2170s

2170

New Earth celebrates 54 years of human habitation. Inhabitants natively born there and other planets begin referring to their planets of birth as their homeworlds, rather than Terra. (1620p15)

2172

Over 100 worlds are confirmed to be colonized by the First Grand Survey, spread across an 80 light year diameter. FTL messages from one side of colonized space to another take three months to reach their destination. Terran Parliament increases the power of colonial governors, due to the central Terran government’s inability to maintain an effective naval presence everywhere it is needed. (1630p8, 1620p15, 1620p8)

2177

Lack of potable water on many otherwise habitable planets proves a bottleneck for colonization efforts. The Ryan Cartel forms. Using iceberg towing jumpships, they supply water to colonies. This in turn allows greater independence from Terra. (1630p10, 1620p12, 1620p13)

Technicians on Muskegon successfully repair their colony jumpship. A search for a more habitable homeworld yields instead the resource-rich but inhospitable worlds Emerson and Beten Kaitos. These are settled by prisoners and volunteer colonists, respectively. (1623p21)

Jan 10: Rudolph Ryan, founder of Ryan Cartel, announces his patent and development of iceships. (1620p14)