Scott Sigler: The Rookie

• Planetary Union joins its ally and declares war on Sklorno.

2521 Purists see the Union at war and declare Second Holy War on the infidels.

2522 Whitok sends delegation to Rewalls. Rewalls understand message and declare war on Sklorno.

2523 League of Planets declares defensive war on Purist Nation.

• Prawatt, who have waited until Rewall navy is committed against Sklorno, attack Yewalla.

• Sklorno are days away from conquering Whitok.

• Purists get first look at Sklorno. They immediately break off their war with the Union.

• League of Planets stops attacks on Purist ships, allowing them to return back to their system.

• Rewall forced to break off attacks on Sklorno to deal with Prawatt.

• In a last-ditch effort, the Whitok Navy suicide-attacks the Sklorno forces off of the Whitok homeworld. The attack stops the movement on Whitok homeworld, but costs the Kingdom 50 percent of an already crippled fleet.

2524 Planetary Union brings full force to bear on Sklorno navy, which has regrouped and is heading for Whitok homeworld. The largest battle of the war ensues. Union forces drive off Sklorno, but not before the Sklorno saturation-bomb Whitok homeworld. Most life on Whitok destroyed and planet is uninhabitable.

2525 Ki achieve FTL capability. Eat givers for dinner.

• Rewall and Prawatt stalemate ends when Rewall leave a ravaged Yewalla for the Prawatt Jihad.

2526 Whitok offer Reiger 2 to Planetary Union in thanks after refusing to join Union. Addition of Reiger 2 leaves New Whitok, the Kingdom’s only remaining planet, well inside Union borders.

2527-

2549 The Age Of Colonization.

• Planetary Union adds Jones, New Earth, Rodina (all three in same system) and Home to its ranks.

• Sklorno destroy avian race on Yall and add Chikchik.

• Whitok spend trillions on colonization, adding Whipath and Whirod (same system) Whopol, Whirot and all-water giant Wheresh

• Prawatt add Ionath.

• Rewall add Loshall.

• Leekee add Grinkas and Replas.

• League of Planets adds Vosor 3 and distant Tower 1.

• Purists add Solomon.

• Kurgurk add Rfgh and Drghp.

• Ki add Ol 3 and Re 4.

2530 Portath achieve FTL capability. Within 4 years (estimated), Portath colonize Thew and Faskah.

2531 League of Planets forces sent from Tower on peaceful mission are lost when they enter the Portath Cloud.

• Portath send a message to the galaxy not to enter the cloud.

• League sends large navy to protect Tower from potential threat.

2533 Sklorno, despite warnings from Planetary Union, attack New Whitok. Whitok Kingdom’s new navy has been waiting for revenge for nine years, and defeat Sklorno in pitched battle.

2535 Planetary Union signs treaty of friendship with Purist Nation. League of Planets and Whitok Kingdom voice their objections to treaty.

Second Galactic War, 2536–2540

2536 Leekee attack Whiropt in an effort to gain new territory. Whitok barely repel attack. Whitok, seeing a double threat to a navy that hasn’t even recovered fully from the last war, begin to spend all money on defense.

2537 Leekee, trying to surprise Whitok forces at Whiropt, travel into Portath Cloud. Forty-seven ships are never heard from again as entire force disappears. (Editor’s Note: this was the Leekee’s biggest blunder, as it gave Whitok time to rebuild its navy. Had Lee-kee attacked directly, it could have claimed half of the Whitok Kingdom’s territory.)

2538 Purist Nation launches major fleet in effort to add Tower 1.

• League of Planets promises war if Purists touch Tower.

• Purists claim the Union cannot allow hostile League ships through its space as it would be a violation of the friendship treaty of 2535. Caught in the diplomatic trap and wanting to avoid war with Purists, the Union claims neutrality and refuses to allow League ships through.

• Purist force, unaware of large Tower Navy, are defeated in first battle for Tower.

2539 League tries to send ships though Union space. Union blockades the movement. Minor firefight ensues with League returning to system.

• League forces are stonewalled by Purist defenses outside Jones system, League helpless to protect Tower.

• August 4: Tower’s Captain Markos surprises Purist forces at Stewart. Purists suffer heavy losses, but still maintain vast numerical superiority. Tower’s hopes for peace are dashed as Purists send 80-ship armada to conquer Tower once and for all.

• November 21: Markos, pursued by 78 Purist vessels, leads Tower’s final 14 ships into the Portath Cloud. Markos baits Purists into cloud and scatters his fleet. Seven Tower ships returned home, and all 78 Purist ships were lost. Captain Markos was never heard from again.

2540 Portath send message to Purists: “Attack again, and we will destroy you.”

• Purist government, unsure of how Tower destroyed most of its fleet, offers Tower peace. Tower accepts.

• Tower secedes from League of Planets. League blames Union for loss of planet, hostile feelings remain today.

• Union, angered at being used in the Tower conflict, breaks off treaty with Purist Nation. Purists warn of consequences.

2551 Ki Navy makes its first appearance, attacking Leekee forces at Replas. Ki Navy wins battle, then returns home.

• Ki Navy attacks Harrah forces. Harrah win soundly and declare war on Ki for unprovoked aggression.

2552 Planetary Union, trying to prevent a war so close to its borders, calls Galactic Peace Conference, attended by all except Prawatt.

• Quyth achieve FTL capability.

Third Galactic War, 2553–2557

2553 Ki sign peace treaty with Harrah (at Galactic Peace Conference). Ki people outraged.

• Ol and Re seceded from Ki Empire.

• Ships stationed at Ol and Re attack Ki, trying to oust cowardly government.

• Leekee see potential for war if Rebels win and decide to support Ki government, attacking the rebels near Ol.

• Rebels hold off Leekee and press closer to Ki. Some landings take place, resulting in numerous ground wars.

2554 Rewalls, who have had excellent relations with the Ki government, threaten war unless rebels retreat. Rebels continue attacks and Rewall engage rebel forces at Re.

• Whitok, spurred on by the memory of unprovoked attacks by Leekee, send “advisors” to help rebels on Leekee border.

• Tower, wary of rebuilt Purist navy and hungry for allies, sends ships to help Leekee.

• Purists, seeing another chance to snatch Tower, side with Rebels for “religious purposes.”

• Planetary Union warns Purists to stay away from Tower.

2556 A minor altercation on the Prawatt/Sklorno border erupts into a full-scale war.

• Harrah join in fight against the Rebels, supporting the government that made the peace treaty.

• April 27: First Battle for Ki. Synchronized attack by the Purists, Whitok and Rebels overwhelm Rewall and Leekee forces. Rebels take Ki, but not before Royal family can be evacuated.

• Purists attack Tower forces at Tower. Union immediately moves to attack Purists.

2557 Battle for Asteroid X7. Union forces meet Purist forces at Asteroid X7. Union wins by small margin. Purists fall back to re-group. (Editor’s Note: the fall back is considered the biggest tactical mistake of the war. The Union could not mount another offensive for at least three months, and the Purists could have brought up reserves and regrouped right on the front lines.)

• June 12: Tower, Rewall and Leekee forces seize opportunity and attack Rebels in Second Battle for Ki. Whitok navy late in arriving and is turned back by organized Rewall defenses.

• July 23: Leekee, Tower and Loyal Ki forces re-take planet. Rebels on planet-side are ousted and Rebel forces return to Re and Ol.