Watch out while reading this, or don't at all, until you know what's coming. This article contains heavy spoilers. Read ahead with caution.
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The following is a timeline of the Killzone (series).
Terran Era - 2055-2128[]
This time marks the last days of the Earth as humanity's sole home.
2055 - 2059[]
- A shortage of oil triggers a global meltdown as nations fight for control of scarce resources. Tensions run high as what starts as a limited strategic release of nuclear weapons snowballs into a bitter exchange of warheads aimed at civilian population centers. When the dust clears it becomes clear that a new way will have to be found to survive and to secure the raw materials needed for society to continue.[1]
2060 - 2090[]
- Earth's richest companies and governments formed an international coalition, the United Colonial Nations (UCN). With Earth's natural resources depleted, and humanity's survival at stake, the UCN begin planning to colonize the outlying planets.[1] The process of building and deploying ships will take upwards of 30 years.
- As it's in the UCN's best interest to support privatization for the sake of finance, they also allow other companies/governments to fund their own colonization projects, but under the strictures of the global (UCN) owners. Some immensely wealthy companies are also able to finance their own colonization, among them, the Helghan Corporation, which has made its sizable fortune in energy and industrial refinement.[1]
- The UCN issued licenses to pursue colonization projects under strict criteria. Violation of these rules is considered a very serious infraction ranging from economic penalty to even military action as a last resort.[1]
2095 - 2110[]
- The colony ships begin to leave Earth, bound for various planets within the Sol System.
- As colonization is still in its infancy, the UCN has not yet managed a way to skillfully deal with the massive amounts of administration necessary to deal with all these new colonies on top of their own significant requirements as a newly minted agency. They are, in a word, swamped. They rely on stiff economic penalties and overwhelming military force to keep the colonies and habitats in line.[1]
- The UCN Defense Force is formed. Although recognized for having the highest tech and best trained troops, the UCN Defense Force was conceived as a temporary solution.[1]
2111[]
- The first ships, having left ten years ago, begin to arrive in the Alpha Centauri system. The system is a "hub" system between Earth and the outlying proposed colony sites and thus will come to hold great significance in the years to follow. Initially two worlds are pinpointed for colonization - a rocky world around Alpha Centauri A and a lush Eden planet around Alpha Centauri B.[1]
2113[]
- The UCN Defense Force is dissolved due to allegations of incompetence, corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency. Part of this deal is the formation of the United Colonial Army, now the only legally permitted military force on Earth or her stellar dominions. The UCA Navy is the first service branch formed.[1]
2116[]
- A cluster of six colony ships, Archon, Triumph, Pacifica, Jericho, Seraph, and Harbinger completely drop off the tracking imager during a particularly intense solar flare. Contact cannot be re-established with them. The last transmissions from the ship seem to indicate a catastrophic systems failure. At the time, all hands are presumed lost.[1]
- The loss of the colony ships is a significant financial hit for the UCN. They simply cannot afford to fund another interstellar colonization effort of the same size, and the chances of a smaller colony failing are too high. In a mood of desperation the UCN opens the bidding on the settlement rights for the Alpha Centauri system - and after a highly competitive bidding process they are won by the Helghan Corporation. The post-bidding news is full of allegations of vote fixing and bribery - and much is made of the fact that the corporation has a fleet of colony ships almost completed - but nothing is proven. Key to the success of the Helghan bid is underwriting and credit from the Interplanetary Banking Guild - in return for some 10% of Colonial profits once the colony is established.[1]
2118 - 2127[]
- The journey is difficult at best and although the cryo-sleep, or 'ice-nod' chambers work well they do not work perfectly. 2% of the total Helghan population expires en route. Upon reaching the nearer planet, named Helghan, there is some dismay as scientists realize that life here will be hard. Despite enormous free-energy resources, the ecosystem on Helghan is extremely poor. A prefabricated space station is left in orbit around Helghan, with volunteers who elect to stay and seed the surface with automated refineries and power generators. The rest of the ships take a chance on their dwindling resources and push on to the second planet - which they name Vekta after Helghan Corporation CEO Philip Vekta.[1]
Early Vektan Era - 2129-2155[]
This era marks the early days of the colonies of Alpha Centauri. The planets are settled, the infrastructure established and slowly things are built up. This period ends at the beginning of the great boom on Vekta.
2129[]
- The first ships arrive on Vekta.[2] Roughly 12 colonies are founded during the years 2129 to 2140. Vekta, roughly Earth-sized, is an agrarian and idyllic world, full of natural splendor and lushly forested - an Eden. Agricultural produce skyrockets on Vekta - the colony quickly becomes able to feed itself.[1] Vekta City is founded.[3]
2133[]
- The planetary colony of Gyre is founded in the adjacent Altair system. Gyre is largely ocean, smaller than Vekta and colder, with millions of tiny islands dotting the surface.[1]
- As the first colonies get underway the UCA discovers that communications does not allow it to efficiently manage colonial defense from a central headquarters. To combat inefficiency the UCN creates the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance - a concept which allows systems of varying degrees of integration to enjoy membership of a unified defense alliance. The UCN provides backup, training and equipment whilst the local Colonial Administration provides funds and men. ISA duties are to include revenue gathering, policing and local defense. The local ISA commands are subordinate directly to the civilians of the UCN and not under the military command of the UCA, and all ISA's are completely independent of each other, their strength and budget determined solely by the funds the local authority authorizes. ISA Altair and ISA Alpha Centauri are among the first ISA Commands created.[1]
2135[]
- Despite some very rough early years - and numerous occasions when the colony was almost wiped out - the initial Helghan settlers manage to make the Vektan colony secure. In addition their space station around the world of Helghan is perfectly positioned to service the ships passing through Alpha Centauri between Earth and the new colonies. Starships come here to be supplied, maintained and refueled. On top of this many tankers begin to ply the routes between Helghan and their home worlds, bringing vital energy resources that command top prices. The money starts to roll in - offsetting the need to import comforts, medical supplies and food to the space station.[1]
2138[]
- Communications technology improves to the point where real-time communications are possible between Helghan and Vekta. The government on Vekta establishes the Helghan Protectorate, whereby both worlds are administered from Vekta. Helghan taxes and energy are now pouring directly into the Vektan market without going through the ISA, whilst Vekta provides Helghan with a wider and healthier variety of foodstuffs and luxuries. Employment is at 95% and morale skyrockets on both worlds. A new emblem is created that is symbolic of the mutually dependent relationship between Helghan and Vekta - three interlinked arms labeled Peace, Justice and Freedom.[1]
- The Helghan Protectorate forms the first legally recognized militia service that is not part of the direct ISA or UCN/UCA chain of command. Although the Helghan Militia are small and lightly armed, performing only customs, police and ceremonial duties, the ISA views them as something of a challenge and threat and imposes strict limitations on their size and equipment. In addition, all officers of the Helghan Militia are to be provided by the ISA.[1]
2149[]
- Much of planet Helghan's infrastructure of industry, from turbines to the massive processing facilities in the Helghan wastes, has been laid. The Helghan Corporation is now in the main completely self-sufficient and in the possession of vast sums of money and power which they can use to supply the rapidly expanding human universe, earned by selling energy to the passing colony ships, the newly established colonies, and with Earth itself. Their presence on Earth is now minimal, with most of their assets and offices are located on Vekta.[1]
2152[]
- With the increasing complexity of managing the colonies on Helghan and Vekta the Helghan Corporation decides to set itself up as a civil administration. This expanded charter allows it to take over all local administration duties from the ISA, levy taxes against the entire population and reorganize all social services. However, they are still bound by strict ISA regulations on ship construction, orbital industries and the establishment of new colonies on their worlds.[1]
2155[]
- The Helghan government turns in a significant tax-surplus in each budget, stockpiling the money away in case of disaster. By 2155 this stockpile has gotten so big that the Helghan Administration makes an offer to the ISA to purchase the Alpha-Centauri system outright - allowing them to avoid sending their yearly tithe to Earth in favor of a fee paying system for individual services, such as support of the local ISA Command.[1] The UCN, which would have normally outright rejected the offer, accepted the Helghan/Vektan purchase in order to cover the costs of its current colonial endeavors.[1]
Platinum Era - 2156-2199[]
This era marks the heights of Vektan/Helghan civilization - before the dark days of the coming war.
2156 - 2190[]
- Free to invest and tax in their colonies as they wish a period of runaway economic and industrial growth grips the Helghan Administrations two worlds. The automated refineries on Helghan are expanded and developed; the orbital shipyard becomes the largest orbital structure outside the Terran system. The Helghan system is a "hub system" that connects Earth to its colonies - every ship must travel through Helghan to get anywhere. The Helghan Administration begins to charge each ship for the privilege - allegedly a fee for traffic control, customs, search and rescue, and other such services. In reality, it is a thinly disguised tariff upon all trade in space. Helghan based ships are granted a residence permit that frees them from some charges, encouraging some shipping companies to relocate.[1]
2195[]
- The Vekta City Dam is constructed in conjunction with the development of Vekta City.[4]
2198[]
- The UCN grows concerned at the increasing domination that Helghan is exerting over star travel and space trade - traditionally under UCN control. They also become frustrated that the Helghan are creating vast wealth off the backs of colonial endeavors that the UCN itself has underwritten. It levies stricter controls and tariffs on all space traffic and taxes the colonies more heavily than ever before - using the money to expand the UCA, the UCA Navy receiving the bulk of the new budget. For the first time the UCA Navy develops large scale troop transports and the new heavy cruisers- warships clearly designed principally to smash the ISA fleets of the outer colonies and invade them by force.[1]
- As part of these new regulations several privileges granted to the Helghan Administration as part of the Helghan/Vektan Purchase are rescinded - specifically the right to a large home fleet and tariffs on shipping. The Helghan Administration refuses, but does agree to high-level talks on a compromise solution. However, the wealthy people of Vekta and the powerful companies in orbit around Helghan pressured the Helghan Administration not to budge on the issues of tariffs or self-defense.[1]
2199[]
- Despite multiple attempts to negotiate a settlement, the talks between the UCN and Earth fail to bring a mutually satisfactory resolution. Earth flat out demands compliance from the Helghan Administration and the Helghan Administration responds by formally seceding from the UCN, declaring itself an independent colony.[1]
- The UCN considers retaliation by slamming an embargo on trade with Helghan, but this is deemed to be counterproductive - the Helghan would simply prevent any trade ships reaching Earth and Earth can no longer survive for any length of time without colonial resources. The decision is made to send a powerful UCA Navy fleet to seize control of the navigation points between the colonies and Earth in the Helghan system. Protecting the flow of colonial trade to Earth would allow a blockade of Helghan itself by the UCN and bring this matter to resolution.[1]
First Extrasolar War - 2199-2204[]
This marks the lowest ebb of Vektan/Helghan civilization - the system makes a bold stand for freedom and fails. War comes to Alpha Centauri.
2200[]
- As the situation worsens, the Helghan Administration attempts to first co-opt and then expel all ISA forces from Vekta and Helghan. The ISA Marines and Navy respond with lethal force and a number of skirmishes erupt on and around the two colony worlds. Despite their overwhelming numeric superiority, Helghan troops are poorly equipped, trained and inexperienced and many ISA forces escape the initial fighting. The experienced ISA troops and ships scatter to conduct hit and run operations from hidden bases.[1]
2201[]
- The UCA Navy fleet dispatched in 2199 arrives at the Helghan system - hooking up with the local ISA ships and quickly moving to secure the navigational points. The main force of the fleet heads to the planet Helghan itself, to blockade it, but the massed custom fleets of the Helghan Administration attempt to break the blockade by engaging the UCA Navy fleet in battle.[1]
- The UCA Navy cruisers prove to be untouchable by the much smaller Helghan vessels and the fleet action is a massacre, with almost the entire Helghan fleet being destroyed or disabled. During the fighting, however, the massive orbital structure is destroyed under mysterious circumstances.[1]
- The UCA claim that the Helghan aboard the station fled to the planet below and sabotaged it to prevent it from falling into UCA hands. The Helghan Administration claim that the UCA fired on the station deliberately. The true story never emerges but, as a result of it the Helghan Authority declares war on the UCN.[1]
- The UCA Navy fleet decides that dropping directly onto Helghan would be a waste of resources and lives - leaving a picket fleet to watch the planet, they push on to Vekta.[1]
2202[]
- The combined ISA and UCA Navy fleet arrives around Vekta and quickly subdues the remnants of the Helghan Customs Service in orbit. Initially the Helghan Administration threatens to fight to the last man, but after a devastating demonstration of orbital bombardment they quickly yield to the inevitable. The Helghan Administration is shut down - all senior civil servants are arrested, as are any executives of the Helghan Corporation. Many escape into hiding.[1]
- When the courier ship returns from Alpha Centauri with the news the UCN Senate debated and concluded that the Helghan are too unruly to ever settle comfortably within the UCN. The UCN then decided to turn over Vekta's administration to the ISA administration to prevent future unrest. The broken Helghan Administration can do little more than rubberstamp UCN's conditions. New colony ships of loyal UCN civilians start to be sent from Earth to expand the Vektan colony.[1] The harsh consequences of rebellion are not lost on the other colonies - the UCN's right to regulate and tax space shipping is never challenged again.[1]
2202 - 2204[]
- Helghan extremists begin a terrorist campaign in an attempt to make the occupation of Vekta too expensive for the ISA. Although the majority of Vektan Helghan simply want to live out their lives peacefully, sufficient numbers of the local populace assist the guerrilla movement to enable it to flourish. Bombings, ambushes and shootings against the UCN minority become more common - Vekta is no longer an innocent paradise.[1]
Early Helghan Era - 2204-2340[]
The loyalist Helghan peoples leave Vekta on a trek to the harsh and unforgiving world of Helghan. Long seen as a chemical and mineral storehouse, now Helghan must be tamed - but it changes the Helghan as much as they change it - if not more. This era covers the early days on Helghan.[1]
2204 - 2210[]
- The ISA governor general of Vekta responds to the growing terrorism by clamping down harder and harder on the local Helghan population. Finally, in desperation, many prominent Helghan families pool their wealth to purchase the old colonizing ships and get them space worthy again - the community appoints a spokesman to speak with the ISA governor and request permission for the Helghan people to resettle on Helghan - joining those few souls who escaped from the transfer station there. The ISA agrees and the Helghan exodus begins, shuttling millions of disaffected Helghan colonists from Vekta to the growing Helghan colonies.[1]
- Neither the ISA nor the UCN want to foot the bill for establishing this colony, preferring to leave the Helghan to either survive or die on their own merits. In order to legitimize this action, the UCN formally recognizes the Helghan Administration as a sovereign nation and declares the planet of Helghan to be their territory in perpetuity - subject to ISA blockades and restrictions until diplomatic relations are normalized.[1]
2212[]
- The remnants of the Helghan Corporation founded Pyrrhus Deep.[5]
2215 - 2220[]
- The bleak existence on Helghan is a far cry from the paradise of Vekta. Initial casualties due to illness, storm damage and starvation are very high. Within ten years, though, the death rate subsides as the Helghan begin to adapt to their surroundings. Slowly a civilization arises from the refugee camps and token Helghan industry and food production starts again.[1]
2220[]
- The heads of the various refugee camps come together for the first time to reform the Helghan Administration. 90% of the Refugee camps agree to collectivize their resources and labor in order to cooperate in the rebuilding of their civilization.[1]
- Disturbing medical problems are found to be common throughout the colony - exotic radiation and storms have serious effects on the longevity of the human being. Medical support from the ISA is non-existent and indigenous facilities are too primitive. The wearing of masks for those who work in the outdoors becomes mandatory. Mask wearing becomes the sign of having a working class profession. Even with masks, Lung Burn (as the settlers call it) becomes the primary cause of death in Helghan over the age of thirty.[1] On a positive note, however, vast mineral resources are discovered by the settlers, mining fast becoming one of the more common jobs on Helghan.[1]
2223[]
- As the colony on Helghan begins to reform the Helghan Administration and secure the basic infrastructure and facilities needed for life again, the Independent Colonial Strategic Alliance approaches them offering membership and support. The ICSA is an unaligned version of the ISA, created to allow worlds that decide to go at it alone to have some sort of support. Despite the ICSA making few demands and offering much help, the Helghan are now paranoid of all outside influences and motivations and strongly decline the offer.[1]
2223 - 2305[]
- ISA trade sanctions force the Helghast to trade on unfavorable terms for over a decade and initial growth of wealth is slow - despite the unexpected addition of a trade in minerals. Life is short, hard and painful for the majority of Helghans as they fight to cope with poor nutrition, poor environment and grueling work conditions and practices. Frequent austerity drives and a Spartan approach to existence allow the Helghan to survive - and even profit - under these harsh conditions, but the more things improve the more the Helghan become angry at the restrictions imposed upon them by the ISA which are meekly accepted by the cowed Helghan Authority.[1]
2304[]
- Several of the richer ISA forces begin construction of elaborate Orbital Defense facilities in favor of maintaining an extensive fleet. The Vektan ISA high command decides to stand down the blockade of Helghan in favor of a smaller customs fleet and its own Orbital Defense network around Vekta.[1]
2305[]
- The third generation of indigenous Helghan are beginning to be born. Helped along by basic genetic conditioning and the harsh environment they are more suited to the heavy gravity and also feature lungs that are more efficient and resistant to the pollutants on Helghan, and their cells are more resistant to the higher radiation levels.[1]
2306[]
- Jorhan Stahl is born.
2307[]
- Scolar Visari is born to a wealthy family of hardcore Helghan nationalists. Rumored to be descended from one of the original Helghan Directors, Visari shows great early promise as a thinker and leader.[1]
2311[]
2317[]
- Vyktor Kratek is born.
2314[]
- Mandor Savic is born.[7]
2315[]
- Valeria Tobek is born.[8]
- March 5: Anders Benoit is born.
2327[]
- Arran Danner is born.
2329[]
- Jan Templar is born.
- November 1: Rico Velasquez is born.
2335[]
- Alex Grey is appointed First Lieutenant of the ISA Cruiser Solar Wind.[6]
2336[]
- Valeria Tobek graduates from Pyrrhus Academy.[8]
- Mandor Savic enters a research fellowship at Pyrrhus Academy and later publishes material on advanced microbiology.
2339[]
- Hera Visari, daughter of Scolar Visari, is born.[9]
- Thomas Sinclair is born.[10]
2330 - 2350[]
- Vekta's monopoly of the Helghan trade allows them to develop great wealth - at the expense of reinvestment on Helghan. As the Helghan population increases, more and more of their own wealth is diverted to the feeding and protection of their civilians - this leads to a series of industrial accidents where expensive machinery is not serviced sufficiently to cope with the harsh Helghan conditions. The resulting downtime whilst Helghan pays for the servicing, maintenance and replacement of its old machinery causes a severe economic downturn that lasts almost 20 years.[1]
- Helghan economists blame the depression on selfish Vektan exploiters. Vekta has its own troubles with the collapse of the lucrative black-market trade in Helghan minerals and energy and can spare no resources for a relief effort. For the first time since 2220, Helghans die of starvation in the cities.[1]
Helghast Era - 2340-2357[]
The tough conditions finally spawn social and economic change. Forced to adapt to a situation so tough that mere humans could never survive it, a charismatic new leader pronounces the birth of the Helghast people: a people no longer human, with a bold drive and vision to succeed.
2340-2347[]
- With the economy in the abyss and Helghan morale below that, a singular and remarkable figure rises to prominence: Scolar Visari, the eventual self-proclaimed autarch of Helghan. Visari promoted his ideology that Helghan's mutated people are a new and entirely superior race over humanity. Visari's oratorical skill and magnetic personality draws many of the disaffected public, from rich and poor alike, to his cause. He goes on to preach the militaristic, absolutist values that will become the trademark of the Helghast. More importantly, he transforms the value of mask-wearing – once a badge of low station – and makes it integral to the Helghan identity. There is nothing shameful in its history, Visari tells the people. It is testament to their fortitude to wear the mask.[1]
2344[]
- Phantom Talon Corp, a private military contractor (PMC) is established by Anders Benoit and Oliver Adamska.[11]
- The VSA Headquarters is constructed.[12]
- Sepp Harkin is recruited into the Vektan diplomatic service.[8]
2346[]
- Sepp Harkin is appointed Deputy Chief of Mission to Pyrrhus.[8] Valeria Tobek and Sepp Harkin meet for the first time at an event and begin a secret relationship.[8]
2347[]
- Scolar Visari coins the term "Helghast" in a public speech. Its purported origin is from the Old English word, "gast", meaning "spirit", or "ghost", connoting great fear. Visari states that they are no longer what they once were. Where they were once human and spiritless, their generations on Helghan, their sufferings; these have forged them into a new race, the only truly 'living' race. Whatever the etymology, the name sticks.[1]
- Feigning an attempt on his life to garner public support, Visari leads a military coup backed by a popular uprising to assume the title of autarch. He seizes unrestricted power from the Helghan Administration and begs the army for 10 years of unchallenged authority to reforge the Helghast into a true independent power.[1]
- As part of his plan, Visari begins a major enlargement of the Helghast military. A secondary aspect of the Helghast revolution is a cultural evolution, led personally by Visari to change the face of Helghan society. Visari bans the use of written English in 2349, devising a new Helghast alphabet to be used in its place. Plans for an entirely new Helghast language are never fully implemented due to the logistical difficulties, but the ideal of this linguistic separation remain dear to Visari. As a final touch, the old Helghan banner is dropped in favor of a simpler, starker and more dynamic logo. The Helghast Triad becomes the official banner of Helghan: three arrows representing Duty, Obedience and Loyalty signal the new values that Helghast society is based upon.[1]
2348[]
- Oliver Adamska is killed in action under unclear circumstances.[11]
- Sepp Harkin marries Valeria Tobek.[8]
2349[]
- Alex Grey is promoted to Admiral. Grey lobbies for a diplomatic approach to end hostilities with the Helghast, through Ambassador Sepp Harkin, a family friend. These negotiations fail and lead to a falling out between Grey and Harkin, as well as Grey's disillusionment.[6]
- Justus Harkin is born.[8]
2350[]
- Starting with low level smuggling operations but gradually building up in scale, the Helghast begin breaking the ISA embargo of their world to trade directly to black-market suppliers. At first the trade is exclusively to the Vektan energy market, but slowly Visari encourages off-world agents to source their power from Helghan. The whittled down ISA fleet is powerless to do more than put a dent in the trade, and some factions on Vekta question whether the Helghan blockade is even needed at this point.[1]
- The Helghast rebuild their transfer station, albeit on a more modest scale than before, and trade really starts to take off. The depression officially ends when the Helghast secure a contract with the ICSA for energy and materials. The deal is mutually beneficial, and both parties gain immensely from it.[1]
- The ISA governor does not increase funding to the ISA Navy, making the issue of containment a moot point.
- Damian Ivanov is wounded in action at Procyon, and loses many of his unit. He resigns from the UCN Army later in the year after backlash over so-called "appeasement" of Helghast.[13]
2355[]
- Admiral Alex Grey is seconded to the Defense Initiatives Board and given jurisdiction over the Experimental Weapons Program in Diortem (codename Project Eschaton). She advocates it as a deterrent to the Helghast, but it is opposed by some members of the ISA High Command.[6]
2356[]
- Concerned by the Helghast military build up in progress, the ISA governor orders the construction of an additional orbital defense platform to complement the 52 year old defense network already in place. ISA General Stuart Adams is appointed the military commander of the network.[1]
Second Extrasolar War - 2357-2360[]
Swollen with pride and new strength the Helghast embark on a bold plan of conquest to rejoin the two halves of the Alpha Centauri system and rebuild their great empire. Their gamble fails and their armies on Vekta are defeated, leading to their worst nightmare: the invasion of Helghan itself.
2357[]
- Autarch Scolar Visari outlines his bold strategy for changing the face of governance in this system by returning to Vekta and seizing it again as a Helghast colony. Ignoring the many generations of UCN settlement under the ISA he inflames the passions of the Helghast for revenge. The Helghast High Command takes the bait and eagerly declares loyalty to Visari for the coming campaign, offering to make him emperor if it succeeds.[1]
- Early August: The Helghan Empire begin their invasion of Vekta.[14] Generals Adams and Stratson send word that their plans are in place. Visari sends most of his fleet after the ISA Navy, and a second fleet to invade Vekta. Early warning is given by a UCA scouting force, but word doesn't reach the ISA in time to prevent the bloodbath in space. The UCN votes unanimously to dispatch a heavy fleet of UCA reinforcements to Vekta, to prevent the destabilization of that entire sector.[1]
- Late August: The invasion incurs casualties on both sides. It is only with the help of four unlikely heroes, led by Jan Templar, that Vekta City does not fall. The Helghast have been thwarted but a sizable contingent is still present on Vekta. Lente is killed by his former chief of staff, Colonel Gregor Hakha, and the ground campaign is disrupted as a result.[15] The ISA traitor who enabled the Helghast to invade Vekta, General Adams, is also killed when Templar and crew sabotage the orbital platform to prevent its ambush of the UCA fleet from Earth – which arrives in a timely fashion.[16] General Stratson manages to keep his cover intact.[1]
- September: The ISA Council stops the development of the second orbital defense platform as a result of the Helghast capture of the first one. General Dwight Stratson proposes a nuclear program to purge the remaining and regrouping Helghast from Vekta. The suggested nuclear weapons are being prepared in Rayhoven Base – but require ISA Council approval to use in the field. Because nuclear weapons have always been seen as a taboo weapon, the political consequences of possessing them, let alone using them, is likely to be high. Helghast General Armin Metrac arrives on Vekta and takes command of remaining forces. Establishing a stronghold in southern Vekta, the Helghast are gaining ground again.
- October: Helghast General Metrac attacks the ISA base at Rayhoven where the ISA Council is voting for the use of General Stratson's proposed nuclear plan. Meanwhile, Captain Jan Templar is sent to reinforce the troops at Rayhoven. Together with Sergeant Rico Velasquez, he destroys Metrac's base. Stratson is unmasked. However, the Helghast now possess the nuclear weapons developed for them by General Stratson, as well as numerous other high-tech weapons stolen from the facilities of weapons researcher Evelyn Batton.
- Sometime near the end of the Helghast invasion of Vekta, Phantom Talon Corp mercenaries Arran Danner and Damian Ivanov are hired by the ISA to execute a rescue mission in Diortem. ISA Admiral Alex Grey has been captured by Helghast forces under command of the Helghast Colonel, Kratek. The two mercenaries manage to rescue Grey with Invanov K.I.A.[17]
2358[]
- January: The remaining Helghast on Vekta are retreating. Using bounty hunters, they ship their troops and materials back to Helghan. Sergeant Velasquez's team is assigned to retrieve vital ISA information from an escaping Helghast cruiser. They discover that Metrac and his forces are about to strike back with one massive attack. The last decisive battle of Vekta is then fought on the northern plains. All the Helghast forces on Vekta are destroyed. The UCA fleet - having stabilized the situation - retires after issuing the ISA with specific orders: To restore the Helghan blockade - but not to take any other offensive action. To cooperate with a Judge Advocate General's inquisition team fully when it arrives to investigate the matter.[1]
- March: With the Helghan forces on Vekta shattered a council is called at Vekta City to decide the best policy for the further pursuit of the war against the Helghast to its conclusion. The Council, in defiance of the UCA's orders over concerns that the UCN wishes to blame past decisions regarding treatment of the Helghast upon them, quickly establishes a working list of priorities: remove the Helghast as a military threat, arresting Autarch Scolar Visari and wrestling away control of Helghan, and establishing an easily controlled regime on Helghan that avoids the oppression that sparked this conflict.[1]
- September: The ISA fleet launches for Helghan to begin the most complex military action in human history, beginning Operation Archangel.[1]
- The ISC Cassandra is launched.[18]
2359[]
- November: Twelve battle groups arrive at Helghan. One, Battle Group Mandrake, is comprised of one division of ISA and 10 divisions of Legionnaires. ISA Cruiser New Sun is the flagship of the Battle Group, under the command of war hero Colonel Jan Templar. Battle Group Mandrake is deployed to Pyrrhus with orders to seize the capital city, hopefully capturing Visari in the process, as it is one of the primary population bases as well as a center of trade for the planet.[19]
- Starships of the ISA Navy and Helghast fleet engage each other in orbit. The ISA fleet outclasses the Helghast fleet significantly and quickly establishes a total orbital blockade, but still suffer heavy losses due to anti-orbital Arc Cannons stationed in Pyrrhus.
- Phantom Talon Corp aids the ISA's invasion. Arran Danner disables the Arc Cannon system in order to open a window for invading ISA forces.[20] He then attempts to rescue the Vektan Ambassador Sepp Harkin and his family, and Helghast scientist and defector Mandor Savic. However, the Ambassador and his wife are killed except for their son Justus, while Savic escapes in the chaos.[21] Danner manages to rescue Savic, who revealed Kratek's plans to create a bioweapon derived from Project Eschaton to be use against Vekta.[22]
- In a slow, brutal urban war, the ISA slowly advance in Pyrrhus, with both sides taking large amounts of casualties. The ISA advance is temporarily halted after Colonel Mael Radec activated a network of arc towers hidden beneath Pyrrhus.[23]
- Danner participated in shutting down a Petrusite reactor in a sector of Pyrrhus under Colonel Kratek's control. He is then left for dead by Benoit and Grey for knowing too much about Project Eschaton. Danner is rescued by Kratek and conscripted into helping Kratek to stop Grey from using the bioweapon to wipe out the entire Helghast population.[24]
- Radec launched an attack on the New Sun in which he killed Templar and retrieving the nuclear codes for the Red Dust warheads. A dying Templar maneuvered his ship to crash into the center of Helghan's Petrusite distribution grid, rendering Pyrrhus's defenses to shut down.[25]
- Admiral Grey and Benoit attacked Facility X01 to obtain the Eschaton virus. Danner retrieves a sample of the virus and killing Grey in the process.[26] Kratek is killed by Benoit, who in turn is killed in battle against Danner. Danner destroys the virus and escapes with Justus.[27]
- Visari authorized the nuclear weapon Red Dust to annihilate the bulk of the ISA invasion directly on the heart of Pyrrhus, where the majority of the ISA troops were preparing for an advance into the Imperial Palace.[28] Only a small ISA contingent under the command of Captain Jason Narville managed to avoid the nuclear explosion entirely, due to being situated outside the capital city in the Helghan desert wastes while conducting rescue operations. This small contingent then gathered any surviving troops and launched a desperate, all-out attack on Visari's Palace in an attempt to capture the dictator.
- After a brutal battle between Visari's Palace Guard and the remaining ISA forces in a large courtyard, the Helghast forces were driven back to the massive entrance of the Palace where they fought, and died, to the last man. This allowed two members of the elite ISA unit Alpha Squad to storm Visari Palace itself. There, Colonel Radec, leader of the Helghast defense of Pyrrhus, and Visari's remaining bodyguard contingent were killed, and these two ISA soldiers entered Visari's throne to finally place him under arrest. However, Alpha Squad Sergeant Rico kills Visari out of anger.[29] Soon after, a massive Helghast fleet of the Helghast First Army launched a surprise attack on the remaining ISA cruisers, forcing the ISA into retreat while destroying the remnants of the ISA's starship contingent.[30] Thus, the surviving remnant of the ISA invasion were then stranded on Helghan, desperately trying to find a way to escape.[31]
2360[]
- May: The small ISA remnant has finally managed to escape Helghan after fighting tooth and nail across the planet, six months after Visari's death. Eventually, the ISA forces board a Helghast space station and hijack several Helghast strike fighters while the Helghast forces destined for the invasion of Earth were plunged into civil war over who was to be Visari's successor. They then use the fighters to destroy the experimental cruiser of Helghast corporate chairman Jorhan Stahl, who planned to bombard Earth with hundreds of irradiated Petrusite warheads, thus killing or irradiating millions of people on the UCN capital world and causing the UCN to capitulate. The experimental cruiser's destructive payload was then detonated over Helghan due to secondary explosions, irradiating the entire planet, decimating its population, and obliterating the remains of the Helghast invasion fleet destined for Earth. This disaster on Helghan became known as the Terracide. Managing to avoid the cataclysmic explosion in time, the remaining ISA troops onboard the hijacked strike fighters then made their way back to Vekta.[32]
Cold War - 2360-Ongoing[]
2360[]
- Following the end of the Second Extrasolar War, an uneasy truce is established between the Vektan government and the remnants of the Helghan government. Under the terms of the truce, the Vektan government offered the Helghast survivors of the Terracide refuge on Vekta and are given half of the planet. However, coexistence between Helghast and Vektans is impossible. Violence quickly becomes common wherever humans and Helghast interact.
- Hillary Massar is born.[33]
2361[]
- New Helghan is established.[34]
- Containment City is established.[35]
2363[]
- Lucas Kellan is born.[36]
2364[]
- Construction of The Wall begins.[37] The Helghast forcibly evict all humans and half-breeds out of their territory, killing any who resist the order. With the cities and territories of the two nations separated from each other by massive walls that divide the entire planet, an uneasy peace has formed.
2366[]
- Maya Visari, daughter of Hera Visari, is born.[38]
2368[]
- The mining spire orbiting over planet Helghan begins production.[39]
2370[]
- December 27: Michael Kellan and his son Lucas attempted to escape New Helghan during a massive purge of all remaining humans in the new Helghast nation. Michael is caught and killed by Helghan soldiers. Lucas is adopted by Thomas Sinclair, an ISA Shadow Marshal. From then on afterwards, Lucas is trained to become a VSA Shadow Marshal.[40]
2380[]
- Hera Visari becomes Chancellor of New Helghan.[41]
2386[]
- The ISC Cassandra is repurposed as a weapons-based research station.[18]
2388[]
- The New Helghan government banned the Black Hand for their extremist views.[42]
2389[]
- Dr. Hillary Massar is transferred to the ISC Cassandra.[18]
2390[]
The events of Killzone Shadow Fall begins. Relations between the Vektans and Helghast have reached a boiling point. Shadow Marshal Lucas Kellan is given orders to ensure the ISA maintains dominance on Vekta.
- June 7: Lucas Kellan is intentionally captured by New Helghan forces and traded as part of a prisoner exchange for a half-breed operative known as Echo. This was apparently done in order to rescue VSA operatives.[40]
- June 21: Lucas Kellan infiltrates Visari Park to retrieve VSA reconnaissance operatives who had fallen out of contact, and the intelligence they had gathered. Lucas succeeds and extracts the operatives.[43]
- June 22: Lucas Kellan is sent to the ISC Cassandra to scuttle it into the nearby sun to destroy evidence of a bioweapon being created by Dr. Hillary Massar. The Cassandra is scuttled, but Kellan is unsuccessful to secure Massar from Helghast forces led by Echo.[44]
- June 29: The Black Hand led by Vladko Tyran launched a terrorist attack on Vekta City and bombing VSA Headquarters in the process. The VSA repelled the Black Hand from further attacks. Tyran escaped capture and flees to New Helghan. As a result of the terrorism, all Helghast citizens residing on the Vektan side of The Wall are deported to New Helghan.[45]
- July 1: Lucas Kellan infiltrates Containment City in New Helghan to locate Vladko Tyran. Kellan discovered Tyran to be working for Jorhan Stahl and learning the latter's plans to use Massar's bioweapon to target Vektans and preparing a Helghast fleet to invade Vekta. Tyran faked his death during his struggle with Kellan, who is then captured by Helghast authorities.[46]
- July 6: Lucas Kellan escapes New Helghan custody with the help of Echo, who is against Visari's collaboration with Stahl. Upon his return to the Vektan side, VSA Director Sinclair refused to listen Kellan's pleas to deescalate the VSA.[47]
- July 7: The VSA dispatched Lucas Kellan to track down and recover Massar at a mining spire in orbit over Helghan while a ISA fleet prepared to assault Stahl's base. However, Kellan allowed Massar to die at the hands of Echo and is branded as a traitor by Sinclair.[48] Kellan and Echo teamed up and travel to Helghan to stop Stahl. They confronted and defeated Tyran while learning that Stahl had prepared Massar's bioweapon to destroy the ISA fleet.[49] Sinclair ignored Kellan's warning and the ISA fleet is decimated. Kellan is separated from Echo in the chaos. Kellan is able to confront Stahl, who is suddenly shot dead by Sinclair, who then mortally wounded Kellan. Sinclair reveals to Kellan his intentions to use Stahl's weapon to permanently end the Helghast before killing Kellan.[50]
- August 5: Diplomacy breaks down between Vekta and New Helghan after Vektan officials blamed the New Helghan government for supporting Jorhan Stahl's planned attack on Vekta. Echo infiltrates Vekta City and assassinates Thomas Sinclair during a speech he gives to Vektans, calling for war against the Helghast.[51]
See also[]
- Timeline (killzone.com) - a transcript of the official Killzone timeline
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 1.50 1.51 1.52 1.53 1.54 1.55 1.56 1.57 1.58 1.59 1.60 1.61 Timeline retrieved from the official Killzone website.
- ↑ Dossier: Planet Vekta
- ↑ Dossier: Vekta City
- ↑ Dossier: Vekta City Dam
- ↑ Dossier: Pyrrhus Deep
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Report KL38T
- ↑ Arrest Order XV32U
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 Intercepted Intelligence
- ↑ Dossier: Hera Visari
- ↑ Dossier: Thomas Sinclair
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Report VR89K
- ↑ Dossier: VSA HQ
- ↑ Report VR76M
- ↑ Killzone, campaign level Helghast Assault
- ↑ Killzone, campaign level Hidden Pasts
- ↑ Killzone, campaign level Hope
- ↑ Killzone: Mercenary, campaign level Justice For All
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Dossier: ISC Cassandra
- ↑ Killzone 2, campaign level Corinth River
- ↑ Killzone: Mercenary, campaign level Lightning Strike
- ↑ Killzone: Mercenary, campaign level Diplomatic Incident
- ↑ Killzone: Mercenary, campaign level The Package
- ↑ Killzone 2, campaign level Salamun Bridge
- ↑ Killzone: Mercenary, campaign level Lights Out
- ↑ Killzone 2, campaign level The Cruiser
- ↑ Killzone: Mercenary, campaign level Blood Money
- ↑ Killzone: Mercenary, campaign level Exit Wounds
- ↑ Killzone 2, campaign level Maelstra Barrens
- ↑ Killzone 2, campaign level Visari Palace
- ↑ Killzone 3, campaign level Evacuation Orders
- ↑ Killzone 3, campaign level Pyrrhus Evac
- ↑ Killzone 3, campaign level Interception
- ↑ Dossier: Hillary Massar
- ↑ Dossier: New Helghan
- ↑ Dossier: Containment City
- ↑ Dossier: Lucas Kellan
- ↑ Dossier: The Wall
- ↑ Dossier: Maya Visari
- ↑ Dossier: The Spire
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 Killzone Shadow Fall, campaign level The Father
- ↑ Helghast Daily News, Visari Tribute Triumphant!
- ↑ Helghast Daily News, Black Hand Strike
- ↑ Killzone Shadow Fall, campaign level The Shadow
- ↑ Killzone Shadow Fall, campaign level The Doctor
- ↑ Killzone Shadow Fall, campaign level The Patriot
- ↑ Killzone Shadow Fall, campaign level The Helghast
- ↑ Killzone Shadow Fall, campaign level The Agent
- ↑ Killzone Shadow Fall, campaign level The Handler
- ↑ Killzone Shadow Fall, campaign level The Dead
- ↑ Killzone Shadow Fall, campaign level The Destroyer
- ↑ Killzone Shadow Fall, campaign level The Savior