CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT-X TIMELINE
The Timeline of any galaxy is essential because it sets the dates for Technological Advancements, Ship Availability, and Major Historical Events. A proper Timeline creates the foundation necessary for writing future Scenarios. A Timeline also gives the Player an overall understanding of the state of the galaxy at any given moment, along with the status of the empires within it. Unfortunately, creating a Timeline for a galaxy is a massive task not completed in a single sitting. Like any huge undertaking, the Construction of a Timeline must be taken in small steps, piece by piece at a time.
The Construction of the Project-X Timeline is no different. However, Project-X does contain some peculiarities that need to be specially addressed. Here is a list of the current Project-X Directives while constructing its Timeline:
* Project-X is divided into Ten Eras. Each Era will feature different technological advancements on a galaxy-wide scale.
* In order to make Project-X different from existing, published galaxies, specific years are noted on the Timeline with an X instead of a Y. This can be explained by stating the Project-X Calendar System is governed by an alien term starting with an X (to be defined later).
* Project-X is divided into Major Empires and a multitude of Minor Empires. Early work on the Project-X Timeline will focus only on Major Empires.
* In particular, the Republic and the Regime will take center stage in the Timeline. Other Major Empires will also be highlighted, but not to the same extent. Minor Empires are the lowest priority in the early construction phase.
* Technological Advancements are to be noted. Specifically, weapon and device creation.
* Specific Ship Type Availability is to be noted.
* For Project-X, space terrain is of vital importance. Discoveries, usages, and incidents regarding critical strategic terrain in Project-X is to be noted.
* Interaction between Empires is to be noted, although it will be minimal in the earliest Eras of Project-X.
* Named Ships of importance are to be noted, along with historical incidents and achievements.
* Wars are to be noted, although they will most likely not occur in the opening Eras of Project-X.
* Battles, Skirmishes, Surprise Attacks, and the like are to be noted.
* Political Negotiations (treaties, ceasefires, etc.) and Discussions are to be noted, along with all governing bodies involved.
* Scenario Historical Events are to be noted.
* Important Monster Encounters are to be noted.
* Specific Locations and Areas in Project-X are to be noted as events unfold there.
* The State of each Empire (economy, production, fleets, bases, planets, etc.) is to be discussed from time to time (not too often).
* Specify names of planets, especially Homeworlds, as they become relevant.
* Note how and what each empire thinks of other empires at specific times. Describe their perspective, emotions, and inner thoughts.
I realized that there must be a time period before the First Era, where developments were taking place before First Cruisers came into being. This Pre-First Era period became known as the Zero Era.
In order to make Project-X History cyclical and different from formally published galaxies, I added the Final War in the Tenth Era, wherein all empires of Project-X would be so devastated they would be reset in Technology and Knowledge to Zero Era levels. The Cycle of History would then repeat.
** PROJECT-X TIMELINE AS OF 063035. UNDER ONGOING CONSTRUCTION **
ZERO ERA -X300 TO -X1
-X300
The Gypsy are already roaming about all of Project-X, trading and transferring products and technology, along with vital information. They are a peaceful, non-organized people whose starships are not armed.
-X88
The Senate begins the design stage for the Shroud Device. The Shroud Device will give the Senate, what they believe to be, an unbeatable tactical advantage in combat. However, making sure the device will work properly, resolving errors and malfunctions, and building a working copy proves to be more daunting than anticipated. Work continues on it.
-X79
The Republic is formed from multiple member planets. Theirs is a benevolent mission of peace and exploration.
-X74
The Regime is officially announced to various subject worlds. Theirs is a mission of conquest and domination through superior force.
-X70
The Republic develops the Phaser-V. They begin setting up logistics for mass production. A Phaser Capacitor has not been engineered yet.
-X68
The Senate discovers the Phaser-VI. This short range, rapid fire Phaser would also be discovered later by the Republic, although the two discoveries are unrelated and completely separate.
-X66
The Regime creates the Phaser-VII. The Phaser-VII is purposely designed to hit from afar to compliment the Regime’s high speed tactics during combat. A Phaser Capacitor has not been engineered yet.
-X59
The Republic designs the Kinetic Torpedo. The initial design has no ability to overload or double overload.
-X57
The Legion develops the Phaser-X. Once deployed by the Legion, the Phaser-X would see widespread use throughout Project-X.
-X55
The Regime constructs the Neutron Bolt. The first Neutron Bolts cannot overload and have no proximity feature.
-X52
The Confederacy designs the Mass Torpedo. Early testing indicates that it is almost always guaranteed to hit its target due to its extremely fast rate of travel.
-X48
The Regime develops the Light Missile Rack. The seeking weapon causes minimal damage and launches at a slow rate, but moves at an accelerated speed.
-X39
The Confederacy successfully creates Pseudo Mass Torpedoes. Confederacy Engineers nicknamed them Ghost Torpedoes because of their ability to look real and yet not be real.
-X34
The Legion engineers a type of variable torpedo, where the damage yield is scaled depending on how much energy is fed into it. The Hyper Torpedo is born.
-X29
The Republic improves the Kinetic Torpedo so that it can overload, causing increased damage to its target.
-X28
The Senate successfully engineers a Mass Torpedo which is larger and much deadlier than the Mass Torpedoes employed by the Confederacy. Because of its power requirements, the Mass Torpedo, dubbed the Type P Mass Torpedo, will likely only be installed one at a time on future starships.
-X26
The Democracy designs the Light Kinetic Sphere. Engineers have ideas on how to improve the seeking weapon, but need more time to properly research and engineer the weapon.
-X23
The Regime develops an overload feature for their Neutron Bolts. This allows the Regime to choose between fighting at range or closing to fire overloaded weapons.
-X22
The Legion completes construction of the first Centurion Missile. Test results on an uninhabited world are devastating. Due to its size, only one Centurion Missile can be carried at a time.
-X16
The Republic discovers a method to double overload the Kinetic Torpedo, causing massive damage but severely limiting the weapon’s range.
-X12
The Democracy successfully creates the Heavy Kinetic Sphere, an improved and more powerful version of the Light Kinetic Sphere. Both weapons are kept, intended for use on future Democracy starships.
-X8
In an effort to make their Neutron Bolts more accurate at a distance, the Regime designs a Proximity Feature. This allows the Neutron Bolts to accurately hit targets at range, but at a reduced cost in damage output.
-X5
The Senate builds its first working Shroud Device. The system must be completely integrated with the starship carrying it. In effect, it will become part of the systems on the vessel. Construction of a starship capable of carrying the Shroud Device begins.
-X3
The Democracy integrates its Kinetic Sphere technology into its Probes, creating a strange type of weapon never seen before in Project-X.
FIRST ERA X1 TO X264
X1
The Republic launches its First Cruiser from space dock. Many more would follow, allowing the Republic to explore its surrounding regions in an efficient, organized manner. The Republic First Cruiser is a sturdy vessel carrying two powerful Kinetic Torpedoes and a host of Phaser-V’s.
X3
The Khan sends out its First Horseman Scouts to begin exploring and mapping Project-X. Identifying potential adversaries and assessing their combat capabilities is one of their main objectives.
X4
The Regime begins mass production of the FZ4 Battlecruiser. The Battlecruiser will be armed with Neutron Bolts, PH-VII’s, and the newly developed Light Missile Rack. It will be a swift moving vessel with excellent maneuverability.
X7
The Confederacy fields its First Battlecruiser. The Battlecruiser carries both Mass Torpedoes and Pseudo Mass Torpedoes, supplemented by a suite of Phaser-V’s. The Confederacy can’t imagine any other starship being able to stand up to the First Battlecruiser in battle. Time would teach them otherwise.
X15
The Repubic encounters an Eater of Worlds for the first time. A lone Republic First Cruiser tries desperately to save a planet from the monster’s ravenous appetite. It fails, the starship is destroyed, and Petrickon IV is consumed by the Eater of Worlds. The Republic could never have imagined that other Eater of Worlds exist.
X26
The Senate sends out its First Raider. The First Raider carries a powerful Type P Mass Torpedo and possesses a Shroud Device seamlessly integrated as part of the ship. The Senate First Raider would long become the bane of both Republic and Regime starships.
X30
The Legion launches its First Cruiser. Armed with the variable Hyper Torpedo and PH-X’s, it is an impressive vessel. The Legion First Cruiser carries one Centurion Missile.
X69
The Republic discovers the Rose Petal Current. They begin to follow and fully map the major Subspace Current.
X78
A Republic First Cruiser encounters a Regime FZ4 Battlecruiser for the first time. The Regime pretends to seek peaceful contact in order to lull the Republic First Cruiser into a vulnerable position. The ruse works. When the Republic First Cruiser is at close range with its shields down, the Regime FZ4 Battlecruiser opens fire, revealing its duplicitous nature. The Republic First Cruiser is instantly crippled. The complete destruction of the Republic First Cruiser would soon follow, but not before an emergency subspace message was sent to Republic Command with details about the Regime FZ4 Battlecruiser and what occurred.
X80
The Democracy deploys its First Cruiser. The First Cruiser is armed with Light and Heavy Kinetic Spheres, backed by multiple Phaser-V’s.
X122
The Republic develops the Phaser-VI. They rush to convert two First Cruisers, swapping out the PH-V’s for the brand new Phaser-VI’s. A Captain engages in combat using the converted First Cruiser and is forced to close to 10,000 kilometers just to make the Phaser-VI’s effective. Republic Command is extremely disappointed with the combat performance. The two converted First Cruisers are redesignated as (First) Escort Cruisers, whose primary purpose is now to provide anti-missile support against enemy seeking weapons.
X135
The monstrous Subspace Waterfall which will later be known as Victoria Falls is found by the Republic. Early talks begin about the strategic advantage of building a (star) base atop of the Subspace Waterfall. Such a construction project would be a huge undertaking. The Republic does not currently have the resources or finances to create such a (star) base.
X144
The Republic designs the Kinetic Howitzer for implementation on a First Cruiser Hull. The long range weapon goes into the testing phase. Results are extremely positive.
X146
Dark Matter Mountains are encountered by the Republic at the top of the monstrous Subspace Waterfall that will later be known as Victoria Falls. Efforts begin to catalog and chart the Dark Matter Mountains. Locations for a possible future (star) base are noted.
X149
Construction of Starbase Dover begins. A massive shift in resources is required to make this possible.
X156
The Republic launches the First Artillery Cruiser. The starship engages in real combat (not simulated) and is a resounding success. The Republic wholeheartedly approves production of the First Artillery Cruiser on a mass scale.
X213
The Khan sends out a horde of First Cavalry. Typically working in trios, the First Cavalry units perform lightning fast hit-and-run raids on every empire in Project-X. They do not engage directly except in rare circumstances where they are sure to win. The empires of Project-X are thrown into disarray by the unpredictable attacks, as supply lines, bases, colonies, logistics, reinforcements, and gathering fleets are disrupted. The speed and unorthodox movement patterns of the First Cavalry make it very difficult for any single empire to mount an offensive against them.
X253
The Republic finishes construction of Starbase Dover atop Victoria Falls within the Dark Matter Mountains. Starbase Dover would become a critical gathering point for all Republic forces in the future.
SECOND ERA X265 TO X419
X267
Phaser Capacitors are engineered for all types of Phasers throughout Project-X.
X270
Second Cruisers are developed. The Second Cruisers integrate shipwide Phasers with a single Phaser Capacitor.
THIRD ERA X420 TO X603
FOURTH ERA X604 TO X772
FIFTH ERA X773 TO X911
SIXTH ERA X912 TO X1085
SEVENTH ERA X1086 TO X1289
EIGHTH ERA X1290 TO X1699
NINTH ERA X1700 TO X1852
TENTH ERA X1853 TO X2000
X2000 THE FINAL WAR
All empires in Project-X suffer total apocalypse. This nearly destroys them, resetting every empire in Project-X back to Zero Era Technology and Knowledge.
