First Colonization Era
The First Colonization Era was a period of interstellar exploration and colonization by the United Orcs in the First Age, before the Great Cataclysm of Orceron and the settlement of Aldaain. It is considered part of the larger New Era of Orceronian Cooperation.
Contents
Background
With the breaching of the underspatial boundary and the advent of interdimensional physics, the question of manned exploration of other star systems was raised. Project GATEWAY was started in 1,xxx on Orceron to investigate the possibility of constructing a permanent interdimensional gateway system.
Construction of the Orbital Gateway
In 1,xxx, the Gateway Device finished construction. It was a giant exotic particle accelerator device located in far orbit of planet Orceron, capable of large scale transportation into the Portal Dimension. This "starway into the heavens" soon became known as the Orbital Gateway.
First flight
The Star Cruiser Rinorend was the first ship to successfully bridge the gap of interstellar space and arrive in another star system through the Portal Dimension. The Rinorend would retroactively become known as the first UOSF ship, although the Starfleet had not yet been founded at that time.
Foundation of the UOSF
Initially founded under the title the United Orcish Starfleet on Orceron, the UOSF became an international space force kept running by contributions from powerful Orcish nations and individual clans, separate from national space agencies.
The initial goal of the organization was to construct a fleet of large long range exploration and defense spacecraft known for furthering Orcish interests in the First Star System and eventually the rest of the Orbeus Cluster. The goal was often ceremoniously stated to be "a thousand vessels", but this number was never reached while the UOSF was in operation on Orceron. Nevertheless, a large number of these "Space Rockets of the Orcish Community" were constructed.
Each vessel in the fleet was unique, with only a few starships resembling each other in design. A large portion of the starfleet consisted of clanships, operated by members of an Orc clan instead of recruits or NCOs. Many of these vessels reached alien worlds, beginning the first period of interplanetary colonization in Orcish history.
Interstellar expeditions
- See also: List of early UOSF ships
The Bird of Peace was one of the first interstellar UOSF ships that finished construction. Built with common funding and the sharing of technology and material resources from Orcish Community member nations, the Bird of Peace embodied the unity and pride of the entire world of Orceron. It eventually reached the Ministero system, permanently colonized later in the Second Age.
The first private civilian starships were also constructed during this time, including the OLY-12 Hyperspace Cruiser. Increases in space traffic led to the Xelborn Disaster in the First Star system.
Other expeditions of this era:
- UOSF Purkki III - reached Jyrgh system
- UOSF Ultimainike - reached Kiidylypson system
- UOSF Purkki IV - reached CCKcol N system.
First exocolonies
The first Orcish Community exocolony was founded on xxx in 1,xxxx.
The Orcish Designs Corporation became known for developing the heavy Mark I and Mark II colonyships, known as the Skychaser pattern. They were used by the UOSF, clans and private organizations alike.
When the Great Cataclysm of Orceron occurred, many of these colonies died out, as they were not self-sufficient. None of the established exocolonies were considered by Project NODE as candidates for the new Orceronian homeworld, as they were all incapable of supporting large populations even with the aid of habiforming technology.
See also
- Project NODE, the campaign to find a new homeworld for the UO.
- New Colonization Era, the next phase of interstellar expansion by the UO.
