First Contact_A Pax Aeterna Novel

by Trevor Wyatt

  Determine Union first achieved political consciousness as an outgrowth of the Terran Council as humanity began to expand into the stars and form colony worlds. The actual foundation of the political union occurred in 2063 as the final nation states on planet Earth joined into a unified humanity.

  The Terran Union utilizes the Terran Armada for all military, diplomatic, exploratory, scientific, and cultural activities and outreach on behalf of the Union.

  The Council of Corporations is an unofficial advisory Council to the office of the president of the Union. The Council of corporations is formed by representatives of the major corporations within the Union and number and 100 representatives.

  The Union encompasses 45 billion people spread out over 198 colony worlds over 197 light years. The Outer Colonies form a political counterpoint to the Terran Union after having broken away in 2123 during a conflict known as The Schism.

  One of the primary tasks of the Terran Union, indeed the task that was the primary cause of the Schism was the responsibility placed upon the Union and rebuilding the planet Earth after the Third World War. Rebuilding efforts to date have focused on extraction of minerals, ores, and other manufactured and natural resources from colony worlds for transport back to Earth. However, the Union also funds and develops scientific and technological breakthroughs that have greatly sped up the pace of the rebuilding on Terra.

  The Union is also tasked with regulating the activities of the profit-making corporations that serve at times as proxies for the Terran Armada.

  The Union operates a wide variety of social welfare and administrative tasks designed to raise the standard of living for humans within the political union.

  Terran Armada

  The Terran Armada is the exploratory, military, scientific, and engineering arm of the Terran Union. The Armada was first launched in 2050 by a declaration from the Terran Council. It has since evolved to grow into the method by which the Terran Union imposes law and order, patrol space, keeps the peace, and defends its citizens. The Armada consists of starships, star bases, planetary bases, deep space stations, listening posts, as well as administrative offices spread out throughout the Union. The two key administrative centers of the Terran Armada exist on the planet Earth as well as the colony world of New Washington.

  The exact number of starships are not specified within the Pax Aeterna universe since over 150 years of shipbuilding, mothballing, and retrofit have occurred. However, the Armada has maintained a fighting force during that time that at first protected its citizens from pirates, as well as other stellar phenomenon that pose threats. During the time of the Schism between the Outer Colonies and Terra, the Armada was called upon to impose law and order in systems that were in open rebellion as well as to press the offensive and defend the core star systems. After the Schism the Armada was tasked with patrolling the border with the Outer Colonies. After first contact with the Sonali, the Armada was called to defend the Union as well as prosecute the five-year war that ensued.

  The Armada is not just a military vehicle for the Union, but also an exploratory and scientific vehicle as well. It carries out a host of exploratory and scientific measures that include charting new star systems, studying cosmic phenomenon, as well as assisting colony worlds with either unprecedented or routine maintenance and upgrades. Chief among the notable accomplishments outside of the military sphere of the Armada include the mapping of space routes, the establishment of trading and shipping lanes through space, assistance in terraforming planets, protecting against piracy, and working with the various corporate fleets to ensure tranquility throughout the Union.

  The Armada was weakened severely during the Earth-Sonali War. Approximately 25% of the fighting force was destroyed. It was the first nonhuman conflict that the Armada had endured, with prior engagements for over the last hundred years limited to border skirmishes with the Outer Colonies as well as preventing piracy.

  The Armada maintains an Academy for officers on both the planet Earth as well as the colony world of New Washington. It maintains administrative offices that oversee several sectors on New Washington.

  Those who wish to join the Armada can do so through two means. They can enlist to serve in a variety of capacities with the Armada. Those who seek to achieve specialized skills or servant leadership or positions of more responsibility must enter through the Armada Academy on either Tara or New Washington. The Academy is a five-year program with exacting entrance requirements of both a mental and physical nature. The Academy is widely respected for its teaching and its training of the next generation of leaders within the Armada.

  The technological advancements of Armada starships were jumpstarted during two conflicts-the Schism with the Outer Colonies, and the Earth-Sonali War. The latter conflict saw significant technological breakthroughs in the areas of all offensive and defensive capabilities as well as other technological breakthroughs which have in turn been used for more peaceful endeavors including the rebuilding of Earth from the damage caused by the Third World War.

  The Armada has in fact since its inception been credited with lowering the time required to rebuild the planet Earth from the ravages of the nuclear war in half. The scientific opportunities available through the exploration of space have been harnessed through coordinated efforts between the Terran Armada as well as other institutions within the Terran Union including the various corporations that have a seat on the Terran Corporate Council.

  The Armada also has a diplomatic arm which works hand-in-hand with the Terran diplomatic corps.

  The Terran Armada is generally at a significant advantage when compared to the decentralized fighting capabilities of the Outer Colonies. And while the first two years of the Earth-Sonali War saw the Terran Armada outmatched and outgunned by the Sonali, by the end of the conflict the fleet approached something close to parity with their opposing forces.

  The Armada receives funding that is directly tied to the budget worked on by the president of the Terran Union as well as the Terran Council. As such the Armada has at times been subjected to the politics of the day running of the Terran Union. The Armada is one of the most respected institutions within the Terran Union with most citizens saying that it exists as a force for good in the galaxy.

  While the Armada is comprised of a primarily military air the founding charter of the Armada as well as its core principles state that the chain of command reports directly to a civilian overseer who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Terran Armada, occupying the seat of President of the Terran Union.

  The Armada maintains an intelligence department conducts intelligence operations both within the Terran Union as well as within foreign powers.

  Encyclopedia Aeterna Volume 2

  Political Maps of the Orion Cluster of the Milky Way Galaxy

  Timeline of the Earth-Sonali War

  Timeline of Earth-Sonali War 2197-2201

  2197:

  July Edoris Station stops receiving communications from TUS Mariner - a scientific vessel on a mission to explore the Anderson Nebula.

  Captain Montgomery of TUS Seeker is assigned by Admiral Flynn of the Terran Armada to locate the whereabouts of the missing TUS Mariner.

  August TUS-Seeker finds wreckage of TUS Mariner near the Anderson Nebula. Unique energy signatures of the remaining debris suggests a weapon of destruction previously unknown to the Terran Armada. First Contact: While investigating the remains of TUS Mariner, Captain Montgomery makes first contact with the Sonali. The Sonali are a tall humanoid blue-skinned alien race. Captain Montgomery speaks with Command Legate Ghosal of the Sonali regarding the destruction of TUS Mariner. Legate Ghosal says the Sonali are not responsible for the destruction of TUS Mariner. However, Legate Ghosal orders Captain Montgomery to leave or be destroyed. Facing superior firing power from the Sonali ship, Captain Montgomery retreats.

  Admiral Flynn presents Captain Montgomery's report to the Terran Union regarding the destruction of TUS Mariner and first contact with the Sonali.


  Despite the confidentially surrounding Captain Montgomery's report, word leaks to the public that TUS Mariner has been destroyed and first contact has been made with the Sonali.

  September An official report is released to the public. Given the uncertainty surrounding the fate of TUS Mariner and the proximity of the Sonali to its destruction - public outcry reaches a fever pitch demanding answers and justice for the lost crew of TUS Mariner.

  October Terran Union dispatches a 100-ship fleet to investigate the debris of TUS Mariner. The fleet makes contact with Command Legate Laloli of the Sonali. History repeats as she states that the Sonali are not responsible for the destruction of the Mariner and tells the Terran Armada fleet to leave or face attack. The Terran fleet refuses to leave. Legate Laloli fires on the fleet destroying more than half of the Terran ships including: The Maverick, The Aurora, The Iris, The Magus, The Lysander, The Griffin, The Mercury, The H.R. Wells, The Santa Maria, The Hornet, The York, The Wesley, and The Lexington. Surviving ships include: The Celestia. November Sonali war ships begin attack and invasion of Edoris sector settlements: Solange, Mavis, Zion, and Halcyon. Terran Armada begins to establish diplomatic relations with the other alien species.

  December A fleet of Terran war frigates surround two Sonali ships TUS Malai and TUS Gre'nai. Concentrated fire by the Terran fleet severely damages both Sonali ships. However, Terran losses negate this as a true "win."

  2198:

  January Six months after first contact Terran Armada officially declares war on the Sonali.

  Plans are proposed for weapons manufacture on Earth coupled with aggressive R&D to catch up to Sonali military prowess.

  February Sonali expand their invasion in Edoris sector. Colonies taken include: Calypso, Gamma and Logan.

  March Loss of TUS Terror to Sonali at Azukene colony. However, before the ship was swarmed by Sonali the crew murdered the captain in a mutinous move opposing the captain's plan to do a suicidal ram into the Sonali warship. The last moments of TUS Terror as well as the munity were recorded and delivered via automated slipstream log.

  May After the incident with TUS Terror - Terran Armada instigates security officers to be posted on all ships to protect Captains.

  June "Remember the Mariner!" becomes a unifying chant on Earth. Record numbers of Terrans enlist at the Academy in order to train and join the war effort.

  July For the first time in 1,000 years Terrans return to nomadic roots, traveling in small caravans between settlements to avoid attack by Sonali forces. However, it is soon apparent that daytime exodus equals heavy losses as Sonali ships cut down fleeing Terrans indiscriminately. To avoid this danger some settlements near the border empty overnight.

  August Sonali attacks on border colonies continues.

  September A candle-light vigil is held by civilians in remembrance of TUS Mariner on the anniversary of the official announcement of its loss.

  October "Sacred Vow" offensive is launched by Terran Armada in an attempt to halt Sonali encroachment in the Edoris Sector. Due to loss of half of the attacking Terran fleet to Sonali forces and overall failure the offensive is dubbed "Sacred Cow" in civilian circles denoting a loss of hope regarding the war effort.

  November The Sonali continue to conquer and invade settlements on different planets. Despite Terran resistance, the Sonali maintain dominance on overall destruction and causalities.

  December While on patrol TUS Shrike discovers a damaged, but intact Sonali ship. The recovery of this ship marks the first opportunity for research into Sonali technology.

  2199:

  January The vessel is delivered to Terran Armada for research.

  February Sonali forces destroy the following colonies in Edoris sector: Nurtura, Cassis, and Bathory.

  March Settlements lost to Sonali: Esme, Carlise, and Laront.

  April Settlements lost to Sonali: Tamarin, Solaris, Calliope, and Ferris.

  June Settlements captured by Sonali: Langley, Benedict, and Mathis.

  July-August The Sonali begin a series of seemingly random attacks on a consistent basis. They become known as "death drops" because the Sonali would come out of FTL over a Terran colony and repeatedly drop firebombs until it was leveled. Then they would resume FTL back to Sonali space. The assaults were unpredictable and devastating.

  September "Operation Quake" was a covert mission designed to capture Sonali communications relays in the hopes of determining the locations of future "death drops." Captain Wolf of TUS Exeter was sent on this mission with the directive to come out of FTL and take position behind a Sonali fleet to deploy the probes (the probes would be disguised as space debris). Once in place the probes would relay communications back to Terran headquarters. However, one of the engineering officers Yuang Fa was a Sonali sympathizer; he hacked the ship's A.I.'s and murdered a crew mate to sabotage the mission.

  October-December Terran Armada launch "Operation Zodiac." Operation Zodiac (aka"Oz") - was a fleet of self-replicating drones deployed to form a blockade of mines in constant FTL orbit. In order to the fill the blockade area the drones were able to harvest needed materials in space to increase their numbers. A ship moving at non-FTL speed across the mine field would not be affected as it would phase through at a different frequency than the mines. However, a fleet entering the blockade in FTL would trigger the mines. Upon detonation each mine releases a fusillade of shrapnel. The success of "Operation Zodiac" marks the first time in the Earth-Sonali war that Terrans are able to deliver consecutive blows to the Sonali without suffering immense causalities. This routing of Sonali forces by Terrans revitalizes the war effort at home and abroad.

  2200:

  January-March To counter "Operation Zodiac" the Sonali launch FTL drones into the mine fields to detonate and destroy the blockades. The Sonali are able to "punch holes" in the blockades using these measures. However, the first three months of solid success by "OZ" mark a turning point for Terran forces.

  June Based on intel recovered by a group of mercenaries on Edoris -Terran Armada launches a second wave of self-replicating drones to form a blockade above New Sydney. This second offensive "Operation Xanthe" (aka "OX") creates an effective barrier allowing ground forces to evacuate civilians from impending attack.

  July-August After three years of research and development (that included reverse engineering captured Sonali technology), the start of year four of the war finds Terran Armada military capabilities on par with both offensive and defensive Sonali weaponry.

  Reactions to this new military equality vary on each homefront:

  •Terrans, already accustomed to significant causalities, react positively to these new "wins" against their enemy. Chants of "Remember the Mariner!" resurge as does pride in the military.

  •Sonali citizens begin to question the war and have concerns regarding their daily life now that the enemy has become a real threat. Spurred by this new perspective, Sonali Scholars begin earnest research into a species that can no longer be categorized merely as "primitive aggressors".

  September-December Battles between the matched forces of Terran and Sonali military result in longer battles with significant loss of life on both sides.

  Terran Ships Missing or Destroyed include: TUS Zenith, TUS Cyclone, TUS Hurricane, TUS Tornado, TUS Virgil, TUS Messenger, TUS Carolina, TUS Dynasty, TUS Eckard, TUS Franklin, TUS Claude, and TUS Marseille.

  Sonali Ships Destroyed include: La'na, S'elal, M'alei, La'asi, Ka'era, S'hai, T'lan, M'hida, C'mei, F'ali, D'aie, and A'hai.

  2201:

  January After five months of dealing with a "stalemate of destruction", both Sonali and Terrans begin covert operations to discover alternative means of winning the war. Recovered paperwork and/or testimony from Sonali and Terrans are the only existing proof of such activities during the war. It should be noted that military on both sides refuse to comment and deny the existence of these projects.

  February Omega Project: Designed to enhance Terran abilities due to the injection of a series
of sophisticated nanites. One goal of the project was to increase Terran adaptability to extreme environmental changes, in particular the low-oxygen high argon atmosphere of Sonali. Test subject 01 results were found superior to all other subjects.

  April Devanagari Project- Sonali project to create air-borne parasites queued to Terran physiology. Personal logs (original recordings lost) kept by Sonali scientists describe the creation of a parasitic entity designed to attack Terrans-only. Testimony by a scientist on the project said they successfully created the phage with plans to deploy it via introduction into the atmosphere of large Terran cities. However, the war came to an end before the phage was deployed on a wide scale (per testimony of scientist). Despite this testimony rumors persist that select Terran colonies met their demise via use of this lethal parasitic invasion.

  May "Operation Zephyr" was a covert message system based on the American Indian language of Tuscarora. However, Terran Armada Counter Intelligence discovered that the coded messages were compromised. Terran Armada uses this opportunity to send out false messages regarding the location of a military convoy. Sonali war ships came out of FTL with plans to converge on a ship full of high-ranking military officials. Instead they find a "dummy" ship that detonates destroying the entire fleet.

  June Terran Armada decides to carry out the "Wolf Offensive". This dramatic action involves 'glassing' Beta Hydrae III - a densely populated region of Sonali.

  Captain Montgomery is tasked with leading a counter-offensive. However, he still has questions regarding the Sonali's role in the destruction of TUS Mariner. Poised on the brink of genocide, Captain Montgomery returns to the location of the debris from TUS Mariner to investigate further.