarchy. In particular a small group of charismatic leaders grab
the worlds attention and begins to weld the energy and fear of the
general populace into something far more useful in the fight against the
KV.

2193	It becomes obvious to the UN and Military intelligence gatherers
that a major KV push into the core, and probably to Sol itself, is
imminent. In desperation, the politicians in charge of the UN act on the
earlier call for the withdrawal of all human ships from the colonies to
interdict for the core worlds and order all Human forces back to Sol.
Many units do comply, some are trying to look to the future and the
preservation of the majority of human lives, and others are simply
obeying orders. Not all units heed the call however. In particular units
drawn from the colonies feel that the coreworlders are abandoning their
families to a horrific fate and refuse to forsake their colonial
home-systems, which are still under attack by KV forces. As the New Year
approaches, those units that did respond to the order to pull back
gather with the remnants of the UNSC and allied fleets to begin a
last-ditch defence of the core.

2194	Demonstrating their access to a significant resource base, the
anticipated KV strike force arrives in the core, even while other
battles still rage in many of the colonial systems. Barnard and the
already mauled Centaurus are the first to feel the power of the main KV
fleet, as they repeatedly attacked by the powerful KV force. As the year
creeps on the KV turn their attention to Sol and the first clashes with
the outer defence posts of the Sol system begin. Apparently aware that
they would find the subjugation of Earth a difficult task, the KV do not
strike as quickly here as elsewhere, but seem to adopt a more softly
softly approach, as if they mean to attrite the Human forces and starve
them into submission. The Siege of Sol has begun...