History

Sultonia is a young planet in an old solar system. When the star Cassiter evolved into a red giant, six planets – Sultonia’s siblings – were destroyed. Material released by that cataclysm accreted in the system’s existing asteroid belt until it formed a new world, fortuitously located in the star’s habitable zone. In many ways, the very existence of Sultonia is something of a miracle. 

It is also young as a political entity, having been discovered a scant century ago and seriously settled for only a few decades:

• A -100: The Cassiter system is mapped by an Alliance expedition. The planet later known as Sultonia is discovered and provisionally namedC1-Suul (after the expedition’s Omdua lead). 
• A -90: A decade of initial on-the-ground research is reviewed by the Alliance, and it is agreed that the planet is a suitable “blank slate” for the use of experimental high-speed terraforming technologies. Research ships set out for the planet, with colonists enrolling from all over the Alliance.
• A -85: With essential terraforming complete, the first colony on Sultonia is established: a scientific outpost called “Habit” based in the largest and most well-sheltered of the planet’s equatorial basins: the Viive crater. Further outposts are later established in the polar mountains, or Gaspcaps, laying the groundwork for more delicate terraforming tasks and the introduction of suitable flora and fauna to the surface.
• A -60: the Alliance inaugurates the Horizon Development Initiative, and renames C1-Suul to Sultonia (the name favoured by its colonists). Advanced terraforming proceeds slowly; after a few scares with unexpected seismic activity and extreme weather, the planet’s ecosphere settles enough by A -45 for unrestricted colonisation to be permitted.
• A -35 onwards: the burgeoning viability and increasing wealth of Sultonia attract SHADOW raiders, who harass the planet and any vessels that visit it for several years. The planet is effectively blockaded by SHADOW from A -23 to -21, a period of occupation known as the Dust years. This comes to an end through Alliance intervention, bringing about the establishment of a formal security cordon between Sultonia and the Helium Lanes.
• A -20 to present: the modern age of Sultonia. With the Alliance increasing its presence in the Horizon region to help guarantee the safety of trading vessels, investment and economic activity soars. The planet becomes self-sufficient with the development of agricom automatic farming. The selection of Sultonia for the launch of the Ardent in A 0 is a watershed moment for the young planet-state, inspiring a generation to dream of arcing out across the stars.