First steps

If someone claimed that 2148 was the most fateful date in human history, that claim in no circumstances would be an overstatement. In that year, four scientists from the United States of Northern America (USNA), European Union, Asiatic Commonwealth and African Union won jointly Nobel prize for the discovery of hyperspace, the parallel canvas-universe where the rules of spacetime are different than in our spacetime canvas. Humanity immediately recognized the potential of the new discovery and under the patronage of the United Nations, private and government scientists commenced researching the application and utilization of this hyperspace. Financing for those researches came mainly from the budget of the United Nations, investments by the private investors and donations from the independent countries, mainly USNA and African Union. Interest in this new discovery was so widespread that nearly every year something new was discovered about the hyperspace. By 2151 scientists figured out that celestial bodies with their gravity create rifts between spacetime and hyperspace which might allow getting in and out of these two parallel canvases. Theoretically a subject could enter in one rift and exit in another allowing it to travel between those distant points with much less time which would have been required in spacetime canvas. It took another 10 years before the first scientific probe, using a specially engineered hyperdrive engine, successfully traveled between two hyperrifts. Another 15 years were needed for a probe to travel between the Solar system and another star system. Manned missions followed not long after. In one of these missions in a year of 2179, the crew of explorer “Enterprise” discovers a remarkable planet in a nearby system Olvaldi. Though the planet at first appeared to be just another dry planet, devoid of anything, the close investigation revealed that the surface of the planet is scattered with the geometric patterns which could not be explained by natural phenomena. Because of its arid geology the team of “Enterprise” decide to name it Sahar after the great desert of Africa. 

The following year the UN sends a much bigger scientific research team in order to do comprehensive studies not only on the planet of Sahar but also the rest of the planets of the Olvaldi system. The amazing discoveries of that scientific team changes all the understanding about the universe of humanity . Geometric patterns came out as remnants of purpose-build massive structures which indicated that Sahar used to harbor an intelligent life. This was proven with further discovery in another planet of Olvaldi.

Olvaldi discoveries caused a huge shake in human civilization. Everything, including religion, science, politics, technology and history required redefinition and revision in the light of the fact that the humans possible were not alone in the universe and our planet was not the only place which could host life. The concrete proof for the latter notion came in 2182 when the explorer “Enterprise” made another remarkable discovery.  A habitable planet was discovered around the protostar of the system Talitha.

This discovery caused a major political shift on Earth. Already by the mid of XXII century all the independent nations and countries had merged into big confederations (USNA, EU, Pan-Asiatic Federation, Asiatic Commonwealth, African Union, Arabic League, Bengal Union, Latin League)  which would deal with each other through the United Nations. On 31 December 2182 all the confederations signed a treaty which created a new planetary state of the United Nations of Earth (UNE). The primary purpose of this new planet state was to concentrate the resources of humanity to explore the universe and colonise new planets in other systems. The newly created UNE immediately set out to implement the new vision of humanity. Many drones and exploration ships were sent out to find new habitable systems and explore the unknowns of the universe.

The next big discovery came in 2192 in the Arkab system.

The explorer “Prometheus” not only discovered another habitable planet in that system, but also robotic-life forms on that planet. It seemed that the planet used to be or still were an agricultural outpost of an unknown civilization as it contained Microfactories which autonomously produced various robotics that cultivated the land. Among those robotic forms one especially caught an eye of scientists of “Prometheus”. They were made based on humanoid body form, with hands, leg and head. Calling them Remnants (probably  because of them being considered as remnants of forgone civilization) “Prometheus” sent the whole population back to Earth for the research purposes assuming that the Microfactories would make more. Another remarkable thing about this robotics was that they were infused with some kind of substance which was unfamiliar to humans.

First contact

Starting mid XXI century humanity commenced terraforming planets of the Solar system. Initial expectations were that the terraformation process would end in 3-4 hundred years. However, due to rapid technological development of the beginning of XXII century that process was speeded up significantly and in 2194 the Mars became the first planet after Earth inhabited by people. That was a huge achievement for humanity as a species. However, the discovery of the explorer “Enterprise” (by that time this scientific vessel and its crew were legends back at home) 2196 overshadowed that achievement. First time in the history of humanity, in one of the planets of the Bryia system they came across a small collection of primitive intelligent sentient life-form. Calling themselves Haroshems, this species was approximately on the level of XX century humanity.

Their society was simple and agricultural. Harsh nature of their home planet made them stick together. That harshness of nature didn’t allow them to increase in numbers and live all over the planet. Initially UNE wanted to leave them be and just observe and study from orbit. However, soon the scientist realized that the planet is undergoing tectonic shifts which might cause an extinction level event which in turn would probably kill all the habitants of the planet. For that reason it was decided to get in touch with them and move them into one of the new planets which were intended for colonization by UNE. So the first contact of humanity with alien life ended up in a humanitarian rescue operation.

In 2197 the first colonists arrived in the system Talitha and set up a colony on its habitable planet which they named New Earth. It was the first colony of humanity outside of the Solar System.

Another 4 years passed since the encounter with the Haroshems when the explorer “Enterprise” on its way to the center of the galaxy came across a spacefaring civilization of insectoid life-form. Although this civilization hadn’t invented means of traveling between the stars yet, they could travel to other planets of their own system Heka. They called themselves Tikanan. Militaristic species whose culture was centered around the martial arts and physical prowess of individuals.

Despite Tikanan society being militaristic the UNE representatives managed to establish a peaceful contact with them which concluded in a trade and cultural-exchange agreement. They also agreed to send to each other’s Home planets their ambassadors for deepening the relationship.But most importantly Tikanan agreed not to obstruct human space-ships passing the Heka system.

The discovery and contact of Tikanan civilization in the year of 3000 was in itself a legendary deed by the explorer “Enterprise”. However, when the explorer was about to leave the Heka system, they caught another life-signal from the furthest planet of the system. When they approached to investigate, to their astonishment they found a shipwrecked intelligent lizard life form. These people who called themselves Z’vali, were manipulating with their own hyperdrive when the accident happened and their spaceship was thrown into the hyperspace and then thrown out into the Heka system. The ride was so rough that their ship lost control and the gravity of the planet sucked them in. Unfortunately for them they had no idea to which system they arrived and had no means to get in touch with their people. For two generations the shipwreck and surrounding area became their home. Their brilliance in science and their ship being state-of-art science vessel allowed them to survive on this harsh planet with the hope one day to return home. The UNE offered them evacuation to New Earth where they would help them to find their home planet and get in touch with their own people. Z’vali agreed and left the Heka system for Talitha.

The culmination of alien encounters was in 3004, when in all radio and tele-communications frequencies a strange ciphered audio message appeared. Deciphering the message gave the following words: “Beware of Endless. Beware of Eaters. Beware of Eradicators. Seek the Academy.”. The message threw humanity into political turmoil. Although so far all the alien encounters were peaceful, the people recognized that the vast galaxy might be dangerous as well. Although this message and handling it was enough to test the resolve, strength and viability of a relatively new system of UNE governance, another revelation caused a massive political crisis. In August 3004 there was a media leak claiming that Latin League together with Pan-Asiatic Federation in secret from UNE authorities had been colonizing the star system close to the Solar system. The ensuing political crisis was so severe it seemed that the UNE as a planetary government system wouldn’t survive it. However, UNE president Dmitri Lenko’s actions proved decisive which not only saved the organization but also strengthened it. High ranking officials from Latin League and Pan-Asiatic Federation were forced to resign and then were arrested. The secret system which had been colonized went under direct control of UNE and  its name of Traitor’s Reach which was used for the first time by the news-media was kept as a reminder of treacherous actions of some individuals.

The following year Dmitri Lenko’s Industrial party proposed to transfer more powers from the regional governments to the UNE which was accepted by the high council with overwhelming vote. The outcome was heavily affected by people’s reaction to the mysterious ciphered message received at the beginning of the year. People were scared.