2006 - Oil Crisis
The beginning of the World Oil Crises. Around the world, oil prices begin an irrevocable rise that slowly begins to weigh on global economies and causes political leaders to increasingly place energy security at the forefront of national policies. New methods of extraction are researched and alternate fuel sources are rapidly developed.
2007
Ukraine joins the EU. The eastern European country's fuel and mineral resources diminishes the reliance on Russian fuel and provides Western Europe with a steady stream of necessary minerals. Russia voices outrage and increases military troops at the border. In response, western European countries deploy troops into Ukraine to safeguard the country from any attack.
The near-diplomatic incident exposes a much larger issue with some eastern nations moving towards pro-democratic ideals. The situation causes Russia to use its muscle to maintain allegiances. Multiple former Soviet Republics face a tough decision, deciding which side to join.
2008
Georgia and Azerbaijan join the EU. With three natural resource rich nations on their side, the EU prospers more than ever before. Both Venezuela and Cuba join in a trade agreement with the Russian Federation and People's Republic of China. In exchange Russia begins building military bases in Venezuela.
The US voices anger, but does little to stop the agreement or the construction of the bases due to their need of Venezuelan oil and minerals. NATO member states reiterate their commitment to reinforcing the independence of former Soviet republics, much to the satisfaction of US and EU oil companies who own oil companies in the contested area.
Iran begins establishing close ties with the US. Despite animosity between the two countries, the US acknowledges the more moderate government of Iran to be a better economic and military partner in the region, compared to the increasingly radical Saudi Arabia. Seeing once old rivals now establishing friendly relations with each other, Saudi Arabia naturally ceases all oil trade with the USA and begins contracts with the Chinese. Israel-US relations also become strained as the US slowly stops pouring billions of dollars in military-aid into the Jewish state.
2009
Insurgents attempt to overthrow the government of Pakistan. Civil war ensues, threatening to tear apart the country. Only the intervention of US/NATO forces from neighboring Afghanistan quells the conflagration.
The Sunni/Shiite conflict raging across the Middle East continues as Iran and Saudi Arabia begin waging a proxy war against each other, using ethnic and religious militants to terrorize the civilian populations and causing shocking amounts of infrastructure damage. Only the presence of the US, Russian, and Indian militaries sitting between their borders prevents an all-out-war. Oil prices across the globe, already high, begin to surge even higher.
2010
The first of several large scale pro-democracy, pro-liberalization movements in China are brutally crushed. Over the coming years, major government powers come to resemble military police states to varying degrees. Stringent secret police tactics result in both massive civil unrest and domestic terrorism in all major provinces.
The EU builds large scale fortifications and military bases in the newly joined states of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. While officials downplay the significance of the entrenchments, they are obviously geared towards defense against the Russian Federation, while securing access to the Caspian Basin oil reserves.
2011
The superpowers slowly pick sides in the escalating Sunni/Shiite war. Russia and Saudi Arabia sign a military/trade deal, thereby providing the Sunni forces with a nearly limitless supply of arms, including a secret agreement for Chinese nuclear technology.
Conversely, the western Powers arm the Iranians and their Shia proxies. Due to the influx of high tech weaponry, the conflict expands to include outbreaks of conventional air and land combat, as well as the use of high tech weaponry against civilians. The irony of the US once again arming a Middle-Eastern for political and economic gain is not lost to the rest of the world.
In Second World countries, those with less robust economies and larger populations (particularly China and Russia) encounter violent political unrest. Large-scale anti-government insurgency becomes common. Martial law becomes all but permanent in these countries. In many parts of the developing world, particularly in Africa, nations crumble and a new age of anarchy begins. Starvation occurs on a scale never seen before.
Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Venezuela unite to counter both European and American influences. Their combined resources allow the countries to not only survive, but to also begin industrialization efforts, resulting in the Third Industrial Revolution.
2012 – Creation of the United North American States
The Iran/Saudi war spreads, erupting into direct conflict. Smaller Middle Eastern nations like Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan disintegrate and are forced to join sides. US forces in Iraq retreat to their fortifications, continuing to protect their oil supply. Israel joins the war as its own side, having had enough stray fire from both sides.
As the Iran/Saudi war rages in the Middle East, many western powers begin infrastructure development in their own countries. The US in particular creates and begins installing the first-ever Thorium powered nuclear plants, a first step in severing their reliance on foreign oil. To further meet this goal, the US signs a massive unity treaty with Canada and Mexico, creating the United North American States (UNAS), effectively becoming the largest military, economic, and social entity in the world. The three militaries are brought under the control of a single banner, uniting their elite forces under the command of the JSF (Joint Strike Force).
The Thorium plants become very popular after initial results show an increase in energy creation and storage while reducing impact on the environment. Soon they become a symbol of independence and individual prosperity as the UNAS begins a large scale retrofit on all their nuclear power plants. With massively reduced dependence on oil, the UNAS is able to redirect vast quantities of resources to research, emphasizing stealth, nanotechnology, and rail-guns, an ever-popular concept.
Powered Exoskeletons see first use in the UNAS military with the UPE-1 (Utility Powered Exoskeleton 1). A DARPA invention, the UPE-1 is design to allow the wearer to equip 1.5x of their normal load-outs, and improves combat effectiveness. While the UPE-1 was an overall success, it was deemed too bulky, too slow, and too loud for combat duties. In the commercial industry however, the suit saw more success, particularly in cargo-transportation.
UNAS energy corporations gain a long term deal with Turkmenistan to exploit selected oil reserves along the Caspian Sea, and to ship it out via a new pipeline through occupied Afghanistan and Pakistan. The oil, no longer urgently needed in the UNAS, is stockpiled in unique reservoirs below the Gulf of Mexico. Environmental concerns are addressed, initiating triple-redundancy safeties to protect the Gulf from another spill.
2013 – Science fiction becomes reality.
The EU follows in the UNAS' footsteps, installing a small number of major Thorium power plant sites. Sweden's garbage-powered power plants are seen as a better fuel source and used as an example. The EU begins a massive project to create many of these eco-friendly power plants, pushing the economic benefits with the more reluctant powers. Within nine months, eco-systems, air quality, and overall health conditions significantly improve while pollution plummets to an all-time low in Europe. With its energy secured, the EU begins exporting its own oil produced by its new members, boosting the economy even higher.
Ubi-corp, the Sirta Foundation, and Energysoft, three European based companies are founded for the sole reason to reach what they considered 'Theoretical technologies,' such as rail guns and nanotechnology. However, the heads in charge of the three companies place a higher priority in funding research for energy weapons, Virtual Intelligences and more efficient armor. A side project that receives a surprisingly sufficient amount of funding begins research on Faster-Than-Light travel. Analysis of the former United States NASA program notes the number of improvements discovered in the Gemini, Mercury and Apollo space programs, citing that while FTL is not probable, the developments are more than worth the funding.
In the fall of 2013, German, French, Austrian, and Italian scientists with some assistance from the Japanese, test a prototype 'personal shield. Success is mixed as the shield can withstand rounds up to 5.56mm and some shotgun shells, but is horribly susceptible to rounds larger than 6mm. The fact that every modern military in the world had arms capable of firing 7mm rounds forces the project back to the drawing board.
2014 – Foreshadowing
The world is stunned as a three-way war between Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran nearly goes nuclear. The conflict is stopped largely by Russian and NATO forces threatening military and economic intervention. The super powers acting in the Middle East change their efforts to rebuilding, now that major cities and large tracts of previously habitable land are ruined.
Middle Eastern oil production falls, however Saudi Arabia and Iran ask for assistance from their partners in exchange for more access to their fields. With assistance from their backers, oil fields are reestablished and oil production steadily rises within six months. Revenue earned goes to the rebuilding efforts in the two nations.
Kuwait joins India in an alliance following the war in the Middle East. Kuwait's oil combined with India's numbers allows the two nations to prosper, becoming some of the few First World countries in the Middle East. Both quickly establish diplomatic ties with the EU.
A radical secessionist terrorist group, called the Freedoms First, begins terrorist attacks within the UNAS. The world power responds with effective raids and capture of several leaders within the organization. In response the Freedoms First attacks Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty. The action backfires as it has the effect of uniting the UNAS into one regional nationality. The organization soon comes under attack from the largest military in the world, effectively disintegrating the terror group.
2015
Chinese forces skirmish against Indian and UNAS troops at the Pakistan/Afghanistan border. Mounting tensions between China and India drive the latter into an alliance with the UNAS, designed to show a united front against the increasing Chinese aggression in the area.
In retaliation, Russia and China, as well as a few smaller states, form a separate military alliance. The two large countries create a framework for joint military operations under a single command structure, as well as energy and technology sharing agreements.
Petrochemical revenues from the Caspian Basin oil beds result in the Central Asian Republics. Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan join their forces, becoming "The New Middle East" as they become more prosperous economically and correspondingly more powerful in the world community. Some of these countries, such as Kazakhstan, use the wealth to industrialize.
2016 – The end of cheap oil
Nuclear terrorism in Saudi Arabia kills 6 million and cripples the world's oil supply. African and South American countries undergoing modernization are seized by an energy crisis of catastrophic proportions, resulting in many governments struggling to maintain civil and economic order. "Energy security" becomes the explicit priority of developing countries around the world. World powers such as Russia, EU, and UNAS are hardly affected by the attack.
Oil reserves in the Gulf are opened, providing relief for UNAS allies. Its limited nature however, spurs the UNAS to increase both its number of Thorium power stations and its funding of nanotechnology and nuclear fusion as a replacement for petrochemical resources. The EU donates several thousand of its oil barrels to countries severely devastated by the oil shortage.
As oil is no longer an easily viable resource for creating cheap plastics or nutritional supplements, the shift in supply gains worldwide attention. Both Russia and China begin to use their resources as leverage over developing countries, forcing many of them to become puppet states.
2017 - The End of Nuclear War
The United Northern American States and the European Union sign the historic S.L.A.M.S. (Space-Land-Air Missile Shield) Treaty, agreeing to co-develop technologies for a comprehensive, interlocking anti-ballistic missile system. The UNAS and EU test launch nuclear salvos against each other, which the S.L.A.M.S. completely destroy.
Emboldened by the success of the tests, the historic S.L.A.M.S. treaty is ratified by the UNAS and Europe. Within months of initial testing, the joint UNAS-European missile shield goes live, making strategic nuclear war nearly impossible. The UNAS and EU pronounce "The end of nuclear war." Crowds on both sides of the Atlantic celebrate the advent of a new age of peace and security.
This technological feat helps to cool aggressive actions from Russia, China, and their allies, helping avoid another 'Cuban missile crises', specifically in Central Asia. The massive UNAS nuclear arsenal, still intact, serves as a trump card in the volatile region. Japan, South Korea, and Australia revive their SEATO commitments, while the majority of Second World nations in Asia and Latin America seek military assistance from the Chinese and Russians. NATO member countries begin synergizing both energy resources and the forces required to secure them. The entire coalition is brought under the strategic defense shield.
Puerto Rico and Guam become the third and fourth states within the UNAS. Many Puerto Ricans and Guamanians are understandingly irritated that the former nation of the United States did not officially induct them earlier; however they gain equal representation, protection, and rights within the super country.
2017 – 2019 Rise of the Motherland
As the world's new number-one supplier of crude oil and natural gas, Russia's economy skyrockets and pours its flooding petrodollars into the greatest arms buildup since the Cold War. With the new resources, Russia is able to both fund new projects and provide raw resources to supply them, such as a prototype nuclear missile defense system similar to the UNAS/E.U SLAMS.
The Russian Missile Defense comes online only three years after S.L.A.M.S. and brings its allies under its missile defense shield. ICBM and medium range missiles become effectively useless, making strategic nuclear war between the superpowers obsolete. Nuclear arsenals, already reduced through limitation treaties, are re-tooled for tactical use.
Birth of the European Federation
In response to the ongoing military and energy crisis, nearly all of the European Union's member states ratify the European Constitution, uniting as a single national entity known as The European Federation (EF), with a population and GNP similar to the United North American States. The United Kingdom declines federation membership, but retains close economic and diplomatic ties. Russia annexes former EU members too weak to join the Federation such as Belarus, Latvia, and Lithuania.
All of the E.F military forces are combined into one-mega military, rivaling that of the UNAS'. This sees the creation of Europe's elite Enforcer Corp, which is single-handily the most technologically advanced military force in the world. Many of the technologies still in the development stages in other countries become standard issue for the Enforcers. Of particular interest are the energy weapons installed on some of their vehicles, which free the wielders of their dependence on many petro-chemical derivative propellants.
Arms Race
The international community – Russia and China in particular - respond with outrage when the UNAS launch its first series of kinetic bombardment satellites in orbit. Russia and China begin co-development of similar technology, vowing to eclipse the UNAS.
The European Federation launches its own weaponized satellite systems. This initiates a competition between the UNAS and EF on the world stage. Both superpowers lock into a spiraling arms race in space, reminiscent of the mid Twentieth century. By the end of 2019, each has put a dozen ground-effect weapons satellites into orbit. The UNAS expertise in stealth technology renders the EF responses to mainly retaliatory strikes, as the EF defenses are unable to detect or intercept the UNAS systems. To compensate, the EF fast-track production of its newly designed Eternity-class VIs, high-powered computer systems. Some of these computer systems begin demonstrating anticipatory behavior, but fall short of sentience.
Russia ignores both technical routes, and instead creates a massive bombardment network, designed to overwhelm defenses with sheer quantity. China, lacking the necessary technologies for an orbital network, decides to forego the orbital aspect in favor of building-up a massive fleet of short range missiles, with the aid of Russia.
2020 - American Space Supremacy
The United North American States begin assembling the "Freedom Star," a military space station designed for civilian research purposes capable of housing a battalion of rapid-response "orbital marines" that can be deployed anywhere on Earth in 90 minutes. International reaction to this "North American Aircraft Carrier in Space" is extremely negative. Despite international protests, the UNAS vows to go forward with the launch of Freedom Star modules as scheduled. In fear that Russia and China will wait out any conflict and attack the winner, the European Federation and United North American States cool their relations, and sign mutual defense agreements, far more binding than even NATO.
2025 – A new age of warfare
DARPA unveils its new line of rail-gun operated weaponry, ranging from heavy machine guns to rocket launchers. They also showcase the new and improved UPE-2 exoskeleton that solves many of the problems its predecessor suffered; however it is still too cumbersome for stealth operations. The successful prototype stealth shroud, which makes soldiers nearly invisible to thermal imaging, is issued to JSF Special Forces. In addition, the UNAS' newly created VI programs are shown. Paladin Nine, the VIs creators, show some major differences between their VIs and those of Ubi-corp's, notably the near-silent operation at the cost of some processing power.
The European Federation also holds a convention, highlighting many of its new technologies. International interest is paid to the newly designed laser weaponry on display that would be installed on many of Europe's future sea vessels. For infantry, the Federation has already begun distributing micro-wave weaponry, which some critics claim violates many weapon treaties. However, the crowd is completely blown away by the Sirta Foundation's bio-gel, a blue paste capable of sealing and repairing surface injuries, and able to stabilize deeper wounds with ease. The phenomenon has created much buzz among many pharmaceuticals.
Russia responds in kind with a show of its own. Many of its old weaponry is replaced by heavily modified chemically propelled weaponry, which while crude, is as effective as the Federation's and UNAS'. It even showed off next-gen armor, utilizing titanium plating capable of stopping most rounds. But this paled in comparison, when the Ministry of Defense announced the massive expansion of the Spetsnaz into an entire Guard Brigade with its own aviation, artillery, and infantry components. The first of these was showed, nicked named the 'Alpha Guard Brigade', raising much concern over Russia' military expansion.
2027 – China Rising
China astonishes the world when it forcibly annexes North Korea, Burma, Cambodia, and Laos. It is then reorganized as the New Chinese Republic. Because of its allegiance with Russia, many trade deals with the UNAS, and overall large population, none of the three powers challenge the newly created NCR. However, the UNAS and EF respond with placing more troops in South Korea and Taiwan. Japan is authorized by the UNAS to militarize in the growing tension.
2030-2067 Pressure
Over the course of forty years, relations between all four factions deteriorate into a second Cold War. Known as the "Winter Conflict," spies and sabotage run rampant throughout the entire civilized world. Third World nations attempt organizing themselves, but lack the resources for effective combat. Instead, they join with the Big Four based on proximity and history.
In 2038, the UNAS finalizes production of camouflage armor, giving its entire armed forces low-visibility capabilities. Rail-gun technology is miniaturized to the point where side-arm versions are issued by 2040.
In response, the E.F. pours funding into VI technology, developing systems intended to anticipate UNAS movements. One of the side benefits of this research is a branch extending into quantum computing, where major inroads on quark-based communication are made. Transceivers, capable of reaching from one pole to the other, are created, although cost the E.F. more than a company of Enforcers, each.
By 2058, the New China Republic Army begins demanding resources from their south-eastern neighbors. Some obliged, however Vietnam outright refuses causing the NCRA to invade. Vietnam, no strangers to foreign invasion, are more than willing to fight the NCRA, denying the NCRA entrance and disbanding the NCRA embassy in 2060. Within months the NCRA manages to capture the capital, the Vietnamese unable to counter the massive numbers and technology of the NCRA.
By November of 2068, the Vietnam government has grown desperate, calling for any allies to assist. Well aware that any conflict could trigger a war, the European Federation and the UNAS begin diplomatic solutions to the crisis. Japan sends a fleet of twelve ships, filled with medical supplies and food, to assist the Vietnamese. Believing the fleet to be an attack, the NCRA navy responds destroying all twelve ships and killing 1200 humanitarians.
The incident triggers an armed response from Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the UNAS. Vietnam becomes a warzone, exemplifying the technologies from the NCRA, the UNAS and the E.F.
While the UNAS is able to strike with impunity, the NCRA is able to resupply almost immediately. The E.F. take a more observant role, lashing out in quick strikes whenever an opening presents itself. The conflict quickly becomes a stalemate, with no one willing to escalate the matter into an open war.
An uneasy truce is called, negotiated on the tiny island/nation of Taiwan. The unique nature of the island's defensive systems guarantee that the first act of violence on either side will see a thermonuclear warhead detonate, rendering all parties into their constituent atoms. The agreements made are completed with awe-inspiring speed, taking less than two weeks to finalize. The NCRA reluctantly pulls out of Vietnam, however tension between the two countries remain high.
2069
The UNAS initiates a migration program for anyone wishing to colonize the moon. Grants and benefits are offered and within three months several cities surface on the moon with a total population of 3,000. The E.F and UNAS launch probes to Mars and Europa, to begin terra-formation efforts.
2070
Billionaire Victor Manswell, frustrated with the pace of official human space exploration, begins funding his own private spaceflight expedition. Diplomatic efforts fail to derail his hiring away some of the best minds in the industry.
2075
The Manswell Expedition successfully launches from Earth for the Alpha Centauri system. The Expedition takes 300 colonists aboard in cryogenic stasis. Communications with the vessel are lost soon after.
2079
Combat begins spreading across previously peaceful regions. Tempers, running short, manage to flare into life on short notice. International cooperation begins breaking down.
2080 – 2084 - War
Russia, the E.F., the New Chinese Republic, and USNA declare a state of war to exist, after the Russian military tries to re-annex Ukraine. Although the conflagration is not spread to as large an extent as the previous World War, third world nations across the globe are devastated economically and physically. The majority of the fighting is done through either through proxies or Special Forces teams worldwide. With the SLAM shields, the use of nuclear weapons is off the table. The greater portion of Afghanistan and Pakistan are rendered infertile, due to Russian SGB's liberal usage of bio-weapons.
The pinnacle of the war occurs when the NCRA deploys a few Thermobaric missiles to destroy multiple UNAS bases in Iran, forcing the superpower to respond with a kinetic strike. While causing less damage and collateral damage, the use of both WMDs results in the world to call for peace. Through political pressure from their domestic populations, the Big Four are forced to declare a cease-fire and later a peace treaty. Tensions between the Big Four remain.
2089 - Mars
One of the advancements made by the UNAS, a large self-replicating drone, is sent to Mars in order to test its full capabilities away from the exceptionally designed EF observation satellites. This drone is given directives to map the surface of Mars, and create fellow drones to assist in the effort. Plentiful iron deposits and nanotechnology allow the drone to assemble three dozen copies of itself within weeks before beginning its efforts. The drones begin the first organized mapping expedition of Mars since the aborted Sojourner Truth expedition in the late 20th century.
Within three months of exploration, the drone comes across deposits of a strange substance. Referred to as Element Zero by NASA scientists, samples of the substance are harvested for further study. The UNAS invites the Federation to officially begin a joint operation in study and exploration of Mars, who with their advanced technology and greater understanding of theoretical physics are able to deduce the substance properties.
One December 34, the European Federation Space Agency's Lowell City in Eos Chasma becomes the first permanent human settlement on Mars, merely six months after the UNAS drone is deployed. In response the UNAS sends its own settlers to the Red Planet. Many nations begin a massive migration to the Red planet. By the end of the year, the population on Mars reaches six million.
2090 - Archives
On January 24, 2090, all military efforts are halted as several drones transmit discoveries of unusual electromagnetic disruption over a uniquely shaped hill on Mars. The images that actually stop the conflagration reveal a pair of fully intact space craft, plus an entire wall of unknown metals, forming panels. Sealed doors within the hill hint at further discoveries to be made, just on the edge of Olympus Mons.
After the discovery, the UNAS volunteers to send science experts to Mars, assistance that is grudgingly accepted by the EF, and ignored by Russia and the Chinese Republic. Basic surveys are made of the Ruins region, while an initial shipment of construction supplies is made. As transit between Earth and Mars is six months at their closest orbits, the supplies are seen as a sort of truce offer, warily observed by all sides.
The first shipment of engineers and scientists are able to establish a base on Mars, and begin investigating the Ruins. The name "Archives" is given, due to the ancient appearance of the chamber, and the simplistic nature of the alien hardware, almost as if it were waiting to be discovered.
On June 30, 2090, delegates from the Big Four, as well as representatives from South America, New Commonwealth, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, and Kuwait establish a new organization, naming it the Systems Alliance. It is given a charter, granting authority to recruit, develop and defend the neutrality of Interstellar Relations. While publicly funded, the Systems Alliance is not given authority to land on planets owned by the various nations without authorization, with the sole exception being waived if the colony is under attack. However, each nation agrees to grant the System Alliance segments of ground to use as training facilities, storage, and repair. Military bases for the System's Alliance are built in several territories around the world and even some on the moon, with the provision that bases constructed for the Factions will be left sacrosanct, immune to Systems Alliance interference. The chance of having a truly neutral zone, space, is attractive enough to induce agreement from most parties.
To protect each nation's patented technologies and benefit from it at the same time, the Systems Alliance creates a Fabrication Rights Management clause stating any country guilty of stealing another's technology either through spying, physical/electronic theft, or reverse engineering through the Systems Alliance will result in economic sanctions and, in extreme cases, military intervention. Therefore, if a Second World country is able to replicate the Enforcer's low-energy weaponry, the results would financially devastate the nation. However, this is waived of the country desires to share its technology with other countries.
2091
The Russian government undergoes a massive transition, with a new political coalition coming to power. A wave of accidents renders the previous administration incapable of investigating the situation in great depth.
The UNAS and European Federation begin breaking ground, establishing a permanent structure around the Prothean Ruins.
Forced to play catch up, the New Chinese Republic believes by making a leap with the technology on Mars they'll be able to match the other three powers.
2092-Cessation of hostilities
After the first inter-planetary launch is made, Russia decides to accept an offer to sponsor another expedition and donates enough resources to create another inter-planetary ship within the year. The E.F. and UNAS are suspicious, but desperate for supplies easily created by perfluorocarbon-rich Russian oilfields. The Chinese Republic, also rich in resources, decides to contribute, speeding the process of construction.
2093- Progress
The second shipment arrives 1.5 years after the initial landing, sponsored by the Big Four. It brings enough resources to exponentially increase the efforts to study the Archives.
With the international focus now on space rather than Earth, the Big Four begin a new race, this time in order to develop a method for transiting the vast distances between Earth and Mars. It is tacitly understood that the fastest method created will grant control of Mars to the inventing nation. The Big Four begin veiling for orbital supremacy with the E.F. in the lead, thanks to the FTL research it had begun decades earlier.
2101- Decoding
The Archives are finally decoded, after the entire contents of the alien computer are downloaded to the World Wide Web. A variation of the SETI program, using independently volunteered computers, creates an incredibly efficient data-crunching machine on par with the Underlord Super Computer of South Korea, or the High Thoughts System, of MIT in the UNAS. The decoded information reveals the name and activities of an ancient race, called the Protheans. The information gives a detailed map of the Solar System, including an object marked as a Relay near the edge of the System.
2102
Energysoft succeeds in creating sustainable Nuclear Fusion and the Federation becomes the first to reap the benefits of the newly designed reactors. The reactors also form the basis for any colonial efforts as they allow the construction of efficient spacecraft. The Systems Alliance purchases multiple of this reactors to install on future military vessels, currently under construction.
2105- Exploration
Four years after the Archives discovery, the EF and UNAS independently discover FTL methods, allowing them to begin exploration of Sirius Major, the closest star to Earth, via colony and scientific ships. The Big Four begin handing out massive subsidies and grants for research into almost every brand of science. Various corporations begin showing interest in space exploration.
The Titanic Initiative is passed in the UNAS, requiring all of their FTL capable vessels to maintain two methods of FTL travel, whether it be from UNAS or EF systems. References to the Titanic are rife throughout the intellectuals on Earth, and similar policies are enacted within the NCR and Russia. Colonization of Mars begins in earnest, with a few and remote large cities beginning to appear all-along the red planet. The population grows quickly, reaching the ten million mark.
2109 - Discovery
The first Relay is finally unlocked from its orbit around Pluto. The long research period testifies to its capabilities for launching a space-craft well beyond conventional FTL limits. Captain John Grissom, of the UNAS is selected to captain the first vessel through the Relay. His ship is designed by a combination of E.F., UNAS, and New China engineers, but is armed by the Russian SGB. The end result is a somewhat ugly, but efficient spacecraft, durable enough to withstand an incredible amount of damage.
Passage through the Relay is achieved, revealing the Arcturus star system. The duration required for unlocking a Relay is also discovered to be the result of attuning two frozen Relays after centuries or millennia of inactivity.
In order to keep up with the expansion, the System Alliance begins construction of more fleets, calculating to have five ready for deployment within five years.
2119
Governments around the world grant tax favors and subsidies to any citizen willing to join any extra-solar colonies. Hundreds of millions of people begin flocking to newly-discovered garden worlds. The population on Earth becomes balanced at 11 billion as massive efforts are taken to rebuild the planet's ecosystems. While not the same as it was 100 years ago, Earth sees a massive rise in vegetation and many forests begin recovering, reminiscent of their former glory.
2127- Incident
A disgruntled terrorist group, known as the Hades Hounds, attempts to commandeer a Systems Alliance fuel depot in orbit. The raid manages to capture a newly-constructed Cruiser, which they then use to capture more ships, waging a terror campaign against the colonies. This leads the Systems Alliance into a hunt that lasts nearly six months.
The incident induces the Alliance into re-deploying its multiple fleets, basing them near Relays. The Arcturus Fleet, also known as the Fifth Fleet, is given priority funding, and used as a safe haven for experimental ships. Now with over 2500 combat ships, the Alliance Navy is widely acknowledged to be a force to be reckoned with
The Eldfell-Ashland Energy Corporation becomes a major contractor following successful extraction of helium-3 from Saturn's atmosphere.
2129 – Emergence of Biotics
After a series of starship accidents, which dispersed element zero over populated areas, the first human biotics are born. Once these humans display abilities to mass effect fields by utilizing element zero nodules in their bodies, every country on Earth begin research into this phenomena. The nations on Earth discover the effects of in-utero eezo exposure and begin the construction of bio-amps, which will allow for easier access and augment biotic powers. Due to safety, practical, and health concerns the L-1 and L-2 implants are dismissed. After nine months of research, the NCRA creates the L-3 implant, which is accepted by the governments of Earth, its colonies, and the System Alliance.
2134
Once the Systems Alliance discovers a unique producer for creating biotics on their own without exposing children to dangerous levels of element zero, the Big Four begin creating their own biotics under the supervision of the Systems Alliance and using volunteers. However, many applicants are turned away due to not displaying the necessary genetics to survive the procedure. In fact it is concluded that the ratio for viable biotic candidates is 1 to 10,000,000.
Due to their uniqueness and advantages, the Big Four and the Alliance military welcomes biotics with open arms and provides them with massive enlistment incentives. While their initial numbers are low, many militaries predict the number of biotics will increase over the coming years.
2139- Buildup
A design pulled from the Archives, named the first Dreadnought, is tested at this point in time. The alien design is formidable, able to withstand multiple attacks from Destroyer-sized vessels. With minor modifications, they begin service as a sort of space artillery, providing long-range fire. As Dreadnoughts are nearly as expensive and as slow to construct as Battleships (which concentrates less on long-range), the Alliance navy plans to only use a small number of these vessels at a time.
The largest vessel ever designed, a Super carrier, is given the final go-ahead for mass production. A popular concept from Earth's naval years, the Super Carrier is universally accepted among the factions.
2140 - Peace
For the first time in recent memory, no single government is at war. Small terrorist groups continue to cause problems, but the major powers refrain from engaging in conflict.
2141-2154 Growth
An intriguing development of genetic manipulation occurs in 2146 by the Sirta Foundation, which had been working with the bio-gel its predecessors had created. Medi-gel, a byproduct created with manipulation of stem cells and a unique fungus discovered in the deeper Amazon regions rocks the medical world. Using the remarkably resilient slime-mold, the stem-cells are able to reproduce at an incredible rate, healing basic damage in seconds. Larger injuries, particularly to internal organs heal much more slowly, but can be stabilized if enough medi-gel is used.
The Alliance, now acknowledged as the peacekeepers throughout Human Space, begins building up its armed forces, which now include six hundred million marines and over four thousand ships. The number of claimed colonies expands exponentially, and the birthrate explodes. Humanity rises from an original population of nearly 28 billion to over 34 billion over the course of this 13 year period.
The construction of Gagarin Station, nicknamed Jump Zero, begins beyond the orbit of Pluto.
2156 Present Time
The Systems Alliance gives final approval for a scientific expedition to occur beyond Shanxi's system, hoping to create the next wave of exploration. Multiple Relays have been opened, but most lead towards desolate regions, suitable only for resource gathering. The idea of obtaining more garden worlds is appealing to Parliament, and authorization is confirmed.