Supreme Commander: War of the Red Shadow
Timeline of Events
Information Age
2009: The U.S. aggressively pursues a program to put a man on Mars.
2016: Several Earth governments begin construction of interplanetary “shuttles” that are intended to explore and colonize the Solar System. Limited colonization takes place over the next forty years.
Quantum Age
2018: Major understandings in Quantum Physics create entire new fields of exploration; applying this knowledge to space travel is of keen interest.
2025: A single cesium atom is successfully transported 10 feet through a 'Quantum Tunnel' in a laboratory. This is fundamentally different from the “teleportation” experiments done during the turn of the century which merely “copied” matter -- using quantum tunnels, scientists actually transport the same matter to a different location.
2032: A milligram of iron is successfully transported to the surface of the moon using the combined total output of 25 fission reactors.
2050: First living mass tests with Quantum Tunnel technology. Insects are sent first, followed by mice. Finally, larger animals are sent.
2055: Monkeys are successfully “tunneled” to a receiving base on Mars.
2061: A human team is deposited on Neptune's moon Triton using Quantum Tunnel technology. The journey takes .26 seconds.
2062: A research base is established on Triton to explore interstellar travel.
Colonization
2108 : The first extra-solar human colony is established on a planet in the nearby Alpha Centauri system. The enormous energy cost dwarfs any previous endeavors, forcing scientists to explore cheaper alternatives; sending large teams and their equipment such vast distances is deemed cost-prohibitive.
2110: Earth is united as a single government with a bold new vision of expansion to the stars. Advancements in artificial intelligence, nano-technology and biological engineering give rise to a massive colonization program using a new approach: to conserve the energy of transmission, a seed population of 1000 bio-engineered human DNA patterns is sent along with a small team to set up the initial colony. On-board nano-fabricators are able to use mass and energy gathered at the destination site to construct an automated creche for the development of the seed population. Raised by AI (and their own bio-engineered skills embedded in their DNA), the colonists begin a rapid program of technological development and population growth in order to establish a Quantum Gate network between the initial three “alpha” colonies.
2284: The first sixteen colonies, later known as the Prime Worlds, are successfully established. During the following century, the Earth government adjusts to remotely governing an empire of colonies connected by Quantum Gates. Over this period, they prove their ability to establish and maintain quick and reliable communication and commerce across interstellar distances, effectively govern across those distances, and enforce its laws, trade, population and social programs. The Earth Command, the interstellar military arm of the Earth Empire, fully comes into its own.
2316: The First Great Expansion begins. All colonies of the Prime Worlds begin their own colonization. The Earth government further refines their use of social, economic, genetic and political programs to maintain order and control. To keep pace with the rapidly-expanding empire, limited-capability military suits are derived from the exosuits used in colonization. Instead of nano-fabricating colonization equipment, these suits create limited autonomous military units controlled by a human Commander. As such, lower numbers of EarthCom personnel are required to enforce order compared to the older “human-heavy” systems. Throughout the colonization period, the EarthCom is called on to quell all manners of disturbances ranging from colony disputes to full rebellions, with minimal loss of EarthCom personnel.
2525: The Second Expansion begins. Over 110 colonies begin their own colonization efforts. So far, no intelligent alien life has ever been found; many now assume that there is no other intelligent life in the galaxy.
2557: [scientific data updated] A survey expedition to the distant world of Seraphim II, a promising planet over 5 times the size of Earth, does not reestablish contact within the standard window. A routine follow-up expedition is scheduled.
2590: A second expedition to Seraphim II is sent, but also does not reestablish contact with Earth. Seraphim II is marked HAZARD and added to the EarthCom's lengthening “investigate hazard” list. Due to unrest on the frontier, the EarthCom does not send investigation probes to a HAZARD world for over five years.
The Birth of the Cybrans
2592: A computer AI is successfully implanted into a human brain. The human/AI pair is called a Symbiont.
2612: The Symbiont program successfully completes its R&D phase.
2663: The Third Expansion begins. The Earth Empire begins to have difficulty managing its colonies.
2666: Procyon, the colony established by Dr. Gustaf Brackman and his symbionts, is one of several planets to do so, but like the others, this proposition is rejected, and military forces are sent instead.
2669: After the symbionts resist the occupation of Procyon, EarthCom forces massacre the colony. Symbionts revolt across the galaxy, so the Empire activates the secret loyalty program to pacify them, which brings peace but angers Brackman, who had designed it.
2678: Brackman and a few remaining symbionts, whose loyalty program was subsequently erased by Brackman, found a new colony. They decide to initiate a guerilla war against the Empire, to fight for the freedom of the symbionts, and thus the Cybran Nation is born.
Other notable events: QAI is born, a Quantum AI created by Dr. Brackman with bits of Seraphim technology. It's ability to interface with the Quantum Gate Network proves invaluable in the war effort.
Aeon Containment
2679: The Earth Empire is contacted by descendants of the Seraphim II expedition who claim to have been modified by aliens. The Earth Empire quarantines the sector and sends Commanders.
2679.3: Contact with all planets bordering Seraphim II is lost.
2679.8: All contact with EarthCom forces within 10 light years of the Seraphim Quarantine Zone is lost.
2812: The Earth Empire begins to lose control. In addition to fighting both the Cybrans and the Aeon from Seraphim II, Imperial forces are forced to contend with extensive internal conflicts.
2817: The Aeon attack in force and the Empire loses more territory along the Quarantine Zone.
Infinite War
2819: The Infinite War begins.
2924: The Earth Empire has lost control of most of its territory. Anarchy reigns across the galaxy.
3256: The old Earth Empire is officially dissolved. The United Earth Federation rises in its place.
3764: The UEF, Aeon, and Cybrans continue to fight over the remains of the old Earth Empire.
3844: The events of Supreme Commander occur, a final series of conflicts leading up to a decisive battle on Earth over control of the cataclysmic quantum superweapon 'Black Sun'.
Seraphim War
3844.9 (X-Day): The firing of Black Sun creates a 'soft' spot in the Quantum Realm, which the Seraphim exploit to create a full-blown Quantum Rift. The Seraphim invasion begins.
3844.9 (X-Day): UEF President Riley is killed, and Earth is reduced to ash. The Seraphim immediately spread throughout the galaxy, slaughtering any humans they encounter.
3844.9.5 (X-Day): Under the control of the Seraphim, QAI cripples the Quantum Gate Network.
3844.9 (X+2): Princess Rhianne Burke, who has taken the first step towards ascension, vanishes. Her fate is unknown.
3844.9 (X+4): A majority of the Aeon view the Seraphim as gods. Crusader Rhiza tries to warn them that the Seraphim are a threat to all humans, but she is ignored.
3844.10 (X+21): Evaluator Kael seizes control of the Aeon Illuminate. The Order of the Illuminate forms and formally allies itself with the Seraphim. Both Rhiza and Princess Burke are branded as heretics.
3844.10 (X+29): Rhiza and a handful of Aeon commanders begin to wage a guerilla war against the Order and Seraphim.
3844.11 (X+45): Via a series of crippling attacks, QAI decimates the Cybran military.
3844.11 (X+47): Because of the damage inflicted by QAI, Dr. Brackman is forced to retreat to the deepest reaches of space.
3845.3 (X+172): The UEF suffers heavy losses. With its military in tatters, General William Hall assumes command.
3845.4 (X+196): The UEF and Cybran Nation form the Coalition for the Mutual Defense and Security of Humanity (Coalition). Both militaries are combined under a unified command structure.
3845.7 (X+283): Despite Brackman's reservations, Rhiza and the Loyalists are admitted into the Coalition.
3846.3 (X+526): Coalition forces launch their first offensive against the Seraphim. Although casualties are high, the Coalition achieves its first victory.
3846.9 (X+716): During a failed attempt to protect an evacuation ship on the garden world of Capella, UEF General Samantha Clarke is killed in action.
3847.2 (X+866): Construction begins on Fort Clarke, a new base of operations for the UEF on the planet Griffin IV.
3847.2 On: The events of Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance occur. Princess Rhianne Burke returns, sparking a massive degree of infighting amongst the Order -- nearly a third of the Aeon abandon the Order of the Illuminate and choose to fight on behalf of the Princess. After a decisive battle on Earth, Princess Burke enters the Quantum Rift to close it forever.
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Links
United Earth Federation
Cybran Nation
Aeon Illuminate
Seraphim
Characters, by Faction
