The Transcendence Timeline
- 21st Century: The Age of Light and Power
The problems of the 20th century (war, poverty, disease, environmental degradation) are more or less controlled in the 21st century. Technology advances in many dimensions, but particularly in space exploration and exploitation. The first asteroid mining company was founded in 2057. By 2081 there are more than 1,000 people working in space. In 2083, the Earth Industries Conglomerate announce the birth of the first human in space (in one of EI's mining stations).
In 2098, the first mission to the Kuiper Anomaly (out in the Kuiper belt beyond Pluto) reveals it to be an ancient, alien stargate.
- 22nd Century: The Age of Division
With more and more people being born and dying in space, there is more and more demand for genetic modifications to adapt humans to the environment. At the start of the Gene Crisis, Earth governments enforce a ban on germ-line genetic engineering with armed ships. NEO colonists resist the ban and retaliate with economic boycotts and sabotage of Earth installations. A few years later, the two sides reach an agreement: The colonies will enforce a ban on genetic modification but will otherwise be independent of Earth govermnents. This was the start of the Commonwealth.
But not all colonists are happy. Some of those committed to germ-line engineering start their own colony on Mars. Others travel further still, through the network of alien stargates.
In 2124, a Commonwealth ship reaches St. Katharine's Star System (through the stargate network) and discovers a habitable (but uninhabited) world--the first ever visited by humans. In 2176, the Commonwealth founds Starton Eridani colony.
The Order of the Sisters of Domina is founded early in the century. Ever since humans have moved out into space, there have been people who believe that they are in contact with hyper-intelligences out in space. Domina is one of the most powerful entities that people "communicate" with. There is much controversy over the nature of these alien intelligences, but there is no doubt that they exist.
- 23rd Century: The Age of Apocalypse
The Commonwealth grows and prospers throughout the 23rd century. Meanwhile, the Martian colonists who fled the genetic engineering ban have formed the Syrtis Conclave--an almost utopian civilization with genetically engineered neo-humans living in on the Martian surface. In 2243, however, guided by what they believe to be a divine intelligence in the Galactic Core, the Syrtis Conclave decides to annihilate Earth.
The war leaves the Solar System in ruins and it is only with the help of the Commonwealth that the Syrtis are defeated. Most of the martians are left as refugees (Mars is left uninhabitable) and today Syrtis refugees are found in many systems. The Syrtis leadership, however, escaped into deep space and they have formed the Ares Orthodoxy out beyond Jiang's Star. The old Commonwealth Fleet fights them still, but few people in St. Katharine's System (far from the fighting) believe that they are a threat.
- 24th Century: The Age of Emergence
Centuries after the discovery of the Kuiper Stargate, the first alien of the Ancient Races visits Human Space. The Iocrym, in their gigantic ships visit St. Katharine's Star System and begin a long and complicated dialog.
