The Four Ages, a brief outline of Human Colonisation of the Sol System

The colonisation of the Sol System by human can be broadly defined into Four distinct Ages, though details regarding the first two are sparse due to the loss of great swathes of historical records during the third age, the so called Dark Time, an era of unprecedented conflict and destruction across the entire solar system.

The First Age, Expansion (roughly 2100 AD - 3000 AD)

Humanity begins to spread beyond the confines of Earth and out into the solar system, establishing colonies on Luna and Mars as well as the first space habitats, though terraforming remains a distant dream. By the third millennium humanity has reached the outer edge of the solar-system and is mining the Kuiper Belt.

During this time the transhuman movement began, rapidly giving birth to new and distinct strains of humanity capable of surviving and thriving the hostile environments outside Earth. Human-animal hybridisation, uplifting, technological augmentation and genetic engineering sees the birth of ever more distinct strains. Also during this time emerge the first true Artificial Intelligences. A great many diseases and disorders are eliminated and the human lifespan is greatly expanded as medical sciences improve.

By the turn of the third millennium human colonies can be found on nearly every world or moon, mining facilities reap the bounties of asteroids and gas giants and space habitats.

The Second Age, Transformation (3000 AD - 4100 AD)

Sometimes called the Golden Age for the incredible discoveries and technologies made, this was an era of unprecedented growth for the human race. Whilst the vast distances of interstellar space remained insurmountable, with faster than light travel purely theoretical, humankind turned its attention inward and began to transform the solar-system itself. Terraforming technologies improved to allow the metamorphosis of once inhospitable worlds and moons into viable earth-like environments and the creation of artificial miniature black holes paved the way for the proliferation of artificial planetoids and space stations with human friendly gravity. The Solar System went from possessing eight worlds to well over a hundred, though actual numbers are vague.

Whilst human civilisation was divided into numerous cultures and sub-species, it was a largely peaceful time with enough resources for all. No single governmental united the disparate strands of humanity though an organisation known as the United Nations worked to promote peace and security across the solar-system. Most saw it as a rather wasteful endeavour with very little real power.

The Golden Age would end with the discovery of the Aetheric Sea; another reality beyond our own that promised to revolutionise travel and potentially allow for humanity to finally reach other star systems. Instead, it would bring humanity close to destruction and usher in the Dark Time.

The Third Age, the Dark Time (4100 AD to ?)

From the Aetheric Sea an alien intelligence sought ingress into our universe. It corrupted those it infected and transformed them into monsters under its control. Billions perished with the destruction of numerous planetoids and colonies as the corruptive influence of the Sea spread across the solar-system. Humans began to develop physical and mental mutations and societies descended into chaos as people turned on one another. Nations fell apart and in the resulting power vacuums brutal warlords and self proclaimed pirate Kings and Queens took advantage, declaring themselves sovereigns of new territories. Worse was the rise of the so called Adversaries; the name attributed to groups whose reckless use of genetic engineering and other darker sciences changed them into wholly alien species. Names like the Strigoss, the Genitors and the Voydanirach became synonymous with bloodshed and terror.

Wars raged between the Adversaries, other nations and the mysterious power of the Aetheric Sea. Weapons of horrific potency were unleashed by those desperate enough and the loss of life was a scale never before imagined. A great many formerly flourishing worlds were devastated and a great swathe of historical records, knowledge and technologies were lost.

Hope came with the rise of the First Empire and its great legions and powerful navy. Under the command of a figure many came to see as divine the Empire drove back the forces of the Aetheric Sea and managed to seal it away before turning its attention to the Adversaries and other warlike factions. Over a campaign that lasted two decades the First Empire brought peace and stability back to the solar-system, though its methods were brutal and its Emperor feared for his lack of mercy. For the first time, the solar-system was united under one government and peace was ensured through the legions of genetically engineered cloned super soldiers and powerful psychics whose mystical powers made them formidable living weapons. Rumours abound them of them using tamed entities from the Aetheric Sea and of strange non-human beings in league with the Emperor. Still, for many the Empire was a welcome respite from the horrors they had endured during the Dark Time.

The First Empire reportedly reigned unchallenged for five centuries before its sudden and inexplicable collapse. The Emperor disappeared and his dynasty was destroyed in a costly civil war that almost reached the scale of destruction saw during its formation. As the Empire splintered new forces arose to challenge it, the most prominent being the Unified Worlds, though it would be some time before the latter would become a true super power.

The Fourth Age, Uncertainty

The mysterious Sovereign guides the Unified Worlds on its reunification crusade. It already controls the inner system and now seeks to expand into the wild outer region. Totalitarian and monolithic, the UW seeks order and stability no matter the cost. It works to resurrect lost technologies but strives to suppress history not approved by its supreme ruler and the High Council. The nations of the outer-system, long independent and fractious, prepare for invasion.

Meanwhile, remnants of the Adversaries emerge from hiding and seek to rebuild their power or forge new alliances. And perhaps the greatest threat of all stirs from dormancy; the Aetheric Sea and its strange intelligences seek ingress once more into our realm. Cults dedicated to an alien pantheon spread across colonies and worlds and the faithful hear whispered words of power and offers they cannot ignore.

Soon the solar-system will be engulfed in a cataclysmic war yet again. And this time, perhaps, no one will arise to lead humanity toward a better future.