50-150 AU
Terra Nova began peacefully, and would spend much of its existence as a well-ordered society. But its earliest years were marked – some would say marred – by internal struggles. The ancient but decayed Elurian civilization had colonized hundreds of worlds, with contact as far as the Oriani and Soltari through the Graedian sector. When Terra Nova and the remnants of the Elurian state were unified, a debate began over expansion policy.
Former Elurian statesmen had designs on reclaiming their lost territories and outposts. The strategy first employed by the ruling Draco, Terra Nova’s head of state, was to prove Terra Nova’s stability, thus winning converts through diplomacy. In the decades following Unification, little overt expansion was attempted; instead, Terrans were put to work ordering and developing the core of their future empire. Some worlds joined the Terrans, but most remained indifferent – some even hostile. As infrastructure was laid down and the economy solidified, the debate over expansion flared up anew.
Unrest amongst the military and a faction of dragons resulted in what might have been civil war. Around 50 AU, a still-unknown assassin murdered the ruling Draco. The death of a dragon by human hands was considered an outrage of the highest order – a capital offense to be punished immediately and severely. With an overwhelming majority of the capital’s population in an uproar, more militaristic forces seized control of the government. “Assassins” were put to death (some as traitors to the state, others as outside conspirators) and a general call to arms was made. It was during this time – and this time only in all of Terra Nova’s history – that Selidrex, the dragon Supreme Commander of the military, stepped down. Suddenly the drums of war beat for the first time.
Using their firmly established territory to its fullest, militaristic dragons carried the Terra Nova banner to war: first for vengeance, then for empire. They initially targeted the hostile former Elurian colonies surrounding their territory, but this aggressive expansionist policy saw little sign of stopping for the next several hundred years. Countless minor wars were fought until about 150 AU. This period of warfare marks the high point of Terran military aggression, and also the testing ground for significant advances in military technology.
Breakthroughs in stardrive technology, allowing multiple and more efficient jumps, gave the Terrans the initiative in virtually every engagement. New plasma technology was also put into effect for the first time, and many fortified worlds suffered mass bombardments. Less powerful fleets and armies were annihilated by the Terra Novan military machine, as one hostile world after another fell. Troops were given the latest in protection: armorweave, a tough fabric that provided an effective infantry alternative to cumbersome armor plating. Most of Terra Nova’s major manufacturing and research corporations would evolve during this period to supplement expansion – providing an efficiency and specialization few other civilizations possessed.
Until 150, Terra Nova experienced unhindered expansion; no opposing force had proven itself capable of contesting their manpower, resources, and fanaticism. But the greatest strength of Terra Nova lay in its dragons. Their leadership and martial prowess proved decisive in every major engagement. They fought and led from the front, fearless and ferocious. No Elurian or Terran soldier in their following would dare do less. Soon many passive worlds simply joined the Terra Nova state out of fear.
