Timeline

Event

Earth

Age Of Growth

Caterpillar

2270

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First successful colonisation of Mars. Suspended animation technology and the newly invented Hydrogen Scoop allow long distance travel, and virtually unlimited fuel supplies.

2290

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First manned landing on Ceres. Atmospheric analysis shows high carbon dioxide levels, easing teraforming attempts.

2300

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Trade disputes between the United States of Europe and the Union of Soviet South American Republics. The Federal Republic of America (ex-USA), financially crippled since the USSAR broke contact after the Third world war, takes a neutral public attitude. Speculation is rife that an increasingly reactionary European super-state is maintaining the country as a source of cheap labour. The previously prosperous West is rapidly outstripped by developing nations to become the new Third World.

2310

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War between the Martian colonies breaks out, heightening the possibilities of terrestrial conflict. The South American colony is victorious, but war damage means that self-sufficiency is postponed by 50 years minimum. The joint European / North American space programme suffers from this extra-terrestrial conflict, and concentrates efforts on a final colonisation bid.

2320

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Ceres land rights claimed by Europe. After long disputes, veiled threats of war, and a final, undisclosed land settlement, South America swaps Ceres for the Caribbean and Philippine islands, planning a working space station within ten years. European/North American space programme is now limited to commercial ventures, designed to make money from the prosperous, neutral, South East Asian empires.

2330

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Da Vinci colony set up on Ceres and the nearby asteroids. The asteroids are linked by 20 metre wide support tunnels to the large base building on Ceres. Hydroponics food farms set up, at first vegetarian, as the communist food ethic extolled the benefits of vegetarianism, meat would optionally added later. Fast-growing strains of plant are introduced, in an attempt to speed up self sufficiency, in reaction to the worsening earthly environmental situation. Extraterrestrial population nears ten thousand, mainly on Mars.

2335

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In the midst of a population boom on Ceres, plants shipped from the Martian colony are found to contain the eggs of a previously unknown breed of butterfly, subsequently named the Magellan butterfly. The creature is tolerated because of the almost comical appearance of the caterpillars and the beauty of the butterflies. Population of the colonies reaches twenty thousand, fifteen thousand on mars, five thousand on Ceres. The South American Politburo orders that frozen animal embryos should be stored on both space stations, ensuring the survival of earth’s species in the event of war.

2340

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Population of the colonies increase exponentially. Recession on Earth increases level of exodus. African Americans make up a significant percentage of those leaving earth, following a re-introduction of slavery in the FRA. The migration from earth to both colonies is described by the Olympus Peoples Tribune as being "The greatest exodus of humankind seen since Moses parted the Red Sea". Total space-bound human population reaches fifty thousand. Thirty thousand on Mars, twenty thousand on Ceres. On Earth, exodus of refugees from the FRA is stemmed, when the military Junta in Washington issues the order that "Deserters should be shot on sight.".

Jan 16 2342

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USSAR and Canada sign a treaty of co-operation, and invade the FRA simultaneously, in order, officially, to free the American refugees, Fascist government overthrown. The resulting backlash from Europe, allied with the FRA, starts the Last War. China and eastern Asia ally with South America. Russia and Africa ally with Europe. Australia and the New Republic of Atlantis (Antarctica) stay neutral.

Jan 17 2342

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Europe launches virus bombs at Rio, Mexico City, Beijing, Hong Kong and Brasilia. USSAR retaliate with seismic cannon and Twister rockets at Berlin, Paris, Moscow, Johannesburg and Rome. Total death toll: 2.7 billion.

Jan 23 2342

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Seismic damage splits Eurasia and Africa, sinking the African tectonic plate. 75% of Africa flooded, Europe engulfed by tidal waves. Hurricanes caused by Twister rockets devastate the steppes of Russia.

Jan 24 2342

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Volcanoes open up across America, due to shock-waves caused by the sinking of Africa. Dust clouds resulting from volcanic ash block out 97% of sunlight in the western then the eastern hemisphere. Only human life on Earth is in the NRA (pop. 140,000).

April 7 2342

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As planet Earth becomes totally uninhabitable, the damage caused destroying the ecosystem, the last message from the NRA is received by the colonies, "We screwed up here, don’t make the same mista-".

April 12 2342

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Total population of humanity: 50,000 and falling. Famine increasing on both stations. Severe rationing introduced, food hoarding punishable by death.

2345

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Mars colony collapses, as supplies run out. Ceres colony, years from self sufficiency, has supply quota estimated at 3 years food.

Dec. 25 2346

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The remaining 10,000 colonists on Ceres placed into suspended animation, to combat famine. Commander Jed Elridge, the highest ranking officer surviving, sets computer to wake them up when the station is totally self-sufficient.

2347

0

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Computer malfunction locks colonists into a 50,000 year suspended animation programme.

X

50

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IGOR, the station computer, continues colony expansion, mining ore and refining metal from nearby asteroids. IGOR’s AI expands the station in a long series of corridors with "Generic rooms", those with no designation, running off.

X

120

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Doors to Hydroponics farms jam open during routine checks. Seeds fall onto corridors, including fast-growing mutant strains.

X

300

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75% of station covered in foliage, the Magellan caterpillar thriving without obvious predators or other life-forms.

X

1000

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100% of station covered in foliage, as IGOR constructs new areas of the station, the foliage quickly spreads to fill them. The Magellan caterpillars begin to adapt. Pseudopodia recede, chitinous limbs grow into supportive pedal extremities, eventually used for walking. Early mutations have four chitinous upper limbs, but as time goes by, the arms fuse into one jointed arm with one limb acting as the fingers of the hand, and the other becoming the opposable thumb. The upper and lower limbs are completely covered with downy hair, used as a sensory system. As time goes by, the chitin softens, and becomes more flexible, allowing greater dexterity Whilst the caterpillars, as insects, are naturally cold blooded, their covering of hair, and the deliberately hot environment of the hydroponics plant, allow an increase in body temperature, and thus speed up development.

X

2000

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In one corner of the station, a stasis box splits, revealing a potted plant with a large population of Aphids crawling over the leaves. Aphids begin to inhabit leaves. In time, the completely chitinous Aphids adapt in a manner similar to the caterpillars, although as their area of the station is colder, their evolution is slower.

X

2500

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Caterpillars build living quarters, coaxing thin leaves to grow into a shelter. Twigs are used as tools, after teeth sharpen them. Caterpillars begin to walk upright, the upper half of the body becoming a torso. Lepidoptorus Erectus is born.

X

2500 - ?

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Caterpillar evolution continues, aeons pass, during which, caterpillars begin to fully digest cellulose, meaning that less time is spent foraging for food. Caterpillars evolve in a way mirroring hunter-gatherers. A species recognisable as Lepidoptorus Sapiens evolves and becomes dominant. Fire and the wheel are discovered, followed by plastic. Decomposition of plant matter has not yet reached the stage where ores can be extracted, so synthesis of organic chemicals, specifically the durable polymers grown by plants after biological engineering, is a major advance. Caterpillar society develops along biological lines, due to their relationship with, and reverence of, plant material.

X

X

0

Caterpillar expeditions encounter the semi-evolved Aphids, and enslave them. A period of ignorance seen as a Dark Age begins. Caterpillar society, now at around the technological level of pre-renaissance Europe, sees the strange-looking aphids as a commodity. Despite arguments by libertarians, Aphids can still be held as slaves, and free aphids hold little status.

X

X

1550

Aphids revolt, demanding and getting equal rights to Caterpillars. Racial tension remains. Caterpillar culture mirrors the Renaissance. Industrially, however, they are still at the level of the middle ages, lacking metals of any description.

X

X

1600

Doors to teraformed outside world open. After a period of confusion and fear, tentative Caterpillar expeditions are undertaken, with explorers finding Bronze, then Iron ore in the earth. A speeded up industrial revolution takes place. Steam and electrical power are discovered. Centres of caterpillar population stay inside the station, due to climatic differences. Only brave mining colonies venture out into the unknown world. Caterpillar society reaches a level roughly mirroring 20^th century earth.

X

X

1625

The Story of Remiel begins, a saga of despair, hope, love, hate and slight indigestion, which spans time, space, death and reality.