Industrial Experiment
06-10-2004, 04:25
Note, though, that even if my homeworld is called Earth, is in a system called Sol, follows the same history as the regular Earth, it is not the Earth everyone knows and loves. It's merely a mathematical anomaly that is, by some huge cosmic coincedence, exactly like that Earth in every way.[/SIZE]
Central Earth Spaceflight Timeline
1952 - First human spacecraft with a living organism on board is launched. It is named Sputnik and is of Russian Origin
1969 - First human touches the surface of Earth's Moon on the Apollo 11 mission. The famous line "One small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind" is first uttered
2012 - Construction is begun on a space elevator by the most rich Capitalist Utopia of Industrial Experiment. Aid is sent by various countries around the world
2017 - First human sets foot on Martian soil during the Onward Mars program, mission 5. The timeless quote of astronaut George Smith is spoken, "I grew up with the space program. I'm sure all of you back on Earth know what I mean when I say it is truely great to be side-by-side with my brother as we both become men"
2036 - Man lands on Venus. Confirmation that women, in fact, have never been there, let alone came from there, is recieved
2040 Colonization efforts are made on Mars. First Martian "Town" consists of 60 trained individuals living in a total of 7 large pressure domes. Population eventually expands to 600 under 29 large pressure domes
2051 - Beginning of Project Exodus in which many asteroids throughout the belt between Mars and Jupiter are hollowed out for later colonization
2074 - Construction of the space elevator is complete, along with the initial space station "Star Town". Efforts on expanding Star town are begun
2079 - Project Exodus ends with the end result of 207 hollow asteroids spread throughout the belt.
2087 - The first asteroid, nicknamed New Jamestown by the American and Europeon colonists, is settled along with minor internal terra-formation by the way of "Zoo Chambers"
2101 - (War was beginning...no, not really =P) The number of settled asteroids reaches the ten mark, spread between the joint US/EU effort and the Chinese space program, just in time to welcome in the 22nd century
2122 - After several decades of expansion, Star Town is renamed Star City as the population reaches 100,000 living in orbit
2134 - Early attempts at terraforming Mars begin
2144 - After tens years of utter failure, all programs in action on the Terraformation project are cancelled
2182 - Construction of the gigantic tow ship, Cosmic Bulldozer, is begun in high Earth orbit with the intention of dragging Mars into a more suitable orbit
2206 - The Bulldozer is complete and begins its year-long journey to Mars
2207 - After a much celebrated arrival at the Red Planet, the Bulldozer begins to charge its massive magnetic grapples and align its mass acceleration engines, both processes projected to take up to two years
2209 - Finally completing all pre-checks, the Bulldozer begins its job. However, just as the first nuclear explosions are set off to destablize Mars' orbit, a mass acceleration engine misfires and completely demolishes the Cydonia settlement. The preemptive shot also uncoordinates all the rest of the MA engines and only the split-second decisions of the Bulldozer's captain and the valor and skill of her crew allow the ship to use its magnetic grapplers to save Mars from a fatal fall out of its current orbit and into the sun
2216 - The last mass accelerator is realigned and recheck and, on a day that marks one of Mankind's greatest achievements, all of them fire in perfect sequence, allowing the magnetic grapplers to steer the planet on a course that will lead it directly to its new, warmer orbit after a four year journey
2220 - With the completion of the orbit change, the terra-formation process begins on Mars
2231 - At the completion of the Mars Project, Mankind finally proves that not even Nature herself can thwart him
2262 - If only to tell the rest of the Universe that He is insatiable, a gigantic electro-magnetic vacuum is constructed and brought to Venus, where it is used to completely drain the atmosphere
2269 - As the last bits of atmosphere are finally drained, science teams are dropped to the surface to begin planning for a terra-formation project. While exploring a series of defunct volcanoes, one of the single most monumentous scientific discoveries of the century is made; several distinct species of microi-organisms, some as advanced as protists, are discovered
2271 - The process of terra-forming Venus is begun
2280 - The Venus Project is completed and millions of colonists swarm to the virgin planet, hoping to start new lives
2384 - After more than a hundred years of human habitation each, Mars and Venus are both declared as Earth's sisters in both appearence and make-up. Most observers have difficulty determining the difference between the three without outside references
2395 - After much deliberation in governments around the world, a single government is formed to unite all the nations of Earth and her colonies under one banner; the Human Imperial Republic. However, several nations of no small note resist and war breaks out
2399 - As peace is finally achieved with the signing of the Bejing Peace accord and the defeat of the African Union, the short four year war is declared a monstrosity for its immense casualties and the Imperial government vows to avoid war as much as possible
2401 - Following two years of Imperial Military occupation of China, Africa, and Eastern Russia, full peace is finally declared, and all forces are withdrawn
2402 - Beginning of the Pax Terrana, an almost four hundred year period in which peaceful expansion throughout the solar system reigns. Almost the entire asteroid belt is colonized as any rock big enough to support a family is either bored out and terra-formed or bubbled under and filled with air. Not only that, but new colonies amongst the Gas Giant's moons are founded, the largest of which being the Europan Water Suppiliers and the colonies on Ganymede. Titan is terraformed, but no large settlements develop as it becomes more of a resort world with its large methane lakes
2781 - The Cult of Centuria reveals itself to the public. This cult, supposedly hailing back to the early 22nd century, had become obsessed with genetics, turning themselves slowly from normal homo sapien sapiens to homo sapien centurion. The Centurions are superior to normal humans in every way; able to survive a direct hit from a laser or in complete vacuums. Tensions throughout the Imperial Republic heat up as many officials fear the Centurions
2801 - After twenty years of amassing a fleet beyond Neptune, the Centurions begin the long awaited assault on the so-called 'Inferior Humans' with a sweep across the moons of Saturn and Jupiter. After the capture of the facilities on Europa, however, they halt their amazing progress and begin to strengthen their fleet using the shipyards in orbit around Io
2807 - With numerous small skirmishes on either side of the asteroid belt breaking out since the initial campaign of the Centurions, who have declared a Kingdom of Centuria stretching from the Jovian system all the way out to Pluto, the Imperial governments decides to create a massive fleet in hopes of crushing the Centurions
2812 - Finally taking note of the build-up, the Centurions begin to move en-masse towards the asteroid belt. When they reach it, they are met by the newly commisioned Grand Imperial Navy of the Imperial Republic. A massive battle breaks out, with the outnumbered Imperials playing a defensive game until the Imperial flag-ship, the Argus, is destroyed in a gargantuan display of Centurion firepower. While panic does initially reign, Rear Admiral Hindrik Molkov gains control and demonstrates a naval genius that remains unparalled in the annals of Imperial history by completely decimating the Centurion navy, which withdraws back to Jovian space
2817 - While several border raids do occur across the asteroid belt, the Centurion Wars quickly cool down into a relatively Cold War with much of the fighting being done by long-range missiles
2834 - Having rebuilt their great fleet, the Centurions again attempt a border crossing through the asteroid belt. They are again met by the Imperial Navy. However, this time, the Imperials are no longer new to the concept of space battle with large fleets and gigantic ships, and the Centurions are quickly routed by overwhelming Imperial weaponry and strategy. Attempts are made by the Imperials to invade Centurion space but the fleet is quickly repulsed by orbital defenses around Jupiter
2856 - The final offensive of the war is made as the bolstered numbers of the Imperial fleet use powerful new weaponry and strong armor, matched with great numbers and combat knowledge to sweep through Centurion space, winning back the Jovian system in only a single year
2857/8 - The Saturan system, though proving a formidible shell to break into, is finally recaptured by the bold sailors of the Imperial Fleet and the valorous marines of the Imperial army
2859 - The Centurion Wars officially end as the last Centurion enclave on desolate Callisto is destroyed and the final Centurion hunted down and killed in the deeps of Europa's oceans
2861 - Years of increased funding and feverish research during the Centurion Wars foster a major breakthrough in energy physics. The completion of a singularity generator in high Earth orbit allow for major advances in field previously thought redundent
2867 - Adam Gregor, earning a Nobel Prize and trillions of isolats for his work, finally unviels to the government and the entire human race the first spurt-jump engine (See my technology thread to understand the significance)
2901 - After many years of testing of the spurt-jump engine and building of the ships to carry it, the Age of Expansion officially begins with the launching of the first spurt-jump capable colony ships, the TSS Terra Jump
2902 - The Terra Jump arrives at its destination, a roughly Earth-sized rock in a nearby star system, and sends home its message of triumph to Earth over the new SAAD systems. Countless trillions celebrate as the world is named New Earth
2912 - Over a hundred fifty year period, over three hundred colony ships are launched throughout nearby space, colonizing fifty new systems with an almost 100% success rate
2964 - The TSS New Beginnings makes the greatest discovery in biology since cell theory at its destination. In the same system as its target world is a world with a dense methane atmosphere, home to several hundred races of Silicon-based lifeforms
3002 - The TSS Freedom stumbles across the first intelligent, alien life humans have ever encountered inhabiting its target world. A year is taken to study the species, estimated to be roughly at the same technological and cultural development stage as the Roman Empire of three thousand years ago. Soon afterward the Freedom turns back to Earth and jumps back without making contact
3048 - In an unprecedented step, the crew and colonists of the TSS Megajump make first contact with an alien civilization encountered on their target world. The civilization is estimated to be about where humans were during the 18th century technologically, and the 22nd century culturally
3050 - Contact with the TSS Homeward Bound is lost while it is on its way to a system outside current Imperial space in an attempt to expand borders
3053 - A probe sent after the Homeward Bound discovers the wreckage of the ship in an outer orbit of its target system. Before contact is also lost with the probe, various sensor records of a large, alien fleet are picked up
3055 - A massive detachment of the Grand Imperial Navy arrives at the Homeward Bound's target system, now called the Graveyard, and encounters the alien fleet. Nearly the entire Navy detachment is destroyed by a quarter their number, only managing to defeat them in the end due to a brilliant manuever of then Captain James Cook II, direct descendant of the privateer of over a thousand years before. All wreckage in-system is recovered, including the Homeward Bound, before the fleet heads back to Earth, leaving only a small picket force at the Graveyard
3056 - Contact with the Graveyard Picket Fleet is lost, and a new, larger fleet is sent from Earth back to the Graveyard
3058 - Only shortly after arriving, and with only a few incoherent yells before it happens, contact is lost with the fleet detachment. It is presumed at the time that some form of jamming was involved, though no one knows how to jam SAAD systems. Later, captured Proge records confirm that several HIRIE ships are captured and their navicomps cracked
3060 - The aliens, now known as Proge, begin a massive campaign across human space, conquering colony after colony and enslaving the resident humans. Twenty years of fighting ensue as the humans struggle to play a defensive war against the overwhelming might of the Proge, who seem to revel in using massive wave tactics as if they have unlimited production capabilities
3082 - The Proge offensive culminates in the seige of the New Earth system, which is only evacuated through the military genius of the now Rear Admiral James Cook II
3084 - In the most massive display of force in history, the Proge launch an assault on the Sol system. The battle lasts for several months, and sees the fall of countless men and women on the front, near the edge of the system, before the Proge are finally beaten back by the combined firepower and, again, tactical might of the newly promoted Admiral James Cook II
3085 - A twelve year counter-offensive begins as humans slice through Proge positions in formerly human space and relclaim long lost system, freeing countless hordes of humans forced into slavery by the Proge
3097 - The First Proge War finally ends as the very last Proge fleet is destroyed at, ironically, the Graveyard. Scouting forces are launched to attempt to find the source of the Proge invasion, but there is no luck
3103 - Expansion beginds anew as many systems that were destroyed by the Proge are recolonized
3110 - A study by the University of Sol on Earth of various planets throughout known space discover thirteen new alien species, bringing the total count to one hundred seven, four of which are sentient
3154 - The first truely Earth-like planet is discovered during a survey sweep attempting to find signs of intelligent life, or even the Proge, on the opposite of human space from the Graveyard system. The TSS Fly Away is reassigned and renamed the TSS Terra and is launched towards the planet quickly
3156 - Upon arrival at the Earth-like planet, the crew of the Terra bestow upon it the ship's own name, and immediately begin an orbital survey in an attempt to find a good spot to begin a colony. The survey, along with providing a good landing place, also discovers millions of new alien species, none of which are sentient
3174 - After nearly twenty years of colonization and the construction of two space elevators, the Terran colonists launch the Hubble 2, a simply massive space telescope
3209 - The Hubble 2 is destroyed in a terrorist attack by a communist rebellion on Terra
3211 - The rebellion is successfully put down by Imperial army forces from Earth
3216 - The Terrans launch a new telescope, the Hubble 3, into orbit
3220 - The Hubble 3, in a step that far exceeded expectations, discovers a new Earth-like planet relatively nearby to Terra
3222 - A colonization effort is launched with the TSS Fly towards the planet
3223 - Contact is lost with the TSS Fly. A naval taskforce is launched to investigate
3224 - A small Proge fleet is encountered along the route to the new Earth-like planet, but advances in technology since the last Proge War allow the Imperial Taskforce to decimate the Proge, suffering only one loss out of a total of twelve ships, while destroying eight of the nine Proge ships, and capturing the other. Oddly enough, the remains of the Fly are not among the wreckage
3226 - After much interrogation and hacking into the Proge navicomps, the location of the Proge Dominion is finally revealed
3232 - In the panic that naturally accompanies such a revalation, the Imperial Government puts together the largest fleet in Imperial history to sweep across Proge space, eliminating their space capabilities
3236 - The fleet arrives in Proge space, and proceeds to use their new technological and numerical advantage to obliterate the Dominion. Even though the humans did not target the worlds for destruction or the populace for enslavement, the Proge used surgical techniques to destroy a planet whenever they appeared to be losing the battle in its defense
3245 - After only nine short years of sweeping through the Proge Dominion, the Imperial Fleet crushes the final bit of Proge resistance at their homeworld, Progess, which proceeds to detonate like every other Proge world, seemingly killing the last of the Proge
3246 - With the end of the Second Proge War came an advancement in spurt -jump technology that would forever change the workings of the Imperial Republic. The ability of new gravitic fields being able to manipulate the energy released from a bursting quantum singularity allows the engine to unbend space much farther than before, shortening travel times to a fraction of their former selves
3250 - As the official beginning of the second Pax Terrana, this year marks the birth of new human ingenuity as the final barrier between man and hyperspace is thrown down witht he invention of GAD sensors. The next several centuries are relatively peaceful, only the occasional pirate giving the Republic any trouble
3700 - The historic 'breaking of ground' on the Trans-Stellar Worm-Hole Generating Particle Accelerator is begun using new mass matter-transmution techniques discovered in the last century. The Worldships that are to guard the TSWHGPA, or Gateway 01, were also begun this same year, with the shipyards in the center of what would be Gateway 01 growing up as a result
3903 - Construction of Gateway 01 is complete and the first Worm-hole capable ships begin transitting throughout Imperial Space in an hour or less
3919 - The four Worldships that currently protect Gateway 01 are completed, and move to take up their fateful positions at the four points around Gateway 01
3999 - During a scouting expedition in search of new colony worlds, the Hammer class battlecruiser Pillar of Truths and its small taskforce run into an apparently benevolent alien force, which is later identified as the property of a nation called ShadowTech by a probe that follows the alien ships back to their homeworld
4000 - A diplomatic relationship is struck up with ShadowTech (As of yet unRp'ed), and a large fleet, known as the Grand Exploratory Fleet is sent out into areas outside Imperial Space in search of new life and civilization
4002 - The Federation of Germanische Zustande is encountered and, though initial talks go very well, the Federation is threatened with war. Even though the Marshall in charge of the GEF wished to stay and assist the Federation, the Imperial Government ordered him to bring the fleet home at all possible speed and not to engage any enemy vessels
4002 to 4005 - All Imperial vessels are equipped with a newly discovered shielding technology, then redeployed to their original locations. This is signficant because, up until now, no Imperial ships had any significant shielding against energy weapons or other high-penetration weapons due to their lack of energy shielding. They were dependent upon their strong and sturdy design to hold up under heavy fire
Siesatia
06-10-2004, 04:58
As the aniversery of my 500 post, I am posting my nations History.
Siesatian History (Abridged)
The original Siesatians were human; they were not proficiently advanced in anything, except the science of genetics. The president then decided to use that technology to recreate an intelligent creature that had died out long ago, and use them as slave labor. They acquired the necessary DNA from fossils and succeeded in reestablishing an extinct creature. However, they realized that the Utah raptor was too fierce and unintelligent to use as slave labor, and destroyed them.
However, a rouge group of scientists decided to try again, this time, tweaking the genes that controlled brain growth. This time they created creatures smarter than they were which presented an even greater problem. The lab scientists realized that they responded to speech, and could learn extremely advanced tasks very quickly, but they were too smart, and escaped to the nearby jungle. All 1000 of them made it.
Over the next 100 years they built a society, one that rivaled the Siesatians in technological prowess and intelligence, until war broke out, the Human Siesatians were destroyed, and the entire population of raptors took over the land, taking the name of their creators. However, nations saw the great threat of these new creatures, and drove them from the earth, and to the moon, where we have stayed.
No, Utah Raptors do not eat only meat; the creating scientists quickly discovered that they were omnivores by nature. Humans had a tendency to be scared of us, so we developed holographic systems to aid in diplomacy. A tendency towards being vain, they would have chosen what they believed to be a ‘good appearance’ for their holographic projection. They're ancestors existed in a time where physical prowess was the key to victory, and humans exist in a time where that doesn’t matter, raptors know that they are superior physically, but find humans to have a great deal of perseverance and patience.
The First war, was not really a war, but a slaughter, humans were killed to a point where they could no longer bring themselves to fight. Those who gave up were captured, and later, incorporated into the society. However, 10 years after the war ended, the populous of earth began to cower at the thought of such a powerful nation, however small, existing on earth, and drove them off, it was believed by the countries of earth, that they had died out. The raptors have yet to forgive themselves for this slaughter, even many, many years afterwards.
Making their home on the dark side of the moon, they built up a powerful civilization, and moved into the light once again. Earth had advanced much, and more tolerant nations had come into power. Siesatian Fighters soon became common sight in space, as did carriers. The Paradox at the time was the only carrier design.
This brought Siesatia to open diplomatic relations to the universe, and opened her up to the violation of rights many countries were committing, including a small, theocracy named Cherry Ridge.
Cherry Ridge was sufficiently less advanced than Siesatia, and ran off of ‘It is better to be feared than loved’ they killed all those who were not of their religion, and killed all those who didn’t believe in what they believed. So, Siesatia, along with their allies Democratic Colonies, succeeded in the takeover of Cherry Ridge, unfortunately, the former president, did not claim the land, but put Cardinal DeVito back into power, and was later stabbed in the back by the dictator.
Siesatia later joined ISEC, where she later became the Defense Chairman, and contributed greatly to it.
Siesatia also joined the UFP. And soon after discovered a planet, in a virtually uninhabited solar system, named the Gaia System, where the race of the Burmecians was added to Siesatia.
However, this was a time of great political change, and President Nicholas Crescent came to power, when Former President Drake Rille retired. He saw what the former president refused to see, the corruption of the UFP, and quit. Siesatia was later accepted into ESUS. Siesatia had grown much since her early years, and will continue for some time later.
Kaukolastan
06-10-2004, 06:27
Well, since you asked...
This post takes the founding of my nation up until the very moment I posted on NS for the first time, so it serves as a pre-RP history. The consolidated Second Republic of Kaukolastan History (covering the from first post until end of Deicide RP) will be posted after the end of the Deicide RP Saga.
Without further adieu... the Pre-NS History:
A Focus on Kaukolastan:
The Technology of Empire
It is in these windswept plains of Valen, the northeastern island of Kaukolastan, that we find the traces of the past of this nation. Here, entire battles lay beneath the earth; fortresses still emerge on rivers and hills, holding the now calm plains under their now archaic guard. Here, the search for history begins. Before us stands the fortress of Vale, the castle of the Lord of Vale, ruler of this island. Now, it lies in ruins, centuries of natural decay have weathered away the stone walls, and the river has been dammed up to a lake. Now, imagine this, one thousand years ago...
That castle stood on the hill, surrounded by water on three sides and a sheer cliff on the last, looking over the most fertile lands in any of the islands. Banners would have hung from its spires, ballistae and catapults lined with archers on the walls, while cavalry rode the countryside. Smiths and merchants plied their trades in the armored city outside of this citadel, and the peasants tilled the earth beyond. The city grew, expanding beyond the walls, but the walls expanded as well, until the rings layered seven deep and spanned miles, each inch of it designed for lethality... for this was not their native land. The Emperor of Corsis, the now central island, had declared this island to be the destiny of the Empire, and as such, it fell beneath the imperial might. The natives fought fiercely, but not ferocity could stand before the sheer organization and innovation displayed by the Empire on a regular basis. As such, Valen fell, and after the centuries, it became part of the Empire... but how did this happen? We take you back to the beginning, perhaps about two thousand B.C.E.
The first settlers to arrive in the island chain were not native, but a naval fleet of some long lost civilization. From what archeologists have gathered, this was a highly advanced culture, with many tablets written in not only Greek or Latin, but also Egyptian Glyphs and Runic inscriptions. However, they became embroiled in a war with what they describe as the "Eastern Empire". They decimated their opponent in battle after battle, but unable to sustain losses against their vastly larger foe, this nation realized defeat was inevitable. They evacuated a large portion of their populace, sailing west with all they had. With them were elements of other civilizations that chose to follow their flight. This was explained in this tablet, recovered in 1943 in Terenaus Harbor:
It is dawn now, and the fleet is assembled. I looked back to home, but there was only fire as the army burned our own lands, to keep our goods from theft. Burn it all, we decided, lest it be taken. The elders spoke on this, and it was far better for the secrets of Greek Fire and these new weapons to remain forever lost. I cried as the Great Library burned, but I cried more for the searing to come, and the life and knowledge lost. It was a dark day for our people, but we dare not let these weapons remain... they have turned the Eastern Empire against us, and we fear that if they spread, war would become all the more terrible. Our warriors still cling to these objects, though, using them to protect us from any attack. I suppose this is as it must be. So we take our people, and burn our land.
The navy is here, and we are escorted with merchants and refugees from across the known world, coming with us in the hope of starting anew. Every civilized culture must surely be here, for I hear many languages I do not know. We sail east now, past the very force we fight. Ships have reported new land there, and we seek to find it, to make it our own. May the gods stay with us.
-Elder Ures
The fleets made it as far as Corsis and the small island of Geridan, where they, running low on supplies, decided to land and make camp. As days passed, and no plans were laid to set back to sea, it became apparent that this was to be the new home. On Geridan, the local tribes attacked the landing ships, which then set the forests ablaze with a primitive incendiary, made from naphtha and a form of soap. They established the stronghold of Brakkengard, and mostly left that island alone, a decision which has plagued the nation of Kaukolastan to this day, as the constant police actions can attest. However, the new arrivals found that the island they dubbed "Corsis" was a much more welcoming habitat.
Covered in hills and rich in resources, the refugees made contact with the indigenous tribes. Unlike on Geridan, the natives were not hostile, but welcomed the new arrivals with reverence, awed by the power of devices brought along, such as primitive telescopes, compass, and maps of great precision. The arrivals worked with the natives, who, although friendly, had not yet advanced into the Bronze Age. Immediately, these industrious immigrants set to work, fortifying the mountains, constructing armored cities, and tapping into lakes and streams. Mills and blacksmith workshops rose at rapid pace, and the refugees attempted to recreate their beloved home, to re-establish their civilization.
However, something had changed in them, after being driven from land to land. Before, they had pursued science for its own end, to aid human life, and to please the gods they worshipped. That was unchanged by the wars and terror. But now, their desire for the next idea was fueled by fear and revenge, and the brilliance of these early citizens was put to military use, and to thoughts of Empire, as this report, on a scroll from 1486 BCE from the Consul of a region to the council, can attest:
Life in the province is advancing greatly. Marcus wishes to construct a great ballista on the Feruan Ridge, and I have given my approval. We believe that we can mount enough siege weapons on the coasts to rain hell upon any enemy seeking to land. No longer will we fear invasion, as our might is quite clear, in the walls and mounts. The aqueducts are flowing effectively into the city, guaranteeing multiple sources, and the sewers, although overused, have been fine at maintaining sanitation. How these primitives could live in such filth is beyond me, and I long to return to the Capital.
However, there is also the feeling of performing some great deed here, which I cannot deny, even in my most cynical moment. We've been building billows, mills, and screws nonstop, and we've paved three avenues to the local towns. The natives are quite grateful, and they emulate us at every turn. They're eager to join us, and to learn, especially about the sea and about astronomy. Why, they've even begun enlisting in the Guard!
As such, I've ordered the barracks to take indigenous wives, and to attempt to bring them into our society now, lest things become worse later. On other fronts, we've begun constructing not only a university, but a temple, and dockyards on the River Hysh.
Yours from the outlands, Consul Felinius.
As time passed, the organization so loved by these people coalesced into a feudal government, then the First Republic, and eventually, Empire. In 859 BCE, Consul Terron, returning from a military action against the continued native presence in Geridan, turned his swelling popularity upon the capital. He felt that the government had been too slow to act after the native raiders had destroyed a small town, and that they could have moved swifter with a more centralized power. As such, he returned to Corsingard in triumph, escorted by legions of his soldiers and with citizens from the outlying provinces, who feared for their safety from the barbaric neighbors. He took to the central square, and delivered what is known as, "The Argument Against Direct Democracy":
...as such, they did not act, for a tally was required. The cities burned, the mills were shattered, but nothing could be done, for there was no vote! The people cried for an army, but this needed a Forum! The Forum itself was shattered under Barbarian might, and they held a vote to create a new Forum! We cannot survive like this. Our neighbors in Vale and Terenaus build armies as we speak; seeking to finish the work these Barbarians began! We need a centralized power, a means to defend ourselves! I do not call for a royal line, but for a chosen magistrate, from the people, that can act without having to hold seven votes on the food to be served at the debate!"
Terron sought to reform, but his message grew amongst the people, resonating in those who feared attack or had lost family and friends to the neighboring lands. Riding that surge of support, Terron accepted the role of Imperator, even after refusing the title seven times. An attempt on his life was easily avoided, and his popularity rose to new heights, he putting forward a constitution that is still held to by some degree today. There was a Senate to set law, a Tribunal to judge it, and an Imperator to execute it. All positions were elected for life, and they remained until retirement or death, although some were removed by three-fourths Census. This freed the government of political bonds, and allowed them to act as it was needed. With this new system in place, the new Empire turned outwards.
First to meet the might of Kaukolastan was the Kingdom of Sorobade, to the south. Rich in ores and gold, this kingdom sought to establish dominance over the Kaukolastani Empire, but the attack was crushed on the southern coasts by tremendous ballistae, catapults, and the use of the naphtha weapon. Immediately, an army was raised, and the navy was assembled. In 734 BCE, the Grand Fleet sailed on Sorobade. In the early battles, the Kaukolastani Legions demonstrated the power of their science and order. The rough lines of the opposing forces were met with Phalanxes, Cataphracts, and Tercios. However, the most devastating weapon was the Engineers' Legion, which was soon to be debuted.
To take the city of Carn, the Empire seized the seemingly unimportant northern city of Jurath, and dammed the river Albine. As the Sorobade Lords realized what was happening, they launched a desperate strike on the Kaukolastani levies, but the Pincer shattered their forces as heavy cavalry swept from the sides and the pikemen blocked the advance. The dams were finished, and the river was diverted into Carn, flooding the defenses. The Kaukolastani Navy then sailed into the city on the new river and laid it to waste with naval power.
As their forces moved on Terenaus, the capital, the Sorobade Armies prepared one last strike. The Kaukolastani Legions fell back to the end of the Teriv Canyons, and the Sorobade Forces advanced towards them. But it was a trap, and the canyon walls fell apart, plunging onto the opposing army. The Kaukolastani Engineers, who had merely been seen as road builders and aqueduct creators until Carn, demonstrated their value with charges of mercury fulminate along the rocks. The first demolitions in recorded history brought the rocks down upon their enemies, and Terenaus was overrun. It was led by Procurators at first, but as the citizens embraced their new rulers, they were granted citizenship and the election of their own Senators and a Consul.
Again, it was the power of technology that allowed them to win, and the Empire took this to heart. Their advanced tactics and weaponry had allowed them to devastate numerically superior foes, and then, the roads, mills, sewers, aqueducts, and metal works had won over the citizens. What was doctrine had become dogma, and the cities were soon overrun with the rapid expansion of infrastructure. All was made orderly, all was made modern. The sanitation and resources began to gain reputation, and refugees fled to Kaukolastan's borders with increasing frequency.
As the mines began to expand in Terenaus, and more Legions created, more Universities sprang up, and people began to question the gods. In 93 CE, the first Christian Missionaries began to arrive, and they were quickly embraced. As the State had been consolidated in power, it had gained in effectiveness. To the citizens, it was likewise obvious that one God was greater than many gods, and Christianity was quickly adopted and mandated for all citizens. With it came rules of conduct that forced some changes upon Kaukolastan. Art began to grow in value, and Monasteries rose with the Universities. Both groups shared the same goals... to reach for the greater. Unlike many other powers, religion and state had no problems with each other, and the relationship was often complementary.
In 274 CE, the northwestern nation of Artems came to Corsis, not for war, but to join together under the Empire. They were quickly merged into the Kaukolastan System, and they took very well to the ideas of the mainland. Artems had always been strong in their philosophy and theology, never warlike. The protection of the Empire allowed them to carry out their thoughts without fear of attack. Continuing throughout this era, the Empire grew. After every conflict, another small state was added to the banner, and despite original troubles, the advances in science made the conquest less troublesome. During this period, the Empire reached out, trading their goods in return for other knowledge and art and theory. Their reputation spread after the island of Hertlin was demolished and tilled with salt for murdering three missionaries. After that, it was said that a Kaukolastan Citizen could sail to any foreign land and never be touched, for every criminal knew that they would pay a hundred fold.
In 792 CE, the powerful Nation of Valen came into war with Kaukolastan over a matter of possession of several islands. The war swayed back and forth for years, both sides never committing to a massive assault. In 804 CE, Artems attacked Corsis with a force of Knights and Pikemen. What happened to them upon reaching the beaches is not well known, but this report was recovered from a General who ordered the retreat:
...it was hell upon the beaches. Siege weaponry reigned upon our heads from vast engines, and arrows struck us with impunity. The Kaukolastan dogs had laced their arrows in toxin, and our soldiers' screams were heard for days, lying in the sand. They rained fire on us from pre-built positions, never taking the field with us. I would call them cowards, but it worked so devastatingly well that I fear it may be a better tactic than to actually engage. Our ships were attacked by theirs, and fire fell from the air and filled the waters... they possess bows as tall as a man, and some that sit on the shoulder, like a fiddle. Three thousand dead in an hour, and the bodies piled onto the burning beaches... I fear we have stumbled into a war we cannot win...
After this, the Empire seized the initiative, attacking Valen without remorse. These same weapons that had allowed them to dominate the defensive allowed them to press the attack, and the vaunted Engineers soon had another trick for their opponents. It was said that the fortress of Tir Ramoth could not be taken, for it sat in a lake, and it was high above the other lands, with strong walls and well crafted battlements. Four armies had broken on its ramparts, and more had fled from its gate. But Kaukolastan had no plans to take this castle. Instead, they debuted the fearsome "battle cannon", a primitive cannon created by combining Chinese gunpowder with the brutal logic of the Universities. The iron balls demolished the great fortress, and after three days of cannonade and trebuchet attack, Tir Ramoth fell.
From there on out, Valen fought a losing war. Every time they took the field of battle, they were devastated by the superior range of the Imperial forces, as well as their conviction in combined cavalry-archer-footman maneuvers, including the vaunted Slash Maneuver, where the pikemen line faked a messy retreat, goading the Artems Cavalry to attack in full. But through the pike lines, the Kaukolastani Paladins charged, cutting the turning Valen soldiers to ribbons. Again and again, the Empire cut down the opposing forces. In one battle, they even covered an entire field in naphtha, and then lit it ablaze when the opposition charged them, burning the forces away, and forever ending the era of the knight and footman in the region, long before the concepts had even been introduced in Europe or Asia. Valen fell, and much like many before, and was soon a province of the burgeoning Empire.
From this point until 1237 was the "Golden Age" of the Kaukolastan Empire. Learning and art were the mainstays, and great palaces and cathedrals were built. Leaps were made in technology, and the Empire was respected a feared throughout the known World. The highly developed culture, emphasis on learning, and the savage military tactics made the Empire a beacon in the world. In the late eleven hundreds, there was even a stock market of sorts, founded on the basis of the mines and the large Guilds.
But this was not to stay, as the Empire soon fell into decline. What hundreds of foes could not do, the Empire did to itself, rotting away inside. Culture became decadence, ambition became lust, and contentment became sloth. Over the decades, the central government became ripe with gossip and scandal, and leaders were pulled from office often before their names could be recorded. Families began to wage war for power in government, and Terenaus was completely taken by the Miner's Guild. The military, too, began to suffer, divided along faults. The Legions began to falter, and knowledge began to be lost. In 1401, the Great Library was torched by revolutionaries, and the Empire was no more, merely a weak confederacy of semi-independent nations.
In 1753, a man known as Vizeroth Drakk rose to power as Chancellor of the Confederacy. Angry with the decadence and decay, he quickly moved into a plan he simply called "The Return". He re-nationalized the armies, banned the Guilds, and eliminated most of the Senate, which had grown to over a thousand members. He replaced key officials with fellow visionaries or the "New Empire", and his public rallies fed anger at the decay in society. He turned this anger to a good purpose, pointing out to the world they had for so long watched and was now leaving them behind.
...we can no longer ignore this! The world we used to lead is leaving us! They have forgotten the glory of the Empire, the might and beauty our people guarded. But this is rightly so! We are fallen! We are waste! How is this, you ask! You call me a liar, but I am not! For too long, our nation has rested, has turned away... it is our right, our duty, to seize the vanguard! We cannot fall inwards; we cannot implode like a mere foreign nation! We are a light, a beacon, and if we go out, I fear! Oh, I fear! But what can we do, you ask... I tell you this! We must move. I have brought the guilds under control, I have fired the bureaucrats. I have streamlined the armies and the services, I have dropped the stifling taxes... but I cannot do more.
Look at your children, and to their children! Is this to be our legacy? A slide into ignominy? No! I say. Never! We must seize, we must produce! Even now, we are mocked in foreign lands, who sit in their stolen wealth... we must show them, show the world! We must rise now; build into what we truly are! We need guns, we need cannon, and we need cavalry. We need power, we need water. We need pride! But we cannot be given that! We must take what is ours! We will reform the Empire!
The economy ground back to life, at first slowly, then faster and faster. Black smoke hung over every city from the massive industrialization. The mineworks grew by the day, and giant rigs spread over the waters, primitive derricks seeking their oil. Electricity was embraced from the start, and networks spider webbed from city to city. The cost of life in this Industrial Revolution is unknown, because Drakk ordered the census locked, but it is assumed to be in the hundreds of thousands, as workers labored for sixteen hour days, six days a week, in inhuman conditions. But this had a purpose, and by 1750, an industrial powerhouse was ready. Forests lay clear cut, refineries clogged the skies. The fires burned bright for all to see, and the nearby nations watched nervously, for this appeared to be a nation at war with itself.
In 1792, Kaukolastan entered a war with the nation of Sereboth, largely without justification. Drakk had needed a target for his "quick, victorious war", and this nearby nation proved exactly that, with the ironclad battleships destroying the wooden frigates, and the Gatling guns massacring the tercio bound enemy. The devastation unleashed in this war, the complete neglect of civilian casualties, was a sign of the times to come, although the world did not know it yet. Inside Kaukolastan, the dream was reborn, the dream of Empire. Again, manifest destiny began to appear in the schools, and the expansion was deemed necessary. Again, the focus turned outward. Drakk died in 1793, but his vision lived on as the nation rebuilt itself and its soul.
In modern times, Kaukolastan returned to the status of a Republic, foregoing the harsh authorities of Drakk's original vision for the modern concepts of indiviudal rights and liberties, although the central government retains more power than many contemporaries. Now, in this modern world, the nation pulls in two directions, into the minute powerhouse of the gene, and into the grandeur of space. But, more than this, scientists and theologians confront their latest challenge, the very nature of human life. What is it? Can it be created by other men? The technology leaps forward at terrifying speed, and the applications grow daily.
This philosophy of advancement has never changed since the founding of the first settlements; to explore, expand, and offer a better way has always been the creed, and it holds true today more than ever. After two hundred years of repairing and rebuilding, the vision Drakk offered has become a reality. Kaukolastan has once again become involved in world affairs, and its frightening industrial might churns with the power of modern science. All is for progress, all is for the nation. Will this drive and ambition, so ingrained in the people, help make a better world, or lead to catastrophe? Will the pursuit of technology as the solution to all problems drive Kaukolastan to fiery ruin, or will it allow the nation to prosper? Whatever waits, Kaukolastan charges forward as always, with the sword in one hand, and the scroll in the other, both offered with equal conviction, all in this age of the Second Republic.