0 C.E. to 2,000 C.E. - In the Orion arm, the majority of societies have found peace and stability with alliances. Expansion on all sides is mostly ground to a halt in the face of cold war stances or expansion on defenses. However, several instances have destroyed the peace.
In 543 C.E., an extragalactic force known only as the Tyranids invades the Imperium of Man. The Tyranids are relentless, consuming all in their path. Traveling in their gigantic hive fleets, they are an all-consuming organism, the perfect predator. The Emperor immediately sends out Horus to deal with the threat. The Eldar and Tau come to Imperium's aid, realizing that should the Imperium fall, the rest of the surrounding space would as well. They manage to expunge the Tyranids from the galaxy, but not before discovering that this is just the first of several invasions, each one more intelligent than the last. All three factions ready defenses.
The Galactic Republic and Galactic Confederacy finish Project: SITH, but one of the volunteers goes mad after the biological injections. Consumed by the dark side of the Force, he takes a ship and flees to the far reaches of space. In 749 C.E., he rediscovers Rakata Prime and the Star Forge. In 750 C.E., he returns to Republic-Confederacy space with a massive fleet and droid army. He initiates assaults on several worlds. The Force Wars begin. In 825 C.E., the SITH renegade, known as Naga Sadow, is killed in the orbit of Coruscant when the Republic reveals its newest cruiser, the Thranta-class cruiser. It was deemed to replace its older sibling, the Hammerhead-class cruiser. The Confederacy eventually tracks down the enemy fleet to Rakata Prime and locates the Star Forge. The Rakata are invited to rejoin the galactic community. The Rakata agree and colonize 3 more worlds to restart the Infinite Empire. The Star Forge is considered neutral territory and researchers are storming the station to unlock its secrets. Project SITH II is initiated with precautions.
The battle lines between the TEC, Vasari and Advent battle lines continue to escalate when the TEC reveals their newest defense, the Argonev-class Defensive Star Base. The Advent and Vasari update their own star base defenses. Behind the lines, small schisms are destroying the unity of all factions.
Over the course of time, the Covenant enslaves more and more species into their collective. The species collected include the Jiralhanae, the Huragok, the Yanme'e, the Kig-Yar, and the Unggoy. The Covenant is currently lead by the High Prophets, those San 'Shyuum who are deemed wise enough to understand the "Sacred Rings."
In 1,969 C.E., the people of Earth successfully landed a man on their moon of Luna. This was considered a huge leap in human (Earth) history.
Yautja started to visit Earth to find competition for hunts. Government is mainly unaware of Yautja.
In Citadel space, the many centuries would be marked by war.
In 1 C.E., a Citadel expedition opens up a mass relay. Contact with the Rachni is established. The Rachni are immediately hostile and use the now open relay to law waste to Citadel space. The Rachni Wars have begun.
In 80 C.E., the Council is looking for any options. They decide to uplift the Krogan from their radioactive home world of Tuchanka and push them to fight the Rachni. The use of Krogan is successful. By the year 300 C.E., the Rachni are considered extinct. Krogan population expands.
Expansion of the Krogan worries many Citadel races. The Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch, or Spectres, are created.
By 700 C.E., the Krogan start annexing territory from other Citadel races. In response to for their refusal to hand back the Asari colony of Lusia, the Spectres launch a preemptive strike on Krogan forces. The Krogan Rebellions begin.
Around the same time, the Citadel makes contact with the Turians. The Turians join the war against the Krogan. In an attempt to scare the Turians out of the war, the Krogans use nuclear weapons and WMDs to devastate Turian colonies. The Turians vow to make sure the Krogan are never again a threat to the galaxy.
In 710 C.E., the Salarians release a virus known as the genophage on Krogan, reducing the fertility of the Krogan. Krogan population starts to decline at increasing rates. By 800 C.E., the Krogan Rebellions end with the Turians having the largest military in Citadel space.
By 900 C.E., the Turians are given a seat on the Citadel Council.
In 1,400 C.E., industry starts to contaminate the Drell home world of Rakhana. There are now reported sightings of Collectors, Protheans who were changed by the Reapers. Most stories take place in Terminus systems and are dismissed as tales.
The Quarians create a race of synthetics known as the Geth as a source of cheap labor. However, in 1895 C.E., the Geth start to gain sentience. Fearing that they have created a race of AIs, the Quarians start to purge the Geth. The Geth rebel and drive the Quarians from their home world of Rannoch. The Geth remain in former-Quarian space instead of giving pursuit. The Quarians are exiled to a fleet of warships. The Council refuses to help them, since they created AIs. That was against Council law. The Quarians are shut out from the Citadel.
In 1,980 C.E., Aria T'Loak assumes control of Omega. Power in the Terminus systems shifts towards the Queen of Omega.
2,000 C.E. to current year - The Imperium of Man, the Eldar and the Tau are successful in beating back two more hive fleets, though the last one almost reached Terra. Technological innovation is on the rise, as the Emperor replaces superstition and fear with logic and reason. The relations between all three sovereign nations continue to grow into the year 2,500 C.E. Chaos shows increasing signs of gathering a military force in the Immaterium. The Emperor and his Primarchs stand vigilant.
By 2,000 C.E., the cold war between the TEC, Vasari, and Advent breaks as each is involved in their own civil war. The TEC is divided by indecision. The loyalist faction wants to increase defenses around their own worlds and sit the war out. The rebel faction wants to strike out at their enemies and liberate their people. The Advent now decide the fate of the TEC. The loyalists want all TEC populations killed for the sins of the past. The rebels are now questioning whether genocide is the correct path. The Vasari face a smaller, but equally distressing schism. The loyalists want to continue the war and seek glory for the empire. The rebels want to return home and ream their fleets before striking back. The newest class of ships, named Titan-class, made their debut, dwarfing anything else on the battlefield. War continues to devastate all three empires. Along the way they discover artifacts that help them in their cause. It is not known to them, but they originate from the Forerunners.
The Galactic Republic and Confederacy enjoy centuries of peace. They update their military accordingly, but the action seems to be far from their territories. Unfortunately, that would all change when forces originating from outside Confederacy space attack a Confederate patrol. The enemies are revealed to be light side force sect known as the Light Beacon. They desire the entire galaxy to be united under one banner and see all differences between races and species eliminated. They state they will do this by force. Unknown to anyone at the time, they were actually inspired by a lost Advent message capsule. The Second Force War had begun around 2,364 C.E.
Striking with a massive fleet, the Republic struck into the heart of the Light Beacon, bombarding the worlds of Korriban and Dromund Kaas. Jedi and Sith battled the delusional warriors all the way to their leader, who was named the Priest of the Light Beacon. The Priest stood on the steps of their great temple on Dromund Kaas. The leader of the Jedi-Sith army, Lord Hoth, engaged the Priest in a battle of wills and lightsaber dueling. Knowing he was defeated, the Priest attempted to unleash a Force attack known as the Shining Light, an attack that would consume all Jedi and Sith in the vicinity into a ball of light. The attack fails when it is stopped by Darth Bane of the Sith. The Second Force War is concluded around 2,450 C.E.
On another planet occupied by humans, this world is shrouded in cold war. A massive arms build-up of nuclear weapons and a lack of resources have finally taken their toll on the nations of the planet named Eden. In the year 2,077 C.E., all nations launch their nuclear missiles at eachother. The war lasts for two hours. Radiation makes the planet almost unlivable. Some people were put into vaults for safety. These people would awaken to a world of horror. Mutations of the local populace and fauna begin. The world is also visited by a race known as Zetans. From their mothership in space, these Zetans desire to experiment on the humans that annihilated each other, as their own world was facing a similar situation.
On Earth, the nations of the world decided to unite under one government, the United Earth Government. The colonization of the solar system had begun, with Mars being the first target. Terraforming continued on worlds such as Venus and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. However, political unrest and colonial feelings eventually erupted in rebellion. The Interplanetary Wars begin in 2,160 C.E. and do not end until around 2,200 C.E.
In the late 2,200's, Earth's scientists had perfected the Shaw-Fujikawa Slipspace Drive, allowing humanity to colonize the stars. By 2450, the UEG, the United Earth Government, had more than 500 worlds colonized. However, the rebellions began to resurface. To combat this new threat, the UEG hands all colonial authority to the United Nations Space Command, or UNSC. They were designated as a needed force. They were to become the military and economic engine of the colonies. The Inserruction Wars begin, and do not end until 2,525 C.E. when first contact is made with the Covenant. The Spartan II project is started by ONI, the Office of Naval Intelligence. Kidnappings of children are initiated to find perfect candidates for the program.
The Covenant has remained united, though shaken from the Unggoy Rebellions and the Age of Doubt. The current High Prophets of Truth, Mercy and Regret scan a newly discovered world with the Luminary, a device that can locate Forerunner artifacts. The Luminary finds thousands of Forerunner glyphs. Interested, the Ministers of Fortitude and Tranquility consulted the Oracle on board the Forerunner dreadnought. The Oracle was really the last half of Mendicant Bias. In a shocking statement, the Oracle proclaimed that the entire Covenant religion was based upon a misinterpretation. The glyphs that had formed the Covenant religion were not of "reclamation," they were "reclaimers." This shook the Council to the core. These "humans" were the true reclaimers of the Forerunners' legacy. Horrified that this could upset their religious power, the Prophets decide to exterminate these "reclaimers." This ended up with the Covenant assaulting Harvest in 2,525 C.E. The Human-Covenant War began.
After the fall of Harvest and five years of war, one San 'Shyuum prophet stumbled upon the truth by accident when consulting the Oracle about corruption and rebellion in the Council. In front of both the Prophet of Prosperity and his Sangheili bodyguard, the Oracle revealed the truth about the humans' connection to the Forerunners and the purpose of the "sacred rings." The betrayal of the Hierarches to the rest of the Covenant made all present furious. However, none could match the lone officer in the honor guard, the Supreme Commander of all Covenant forces, Thel 'Vadam. He had led the armies or the Covenant in numerous operations against the humans, only to find out that it was all a lie. The Great Schism has begun. Instigated by Thel 'Vadam and the Prophet of Prosperity, their legitimacy allowed them to attract numerous followers. Many enslaved species joined with the new Covenant Revolutionaries. However, the majority of the Jiralhanae, led by Chieftain Tartarus, stayed loyal to the High Prophets. High Charity became a battleground as every inch was fought over. In order to bring a more religious following, Thel sacrificed his rank to become the Arbiter, a warrior that only appeared when he was needed. This caused more troops to defect to the revolutionaries. However, the loyalists still held most of the fleet, making most engagements long and tiresome. In an attempt to get help, Prosperity sent an envoy to the human colony of Reach.
At Reach, many humans were surprised to see a lone shuttle approach the fortress world. Defenses were prepared in case a fleet jumped in system. When the message was revealed, the emotions were a little more than just surprise. The prospect of a ceasefire and an alliance seemed suspicious, but UNSC HighCOM was inclined to accept. The UNSC sent ships and troops to High Charity and other worlds. The war took a turn for the worst when it was discovered that the Hierarchs had found a giant ring in space. It was known throughout the Covenant as the Sacred Ring. Arbiter Thel revealed to the UNSC what he had discovered from the Oracle. Dozens of UNSC ships arrived to try and stop the activation of the Halo. A fierce battle took place in the space around the ring and on the scenic surface. One of the Spartan troops deployed was John-117, the Master Chief. After his Pelican had crashed into one of the structures, he was greeted by an AI construct known as 343 Guilty Spark. The AI gladly helped Master Chief find the Hierarchs, who were deep in the library, trying to activate the ring. Guarding all three of them was Tartarus with his gravity hammer Fist of Rukt. Master Chief eventually confronted them. Before the brutes could assault the Chief, a massive explosion rocked the entire installation. Guilty Spark then came rushing in, warning about containment procedures. Questioning the AI, Truth demanded to know what the threat was. They soon found themselves surrounded by very small and agile creatures. The Flood had escaped containment. As it turns out, one of Covenant's Phantoms had crashed into a containment facility, spilling its contents. The Flood quickly consumed two of the five brutes guarding the Hierarches. Eventually, Mercy and Regret are taken by the Flood. Tartarus saves Truth and escapes the Flood via troop transport. Master Chief escapes while battling infected Flood hosts throughout the Library. Eventually, several Forerunner Sentinels arrive to destroy the Flood hosts. In conjunction with the Forerunner Sentinels, UNSC and Covenant Revolutionaries took control of the entire installation. Truth had fled in the Covenant Super-Carrier Abiding Truth. Tartarus and an army of Jiralhanae had joined him. As of 2,530 C.E., the Human-Covenant War was over.
The next few years would be chasing the loyalists back to the Jiralhanae home world. By the year 2,533 C.E., the loyalists were considered defeated and the Jiralhanae were consumed in civil war with many tribes vying for power. The UNSC-Covenant Revolutionaries declared a DMZ over Doisac and returned to friendly space.
The UNSC lost billions of lives in those 5 years of war. Many colonies were glassed and those that weren't had extensive damage done to their surfaces. The UNSC vowed to clean these worlds and make them once again habitable for colonization. The Revolutionaries, under the leadership of Prosperity and the Arbiter, swore to help the humans. From the Covenant, the humans gained more advanced technology, including weapons and slipstream drives. They also learned of their connection to the Forerunners. ONI was immediately tasked to study the Forerunner relics. From closer inspection of the Halo installation along with Guilty Spark, the UNSC discover that this was only Installation 04, and that there were seven rings. Though Guilty Spark could not reveal the locations of the other rings, he could point them in the dierection of the shipyard that made them. The UNSC were shocked to find that the portal leading to the Ark was on Earth. Excavation nearby New Mombasa begins in 2,534 C.E.
The Covenant invites humanity to join them. The UNSC decides to hand back power to the UEG before deciding. Humanity formally joins the Covenant in 2,537 C.E.
In the same year, the Ark is located and hundreds of scientists descend upon the station to study its mysteries. Cities and colonies follow soon after. Taking the Forerunner Dreadnought with them, Mendicant Bias is reunited and is ashamed of its actions during the Forerunner-Flood War. He swears to become the protector of the Reclaimers and their allies. From the Ark, humanity learns of the locations for all Forerunner installations, including the Forerunner home world. Reverse engineering technology advances their technology by centuries. It is during this time that humanity wanted to reform the Covenant. To many, this came as a shock, but agreed that the old system was based on a lie. Reformation begins. ONI begins training Spartan IIIs.
By 2,540 C.E., the reformation of the Covenant is over. Now calling itself the United Orion Alliance, or UOA, they were fast in colonizing new systems and Forerunner artifacts. After discovering more shield worlds and other artificial constructs, the UOA finally made it to the Forerunner home world, where they discovered wondrous new artifacts, but a new deadly enemy, the remnants of the Promethean military. These AI warriors used advanced technology to surround and destroy their enemies. After a month of fighting, the UOA finally located the leader of the Prometheans, Offensive Bias. Recognizing the humans as the Reclaimers, the AI apologized, as it had believed the UOA to be like the other raiders. Questioning about the other raiders proved a shocking revelation: the Jiralhanae had escaped their home world once more. Tartarus had assumed complete control when Truth was murdered by a rival clan. The Jiralhanae had become pirates. The UNSC immediately sent ships to deal with the Jiralhanae. The Jiralhanae were all but wiped out in 2,544 C.E. Any Jiralhanae left were either revolutionaries in the UOA or primitives on Doisac. The UOA learn of the Mantle and swear to uphold it.
Reverse engineering the technology left behind by the Forerunners on their home world caused an explosion of innovation within UOA space. The UOA also learned that the Forerunners seeded several worlds with humans and that they could have made their own empires. More ships are created to seek these others out. They also wanted to secure the Halo Installations, believing them to be too powerful to be in the hands of those ignorant of their purpose.
First contact is made with the Imperium of Man and the UOA in 2,556 C.E. The Emperor is surprised to find more humans outside the realm of the Imperium. He is more impressed with their technology. The Eldar and Tau quickly send envoys. All are invited into the UOA. Since they would still remain autonomous states within a larger galactic government, all three agree. The Eldar also reveal the Halo ring. While the UOA are happy to have another Installation back in safe hands, the Tau and the Imperium were upset that the Eldar would keep it a secret. All of them trade technologies, increasing the strengths of all factions. This alliance comes just in time, as another Tyranid hive fleet descends upon the Tau. The combined fleets with the new technologies destroy the hive fleet. Like the rest of the UOA, the new empires learn of the Mantle and swear to uphold it.
Following the continued traces of humanity, the UOA arrives at the destroyed world of Eden. As it turns out, society began rebuilding under several factions around the world. After fighting a brief skirmish with the Zetans in orbit, envoys arrive on the destroyed world with the hand of peace. All accept the help accept for one faction, the Enclave. They attack the UOA envoy with deadly force and plan to study the UOA weapons. The UOA responds by landing a fleet on top of every Enclave base and annihilating them. Terraforming of Eden begins and humanity, along with those mutants who could still think for themselves, rebuild their society. The Forced Evolutionary Virus is discovered and is placed as a government secret. Liberty Prime is recovered from the Capital Wastes and its blueprints are taken for production. Eden joins the UOA and technologies, especially weapons, are traded.
The Zetans are followed back to their home world and the situation is explained once diplomatic contact is made. The UOA agree to help the Zetans if they join the UOA and trade technology. The Zetans are more than happy to agree. However, they had to stop experiments on other sentient beings, much to their scientists' dislike. Cloning technology expands.
In 2,560 C.E., the UOA finds a part of the galaxy in chaos. While searching for another Halo ring, they come across the three-way civil war between the TEC, the Vasari and the Advent. Contact is made with the TEC. The TEC eagerly join the UOA, wanting the civil war in their borders to stop. TEC gain the necessary technology to unite and push the Advent and Vasari back. The Vasari schism erupts into full civil war. The UOA fleets invade Vasari space. After months of fighting, the UOA succeeds in leading a revolution of Vasari rebels to take the capital. The Vasari declare the war with the TEC and Advent over and peacefully join the UOA. The Advent face their own rebellion and UOA agents assassinate all of the loyalist leadership, allowing the more tolerant rebels to take control. The Advent join the UOA and are interested in the Forerunner's technology with the mind. The UOA identifies all of the artifacts found in the region as Forerunner and when the Halo ring is discovered in their space, all three factions are in awe.
With the Vasari, the UOA discover the Yautja in 2,580 C.E. Yautja Prime has become infested with Xenomorphs and most of the Yautja are in their four remaining colonies. The Yautja are desperate to find any solution. Contact is made and the Yautja agree to join, but they must give up their hunts on sentient life. Most of the Yautja are angered, but realize their best hope lies with outside help. They agree and the glassing of Yautja Prime begins. The Xenomorphs are believed to be extinct by 2,582 C.E., but no one is sure. The Yautja populations begin to recover.
In 2,600 C.E., the UOA makes contact with the Republic and the Confederacy. Seeing the technology that the UOA has, the Confederacy is eager to join and expand their influence. The Republic, which includes various species, is less inclined, but seeing its ally the Confederacy join and from pressure from the Jedi Council and Sith Council to join a larger galactic collective, the Republic formerly joins as the representative of several hundred species. The technological innovations create huge amounts of wonders. The Rakata have also been contacted. Eager to expand and recreate the Infinite Empire, the Rakata join the UOA. Now under a united banner, the UOA forces assaulted and took control of Mandalore. The New Mandalorians and the True Mandalorians were given control and joined the UOA. They quickly became heavy shock troopers. ONI creates the Spartan IV and the Spartan V project to fill in certain niches in the military. IV would excel at recon and V would excel at heavy assault.
In 2,650 C.E., contact was made with the Chiss Ascendency. Intrigued by the technology of the UOA, the Chiss agree to ally with the UOA. They wanted to evaluate all their options before joining. As a token of good will, the Chiss send one of their most brilliant commanders, Thrawn, as a gift.
Expansion begins all across UOA space. By 2,700 C.E., they effectively control 50% of the known galaxy and occupy the densest area of space. Their technology is almost on par with the Forerunners, as they started using the Ark to construct more artificial worlds. Medical technologies allowed many people and species to extend their lives to several thousand years. They control all but one Halo ring, which was located clear across the galaxy. Some were worried, but were assured that only a Reclaimer could activate it. They made sure that all human home worlds had been accounted for. The UOA had started to create joint colonies to ease tensions between species. The capital of High Charity was moved into the orbit of Coruscant and Coruscant was made the official government capital. High Charity would exist as the military headquarters. The UNSC decided to colonize the planet Shanxi as the start of what was to become a joint colony. However, a discovery at the edge of the system provided an artifact not of Forerunner origin. Featuring what seemed to be two prongs along with a strange energy reading. Curious, the object was to be studied by a group of scientists and guarded by two UNSC frigates along with a cruiser. The rest of the UOA promised to send more scientists, but most were caught up in building the newest of the UOA Guardian-class dreadnoughts. These monstrosities were designed to be bigger than any other ship on the galaxy and guard the borders and important installations of the UOA. They were all jointly built by all factions and so had a lot of mixed designs, though each faction that received one got to choose how it was to be armed. This ensured that each ship would be unique and that tactics for each would have to be different. Thrawn was the one who suggested this and it was accepted unanimously. The UNSC prepares to activate the relay.
In Citadel space, peace was enjoyed by most species in Citadel space. The Drell had finally polluted their world to extinction and the Hanar evacuated more than 375,000 Drell before the other 11 billion destroyed themselves fighting a war for resources. Those Drell saved vowed to serve the Hanar and became very competent assassins.
In 2,125 C.E., the Citadel made contact with the Yahg. Sending diplomats over, the Council was horrified when they were slaughtered. The Council declares the Yahg a dangerous species and closes all contact with them. The Shadow Broker acquires one and trains it to be an operative codename Kelchu. However, the Broker becomes concerned that Kelchu is too effective and attempts to eliminate him. The plan comes too late and Kelchu assumes the identity of the Shadow Broker.
In 2,400 C.E., the Citadel Council reveals the Asari dreadnought Destiny Ascension. At more than three kilometers long, it is the largest ship in the Citadel fleet. The Turians have also stepped up their production. As per the Treaty of Farixen, for every five dreadnoughts the Turians have, the Asari and Salarians have three and all other Citadel races have one. Curiously, the class designated as carriers are not included, and thus races are allowed to build infinite amounts. The Terminus systems are left alone.
By 2,700 C.E., the Turian peacekeeping fleet has more than 500 dreadnoughts in its arsenal. The Asari and Salarians have about 300 each while other Citadel races have less than 100 dreadnoughts joint (mostly Batarian). Many client races are resentful but deem the powerful Turian military a necessity. To prevent another Rachni War, the Council sent out numerous fleets to patrol the relays, making sure no one activated any dormant relay without Council approval. One such fleet, commanded by a Turian commander by the name of Commander Aktriv, was patrolling the outskirts of relay 314 when he was informed that the relay was activated…