T I M E L I N E

of C.J. Cherryh's Alliance/Union Universe

Version 1.3

This version was formatted for html by Daryl Clarke ( daryl@morgan.ucs.mun.ca).

Special thanks to Jo Grant, Lesley Grant, Martin Koehling, Nancy Ott, Nancy Silberstein, Markus Stumptner and Dani Zweig (I hope I got that right).

Please note that some events are covered because they're dated, and that important events are missing since they're impossible to date.

2005 Sol Station launches the first interstellar probe. (ds:7)

2005 - 2125 The first manned interstellar mission, Gaia, sent to Barnard's Star to build Alpha station. (ds:8; c1:2) Gaia's crew refuses to surrender their ship to another crew. (c1:2) Eight stations built. (ds:9?) Extraterrestrial life on Pell's world (Tau Ceti) discovered. (ds:9; c1:3) Pell station built, two other stations abandoned. (ds:10; c1:3)

2125 Gaia's last visit to Earth. (c1:4)

2125 - 2201 Mariner and Viking built beyond Pell. (ds:10; c1:4) Russell's and Esperance built beyond Pell. (ds:10) Nonsentient life on Cyteen discovered. (ds:11)

2201 Cyteen station built. (c1:4)

2201 - 2234 Fargone, Paradise and Wyatt's built. Earth tries to tax the Beyond. (ds:11)

2221 Captain Robert James Neihart of Finity's End is born. (dated by fe:15)

2223 (The date is given, but highly unlikely. See 2623) First contact with the Majat. (sr)

2234 Bok developes the jumpdrive on Cyteen. (ds:12; c1:5)

2271 Olga Strassen is born. (c2:66)

2278 Leonid Gorodin is born. (c1:171)

< 2283 Rejuv is available in AE1' "mother's generation." (c3:23)

2283.04.12 Ariane Emory senior (AE1) is born. (c2:185)

2290 Olga Emory dies. (c2:185)

2300 Cyteen declares independence. (c1:5) Union founded, Company Wars (formally?) begin. (c3:21)

2301 Union Constitution enacted. (ds:12; c1:8; c2:1) This is a federal constitution affording maximum independence at the local level. Unionwide representation is provided by nine guilds and the Council of Worlds. (c2:1-3) c2:60 mentions the "...original thirteen star stations".

2303 Signy Mallory born.

2304 Paul Dekker is born on Sol station. (ht:313) AE1 is working on psychgenesis. (c3:2)

2312 AE1 is "on the right track" for her psychgenesis research. (c3:2)

2315 (Emigration?) riots at EC HQ. (ht:87)

~2320 Beginning of the construction of the Fleet. (ds:13)

2318 AE1 sits as Proxy Councillor of Science. (ds:13)

2320 Union: Special Status bill passed. (c3:21). Elizabeth Yeager born. (rr:6)

2322 Draft riots at Sol station. (ht:87)

2323.03.12 1-84-z damaged, Corazon Salazar dead. (ht:45)

2323.05.20 2-29-t reaches 1-84-z. (ht:45)

2323.06.26 2-29-t arrives at R2. (ht:63)

2323.08.01 The accident of 1-84-z is blamed at a technical error. (ht:150)

2323.08.15 Paul Dekker released from Hospital. (ht:155)

2323.09.02 The body of Cory Salazar is found adrift. (ht:286)

2323.09.17 CDC exercise at R2 announced. (ht:274) ASTEX assets are transfered to EcoCorp under UDC control. (ht:285) Riots at R2; death of M. Bird. (ht:296) 2-29-t and 2-210-c escape from R2. (ht:299)

2323.09.18 ASTEX CEO (Towney) arrested. (ht:306) The carrier ECS5 rescues Hamilton. (ht:326) Dekker and Pollard are drafted. (ht:330)

2324.06 Hellburner training accident with four dead, probably due to crew substitution. (hb:26)

2324.06 Successful Hellburner test run. Earth now has carriers and riders. (hb:26)

2324.06.14 Ben Pollard sent to Sol Two. (hb:6)

2324.06.19 Ben Pollard arrives at Sol Two, visits Dekker. (hb:19)

2324.06.20 Hearing about the Hellburner accident. (hb:51)

2324.06.20 Ben Pollard is assigned to the Hellburner project. (hb:71)

2324.06.24 Sol B command is transferred to FleetOps. (hb:172)

2331 AE1 becomes director of Wing One at Reseune. (c3:21) AE1 gets her psychgenesis research funded. Poley researched "in this decade", too. (c3:2)

2333 (perhaps a decade more or less) Reseune researchers fail at an azi tape variation Justin Warrick will try 80 years later => Azi production is well in progress. (c1:313) A lot of these azi are manipulated in their deep-sets to become Expansionists. (c3:41)

2345 EC Fleet controls the space between Earth and Mariner. AE1 becomes administrator of Reseune. (c3:21)

~2350 "During the last years of the war" The Centrists demand peace and a border at Mariner. (c2:61)

2351 Union stops/slows its expansion. (c2:60)

2352 Last Union offensive (c3:22): Mariner destroyed by sabotage, Russell's destroyed. (ds:17-18) Quen merchanter Estelle destroyed at Mariner. (ds:30)

2352.05 The preparations for the Gehenna project are proceeding. (c3:29)

2352.05.05 ECS Norway arrives at Pell with refugees from Mariner and Russell's. (ds:15)

2352.05.22 ECS Pacific arrives at Pell with refugees from Esperance. (ds:56)

2352.05-2352.06 ECS Atlantic arrives at Pell with refugees from Pan-Paris. (ds:57)

2352.06.05 Company delegation arrives at Viking; first(?) indication of a new fleet buildup on Earth. (ds:81)

2352.09.09 Union agent Jessad arrives at Pell. (ds:136)

2352.09.10 Fleet assembles at Omicron point, prepares to attack Viking. (ds:165)

2352.09-2352.10 Earth orders Fleet to stop operations. (ds:176)

2352.10.04 Libya and two of India's riders lost; Fleet returns from Viking, takes Pell. (ds:178)

2352.10.10 Union strike against Pell, coup at Pell, Angelo Konstantin murdered, merchanters bolt, Tibet and North Pole lost. Fleet retakes Pell. (ds:258)

2353 Reseune produces azi routinely. This date is given, production started probably half a century earlier. (c1:40)

2353.01.06 Merchanters meet in deep space to form Alliance. (ds:357)

2353.01.08 ECS Norway deserts Fleet, the Fleet attempts to destroy Pell. (ds:400)

2353.01.09 AS Norway and the Union fleet attack the Fleet at Pell, the Alliance takes Pell. (ds:412)

2353.01 Finity's End forced to leave Francesca Neihart on Pell. (fe:??)

2353.01 Shortly after the battle at Pell, Union and Alliance warships enter Sol System. (rr:1)

2353 Fletcher Robert Neihart born on Pell. (dated by fe:4) Elene Quen marries Damon Konstantin. (

2353-4 Mazianni return to Sol system and are driven back into deep space. (rr:2)

2354 Since 2340, Reseune has grown by more than 400%. (c3:21) Company War formally ends with the Treaty of Pell: (c3:22) Pell claims Hinder Stars for Alliance, Union claims Mariner and Pan-Paris. (rr:1-2)

2354 Discovery of point of mass off Bryant's Star that makes four of the Hinder Stars obsolete (Thule, Venture, Glory, Beta.) (rr:3)

> 2354 < 2356 (but perhaps much later) Le Cygne, Norway, Dublin Again, Finity's End and Liberty attack Australia and one unnamed Mazianni merchanter, the merchanter is lost ("Battle for Venture".) (ml)

> 2354 < 2389 (probably early in this period) The new Earth fleet (cv:154; ds:81; c1:8) (Ulysses and others) contact a group of alien species known as the "Compact" (Hani, Mahendo'sat, Kif, Stsho, Knnn, Tc'a, Chi). This causes a major imbalance of power and forces the earth ships to retreat. (c1:15, 261) One human is left behind (Tully). (c2:62, Chanur books) This leads to a rapprochement between Earth, Alliance and Union. (c2:62)

The Compact (there is no verified date, but some events are covered above) The Compact is the loose organisation of four oxygen-breathing species and (probably (cv:168)) three sentient methane breathers. The Stsho were the first starfaring oxygen species. (cv:306) They shaped the whole Compact economy. (cv:306; ch:51) The Kif are rumored to have attempted a starship assault on their homeworld while they contested themselves into space. (pc:197; cv:307) They got the FTL- drive from the Tc'a after they developed spacecraft (pc:46), and the Hani got all their technology (that is, everything more advanced than bows and spears) from the Mahendo'sat (cv:44, 295; ksb:161) who attempted to balance the Kif influence (cv:299) by forcing the Hani into the Compact (ksb:211) and shaped the Hani world government (cv:298). Jik calls the humans "long time problem," (ch:93) that could indicate a first contact much earlier than Ulysses. (compare ch:216)

"Recent Events" (All within a few Hani years, whatever that is): Every Kif will grab as much power as he or she can get away with. Fortunately, they mostly prey on each other. But now the Kif have more and more powerful pirate princes (hakkiktun). Each of them adds his power base to the power of his predecessor he toppled. (ch:93) The Mahendo'sat counter this with a secret ship building program, (pc:156) technical support for the Hani (pc:218) and an attempt to locate sapients on the other side of Kif space (ksb:99). The Mahendo'sat prepare emergency plans (cv:14): They plan, supported by Tc'a (ksb:203) who want to calm the Knnn, (ch:72) to force the different kifish factions to fight in Hani space. (ch:170, 216) (That would leave them as the strongest oxygen-breather in the Compact. (ch:119)) The hakkikt Akukkakk captures four humans who investigated a Knnn transmission. (pc:78) The last survivor (Tully) manages to escape onto the Meetpoint docks (pc:77) and boards the Hani merchanter Pride of Chanur. Pyanfar Chanur refuses to surrender the human and is chased all the way to Anuurn. In the resulting space battle, the Hani and two mahen hunterships defeat the Kif and a Knnn ship abducts Akkukkak, leaving the human craft Ulysses behind. The intrusion of aliens strenghtens xenophobic elements in the Han who ally themselves with both the Stsho, who want to hire Hani guards, (cv:284; ksb:68, 115, 131, 211) and the Mahendo'sat. (cv:280) The Hani are temporarily excluded from Meetpoint. (cv:5) Humans and Mahendo'sat negotiate trade agreements (cv:164). Several human traders are lost (cv:164) to Kif and/or Knnn. (cv:166) Humans send a fleet in response. (cv:120, 158, 166) A mahen hunter carries a human delegation to the compact (cv:163) and is lost (cv:63, cv:155) after the transfer of Tully onto the mahen hunter Mahijiru. (cv:5) The Mahendo'sat could have enaced their anit-kif plans (cv:14) at this moment. Tully is smuggled onto the Pride (cv:73) and Pyanfar Chanur is forced to act as courier for the Mahendo'sat. (cv:10) The hakkikt Akkhtimakt forces Pyanfar to evade toward Kif space, (cv:140, 142) and she is blackmailed to follow Sikkukkut, (cv:247) who is attempting to become a new hakkikt. (ksb:141) Pyanfar Chanur helps Sikkukkut to conquer Kefk station (ksb:136) to retrieve hostages Sikkukut had taken. (ksb:67) Akkhtimakt allies himself with the Stsho and thus with the Han. (ksb:212) From Kefk, she goes to Meetpoint (ch:124) where she gathers other Hani merchanters (ch:177) (Hani have only three warships (ksb:202)) to defend Anuurn against the Kif (ch:201) who would be forced to enter Hani space (ch:158) in an operation of mahen and human fleets (the humans wanted to fight all Kif (ksb:218).) At Anuurn, Pyanfar conquers a group of Kif through superior bluff and position (ch:288) and uses them to mediate an uneasy balance or power that excludes the Humans from Compact space (ch:385). This may or may not be the peace treaty mentioned later. (cl:3) The hakkikt Vikktakkht (aka Skkukuk), a vassal of Pyanfar Chanur, establishes control over the Kif. Hilfy Chanur is hired as a courier by No'shto-sthi-stlen in the successful attempt to counter the powergrab by Paehisna-ma-to. (cl)

2355.01.10 The Gehenna colony is founded by Union (vn:7; c1:265; 40g:78; c3:22). The military intended to abandon the settlers to "contaminate" the planet with humans and make it useless for Alliance or Earth. (c1:268) Endeavor station built. (vn:7)

2355-6 Elizabeth Yeager aboard Merchanter Ernestine (Kato family.) (rr:6)

2355 Gehenna colony abandoned by Union, but the colony survives. (c3:3)

2357 Elizabeth Yeager (age 37) hired on Loki (Wolfe commanding.) (rr:56)

2358 AS Loki, AS Norway and several Alliance merchanters track and attack ECS India (Keu commanding.) ECS India probably destroyed. Thule Station scheduled for destruction. (rr:275)

2363 Lawyers for Finity's End sue to retrieve Fletcher Robert Neihart. Counter-sued by station. (fe:26)

2362 AE1 Councillor of Science. (c3:22)

2370 Finity's End returns to Pell after 7 year absence. Settles lawsuit over Fletcher Neihart. (fe:16, 124)

>2370 The Konstantin administration of Pell is replaced by the Dees. (c2:62) Originally set at ~2354 but Damon Konstantin still in control during events of fe.

2377 Less than half of the Union population lives on Cyteen. (c2:3)

2384 A lot of azi get CIT papers at Fargone. (c3:41)

2387 Justin Warrick born. (c1:88)

2389 The Abolitionists formally join the Centrists. (c2:62) Latest possible date for the Human-Compact first contact.

< 2396 Exchange of genetic data between Earth and Union. (c1:43)

2396 - 2404 Union distributes "genetic arks" to document the humen gen-pool. (c1:127, dated by c1:156, 39)

2404 The Centrists try to stop the Hope colonisation project and the Rubin project supported by the Expansionists, but abort in exchange for a release of Warrick from Reseune. (c1:17) AE1 dies under mysterious circumstances. (c3:211) Giraud Nye becomes acting Councillor of Science. (c1:157) Jordan Warrick is accused of the murder of AE1. (c1:141) The re-creation of AE begins (Rubin-Project.) (c1:187)

2406.01.12 AE2 is born. (c1:195, dated by c2:127)

2412 (CR53) Alliance rediscovers Gehenna colony; Jin 1 dies. (c1:260; 40g:184)

2413 For the first time in history, there is a Centrist majority at Viking and Mariner. (c2:63)

2413 AE2 is legally recognized as PR of AE1 in a move of Reseune to prevent the disclosure of the files of AE1. (c2:78)

2415.01.24 AE2 has access to the B1 computer system. (c2:122)

2418 AE2 gets Special status (c2:182, 220) and moves into the old apartment. (c2:190)

2420 For the first time on an alien world, someone is riding a horse. (c2:241)

2421 Khalid becomes Councillor of Defense. (c2:244) AE2 gains her legal majority. (c3:20) She testifies in the council on the Gehenna files. (c3:28) Centrists and Expansionists conspire to replace Khalid with Jacques. (c3:37) By last count, Earth had 5000 governments.

2422 Jacques new Councillor of Defense. (c3:121) Giraud Nye is conspiring to link Jordan Warrick to terrorists. (c3:120)

2423 AE1's archived notes, the unclassified part, are published as IN PRINCIPIO. (c3:141) AE2 and Denys Nye agree to replicate Giraud Nye in the case of his death. (c3:183) Giraud Nye dies. (c3:229) Jordan Warrick declares he's innocent of the Emory murder and was forced to confess. (c3:237) An attempt is made on AE2's life. (c3:275) Denys Nye killed in power grab, Yanni Schwartz becomes new Reseune Administrator. (c3:308)

2443 (CR89) Calibans attack hill village and main Alliance base on Gehenna; Styx Towers founded; some Gehennans flee to found Cloud Towers. (40g:246)

2530 "Gehenna Doctrine" agreed to by Union and Alliance : [The Gehenna Doctrine] declared as a matter of policy that no Terran genetic material should be introduced into any compatible alien ecology. Humanity should not contact any alien species onworld, and should not land on any planet unless invited by a dominant sapient species. The idea was that humanity should keep to space and leave developing worlds free to develop without contamination travelling in either direction, and that humanity would contact no species that had not developed spaceflight. (aws:253)

2532 (CR178) Elai of Cloud Tower born. (40g:266)

2542 (CR188) Elizabeth MaGee goes to Gehenna; saves Elai's life. (40g:278)

2558 (CR204) Elai becomes leader of Cloud Tower. (40g:327)

2559 (CR205) Battle between Cloud and Styx towers; Styx falls and Jin 12 dies. (40g:413) Union (re-)contacts Gehennans. (40g:425)

2608 Merovin colony is founded by Union. (aws:257)

2623 (The dates given in sr are probably impossible) First Alliance/Union contact with the majat of Alpha Hydri II (Cerdin.) Crew eaten. (aws:257)

2652 Sharrh demand removal of Merovin colony. (aws:257)

2653 Union/Sharrh treaty cedes Merovin. (aws:257)

2654 Union removes most colonists from Merovin. (aws:257)

2657 Sharrh attack Merovin, unsuccessfully trying to eradicate human survivors. (aws:257)

2658 Sharrh withdraw. (aws:257)

2658 (CR305) First Gehennan to leave his planet reaches Fargone station. (40g:444; aws:257)

2701 First Alliance contact with Regul and Mri. (40g:444; aws:257)

2703 Mri wars begin (Alliance vs. Mri and Regul): Generally throughout this period, as the Regul/Mri attacks came from a side of Alliance not involving Union, the Alliance fought alone. The Alliance, moreover, in its long distrust of Union, feared an attack on its flank from Union. The Alliance Security organization (AlSec) founded 300 years previously by Signy Mallory proved all too powerful against the constitution framed by Damon Konstantin. Alliance became a police state on the home front, repressive and suspicious. Union, while worried, was not able to intervene across Alliance space until the war worsened. (fs1; aws:258)

2722 Alliance government center removed to Haven from Pell to bring the government center closer to the war zone and improve reaction time. Pell is reduced to a regional capital, but remains the cultural, if not the administrative, center of the Alliance. (fs1; aws:259)

2730 Fall of Haven to the Mri; Alliance finally appeals for Union help. The help is debated in the Union Council while Haven falls, and Union forces when they do arrive are met with distrust and anger by Alliance forces who do not understand what restraints have operated on the home front. It had been AlSec policy to keep the war out of the home territory of Pell; but there is now intense economic suffering and the loss of life can no longer be concealed. (fs1; aws:259)

2743 Haven retaken; end of Mri Wars. (fs1; aws:260)

2744? Sten Duncan reaches Kesrith. (fs3)

2744? Regul destroy last mri ship. (fs3)

2748 Regul reach internal crisis due to human contact and go totally xenophobic. (fs3; aws:260)

2749 Revolution in Alliance; AlSec curtailed and the Konstantin constitution restored. (aws:260)

3141 Meth-Marens of the Hydri stars massacred. (sr; aws:260)

3187 The Hanan break from the Alliance in a minor fracas limited to a narrow string of stars, but the struggle will last a thousand years. Union is not involved. (be; aws:260)

Sources

In approximate chronological sequence

Revisions

All characters, locations, ideas, etc. copyright C.J.Cherryh

Alliance/Union Timeline Version 1.3 copyright 1998 Daryl Clarke