In the late 21st century, after several Third World powers engaged in a limited nuclear exchange, multi-national corporations took over the division and parceling out of Earth’s resources. Within a short time, corporations and conglomerates had no choice but to move out into space.

Nippon International constructed a permanent mining outpost on Luna and the terraforming of Mars began by Creations Unlimited. Hiflite Industries developed the first Bussard Ramjet space vessel that could achieve a maximum velocity of one percent of light speed.

When Nippon International discovered a number of asteroids rich in rare ores and minerals, hostilities broke out between it and several other corporations in a dispute over ownership of a mountain-sized asteroid.
The hostilities were quelled by the formation of the Sol 9 Commonwealth, an international governing body which called for the peaceful and cooperative exploration of the Solar System.

A fusion-reaction drive was made safe and feasible by Hiflite Industries and space vessels were able to travel at five percent of light speed. The exploration and exploitation of the furthermost planets in the Solar System accelerated. When more hostilities broke out among competing corporations, the Commonwealth established the Star Rangers Corps. By the end of the 22nd century, three corporations dominated almost all trade in the Solar System: Nippon, now calling itself Nippon Interstellar, Tactron and Utopia Import.

Also around this time, BioTek Industries achieved a breakthrough in genetic engineering—they developed the TH-1 series of TransHumans, synthetic humans. The TransHumans  were just the first examples biological products created by BioTek, owned by the Chane family. Many others followed over the decades, including the protosymbiotes.

Hiflite Industries patented the ion drive which powered ships to a maximum velocity of 20 percent of light speed. Exploration of extrasolar space commenced and the first extraterrestrial contact was made with the pacifistic Saideem and the militaristic Arcturans. The Saideem were the first to tell the Terrans about the long-dead race known as the Skril who had dominated the galaxy eons before.

The first evidence of the Kraith Tyranny was discovered when a manned probe dispatched to the Orion Spur was captured. The Kraith were a warrior race with a technology almost matching that of the Commonwealth. They ruled many planets in the Orion Spur, where hundreds of the worlds and moons were perfectly suited for human habitation and colonization.

Hiflite harnessed the qualities of geon packets and they created the first generation of geon-drive space vessels that traveled at 25 percent of the speed of light. When more exploratory probes were sent into the Orion Spur, confrontations between the encroaching corporation survey ships and the Kraith Tyranny increased.

In the late 23rd century, war broke out between the Kraith Tyranny and the Commonwealth. The Arcturans joined the fight on the side of the Commonwealth. When the war finally came to an end over 20 years later, the few surviving Kraith committed suicide rather than surrender to invaders.

With the defeat of the Kraith, corporate expansion into the Orion Spur increased at a furious pace. Geon drive starships were upgraded to 50 percent of the speed of light. Many planets in the Orion Spur were claimed by various companies and over the next century, the Sol 9 Commonwealth lost most of its governing influence as the corporations relocated their central operations to the Spur.

Amicus, a Spur planet established during the war as a supply depot for Commonwealth and corporate forces, declared itself a Freeworld. As Amicus’s private military was quite formidable, their declaration of independence was not opposed. A mysterious figure known only as Lord Rogue set himself up as the titular ruler of the planet.

A group of disaffected “corporate outcasts” began preying on corporation shipping and outposts. Although they attacked only corporate trade lanes and colonies, the so-called “Death Hawks” intended to foment insurrection throughout the Spur. For over a decade, the Death Hawks were the terror of the spaceways.

But in 2485, the Death Hawks were wiped out by a force of mercenaries, betrayed by traitors within their own organization.

Shortly afterward, rumors began circulating of the sole survivor who took the name of the marauders as his own as he tracked down and exacted vengeance on the betrayers. He was never apprehended.
In 2488, the man calling himself Death Hawk set up a salvage business on Amicus, buying an outdated but reliable transport ship. There, he quickly built a reputation as a man who could be hired, but never bought…