February 10, 2007 AD:
DSS Roswell completes a gravitational survey of the Walla Walla binary. This system seems to be an interstellar hub of sorts, with nine JPs. JP#3 features a stable jump gate of alien construction, and it is to be explored first.
On the diplomatic front, the Irian Commonwealth has granted us trade access. However, their diplomats have not yet convinced us to reciprocate. It will take some years to construct a trade route, anyway.
March 8, 2007 AD:
DSS Roswell jumps through the alien-built gate in Walla Walla and discovers the Saxapahaw system. The new system has three gas giants, dozens of rocky moons, and hundreds of asteroids. Although none appear hospitable to human life, geologists are interested in the possible mineral discoveries.
May 4, 2007 AD:
Trailblazer 001 completes a jump gate from Sol to Paducah and is at work on the other side.
At the same jump point, ML Coyote is about to launch the first sensor bouy in what will become an interstellar network of surveillance and communication. Bouys will be launched in each system on the Earthward side of each jump point, so that the bouys themselves will not light a path to Earth for aliens who have not yet discovered our star.
GEV Prospector 003 has jumped from Walla Walla into a new system it names Wheeling. With a single gas giant, no moons, and eight comets, the most interesting thing about the system is that there is an alien-built jump gate on the Wheeling side of the jump connection, but not the Walla Walla side. Unlike the other alien-built jump connections we have discovered, this one is incomplete.
June 16, 2007 AD:
With the construction of a Sector Command on Earth, Governor Palin is promoted to President of the Universe, and Michael Adams (former Governor of Encke) is promoted to Governor of Earth.
GEV Wheeling jumps through another unexplored JP from Walla Walla and names the system of Yuma, a single star with no satellites of any kind.
June 25, 2007 AD:
On the same day that DSS Ponca completes her survey of the Eureka system (Irian territory), DSS Bigfork transits one of its three unexplored JPs and discovers a system it names Sparwood. The Sparwood system has six terrestrial inner planets, four substantial gas giants, and almost three hundred noteworthy asteroids. The third and fourth planets appear highly suitable for colonization, and undoubtedly the Irians will see it the same way. DSS Ponca heads for another unexplored JP in the Eureka system.
On the same day, jumping from the only unexplored JP in the now-fully-surveyed Slocomb system, DSS Texarkana discovers and names the Blackduck system, a quadruple with planets orbiting the accessible A and C stars. One planet orbiting Blackduck-C has an N2-O2 atmosphere and is a bit cold but could be terraformed reasonably easily.
July 4, 2007 AD:
GEV Wheeling transits another unexplored JP in Walla Walla and discovers the Boardman system. Consisting of three gas giants and their moons, as well as a B star with an asteroid field, this system is most notable for a moon of the second planet which has breathable air and a temperature only slightly too cold for unaided human habitation.
July 13, 2007 AD:
One of the sensor bouys placed by ML Coyote detects an Irian Echo-class survey ship at the Paducah-Eureka JP. Due to the small size of the Echo (3600T) it was not presumed to have had its own jump drive, but given that the Irians have not begun building jump gates, this assumption must be discarded. Soon enough the Irians will discover the way to Earth. Secretary Rumsfeld's foresight in ordering the sensor bouys is praised by President Palin.
August 7, 2007 AD:
Three new GEV Prospectors have been launched. These will be used as shuttles and support craft for surface-based geology teams. The first has been renamed GEV Metcalfe for the talented explorer Charlie Metcalfe, whose team has completed its survey of the Galilean moons and is now on its way to survey the two planets of the Paducah system where the Federation intends to set up its first extrasolar strategic base. The second is named for James Palmer, who will begin surveying the moons of Ponca, and the third for Mitchell Charlton, who has been studying the geology of Mars for several years now.
DSS Ponca jumps from Eureka into the Cranbrook system, which consists of three gas giants and a handful of moons, dwarf planets, and asteroids. Two wrecks appear on scanners in deep space outside the third gas giant's orbit. DSS Ponca begins the gravitational survey but does not approach the wrecks, not knowing whether they indicate the presence of Irians, or Laramie-Wichita aliens, or something else.
Noting that fuel consumption is starting to exceed refinery production, FASA draws up plans for a harvester platform that can produce sorium fuel directly from gas giants like the one discovered in the Ponchatoula system. The "Wildcat" platforms will be tested on Neptune initially, then towed where they are needed once a jumpgate network allows access to better sorium sources.
Wildcat class Fuel Harvester 104,200 tons 410 Crew 1837 BP TCS 2084 TH 0 EM 0
1 km/s Armour 1-197 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
MSP 11 Max Repair 30 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months Spare Berths 6
Fuel Harvester: 40 modules producing 1120000 litres per annum
Fuel Capacity 2,500,000 Litres Range N/A
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
Houston class oil tankers will transport refined fuel to Earth and other strategic bases. They will also transport fuel produced by civilian fuel platforms for federal use.
Houston class Oiler 5,800 tons 28 Crew 391.4 BP TCS 116 TH 216 EM 0
1862 km/s Armour 1-28 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
MSP 42 Max Repair 16.2 MSP
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months Spare Berths 6
Hyundai 108 EP Commercial Ion Drive (2) Power 108 Fuel Use 2.42% Signature 108 Exp 3%
Fuel Capacity 2,500,000 Litres Range 3205.9 billion km (19927 days at full power)
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
September 26, 2007 AD:
An Irian Echo-class survey ship is detected in the Solar system for the first time at the Paducah jump point. Although the aliens have been peaceful so far, military exercises are taking on new importance.
November 10, 2007 AD:
GEV Sheboygan jumps from the Walla Walla system into a new system it names Turtleford. The system features six uninviting terrestrial planets and a gas giant.
December 15, 2007 AD:
Jumping from Brainerd, DSS Muskogee discovers the star Killarney with a single gas giant and a comet in orbit.
January 1, 2008 AD:
The known universe has expanded substantially in the past two years, even though the slow work of shipbuilding, jumpgate construction, and research makes things seem to be moving more slowly.