[center][img]https://orig00.deviantart.net/e623/f/2013/016/0/9/united_system_of_sol_roundel_by_wmediaindustries-d5rr0km.png[/img][/center][center][h2]✶ 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 ✶[/h2][/center][center]"🇳🇺🇲🇶🇺🇦🇲 🇴🇧🇱🇮🇻🇮🇸🇨🇦🇷 🇪🇽 🇶🇺🇦 🇻🇪🇳🇮🇸🇹🇮"[/center][hr]Private space companies, like SpaceX and Boeing, rose to the task of exploring the stars while the world's space agencies fell into the red tape of bureaucracy. And in the year 2022, SpaceX sent a crew of six astronauts to space in the hopes of setting foot on Mars. It was a landmark moment in human history and began the colonization of Mars. In a period of ten years, SpaceX managed to colonized the entire Gale Crater with a population of one hundred and fifteen astronauts. The major space agencies partnered up with SpaceX to find ways in improving Primus (the name of the colony). Meanwhile, the three major space agencies (NASA, Roscosmos, and CNSA) worked on colonizing Luna, Earth's moon. Horizon was founded on the Shackleton Crater two years after SpaceX landed on Mars with a population of twenty-two. Five years later, that population grew to two hundred. Both Horizon and Primus were proof that humanity was ready for the stars. 

On Earth, the successful reports of Horizon and Primus led to the Space Revolution aka the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The United States of America, People's Republic of China, and Russia Federation took advantage of it and expanded in wealth and power. The European Union, meanwhile, was still suffering for Britain and Italy's departure for the organization. Some Central European countries were also considering leaving the EU behind in light of the ongoing Migration Crisis. And many were unhappy with the Union's declaration that America was unreliable. Fearful of a collapse, France and Germany tried to establish control with the remaining members in uniting. The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, and Portugal signed the Treaty of Strasbourg with France and Germany in forming the Western European Union. Austria joined a year later. 

Meanwhile, the three Scandinavian nations formed the Nordic Federation shortly after the disbandment of the European Union. Iceland joined three months later and Finland joined five years later. In Central Europe, a series of alliances were formed and disbanded in a period of ten years. The Polish–Czechoslovak confederation was the successful union that eventually became Międzymorze. It was in response to pressures from both the Russians and Western Europeans. Then, the Baltic states joined the confederation two years later with fears of a Russian invasion. Unlike those countries, the rest didn't fade well. The Balkan countries, for example, immediately were in a state of war. Serbia went to war with Albania over the successful joint state with Kosovo. Soon enough, Bosnia, Croatia, and Montenegro joined against Serbia for their attempt at creating a "Greater Serbia." Greece were on Serbia's side because they were granted land in Albania. The fighting lasted for four years until an armistice was signed by both sides. So far, the region hasn't violated it yet but tensions are rising.

Russia Federation saw the downfall of the European Union as a chance of expanding westward. Ukraine was annexed shortly after the formation of the Western European Union despite protest for America. About a month after the annexation, Russia attempted to stage a coup in an attempt to collapse Międzymorze. However, they were exposed for funding nationalist and communist rebel groups. Soon after, they signed an defense pact with the Nordic Federation to prepare for a possible Russian invasion. Fifteen years passed with both sides waiting for their moment to strike. And one side was done waiting. In July, Międzymorze forces exchanged gunfire with Russian forces stationed in Kaliningrad. With the help from the Nordic navy, the Russians surrendered after sixteen hours of fighting. 

World War II had begun. But, it wasn't world ending.

Międzymorze and Nordic Federation begun pushing into the heartland of Russia, hoping to end the war before winter. The Western European Union sided with both Międzymorze and Nordic Federation by attempting to blockade and invade Crimea. Behind the scenes, the United States of America convinced China to not intervene by allowing them control of the West China Sea and other agreements in the Washington Agreement. Right after signing the agreements, the Americans invaded Siberia by air and sea with help from the Japanese and Koreans. However, the Russians kept on fighting into the winter and took advantage. Once the snow melted away, one million and seven hundred soldiers for the Alliance were dead. The Russians lost the same amount of men, but they weren't willing to give up. World War III kept on going for six years with no significant gains by both sides until the Alliance forces encircled Moscow. 

The Battle of Moscow lasted seven months until the remaining Russian forces ordered the bombardment of the entire city. The Alliance forces weren't prepared for the bombardment resulting in five thousand casualties. It signaled the end of World War III. And on August fifth, the Russian Federation surrendered to Western European Union forces in the hopes of healing. In total, the third World War resulted in eight hundred million casualties within six years of fighting. Now, there was chance for peace. Treaty of Warsaw was signed on November 22nd that split the Russia Federation into pieces. It was put into effective on the New Year of the following year. Reconstruction begun across parts of the world affected.

The United States of America and the People's Republic of China weren't active participants of the Third World War but benefited greatly for it. The Third Cold War shortly begun after the signing of the treaty and kept on getting hotter. Then out of nowhere, SpaceX found a massive construction far for Pluto and investigated it. Everyone was paying attention to the situation as more space companies and agencies joined the investigation. Suddenly, it activated for a split second causing a few dozen vessels to disappear. Nobody ever heard for them again. Everyone tried to reactive it but it laid dormant for decades. While it stood there quiet, the Solar System was being filled with humans for dozens of government controlled and private space companies. Eventually, everybody knew that it was time to expand beyond the Solar System.

The Alpha Centauri system was the next target for colonization. And then it was the Trappist system. Undoubtedly, their growth gained some attention by the galactic community. Soon enough, they introduced themselves to the humans.