Scott Sigler: The Rookie

2558 Tower turns down offer to join Union. Instead, they join new Tri-Alliance (Ki Empire, Leekee Collective and Tower Republic).

• Prawatt/Sklorno war is a stalemate.

• Sklorno saturate Ionath, killing all sentient life.

• Prawatt saturate Chikchik, killing all sentient life.

2559 Rewall, hot off their victory over the Ki Rebels, launch a surprise attack against Prawatt-controlled Yewalla. They quickly defeat the Prawatts, who are still weak from war with Sklorno. Rewalls execute all Prawatts in retaliation for actions of 2525.

2561 Ki declare themselves trading capital of the galaxy and sign non-aggression pacts with every system, excluding Prawatt.

2562 Tower and Leekee conduct The Great Planet Trade. Leekee added one of Tower’s moons (New Leekee). Tower adds two planets in Leekee system (Fortress and Citadel).

2563 Ki colonize To.

2568 Harrah claim Satah, which is deep in Whitok space. Whitok are unable to use planet, but still threaten war. Union enters as intermediary; Harrah buy the planet from Whiok for c50 trillion.

2569 Harrah claim Lorah, which Planetary Union has rights to but cannot live on. Caught in same argument they used against Whitok, Union reluctantly sells planet to Harrah for c57 trillion.

2572 February 12: 23 year galactic peace shattered when Quyth send 400 ships against Reiger, crushing defenses and enslaving population.

• February 17: Quyth strike again, sending another fleet of 300 ships against Sklorno held Gritchlik. They take planet and send Sklorno citizens back to Sklorno.

• March 4: Quyth expansion halted by Rewall when they defeat 500-ship force at Loshall.

• March 27: Union forces attack Quyth at Reiger. Union loses 26 ships, Quyth lose 112. Quyth win with incredible numerical superiority (estimated at 4 to 1).

• April 10: Sklorno re-take Gritchlik in costly battle.

• May 22: Quyth re-take Gritchlik with navy returning from Loshall. Sklorno saturate planet before pulling out.

2573 Quyth shock the galaxy when it is discovered they have a permanent colony on radioactive Gritchlik.

• June 4: Quyth colonize and claim Whitok.

• July 6: Quyth colonize and claim Ionath.

• July 17: Quyth colonize and claim Chikchik.

• July 21: Whitok declare war on Quyth for landing on Whitok (even though it will be another three million years before any Whitokian can even set foot on the planet).

• Through three battles, Whitok lose half of their 300-ship navy while destroying 1,012 Quyth ships.

2574 Quyth retaliate to “unprovoked” attacks and send 600 ships to attack New Whitok. Combined Union and Whitok force meet Quyth fleet. Quyth lost 450 ships before retreating, Whitok lost 78 and Union lost 45 (Editor’s Note: largest single battle in Galaxy’s history). Whitok and Quyth agree to a cease-fire.

2581 Sklorno attack Drghp. Kurgurk unleash asteroid battleships and destroy Sklorno invaders.

2582 Whitok, fearing an attack from Leekee (their navy was still very weak from Quyth war), trade rights to Whopol to Ki for weapons, ships and credit.

2584 Ki develop deep mineral sights on Whopol that the Whitok were unaware of. Resulting wealth thrusts Ki Empire past League of Planets into top economic power in the galaxy.

2587 Pirate attacks begin in earnest on Ki shipping lanes.

2588 Harrah boldly claim Yarah, a planet on the Quyth/Rewall border. Both systems are so surprised and slow to react that Harrah set up heavy defenses before either system could respond. Harrah allowed to keep planet without war.

• Whitok spend defense money hand over fist and begin to borrow from gracious Ki Empire.

2589 Ki Imperial Navy capturing more pirates, finding most to be Human with some Ki.

Fourth Galactic War, 2591–2600

2591 Purists use seven captured Unions ships (captured in the last war) to attack convoy just off of To. Ki cripple one ship, which the purists have filled with captured Union soldiers (also from the last war). Ki troops find only dead Union soldiers.

2592 September 5: Despite claims of innocence from the Union, Ki government decides war would be good for economy and declares war on Union for sponsoring pirates.

• Ki force Whitok, who are deeply in debt to the Empire, to stay out of war.

• Ki manipulate treaty agreement of 2558 as well as threaten to cut off trade to bring Tower and Leekee into the war.

2593 No battles have yet taken place. Purist Nation gladly joins the fight against the warmongering, satanic Union.

• League of Planets, realizing that they will be next on Ki and Purist target list if the two defeat the most powerful navy in the galaxy, join the Union in the war.

• January 17: Ki and Union forces meet off of Harrah home-world. Union forces are defeated and retreat to stronghold at Thomas 3.

• July 2: Ki Rebel Establishment takes advantage of Empire’s troubles and pounces on Ak, an Imperial protectorate, adding it to the Establishment.

2594 Ki, who don’t think war is progressing fast enough, negotiate a deal with the Sklorno to attack the Union.

• Whitok, ashamed of their stance in the war and not helping its Union ally, attack the hated Sklorno with vigor.

• Battles rage across galaxy. Ki side is winning due to greater numbers and more money.

• Empire manages to keep solid trade lines going with all her allies except the Sklorno.

2595 January 12: Ki and Tower forces defeat main Union force and conquer Thomas 3

• February 14: Purists conquer Jones 2.

2596 Planetary Union very close to surrender. Fleet operating at 34 percent of original numbers. Death toll reaching 70 million.

2597 January 12: Rewall enters war suddenly by conquering Demos. Ki must defend against Rewall’s constant harassment sorties and lose numerical superiority over Union.

• May 19: The Great Sneak Attack. League of Planets forces invoke new stealth technology to travel to Allah, defeating Purist forces and conquering Purist capitol.

• Purists immediately pull every ship out of war and head for Allah, abandoning weakening Ki forces. When Purist ships arrive in Allah system, League leaves without a fight.

• Harrah offer aid to Union for far-flung Whitok outpost. Union and Whitok, who can no longer hold back Sklorno, agree to terms.

2598 Union forces, led by Harrah frigates, conquer Ki forces and re-take Thomas 3.

• Ki Rebels declare all debts owed to Ki Empire invalid and sneak attack Ki homeworld.

• Ki immediately retreat to deal with new threat.

• Tower/Leekee forces attack Rebels at Re. They are defeated and the Tri-Alliance members withdraw from war, leaving Ki Empire with no allies.

2600 Ki Empire surrenders to combined delegation of League, Union, Rebel and Rewall forces.

• Harrah claim Whitok outpost, christening it Mathara.

• Harrah give Sklorno cease-fire ultimatum. Sklorno return to their system.

• September 6: Galactic Accord signed. Ki navy limited to 100 active ships, and 100 dismantled and in reserve for defensive purposes. Union Watchdogs installed on all Ki ships to insure compliance with treaty. Ki allowed to hold all of its possessions. Rebels demand Ki homeworld for their part in the war. Other systems just want peace and officially end war with promises of retaliating to any hostile Rebel actions.

The Great Peace

2601 Planetary Union buys back Jones 2. Purists sell because they do not want to go to war in their weakened state.

2610 The Great Mapping Conference. System borders are hammered out to everyone’s satisfaction. The new map clearly marks territory and makes it obvious to identify the aggressor. This brings about a relative peace.

2634 Quyth claim that map is incorrect, that Sklorno border is too close to Gritchlik and Chikchik.