THE HISTORY OF THE BLACK WATERS
Finally, in the old Earth year 2059 representatives of the various states met. Their goal was to find
some way to halt the violence. The deliberations were long and argumentative, often interrupted
by bomb threats real and false. In the end an agreement was reached, one that shook the planet.
One the nations were not sure they wanted a part of, but one all saw a need for and all eventually
joined.
That agreement was the creation of the Council of Earth. A three-man council would rule Earth as
the first planet-wide government, one which would have power over all places and people. No
longer would the corporate raiders and crime bosses be able to jump from one state to another in
order to avoid arrest. Now, there was one unified effort against all the war lords.
And it worked. The council enacted various laws that stripped the corporations of their tax
loopholes. Laws were passed which took away the corporate cover many had used to break the
laws, no more blaming the company. Tens of thousands of businessmen went to jail, real jails. The
plush hotel jails of the past were eliminated. The crime lords never had a chance. With no political
bounties to hide behind, the drug bosses tried to seize power in South America. The armada sent
to restore order was larger than the Normandy invasion. Drug dealers and workers were arrested,
tried and shot in a matter of hours. Those fighting in the fields were simply killed outright, no
prisoners were taken.
The measures taken by the council were drastic, but successful. Earth entered a new age. For the
first time one government ruled the entire planet. All major threats to peace were removed. Trade
flowed freely around the world. Political prisons were closed. All barriers were removed. The
people of Earth responded with a new zest for advancement. Within 20 years illiteracy was wiped
out. New discoveries in medicine ended most sicknesses. With the end of local self egos,
pollution was put under control, the waters of Earth were cleaned. Man was restricted as to where
he could build. While cities went higher, the natural appearance of the planet returned. New
farming methods enabled many farms to be used for growing trees. New discoveries and
computers enabled the quality of life on Earth to take great strives forward.
During this, two discoveries changed the lifestyle of the human race more than anything before or
since. The invention of the self generating propulsion unit enabled man to finally leave the
confines of Earth cheaply and reliably. No longer were humans restricted to looking up at the
stars, now they were going there. Then came Time Drive. The ability to jump past the speed of
light opened space to the human race.
The need for more living space and minerals fueled the race to space.
Within a hundred years man had expanded far into space. What had happened on Earth was now
happening in space. Hundreds of inhabitable planets were found and colonized. The creation of
prefab buildings enabled remote regions to quickly reach a level of civilization parallel to Earth.
However, this rapid expansion had its drawbacks. As man spread out, the Council of Earth slowly
lost control. At first the governors were able to maintain the colonies' place within the earth realm.
But slowly these same very powerful and isolated governors began to seize more and more
power. The council was helpless, the distance was too great and the number of colonies too many.
To ensure their own survival in case of a resurgence of council power, the governors began to
assist one man on the council. Owing his position to the governors, this one councilman was
always sure of voting in favor of maintaining the status-quo.
Then came a surprise for the entire human race. Two members of the council, including the
governors' patron, died within days of each other. Instead of calling for new elections as required
by law, the third called the governors in and informed them of the new status quo. No longer were
they to be called governors. They were now the dukes of their planets. Proclaiming himself
emperor, the new ruler seized power from the old council. As he was now the council and as the
now dukes were more than willing to partake in the creation of an empire, the Emperor was
unopposed.
The next hundred years saw the Empire expand. Planets and asteroids were being discovered
daily, each called for man's exploration. The Empire was a peaceful place. The dukes were happy
as long as they were left alone. The Emperor had plenty of new planets for someone who had
given royal service. Piracy was discouraged by all and smuggling was performed by most. New
worlds opened up all the time, business was brisk, everyone was prospering and taxes were
minimal. The fleet was used only to stop some duke who went too far in his cruelty.
On September 20, 2261, the Empire received a shock. A mining exploration ship in a remote sector
was attacked by a non-human force. The first such contact and it was hostile.
Acting with unprecedented speed, the Imperial Court levied new taxes, ordered a tripling of the
fleet, the creation of a marine assault force and notified the various dukes they would have to
conform more to imperial standards. As no one had an idea of what the aliens were like and many
could see their profit bases being attacked, objections were not raised. The Imperial Court once
again became a powerful and important center of life for the Empire.
Taking advantage of the situation, the Court made the few incidents between the fleet and the
aliens seem worst than they were. The aliens did not like meeting another race, especially one
who won’t kow-tow to them. But like the humans, they were expanding in all directions. The point
where contact was made was also for them a remote sector. Both sides rushed ships towards that
point, but both sides held back their main fleets. While neither was ready to make this a major
conflict, neither was ready to allow the other to gain an advantage. For both it was a stand off,
neither knew the strength or weaknesses of the other. There was too much space elsewhere to
conquer freely to make an armed conflict for this remote spot in space worthwhile. Neither needed
a war. Life and trade were going along too good to allow a war to set in. As long as the other was
willing to stay on their side of space, both were willing to leave the other alone.
For the Empire, the stalemate turned into a nightmare. With most of the fleet assigned along the
border with the aliens, few ships were stationed around the rest of the empire. The dukes found
themselves in a position they liked. With the focus of the Imperial Court and fleet aimed in one
direction, several of the dukes, those farthest from the ‘front line’ decided to go out on their own.
The first four dukedoms to declare their independence were quickly followed by most of the
others. Only those dukes around Terra Prime and along the border with the aliens remained loyal.
While this left the empire still the largest nation in size and armed force, it was a mere shell of its
former self.
For the dukes, independence was an enigma. Many of the benevolence rulers were able to
establish their claim to rule with few problems. For a few others, their moment of supreme glory
ended quickly. With everyone else busy with their own problems, those nobles who had rule with
a heavy hand found themselves without any support when the populations rose up.
Problems began occurring around space. These aliens, Venerates, did not like any human and the
feeling was mutual. The Empire did not like any of the new nations. The nations lead by the nobles
did not like the popular regimes. The smaller ones were scared the larger ones would try to
absorb them. Each planet encouraged the growth of their old cultures. And thus began the 24th
century.
Along the front with the Venerates a cold war ensues, one that wants to go hot. Only the fact both
governments do not want full war keeps the fighting to occasional skirmishes. In 2271 a new
officer, Lt. William Masada, introduced a new type of combat. One both fleets loved, they could
shoot, but the combat did not erupt into full war. For ten years Capt. Jack Masada was the master
of the Raid. He was looked upon as a demi-god by both sides. Along the alien front things settled
into a strange sense of normality. One that infected all of known space.
On the other side of the Empire things were different. 41 new nations had been created. As the
humans spread out over the Orion Arm of the galaxy they had stayed mostly in the middle of the
limb, almost as if it was 2 dimension instead of 3D. With no place to expand to along the flat axis,
the human began moving upward and downward. A second group of aliens was now
encountered. These were not as powereful as the Venerite and Kokoman Empires or Meluan
League. Only the Cations, Aviaries and Elves (they looked like elves and no human can
pronounce their correct name) had space travel when humans encountered them. Four other
races welcomed the chance to travel. Two races became instant trouble. A race simply called
Shape Changers quickly became persona-non-grata. Their desire to cause major problems is the
reason most are shot when discovered. The Orcs (they look like orcs and do not have a name)
became the pirates of space.
Knowledge of what occurs on the far side of the Venerate Empire, Kokoman Empire, Akkerman
Confederation and Melua League is limited. The four alien races facing the Empire do not talk
much about that part of the Orion Arm. What little is known is that there are at least 20 more
nations or races.
Space travel is never a time to relax. The 92 nations will shoot anyone arriving in their space
without a good reason. A strange space insect simply called gnats tries to drain all energy from
ships. A creature that reminds the humans of a dragon keeps popping into this dimension, takes a
few swings at the nearest ship then pops out.
The end of the 23rd century is a good time to write about, there’s lots going on.
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EBooks based on
the Black Waters
are now available.
the Black Waters
are now available.
Welcome to the BLACK WATER Universe
The beginning of the violence.
In the closing years of the 20th century, Earth was a collection of over
200 independent nations. States that did not and could not agree with
others most of the time, self motivation ruled. Wars had existed on Earth
before history was first recorded. But in the first years of the 21st
century, they took a weird twist. Total war had been successfully
stopped with the introduction of the nuclear weapon. So fighting turned
to another type of warfare, Guerrilla warfare: little wars, hidden wars, etc.
Even this became different. Wars began to be fought by large private
forces and often the forces were not armed with weapons, but with
check books. Sides fought for territorial rights for selling their various
wares. There was no safe haven from this type of warfare. Attacks were
made anywhere, at any time, against anyone. The planet became
engulfed in the warfare. The official governments tried, but found
themselves helpless stopping this type of bloodshed.
For over 50 years the struggle went on, no one gaining the upper hand.
There was always someone else on a different sideline who could and
did step in to undercut them.
The beginning of the violence.
In the closing years of the 20th century, Earth was a collection of over
200 independent nations. States that did not and could not agree with
others most of the time, self motivation ruled. Wars had existed on Earth
before history was first recorded. But in the first years of the 21st
century, they took a weird twist. Total war had been successfully
stopped with the introduction of the nuclear weapon. So fighting turned
to another type of warfare, Guerrilla warfare: little wars, hidden wars, etc.
Even this became different. Wars began to be fought by large private
forces and often the forces were not armed with weapons, but with
check books. Sides fought for territorial rights for selling their various
wares. There was no safe haven from this type of warfare. Attacks were
made anywhere, at any time, against anyone. The planet became
engulfed in the warfare. The official governments tried, but found
themselves helpless stopping this type of bloodshed.
For over 50 years the struggle went on, no one gaining the upper hand.
There was always someone else on a different sideline who could and
did step in to undercut them.