Design Monologue 17: Founding the Foundation

Year 0: Explorers of system RSS 5505-0001 (Earthgate) discover a lost colony ship, and reestablish contact with Earth. Drones pour through a completed jumpgate, and the Earthgate War begins.

Year 0, Day 5: The majority of systems in the Outer Colonies have been comprised. The Core Worlds are under heavy assault. All three Core World fleets have been shattered. The survivors rally in RSS 0878-0122 (Concordia), and form a combined fleet. They successfully defend the system from a drone attack, winning the first battle of the Earthgate War.

Year 0, Day 7: The combined fleet liberates the Core Worlds in a massive operation involving virtually every ship still capable of flight in all of Homeworlds space. The tide turns, and the fleet begins chasing the drones back to RSS 5505-0001.

Year 0, Day 12: In the final battle of the Earthgate War, the combined fleet assaults the drone factory, in an attempt to destroy the jumpgate to Earth. A secret mission is launched to destroy the Earthgate star. The star explodes, destroying the inner planets, the drone factory, and the jumpgate with waves of plasma. Most of the fleet evacuates; a splinter remains behind, defending the jumpgate from a drone incursion, and ultimately destroying it to prevent a surge of drones into the next system.

Year 0, Day 26: A convention is held in RSS 0878-0122 (Concordia) between the political leaders of the Core Worlds and the Inner Colonies. A treaty is signed, finalizing a permanent defensive pact between all powers involved against future alien incursions.

Year 0, Day 44: The continuing convention sees finalized deals to cooperate on plans to rebuild what was damaged in the war. Strong unification arguments are put on hold to reach a conclusive arrangement on this pressing matter.

Year 0, Day 90: Amidst the indecisive debate over unification, a new idea captures widespread appeal: founding a new organization, to serve as a neutral third (fourth) party. A significant fraction of the pilots and soldiers surviving the war show support for this cause.

Year 0, Day 144: Unification talks definitively break down, giving way for the Foundation to rise.

Year 0, Day 160: The Homeworlds Foundation Charter is drafted. A new state, independent of any existing Homeworlds authority, and neutral in all matters thereof. Their foremost goal is to defend the Homeworlds against alien assault, and to keep the peace in the Homeworlds.

Year 0, Day 171: RSS 0878-0122 (Concordia) is chosen as the site for the Foundation's headquarters. Construction for Starbase: Concordia enters the planning stage.

Year 0, Day 242: Volunteers from throughout the Homeworlds gather together and offer their service as the first fleet of the Foundation.

Year 0, Day 304: A treaty is signed between the Foundation and the other major powers of the Homeworlds, formally recognizing the existence of the Foundation, and pledging to honor the Foundation's offer of mediation of disputes and leadership in defensive wars against alien attack.

Year 0, Day 340: The Homeworlds Foundation Charter is ratified. Elections begin for the first government, and the Foundation's mission of peace and mutual defense officially begins. RSS 0878-0122 is officially named "Concordia".

Year 3: The first government of the Foundation ratifies an amendment to the Charter, allowing for Foundation citizenship. Citizens of other states are allowed to gain Foundation citizenship, in addition to that of their native state. Hundreds of thousands of applications immediately follow the passage of the law, mostly from those already enlisted in the Foundation Fleet.

Year 5: The first Starbase: Concordia is completed.

Year 6: The Foundation is home is over 1 million citizens, 94% of which are members of the fleet.

Year 8: Construction of a second starbase, Liberty, begins.

Year 10: The Foundation is home to over 10 million citizens, 76% of which are members of the fleet.

Year 15: The Foundation has 2 completed starbases, with 6 more under construction. Its population surpasses 50 million, 35% fleet personnel.

Year 17: The Syndicate declares unequivocal independence from the Foundation and all Homeworlds powers. They claim to have over four hundred systems under their dominion, and publicly express their resentment and bitterness toward the central powers for failing the Outer Colonies during and after the Earthgate War.

Year 18: Second Starbase: Concordia construction begins.

Year 23: The Syndicate declares war on the Foundation. All major Homeworlds powers guarantee the independence of the Foundation. A protracted guerilla war begins.

Year 25: The Foundation has 10 completed starbases, with 54 more under construction. Its population surpasses 100 million, 18% fleet personnel.

Year 26: The Battle of Concordia is won by the Foundation. The Syndicate's loss destroys their morale, and they do not win another significant engagement in the war.

Year 27: A cease-fire agreement is signed between the Syndicate and the Foundation's alliance. It establishes a demilitarized zone, comprised of much of the original Outer Colonies, where none of the powers are to claim sovereignty. The Syndicate is recognized as a state, with a population of over 240 million, and 124 systems under their control. 541 systems are released from their dominion and into the DMZ. The Foundation releases 72 systems. The DMZ comprises 800 systems, with a population of 32 million. At this point, the Foundation's citizenship is at 127 million, and the whole of the Homeworlds is 4,204 million.

Year 29: Second Starbase: Concordia is completed. It is the largest vehicle ever constructed by mankind

Year 36: The Syndicate enters a civil war, as factions vie for independence. The Foundation's aid is refused.

Year 42: The Syndicate is reduced to 56 systems and 205 million citizens; 6 new states emerge from the civil war. Their independence is guaranteed by the Foundation, however, they request that the Foundation continue to honor the DMZ.

Year 50: The Foundation is home to 300 million citizens (Homeworlds: 5,580 million). It claims sovereignty over 256 systems. 12 stations of comparable size to Concordia are completed.