History & Timeline

1850s:

In 1850 oil was discovered beneath the Texas soil. The republic was able to pay off it's debt to the Union and remain an independent nation. The Republic of Texas became a center of massive industrial expansion, they developed well oiled and precisely crafted machines. Texas railroads spread through the bickering states and across the territories. As Texas expanded they began encountering hostilities from Mexico and the Indian territories.

1860s:

In 1860 when the war broke out between the states, The Republic of Texas was focused on maintaining their borders and protecting their rail lines. Texas remained out of the war between the Confederacy and the Union. The scientists of the Republic discovered how to refine the raw oil into a diesel fuel, and developed powerful and efficient engines. Was able to secure their borders and protect their lines with their new diesel powered war machines.

1862:

Granting slaves their freedom in exchange for service gave the Confederacy the numbers they needed to keep fighting. When Britain offered backing if they abolished slavery all together the Confederacy jumped at the chance. With the backing of the crown the confederacy was able to make trade deals with Texas purchasing their diesel machines. With this technological advantage the CSA was able to keep a strong foothold in the war.

1863:

In 1863 glowing crystal meteorites rained across the nation. When it was discovered that these crystals could be used a power source exponentially stronger than coal it created a massive surge in scientific development. Aether enhanced, hydrogen filled airships graced the skies above the battlefields serving as reconnaissance and aerial weapon platforms, and mechanical walkers strode into combat through a hail of bullets.

1864:

News of the Aether Crystals had crossed the sea so the Chinese empire sent a force to take what they could from the Americans. While the States were distracted fighting with each other The Chinese empire was able to take control of the west coast claiming the northern California territory for the Empire. Within the year they had settled the area and built a new colony.

1868:

By 1868 the Confederacy won its independence. It was an uneasy truce and tension continued between the Northern and Southern states, within a year they fell into a cold war. During this time rail barons made a mad grab for land, and depot rights for frontier towns. Minor territory battles would be fought along the rails. Tiring of all the espionage and skirmishes between the railroad companies it was decided to follow the North and South and begin peace talks. The North and South were using one of the border towns as neutral ground to conduct their peace agreements, the rail barons came to the town to join the peace agreements. The railroads built their own stations on the edges of the small town. Not wanting to be left out, The Republic of Texas and representatives of the tribes came to join the accords, even The Expanded Empire of China sent people from the west coast. In the following months other powerful companies signed the accords as well. Thanks to the railroads and East India Trading Co.'s airship lines the town was connected to just about everywhere, the town became known as The Junction and its population boomed. Showing off apparent wealth each signatory of the Peace Treaty built their own embassy in The Junction. The embassies became little plots of sovereign land policed by the owners

No hostilities are allowed between the signatories of the Peace Treaty, for fear of reprisal by the others.

1869:

Before his death Charles Babbage found a way to couple the dream inducing aether crystals with his calculating Difference Engine creating the first analytical engine, and the discovering of the aethersphere. Soon others were able to create miniaturized computing machines using slivers of crystals. At this point all of the computing engines still required punch cards for programming. Using Babbage's analytical engine Ada Lovelace developed a programming logic that would create areas of structure and order within the aethersphere near the crystal nodes.

1875:

In 1875 both the North and South developed several aether enhanced high yield bombs in order to protect themselves from perceived threats by the other side. Some unknown trigger detonated all of them at the same time. As the Shockwave spread across the land it caused each crystal it reached to pulse energy crystals added to the destruction, and spirit crystals tore small holes in reality that released supernatural energies into the world. Crops were burned from the fields, and any caught in the green wave suffered nightmares for years to come. In the wake of the fallout, it was discovered that the supernatural energies had mutated the wildlife across the nation. After the bombs went off, each side blamed the other for the destruction. Hostilities re-emerged between the nations, fortunately these did not result in another war.