Killzone 2: Back Story

This era marks the heights of Vektan/Helghan civilization – before the dark days of the coming war.

1. THE PLATINUM AGE (2156-2190)

Free to tax and invest in their colonies as they wish, a period of runaway economic and industrial growth grips the Helghan Administration’s two worlds. The automated refineries on Helghan are expanded and developed; the orbital shipyard becomes the largest orbital structure outside the Terran system.

The Helghan system is a ‘hub’ system that connects Earth to her colonies – every ship MUST travel through it to get anywhere. The Helghan Administration begins to charge each ship for the privilege. Allegedly a fee for traffic control, customs, search and rescue and other such services, it is actually a thinly disguised tariff upon all trade in space. Helghan-based ships are granted a ‘residence permit’ that frees them from many charges, encouraging some shipping companies to relocate.

2. TENSIONS (2198)

The UCN grows concerned at the increasing domination that Helghan exerts over star travel and space trade, areas which were traditionally under UCN control. They also become frustrated that the Helghan are creating vast wealth off the backs of colonial endeavors that the UCN itself has underwritten. In response, it levies stricter controls and tariffs on all space traffic, and taxes the colonies more heavily than ever before. The money is used to expand the UCA, with the UCA Navy receiving the bulk of the new budget. For the first time the UCA Navy develops large scale troop transports and ‘Heavy Cruisers’ – warships principally designed to smash the ISA fleets of the outer colonies and invade them by force.

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As part of these new regulations, several privileges granted to the Helghan Administration as part of the Helghan/Vektan Purchase are rescinded; specifically, the right to a large home fleet and tariffs on shipping. The Helghan Administration refuses, but does agree to high-level talks on a compromise solution. Back home, however, the wealthy people of Vekta and the powerful companies in orbit around Helghan pressure the Helghan Administration not to budge on the issues of tariffs or self-defense.

3. THE SECESSION (2199)

Despite multiple attempts to negotiate a settlement, the talks between the Helghan Administration and Earth fail to bring a mutually satisfactory resolution. Earth flat out demands compliance from the Helghan Administration, and the Helghan Administration responds by formally seceding from the UCN, declaring itself an independent colony.

The UCN considers retaliation by slamming an embargo on all trade with Helghan, but this is deemed to be counterproductive. The Helghan could simply prevent trade ships from reaching Earth, in the knowledge that Earth cannot survive for any length of time without colonial resources. The decision is made to send a powerful UCA Navy fleet to the Helghan system, to seize control of the navigation points between the Colonies and Earth. Protecting the flow of colonial trade to Earth would also allow a blockade of Helghan by the UCN, and bring this matter to resolution.

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Next Page: First Extrasolar War