Stellaris Ch 3

Chapter 3 - 2230 to 22:

The Think Tank is made up of mostly artificially intelligent androids. In 2230, with the election of Kate TBC, the Think Tank is suspended after the most influential of AIs, Kelebek began formulating strange and wild ideas. President TBC visited the AI Led Research Base in Antarctica after her election. She meant to have a private chat with the AI that was created off of the cryostatic brain of General TBC, but the researchers in charge of the station listened in. What was heard made the scientists deem the Think Tank a "potential threat to humanity". The media reports that it is a temporary suspension and will only continue until the issues with the AI are solved.

The UNO is rebranded as the Federation of Earth. It better represents the earth-based governing body. By 2230, space travel has become normal, and several hundred thousand Cirrulans are living on Earth, Alpha Centauri, and Saxon, and an equal amount of humans live in the Cirrulan Cartel territories. This part of the galaxy is becoming more and more integrated.

Near the very edge of the galaxy in the Unatra system, there is a planet that holds great potential to be a 4th colony. It is slightly larger than earth, with a gravity of 1.2G. The interesting part about the planet is the immense amounts of fog. In fact, much of the flora relies on the fog for water.

Exploration continues for a few years, until the UNS Verigan encounters an unknown alien vessel. Barely a month later, as the Verigan continues to try and communicate with the aliens, the UNS Europa stumbles upon a horrifying system: a giant, 1 kilometer long (at least) space ship; a fleet of 44 military ships; and 3 very large stations. The fleet, as though waiting for just this moment, awakens and attacks the Europa. Before the warp drive is ready, the fleet and the very, very large space ship is upon it. Abigail Wires and her entire crew is lost, as the Europa is destroyed.

Communications is established with the friendly vessel discovered by the Verigan. The name of the alien civilization translates roughly to "the Steel Bank". They are a peaceful, corporate run society that has come to be known as the galaxy's bank.

Meanwhile, the ravagers of the Europa, as earth's media labeled the mysterious vessels, makes contact with earth in 2235. They are the Yssravannar Reavers, a murderous group of poverty-stricken peoples living in rundown stations across three different systems. Raiding and killing is second nature to them, and it is unknown where exactly they originate from.

A few months later, the Triad sends a lovely message to earth. In it, they insinuate that humans are inferior to Lilarobius. A few weeks later, they declare that earth is their rival.

Later that year, the Federation approves colonization of Unatra, and a colony ship is put under construction. It will be several years before it is a full fledged colony.

In 2240, the next election begins. There are no differences from the candidates from 2230, even McClellan is rerunning. Trevor Chopak is elected as the next president of the Federation of Earth. He promises an expansion of the earth military in light of the Triad's declarations of rivalry.

The same year, Ian McClellan passes away at 88. Age is not what it used to be. In the past, 88 was a very old age, while now, in the 23rd century, 88 is retirement age for a healthy human. In the wealthiest places on earth, it is not uncommon for the life expectancy to be over 100.

In 2241, the Think Tank is recommissioned. Now, there are certain checks on Kelebek's AI capabilities. For the moment, his freewill is under restraint, and he is not able to process anything that is not allowed by his scientists.

By now, about 10 million Cirrulans live in human society. Just 40 years after the advent of interstellar travel, human society is now commingling with alien life.

Barely three years into his term, Chopak dies of a heart attack at just 65 years of age. The vice president Kristen Cadwal takes over the rule. She will try and continue his policies until the next election.

The diplomatic situation in the galaxy worsens when the Steel Bank declares both the Cirrulans and the Humans to be their mortal enemies. They also enter into a nonaggression pact with the Lilarobius Triad.

A private company on earth called TerraX embarks on an ambitious mission to terraform a planet. The planet of Culdax III, some 100 light years away from earth, is arid, with a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere that, with some difficulty, could have served as a colony of earth. TerraX plans on transforming the planet over the next 10 years.

Near the end of the 2240s, the Vissari state declares itself opposed to earth. They too sign a nonaggression pact with the Triad. Now, the Federation of Earth has enemies on 3 sides.

In 2248, the science ship UNS Oshere, now commanded by Hayden Forster, encounters alien vessels. They quickly translate the incoming transmissions, and the Kirillian Empire introduces itself. They are spiritual, authoritarian, and militaristic. Biologically, they are similar to reptiles.

They are a curious species, coming from a tidally locked world. For the first 99% of their evolution, they lived only on the lit side, moving to the other side when their technology permitted it. They evolved to be very fast breeders and very strong workers. At the moment, the Kirillian Empire is at war with the Triad.

Yet another civilization is met in 2249, the Cilxtac Reavers. These dirty arthropoidic creatures believe themselves to be the epitome of evolution, and all other species are naturally inferior.  Suffice it to say, humans are not a fan.

A small trade civilization called the Caravansary Caravan Coalition contacts earth. They offer peaceful relations and a trade deal: large shipments of food in exchange for 400 thousand slaves. Naturally, they are refused.

As the next election kicks off, President Cadwel dies of a heart attack, like her predecessor. The election takes place as scheduled, and Zelda Idhrendura is voted in as the new President. Just like the last 2 presidents, she is very old and unlikely to last the next 10 years of her term. Her presidential mandate is to build up the infrastructure of the colonies.

Less than a year after the election, the President dies. With 3 presidents now dead in a row, and Suzzanne Chopak takes over. Yet again, the president is at the ripe old age of 86. The people of the Federation pray that she lasts longer than the last president.

Shortly after Forster takes office, the Klaggian Star Dynasty contacts earth. They are very peaceful and very religious, seeking to expand their nature-based religion through peaceful conversion. They look like bipodal foxes, about the size of a human. While very traditional and slow to adapt, they are strong farmers and very communal.

After decades of work, the sapient species that resides in Kiram have been fully enlightened. Thousands of scientists have worked tirelessly to smoothly transition the civilization into a space faring society in as short a time as possible. Now, contact is made with the planet, and the Screk people (as they call themselves) is invited into the galactic community. Kiram is made a protectorate of earth.

The rate of discovery proves, say scientists, that the galaxy is clearly filled to the brim with life. The Jibru Cooperatives, a disgusting, upright slug-like species, greets humans kindly. Several pacts are immediately made, despite the long distance relationship.

In 2255, several independent ventures begin in Sol. A Delhian company called Ex-L puts into works colonizing Ganymede and Europa. They begin building infrastructure to support residential and industrial life on the two moons. Another company, this one from China and called Vesta, begins mining one of the larger asteroids in the asteroid belt, planning on eventually having a permanent base with a population of at least 100 thousand people.