The following document briefly depicts the history of the Stellar Empire and the events that led to the rebellion on Detinus and the creation of the Detinus Republic. The more recent historic events recounted here deal with the recent history of the Detinus Republic in particular and do not contain unrelated events. For a more detailed overview on the recent history, see the IGN and SSS archives for news reports from the time.
This file has been compiled for the DTR Ministry of Science, Exploration and Education.
Reaching For The Stars
Year 1 - With the foundation of the first United Earth government a new era begins. In the records of the Stellar Empire this year is recorded as Year 1.
Year 20 - A large starbase is built on the terran moon to serve as a waystation and spaceport for expeditions beyond the solar system. From here, huge generation ships are sent into the deep reaches of the universe. Overpopulation leads to many volunteers seeking their fortune among the stars even though they are aware that they will not reach their destination for dozens, if not hundreds, of years. As we know now, many of these generation ships never reached their destination at all while others were stranded in remote reaches of the galaxy. After the initial enthusiasm has died down and regular colonists become scarce, criminals and misfits are forced off-world. The conditions for these early penal colonists are harsh and show a certain lack of care on behalf of the United Earth government.
Year 47 - The discovery of Pulac Crystals and research into their intriguing physical properties finally leads to the development of hyperjump engines. This technology enables human starships to travel to other known star systems in only a few weeks, which was the time required to slowly charge the delicate engines. Further improvements quickly lead to the design still used today that requires only two days to charge and jump to a system that took decades to reach with generation ships.
Year 106 - Emperor Justin is established as a figurehead for the United Earth government. In this time, the rapidly increasing population on earth leads to a forced expansion policy. Again, prisoners and dissidents are moved out to the edge of known space against their will.
Year 110 - With numerous small colonies and outposts established, United Earth is changed into the Stellar Empire. Further increases to the population have led to serious food and land shortages on Earth. The poor and homeless are lured or forced to colonize new planets under appalling conditions little better than the prisoners had had earlier. Dissent soon sets in among the colonists as little support is given to the new interstellar colonies and conditions are extremely harsh, except for the political leaders and royalty who have superb facilities.
Civil War
Year 131 - Despair, hopelessness and envy slowly turn into hatred and the colony Detinus, partly a penal colony where many political dissidents and inconvenient intellectuals are held, goes into open rebellion against the Stellar Empire. This immediately leads to an actual improvement in the living conditions for the colonists as taxes and ressources are no longer paid to the Empire. This is the birth of the Detinus Republic.
Year 133 - In the wake of the successful rebellion on Detinus, the colony Tate goes into uprising, too. The threat of rebellion at almost all interstellar colonies puts the Stellar Empire on the verge of collapse.
Year 134 - In a desperate effort to regain power, Emperor Justin gives a company charter to the Frontier Exploration & Trade (FET) cartel, a ragtag collection of smugglers, pirates and shady privateers. The purpose of the FET is to bring war supplies to more loyal colonies under the cover of a legal charter and allow the Stellar Empire to build up a navy under Imperial banner (IMP).
Year 137 - After FET agents and collaborators have sabotaged planetary defence installations, the fledgling Imperial navy launches a devastating attack on Tate. The few surviving colonists are tortured then slaughtered. Colonists are brought in from other potentially rebellious colonies to bury the dead in mass graves and are then returned to spread stories of the horrors. This staves off other colonies rebelling, but Detinus remains defiant. Slowly, using the threat of mass executions, the Stellar Empire regains a dictatorship-like control over its interstellar colonies. A large navy is built to secure Imperial supply lines.
Year 142 - In an attempt to subdue the ongoing uprising by force, a mighty IMP warfleet sets course for Detinus. Weeks of orbital bombardment followed by a ground assault reduce the colony site to rubble and scorched earth. Only after sifting through the ruins for some time do the Imperial troops find that they have conquered a deserted colony: The Detinus people had evacuated it prior to the Imperial assault and left for the uncharted peripheries to find a new home.
Exodus
Year 144 - After their exodus from the part of the Stellar Empire that is now known as the Inner Empire, the Detinus refugees discover the Capellan system and the Capellan periphery beyond it. Detinus Republic colonies are set up in the area, including the DTR crown colony Detinus. Other major DTR colonies are Startide and Blackvoid. The DTR people remain vigilant. Over time, they evolve into superior space pilots and combat tacticians. They are home aboard their starships as much as they are at their colonies.
After 144 - The DTR encounters various alien species and gets along well with most of them. When IMP explorer forces reach the Capellan periphery many years later, they encounter a Detinus Republic that has a decisive edge over them in all aspects of space faring and especially space combat. However, the information that Emperor Justin is dead goes a long way to prevent all-out war; rumour has it the late Emperor could not live with himself and committed suicide. His successor, Emperor Jasil, has no wish to wage war on the Detinus Republic and an uneasy, unofficial peace ensues. Traders and Imperial chartered companies settle in the Capellan periphery in the wake of the IMP, including the FET. The Extraterrestrial Economic Monopoly (EEM) is created to supervise trade and exchange among the various races and affiliations.
The Flagritz War
Year 193 - The arrival of an entirely new alien species brings a dramatic change to the peripheries. This new species is the Flagritz (FGZ), a technologically highly advanced but extremely xenophobic people from the far end of the galaxy. It soon turns out that the Flagritz plan to wipe out human presence in the peripheries prior to colonizing the area for themselves. This prompts an alliance between the DTR, the IMP and the other human affiliations. An official cease-fire is agreed upon for the first time since the rebellion on Detinus 62 years earlier. It is a bitter irony that it would once again be the FET to ruin this fragile alliance. As the Stellar Spices and Liquors (SSL), another Imperially chartered company, is alledged to prepare for an attack on FET assets with DTR support, missile barrages from a FET colony rain down on the SSL colony Pitstop a few days after the cease fire agreement. In addition, the DTR colony Blackvoid is ambushed and taken in a FET ground assault. Diplomatic attempts to remdy the situation and make the FET return the captured colony fail when the IMP support the FET instead of attempting to mediate the conflict. This also spells doom on the SSL enterprise, which folds soon afterwards. Backstabbed by its supposed allies, the DTR leadership unwisely attempts to force the FGZ and the IMP against each other. In an attempt to befriend the FGZ, the FGZ are given coordinates of Imperial colonies in the Capellan periphery. The DTR hopes to have the IMP threat eliminated by the FGZ. Unfortunately the FGZ cannot be fooled and in turn capitalize on the human in-fighting. After a half-hearted offensive they retreat into the Inferno system and leave the human nations to fight each other. With the most immediate threat gone, the weakened DTR is assailed by the former anti-FGZ coalition and is almost destroyed with its warfleet outnumbered six to one. Even though Detinus cannot be taken by Imperial forces, the loss of other colonies puts the DTR in a desperate situation. Only the chance discovery of an unstable wormhole allows the remainder of the DTR to abandon Detinus, their crown colony, and flee deeper into uncharted space for the second time in 51 years.
A New Dawn
Year 195 - Their retreat has taken the DTR into the Darkfold periphery. Here, they encounter various human affiliations who have built another human nation in support of the Eperor's half brother Samuel whom they believe to be the true heir to the throne. As enemies of the Empire the DTR are welcome in the Darkfold periphery and enter a formal alliance with the Confederacy (CNF) and its sub-affiliations. A new capital is built named New Tate in memory of the countless deaths suffered at Tate and throughout the Detinus Republic from Imperial tyranny. It is a hard time for the Detinus Republic. With their navy almost destroyed they have to rely on the CNF for protection while they begin the slow process of rebuilding. During this time, DTR ships contribute to confederate exploration missions throughout the Darkfold periphery. The Yank system is discovered to connect the Capellan and Darkfold peripheries, opening a new front between the expansion zones of both the Empire and the Confederacy. In cooperation with CNF, the skillful DTR technicians have designed the Frigate class starship from blueprints taken from the IMP (where virtually the same ship type is in common use, labelled Patrol Cruiser), a valuable all-purpose ship that sees extensive service in the peripheries. Skill and space faring experience lead to the development of an improved warship version of the Frigate, the venerable DTR Nebulon class attack cruiser, arguably the best human warship design and perfectly suited to the elusive fighting style of the newly created DTR Stellar Armada.
Year 196 - The discovery of a gigantic alien relict the size of a small moon in orbit around a planet in the Skord system leads to armed conflict between the CNF and IMP power blocks about salvage and exploration rights. Warships from the DTR Stellar Armada bolster the CNF forces in these skirmishes. In the same year, the Democratic Natives Alliance (DNA), a loose alliance of various low-tech alien races, merges with the Detinus Republic. Towards the end of the year, the Arachnid system is discovered and claimed by the Confederacy. The DTR supports this claim and the DTR Explorer Corps plays a pivotal role in uncovering its secrets. Talks are started with the CNF about ceding Arachnid to the DTR to become their new home system.
Year 197 - The takeover bid for the Arachnid system fails because no agreement can be reached between the DTR and the CNF on various legal issues. Relations start to deteriorate over this matter. At the same time a DTR colony in the Francoise system discovers an alien bunker below the colony perimeter. Named IND Rebirth, this bunker turns out to be an Illuvatorian colony. The Illuvatorians are a reclusive race who went into cryostatic sleep long ago in order to stay out of a great war. The Confederacy had declared the Illuvatorians enemies and had earlier assaulted a similar bunker colony; however the DTR governor decides that since the bunker lies directly beneath his colony it has appeared in a DTR enclave even though the Francoise system is CNF territory. Thus, the Illuvatorians are granted asylum with the DTR at their own request and their colony is merged with the DTR colony. The Confederacy sees this as an act of theft of CNF property and support for enemies of the Confederacy. They even threaten to forcibly take over the DTR colony and the DTR Stellar Armada is prepared for defensive action. Even though DTR and CNF agree on a compromise before the shooting starts relations will never be the same again. During this time, the cold war between the CNF and the IMP is rather one-sided, with the CNF raiding IMP space at will with little or no retaliation. A reason for this might be that the Imperial warfleet is fighting a predatory insect race known as the Hive (HVE) that has appeared in the middle of the Capellan periphery. When their defeat is obvious the HVE surrender and seek asylum with the Flagritz. Nevertheless, the IMP fleet keeps up bombing the HVE homeworld. When two new star systems, Venice and T.Tauri, are discovered beyond Arachnid by the DTR, they are immediately claimed and in an unparalleled logistical masterpiece, the whole Detinus Republic including all of its colonial assets is relocated into the newfound systems, effectively removing the DTR presence from the Darkfold periphery. With a small area of space to call home, the Detinus Republic goes through yet another reorganisation. A Constitution is passed by the Senate and laws are finalized. An extensive building program is initiated to consolidate DTR control over their home systems and through strong efforts and excellent planning the Detinus Republic quickly gains a production base matching or surpassing that of most other governments in the peripheries, human or alien. By the end of 197 the Detinus Republic has completely recovered from the Flagritz war and once again boasts a considerable warfleet with cutting edge technology and superior combat tactics. The Detinus Republic is once again a leading power in the peripheries!
Turbulent Times: The Present
Year 198 - The year 198 begins with the Confederacy voiding the alliance treaty with the DTR and banning the DTR from their space on account of last year's events. In turn the DTR bans the CNF military from entering DTR space although relations with other confederate affiliations, namely the Brotherhood (BHD) and the Confederate Intelligence Agency (CIA) remain cordial. In search for new allies, previous diplomatic pursuits pay off and the Detinus Republic quickly enters into an alliance with the Dewiek Elder Nation (DEN), an old alien species, and the Dominion (DOM), descendants from a stranded United Earth Generation Ship who had had no contact with the rest of mankind for generations. This alliance quickly becomes known as the DD&D Alliance and brings immense benefit to all involved parties in the form of technology exchange and military cooperation between three strong nations. Shortly after signing the DD&D Alliance Treaty, the Acrux system, a star system of almost religious importance for the Dewiek, is invaded by the Hexamon (HXM), a hostile insectoid race. Initial encounters do not go well for the Dewiek and the DD&D Alliance is summoned for help. Dominion reinforcements to the Dewiek lines barely succeed in holding the Hexamon at bay. The DTR Stellar Armada also sends a strong detachment of warships but the long distance between Acrux and the DTR home systems means that only the first wave of those reinforcements arrives in time to help the Dewiek in their last stand in Acrux. In this titanic battle, a horror from legends arises against the Alliance: The dreaded TCA is in league with the HXM and six of their titanic living ships are scanned with the huge HXM fleet. Two of these are killed by DTR warships but DTR Nebulon Lomumba is destroyed in the fight. This is the first Nebulon class warship to be lost in battle by the DTR. After that battle a truce is agreed upon and the Dewiek decide to cut their losses and retreat from Acrux. Some DTR warships remain in the Noctollis periphery close to Acrux and the Detinus Republic draws up plans to build colonies in Dewiek space. In sending fully armed warships through their space on the way to Acrux, the DTR Stellar Armada violated the laws of another alien race, the Clans (CLN). Their protests are largely ignored until in mid-198 when the DTR Nebulon Rough Sketch, under the command of Vice Admiral Cornelius, is assaulted by three CLN warships while monitoring HXM and TCA traffic in orbit of an independent colony on the edge of CLN space. Even though all hands are killed in the battle, DTR Rough Sketch puts up a valiant fight and inflicts severe damage on a Clan warship almost twice its size. The Alliance is shocked and retaliation measures are prepared. Later the same year, however, diplomatic efforts by both the Clan and the Detinus Republic lead to a peaceful solution. The derelicted warship is boarded by the CLN and sold to the highest bidder. Eventually, the Association of Free Traders (AFT) acquires the ship with the consent of the DTR. Closer to the DTR home systems, skirmishes between the Flagritz and the Imperial Galactic Trade and Transport enterprise (GTT) prompt a full-blown war. The FGZ launch a second invasion of the Capellan periphery and inflict losses on the imperial affiliations, including the destruction or capture of several minor colonies (mostly of the FET). In the end, a large fleet of IMP and allied vessels including a number of DOM Nebulons honoring a mutual defense agreement lays siege to the large FGZ colony Fessin Holne. After weeks of orbital bombardmend and staggering losses on both sides the colony finally falls and the Flagritz invasion grounds to a halt. Parts of their forces gather in the neutral Solo system, where the Flagritz maintain control of a large colony formerly in possession of DNA refugees.
Year 199 - The turmoils of '98 carry on into the new year with the IMP retaking some of the colonies lost to the FGZ in the previous year. The Flagritz presence in the Solo system is swiftly dealt with when the system's strange magnetic properties undergo another change, suddenly allowing the use of energy weapons. The Dominion and SMS (another Imperially chartered enterprise) immediately engage FGZ assets. Even the DTR becomes involved in the fighting when a defence force orbiting the DOM colony High Meridian discovers and destroys two FGZ weapon caches on the planetary surface. A ground assault on the DOM colony is repulsed while Dominion troops in turn storm the Flagritz colony. Thus, the Flagriz attempt to seize the Solo system is stopped cold and no FGZ assets remain within several jumps from the DTR home systems. After liberating the former DNA colony held by the FGZ, it is discovered that gruesome atrocities were committed against the civilean population by the occupying Flagritz forces, who were also preparing to use chemical weapons in the Solo conflict. This may have been the one of the factors that sparked a re-emergence of the militant DNA undergrund army at about this time. During the early weeks of the year, repeated changes of the whole Confederate leadership combined with a drastic decrease in military power leaves the CNF severely weakened. A rapidly changing leadership with frequently changing attitudes leaves the CNF and DTR alienated, but neutral instead of hostile towards each other. As a token of goodwill, the DTR lifts the ban on CNF shipping in DTR space. Back in the Noctollis Periphery the Hexamon have largely withdrawn from the Acrux system and a small DEN offensive is enough to destroy or drive off their remaining ships while their colonies are stormed by Dewiek troops. With peace restored, the DTR is invited to colonize the area and follows suit, including the takeover of the largest colony in Acrux. In order to uproot a den of slavers once and for all after months of fruitless diplomatic efforts, the Detinus Republic launches an attack on the independent colony Opportunity in the Solo system. The colony is captured with some collateral damage, killing thousands of the people the attack was thought to rescue. The general public is awed by the naval power of the DTR revealed in the operation, and the DTR is suddenly faced with a storm of protests against their actions against slavery. Nevertheless the AFT, with support from the DTR, attempts an attack on IND Freedom City, a similar outlaw colony in imperial space. The engagement turns into a drawn-out fighting that is only barely won by the AFT some weeks later. Towards the summer of '99 dramatic events unfold in the peripheries. The DNA, with possible subterfuge aid from the DTR and other parties, launch an attack against a FGZ colony in the neutral Yank system. This act pushes the Kastorian Military Junta into a frenzy and a few weeks later they begin to round up any Naplians in their system. Only few survive the KAS wrath; in one case a DTR starship carrying fugitives only narrowly escapes angry weapons fire. At around the same time the IMP and CNF exchange fire on some backwater moon deep in IMP space; as it later turns out the Confederate forces have found the grave of the late Emperor Paul and removed the body. He is set to rest at a magnificent cathedral at the Confederate Crown Colony during a ceremony to which representatives from almost all nations and races in the peripheries have been invited. The DTR send a delegation including the well-known anti-imperialist, Duncan O'Malley, leader of the Redemption Party, while the DTR Speaker Abraham Crowthorne refuses to attend the ceremony. Upon arriving at the starport the DTR delegation is arrested and is only released after the ceremony. Genetic testing of the corpse confirms the identity of Emperor Paul, but also reveals that he was impotent and the respective Emperors of the Empire and the Confederacy are clones, not sons, of Emperor Paul. This stunning piece of news throws both human empires into disarray as the nobility try to assess the new situation. Near the end of the year, at around the time of the burial ceremony, the DEN and DOM launch a full-blown offensive against the Clans in the Cluster Periphery, taking colonies with ease and sweeping aside the defenders.
Year 200 - The final stand by the Clans against the DEN warfleet during the first week of the new year ends with total desaster - not a single Dewiek ship sustains any significant damage while the CLN fleet is all but obliterated. Clan colonists are massacred by the thousands as the fighting slowly dies down. A lone CLN colony in CNF space is seized by CNF forces after a dispute of some sort and after a few weeks into the new year the fate of the CLN is sealed. The remnants of the Hexamon, too, are shattered when their assets in the Wastelands system come under attack from the Falconians after a dispute about shippig lanes. With the Hexamon culture destroyed, the few survivors still roaming the peripheries become known as the ANT. All this time the DTR had been rather inactive, consolidating our position and securing our new systems, building up our colonies. Ever since early '99 pirate activity had steadily increased and the RIP had become a serious threat again, with hostile encounters at least once per month in which ships were gained and lost on both sides. In week 20, alarm klaxons suddenly echoed through the DTR Stellar Armada command bunkers at Tharbad: A Dominion colony in the Solo system, the former DNA/FGZ colony Retreat, had been taken by Brotherhood ground forces in a combat drop from orbit. The assault has triggered the DD&D defence alliance treaty and despite being caught completely on surprise the DTR alone musters over 40 warships for a quick response. The combined DD&D warfleet of over 80 ships immediately launches a counterstrike at the captured colony, retaking it and also capturing a nearby BHD space station. This is met with no small amount of protest from the general public, especially as the Brotherhood attack had revealed the DOM to carry out research at Retreat into Meklan cyborg technology involving the killing and mutilation of prisoners, as well as holding tens of thousands of workslaves, a blatant violation of the DTR code of Ethics and a slap in the face for the anti-slavery efforts undertaken by the Detinus Republic. The diplomatic repercussions are to haunt the DTR for some time to come...
This file is expanded as history proceeds. It currently covers events up until: Week 21 Year 200.
From a colony arising against inhumane treatment to a nation that can stand against the Empire - The Detinus Republic has gone a long and hard way. We have overcome treachery and war and are still here to fight for our rights - stronger than ever before while our enemies are tearing each other apart.
To the victims of the Imperial dictatorship: We will never forgive, never forget. As long as a single citizen of the Republic lives, your hopes and dreams will live on.
