Background (Interceptor)

UFO: Defense Timeline (from Interceptor)

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Recovery
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2046
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It isn't long before scientists discover that the Second Alien War will have far-reaching and
possibly cataclysmic effects on the Earth. As was true after the first Alien War, many of the
world's town and cities have been reduced to ruins.
This time, however, it's much worse. In addition to the war damage, the atmosphere of Earth had
been poisoned by the release of huge amounts of toxic gases and particles from the explosion of
T'leth. Hundreds of thousands of people in the areas immediately surrounding the Gulf of Mexico
die within hours of the explosion, and millions worldwide suffer from toxic side effects ranging
from minor to severe. All populated areas on the Gulf coast are evacuated for a period of six
months while cleanup commences.
In addition to the toxic side-effects, the particle cloud from the T'leth explosion increases the
effects of global warming, adversely affecting agriculture in many parts of the world. When
coupled with the worldwide overpopulation problem that has been steadily worsening since the mid-
twentieth century, the loss of key agricultural regions such a the grain-producing farms of the
American mid-west adds widespread starvation to the already multitudinous problems of the world.
The hope that Zrbite might revive the deep space program which was abandoned in 2010 are dashed
when scientists discover that all the Zrbite supplies of the world have become inert. It is
theorized that the aliens' molecular control network was the key to releasing the power of the
mineral. When the destruction of T'leth caused the molecular control network to fail, all the 
Zrbite was rendered useless.
X-COM continues to step up its own technological research, exploring all remaining areas of alien
technology. After initial success, the scope of the operations are diminished as many X-COM
scientists leave the organization for the higher salaries offered by private corporations. X-COM
funding is reduced as the Earth's governments focus their attention on terrestrial concerns.
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2047
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The main funding bodies for X-COM meet to decide the fate of the organization now that the war is
over. Governments and corporations recognize a need to protect the planet and, of course, their
own individual financial interests - from any further alien attacks, but none are willing to give
more than a minimal funding contribution.
In late March, F. Denman Williams once again agrees to finance X-COM operations out of his own
pocket. X-COM adopts a business strategy, and the X-COM Corporation is formed. Once again, Williams
includes a reactivation clause in the corporate charter that allows the government to take over
full control of the operation should a state of worldwide emergency be declared.
Engineers employed by the X-COM Corporation use their experience with alien technology to produce
advanced weapons that the corporation sells to the highest bidder. Meanwhile, experienced X-COM
soldiers are frequently hired by other corporations and by governments agencies as mercenaries.
These activities ensure a constant cash flow, and the corporation is immediately successfully.
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2050-2053
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Ecological collapse and overpopulation come to a head. Many world governments are consolidated
under single regimes in order to more effectively share resources. The first and largest of the so-
called "Merger Governments" is the North American Alliance. Formed in late 2051 through the merger
of the United States, Canada, The People's Republic of Alaska, and the New Mexico Cooperative, the
NAA is instantly recognized as formidable world power.
Taking what is considered the best of all of the represented forms of government, NAA establishes a
new ruling body headed by an official known as the "Premier-President". Alexandria Scott is
elected as the first Premier-President, and the serves three consecutive two-year terms.
In mid-2052, the X-COM Corporation grants full access to their UFOpedia data bank to the
Transtellar Corporation for research purposes. Transtellar's goal is to develop a practical means
of interplanetary space flight that is not all dependent on alien technology.
With ecologists predicting that Earth's resources will be completely exhausted within the next two
decades, the people of the world look to Transtellar's efforts as, possibly, the last hope for
mankind's survival. Many of the world's largest corporations begin the research and design phase
for huge interplanetary colony ships, bettling everything they have that Transtellar will succeed.
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2054
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On New Year's Day, 2054, the Transtellar Corporation unveils the prototype for the Mark 1
Conversion Drive, an ion propulsion system that generates power through helium-carbon fusion. The
key to success of the design was the use of a reaction containment chamber with a shell composed
primarily of inert Zrbite.
Transtellar is immediately showered with funding and given exclusive rights to operate all Earth-
based space ports until the end of the century. The Mark 1 Conversion Drive is mass-produced in
large quantities as the major corporations of the world ready their first generation of colony
ships for launch. By the end of the year, there are several colonies on the moon.
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2055
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The first freighters from the lunar mining colonies begin to arrive on Earth. Deep-core mines on
the moon quickly become a much-needed supplement for raw materials used on Earth, but it's still
not enough. In June, the Solmine Corporation begins construction of a major space port and
shipyard facility at Tranquility Colony. By November, the first three ships of the Tranquility
Fleet-mining ships manned by Solmine's best engineers begin their long journey in search of mining
prospects in the asteroid belt beyond the orbit of Mars.
Leasing space in Solmine's Tranquility Shipyards, Transtellar begins construction of the first in
a series of military transport vessels. With all the state of the art armament and equipment
available, the Patton-class military transport will go on serve in both military and civilian roles
for the next two decades.
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2056-2059
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The X-COM Corporation's profits soar as governments all over the world negotiate exclusive
contractsfor weapons, equipment, and protection. For the first time in X-COM history, an off-world
base is established at the Luna 3 colony on the moon. A small force of X-COM mercenaries is
maintained on-site at the Luna 3 base to act as security for the existing lunar colonies and those
currently under construction.
In late 2056, freighters on the Earth-Luna run begin to experience sporadic raids by a group
calling themselves the Kabron Pirates. Using decommissioned X-COM Avengers, refitted to operate
on conventional
fuel instead of Elerium, the pirates concentrate primarily on shipments of precious metal such as
gold and platinum. Because of their precision in striking only the most valuable shipments and the
fact that none of the plundered materials ever seem to surface on the black market, X-COM and
other authorities believe that the Kabron pirates are working for one of Earth's major
corporations.
In February, 2057, Harvey Wayne is elected Premier-President of the North American Alliance. He
goes on to serve three consecutive two-year terms.
In March, 2057 the first Transtellar's military vessels, the UGS Patton is commissioned at
Tranquility Base. The vessel is purchased by the X-COM Corporation and immediately placed on patrol
duty on the Earth-Luna shipping run to defend shipments against pirate attacks. by 2059, there are
eight Patton class ships on patrol, and pirate activity has been greatly reduced.
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2060-2061
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By mid-2060, the Tranquility Fleet has established three large mining colonies in the asteroid
belt. The asteroids are rich in raw materials, and will prove to be an excellent source of sources.
Unfortunately, the long travel time to and from the belt-ten months, even for freighter equppied
with Transtellar's new Mark III Conversion Drive - limits the immediate uasefulness of the new
mines.
Meanwhile, unmanned probes have been sent to Mars to scan for possible mineral sources. Despite
extensive examination of the alien base at Cydonia and the area immediately surrounding it,
much of the planet remains un-sacnned. In October, 2061, after several weeks of transmission, the
Mars probes show an indictuib what could be huge stockpile of Elerium-115 several thousand
kilometres from Cydonia. Plans are immedialtely set in motion to send a manned expedition to Mars
- the first since the final X-COM clean-up mission in November, 2009.
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2062
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The UGS Patton is pulled off pirate patrol duty for the Mars expedition. In preparation for the
trip, she is stripped of most of her weaponry and refitted with sensors and other science
equipment. She is manned with a crew of the best scientists and engineers available, with only a
skeleton crew of her original X-COM complement remaining to pilot the vessel and handle routine
shipboard tasks.
She departs for Mars on April 23.
After a four-month journey, the Patton settles into Mars orbit and begins a detailed surface scan.
The crew starts by scanning the Cydonia scientists to calibrate the Patton's new hyperwave pulse
sensors to match current data. Shortly after the scans commence, sensors show activity on the
surface: a tremendous power surge in the vicinity of the base.
On Earth, scientists monitoring the Patton mission are puzzled when communication is abruptly lost.
After three days without contact, they launch a high-speed probe from Tranquility Spaceport. Its
destination: Mars orbit and the last known position of the Patton. When the probe arrives in
November, there is no sign of the missing ship.
The probe's scanners are turned toward the surface, and they record evidence of a massive
explosion at the site of the abandoned Cydonia base. A board of inquiry is convened on Earth, and
it is agreed that the Patton must have experienced drive systems failure and crashed into the
surface of the planet. The case is quickly closed.
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Progress
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2063
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Most of the Earthbound corporations and many of those with colonial interests in space as well,
continue to seek a solution to Earth's problems other than depending solely on extraterrestrial
support. Designers, architects, and scientists devise a bold and elaborate plan for a series of
self-contained, futuristic cities. Each Megalopolis would house large sections of the population,
with all the support facilities they could possibly need contained within the walls of the city.
The world's governments realize the potential of the Megalopolis plan, but are hesitant to commit
the money and resources necessary to build an entire series of the expensive habitats. In 2063,
the New World Council agrees to fund a single Megalopolis as a test case. If the experiment is
successful, funding would be made available for more cities. Within months of the Council's
decision, work begin onto the first Megalopolis-dubbed "Mega-Primus" - on the site of the
ruins of Toronto in the North American Alliance.
In February, Harvey Wayne retires as Premier-President of the NAA. He is succeeded by J. Scott
Cameron, who quickly becomes one of the most popular world leaders in history. Cameron serves in
the office until his assassination in 2069.
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2064
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Basing their judgement on nearly year's worth of detailed scanner data obtained through remote
probes, scientists ate the Earth Science Corps (ESC) confirm the presence of a huge Elerium
deposit on Mars. Despite the loss of the Patton two years earlier, the promise of Elerium is too
great a lure to put off another manned mission to Mars. This time, a fleet of fifteen Solmine ore
freighters, accompanied by three Patton-class X-COM vessels, set off on the journey.
They arrive in June, encountering no problems along the way. Within days of their arrival, full-
scale mining operations have begin at what becomes known as Mars Mine 1.
With the promise of the Elerium supply looming on the horizon, Transtellar purchases the rights to
all previous research in the field of interstellar space flight. Within a matter of months,
Transtellar's top scientists have designed a prototype engine that might be capable of propelling
spacecraft at faster-than-light speeds.
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2065
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When the first shipments of Elerium-115 arrive from Mars Mine 1, they are divided evenly among all
the governments of the world. The North American Alliance and the Eurasian Hegemony grant 50% of
their allotments to Transtellar for the testing of the new hyperspace drive. The test is a
success, and Transtellar is commissioned by several world governments to build an undisclosed
number of small engines. Transtellar is given top-priority when it comes to Elerium availability.
The success of Mars Mine 1 causes a gold rush of sorts. More than a dozen corporations launch
their own missions to Mars. Before long, there are 15 separate colonies on the planet, mostly
inhabited by miners and their families. With all the problems still facing the people on Earth,
the world's governments pay little or no attention to the affairs in the Martian colonies.
As a result, border skirmishes between corporate-run mining villages are commonplace on the red
planet. An X-COM base is established at Mars Colony 1 in an attempt to keep the peace.
In May, the ESC launches 37 trans-light science probes, bound for regions of space that are
considered promising for colonization. Telemetry from several probes is lost within hours of their
jump to hyperspace. Most of the others reach their destinations only to transmit the disappointing
new that there is nothing of value to be found.
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The Frontier
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2065
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On October 27, the probe code-named Tombstone 1 begins transmitting telemetry from its destination
coordinates a globular cluster approximately 100 light-years from Earth. The data shows dozens of
star systems in the probe's immediate vicinity, nearly all them supporting planets. Many of the
planets within the probe's limited scanning range show promise of incredible wealth in minerals and
raw materials, including traces of Elerium-115.
When this news is made public, nearly every large corporation in the world begins immediate
construction of deep space colony ships to take advantage of the promise of interstellar wealth.
Likening this potential "wagon train to the stars" to the expansion of Americans into the western
territories in the 19th century, this new region of space quickly becomes known as "The Frontier".
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2066
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In late March, the first three corporate missions are already on their way to The Frontier, and
numerous others are in the final stages of preparation. Though they are not willing to forgo the
potential treasures of deep-space colonies, many corporate leaders express fears that mankind's
expansion into the stars might lead to another encounter with hostile aliens, this time, on their
own turf. In a joint meeting of business leaders and the world governments, it is decided that a
defensive force should be established on The Frontier, standing ready to deal with any threat that
might arise.
F. Denman Williams II, successor to the X-COM Corporation's former leader, agrees to turn over
limited control of X-COM to the government so that defensive bases can be established in The
Frontier. Meanwhile, to avoid stretching the organization's resources too thin, Williams signs an
agreement with a private security firm to take over the X-COM bases at Luna 3 and Mars Colony 1.
This firm, operating under the name of Marsec (short for Mars Security) quickly gains renown
for its ability for its ability to keep the local peace. Also, with the support of Denman
Dynamics - a manufacturing corporation also owned by Williams - Marsec becomes a major player in
the manufacture and sale of weapons and spacecraft.
The first corporate outposts begin operation in The Frontier in November. Fleets of Cybermove
Systems' new Starhaul freighters support the outposts, and transport raw materials, personnel, and
equipment within outpost systems and back to Earth as needed.
As all Earth-based organizations turn their attention to the stars, the Earth Science Corps
officially changes its name to the Galactic Science Corps (GSC).
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2067
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January 1st: X-COM begins patrolling The Frontier.
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The first X-COM base is established in The Frontier. X-COM Base 1 is manned with the best space
pilots available, all with brand-new Transtellar X-1A Lightning II fighter-interceptor. The base
itself, while not manned with a science team, is equipped with a sophisticated data downlink
system that allows the base computers to download all the latest scientific advances from Earth
and the GSC.
Financial and material support for the base is provided by the corporate outposts, which act as
manufacturing centres, supply depots, and staging points for the new pilot recruits who have
ventured into The Frontier. The outposts also provide funding for X-COM in exchange for protection!
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