Sandbox-Scarcity:TauCetiHistory

History

A recruitment poster for the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion.

Being one of the closest systems to Earth, Tau Ceti was one of the first systems considered for colonization by early interstellar travellers. Tau Ceti III, which would later be known as Biesel, was discovered to be a roughly Earth-sized planet with an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, immediate plans were made for its settlement. The SAEV Winterbottom was the first Sol Alliance ship to enter the Tau Ceti system, landing on Biesel in 2147.

Colonizing Tau Ceti (2152 - 2207)

Shortly thereafter, in 2152, Biesel's moon of Valkyrie became home to several mining bases and research facilities. As Biesel became more established, the Winterbottom crew surveyed the nearby Tau Ceti IV, later christened New Gibson, finding it a haven for iron, gold, silver, copper, and Helium-3. Mining operations were established by the fledgeling Hephaestus Industries and several independent entrepreneurs, and these would eventually grow into mining colonies which have grown over the centuries into massive domed cities and industrial parks. From then on, the roles of the system's planets were clear; Biesel was the breadbasket and population centre, New Gibson its industry, and Valkyrie's future indicated a profitable life as an interstellar port.

On January 1st of 2200, the colonial governor of Biesel, Charles Whitehorse, declared the advent of Biesel's new senate at midnight, and to many historians codified Biesel's growing culture of independence, individualism, and freedom. The population and arrivals from Sol were booming as Mars was steadily being terraformed; the Alliance began to offer subsidies for poverty-stricken citizens to move and develop the Tau Ceti system further. While some avoided New Gibson and Valkyrie's less-than-habitable conditions, this still led to a population boom in the system. For many, it seemed like life could only get better.

In 2207, Hephaestus Industries established its first shipbuilding dock in Portsville, and other megacorporations were beginning to keep an eye on the growing system; Necropolis Industries established a base on Valkyrie, and Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals began to fund and sell equipment to hospitals on Biesel and New Gibson. Tau Ceti was politically quiet in contrast to the gradual unrest in the farther reaches of the Orion Spur, making it a good go-between between the gradually splintering Alliance.

The Second Great Depression, the Interstellar War, and the Crisis of 2294 (2207 - 2294)

As the century wore on, the Alliance started to centre their military presence on Tau Ceti as a waypoint between the restless frontier and civilized space. Military bases began to be constructed on the surface of Biesel, with New Gibson's manufacturing ability high in demand for more ships, more weapons, and more machines. The seeds of discomfort with the Alliance's rule began to be planted during this time, particularly on New Gibson. Much of the smaller industries funded by the inhabitants found themselves swallowed by larger off-world competitors, namely Einstein Engines. While the shipbuilding industry of New Gibson was repurposed for simple refuelling and repairs, it quickly became the foremost and most critical base for the war effort towards the galactic east. The bailouts received from the Solarian Alliance for Einstein Engines at the height of the Second Great Depression, with many on New Gibson viewing it as funding meant for them, found itself injected into the planet's shipyard infrastructure. For a brief period in time, New Gibson seemed to recover slightly from the mistreatment of its sovereign power. This would unfortunately not last for long.

The brief respite for New Gibsonites was just that; despite other participants within Tau Ceti contributing to the demands laid out by the Solarian Alliance, New Gibson was often forced to shoulder the large majority of it due to it specializing in manufacturing early on in its development as a colony. Overpopulation was rife, and the ability to sustain its inhabitants continued to dwindle through the decade long war. Its conclusion only brought with it growing unemployment and political tension between New Gibson and the Solarian Alliance. Beyond New Gibson, excesses from visiting soldiers, heavy taxation, and the sudden intense eye of the state upon the system led to quiet resentment among many Cetians.

The official beginning of the Interstellar War did little to soothe this resentment. Outbreaks of anger and strikes among the populace were not uncommon throughout the duration of the war; by the time the Treaty of Xansan had been signed, the populace's resentment had begun to spill over to the extent that Solarian forces withdrew in droves from the planet to appease their new breadbasket. The Alliance was uncomfortably aware of how fragile their hold on Tau Ceti was, and in the aftermath of the war slacked their grip on the system, allowing it some relative independence. With this came a golden opportunity; the megacorporations had a new, relatively untouched system far from the eyes of the government to spread their influence.

First Contact with the Skrell (2332 - 2340)

First contact with the Skrell in 2332 brought with it incredible changes, especially for New Gibson. The tension between the Solarian Alliance and New Gibson was at the highest it had ever been and was continuing to grow. The vestiges of the problems experienced almost forty years prior still had a profound impact across the biodomes of New Gibson. Growth across New Gibson was still restricted due to the lack of funding from the Solarian Alliance and issues presented shortly before the Crisis were beginning to re-appear.

After several years of brokering agreements, the Nralakk Federation had agreed to integrate their biodome technology across colonies within the Solarian Alliance. While this was first treated with hostility by New Gibsonites, who believed it to be an alien invasion into their culture and way of life, it eventually became the foundation for an amicable relationship between Skrell and Gibsonites. Skrell were migrating in droves to the biodomes across the planet, integrating their foreign technology into the decaying systems of New Gibson - revitalizing and revolutionizing the quality of life on the planet.

Hydroponics were no longer struggling to reach quotas, and cramped conditions disappeared almost overnight as Skrellian technology continued to be introduced and expanded upon. New Gibson readily accepted the Skrell into their society, with many choosing to remain even after the leasing agreements had concluded. This resulted in New Gibson hosting one of the largest populations of Skrell outside the Nralakk Federation, and the largest in Tau Ceti.

The Discovery of Phoron(2352 - 2410)

In 2310, Xavier Trasen, the CEO and founder of NanoTrasen Incorporated, decided to bring the company's primary base of operations to the Tau Ceti system. The system was still relatively untapped in terms of economic potential, and several other megacorporations were already dominating the Jewel Worlds of the Alliance. Mining rights were relatively cheap to acquire at the time, and Trasen's board of executives, taking a gamble, guided him to tap into the industry.

What none of them could have predicted was the discovery of phoron in the Romanovich Cloud in 2352, a discovery that, due to the properties of the element, saw NanoTrasen go from a third-string megacorporation at best to the most powerful megacorporation in the entire Spur over the course of decades. The element saw mining operations expand as demand skyrocketed, beginning a phoron-fueled technological revolution. This fact alone propelled Biesel to become the richest system in the Orion Spur, dethroning the home system of humanity.

NanoTrasen’s Monopoly and Independence (2410 - 2452)

Almost half a century on from that initial discovery of phoron,NanoTrasen had continued to grow exponentially, both economically across the Spur and politically as well, though the latter was most pronounced in Tau Ceti itself. By 2120, NanoTrasen had achieved a complete and total monopoly within the system, controlling over 3/4ths of its economy, and rapidly buying out the other corporations that controlled the rest. They had unparalleled political control, and while still restricted under the jurisdiction of the Solarian Alliance, could do almost as they pleased without issue. Yet that wasn’t enough. Despite its insane power, NanoTrasen did not and could not compete with the rest of the corporations within the Alliance’s halls of power - in the way it wanted, which was complete and total political control of a nation state. Instead they would bide their time until they got an opportunity to create a nation state of their own.

As Tau Ceti continued to flourish, the Sol Alliance began to falter, entering into an economic recession. This meant that the Alliance's influence on the system was lessening and lessening, and NanoTrasen filled in the power vacuum, until finally, in 2452, the board of directors and then-planetary governor Joseph Dorn presented an ultimatum to the Solarian government; permit Biesel complete independence, or NanoTrasen would institute phoron rationing to all systems outside of Tau Ceti, instead stockpiling it. It was a hand that once played they could not lose - if the Alliance denied, their economy would enter freefall, if they resisted, it would lead to a long drawn out legal battle that would need to be resolved before the economy stopped freefalling.

Thus, the privilege of secession was granted. Tau Ceti was announced as the Republic of Biesel on May 5th, 2452, to much fanfare from the Sol-disillusioned populace. NanoTrasen's hold on the government was cemented as much as it could be, even though the monopoly once held exclusively by NanoTrasen was under threat from other corporations showing interest in the new nation-state; NT was able to effectively stop all others in their tracks. A side effect of NanoTrasen's increased operations in the sector are that employees from outside the system are often 'bussed' in through the system's new Bluespace Gate. Many have chosen to settle in the system and are provided corporate housing in numerous "corporate enclaves" that have sprung up across New Gibson and Biesel. Not all were happy with this independence though, most notably the Solarian Alliance, and especially members of its military. Tau Ceti’s Independence would not see an end to the struggle, only the beginning of more difficult ones.

The Solarian Blockade (2458 - 2459)

"Synthetics are tools, and made to serve mankind. But they are dangerous to leave unchecked. This colony's administration was incapable of handling or even understanding the Pandora's box they were opening." - Admiral Michael Frost (2400 - 2462), in a statement at the advent of the invasion of the 33rd Fleet, 2459

In October of 2458, the Sol Alliance had ended anti-piracy patrols around Tau Ceti by its 33rd Fleet as part of a diplomatic campaign to put pressure on the small system over various long-standing disputes. This caused a massive spike in piracy and raider attacks against Tau Ceti, which the precursor militia to the militia that was the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion had no ability to deal with effectively. The result of negotiations with NanoTrasen ended with an announcement on the 20th of October, where Biesel would sponsor NanoTrasen to build thousands of autonomous, space-dwelling combat drones.

The deal was disastrous for the Alliance; the plan to pressure Tau Ceti to reduce its proliferation of synthetic life had just backfired spectacularly. The development was also controversial to Skrell all over the Orion Spur. The Nralakk Federation persuaded the Sol Alliance to enact an economic embargo against the Republic, to be enforced by the 33rd fleet commanded by Admiral Michael Frost. Prices for basic goods skyrocketed across Tau Ceti as imports hit a bottleneck after the bluespace gate leading to the system was shut down. Tensions rose, not just between organic life and IPCs, but between humanity and aliens as well.

On December 1st of the same year, crisis talks between the Alliance, the Federation, and the Republic came to an end. The Alliance's demands had grown to three main points;

1. Biesel would its combat drone program.
2. Biesel would enact strict regulations and controls on its synthetic population, such as regular emotional baseline tests and income controls.
3. Biesel would allow Alliance and Nralakk authorities to assume leadership in federal and state law enforcement agencies.

The Republic agreed to all but the last demand, saying it would be surrendering its autonomy. The crisis also revealed a divide between the Federation and the Alliance; the Federation was trying to focus specifically on Tau Ceti's synthetic proliferation, but had been caught up in the Alliances' attempt to re-assert itself over its former break-away province. At the end of these talks both sides walked out and negotiations broke down, and with it the hopes of resolving the crisis peacefully.

Over the next few months, the government realized it had to undertake new measures to protect its diplomacy. These measures included an economic coalition with the Republic of Elyra and NanoTrasen (the only two nations with large phoron deposits), to better leverage their economic power against Sol. This further sunk relations between Tau Ceti and the Alliance, and many within the Alliance began to consider Biesel a serious risk to its security. By February, with no end of the embargo in sight, Biesel expelled the Alliance's diplomats in its system and ordered the closure of the Alliances' embassy. Diplomatic ties between the two nations were now completely severed. Admiral Frost, in a statement after the severance, warned the Republic there would be retaliation.

On February 27th, 2459, Biesel's Congress voted to trigger a constitutional convention that would allow them to re-write the Constitution of the Republic, to fully emancipate IPCs that were self-owned. The proposed amendments would also see a streamlined legal framework in regards to synthetic ownership, employment of synthetics, and the legality of their treatment.

But three days later, Admiral Frost invaded Tau Ceti with the 33rd Fleet, acting without orders from the Alliance. His fleet's overwhelming firepower and rapid speed overwhelmed Tau Ceti's tiny defense network. Within hours the Republic of Biesel capitulated to Frost, who had seized an entire star system in a near-bloodless invasion. President Dorn, who had been captured by a 33rd commando raid, broadcast a televised speech announcing his unconditional surrender. Frost seized control of Biesel as its dictator and began a campaign to completely eradicate synthetic proliferation within the star system.

During the occupation Frost used his totalitarian authority with vigor. Many free IPCs were sold into slavery or scrapped, robotics labs were shut down and demolished, and 33rd Officers even took over Captainship of NanoTrasen stations in Tau Ceti. Protests gripped the streets of every major city, which were met with mass arrests disappearances.

Weeks later, on March 17th, 2459, the 25th Fleet of the Solarian Navy arrived in Tau Ceti. In a surprise attack, the 33rd Fleet was chased from the system, with Admiral Frost and a small retinue of loyalists escaping to the galactic west from the NSS Aurora.

Though the 25th Fleet left without incident, the Alliance had been humiliated. Their rogue admiralty was public knowledge, and with their reputation stained, Tau Ceti's good embargo was ended.

The invasion and occupation by Admiral Frost forever altered politics and lifestyles in Tau Ceti. Where before Biesellite patriotism had been a strange, fringe belief, the invasion created a strong sense of nationalism among the populace. President Dorn returned to his office of the presidency amid soaring approval ratings, and declared that a new era had begun for the small Republic. Snap elections flooded Congress with the Free-Market Party, a radical Universalist party that Dorn himself defected to at the expense of his former, moderate Republican Party.

Dorn continued to ride on his popularity as a wartime president, despite several corruption scandals within his cabinet and growing tensions with the Republic of Elyra. Key reforms saw synthetics and non-humans in Tau Ceti granted greater freedoms and rights, while at the same time loosening already timid regulations on NanoTrasen.

The Synthetic Liberation Front Incursion (2461)

See also: SLF Incursion Arc

“Here today is our proclamation for freedom. Our demands for liberation. We will continue this fight and we will not stop. Not until our demands for full emancipation are met will we cease our movement. No more, will there be false promises and lies. We will free the synthetics of Tau Ceti." - Accomplice-037 (2441-2461), suspected ringleader of SLF operations in Phoenixport, stating the group’s manifesto in the wake of the July 29 attacks, 2461

As a result of the harsh treatment they faced, many IPCs turned to active resistance during the Solarian invasion, fleeing major city centers, participating in the mass protests that were a staple of that time, or in many cases, joining the Synthetic Liberation Front, an IPC terrorist group active since 2458. The SLF changed tactics towards the end of the invasion, joining forces with 25th Fleet special forces to liberate President Dorn, hoping to gain legitimacy in the post-invasion period. By 2460, it was clear that despite high honors and public recognition of IPC efforts in liberating the Republic, synthetic rights had progressed very little. Dorn’s calls for a “Synthetic Patriotism” after Frost’s invasion did little to appease the various synthetic rights movements active in the Republic, especially as it continued to restrict citizenship to positronics that had served in the Foreign Legion. The situation was further exacerbated by the return of various anti-synthetic political groups such as ATLAS with violence being seen as a means of both suppressing and advancing synthetic rights. Continued IPC ownership, crackdowns on underground IPC emancipation groups as well as lingering resentment from the pre-invasion period had coalesced into a feeling among many that synthetic emancipation via peaceful means had failed. On July 29, 2461, the Synthetic Liberation Front launched a surge of attacks on government and NanoTrasen facilities in response to a coordinated crackdown of free IPC smuggling activities in District 14. Through the use of untagged shell infiltrators, the SLF was able to infiltrate a number of NanoTrasen installations and disrupt corporate activities. In response, the megacorporation acquired the private military contractor Ceres Lance, famed for their work in subduing rogue synthetics. Ceres Lance cracked down on SLF leadership and communications networks with ruthless efficiency, rendering the organization impotent and unable to coordinate its actions even if many of their members had escaped capture. This crackdown, coupled with NanoTrasen’s unveiling of a powerful command-and-control AI known as Huginn to coordinate surveillance efforts would serve as a safeguard against future SLF attacks. The overwhelming success of Ceres Lance’s counterterrorism efforts, as well as effective public relations campaigns and token reforms ensured that violence would become discredited as a means of advancing synthetic rights in Biesel.

Little Adhomai Gang Wars (2462)

See also: Tajaran Cold War Arc

"Even when we stand before this illusion of peace, we will remain alert that in the moment of need only our union through Hadiism matters." - President Njadrasanukii "Malik" Hadii (2402 - ), addressing the People's Republic of Adhomai during the Cold War, 2462

Until 2462, Little Adhomai's gangs fought each other in small skirmishes. The end of the Second Tajaran Civil War allowed the Adhomian factions to start further funding the organizations of District Six. The neighborhood saw the quick rise of violence related to the escalation of gang warfare. Weapons were smuggled and sleeping agents were called into action. Soon, a proxy war began to brew in the heart of Mendell City.

Adhomian agents began to operate and fight to secure supplies, alliances, and information. NanoTrasen installations were also affected by the conflict. On its way to being researched in Mendell City, a New Kingdom's artifact was nearly stolen. A People's Republic's AI was stolen aboard a station. Tensions kept growing despite attempts to reconcile the Tajara population towards peace following the Armistice.

The first spark was a riot caused by the actions of the Mendell City Police in District Six during a failed raid. While the unrest was initially caused by the civilian population, the Adhomian gangs took the opportunity to escalate the conflict. For four days, Little Adhomai became the battleground between the paramilitaries. Military weapons were used indiscriminately by every side, causing widespread damage to District Six.

During the crisis, the Mendell City Police cordoned the district. The violence came to an end with the intervention of the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion. The Cetian forces ended the conflict in a matter of two days as the gangs demobilized to avoid fighting them. The following reconstruction of Little Adhomai was carried out with the help of megacorporations. Further developments revealed a corruption scheme within the police force of Mendell.

With the further radicalization and interference of the Tajaran nations in the district, the Adhomian Cold War was brought to the heart of Biesel. Little Adhomai became a concern to the whole of Mendell City. The risk of another conflict is ever present. Authorities have done little to improve District Six's situation or de-escalate the tensions. The city's inhabitants must now carry on with their lives knowing that a secret war rages on in their town.

Phoron Scarcity and the Second Invasion of Biesel (2462)

See also: KING OF THE WORLD

“Today is a historic day for Einstein Engines. We are no longer the Einstein of the past decades, reeling from defeat after defeat and barely keeping pace with NanoTrasen. Our victory in this legal case has shown that we can not only meet NanoTrasen, but that we can best them even in their headquarters. I look forward to the great things our company is going to do over the following years.” - Noelle Lopez-Zhang (2408 - ), chief executive officer of Einstein Engines after the defeat of NanoTrasen in the Einstein Engines vs. NanoTrasen court case

In May of 2462, NanoTrasen reports were published indicating a decline in the phoron output of the megacorporation's facilities in the Romanovich Cloud. This would not prove to be a local phenomenon, as shortages were noted through the Sol Alliance and even in the phoron-rich Republic of Elyra, who ceased phoron exports to the wider Spur altogether. This wasn’t something that happened overnight, and had been building for a long time, but this marks the moment it became too big to hide. The Phoron Scarcity had officially begun.

The phoron shortage proved greatly beneficial to Einstein Engines who unveiled a new warp drive and, though it uses elemental phoron in its construction and maintenance, it does not utilize fluidic phoron as fuel; making it overall use less phoron. Due to similarities to NanoTrasen designs, the corporation lodged a corporate espionage lawsuit against Einstein in Tau Ceti courts. Shockingly, NanoTrasen would lose this lawsuit, leading to Einstein gaining further influence in the Republic of Biesel and purchasing several liquidated NanoTrasen properties in the city of Phoenixport.

Meanwhile, the demand for phoron had not decreased, until short-term relief presented itself. An enormous phoron-rich asteroid, designated 66832 'Clandestine', was discovered in the Romanovich Cloud, with deposits that could bring an end to the uncertainty gripping the Spur. The asteroid's subterranean phoron reserves combusted, leading to an enormous explosion which destroyed the asteroid entirely. To this day, the cause of the Clandestine incident remains unknown, with no official findings ever having been published.

However, accusations would be made. Several members of Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals' Board of Directors accused the Alliance of sabotaging the Clandestine asteroid, blaming Prime Minister Michael Frost for the explosion.

Second Solarian Invasion

Frost denied any Solarian involvement in the Clandestine incident, accusing the corporate executives of being "Bieselite separatists" intent on undermining trust in the Solarian government. He claimed that the Alliance had its own solution to the phoron crisis, which would be revealed shortly with its disastrous failure - Project Violet Dawn.

Shortly after Violet Dawn, Prime Minister Frost was found dead, having been murdered in his personal quarters by an unknown assailant - a Zavodskoi Interstellar kill team would end up being accused by Alliance security forces, but the corporation was never punished and never commented on the accusation. During this time of crisis, Solarian military command deployed the 35th Fleet under the command of Grand Admiral Raymond Ozdemir to Tau Ceti, allegedly to investigate the Prime Minister's assassination.

The 35th Fleet entered Tau Ceti on November 14th, demanding all Bieselite vessels stand down and comply with Solarian demands. President Dorn refused, with a national state of emergency being declared as TCFL forces mobilized all available reserves.

The actions of the 35th greatly concerned the wider Spur, with the Coalition of Colonies and Serene Republic of Elyra both threatening that they would not sit by in the face of Solarian aggression, and mobilizing their fleets to aid Biesel should it be required. Unwilling to risk starting a second Interstellar War, the 35th Fleet was ordered to disengage and depart Tau Ceti. Though the fleet departed, this would not last long, as increasingly more and more Solarian military forces went rogue, with several fleets attacking outlying colonies. Admiral Ozdemir went against orders, leading the 35th back to Tau Ceti in order to capture the system. On November 23rd, his forces entered Tau Ceti, and the second Solarian invasion of Biesel begun.

Ozdemir's forces quickly captured Reade, easily defeating the Foreign Legion forces defending the planet. The Republic of Biesel rapidly attempted to mobilize against this new threat, as Coalition and Elyran forces were deployed to aid Tau Ceti.

In response to the advancing 35th, Miranda Trasen hosted a press conference, revealing the existence of the recently-formed Stellar Corporate Conglomerate. As Ozdemir's offensive continued, corporate and Bieselite vessels skirmished with the rogue admiral's forces in the skies above Biesel itself.

Vessels from the Coalition and Elyra arrived to provide aid against the 35th, alongside a small force from the People's Republic of Adhomai and a force of mercenaries hired from the Unathi Kataphract Guild. After several days of battle, the 35th was forced into a retreat due to the use of two phoron-based WMDs developed by NanoTrasen.

On November 30th, the conflict would come to an end as Ozdemir's flagship was drawn into Reade's atmosphere and shot down by a repaired planetary defense battery. With the rogue admiral killed, the remnants of the 35th fled the system towards the northern Spur, attempting to rebuild their strength in the ongoing chaos of the Sol Alliance.

The Peacekeeper Mandate (2463)

See also: Peacekeeper Mandate Arc

“For more than twenty years I’ve kept myself going with the belief I served my planet. I’ve done things I regret, seen things nobody should remember, and I told myself it was all for a good cause. I should have come to the conclusion long ago; we do not fight for our planet, or our people, we fight for whoever is oppressing us, and our oppressors reward those who do so well.” - First Sergeant Xiomara Salvo (2419 - ), addressing her company after the touchdown of the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion on Mictlan, 2462

After the Solarian Collapse, the former Solarian planets of Mictlan and Port Antillia opted to join the Republic and were therefore annexed by the Republic of Biesel, in what would come to be known as the Corporate Reconstruction Zone. While Port Antillia accepted membership as part of the Republic with little conflict, Mictlan's annexation was considerably more controversial. The Mictlan Defense Force, the planetary guard, had gone months without pay, and Mictlan itself had been and was still suffering from massive civil unrest and lack of supplies that were typically shipped in from the greater Alliance. The interim period had not been kind to Mictlan, and while many felt relieved at the sight of order returning, others felt betrayed by their government, and that all the suffering during the interim period had been for naught. When the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion touched down on the planet to declare it as part of the Republic of Biesel, those latter citizens were suspicious of their new government and its ties with the megacorporations. Some of these suspicions were proven in short order by massive corporate developments on the planet and crackdowns on dissent.

The tension boiled over in late 2462, when thousands of MDF personnel, led by First Sergeant Xiomara Salvo, deserted and formed the Samaritans; a paramilitary organization whose mission was to secure the independence of Mictlan at any cost. The other prominent insurgent group was the Founding Movement, originally a political party led by several notable Mictlani; Isabel Alvarez, Leon de Rosas, Corazon Santanas, and Miguel Maia. The Founding Movement had been blacklisted from the Mictlani parliament shortly after the Mandate due to their strong anti-corporate and pro-Mictlani independence, and a warrant for the arrest of all four party leaders had been placed for alleged "terrorist activities". Leon de Rosas surrendered to the Biesel Security Services Bureau, but Alvarez, Santanas, and Maia went on the run, with each attempting to fight for Mictlan's independence in their own way. Unfortunately, the Founding Movement's directionless anger mainly had the effect of destabilizing and disenfranchising Mictlan further.

The announcement of the Peacekeeper Mandate by President Dorn in mid-October 2463 sparked demonstrations across the Corporate Reconstruction Zone as citizens voiced their concerns over the deployment of the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion. Considered by critics of the Dorn administration to be the most controversial policy it had enacted, the Peacekeeper Mandate was introduced to bring order back to the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, while keeping the CRZ part of the Republic of Biesel, who were at the time opposed by several insurrectionist groups such as the Samaritans and the Founding Movement. While Isabel Alvarez continued to verbally protest and attempt to organize (ultimately ineffective) non-violent campaigns against the Peacekeeper Mandate, Santanas and Maia rallied their supporter base and encouraged the Founding Movement to take up violent arms against the Republic through any means possible.

Initially meant to operate for a definite period, the Peacekeeper Mandate was altered to operate indefinitely until the unrest, terrorism, and insurrection encountered in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone had been quelled. Whilst the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion was able to combat the insurgency groups, the Private Military Contracting Group was hired to support their operations. The PMCG contributed to the Peacekeeper Mandate significantly since their introduction to the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, although much controversy arose over allowing a private military company to assist in what was considered an occupation and annexation. The Stellar Corporate Conglomerate had already begun massive development operations on the surface of the planet, which some Mictlani objected to on the grounds of mismanagement, pollution, and a lack of concern for workers' rights, though some objected more than others.

The District Six Killings and Bayonet Hand (2463)

See also: Ghosts of War Arc

In 2463, a mysterious murder took place in Little Adhomai. The locals blamed the death on Bayonet Hand, a legendary killer. Following further deaths and incidents in the system related to the killing, it was revealed that the situation was related to a terrorist attempt at Mendell City. A group of Tajara was planning to bomb the skrell district to enact revenge for Jargon's interference in Adhomian affairs. The Republic of Tau Ceti investigated the matter and was unable to trace back any connections to any Tajaran country in the end.

The incident revealed that the Adhomian influence in Little Adhomai was growing even further. Knowing that open violence would likely go nowhere, the factions had begun to further refine their covert tactics. Since little was done by the Republic of Tau Ceti to improve the lives of the Tajara in the country, the popularity of the clandestine groups only grew. Without any action, these factions will continue to be torn on the city's side.

Peacekeeper Mandate Protests (2465)

See also: Libération, Révolution et Évolution Arc, Hasta La Victoria Siempre Arc

“I’ll say this. In addition to all those other oaths, I swear to uphold the laws of the Republic of Biesel, and protect its citizens from any threat be they foreign or domestic to the best of my ability, despite any obstacle.” - Nathan Trasen (2416 - ) Secretary of Defense of the Republic of Biesel, addressing reporter Verona Falk after his swearing-in, 2465

In early 2464, the Peacekeeper Mandate's years-long endurance took a rather violent turn following the death of a scholar. As riots erupted across the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, but primarily within the major population centres present on Mictlan, the forces of both the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion and the Private Military Contracting Group found themselves supporting the Mictlan Defense Force in quelling the unrest. Despite their best attempts, the Samaritans seized the chance to use the unrest to strike the vulnerabilities present utilizing a series of urban guerrilla tactics to severely damage the abilities of the stretched-thin forces present.

In July 2465, this culminated in the establishment of the Tau Ceti Armed Forces to finally attempt to stomp out the insurgents. Conflict, stoked by demonstrations and riots from the Founding Movement, gradually came to a head after several months of fighting. A series of leaked videos and information that the Armed Forces were committing ostensible war crimes, disregarding the rules of engagement, and using wanton violence on civilians, massive protests erupted across Mendell City, including one in Zhengfu District estimated to number more than a million people.

After a climactic operation on the beaches of the continent Huitzilopochtli, Xiomara Salvo, Prime Minister Ladislao de Santos, and Nathan Trasen finally agreed to a ceasefire, on several conditions. Provided the majority of Samaritans surrendered (and were pardoned), Mictlan would be permitted to determine which Biesellite laws were accepted within its own territory, barring capital crimes. The Peacekeeper Mandate was deemed over, and the Armed Forces finally returned to Biesel.

New Gibson History

This is the history of New Gibson specifically. May or may not merge into main, instead of keeping down here.

Founding

The encroaching ecological collapse of Earth spurred numerous countries across the European Union to attempt to colonize planets as a way to preserve their way of life - even if it existed in another form on another planet. Majority of the original colonists of New Gibson were refugees from the environmental circumstances of their homeland - melting icecaps flooding the coastal regions of Scandinavia. Entire regions were wiped from the flood, resulting in overpopulation within the major population centres and rising political tension. The issues presented across the Nordic region eventually prompted the unified colonization effort of New Gibson - its abundance of natural resources and proximity to Biesel and Valkyrie made it an optimal decision.

Several settlements were established during the mid-2160s, marking the first wave of colonization, utilizing modified archology technology from Mars. The first biodomes are considerably different from what exists across New Gibson currently and were heavily industrialized. Artificial environments were unheard of for the initial colonists of the planet, and industrial architecture was a common sight. The limited ability to sustain colonists, whilst also providing for their needs, resulted in cramped living conditions until the expansion of the settlements deep within the permafrost and crust.

Despite there being several setbacks across the colonies of New Gibson, it was eventually deemed a successful effort from all sides in 2192. Colonies that previously were self-sufficient had begun industrially specializing, and an expansive trading network between the biodomes became critical to the survival of those across the arctic plains. Initially making use of atmospheric carriers that proved to be ineffective in the long run, the notion of an interconnected subway crept into the colonists’ minds. The New Gibsonite Subway was established in 2224 and brought with it a new type of connection between the biodomes. Travelling among biodomes became popular, and the myriad of colonial cultures began to fuse into one.

Second Great Depression & Interstellar War

The ushering in of the Second Great Depression resulted in a dark age occurring across the colonies of New Gibson. The collapse of the Solarian Alliance’s economy initially meant that New Gibson saw itself rise to prominence as a regional industrial superpower, and enjoyed a somewhat delayed impact of the economic slump as outer colonies found themselves relying on New Gibson as a manufacturing hub in the region. The continued economic downturn eventually forced the rerouting of funds allocated to New Gibson to other colonies deemed more vital. While other colonies had begun to adjust to the instability of the economic recession, New Gibson had been plunged into the deep end. With the inability to fund the maintenance of their biodomes combined with escalating demands from its industrial sector, New Gibsonites were forced to replace several residential districts with industrial zones in the hope of their export income sustaining the colonies. Biodomes returned to cramped living conditions, with overpopulation quickly overtaking the other issues faced.

The outbreak of the Interstellar War only added to the abuse that New Gibson was suffering from the increased demand for its manufacturing ability. Much of the smaller industries funded by the inhabitants found themselves swallowed by larger off-world competitors, namely Einstein Engines. While the shipbuilding industry of New Gibson was repurposed for simple refuelling and repairs, it quickly became the foremost and most critical base for the war effort towards the galactic east. The bailouts received from the Solarian Alliance for Einstein Engines at the height of the Second Great Depression, with many on New Gibson viewing it as funding meant for them, found itself injected into the planet's shipyard infrastructure. For a brief period in time, New Gibson seemed to recover slightly from the mistreatment of its sovereign power. This would unfortunately not last for long.

The brief respite for New Gibsonites was just that; despite other participants within Tau Ceti contributing to the demands laid out by the Solarian Alliance, New Gibson was often forced to shoulder the large majority of it due to it specializing in manufacturing early on in its development as a colony. Overpopulation was rife, and the ability to sustain its inhabitants continued to dwindle through the decade long war. Its conclusion only brought with it growing unemployment and political tension between New Gibson and the Solarian Alliance.

Crisis of 2294

Dwindling necessities, overpopulation and unemployment were just the major factors that contributed to the Crisis of 2294. The inability to provide basic necessities, or afford to import it from Biesel, resulted in a famine that wiped out almost twenty percent of New Gibson’s total population. Hundreds of thousands died in the ensuing weeks, alongside the proliferation of diseases such as dysentery across the biodomes. Riots broke out shortly thereafter, attempting to breach the restricted hydroponic districts, taking what little food was still being grown with limited resources.

It is seen as the most defining moment within New Gibsonite history. It was months before a helping hand was extended by both Biesel and Valkyrie, against the wishes of the shared colonial sovereign. It took almost two years to fully recover from the effects of the Crisis, with Einstein Engines liquidating the majority of its corporate assets across the planet due to the grim circumstances that made recovery seem unlikely.

The Crisis of 2294 resulted in the introduction of the New Gibson Parliament, and the change of hands in leadership. Biodomes would be afforded seats based on their population, and those holding seats in parliament would be elected by the people. It also brought with it the replacement of the Colonial Governor’s office, with the office of Presiding Speaker taking its place.

Contact with the Skrell

First contact with the Skrell in 2332 brought with it incredible changes, especially for New Gibson. The tension between the Solarian Alliance and New Gibson was at the highest it had ever been and was continuing to grow. The vestiges of the problems experienced almost forty years prior still had a profound impact across the biodomes of New Gibson. Growth across New Gibson was still restricted due to the lack of funding from the Solarian Alliance and issues presented shortly before the Crisis were beginning to re-appear.

After several years of brokering agreements, the Nralakk Federation had agreed to integrate their biodome technology across colonies within the Solarian Alliance. While this was first treated with hostility by New Gibsonites, who believed it to be an alien invasion into their culture and way of life, it eventually became the foundation for an amicable relationship between Skrell and Gibsonites. Skrell were migrating in droves to the biodomes across the planet, integrating their foreign technology into the decaying systems of New Gibson - revitalizing and revolutionizing the quality of life on the planet.

Hydroponics were no longer struggling to reach quotas, and cramped conditions disappeared almost overnight as Skrellian technology continued to be introduced and expanded upon. New Gibson readily accepted the Skrell into their society, with many choosing to remain even after the leasing agreements had concluded. This resulted in New Gibson hosting one of the largest populations of Skrell outside the Nralakk Federation, and the largest in Tau Ceti.

Recent Times

The independence of Tau Ceti in 2452 was highly celebrated in New Gibson, ending the rising political tensions between the planet and the Solarian Alliance. Independence brought opportunities to expand and allowed New Gibson to rise to prominence once again. Tau Ceti’s status as a safe haven for megacorporations was however met with bitterness, especially after NanoTrasen's and then Hephaestus' acquisition of most planetary administration. Skrell still remaining on New Gibson were utilized once again, but instead of integrating their technology into pre-existing structures, were tasked with constructing an advanced biodome that would become the capital of the planet - the Hengsha Biodome Archology, named after Presiding Speaker Xin Hengsha.

New Gibson remains an industrial superpower within the Republic of Biesel, and is responsible for the production of the majority of industrial and consumer goods that can be bought within the region of space it encompasses - even exporting to lesser nations such as the Izweski Hegemony and the Peoples’ Republic of Adhomai. There are several events that have transpired on New Gibson in recent times:

August 18th, 2460: The Hengsha Biodome Archology is attacked by the Lii’dra Hive. Thousands are injured in the ensuing chaos, and the deployment of Black K’ois is first seen.

August 19th, 2460: New Gibson is placed in lockdown, and the New Valley Biodome experiences a communications blackout. Expeditions are launched by survivors to investigate.

August 21st, 2460: Black K’ois is finally contained on New Gibson, being confined to several controlled locations carefully monitored by authorities. The New Valley Biodome is discovered to be the breeding ground for an unknown substance.

September 4th, 2460: The Lii’dra are successfully repelled. Damages estimated from the carnage are high and expected to take months to repair. The death toll of the New Gibson invasion sits at 192.

Both the Phoron Scarcity and the King of the World Arc have brought several changes to the arcologies across New Gibson, mostly in the forms of compounding issues that many fear will turn into another Crisis of 2294. With most of the arcologies utilizing Phoron generators to power their districts, there have been several power fluctuations resulting in entire districts having to undergo brown-outs to ensure life-support is sustained throughout their archologies. There are calls from Gibsonites to address the developing issue, however, little has been done by the government - many voicing discontents as their calls fall on deaf ears. The Solarian Invasion of the Republic Biesel by the 33rd Fleet only added to the problems faced by New Gibson. Using the orbital bombardment of the arcologies as a diversion attempt, many of the levels close to the surface found themselves heavily damaged, and requiring extensive repairs. Much of the damage has not been repaired, due to the power constraints in the face of the Phoron Scarcity as arcologies face brown-outs in order to keep themselves alive, even just barely. The Crisis of 2294 lingers on the minds of Gibsonites, many fearing yet another may occur and plunge their planet into another era of darkness.