18th November 2064
Office of the President of the United Earth
New York, North American Union
As he and his party was escorted into the office by the Presidents aide, Joachim he believed his name was, Zefram was surprised by how lacking in decorations and spartan the office of the most powerful man in the solar system was, perhaps a reflection of the personality of the man considering the his personal wealth and supposedly ambitious nature as ascribed by the press. Joachim entered the room first
"Mr. President, Mr. Cochrane, Kabaka Muebi and Mrs. Okonkwa are arrived as per your request" as the three waited politely at the door,
"Show them in Joachim, I have much to discuss with them"
Joachim motioned for the group to take a seats across from the central desk, centred just ahead of the white blue globe symbol of the United Earth Government on the floor, before bowing slightly to the President and exiting the office and closing the door quietly behind him.
"Welcome citizens, have a seat, we have much to discuss and this meeting has been delayed far too long to my liking by the current negotiations with the Vulcan delegation" he paused for a second "and Mr. Cochrane my I enquire your opinion of the Vulcans? As our technical advisor on these matters of subspace and warp drives you've dealt with them as much I have. How do you find them on a personal level and have they been any help to you and your colleague's research?"
Zefram shifted somewhat uncomfortably on the seat by been the first queried by the President, a quite intimating man up close he realised even if he was giving off a congenial and friendly air "Mr. President, on all occasions the aliens have been cordial, even friendly most of times and appear to show interest in our developments..." he trailed off not sure how to proceed, but the President seemed amused at his nervousness taking the chance to say "no need to worry about offending my sensibilities. Your next word was But was it not?"
Zefram nodded and the President sighed "But nothing useful was discussed or given. But the Vulcan's had no interest in helping us develop subspace technology further. But the Vulcan's have no interest in trade. The word But has quite frankly appeared far too often in relation to these aliens in our talks since their contact with us. Truly it is a relief they have been peaceful, but it does not prevent dealing with them from being incredibly frustrating."
"Unfortunately that seems to have been our experience with Vulcan technical delegation, they are friendly enough but...ah...see us as primitives perhaps I believe...that...ah...need guidance might be the best description perhaps. From our conversations the Vulcan version of the warping drive has been available to them for centuries and has achieved factors of speed far in excess of the system we have available. Having spoken to them the classifications appears to be in rating system up to ten with my current drive being at the factor just above faster than light, Warp factor 1 while as best we can ascertain the Vulcan vessels have gotten to factor six or factor seven and have developed some subspace communication system rather than hyper wave communications owing to experience with the warping system."
Zefram replied truthfully, attempting to lay out the details of the Project Phoenix experience with the Vulcans and the expansion on the overview of the warp drives "and truthfully even with significant investment matching those speeds with Vulcan help, which I'm very dubious we could gain, would be the work of decades. Without it much like our progress with Ethereal Tech from The War were honestly looking at several more decades to increase that factor beyond Warp One or Two from our own research alone" Mrs Okonkwa remain passive at that point, though had expressed concern during their meetings of the consortiums members prior to this that such an admission would reduce the commercial viability of the drive system with UEG or gaining contracts with X-Com.
"Thank you Mr. Cochrane for your honesty, its is often difficult to get in these political times" the President said with a pleasant smile "and I'm not a man to expect miracles, but your drive system is vital for the future of our species and will feature prominently in our future plans. Due to this before we have further discussion on these matters, I will clarify the position of your company, the drive system and your security clearance" Zefram nodded and looked to Mrs Okonkwa and the Pan-African Minister who both nodded their confirmation, more than anything all of the Project Phoenix staff had been in limbo since Second Contact over the future of the Cochrane Drive and the consortium itself.
"While the full technical agreements can be sorted out between your legal team and that of the Attorney General's, the simple facts are; we intend for Cochrane Interstellar and associated companies" nodded to Mrs Okonkwa "to be made Tier One X-Com and UNSC affiliates, with full level one security clearance and responsibilities. The UEG will further fund your Kenyan" nodding to Mutebi "research facility for an initial sum of six billion credits to form a fully fledged Warp and Subspace Research and Development facility, which will operate as part of the overall X-Com Research and Development Division" he paused with a faint smile "and do not worry Dr. Cochrane, you will not be subservient to Dr. Duisberg's whims, the Warp and Subspace R&D Division will have equal status with Ethereal Technology Division. Furthermore the Theta and Iota stockpile reserves will be made available to your companies"
Cochrane's eyes widened at the mention of the infamous War Stockpiles of Elerium, Meld and Vahlenite being released for usage, till today only the Alpha, Beta, Delta and Epilson reserves had ever been available with other reserves being preserved since 2032 for a wartime situation "ah do not be surprised Doctor. While we not at war the time has come to act boldly and decisively for the sake of the species. While I am encountering resistance, if possible I intend to release the Omega Reserve in the next few years to R&D and shipbuilding"
Zefram and the two others were stunned by both offer, which would elevate them all to the heights of corporate power and links within the UEG and create truly enormous wealth for themselves and the Pan-African Union but also at the mention of the Omega Reserve – the captured alien battleship the UES Enterprise, the most powerful vessel available to the United Earth being made available, meaning being scrapped and its materials allocated to new builds and projects, for the R&D divisions.
"That is very generous Mr. President. We look forward to working with X-Com and the Government for the betterment of the species" Mrs. Okonkwa replied with a calm demeanour that Zefram was surprised she could maintain with such a stunning announcement and largess from President Singh's administration.
Zefram though felt completed to inquire as to the proposed use of his systems and their goals "Thank you Mr. President for your confidence in our team. But may I know the goals of our project, as I mentioned earlier even with such an investment it will be a significant period of time before we would capable of achieving a fraction of the Vulcan Warp factor"
"You're very correct to ask Dr. Cochrane. The greatest limitation with our wormhole drive has been the scarcity of resources such as Elerium which has only been somewhat relieved by Dr. Duisberg's tinkering and the planned mining in the Alpha Centuari system, so for us to expand and search systems we need to be the most efficient possible in our usage of the stockpiles especially since we have been confronted by the concentration of possible threats to Earth in this quadrant of space. Your drive system, while much slower than the Wormhole drive is considerably less of a consumer of power, making it much feasible as a common FTL system for the UNSC without depleting our stockpiles for exploration for future colony worlds" the President looked at the three "since the arrival of the Vulcans this administration and X-Com have been in strategy discussions over our place in the universe and how to make usage of our various technologies most effectively. Your drive is slow, but safe, cheap and reliable while the wormhole drive is excellent for distant journeys at almost instantaneous speeds but requires enormous energy investment regardless of the vessels size and a blind jump is quite dangerous as a vessel can open a wormhole into solid matter and destroy the ship."
Zefram nodded at that, the speed issue had been a concern from the start of Project Phoenix but the sheer cost of Wormhole drives in terms of power requirements meant a vast market was thought to exist for a FTL drive that didn't have these requirements, their aim had been for the transport haul market which existed, including the military logistics of both X-Com and the UNSC, on the fusion plume sub light drive currently. The appearance of the Vulcans had worried the project investors (apart the panic they'd endured with the rest of human race at the time) and staff that the Vulcan system would be used instead or that the government would step into nationalise the drive as an essential war industry.
"It is our species manifest destiny to take to the stars. And your drive will help us do that." the President waited a moment if they had any queries before continuing "as has been announced earlier this month the UEG will embark upon a major shipbuilding initiative in the next few years. What has not been announced yet is the manner of this expansion. Owing to the need to maximise the wormhole drives part of our future strategy, at least for the next few decades as stopgap measure, will be to produce modular builds with a central ship power/engine system that will able to attach a significant number of colonisation, defence and fabrication modules capable of establishing a defensible colony through one vessel and one journey and permit large scale transit of military logistics in a crisis. Your drive engine will allow us to scout out the nearby systems and then transit system information back by Hyper wave on habitable systems or one possessing essential resources such as Elerium thus maximise colonisation efforts. Your drive will also allow us to establish slower but regular logistics trains between systems for both mining industry and the military – we intent to have completely replace the Dreadnought class for example with a newer, Warp using, class within the next fifteen years. Would this be achievable Dr Cohrane?"
"Yes Mr. President it would." Zeframe replied.
Extract from: From the Ashes: A History of United Earth 2019 - 2099 by Kenneth Kipkemoi II (2114)(Ares University) (Mars Colony)
Second Contact was a thunderbolt from a clear blue sky for Humanity. For almost half a century no sign had been seen of the since the defeat of the Temple Ship of the Ethereal threat, nor any encounters at the Alpha Centurai where deposits of inert Elerium had been discovered and collectively the fear of their return had receded gradually, no new warships had been built since start of the shipbuilders recession in the 2030's and in the twenty years till the arrival of the Vulcans, and the majority of improvements to the designs had been limited to refits of improved fusion lances and the power cores on the Dreadnought class and the fitting of Dusiberg Wormhole Drives to the Chimera class in the 2040's and 2050's owing to the restrictions on Elerium and Vahlenite usage and the contraction of military spending over the decades.
Instead the United Earth had begun to embark on a gradual process of internal development to relieve demographic and environmental pressures through increased social spending and attempts to increase the food supply via genetically modified crops, colonisation via FTL was seen as viable but limited due to the costs of Elerium; the development of the Cochrane drive and resulting Second Contact radically changed that paradigm. The sudden appearance of the Vulcan vessel within Earth's orbit, bypassing both the Neptune and Mars detection belts, had exposed a significant vulnerability to the Earth's defences, seen live on holo-screens across the solar system during the widely publicised drive test and the implementation of the Drawbridge Protocols had added to the immediate tension and while the Vulcans were to prove friendly and this defensive posture unnecessary the sudden fright to the populace is still felt to this day in both the foreign, economic and industrial policies of the United Earth Government.
This view of the need for increased defence spending became more popular after the immediate crisis of the presence of Sol within a region of space positively teeming with non-human life, and which in later discussions with the Vulcans were warned were often militaristic and antagonistic, this factor of many possible hostile forces would ensure long term support for the strengthening of X-Coms forces and for the expansion of the UNSC auxiliary forces for the defence of Earth and its colonies from this point forward. The offer of friendly relations from the Vulcans, and of their human like appearance, was greeted with both relief and suspicion from the population at large with the dream of peaceful alien contact been achieved at long last in the minds of some but also wariness of the motivations of the species, a result of differing views of the universe that has bedevilled our two species relationship since Second Contact and further reinforced by the Vulcan High Command to offer "guidance" to the United Earth in its dealings with other species, an effort seen by many as attempt to restrict human expansion in the quadrant, especially in light of the recent actions of the Vulcans in the brief Kzin war, where the Vulcan argued against justice been fully enforced and then again against the Andorian Empire by stealing the colony at Weythan.
These declining relations have coincided with the growth of relations with the Andorian Empire another species that has strained at the attempts at restricting its natural growth among the stars and with the Denobulan species which has shown a similar attitude towards the improvement of its species and with the sure hand of the Singh administration in its third and last term we can only hope that the positive relations with those worthwhile of our neighbours can be maintained but that our shield shall never weaken against any possible alien aggression or treachery. These desires for security and strength tended to reflect themselves over the past few decades in what has been expansive colonisation and industrialisation policies of the Singh Presidency, often termed Manifest Destiny, was formally begun in 2067 with the passing of the Homestead Act which outlined clearly defined colonisation policies for the UEG, all of which were designed to encourage humanity to take to any proposed colonies such as in the Wolf and Alpha Centuari systems through a package of loans, free passage via colony ship, prefabricated dwellings to be provided by the UNSC which would be the governing authority and also set limits on when the colony would first become self-governing in regards certain matters and then finally eventual membership of the UEG similar to the various nation-states of earth.
This policy has proven very successful since its implementation with several colonies being established successfully which has led to the increased prosperity and quality of life for the species as a whole by both relieving the demographic and resulting environmental pressures that Earth had been experiencing for most of the 21st Century while simultaneously increasing the resources and industry available to the United Earth in systems that would otherwise have been useless idle without human colonisation; indeed several colonies have been amazingly successful such as Terra Nova colony which is expected to become a full member of the United Earth within the next twenty years.
This expansion would not have been possible without the development of the Cochrane Warp Drive which has enabled solid, albeit slow, freight routes to be established by the civil freight companies under the jurisdiction of the UNSC and it is estimated that the volume of freight today is almost twenty times what it was prior to Second Contact and even now trade routes such as Denobula, Mazar and Andor have started to be created; unusually trade with Vulcan remains limited largely due to lack of interest in free trade and capitalism from the Vulca High Command and we can only hope this changes in the future with the Vulcans markets opening up to Earth companies for the betterment of both our species.
Of course we can't fail to mention the brief Kzin war, or police action as it is commonly referred to to by the UEG which arose as a result of human expansion into space and came up against the aggressive and savage feline species known as the Kzinti who in 2075 had conducted several raids on freight convoys to and from Earth to the other colonies, after a stern warning and two destroyed "pirate" bases the species aggressive appeared to have been curbed and no attacks were seen the following. Alas this was not to be and the warnings of X-Com failed to be heeded with another attack occurring the following year in early 2077 on an escorted convoy bound for the Vega system.
The attack proved to be disaster for the alien attackers with the three vessels being disabled and captured by the elite Alpha squad of X-Com now with the proof of these aliens treacherous and violent nature the UEG promptly declared war in March and ordered X-Com to initiate Operation Crimson Fur immediately. Utilising the seven Chimera's the X-Com strike force jumped to edge of the Kzin system and proceed to lure the Kzinti forces away from the planet and after engaging their forces hyper waved the Home Fleet in the Sol system who utilising the two combat ready Magellan class combat carriers transmitted half of Home Fleets Dreadnoughts and new Zhang class warp vessels via Duisburg Wormhole drive behind the Kzinti forces and their home world swiftly destroying them in a forty minute engagement before surrounding Kzin to eliminate its military bases via space and ground assault. The resulting victory would be swift and total but the UEG would find itself thwarted from rightfully integrating the conquered territory by Vulcan influence in the peace treaty ending the...
17th September 2077
Office of the President of the United Earth
New York, North American Union
"This is an insult Mr. President!" Annette Okilo the Commerce Minister told him across the table as the Cabinet of the United Earth sat in physical meeting to avoid possible security risks of holo-conference or other in-theory secure links "We won the war! Smashed the furry pirate bastards! Now the knife ears expect us act as if we lost!"
Nods of agreement rippled across the board at the statement, the 'Peace Accords' offered by the Vulcan Confederation between United Earth and the Kzinti species in effect would reverse the military situation, and resulting occupation, of the X-Com smashing of the feline species and restore to a nominally independent species...under Vulcan guidance of course...for only moderate reparations to the United Earth.
Not the annexation or protectorate status that the UEG and X-Com had secretly intended only a month ago when the hostilities had final broken out as expected, compared to that it was a very pointed insult to the United Earth and himself as President.
"Yes Annette it is" Khan Singh replied calmly not revealing his own deep seated anger at the 'Peace Accords' nor shying away from the truth of the matter "to our misfortune though our strength it not yet sufficient to face the Vulcans in battle quite yet"
A matter the Vulcan's had chosen to remind United Earth very discretely with the presence of two large Vulcan battle groups just outside Human territory when their offer to mediate a 'resolution' to the conflict arrived...a mere few hours after X-Com Home Fleet had crushed the last coherent Kzinti resistance around their home world.
Tapping a secure holograph display the President brought up the fleet sensor information provided by X-Com from the Kzin and Terra Nova systems and allowing his own, and the rest of the Cabinet's, neural implants access to the data-stream detailing Vulcan ship formation, energy readings and X-Com based combat scenarios.
It was not a pretty picture.
"As we can see here the Vulcan battle group deployed just outside the combat zone to observe the conflict significantly outweighs our own deployed forces, which represents almost 67% of our own combat forces" he told them highlighting the Kzin sector "on a one to one basis the Chimera and Zhang class vessels are expected to match the heavier Vulcan vessels observed by our forces but as the sensor records show the Vulcan force deployed in just this sector outnumbers our forces by a factor of three"
"Meaning we're outnumbered significantly by just their immediate sector forces let alone their entire combat capable fleet" his Minister for Defence, the forty seven year old Yulia Abela from the South American Union continued for him the gene mods she'd taken giving her a babyish face that covered the brilliantly analytical and ruthless mind underneath "Our Office of Naval Strategy feels any attempt to confront the Vulcan Fleet would result in disaster, X-Com has supported this conclusion by ONS"
Which he knew was hard for the Brazilian to admit, a member of his own Optimal Terra party Abela had been a very firm war hawk within the cabinet since the very first pirate attack on a human freighter and had pushed for harsh terms on the x-rays...being forced to reverse position under threat from other X-Rays had likely resulted in much smashed furniture in her own dwelling.
"So we just accept this?" the American Anton York from the Justice & Liberty Party, and his Minister for Extraterrestrial Industry & Mining as well as President of the largely ceremonial United States government, asked looking dejected "let them push them off the fruits of our labour?"
Silence descended for a moment as all waited for the President to make the final decision as they continued to observe the data stream projections on the outbreak of conflict between Earth and Vulcan, as well as the projected opinion polling from the public on the issue. At least in that regard public opinion seemed willing to accept significantly less than what the Cabinet wanted.
"For the moment yes, though we will push hard for further concessions and I believe we shall get them based on the Vulcan behaviour and psychology" the President replied after a moment, the Vulcans were powerful but predictable at times during negotiations with humans "we'll swallow the bitter pill for now but remember it"
Nods came from around the table as this, yes humanity, or at least the United Earth Government and X-Com would remember this slight for a long time to come.
Important Dates in the 21st Century
2016 - Start of Ethereal War
2017 - Operation Gangplank
2018 - End of Ethereal War
2021 - Formation of the UEG
2022 - Korean Intervention
2023 - UEG-Caliphate War
2026 - Foundation Khanate Genetics
2027 - First Dreadnought Ship Completed
2028 - First Civilian Gene Mods
2029 - Chimera Class enters production
2031 - Foundation Ares Colony on Mars
2032 - Final Unification of Earth states
2034 - Belt Colonies established
2035 - First stable Nano-Swarm created
2037 - Shipbuilders Recession
2042 - Khan Noonien Singh elected Indian Prime Minister
2047 - Successful Test of Wormhole Drive
2048 - Refit begins of Chimera Class vessels
2053 - UES Odyssey reachs Alpha Centauri via Duisberg Drive
2054 - Inert Elerium deposits found in Alpha Centuri System
2056 - Foundation of Cochrane Interstellar in Pan-African Union
2057 - Establishment Alpha Centuari Colony
2058 - Khan Noonien Singh inaugurated as President of the UEG
2064 - First Test of Cochrane Drive – First Contact
2066 - First Magellan Class Vessel Completed
2067 - Homestead Act Passed
2069 - Establishment of Wolf System Colony & Military Starbase, Earth Embassy on Vulcan
2073 - Khan Noonien Singh 2nd Term as President of UEG
2074 - Estabishment of Terra Nova Colony – minor elerium deposits discovered
2077 - Earth-Kzin War – Earth Total Victory. Peace of Vulcan Agreed.
2083 - UNSC vessels deflect a meteor approahing Terra Nova
2086 - Vega Colony Established
2087 - Fouth Contact – Denobula
2088 - Khan Noonien Singh 3rd and Final Term as President of UEG
2089 - Fifth Contact – Andorian Empire
2091 - Material Composition of Vahlenite Discovered
2092 - Denava Colony Established
2094 - Successful production of Vahlenite on Earth
2097 - Weythan/Paan Mokar taken by Vuclans from Andorians
2098 - First Human produced Meld
2099 - United Earth Embassies established on Andoria and Denobula
