The following is circulated with a note from Mirza Ruan, reading: ‘Congratulations, you seem to have fixed the timeline well enough that my usual sources aren’t working. The following is mostly copy/pasted from a beginner’s guide to interplanetary relations.’

Of course, many would say that war – or, more accurately, conflict – is the defining trait of interplanetary relations. While everyone on every planet is linked by an ever-growing web of political, social, legal and economic connections, our understanding of how they interact has always been informed by each state’s security interests.

[. . .]

The past twenty years have been a comparatively peaceful period when compared to all of human history - however, the still-ongoing war between Cheimeros and Kedalion has been the biggest conflict since the introduction of the Galactic Syndicate of Planets in 1174, almost a hundred years ago. When combined with the ongoing tensions between Eunomia and Selas and the Achelian revolution, this has been a busy couple of decades.

This study will take the 1262 as its starting point and take its study up to the present day [. . .] any study starting in this period would be remiss not to include at least some discussion of the Ananke conference, organised by the Galactic Syndicate of Planets as a display of interplanetary cooperation. While the conference’s significance is still up of debate, it is clear that it was in some ways significant. Many have theorised that the significant numbers of time travellers who appeared during the conference mean that is was more significant in other timelines - for an interesting look at this proposal, the author suggests looking at What if? by Jones, Chaudhary et al. (1276).

Leaving aside hypotheticals, the number of political delegates, pronouncements and statements made that the conference make it a politically significant event […] In chapter one, I discuss the impact of the Ananke Conference and use it to illustrate the role of soft power in […] in chapter two, I will discuss the heightening of tensions between Eunomia and Selas […] Meanwhile, I will turn to outright displays of military power in chapter 4 and introduce readers to the key facets of the war between Cheimeros and Kedalion, before diving into more depth on the role of optimisation and computing in interplanetary relations in chapter 5.

Despite the fears of many in 1262, Selas and Eunomia have not declared war on each other (unless, of course, someone fires the first missile in between time of writing and printing). However, very few people with knowledge of the situation would describe them as being at peace either. So what are they?

[…]

Following the ascension of Ordained Ilias in 1265, many thought that his sisters would retire to the background of political life, but both have remained active in politics over the paster 17 years […] Acantha allied herself with some of the more radical factions of Eunomian politics, winning herself more allies among the Visionary Council and forcing Ilias to adopt a more hardline approach.

[…]

The imposition of sanctions on Eunomian citizens is another example of increasing hostilities without actively promoting war - particularly as many of the sanctions kept Eunomians, effectively, hostage on Selas.

[…]

For now, it seems that the two nations will continue to build up their own military power without overtly attacking the other, the threat of total mutual obliteration acting as a deterrent to either side attacking. It is notable that some taboos have, as far as anyone can tell, been rigorously enforced on both sides, notably the taboo on biological weapons involving fungal agents […]

Kedalion invaded Cheimeros in 1265, by all accounts expecting an easy war that would be quickly won and result in a surrender on terms favouring Kedalion. What they weren’t expecting was two things: the sheer Cheimeran stubbornness and refusal to give up in the face of overwhelming odds, and the Icicle.

[…]

The Cheimerons initially appeared to have the edge in the war, apparently anticipating Kedalion’s attack and preparing for it. The first ships to burst through the Cheimeran atmosphere soon found themselves tumbling out of the air as the highly powered ‘Icicle’ artillery (named for the ‘icerock’ crystals used to refract light and concentrate the beams) shot them down with uncanny accuracy.

The Kedalions were forced to take stock and reevaluate their strategy, using some of their famous optimisation software to determine their strategy. Whether it was this software or simply their massive manufacturing capacity, they soon tipped the scales back.

[…]

The war continues to rage for the time being, characterised by the repeated annexation of sections of Cheimeros which are quickly taken back. Cheimeros have also taken the war back to Kedalion, engaging in several brief attacks on Kedalion cities, causing significant destruction with their highly powered weapons.

This is included as an example of how foreign interference can sway an internal affair. The extensive military support offered to the Tungsten Roses - previously a fringe artistic movement - are generally regarded as a significant factor in the ultimate success of the revolution. This chapter will explore […]