In a mood of desperation the UCN opens the bidding on the settlement rights for the Alpha Centauri system - and after a highly competitive bidding process they are won by the Helghan Corporation. They simply cannot afford to fund another interstellar colonization effort of the same size, and the chances of a smaller colony failing are too high. The loss of the colony ships is a significant financial hit for the UCN. At the time, all hands are presumed lost. The last transmissions from the ship seem to indicate a catastrophic systems failure.
Contact cannot be re-established with them. The UCA Navy is the first service branch formed.Ī cluster of six colony ships, Archon, Triumph, Pacifica, Jericho, Seraph, and Harbinger completely drop off the tracking imager during a particularly intense solar flare. Part of this deal is the formation of the United Colonial Army now the only legally permitted military force on Earth or her stellar dominions.
The UCN defense force is dissolved due to allegations of incompetence, corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency. The UCN reserves the colonization rights of Alpha Centauri to itself - not opening them up for competitive bidding, according to its charter responsibilities. Initially two worlds are pinpointed for colonization - a rocky world around Alpha Centauri A and a lush Eden planet around Alpha Centauri B. The system is a "hub" system between Earth and the outlying proposed colony sites and thus will come to hold great significance in the years to follow. The first ships, having left ten years ago, begin to arrive in the Alpha Centauri system. The UCN Survey of Alpha Centauri System: 2111 They rely on stiff economic penalties and overwhelming military force to keep the colonies and habitats in line. The colony ships begin to leave Earth, bound for various planets within the Sol System.Īs colonization is still in its infancy, the UCN has not yet managed a way to skillfully deal with the massive amounts of administration necessary to deal with all these new colonies on top of their own significant requirements as a newly minted agency. Violation of these rules is considered a very serious infraction, warranting economic penalty - continued infractions, depending on the circumstance, could result in anything from stiffer penalties, economic sanctions, and finally expulsion from the UCN or even military action as a last resort. The global governments issue licenses to pursue colonization projects under strict criteria. Some immensely wealthy companies are also able to finance their own colonization, among them, the Helghan Corporation, which has made its sizable fortune in energy and industrial refinement. As it's in the UCN's best interest to support privatization for the sake of finance, they also allow other companies/governments to fund their own colonization projects, but under the strictures of the global (UCN) owners. The process of building and deploying ships will take upwards of 30 years. Earth's richest world companies and governments formed an international coalition, the United Colonial Nations (UCN). The decision to begin colonizing other planets and moons which can support life is made. With the natural resources of Earth all but tapped out, and the continued survival of humanity at stake, it is deemed necessary to begin colonizing other planets. The Extrasolar Colonization Plan: 2060 - 2090 When the dust clears it becomes clear that a new way will have to be found to survive and to secure the raw materials needed for society to continue. Tensions run high as what starts as a limited strategic release of nuclear weapons snowballs into a bitter exchange of warheads aimed at civilian population centers. This time marks the last days of the Earth as humanity's sole home.Ī shortage of oil triggers a global meltdown as nations fight for control of scarce resources. 7.10 Helghast Invasion of Earth thwarted: May 2360.7.8 Operation Archangel commences: Sep.7.6 End of the Conflict on Vekta: Jan.7.5 Rayhoven Base Falls, but the Invasion Fails: Early Oct.7.4 Metrac Appointed to Head Helghast Vektan Forces: Sep.7.2 The Second Extrasolar War is Declared: Early Aug.6.12 The Second Defense platform begins construction: 2356.5.6 Construction of the ISA Defense Networks begins: 2304.5.4 Helghan approached by the ICSA: 2223.5.2 The Surface of Helghan formally settled: 2215 - 2220.