Last modified 02/05/01
Introduction:
The REF has met with considerable success, the end of the Sentinel War is at hand with REF forces blockading the Optera system. However, the new threat to the stability of the region comes not from outside but from within. The REF has fractured into two pieces, although this is not obvious to everyone at this point, into those that support to TR Edwards and loyalist who are pledged to Admiral Hunter.
Unknown the the REF Plenipotentiary Council and the High Command General Edwards has made a non-aggression pack with the Invid Regent. In return for intelligence on the Sentinel forces, the Regent has provided Edwards the advanced inorganic, cloning, and bio-computing technology. Edwards has been secretly building research facilities on the outer edge of REF controlled space to investigate these technologies for use in any upcoming power play.
This scenario takes place during the early moves between the two factions as the REF high command have begun to receive disturbing reports from intelligence that TR Edwards and his troops are stockpiling armaments and building secret facilities strengthen his power base.
Timeline
(derived from Technical Files late Sentinel theory)
2038
| October | REF high command orders personal to close the Kwamashu base in order to realign personal for the upcoming invasion of Optera |
2039
| January | Peryton is liberated |
| February | Breetai discovers Edwards' secret concordat, and is ordered arrested by Edwards. Breetai and his Zentraedi loyalists steal the Valivarre and go into hiding |
| March | The combined REF/Sentinels fleet arrives in the Optera
system. A series of gigantic protracted naval engagements ensues between the remainder of the Invid fleet and the allied forces. Intelligence suggests that a small but significant Invid faction, under the (new) Invid Regis, flees Optera just before the engagements begin. |
| April | Optera is bombarded and reduced. Sentinels War ends. Edwards, concerned about the state of Earth, demands permission to send the all-clear to Earth, with the hope that Earth will resume communications. Hunter refuses, arguing that he believes that there is still a large missing Invid faction that might be attracted to Earth. In response, Edwards stages a coup on Tirol and holds the Plenipotentiary Council and General Staff hostage. Breetai returns and attempts a rescue expedition, and is fatally wounded in the attempt. Edwards can not contact Earth, because the hyperspace relays are held by Hunter loyalists. REF Civil War is sparked between Hunter loyalists and Edwards' faction, which desires to immediately return to Earth to see what is wrong. |
2040
| July | REF Civil War ends. Hunter's forces win the war and retake Tirol from Edwards' faction, but are forced to concede the point of disagreement that started conflict. All-clear is sent to Earth, with no response from ASCHQ. REF begins to suspect that something is wrong at Earth. |