PREIMPERIAL TIME

(all dates are negative to year 0: the Consecration of the Imperium).

c. 15, 000	The dawn of civilized man.
c. 11,650 .	The first rise of the Dia Khovaria: the Holy Tabernacle of the Word
c.10,000	First use of steam power brings about the dawn of technology.
9769	First discovery of Access Technology.
9700.	The first utilization of a holocaustic attack delivery system (in this case nuclear) on a civilian population
9670 - 9668	First Fossil Fuel Crisis.
9663	The Technic Tabernacle is broken up by a jealous Terran regional government.
9660 - 9608	Feasible fusion power generators are in development.
9645 - 9643	Second Fossil Fuel Crisis. Energy needs cause international tensions to mount.
9643	Limited thermonuclear exchange causes population shifts on Terra, and mild Nuclear Winter effects depopulate some regions. Most major cities are intact, though some areas suffer minor Technological Recessions.
9600	The first successful sentient cloning of a human being. It is created by a western European research group.
c. 9600	Cryogenic sleep units come into widespread use. The next five hundred years are marked by a number of `colony' ship launches from Earth and her near colonies to the stars.
9540	The first practical microfusion power generator is produced.
9525	Terraforming of Venus is complete: the planet is converted to an earthlike world.
8450 - 5698	The period required by researchers to gain a mastery of the gravitic field. The newly discovered power requirement to mass ratio insures that such gravitic field control will never pass beyond the subplanetoid level unless unimaginably great power sources could be tapped (even more than the Andrium reaction will produce in times to come).
8104 - 8068	Research period of molecular data storage for informational processing systems. The potential of Optical Electronics ("Optronics") is fully realized.
8068 - 5655	The study of molecular electronics leads to the advent of living circuitry.
7900	The first known successful human alterant replicant is produced on a near earth colony.
7887 - 7610	The Universal Technological Recession of mankind. As if motivated by a single will, almost every colony is cast into a technological dark age as the human masses revolt against the ever increasing control of automation over their lives. The duration of the revolt varies for each colony, so the dates given are rather artificial. The first date marks the initial instance of a violent revolt, although there had been notable unrest over the preceding three decades. The end date marks the general desire for renewed technological progress incarnated in the form of a scientific symposium held on the Solar Mars colony. Despite the tremendous suffering that was experienced just before the recession (and throughout this dark age), the lack of a strong centralized regulatory body prevents the enforcement of policies which would prevent these unfortunate events from occurring again. It is interesting to note that one of the very few organizations to survive the Recession (and even flourish in it) was the Dia Khovaria.
c. 7700	Experimentation in Alterant Replication leads to the limited production of laborer and recreation models.
c. 7600	Tachyon physics becomes the main focus of study in the scientific community.
c. 7500 - 6000	Secondary relapses of the Universal Recession of Technology intermittently strike down promising settlements; progress is painstakingly slow in most areas.
5705	Humanity is firmly entrenched on ten core worlds but communication problems lead to cultural drift. This is more acute in the frontier areas.
5655	The development of true Molecutronics sparks an android construction boom. Virtual Humanatronics, the pre eminent producer of molecular circuits, is soon recognized as the topquality producer of android brains.
5603	The Relative Inertial Field Suspension Effect is discovered.
4002 - 3621	There is a booming interest in temporal physics: hypotheses of alternative universes and practical applications abound.
c. 3500 - 3000	A general antipathy towards technological trappings leads to a scientific recession in many colonies. This anti tech drive is sporadic and does not lead to a collective psychosis. Claims that the Dia Khovaria ("The Church of the Word") is responsible remain unproven.
c. 3000 - 2000	This millennium sees the bits and pieces of humanity drifting further from each other and their common heritage. Many far flung settlements cut themselves off from their parent societies by ceasing their already sporadic speed of light communications.
1921	Andrium, the elemental source of powerful matter/antimatter reactions, is created on a near earth colony.
1921 - 1480	The secret of the production of Andrium is shared between allied near earth scientific groups. It is kept from the political leaders of the day in an effort to prevent its hypothetical use in a military weapon of unparalleled destructive capability. The Andrium for Science League (AFSL) is born.
1192	The AFSL performs an unsuccessful hypershunt test.
1190	In a secret test, witnessed only by representatives of the Andrium for Science League, a spacefaring vessel successfully hypershunts with an Andrium power source. The second test in that same year results in the destruction of the test vessel.
c. 1100	The Andrium for Science League develops an interstellar translight merchant service, the revenues from which are channeled into research and development. The monopoly held by the League makes them very powerful, and they eventually become a strong political force throughout the core worlds.
c.1076	The Tachyon Beam Dictor is invented. This device allows instantaneous communication over great interstellar distances. The first units to appear have an effective transmission range of about 10 LY. Because the TBD system is developed by a research group sponsored, and closely supervised, by a leading political force of the time (a coalition of near earth colonies), no production monopoly is held, and the system spreads quickly to several scattered colonies. The Dia Khovaria sees this as a chance to link their famous databases and make a new place for themselves.
1076 - 457	The period of time generally referred to as the Wars of Integration. As a quickly installed TBD network begins to dominate the data transferral markets, the merchants of the Andrium for Science League lose the revenues which they were making in this field. To counter the subsequent decline in their importance, several members of the organization sell blueprints and manuals for the construction and maintenance of Andrium fueled hypershunting drives to powerful political institutions. FTL fleets are slowly built up, and the Andrium for Science league is coerced into supplying precious antimatter fuel. The League, which still holds the secret of Andrium production, degenerates into a mere production cartel. With ships, fuel, and command communications provided by the Dia Khovaria's TBD system, the united core worlds embark on their self proclaimed mission to reunite all of humanity. During this time a limited number of Andrium bombs appear.
1000 - 500	With data as a valuable commodity, and a far flung TBD network, the D.K. experiences a return of their former prominence at the expense of the last vestiges of their religious beliefs. By PreImp. 500 they have become a purely secular organization.
457	The culmination of the Wars of Integration is the creation of the Terran Federated Democracy (a.k.a. "United Federation," and more recently, as the "Old Democracy"). The Democracy's parliament is located on Old Earth.
324	The Terran Federated Democracy holds sway over Terran humanity and the homeworlds of affiliated xenoraces. This was the first (and nearly successful) attempt at a unified political structure to administer all of the colonized worlds.
323	Several sectors and homeworlds declare their independence from the Terran Federated Democracy as their specialized needs are not fulfilled by this institution. They begin to fortify their systems against anticipated reprisals from the Federation.
291	Man portable blaster weapons are mass produced as a construction method is discovered which prevents deadly radiation from being emitted at the point of attack delivery.
320 - 275	The pre imperial core worlds initiate a massive arms race as they construct the awesome Imperial Navy.
270	The fledgling political unit which will, in time, gel as the Imperial Court unleashes brute force to deal with the old Democratic leaders and systems which have refused to come into the fold. At the same time, the D.K., having abandoned its ties to the Federation, employs some of its more sensitive data to 'convince' key leaders to cooperate with the Court.
256	The Imperium to be issues a declaration to all inhabited worlds stating that it claims ownership rights of all systems colonized/conquered by man to date.
255 - 50	Various uprisings, revolutions, and back room politicking thwart attempts to quickly solidify the preimperial power base.
39	The GHC opens its doors to hear interstate grievances of political, military, and economic natures. It is hampered by widespread accusations of perjury and corruption.
27	The first of the Order of Truthsibyls are used at the GHC. Perjury is virtually eliminated; the seeds of a long and bitter rivalry between the Truthsibyls and the Dia Khovaria are sown.
25	Macedon Gaius Triptolemus of Terra emerges as the leading candidate to ascend the Imperial Throne. Several Megacorporations rally to his name.
14	This date marks the last known utilization of a holocaustic attack delivery system on a mass civilian target; the population in question is the society occupying the Xi Sinva Star system. Their leaders are implicated in a plot to stop the Imperial Drive, the scheme uncovered by the Truthsibyls of the GHC.
12	VegaPol (An independent policing force), which supports the Galactic Court of Humanity and MERLOGH (MERcantile League Of Great Houses), is granted operational status.
3	MERLOGH begins operating as the financial monitor of Terran space.
2	The Emperor to be guarantees that the Andrium for Science League will maintain their production monopoly.
1	The Emperor to be makes clear his intention to outlaw the production of holocaustic attack delivery systems.
IMPERIAL TIME
Imp 0	Macedon I receives the Imperial Scepter and consecrates the First Terran Star Empire (consisting of a myriad of systems organized into Regions, Quadrants, and Sectors), and 27 Provincial Territories. The Andrium for Science League changes its name to Andrium Producers of the Imperium (API) in order to more properly reflect its latest primary function. This cartel retains its power through to the present.
Imp 1	The Great Hoarding.
Imp 2	The long prophesied and awaited Messiah of Izar seems to have incarcerated herself on a desolate and backward frontier settlement. Within a few years, hundreds of billions of humans embrace the spin off religions catalyzed by her coming despite vehement condemnation by the Dia Khovaria. Unable to keep a rein on his subjects, the new Emperor watches helplessly as expansion slows, research stagnates, and technology lapses yet again, as the Messiah is interpreted as preaching Asceticism. At least an entire generation of advancement opportunities is lost to the Empire.
Imp 4	lCoM, a subdivision of MERLOGH, begins operations on Old Earth.
Imp 63	The Messiah of Izar disappears under mysterious circumstances and the Emperor's court is implicated. Two decades of interstellar unrest follow, pressing the Imperial Deep Space Navy into action on several occasions. Not surprisingly, there are suppressed reports of numerous Starmada mutinies. The Imperial Fleet, suffering from a number of mutinies and clashes with powerful rebels, loses its effectiveness for a time.
Imp 72	In an attempt to get a better grip on his crumbling Imperium, Emperor Protesilus I instigates sweeping reforms and new scientific project research incentives which he hopes will bring prosperity again. His plans get a lukewarm reception.
Imp 113	Personal Velocity Shields appear commercially.
Imp 127	The advent of improved sensor fields allow safe hypershunts out to a range of 50 LY. This instigates an age of unprecedented expansion. Frontier Provinces proliferate, bringing greater wealth to the Imperium.
Imp 301	As a result of the War of Tarquinis (a.k.a. "The Rebellion of the Provinces"), Emperor Itzamna II allows Major Families to acquire additional systems directly from the Imperium and Frontier holdings. Restrictive Quotas remain in effect through the present, however.
Imp 412	Matter/Antimatter torpedoes are first fitted on Imperial vessels. The Inner Provinces protest this as a violation of the Emperor's own holocaustic production ban, then furiously begin developing such weaponry for their own use.
Imp 462	Personal Absorption Shields first appear commercially.
Imp 470 - 480	The present. (Spacemaster)
Imp 476	Terrans first encounter the Night Brood in the Tau Albriton sector.
Imp 477	The 17th Imperial Expeditionary Fleet puts an end to the first Grub invasion.
Imp 496	Millennia Warriors dispatched to the distant frontier to deal with Hatchling probing attacks.
Imp 498	The Provincial Powers Alliance leads an attack against the Band of Iron. The Imperial Civil War begins.
Imp 500	The Night Brood return to Terran space. The Terran-Hatchling War begins in earnest.
Imp 504	The Imperial Civil War officially comes to an end as the Hatchling threat grows.
Imp 507	The Night Brood transport appears over Mars and is obliterated. The Confederation of Free Planets (CFP) is formed.
Imp 508	The Night Brood return to Sol. The Imperial core is invaded. The CFP begins the move underground.
Imp 510	Armageddon.. Old Earth is taken by the Grubs. Emperor Modestinu III's escape ship is destroyed The Empire falls.
0 AL	A new calendar is begun in what would have been Imp 511. The Night Brood are finally stalemated. The Terran Hatchling War comes to an end.
2 AL	Yoka-Shan Warworld founds its offworld anti-Grub military academy.
3 AL	Yoka-Shan, Tokugawa, Red Star, and the Data Sphere begin a joint anti-Grub research program.
4 AL	House Devon returns to Terran space with the Primates close behind.
5 AL	House Colos brings the Draconians into Terran space.
6 AL	House Yoka-Shan and the Confederation join forces to defeat several Grub Swarms.
7 AL	The Universal Night Watch is founded. Yoka-Shan War World, House Tokugawa, House Red Star, the Data Sphere, and the Q'raj Void Protectorate are the earliest members. Thunderbird NW and Teal Hawk NW refits are completed. Rocoso Salvadore leads popular rebellion against President Alberta Poderez of the Espan Fascisti (see Renegades).
8 AL	House Colos and the Hibernian Freehold join the UNW. The Sigurd Archdiocese declines to join the UNW The UNW headquarters are officially located in orbit around Yoka-Shan. The Draconians detonate an atomic warhead on the moon of a Brood infested planet just outside CFR space. The Epping NW and Salamander NW refits are completed.
9 AL	Ex-president Marley of the Unkulunkulu Archipelago is elected Head of the Council. The Unkulunkulu Archipelago and the ASP Technocracy join the UNW. UNW forces cleanse a Tokugawan world. The Sunrunners apply to join the UNW and are rejected. The UNW acquires EMP technology. Command Betafortress refit completed.
10 AL	Luches Utopia pressured into joining. UNW forces cleanse a Red Star world to be used for UNW scientific anti-Grub research. House Colos steps up its non-UNW anti-Brood activities. Night Hawk NW and Lance Electra NW refits completed.