The Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) successfully launches Sputnik, establishing the first artificial satellite in space.

The United States of America becomes the first country to land a man on the moon with the successful landing of the Apollo 11 mission.

The Soviet Union collapses, leading to the end of the Cold War and the rise of the US as the world’s only remaining superpower.

US “War on Terror” begins.

Intense nationalist movements, a resurgence of fascism, widespread political unrest, and mounting climate instability materialize throughout Earth.

The Partisan War destroys several US cities and collapses the US economy by the next decade.

The United Nations is dissolved, prompting independent nations like India, China, and Russia to assert themselves.

 The first successful colony is established on Mars, marking the beginning of the Martian Collective.

The United Kingdom rejoins the European Union, which soon restyles itself as the Western European Union. Similar regional unifications begin to materialize throughout the world.

Generous incentives begin to drive Earth’s top minds to Mars, prompting complaints of a “brain drain” by international leaders.

The lunar supply depot “Chandra Station” is established by a joint Euro-Indian effort.

The population of Mars reaches 12,000 across six major settlements.

China launches the Red Sky satellite system prompting massive international condemnation.

The First Orbital War begins with open conflict between China and the combined forces of the Russian Federation, Japan, and ASEAN. The Western European Alliance and the Martian Collective would later join.

The Western European Alliance begins constructing the Primus Armada military fleet. Japanese engineers construct The Shogun, the first orbital battleship.

The Battle of the Red Sky begins in an attempt to disable the Chinese Red Sky system.

A ceasefire is established with China as they agree to disable to Red Sky system.

Period of recovery occurs on earth, helping to restore the planet after decades of war and climate disasters.

Lucille Álvarez-King is born in Bay City, Michigan.

Martian Orbital Navy grows to a force of nearly fifty Prometheus-Class vessels.

China ends more than a century and a half of rule by the Communist Party and installs a new, imperial dynasty, officially establishing the People’s Empire of China.

Lucille Álvarez-King develops and patents the Advanced Ion Engine (AIE).

Lucille Álvarez-King and engineer Takahashi Asuka begin the Windfall Starship Systems Corporation.

Windfall develops the first ship with NearGrav technology, nearly-perfectly replicating earth’s gravity through artificial and energy-efficient means.

Takahashi Asuka dies, leaving Lucille Álvarez-King in full control of Windfall Starship Systems.

Lucille Álvarez-King becomes the first female trillionaire as Windfall becomes wildly successful.

Lucille Álvarez-King becomes president of the United States in a landslide victory, promising an expansion of American might.

The Department of Colonial Affairs is established as a means to begin planning (and eventually implementing) US-backed colonies throughout the Sol System.

The first American Lunar Colony is established on Luna (Earth’s moon).

Lucille Álvarez-King wins her bid for reelection as President of the United States.

The Second Orbital War begins after the United States begins attempts to construct a colony on Mars. The war is abruptly ended in a matter of days.

Windfall develops the gravity drive system, significantly boosting starship speeds on extended transits.

The Russians develop a colony on Ceres in the asteroid belt, which quickly proves profitable.

The Western European Alliance establishes a colony on Europa.

Political opponents in the US government attempt to label Windfall as a corporation and have it dismantled. These attempts prove ineffective, strengthening corporate control over the US government.

Engineering and terraforming projects artificially stabilize earth’s climate. Russia’s Ceres Station begins proving immensely profitable.

The Western European Alliance establishes a colony above Ganymede.

The Chinese celebrate the launch of Jinxing platform over Venus.

The United States and Windfall launch twin colonies at Titan and Enceladus.

Lucille Álvarez-King steps down as CEO of Windfall Starship Systems.

European scientists discover the Unidentified Post-Oort Structure (UPOS) – later known as the Bifröst Station

The Bifröst Station is activated, prompting the first transit through the structure and into 354-PA.

The United States takes hold of the Bifröst Station, heavily fortifying the structure as a US asset. Two weeks later, a Chinese fleet drives off the American ships and prompting the Solar War.

The Solar War rages across the Sol System, pitting the United States – along with Russian and Martian allies – against China and a sizeable collection of other states.

Windfall engineers begin developing a large-scale colonization effort largely in secret.

The Battle of Titan acts as the last major conflict of the Solar War, resulting in a major loss for the Chinese Fleet and a stunning premiere for Windfall’s Roosevelt-Class destroyers, equipped with “Skip Drive” technology. Captain Miles Edson of the Ascendant Dawn becomes a national hero. The Solar War ends with the Treaty of Titan.

American research and scouting of 354-PA begins and will continue steadily until 2169. A massive spending bill is passed in the US congress that grants permission for Windfall to begin constructing a massive colonial fleet.

The WEA Blue Party publishes its “Two Suns Accord,” outlining the party’s strong stance against colonizing 354-PA. The document will serve as a model for other anti-colonial factions, allowing the strengthening of the Anti-Colonial Alliance (ACA) that had been developing over the last several decades.

The Guardians of the Gates of Heaven attack the Titan shipyards, killing thousands and disrupting work on the Colonial Fleet. The US begins a twenty-year campaign against the terrorist group across the solar system.

The Outbound Discovery fleet officially launches through the Bifröst Station, disappearing almost immediately.

Widescale scouting and recovery efforts are launched through the Bifröst Station to learn the fate of Outbound Discovery. No information is ever found.

The United States of America is reorganized as The United States of America and Stellar Colonies (USASC) to reflect the changing nature of the country and offer greater representation to citizens in interplanetary colonies.

Carlo Rodrìguez publishes the famed Rodrìguez Hypothesis which attempts to explain how the Bifröst Station might function.

Resentment against the political and economic power of the Windfall Corporation begins to mount, sparking widespread protest movements for the next several decades.

Lucille Álvarez-King dies of natural causes in her NYC apartment.

Remnants of the Guardians of the Gates of Heaven emerge from obscurity to attack and overwhelm the US escort of the Bifröst Station. Attempting to destroy it, the Guardians fail and are ultimately crushed by the USSC.

Major recession strikes the US, plummeting Windfall’s influence still further.

Populist parties begin gaining significant support in the US government, beginning to muscle aside Windfall and other corporate interests. Windfall and congressional leaders begin planning the development of a new colonial fleet.

The US Congress passes the “New Outbound Deal,” which allocates trillions of US dollars to a new colonial effort.

Work begins in earnest on a new colonial fleet. Meant to be state-of-the-art, it quickly succumbs to massive budget shortfalls.

A new, more corporate-friendly US congress is elected. In January, they approve a last-minute budget to boost the money available to the new fleet, allowing the construction of six Osprey gunships and the famed Bastion-II.

The USSC Ascendant Dawn is recommissioned back into the US fleet and selected to serve as the flagship of the new colonial fleet.

The Outbound Fleet is officially launched through the Bifröst Station.