Alpha Centauri
Alpha Centauri is a binary star system, the nearest star system from Sol at 4.37 light years from Earth. The system holds two habitable planets, Helghan and Vekta, with the former orbiting Alpha Centauri A and the latter orbiting Alpha Centauri B.[1] Humans and Helghast can be found here, living on Vekta and Helghan respectively. The events of the Killzone series takes place in this system.
History[]
Discovery and colonization plans[]
The Alpha Centauri System was first surveyed in 2111 by exploration ships launched 10 years prior.[1] Two planets were discovered, one being almost earth-like, while the other being barren. It was selected for colonization and to serve as a 'hub' system as a starting point for future colonization attempts.
The system was originally going to be colonized directly by the United Colonial Nations, but following the presumed destruction of six UCN colony ships in 2116 in the "Omen" incident, the UCN opened up colonization rights to bidding by private companies in return for 10% of profits to make up for financial losses. The Helghan Corporation won the bidding easily due to securing a generous credit from the Interplanetary Banking Guild. Some accused the corporation of bribery and rigging the vote, due to the speed of the victory and the presence of an almost-completed colonization fleet; however, these accusations were not proved.[1]
Helghan Corporation colonizes Alpha Centauri[]
The Helghan Corporation's fleet was launched in 2118 and arrived in Alpha Centauri in 2128. Errors cause 2% of the colonists to die en route. The first planet encountered by the fleet was the barren planet, and was christened "Helghan" after the corporation. Helghan was discovered to be rich with resources, but was inhospitable due to its lack of light and oxygen, barren terrain, and dangerous storms. Scientists and volunteers quickly set up a prefabricated space station to manage automated factories on the planet. The rest of the colonization fleet moved on to the more Earth-like planet, which they named 'Vekta' after the Helghan CEO Philip Vekta.[1]
From 2129 to 2140, twelve colonies were established on Vekta. Due to the planet's natural abundance, Vekta was able to feed itself. In 2133, the ISA branch in Alpha Centauri was established.[1]
By 2135, the colonies on Vekta stabilized and the Helghan Corporation began to reap profits by charging ships which refueled at its space station orbiting Helghan. Profits from mining on Helghan was rolling in and the quality of life for the colonists was high.[1] In 2138, the Helghan Protectorate was established and provided a government under ISA authority to maintain Vekta and operations on Helghan. An independent militia was also formed, though the ISA puts limitations on it.[1]
Helghan became very profitable once factories and infrastructure were completed in 2149. Most of the Helghan Corporation relocated to Vekta to better administrate their businesses. They reorganized into the civil Helghan Administration in 2152, taking over the duties of the Helghan Protectorate from the ISA. In 2155, the Helghan Administration managed to buy the Alpha Centauri system from the UCN.[1]
First Extrasolar War[]
From 2156 to 2190, the Helghan Administration became very powerful from their control of Alpha Centauri. The necessity of ships to pass through the system provided a guaranteed income for the government, and the mining of Helghan proved to be very lucrative. The shipyard became the largest outside of Earth, and many shipbuilders relocated from Sol to Alpha Centauri.[1] The Helghan Administration's control over space travel led to tensions building up between the UCN and the Helghan Administration. This culminated to the secession of the system from the UCN in 2199. The Helghan Administration moved against the ISA forces in early 2200, prompting a response from the United Colonial Army.[1]
The First Extrasolar War began in earnest, and while the Helghan were victorious at first these victories fall short of quelling the ISA who began waging guerrilla warfare against their foe, bleeding Helghan troops slowly for two years. When the UCA fleet arrived, Helghan forces were destroyed by the more technologically superior UCA.[1] By 2202, the Helghan Administration was defeated, and many of the senior officials arrested. Much of the stations orbiting Helghan were destroyed or heavily damaged. The ISA took authority of Vekta and asserted control over the system's economy and forcibly disarmed the Helghan.[1]
Interwar[]
From 2204 to 2210, Helghan loyalists on Vekta relocated to planet Helghan to escape from ISA occupation. Settlements were created on Helghan by 2220, and industries were rebuilt to give Helghan a source of income. Once the third generation of humans on Helghan were born on 2305 and shaped by the environment of the planet, the Helghast became a unique group.[1]
Due to relative peace during this time, the ISA fleet in Alpha Centauri was reduced, and by 2304 it is mostly replaced by orbital space defense platforms around Vekta.[1]
From 2335 to 2350 saw a depression on Helghan as more of their profits were taken by Vektan administrators, leading to more animosity in the system. The charismatic Scolar Visari rose to power on Helghan, seizing power in 2347. Visari proclaimed the Helghast to be a superior race, shaped Helghan into a power, and overcome the trade sanctions placed on Helghan.[1]
Second Extrasolar War[]
In 2357, the Helghan Empire under Visari acted against the ISA, swiftly seizing Vekta.[2] By the end of 2358, however, the Helghast were pushed off Vekta. The ISA fleet launched an invasion of Helghan in 2359, but face stiff resistance from Helghast forces. Despite the death of Scolar Visari and the destruction of the capital city Pyrrhus, the Helghast managed to gain an upper hand on the ISA, forcing them to agree to a ceasefire with the Helghast.[3] However, the Helghast plotted to launch a direct attack on Earth and thereby winning the war. But the plot was foiled by a civil war between the Helghast over a succession crisis in the wake of Visari's death, and a group of ISA soldiers who inadvertently unleashed the Helghast's Petrusite arsenal over Helghan's surface. The fallout caused a planet-wide devastation that killed approximately one billion Helghast, an event that has since been referred as the Terracide.[4]
Cold War[]
The ISA had emerged as a victor of the war and Helghan was rendered uninhabitable. A compromise was soon brokered between the ISA and the Helghast survivors in which the Helghast were granted refuge on Vekta, allowing them to colonize half the planet, with that half claimed by the Helghast dubbed New Helghan. The end of the war had not calm relations between Helghast and Vektans, as the Terracide had only exacerbated the Helghast's contempt for the Vektans, blaming them for the cause of the catastrophe. As a result, Vekta was partitioned as a massive security fortification literally divided the planet to separate the Vektans and Helghast from each other.[5]
As of 2390, Alpha Centauri is currently in a precarious cold war state between Vekta and New Helghan.
Locations[]
Alpha Centauri B[]
Alpha Centauri A[]
Trivia[]
- Alpha Centauri is featured in numerous Sci-Fi works, and is often the first system humans reach.
- Epictetus is named after a Greek Stoic philosopher, who was known for one of his tenets in which all external events and happenings are beyond our control.
- Mefitis is named after the Samnite goddess of the foul-smelling gases of the earth.
- Aeschylus is named after the ancient Greek playwright who is often considered the "father of tragedy".
- Killzone: Mercenary mislabeled Vekta and Helghan orbiting Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B respectively, in which the suns' names is the other way around.