This article covers the primary timeline from 2150 to 2198 and is sometimes referred to by historians as the "Rise of the Federation" or the "Federation Era"
2150-2155 The Calm Before the Storm
2150 An incredibly competitive Presidential election stalls the Federation briefly but it is remarked upon by many leading Senators and political observers that the new Political reforms have lead to a more robust Senate. Veteran Libertarian Vice President Jang Ryang is able to just about edge out his Federalist opponents to win the Presidency in 2150 and take up office. This is the first time that the Libertarian party has had power for three successive terms. Senator and former Vice President Pierre Kastevez becomes opposition leader over a weakened Federalist Party.
The TSA successfully conclude Operation Spirit Eagle, capturing sixteen key cell leaders and reportedly killing another 30 in a year long operation, largely based out of the lawless zones in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Syria. The TSA take its victory lap at this point and are lauded by its Federalist allies in the Senate.
2151 President Ryang successfully passes a major reform of financial regulations allowing some major new corporate investment. He narrowly gets approval to hand over the rights for Faster than Light Travel to the corporations, after a hugely lucrative auction.
The Karkouri successfully defeat the Vatu in their fourth war of the last one hundred years. The Federation stand aside and allow the Karkouri to win this war but the Tranoan Empire prevent a Karkouri occupation of Vatu worlds
2152 The Libertarian Administration pass a 10% FAS budget increase and also oversee a new investment in the FIS, TSA and ONI. The OSB is kept at current funding after talks to prevent it from being defunded.
Some political commentators accuse the Libertarians of pushing things too far one way as rampant corporate corruption leads to massive price hikes from the big four and the other "New Guard" corporations
2153 A Federalist lead committee investigate price fixing and insider dealing. Senator Jody Sickles leads the investigation, making her name with the Senate and the voting public.
There is much trouble within the Tazzyn Empire as there are rumors that there was an attempted coup by members of a rebel house.
2154 The "Sickles Committee" prove several major cases of corruption and graft against the Ryang administration which struggle with damage limitation. A combined Federalist/Community Party initiative overturns the President's budget and then shockingly overrides his veto, the first in the history of the Federation.
2155 The entire quadrant is shaken to its core, once again, by the death of a Tazzyn Emperor. The Emperor has died younger than expected and his heir is considered to be a weak one. The various great Tazzyn Houses move quickly to consolidate power. Two houses even openly try to take the throne. In the end, House van Pall are able to put the Imperial Heir onto the throne and reestablish themselves as the ruling dynasty.
President Ryang announces he will not seek another term and endorses Vice President von Falkenhayn. However Vice President von Falkenhayn is blown out of the water by Senator and former Vice President Pierre Kastevez who becomes the first son of a President to also become President (his mother was President Helen de Michelle). President Kastevez is also able to install Senator Adam Miranov as his Exec Chairman.
The Galaxy stands still, waiting to see how the Tazzyn empire will change with its new Emperor.
2156-2169 The Gathering Dark
2156 The Tazzyn Empire continued to suffer as the New Emperor struggled to exert any power away from the Imperial Capital. Houses Van Saar and Raviere had both refused to show fealty to the new Emperor and his court. Duke Addierr van Kalmen was appointed a powerful Lord Marshal and began the complex job of reuniting the Tazzyn Empire.
The Federation began to see increasing pressure on the Southern borders from the Gannid Empire. The Rorn and Bl'Hud were both put under severe pressure by the Gannid fleet and a new, smaller scale trade war began to wreak havoc with the two smaller races. The Federation backed up the Rorn during this and still supported their old ally the Bl'Hud.
2157 The Federation begins more legislation to reduce corporate corruption and insider dealing. The "fall out" from the old Ryang administration leaves the Federalists with a lot of work to do. They find surprising allies in the growing Community Party and begin a bi-partisan committee to sort out the corporations
Federation warships begin patrolling the trade lanes in the South. The MTS (Mutual Trade Station) based in Rorn space is partially militarized.
2158 The Tazzyn Empire finally reestablishes as the rebels houses both offer full fealty to the new Emperor. He shocks the Tazzyn Court by insisting on hostages being taken "as wards" from both Houses to enforce their loyalty.
2159 The FSS "Pices", a Federation Cruiser on commerce patrol in the Southern regions in Rorn space, is attacked and badly damaged by a mysterious ship which is later identified as a Gannid Commerce Raider. The Federation insists on an apology and reparations from the Gannid Empire.
Senate Hawks call for a declaration of war and a full deployment into Rorn space. The President stops just short of this but deploys another task force into Rorn space, taking the number of Federation warships on the Gannid border up to 50 (along with nearly 90,000 marines). The Gannid begin a massive up-scaling of their military on the border with the Bl'Hud and the Rorn
2160 President Kastevez is renominated as the Federalist Nominee for President in 2160. The Federalist Party call for Unity and even offer the Community Party to run on a Unity Ticket which they turn down. The election is fairly one sided as the Federalists defeat the Community Party and the Libertarian Party to win re-election. President Kastevez promises to keep the economy strong but to reduce tensions with the Gannid Empire
The Federation ships on the Gannid border continue to patrol the trade-routes. The tensions continue to escalate. Vice President Breen and Foreign Minister Kawashima both travel to the Gannid home-world to attempt to defuse the growing crisis
The Federation agrees to some trade concessions with the Gannid Empire in order to forestall a war with the aggressive Empire. The Federation loses face in the galactic community and the Gannid put more pressure on the Bl'Hud and Mor-Du Empires. Senate Hawks call for the President to "show his teeth".
2162-2164 -the Second Karkouri War
2162 The crisis comes in an unexpected quarter as the Fort Blue-Water in Karkouri space is attacked by a terrorist bomb. A Karkouri neutral trader explodes in the cargo bay killing more than nine hundred Federation personnel and putting the dry-dock out of action for nine months. The FAS mobilize a task force to go to Fort Blue-Waters aid. The Karkouri claim they had no involvement in the attack.
Very quickly FIS prove Karkouri involvement in the attack. President Kastevez very reluctantly declares war against the Karkouri Empire, starting the so called "Second Karkouri War."
The FAS deploy nearly sixty warships to the defense of Fort-Blue Water but the Karkouri quickly assault and capture the Fort, ending the long standing stain on Karkouri honor. The battle of Fort Blue Water is fought in December of 2162 and is a shocking defeat for the Federation. The hastily assembled task forces are no match for the battle trained Karkouri ships.
2163 The Federation regroups in the face of the defeat at the battle of Fort Blue Water. The Federation activates all reservists and unmothballs over sixty warships. The largest Federation military deployment for more than thirty years sees nearly one million people flock to the Federation's colors.
The Karkouri mount a cautious offensive into the Ross 159 System, attempting to capture (for the 2nd time) the key colony of St Lawrence. The Federation task force, under the command of Rear Admiral John Thorne, defeat the Karkouri invasion force in a pitched and very bloody battle as Indirian frigates and Federation warships fight side by side against the Karkouri task force.
In September of 2163 the Federation mounts two counter offensives over the border to attack Karkouri raider bases. The battle of Kdik is a victory for the Federation as Task Force 14 destroy the raider base and destroy six Karkouri frigates for the loss of just two of their own. The battle of Mzenkeer is a defeat for the Federation, Task Force 39 is outflanked and dealt a severe blow, losing ten ships.
The Tazzyn land occupying forces to "secure" the Federation colony worlds on the Tazzyn Border. The Tranoans move warships to guard their own border worlds.
2164 The war goes into its third year but is already slowing down and losing momentum. The threat of Gannid intervention is matched by Vatu intervention and the Karkouri Regime starts to become amenable to a peace treaty. The Federation make one final assault across the border, fighting the battle of Hazalik. This fierce battle sees Federation Task Force's 14 and 55 engage a larger Karkouri fleet in a brutal battle. The Federation wins a tactical victory but is forced to withdraw with heavy damage.
President Kastevez begins peace talks with the Karkouri and the war ends after three years and more than 10,000 Federation casualties.
2165 The fall out of the Second Karkouri war sees the Federation economy improve, Karkouri trade practices have been slightly pushed back the actual hot war. President Kastevez seems unwilling to laud it as a victory. He announces he'll not seek a third term as President. He endorses Jovian Administrator Christopher van Taggart as the Federalist Nominee. The resurgent Libertarian Party feel they have a great chance to win the Presidency. However there is a shock result as Community Party candidate Senator Rachael Vaughn is able to form a Minority Government and is elected President, the first Community Party President to manage this feat
The Community Party works with the now 3rd Party Libertarian Party to keep things on the right track. Some small scale corporate scale backs see the taxes and corporate taxes lowered. The Big Four (or Five as it now is) find a good working relationship between the two. The so called "Anchorage Agreement" sees the Big Five agree to work with the Federation on establishing new colonies and even investment in the FAS fleet.
2166 The Gannid Empire begins aggressive trading tariffs against the Federation and its allies and friends. The President sends foreign minister Javinder Rishi to the Gannid Empire to try and find a peaceful solution. Meanwhile the FAS insist that they can enforce Federation trading policies in the Southern sector against the Gannid Empire.
2167 The Quadrant becomes even more dangerous as a border conflict breaks out between the Vatu and the Tazzyn Empire. Tazzyn Raiders had repeatedly attacked across the Vatu border, provoking Vatu warships to counter-raid. The Emperor stops just short of declaring war but large numbers of Tazzyn Warships reach the border to enforce "Imperial Peace" on the Vatu.
The federation trade summit is a failure as the Rorn and Bl'Hud are signatories but the Gannid hold out once again. It comes down the Tranoans to defuse the situation between all four powers in the South
2168 With Federation prestige low, the President stakes her reputation on supporting the Vatu in their stand off with the Tazzyn Empire. The Federation braces itself and many dove Senators call the President "reckless" for putting the Federation square in the path of the quadrant's pre-eminent super-power. The stand off reaches its boiling point in November of 2168 but the Tazzyn never quite push a war and the crisis begins to ease off. Federation prestige is greatly boosted by its loyalty to an ally.
2169 The Tazzyn Empire abruptly seizes Tranoan colonies on the Tazzyn Border, claiming that pirate operations were coming from them. The Tranoans protest this blatant provocation. The colonies are released in May of 2169 and then retaken again in July of 2169 as Tranoan warships arrive. The Tazzyn landing force lands under the guns of the Tranoan ships who hold off from firing on the Tazzyn. The entire galaxy is pushed to the brink of the unthinkable, actual war between the Tazzyn Empire and the Tranoan Empire
2170-2198 The Age Of Terror
2170 - FAS army officers with some FAS fleet support attempt a coup, forcing President Vaughn to resign. Eventually Vice President Heller and Senator Piotr Kimov successfully end the coup with no real loss of life. Radical xenophobes and nationalists are implicated in the coup
There is an attempt to reform the intelligence services but this ends up being a mere strengthening of OSB.
The 2170 "snap" election is a blood bath where incumbents, especially hawks, lose their seats.
The 2170 Presidential Election sees the Federalists retake power from a stunned Community Party anda ridiculed Libertarian Party
2171 Newly elected President Rakiv is forced to deal with the escalating Tazzyn/Tranoan showdown. He succesfully forges an impressive compromise that results in a face-saving exercise for the Tranoans, gives up the territory that the Tazzyn want and keeps everyone alive a little longer.
He also brokered a very expensive military alliance with the Gannid Empire. This was forged on better trade ties between the two, at the expense of the Bl'Hud, Mor-Du and Rorn. The Federation made up for this short-fall in trade by subsidizing these races. The Federation lost a lot of prestige during this exchange
2172 The Tazzyn and Tranoan's both return to normal, cold war footing and the galaxy breathes a sigh of relief. President Rakiv wins the Nobel Peace Prize
2173 The Senate passes a reform bill that will allow representation for all colonies of the Federation at normal levels. For every colony with over 10,000,000 citizens, they will get one Senator. For each colony with less, they will get a non-voting Resident Delegate. The Branden-Locking Act is signed into Law by President Rakiv
Mars elects a Community Party Senator and a "Free Mars" Senator (who sits as an Independent). Whitworth elects a Federalist Senator and an Independent (who sits with the Community Party). St Lawrence elect a DFL Senator who sits with the Community Party but is still considered to be "Independent"
2174 Allied Technology announce record profits and begin to overtake Bradbury-Pyramid
2175 Another great Dhaugosk Migration sees nearly two billion Dhau enter the quadrant. The Federation opposes Tazzyn attempts to lead a conference on how to proceed, nearly causing a major diplomatic incident. The conference has little actual impact
President Rakiv, with a huge amount of popularity, wins re-election at a canter
2176 The Federation pass a law allowing all "Resident" Indirians on Federation worlds to become citizens
2177 The Senate passes another set of laws that will allow limited and skilled migration of most other races into the Federation
2178 The Trade Deal with the Gannid is now highly profitable. Allied Technology win the race to replicate and sell Gannid tech domestically
2179 The first Indirian to join the FAS begins his basic training as an enlisted crew-member. There are protests within FAS and by ultra-nationalist Senators. Some Libertarians call for an "Earth Guard" to be set up to protect Terran Racial Purity
2180 With the expiration of the Gannid treaty coming up, the Federation decide not to renew as the Gannid are insisting on bigger and bigger trade sanctions against the Rorn, Mor Du and the Bl'Hud
The TSA complete a successful anti-terrorist operation against Ultra-Nationalists in London and Munich
A resurgent Community Party win the Presidency in the 2180 Election
2181 The FAS goes through a major overhaul and the Community Party successfully pass a major military spending bill in peace-time
2182 President Pershing makes several visits to the Frontier and begins to hear out the interests and opinions of the Colonies
2183 A Tazzyn Commerce Raider destroys two Terran cargo transports on the Tazzyn Border. President Pershing attempts to force the Tazzyn to recompense the Federation but the Tazzyn claim the attack was made without orders and refuse to back down. President Pershing is forced into an embarrassing climb down
2184 A referendum on Mars narrowly rejects the growing call for Independence. The Free Mars movement is growing in strength all the time. Similar "free-colony" movements have grown across the Frontier
2185 The Federalist Campaign on widening and broadening the Federation, pushing a vision of a huge galactic wide alliance. This angers many xenophobes and nationalists but resonates with the Senate and the people. President Mutaya Abassi is elected President
2186 The Federalists, back in power, begin a series of meetings and committee hearings on more colonial involvement. Mars Senator Beckett Browne, is elevated to chairman of the FCA committee and is courted by the Federalists but remains a committed member of the Community Party
2187 Gannid trade imports and fierce trading practices begin to bite and a new trade war is born
2188 The FSS "Helena A" makes an incredible 13.1 light year jump, the longest single FTL jump in Federation history
2189 The Federalists pass a large scale reform of the Colonial Movement and FCA, making it easier for the colonies to gain funding and aid from the Federation. Large scale colonial building projects are funded and set to begin in 2190. The Community and Libertarian Parties both campaign against these measures
2190 The electoral showdown highlights the popularity of the vision of President Abassi as the Federalists win a 2nd term in the Presidency and take total control of the Senate. see The 2190 Presidential Election
2191 A Gannid commerce raider destroys a Federation sponsored tug in Rorn space. There is a brief showdown between the two powers which President Abassir successfully talks down.
The FAS begins another refit under chief of staff John Thorne
2192 A Senate bill finally allow the FAS to begin promoting officers to 3 and 4 star ranks, with Senate approval
2193 There is a shocking massacre of Federation citizens on the colony world of "Delta White" by Dhaugosk Mercenaries. The Dhau were hired by IronWorks, according to some in the Scout and Ranger Services. President Abassi takes some punitive action against IronWorks and sets up the Kassenbach Committee under Senator John Kassenbach (grandson to the great President).
2194 The Kassenbach Committee begin to indict IronWorks and Allied Tech executives. Both companies claim their innocence but several are sent down in highly expensive trials
The OSB finishes a major audit of FIS, TSA and ONI;
TSA recieves a good health report but is apparently too slow to react due to its own internal structure and bureacracy
FIS is horribly inefficient, over budget and as it currently stands, not fit for purpose (FIS refute this)
ONI is over-funded and needs a new remit. There is wide-spread wastage in the ONI
The senate reject calls to change the intelligence agencies, once again
2195 - Tensions grow between the Gannid Commonwealth and the Federation over raiding and trade wars
Vice President Alexander Krane defeats Community Party Senator Reuben Santiago to be elected President of the Federation
2196- President Krane makes good on his election promises, focusing on a peace treaty with the commonwealth. Senator Matthew Hunt, a senior Federalist ally, is sent to set up the deal and work with the Gannid Commonwealth.
President Krane then finalizes the deal and signs it into law, heralding a new age of peace between the two powers. The Bl'Hud and Rorn are both sold short by this new trading alliance but this is seen as the "price of doing business"
2197 - The Entire quadrant is shocked by the "Jump Space Tidal Wave" that knocks hundreds of ships out of jump space. A dozen Federation trading ships are lost and another thirty are damaged. Several FAS warships suffer damage too. The effect orginates in Tranoan space (or at the edge of it) and emanated over 300 light years in all directions, including Tazzyn, Vatu, Gannid, Rorn, Bl'Hud and Mor Du space. Theorertically, even the Taurlei were affected by it.
President Alexander Krane collapses addressing the Senate and is later removed from office when he cannot discharge his duties. Vice President Aldai Maracov becomes acting President and then in June is sworn in as President of the Federation.
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