Mercury plays a large role in the rivalry between RZRR and Venus. First reached by RZRR in 2110, the planet was heavily mined for its ice and rich iron ore deposits. Sino workers endured harsh conditions to extract these resources, creating a tough local culture.
In 2309, a solar flare devastated Mercury, causing widespread loss of life and infrastructure damage. Efforts to rebuild were slow, and many struggled to recover. As a result, Mercury and its neighbor Venus began feeling increasingly ostracized.
Then came the Qinjian Purge of 2344. Fearing a coup through the Imperial National Assembly, Golden Emperor Ren Dade targeted thousands of officials spanning Sol. On Mercury, this came in the form of arrests for those attempting to unionize the iron miners or support the independence movement.
In 2387, following a shipyard riot on Venus, the Venite Republic was founded. A year later, it issued claims on Mercury, arguing that most of its inhabitants were Venusian by birth. During this year, the deadly Munkhbat Virus reached Mercury. Venus accused RZRR of unleashing a biological weapon. 100,000 died on Mercury in the first year, with an estimated 33 million deaths Solwide.
Tensions between Venus and RZRR further escalated, and in 2396, the Venite Hayjun blockaded the planet, destroying four RZRR ships in the process before invading and annexing Mercury. This upended the status quo in Sol and has been a matter of contention ever since.
Mercury has enjoyed over a century of prosperity under the Venite regime. In 2453, the Fonar Solar Belt stood complete. This enormous structure spans the planet and is capable of generating tremendous amounts of energy, thus establishing Mercury as the furnace of the Solar System and sending the message that Venus will pave its own future.
The history of Venus is one of colonization, exploitation, and independence. From its initial role as a forward operating base to its emergence as a superpower, Venus has played a pivotal part in shaping the modern political landscape of Sol, and will no doubt have a hand to play in its future.
RZRR’s interest in Venus began in the early 22nd century when the first manned mission successfully orbited the planet, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. By 2129, colonization efforts were underway, with early platform settlements introduced. However, the planet’s harsh environment posed significant challenges.
In 2270, Venus was declared "impossible to terraform" due to its extreme atmospheric pressure, violent storms, and the inability to construct Quintessium reactors, which are necessary for terraforming.
In 2309, a catastrophic solar flare struck the inner planets, with Venus suffering the most casualties. Platform Arban, one of the largest floating cities, collapsed into the atmosphere, resulting in the deaths of over 300,000 people. This disaster exposed the vulnerabilities of Venusian infrastructure and spurred advancements in solar research and platform technology.
The mid-24th century was marked by political instability. During the Qinjian Purge (2344–2346), RZRR Emperor Ren Dade targeted millions of officials suspected of disloyalty. Thousands of people on Venus were arrested, executed, or exiled to distant planetoids. The purge solidified Emperor Ren Dade’s absolute control over the Imperial National Assembly, but further strained a fracturing Empire.
In 2386, the Rebellion of the 12 Shipyards began as Venusian companies—lead by charismatic Abi Ichinnorov—grew weary of rising taxes and a lack of support from Terra. This culminated in the brief Venusian War of Independence, with in a small but decisive orbital battle that demonstrated Venus’s growing strength. With a smaller yet more advanced navy, the Venite Republic was declared in 2387, adopting the motto “Unity and Honor.” Immediately, it began asserting its influence across the Solar System.
In 2388, the Munkhbat Virus was first observed on the Venite platform of Munkhbat. The outbreak claimed over 200,000 Venite lives in its first year alone. Venus accused the RZRR of deploying a biological weapon, but the virus spread rapidly, causing over 30 million deaths solwide before a cure was eventually developed.
The early 25th century was a period of rapid technological progress for Venus. In 2401, the invention of Atmospheric Equilibrium Systems and SkyGuard deflectors enabled the creation of open spaces on Venusian platforms, significantly improving living conditions. Venus continued to expand its infrastructure with the completion of platform Ichinnorov in 2407, capable of housing over 10 million inhabitants, and platform Devana in 2442, with a capacity for 20 million. These platforms became symbols of Venus’s strength and unity.
This brings us to the early 26th century. Venus has solidified its position as a major power, but its foundation remains unstable. Constantly at odds with the older Terran powers, and lacking rich farmland, Venus is heavily dependent on supply lines from the Confederation and Restored League. For Venus to truly step into the sun as a superpower it must solve these challenges, one way, or the other...
