The Eras
Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 11:12 pm
The Return of the Empires (2050-2210 C.E.)
The twenty-first century saw many crucial advances and events that would ultimately come to give rise to the human empires that would make them known throughout the Milky Way and beyond. Chief among these would be the breaking down of multi-national organizations due to the competition that the mad dash for resources in space would spawn as well as a return of the grand powers to their former glory as well as some new additions to that list.
The first sign that a new age was dawning happened in Europe, specifically with the failing European Union. Over the years the E.U. had grown to become excessively bureaucratic and incompetent; adding more fuel to the anti-E.U. fire that had been growing in size over the years. The people from many of the former Great Powers in Europe had begun to long for their nations to return to their former glory after seeing what a mess that the E.U. had caused in the name of cooperation. Worse yet, the development of cheap interstellar drives and efficient space travel and colonization would cause a mad dash by the nations of Europe to secure resources and colonies, further weakening the E.U. The final straw, though would come when Europe became victim to multiple radical Islamic jihads, further crippling the E.U. and its member-states. The people of Europe could no longer count on the E.U. to protect them. Instead they turned to their own nations and forced them to do something, and sure enough they did.
In 2050 France took the lead in this political restructuring when the descendent of Napoleon Bonaparte I, Jean Pierre Napoleon Bonaparte, was elected President. The French people, having grown to despise the corrupt and bureaucratic Fifth French Republic, were more than happy to allow Bonaparte to declare himself Emperor of France and establish the Third Empire of France. Emperor Bonaparte then quickly called for the French armies to annex the countries of Belgium and Luxembourg to act as a buffer against increasing German militarism while preparing to reestablish itself in Africa to counter the terrorism that had claimed the previous government.
In Germany a charismatic new Chancellor, elected by a disillusioned German people, the creation of a strong, independent Germany that would not have to bow down to anyone in order to stay prosperous. The German people, ecstatic by this bold, new proposal, readily agreed to this, and by the mid 2050’s began the process of remilitarizing itself to counter the growing French militarization. In addition, Germany had come to absorb smaller nations around it, and by the late 2060’s the stage was set for the creation of the United Federal Republic of Austria-Germany, the predecesor to the Transgalactic Republic of the German Nations several centuries later.
In the U.K. the continuing collapse of the E.U. did not come as a shock to anyone. Most people had grown weary of supporting the E.U., and instead opted for greater involvement with the Commonwealth of Nations. Seeing the Commonwealth as a way to return back to their former glory as well as to better take advantage of the resources that the colonization of space could provide thanks to advances in interstellar drives, the U.K. set about reforming the Commonwealth, integrating most of the nations into the British Imperial Commonwealth. Many nations, such as the African nations, were eager to join the Commonwealth as it provided the wealth and aid that was necessary to turn themselves into first world nations.
In contrast to the disintegration of international cooperation that was occurring across Europe, North America remained more or less the same. Although the American superpower had over the years lost some of its power and influence, it was still solidly in the game along with the nations of Europe. The solar system offered much in terms of riches and prestige, and as a result it was very much every man for himself, but with more competition coming about over the years the U.S. realized it could benefit from coming out of its state of neo-isolationism, a result of an exhausted America finishing it's War on Terror, and putting renewed vigor and much more resources into the conquest of space. Using it's masisvely expanded space program, the U.S. would begin to work to make the solar system American. By the 24th Century, American emphasis on expansion and the creation of colonial puppet states would yield the formation of the United States of Orion, a legaue of American republics that would inherit the mantle of the former United States of Sol, which, in turn, was the evolution of the United States of America.
By the early 22nd century, South America had become the playing ground of two nations who had grievances with each other; a disaster waiting to happen in most cases. The Hegemony of Brazil, the name given to Brazil and her protectorates, and the Alliance of Spanish Affiliated Nations, the precursor to the Spanish Imperium, both laid claim to South America. Brazil, who had swallowed up Columbia, Venezuela, and Ecuador previously, claimed it was their birthright to rule all of South America, while the Alliance, who had come to integrate the remaining nations into its control via a network of alliances, claimed that as the mother country of most of the South American nations, it would not stand idly while Brazil overran them one by one. As to who truly had reason in this matter was anybodies guess, but despite the constant bickering, war would seem unlikely as neither polity would want to risk losing their most prized positions on Earth, and later, in the solar system.
Although things would begin to calm down the peace that would reign would not last forever as the Sino-Russo War of 2090 would put a dent into that hope.
For years China had been a major power; controlling the interests and policies of several other nations behind the scenes, and giving the American superpower, and indeed, several other nations a run for their money. Unfortunately for China Russia had also enjoyed a period of modernization and once again had come to be a powerful player in world politics. Naturally the two nations would bicker and maintain grievances with each other, like all other Great Powers, but in the case of Russia and China these grievances would soon erupt into all out war when a Chinese patrol shot down a Russian plane in Mongolia (Mongolia had come to be a virtual puppet state of China, and as a result Chinese “peacekeepers” were common in the area).
There, in the unforgiving deserts of Mongolia and the frigid tundra of Siberia, The Russian Army and PLA clashed, and ultimately quality, once again, won out over quantity as the Russian Army, outnumbered considerably, annihilated the outdated PLA. Of course this was expected as the Russian Army, armed with the latest in weaponry and technology and supported by excellent infrastructure was once again one of the more modern forces in the world. On the other hand, the People's Liberation Army, although a massive construct, was severely out of date with the most modern units being only broadly comparable to the U.S. Army circa 2040's.
With complete and utter victory gained by Russia, the People‘s Republic of China, a creaking dinosaur of socialist policies, collapsed as mass riots and dissent among the various factions caused the communist government to dissipate. Once the dust had settled a new government took over the reigns, The Grand Union of China. Knocked back by the war, China now began the arduous process of reclaiming its glory, all the while protecting itself from India and Japan, who had come to be powerhouses in their region and had their eyes set on a weakened China.
In Russia the news of this outstanding victory over China caused morale all over the country soar. For many of the Russian people this was the ultimate sign that their country was well on its way towards resurgence of power; after all, had not Russia also regain the Central Asian ‘stans by war and intrigue and Belarus by a political referendum? It was no surprise then that the victor of the Sino-Russo War, General Valentin Romanov, the embodiment of Russia’s restoration of glory, as well as a descendent of the Romanov family, would be supported for the taking the title of Tsar of the new Russian Combine.
With the rise of so many Great Powers competition replaced cooperation when it came to the colonization of the solar system, and despite the brief Arabian-Indian Space War of 2128 (Iran having aided the Arabian Gulf states to federate into a prosperous Minor Power) peace in general reigned throughout space.
And then a group of scientists at an Israeli research firm developed the first FTL drive, and all hell broke loose.
The twenty-first century saw many crucial advances and events that would ultimately come to give rise to the human empires that would make them known throughout the Milky Way and beyond. Chief among these would be the breaking down of multi-national organizations due to the competition that the mad dash for resources in space would spawn as well as a return of the grand powers to their former glory as well as some new additions to that list.
The first sign that a new age was dawning happened in Europe, specifically with the failing European Union. Over the years the E.U. had grown to become excessively bureaucratic and incompetent; adding more fuel to the anti-E.U. fire that had been growing in size over the years. The people from many of the former Great Powers in Europe had begun to long for their nations to return to their former glory after seeing what a mess that the E.U. had caused in the name of cooperation. Worse yet, the development of cheap interstellar drives and efficient space travel and colonization would cause a mad dash by the nations of Europe to secure resources and colonies, further weakening the E.U. The final straw, though would come when Europe became victim to multiple radical Islamic jihads, further crippling the E.U. and its member-states. The people of Europe could no longer count on the E.U. to protect them. Instead they turned to their own nations and forced them to do something, and sure enough they did.
In 2050 France took the lead in this political restructuring when the descendent of Napoleon Bonaparte I, Jean Pierre Napoleon Bonaparte, was elected President. The French people, having grown to despise the corrupt and bureaucratic Fifth French Republic, were more than happy to allow Bonaparte to declare himself Emperor of France and establish the Third Empire of France. Emperor Bonaparte then quickly called for the French armies to annex the countries of Belgium and Luxembourg to act as a buffer against increasing German militarism while preparing to reestablish itself in Africa to counter the terrorism that had claimed the previous government.
In Germany a charismatic new Chancellor, elected by a disillusioned German people, the creation of a strong, independent Germany that would not have to bow down to anyone in order to stay prosperous. The German people, ecstatic by this bold, new proposal, readily agreed to this, and by the mid 2050’s began the process of remilitarizing itself to counter the growing French militarization. In addition, Germany had come to absorb smaller nations around it, and by the late 2060’s the stage was set for the creation of the United Federal Republic of Austria-Germany, the predecesor to the Transgalactic Republic of the German Nations several centuries later.
In the U.K. the continuing collapse of the E.U. did not come as a shock to anyone. Most people had grown weary of supporting the E.U., and instead opted for greater involvement with the Commonwealth of Nations. Seeing the Commonwealth as a way to return back to their former glory as well as to better take advantage of the resources that the colonization of space could provide thanks to advances in interstellar drives, the U.K. set about reforming the Commonwealth, integrating most of the nations into the British Imperial Commonwealth. Many nations, such as the African nations, were eager to join the Commonwealth as it provided the wealth and aid that was necessary to turn themselves into first world nations.
In contrast to the disintegration of international cooperation that was occurring across Europe, North America remained more or less the same. Although the American superpower had over the years lost some of its power and influence, it was still solidly in the game along with the nations of Europe. The solar system offered much in terms of riches and prestige, and as a result it was very much every man for himself, but with more competition coming about over the years the U.S. realized it could benefit from coming out of its state of neo-isolationism, a result of an exhausted America finishing it's War on Terror, and putting renewed vigor and much more resources into the conquest of space. Using it's masisvely expanded space program, the U.S. would begin to work to make the solar system American. By the 24th Century, American emphasis on expansion and the creation of colonial puppet states would yield the formation of the United States of Orion, a legaue of American republics that would inherit the mantle of the former United States of Sol, which, in turn, was the evolution of the United States of America.
By the early 22nd century, South America had become the playing ground of two nations who had grievances with each other; a disaster waiting to happen in most cases. The Hegemony of Brazil, the name given to Brazil and her protectorates, and the Alliance of Spanish Affiliated Nations, the precursor to the Spanish Imperium, both laid claim to South America. Brazil, who had swallowed up Columbia, Venezuela, and Ecuador previously, claimed it was their birthright to rule all of South America, while the Alliance, who had come to integrate the remaining nations into its control via a network of alliances, claimed that as the mother country of most of the South American nations, it would not stand idly while Brazil overran them one by one. As to who truly had reason in this matter was anybodies guess, but despite the constant bickering, war would seem unlikely as neither polity would want to risk losing their most prized positions on Earth, and later, in the solar system.
Although things would begin to calm down the peace that would reign would not last forever as the Sino-Russo War of 2090 would put a dent into that hope.
For years China had been a major power; controlling the interests and policies of several other nations behind the scenes, and giving the American superpower, and indeed, several other nations a run for their money. Unfortunately for China Russia had also enjoyed a period of modernization and once again had come to be a powerful player in world politics. Naturally the two nations would bicker and maintain grievances with each other, like all other Great Powers, but in the case of Russia and China these grievances would soon erupt into all out war when a Chinese patrol shot down a Russian plane in Mongolia (Mongolia had come to be a virtual puppet state of China, and as a result Chinese “peacekeepers” were common in the area).
There, in the unforgiving deserts of Mongolia and the frigid tundra of Siberia, The Russian Army and PLA clashed, and ultimately quality, once again, won out over quantity as the Russian Army, outnumbered considerably, annihilated the outdated PLA. Of course this was expected as the Russian Army, armed with the latest in weaponry and technology and supported by excellent infrastructure was once again one of the more modern forces in the world. On the other hand, the People's Liberation Army, although a massive construct, was severely out of date with the most modern units being only broadly comparable to the U.S. Army circa 2040's.
With complete and utter victory gained by Russia, the People‘s Republic of China, a creaking dinosaur of socialist policies, collapsed as mass riots and dissent among the various factions caused the communist government to dissipate. Once the dust had settled a new government took over the reigns, The Grand Union of China. Knocked back by the war, China now began the arduous process of reclaiming its glory, all the while protecting itself from India and Japan, who had come to be powerhouses in their region and had their eyes set on a weakened China.
In Russia the news of this outstanding victory over China caused morale all over the country soar. For many of the Russian people this was the ultimate sign that their country was well on its way towards resurgence of power; after all, had not Russia also regain the Central Asian ‘stans by war and intrigue and Belarus by a political referendum? It was no surprise then that the victor of the Sino-Russo War, General Valentin Romanov, the embodiment of Russia’s restoration of glory, as well as a descendent of the Romanov family, would be supported for the taking the title of Tsar of the new Russian Combine.
With the rise of so many Great Powers competition replaced cooperation when it came to the colonization of the solar system, and despite the brief Arabian-Indian Space War of 2128 (Iran having aided the Arabian Gulf states to federate into a prosperous Minor Power) peace in general reigned throughout space.
And then a group of scientists at an Israeli research firm developed the first FTL drive, and all hell broke loose.