Appendix: Timeline & Glossary
Historical reference data and terminology definitions
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2089 | Tanaka Fusion Breakthrough — First sustained, practical fusion reaction |
| 2094 | First commercial fusion plants operational |
| 2095 | AI Alignment Breakthroughs — General AI becomes safe and reliable |
| 2097-2099 | Basic Guarantee pilot program on lunar settlements |
| 2098 | First permanent lunar settlement established |
| 2100 | Basic Guarantee adopted on Earth |
| 2103-2108 | Sovereignty Wars — Conflicts over national dissolution |
| 2110 | Post-scarcity effectively achieved on Earth; Great Migration begins |
| 2115 | Earth Compact established — Global governance framework |
| 2118 | Mars colonization program begins |
| 2120 | Luna population exceeds ten million |
| 2125 | Belt mining operations reach industrial scale |
| 2130 | Luna population exceeds one hundred million |
| 2135 | First permanent Jupiter system settlements; Mars population exceeds ten million |
| 2140 | Saturn system exploration begins; Great Migration peaks |
| 2147 | ASTERION SIGNAL DETECTED |
| 2149 | Asterion Council established; Horizon Order founded |
| 2150 | Luna population exceeds three hundred million |
| 2160 | Belt population exceeds 100,000; Mars population exceeds fifty million |
| 2170 | First Uranus and Neptune outposts established |
| 2175 | PRESENT DAY — Luna 400M+, Mars 80M+, Earth ~6.5B |
Glossary
Asterion Council (AC) The governing body of human space, established 2149 in response to the Signal. Coordinates expansion, manages shared resources, and maintains order through the Horizon Order.
Asterion Signal An artificial pattern detected in 2147 from the constellation Canes Venatici, approximately 170 light-years distant. The first confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. Remains undeciphered.
Basic Guarantee The universal provision of housing, food, healthcare, and education to all humans regardless of economic contribution. Funded by a percentage of economic activity and administered by Council agencies.
Belter Colloquial term for residents of the asteroid belt, particularly those involved in mining operations. Often used with pride by belt residents.
Earth Compact The 2115 agreement that established global governance, replacing the nation-state system with a framework of local and global institutions.
Fusion Age The era beginning with the Tanaka Breakthrough of 2089, characterized by abundant energy, AI partnership, and the end of material scarcity.
Great Migration The mass voluntary emigration of over three billion humans from Earth to lunar, Martian, and orbital habitats between 2110 and 2140. Driven by incentive programs offering enhanced Guarantee benefits, the Migration reduced Earth’s population pressure and contributed to environmental recovery.
Horizon Order (HO) The security and law enforcement arm of the Asterion Council. Known for high pay, rigorous standards, and zero tolerance for corruption.
The Guarantee Common shorthand for the Basic Guarantee.
Post-scarcity The economic condition in which the basic needs of all humans can be met without requiring human labor. Achieved through fusion energy and AI automation.
Sovereignty Wars The conflicts of 2103-2108, in which some populations resisted the dissolution of nation-states into the Earth Compact framework.