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Timeline

From FuturePath

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Deep red light shines through the tall windows and makes visible dust particles in a large hall. Towing shelves are actively being navigated by a few caretakers as they go about their business in a maze of knowledge. Most sensible people no longer bother with the long expedition to the archives when more modern means are possible. But some cannot resist the physical feel of ancient knowledge in their hands. The weight of it seems to speak to the holder of the burden that comes with true knowledge. One such person was Hobrin an Aconian.

An old and respected species, the Aconians have always valued history. Their place in it, as well as others. No species can claim such a widespread curiosity for forgotten things as the Aconians. And here on their homeworld sits the largest Library and Museum. The Aconian Great Archive of the Ages. It is accompanied by a University dedicated to preserving and adding to its halls. 

Today, young Hobrin, a student of the University, quietly traverses the hallways searching for material. He has always been curious about the most ancient of things and the untold secrets of long-gone civilizations. What were the ancient civilizations like? Who were the 'First Ones'? Do they still exist? If so, where did they all go? Why isn't the galaxy full of thousands of times more sentient space-faring life? What was the galaxy truly like before the Modern Era?

To discover these mysteries, any good scholar would, of course, try to start where others left off. So, naturally, here would be the start of his adventure. So in these massive halls every weekend, he would roam. Get lost in ancient books and stories of old. He knew, of course, of the well-understood M.E. (Modern Era) Years.  Everything from the First Faster-Than-Light technology onward was considered M.E., also known as the Era of the Meadow.  It was when assisted Jump drives were invited, and then the Twin Empires and then the Jove arrived at this Galaxy, possibly from another galaxy, and started to circumnavigate the Great Ring of Life. From that point onward, history gets clearer. This student cared little for the more well-known goings-on of the last few millennia. He was more interested in the times before. The Era of the Dark Forest and the Time Before Remembrance. What was it all like?

A few relics and old little trinkets from civilizations that met their demise by some cruel hand are all that remain. Where are all these civilizations now? Did they all somehow die? Did they leave the galaxy? Or did they choose to become so strongly isolationist that they are almost impossible to find? What happened? Hobrin craved the truth.

Continue...?

Timeline

This timeline will have events and names specific to the species who read it. If you are human, you will notice events in the timeline that may pertain to you.

Summary
  • The Lifeless Era: 13.7 to 3.7 Billion Years ago.
  • The Savanna Era: 3.7 to 1 Billion Years ago.
  • The Dark Forest Era: 1 Billion to 1 Million Years ago.
  • The Meadow Era: Roughly the last million years.

Time Before Remembrance

  • 13.7 Billion years ago: The birth of the Universe. No galaxies or basic atoms have yet formed, as the universe is still too energetic.
  • 13.6 Billion years ago: The universe has cooled enough, and now gravity is starting to combine massive balls of mostly hydrogen into the first stars and galaxies. During this time, the universe still doesn't have enough heavier elements, such as carbon or iron, to form a life of any kind. It is also highly chaotic, with too many supernovas. In this early stage, supermassive stars formed. The only time in the galaxy when this is possible. In the center of these massive stars were the first black holes. The stars lived fast and imploded forming the first supermassive black holes, and the gravity they exert on their surroundings is the foundation of galaxies. One of these galaxies is our home galaxy which will be referred to as The Milky Way. Forum roughly 13.61 billion years ago.
  • 6 Billion years ago: The Milk Way has calmed down. Some of the first stable solar systems capable of supporting life are formed. The galaxy is still in its early stages; the Milk Way should be completely void of the life of any kind, especially sentient life. Life is only able to form within a particular zone. Now known as the Ring of Life. Even in the present time, the core of the Galaxy cannot support life as it is two chaotic, and the outer rim of the galaxy also has a lower probability of having the necessary quantity of heavier elements to create life. At this point in time, the first life-supported solar systems in space between the outer rim and core of the galaxy came into being. Theoretically, the first life forms could have been born around this time.
  • 4.6 Billion years ago: The Human star called 'Sun' is born. The Human home solar system starts to form from its chaotic birth.
  • 3.7 Billion years ago: The Savanna Era (3.7 Billion to 1 Billion years ago) Some also call this the Roaming Era, and this era lasted for roughly 2.7 to 3 billion years. It is completely unknown when the first sentient life began when it looked into the stars and questioned its existence and meaning. Statistically, the universe should have at least one complex civilization capable of breaking the chains of gravity at roughly this time. This, however, is just speculation and it could have been earlier or later. It is a hotly debated question and the goal of many historians to find The Moment of Awaking. Succeeded in pinpointing the first civilization to awaken would immortalize one's name.

The Dark Forest

  • 1 Billion years ago: The Woodland Era (Also known as a transition between Savanna and Dark Forest) This is also highly speculative and is based on numbers from what has been learned about the probability of life in our galaxy. At this point, multiple space-fairing civilizations should have encountered each other, and the number of new space-fairing civilizations reaching out into the stars increases exponentially.
  • 700 Million years ago: The Dark Forest Era Mass destruction of whole planets or even solar system wide catastrophes are extremely hard to hide. While difficult to identify as unnatural and pinpoint the exact time the event happened, it is possible, and the first massive spike in these such events happened roughly 700 million years ago. Thus the Era of The Dark Forest. A point when the galaxy feels like a darkly mysterious and deadly forest. One false move could mean your death and the end of your whole species. Any piece of mass, such as a simple bullet, accelerated sufficiently close enough to the speed of light, could be used to vaporize a planet or destabilize a star. Such a weapon would be impossible to detect and stop for any civilization that does not have faster-than-light travel. Thus any encounter could be ones last. Species must have adopted different strategies, including seeking out and systematically killing all opposition. Archeologists have found spikes of planet or even solar system wide extinction events starting at around 700 million years ago. Each spike of destruction is followed by a lull when it seems the galaxy catches its breath. Then another spike as new civilizations are culled.
  • 185 Million years ago: This is still within The Dark Forest Era, but here is the oldest recorded known civilization that Xeno Archeologists have found. While there are claims to possibly older civilizations, no other claims have yet to be verified by the Galactic Archeology Society. Some isolationist alien species claim to be older but have not provided proof. Too be clear we know that older civilizations existed but have no hard proof pinpointing that X civilization did in fact exist further back in time. There are contenders and theories about who and where such ancient alien species existed but again not hard evidence.
  • 100 Million years ago: Around roughly 100 million years ago the last great galactic purge event accorded. Evidence of the spread of Dark Forest inspired destruction where whole planets where vaporized and whole solar systems died. While events like this persisted and even some happened at the turn of the age of The Meadow it has never gotten this bad sense. And hopefully for the sake of the present citizens of the galaxy never will again.

The Meadow

  • 1 Million years ago: Known by most as the catalyst that started the The Meadow Era FTL or Faster Then Light technology was discovered. Some scholars see this as a transition period and call this The Woodland Era II or The Era of the Gate-builders. Although the exact date is unknown, the first Faster-Than-Light travel was discovered roughly 1 million years ago. This was a basic one-way jump gate design. Species often express in the present era that it is hard to believe that it has only been about 1 million years since FTL tech existed. It is believed that FTL is so dangerous and unintuitive that it wasn't until the Galaxy had spawned enough unique perspectives that someone finally invented it safely. To understand just how confusing it is, even people in the Super Luminal sciences cannot claim to understand it fully. It is exponentially more complex and unintuitive than quantum mechanics/sub-atomic particle behavior. It is also way more dangerous. It requires working with exotic elements in planet-destroying quantities. There is evidence that some civilizations ended themselves, either by accident or through internal conflict, using these dangerous materials. Regardless, this is the last significant spike of galactic destruction that is part of the Dark Forest Era and the rise of the first historically recorded galactic empires. While little is known of many of the different civilizations that rose and fell, some still exist but have become extremely isolationist. At the same time, others have been destroyed or otherwise disappeared for unknown reasons. What is known is that five cultural empires rose to the largest and most dominant in the galaxy about 500,000 years ago.
  • 550 Thousand years ago: Although the exact date isn't certain, roughly 550,000 years ago 5 great Gatebuilder civilizations reached their height of influence, reach, and power. Together, they ruled a significant amount of known space. These civilizations are studied heavily. Only 2 still exist as cohesive cultural societies. One of them has become completely isolationist, and the other is small and insignificant in the Modern Era. These civilizations are likely the ones to master two-way gate travel as well as multi-node Gates, so a single Jump Gate could connect to more than one destination Gate. And probably many other FTL improvements to the design of the stationary Jump Gate.
  • 150,000 Thousand years ago : The Great Collapse A series of mysterious events spread across the galaxy within roughly 100 years and caused a great collapse in the power structures of the galaxy, which destroyed the five great empires. The rapid Galactic-wide event seems impossible with the Gate Travel of the time. It was caused in part by a migration of several unknown Alien species. Much speculation about who these are, why or what caused their movements, and where or even if they reside in the Milky Way anymore. There was a time of stillness in the galaxy, similar to the lull between Dark Forest-inspired spikes of destruction.

The Twin Empires

  • 100,000 B.J.: Twin Empire Era However, out of the ashes of the Great Collapse rose two great Galactic Empires. They both existed under the supposedly oppressive regime of two different Gate Builder Empires on opposite sides of the galaxy and grew into dominance within the power vacuum that was caused by their oppressors being destroyed. The Twin Empires are both the largest Empires of all known Galactic history. They didn't come into their golden eras until roughly 10,000 years before they collapsed. On the Galactic timescale, they were a bright, brilliant flash, a display of what a Civilization birthed in the post Dark Forest Era with FTL from the start can genuinely do.
  • 30,000 B.J.: This time is highly debated and ranges over 2,000 years give or take. One accomplishment that stands out about the Twin Empires is the discovery of Directional Jump Gates and Personal Jump Drives. It is still debated as too who truly invited this technology first but it would contribute heavily to there ability too rapidly expand. Previously a ship would have to travel at sub-light speeds and setup the gate at the other end before it could Jump there. The Directional Jump Gate didn't need a Gate on the other end. It would just point and go. Usually dangerous if you first don't scout the area but it still increased the spread of expansion a thousand fold or more.
  • 256 years B.J: The Great Reboot This was when Jove robots returned from a long sleep. The origin of the Jove is hotly debated, but the true evidence of their home would be this one computer that has yet to be found. Some believe the Jove came from another Galaxy. Learn more about them here.
  • 100 B.J.: The Great Storm The Twin Empire destroyed themselves. There tail an epic too long and detailed for this summary. In their wake, the galaxy plunged into chaos. The fear of a return to The Dark Forest came into the minds of all civilizations. Many went into hiding the best they could. Completely abandoning solar systems, they lived on for thousands of years. All to avoid those few Civilizations who felt it was best that they ruled the living or, worse, the dead. During this time, the Jove had their 'Great Reboot' and started to once again explore the Galaxy.

Modern Era (Jovian Era)

  • The First Encounter: (Year 0) Supposedly this is when the Jove first encountered a young space-faring race. However, this didn't go over well. For whatever reason, the Jove had to defend themselves which lead this species near extinction. This also lead to a new set of rules the Jove most fallow. The species was moved to a new planet, and its inhabits where sent back to pre-dark ages. Jove has kept this species location a secret, and they say it's for the species own good. Many people look for evidence of such possible ancient yet gone civilization when looking for the possible origin of the Jove. Word of this got to the Twin Empires. And they both noticed that the Jove were popping up all over there domain and others. This was disturbing to them, and it forced there leaders to pause war plans against each other.
  • The Spiral Voyage: (Year 312) It was here the Jove changed the algorithms for finding new species after discovering the "Ring of Life." It was the logical conclusion determined by observation of the past 568 years. That the majority of life in this galaxy would be within a circular space at a range out from the center of the galaxy. A somewhat wide circle. This discovery (although not only made by the Jove) is considered to be one of the most important a modern space fairing civilization can make and shows an understanding of how the universe and life form.
  • Jove Revelation: (Year 2048) The Jove again attempt to introduction themselves prompting a mix of reactions ranging from hostile to indifferent. However, the Jove consider this a success and devote there activities to proving a successful and profitable co-existence with flesh and blood species.
  • The First Coalition: (The year 2690) Seen as some as the start of The Era of Counsels and other as the official start time for the Meadow Era. Although this coalition of species wasn't the first or only in this galaxy even after the "The Reboot" there were several things that stood out. Firstly it was the largest known at the time. Secondly, it was not done out of the war but trade and the desire for lasting peace. This is when an attempt at a Galactic Counsel formed to try to understand the Jove. This was the first time that prominent species of the Galaxy recognized the Jove as more than just random machines that navigated the galaxy. While this one ultimately failed. Its successes and failures were remembered, and more attempts at both a Coalition of species and a Galactic counsel would be made many years later.
  • One Complete Circle: (Year 3811) This event is considered by some to be the crowning moment by the Jove and one of if not the most signification in recorded galactic history. It was when the two leading exploratory robot teams met again on the other side of the galaxy from where they started finishing their "Spiral Voyage." It is also when the Jove started building there advanced Super Jump Gates now used too quickly transfer the Great Ring.
  • The Last Counsel: (4000) The first long lasting counsel formed. It would later be used to form the Galactic Senate as well as the Galactic House of Ambassadors. There these bureaucracy the foundations of Galaxy-wide relations where built. It is also when the influential civilizations of the time ratified that while further A.I and self replicated machines would be outlawed an exception for the Jove would be made although this at the time was not agreed upon and thus some peoples still treated the jove with hostility.
  • The Great War: (Year 4451) The is the beginning of the first Great War. Known as Space War One or War of the Coalitions. This came into being because of multi Coalitions/Alliances/Federations and so forth that were springing up into what was soon going to be the first fully navigated (Thanks to the Jove), universe. This all started when information supposedly held secret by the Jove was leaked. The Jove had kept secret the mass majority of navigation charts and maps of the galaxy. Also, all the species that were discovered by the Jove that either where space fairing or one day in the future could evolve or grow into being space fairing civilizations. The number was over 100 thousand. Much larger then what most people thought existed. Once the information was leaked it knocked off a series of events that cascaded into a conflict that grew into the largest sense the Twin Empire's collapsed. While probably not as massive and most certainly not nearly as destructive as some of the Galaxies past conflicts, this War nonetheless was felt across the whole of the Ring of Life.
  • The Peace Conference of Elantrian (4590) The Galactic Counsel was almost disbanded but survived after being reshaped. The purposes, powers, and participation in the Galactic Senate and House of Ambassadors were also redefined during this time. This is often seen as a great and hopefully final test in the new Galactic Order and that of the Era of the Meadow. More importantly the Jove were used to be impartial arbitrators of peace and where codified into Galactic Law by the Senate as being the only self sufficient A.I machines allowed too exist and therefore protected from persecution. It also established them as official "Keepers of the Gates" and "Stewards of the New Born" and "Arbitrators of Peace". As Keepers of the Gates there Super Jump Gates would be open to public use of all but would be maintained by the Jove. The Stewards of the New Born meant that the Jove would lead the way in discovering and protecting the rights of new species that could possibly become space fairing. While the Galactic Senate proceeded over a special counsel whose job it was to define the rules it would be the Jove who would seek out new life and enforce those laws to protect these peoples. The title of Arbitrators of Peace meant that the Jove became legal witnesses and Arbitrators in peace deals. The Galactic Senate would recognize the statements from the Jove as "Statements of Truth". This role would be later expanded too include other types of negotiations.
  • Miners Revolt of Talas: (Year 4730) Not long after the new order was established a revolt happened. It started because of wrongfully accused miners on a neutrally owned Planet named Talas. The blame for the mistake has been debated. It was originally thought as a mistake by the Jove. But then later found out to be caused by over-eager politicians wanting to justify keeping the "Inquisition of Peace" force in power. The force started soon after the Peace Conference of Elantrian and used the Jove communication network to find and destroy peoples of the galaxy that went against harmony. All the miners were brutally killed before further investigation could happen. This caused a revolt and even though the Galactic Senate's stance on the Jove didn't cease it did try to put more regulation and control over how and who the Jove could protect. This in turn stop made the Jove also stopped sharing their communication channels.
  • The Council of Larian: (Year ~5130) Its hard to say when this grouped was formed. It started out as a very secretive society and thus little is known of its origin. It eventually created a more public offshoot that helped advise and ease trade between large amounts of space. Especially areas where there were lots of pirates. It became known as the Council of Larian. Larian being a moon where the Council took up residence. Over time the Council became an economic and even military power. Although its most significant influence was in politics, it eventually became an entity that processed no government or origin species to have a say in galactic policy.
  • Space War Two: (Year 7340) This kicked off a short, in galactic terms, war that lasted only 77 years. It's length wasn't what defined its impact but all the different space fairing civilizations that for one reason or another got dragged into the conflict. To many interconnected treaties and secret promises between the different large civilizations caused a cascade of conflict that spread across the galaxy and was felt for centuries after the conflict finished. Many civilizations saw this ultimiatly as a failure of the Galactic Senate and in turn left that body of government. A lot of civilizations choose to become increasingly isolationist as well.
  • The Waring Years: (Year 10230 - 12300) The weakening of a central authority and the abundance of isolationist nations eventually caused a stretch of micro conflicts. It felt that the galaxy was starting to slip back into a time not unlike the Dark Forest where the universe felt like a inhospitable place. But no Planet wide or solar system wide devastation happened which is the largest defining aspect of the Dark Forest. Many scholars call this the Night in the Meadow.
  • Space War Three: (Year 12420 - 12601) The conflicts eventually came to a head and a large galactic wide conflict happened. However, it was a slow burn and not all members joined right away. In the end there was no clear winner and all sides just wanted peace. It was signed with again help from the Jove. Importantly the rules and power of the Galactic Senate was yet again redefined. In some ways it was strengthened. There was now a supreme counsel whose members where curated from the Senate and it is through this counsel that Senate decisions can be mediated. It was meant to help give some meaning and power to the decisions the Senate did while also appeasing the largest and most influential of the species in the galaxy.
  • Humanities Exposure: (Year 15341) The Jove introduced themselves and the rest of the Galaxy to the Human race. This happened soon after humans sent their first Interstellar probe traveling at 70% of the speed of light. The Humans had also demonstrated Fusion powered pulse propulsion with the capacity to send generational transportation ships at speeds between 10 to 30% of the speed of light.
  • Humanities WW3: (Year 15362 - 67) Humans entered their 3rd great conflict World War 3, except this time it involved multiple Worlds. Both Earth and Mars. The peoples of each planet were not waring each other, but instead, different factions that started on Earth and had grown out into the Solar System battled each other. Most of the conflict was on Earth. But after six years, the conflict ended in a nuclear flash. Earth became partially radiated, and humans were seen as dangerous senseless species.
  • Present Day: (Year 15920) Human's are scattered. After there last great conflict that used new technology they had access to to leave there radiated worlds for new ones. The Jove are at there most trusted and accepted point in history. There are currently 5 members of the Supreme Counsel: Volar, Graylings, Lepidonains, Cryous, and Aconians. Must of the galaxy still lays unexplored even for the Jove although they have explored more then any another known species that the galaxy is aware of they keep there finds secret and there channels of communication closed. There has been no open large scale conflict. While some major species such as the Lepidonains and Cryous are at each other throats it remains strictly political. The Senate does feel strained. Many species wish to place themselves as member of the Supreme Counsel as there is meant to be 7. Also the requirements for a Senate seat have changed multiple times over making it extremely difficult in the past 1,000 years for a species to gain a seat. The galaxy feels like it has held its breath and will soon exhale. What direction the wind blows though is yet unknown.
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