Modern Day encompasses the time from the stabilization of the Republic Credit Economy to present day. This time period, to date, is heavy in freelance labor, piracy, crime, and a slow corruption of the Republic.
4678 | Skirmish between BSC & Republic
The Rhaegarian colony of Vall, widely regarded as the center of the Black Star Collective's power on the planet, was the first site of warfare between the two governments. Republic intel had identified multiple munition storages in the colony, including high-yeild planetary missiles. Due to this, the Republic sent teams of Ultima Centurions to perform strikes against these stores. The Centurion ground forces were met with heavy BSC resistance, leading to losses on both sides. The Centurions were successful in their strike at the end, detonating the BSC's storages and causing most of the colony to be severely damaged. This act of open aggression led to the BSC declaring formal war on the Republic in 4678.
4699 | Rise of Piracy
The planet of Rhaegar, and its surrounding space, became dangerous ground as units of BSC and Republic forces clashed in small-scale skirmishes near daily. During this time, the Republic pulled much of its trade route policing force from their stations to reinforce a growing blockade line seperating Rhaegarian space from the rest of the system. Due to this, piracy slowly became more prevalent in the minor trade routes. While all core worlds of the Republic were effected by this, Venrar and Solstice saw the most plentiful impact. Venrar's seclusion from the rest of the system and industrial nature made it a prime target for piracy. Solstice, already host to a large criminal underworld, saw the uptick in crime both on and off-planet. The class system on the planet remained, where the rich made up for a small portion of the population but accounted for most the planet's wealth. This only exacerbated the issue of crime on the planet and in surrounding space.
4710 | Black Star War
Although the Black Star Collective had declared war in 4678, the first large scale battle did not occur until 4710. Up until this point, beside the battle at Vall, the conflict had largely been a collection of small scale skirmish fighting.
4740 | Formation of the Premier Academy Program
Due to the increase in military and navy operations throughout Solanis, the Republic quickly began hastening its recruiting methods. Basic training times were cut in half, leading to troops becoming less effective and disciplined in combat. The regular army, referred to as "Regs", suffered as a result of this. Alongside the loss in quality of the Republic Army was the formation of the Premier Academy Program. Many of the Republic's wealthy elite saw the ranks of officers in the army as a status symbol, using their service time to justify political campaigns and senatorial elections. Seeking a way for their offspring to enter into the officer's corps easier, the senate passed the Premier Academy Program Bill in 4740. This formed a new academy to expedite the training of officers, leading to less effective and less competent leaders in the army. The senate mandated this academy for both the army and navy, and attempted to mandate it for the Ultima Centurions. The Centurions refused to acknowledge the Premier Academy, and the amount of political and public pushback forced the senate to repeal it's mandate on the more elite force. The officers that graduated from this expedited academy quickly gained reputation as inferior to traditionally trained individuals, despite the Premier academy costing more money to train troops and providing them with more expensive and specialized equipment. These officers were henceforth referred to as "Prems" by their under-ranks and those who did not favor the practice.
7748 | Massacre at Frai
Solanis town of Frai suffers a massacre when protesters are met by an Point led Repub unit. Used as a rallying cry for BSC sympathisers.
7754 | Freelancers
Amidst the struggle between BSC and Repub, freelance workers become mainstream. Organizations called Unions form, where people make contracts for freelancers to take and do work. Contracts range from transporting cargo to smuggling goods (for less reputable Unions) to fighting/killing. Unions take a cut of the contracts.
BSC forms its first navy from Repub defectors. Repub responds in force, only to be defeated (bc main officer is an A-point).
7787 | Rhaegar defects
Ultima Centurions deployed to destroy a shipyard under construction on Rhaegar. Rhaegar defects from the Republic entirely, as the shipyard wasn't under BSC control yet.
7793 | Centurion Appointee Program
Due to shipyard, politics force Ultima Centurions to adopt the Appointee Program. Widespread outcry from Ultima Centurions both active and inactive.