Commonwealth Chronology

1 billion B.C.

The Xunca are at their height. They discover something connected with the Great Emptiness and begin setting up their transmitter network.

400,000,000

The Xunca create the Groalamason Ocean on Horseye and modify the orbits of the planet's moons. They set up a transmitting station in the polar ice cap. A minor relay station is set up on Terra, but is destroyed by continental drift. A Mutable is stationed on every planet set up with a component of the system.

50,000,000

A massive earthquake shakes much of Horseye, shifting the course of the Skar River, and causing minor damage to the transmitter.

950,000

The Hur'rikku begin to explore outward from near the Galactic Center.

800,000

Anticollapsar weapon destroys collapsar near the Shapley Center.

501,000

The Vom arrives on the last world it will consume. Prior to this it has obliterated all life on nearly a thousand worlds.

500,000

Tar-Aiym Empire is at its height. The Vom makes contact with the Tar-Aiym and panics, destroying the fleet sent to investigate it. The Tar-Aiym then send a robot fleet to contain the Vom. Peot becomes the Guardian, and is placed in orbit around the Vom's planet.

499,000

Tar-Aiym make contact with the Hur'rikku. Total war ensues.

480,000

After enduring several attempts to be forced into the Tar-Aiym Empire, the Hur'rikku threaten to use their anticollapsar weapon on Tar-Aiym worlds. The Tar-Aiym respond with intensive weapons research. As a consequence of this activity, the Krang is constructed on Booster. The fleet containing the Vom is called away to help in the war with the

Hur'rikku, leaving a minimal force to aid the Guardian in its duties.

479,000

Animate photonic storm released by the Tar-Aiym as a plague destroys all sentient life in their galactic vicinity before finally burning itself out, including both its Tar-Aiym creators and the Hur'rikku. A dying race on the edge of the plague area broadcasts a warning. Surviving space-faring species within detection range act together to quarantine the region. This section of space becomes known as The Blight.

7,000

Alaspininan civilization at its height. Alaspinians explore space in an area larger than the Commonwealth, but establish no colonies.

75,000

Alaspinians die out, possibly by racial suicide.

67,500

Last monumental achievements of the culture of the Sauun, on the world later named Comagrave.

27,000

Latest warm cycle begins on Tran-Ky-Ky.

17,000

Warm cycle ends, present cold cycle begins.

10,950

Tunneling begins on Ulru-Ujurr.

c8,000

Birth of Thranx civilization on Hivehom. Founding of the "Eternal City" of Daret, later capitol of the Thranx Great Hive.

c7,000

Seminal confrontation between Twentieth Emperor Thumostener and King Vilisvenqen on Hivehom.

c6,000

Last intraspecies war fought on Hivehom.

c5,700

Birth of human civilization on Terra.

c2,000

Establishment of the Priory of the Brotherhood "Evonin-ta-ban" on Tran-ky-ky.

cA.D.500

Christian religion calendar change on Terra.

c1800

Thranx achieve rudimentary space travel. Piloted rockets sent to Hivehom's three moons.

c1850

Three other habitable planets in the Hivehom system colonized.

c1900

Thranx discover posigravity drive.

c1930

Thranx discover Calm Nursery.

c1940

Thranx discover Willow-Wane.

c2045

Terrans work to perfect slow but practical deep space travel. All killing of Cetacea outlawed.

c2080

Off-course robotic Terran "sleeper" colony ship reaches the Centaurus system. Planets III and V are colonized.

c2100

Thranx have first contact with the AAnn.

c2105

Diplomatic relations established between Thranx and AAnn. General wariness ensues.

c2200

Off-course Terran sleeper colony ship is forced to unload its human cargo at Midworld.

2243

AAnn attack Paszex on Willow-Wane for the first time.

2270

Mammalian neural system enhancement serum gengineered.

2280

Independent invention of the posigravity drive by Terrans Alex Kurita and Sumako Kinoshita. Re-discovery of the Centaurus system colonies.

2285

Discovery of Mantis.

2290

Discovery of Cachalot. Birth of Ryozenzuzex on Willow-Wane.

2300

Covenant of Peace enacted with serum-enhanced Cetacea. Agreement of Transfer vowed. Transfer of surviving Cetacea to Cachalot begun.

2310

The Terran exploration ship Seeker is attacked by the AAnn, and later rescued by the Thranx ship Zinramm and taken to Hivehom. A mysterious message from Capt. Brohwelporvot sends Ryozenzuzex on a journey to Hivehom to see the aliens.

2311

The Humans escape protective captivity on Hivehom and return to Centaurus VII, taking Ryo with them. NOR CRYSTAL TEARS.

2312

The Humans and Ryo set up the Project on Willow-Wane.

2312

Ship-to-ship contact is made between the Thranx and the Quillp.

2316

The Project is revealed to the general populace of both species.

2320

Transfer of Cetacea to Cachalot completed.

2326

Death of the famous poet Wuuzelansem.

2340

First treaties between Humans and Thranx signed. Closer contact forced by circumstances initiated by human thief Cheelo Montoya and mad Thranx poet Desvendapur. PHYLOGENESIS.

c2350

Discovery of Moth. Cetacean Poleetat has legendary fight with Megalichthyian on Cachalot.

2360

First Human contact with Pitar. Terran-norm world in the Pitar System is colonized.

2365

Destruction of Treetrunk (Argus V) by Pitar. Beginning of the Humanx-Pitar War. DIRGE.

2366

Humanx teams invent the SCCAM missile, and make major breakthroughs in improving the operation of the posigravity drive. SCCAM missiles used in shattering of complex Pitar defenses.

2367

End of the war with the cleansing of the Pitar homeworlds.

A.A.

(After Amalgamation) 0 A.A. corresponds to 2400 A.D.

0 A.A.

The signing of the articles of Amalgamation and the creation of the Commonwealth. The signing ceremony is performed by the Fourth Last Resort David Makezinski and the Tri-eint Arlenduva. DIUTURNITY'S DAWN.

1

The Commonwealth Council meets for the first time, on Terra.

2

Commonwealth Council meets for the first time on Hivehom.

c10

Commonwealth Science Headquarters established near Mexico City.

c20

Formal recognition of the United Church. Island of Bali becomes Church HQ on Terra.

33

The starship Curryon turns inside-out when stellar debris strikes its KK-drive field projector at the instant of activation.

c50

Refinement of the HIPnosis drugs later used on SCAAM stingships. Bril de-Panltatal hears legends of the City of the Dead on Horseye for the first time.

86

Marriage of Eitienne and Lyra Redowl, shortly after graduation.

c88

Alaspin discovered.

c95

Horseye discovered by Terrans.

c97

Satellite survey taken of Horseye.

98

Commonwealth relations with the Quillp are formalized.

c99

The Thranx build and staff Steamer Station on Horseye.

c100

Krigsvird-ty-Kalstund founds the Fortress of Wannome on the island of Sofold on Tran-ky-ky.

106

Eitienne and Lyra Redowl arrive on Horseye, and after five months start their trip up the Skar River VOYAGE TO THE CITY OF THE DEAD.

c150

Brisbane, Australia becomes the capitol of Terra.

c175

First human settlers arrive on Cachalot. The CusnunC begins developing a mind-control polyp.

c300

Discovery of the Blight. Survey ships do preliminary mapping. RNGC 1632 (Cannachanna) discovered by a Visarian probe.

c361

Establishment of the Commonwealth-wide surfing contest on Dis.

448

Birth of Mother Mastiff on Moth.

449

Birth of Truzenzuzex on Willow-Wane. The Horde begins taking tribute from Sofold on Tran-ky-ky.

470

Birth of Knigta Yakus.

474

Birth of Bran Tse-Mallory.

c480

Birth of Hellespont duKane.

493

Joao Acorizal born on Thalia Major.

496

Birth of Aljean on Moth.

497

Commonwealth drone probe discovers a collapsar near the Velvet Dam nebula. Birth of Skua September. Founding of the Meliorare Society on Terra.

c500

Repler system discovered by Johannes Repler. The AAnn Empire contests the claim, and are eventually granted a small concession on Repler III. AAnn attack on the Quillp colony world of Goodhunting is foiled by Commonwealth Task Force.

c511

Anasage (Flinx's mother) born on Terra.

512

Idonian Mask discovered by a prospector on Alaspin.

513

Acorizal marries Kirsi.

c515

Tran-ky-ky discovered. Humanx outpost of Brass Monkey founded on the island of Arsudun. Lord Estes Dominic Rose begins dealing in forbidden pharmaceuticals. Lumpjaw is born on Cachalot.

518

Birth of Ethan Frome Fortune. Birth of Lauren Walder on Moth.

521

Janwin's first time in the surfing competition on Dis.

524

Nuotuan has a complete ride on the Monster of Dis, but dies.

c525

Brothers Skua and Sawbill September break forever over Sawbill's becoming an emoman. Death of Skua's lover by Sawbill's drugs. Birth of Yu Hwoshien. THE EMOMAN.

527

The Analava System War-120 million perish. Skua September's possible involvement in the start of the conflict remains uncertain. Birth of Flinx's sister Teleen.

530

Meliorare Society is broken up; its most "normal" experimental subjects are dispersed throughout the Commonwealth.

c532

Birth of Kitten Kai-sung.

533

Birth of Philip Lynx (Flinx).

534

Joao Acorizal wins surfing contest on Dis. SURFEIT.

537

Death of Anasage. Truzenzuzex and Bran-Tse Mallory begin joint research on the Tar-Aiym.

538

Skua September attempts to buy Flinx, but fails. Mother Mastiff does buy him. Flinx finds his pet minidrag Pip.

543

Atha Moon hired as starship copilot by Maxim Malaika. Rashalleila Nuaman finances the building of an illegal research station on Midworld.

545

Hyperion trees on Annubis destroyed. Destruction of covert commercial outpost on Midworld by the natives. MIDWORLD.

546

Agreement between Nuaman Enterprises and the AAnn result in the building of an illegal station on Ulru-Ujurr. The

first Janus jewels are mined and put on the market.

548

Attempted kidnapping of the duKanes fails; lifeboat crashes near Sofold on Tran-ky-ky. ICERIGGER. Planet Booster and the Krang found by a prospector in The Blight. Isili Hasboga begins prospecting in Mimmisompo on Alaspin; Habib and Pocomchi arrive there. Sawbill September working as an emoman on Thalia Major. Deaths of Terence Wu, Jasper Jordan, and Joann, due to Sawbill's drugs. Mother Mastiff is kidnapped by the Meliorare Society. Death of Cruachan and destruction of Meliorares. Flinx meets Lauren Walder while pursuing the kidnappers. FOR LOVE OF MOTHER-NOT.

549

Expedition to the Blight investigates the Krang. Flinx discovers its function. THE TAR-AIYM KRANG. KK-drive plant on Terra destroyed by scientist Endrickson while under Janus Jewel influence. Destruction of the nomadic Horde on Tran-ky-ky. Tran-ky-ky downgraded in Commonwealth status from IVB to V, possibly due to machinations of Resident Commissioner Jobius Trell. MISSION TO MOULOKIN.

550

Death of Rashalleila Nuaman. Flinx meets Sylzenzuzex. He breaks a Church Edict by traveling to Ulru-Ujurr. He solves the mystery of the Janus jewels, and discovers clues to his parentage. Ujurrians begin "Game of Civilization". Death of Teleen Rudanuaman. ORPHAN STAR. The Slanderscree arrives back in Brass Monkey. The duKanes leave Tran-ky-ky. Ethan Fortune, Skua September, and Milliken Williams leave Brass Monkey to form the Union of Ice. THE DELUGE DRIVERS.

551

Flinx travels to Alaspin. Deaths of Habib and Pocomchi Expedition to the Cannachanna system in the Blight discovers the anticollapsar weapon. Hur'rikku weapon creates a "rainbow star" from the collapsar near the Velvet Dam. THE END OF THE MATTER. Flinx returns to Moth. He meets Kniga Yakus and accompanies him to a Hallowseye mine in Dead-Place on Map. SNAKE EYES.

551

Flinx returns to Alaspin, meets Clarity Held. With aid of Ulru-Ujurrians, he is projected sufficiently to brush the fringe

of the threat that drove the Xunca from the known universe-and discovers more about himself. FLINX IN FLUX.

552

Fleeing pursuers, Flinx discovers Midworld-and it discovers him. MID-FLINX.

553

Flinx encounters another great artifact of the Tar-Aiym...and an old relation. REUNION.

c561

AAnn explorers in the Blight encounter the Vom and transport it to Repler III. Death of Lord Estes Rose. Vom destroyed by the revived Tar-Aiym Guardian and Flinx. Its assignment terminated, the Guardian Peot commits suicide. Birth of Cora Xamantina. BLOODHYPE. Mother Mastiff tells Flinx what she knows of his background.

c558

Birth of Sam Mataroreva.

c564

Hwoshien appointed Resident Commissioner of Cachalot.

570

Dewas Hazaribagh starts his fishing/salvage company on Cachalot.

571

A group of observers from Horseye visit Cachalot. In surviving on Prism, Evan Orgell learns the true nature of the unique local sentients. SENTENCED TO PRISM.

572

Crisis on Cachalot with destruction of five floating towns. Investigation leads to discovery of the CusnunC. CACHALOT.

573

On Senisran, Pulickel Tomochelor and Fawn Seaforth discover a native ritual that activates an intact transportation gate left behind by the long-vanished Xunca. THE HOWLING STONES.

583

Flinx turns fifty, the reality and ultimate threat emerging from the Great Emptiness makes itself known to the civilizations of the galaxy, and the Final Confrontation commences.

c1530

Light from the Rainbow Star reaches Midworld.

12,550

Tunnel digging ends on Ulru-Ujurr; the planet shifts to a closer orbit to its sun. The Ulru-Ujurrians undergo an epiphany.

c13,000

Cold cycle ends, warm cycle begins anew on Tran-ky-ky.