January 1, 3067- July 1, 3068
The Terran Republic has become a true interstellar civilization with major human populations on 11 different worlds. Trade continues to flourish; in 3067 alone, trade from all civilian sources accounted for nearly 3% of gross domestic income. This figure would be much higher, however, if the Republic was not purchasing the entire output of every civilian mining operation.
Militarily, the Navy is constructing ten new warships from various classes, with many more planned after that. In addition all existing warships have been upgraded with Magnetic Confinement Fusion Drives or are in the process of doing so. This resurgence in shipbuilding activity has temporarily depleted the Republic's reserves of Gallicite, the key element needed in starship engine construction. However, enough Gallicite reserves remain on Mars and other out-system colonies to feed the shipyards at Earth and Horizon with only minor delays. At present the Navy has enough strength to divide its force into two full-strength battlegroups, although the long-term plan is to double that.
The local defense infrastructures of the colonies have also continued to improve. By 2069 most of the colonies will have at least one missile base supported by 1-2 fighter squadrons and a pair of system cutters. Of course, every colony also hosts a brigade-strength garrison.
This flurry of military activity is due to the Republic's first contact with a new alien race in late 3066, when a Kepler-class exploration ship encountered an unsanctioned mining post on one of the moons in Tau Ceti. Once communications were established, the owners declared themselves to be the Kaaxin Imperium, and submitted a terse warning to stay out of their space or be fired upon. This has proven problematic since the Kaaxin provided no information as to their current borders or the location of their homeworld. Despite this warning, the Republic has dropped an espionage team on the Kaaxin mining post in Tau Ceti in an attempt to obtain more information. In sharp contrast, relations with the Union of Ra have continued to improve and the Ra are now freely sharing their geological surveys with the Republic.
Ancient Guardian drones continue to be encountered in about 20% of newly explored systems. In 55 Cancri, the
Tycho Brahe is able to remain undetected after picking up the presence of an Aggie fighter-killer and its escorts 100 million kilometers away. This is the first proof that the Republic's stealth technology is viable in the field.
Another large Aggie drone contingent is discovered guarding an Earthlike planet in Gliese 667 on the Anti-Spinward Frontier. A Fleet guardian-sweeper battlegroup is dispatched to deal with them. After years of doing so, the Fleet has become
very adept at clearing out Ancient Guardian drones.
In June 2068 the Pierre-Simon Laplace is mapping jump points at Gliese 674 on the Rimward frontier when its shuttle is dispatched to explore a nearby jump gate. The shuttle makes an incredible discovery: the 2nd planet of Gliese 555 is filled to overflowing with a pre-starfaring civilization, estimated to be at least twice the population of Earth. As of July 2067 efforts to establish communication with this civilization are still ongoing.