Early Years Era (SFU)

2479 to 2519

2479

The Tholians arrive in the Milky Way galaxy. Although the region had been explored and claimed by the Klingons a few years earlier, no Klingon ships were present at the time, so the Tholians remained undetected.^[1]
The Federation launches the first of the Republic class cruisers and begins refitting the older Province class cruisers with tactical warp drive.^[1]

At this time, most empires have developed tractor beams that can function in a 360° arc.^[1]

The First Klingon-Kzinti War ends, with the Klingons capturing three key planets.^[1]

The Tholians make first contact with the Klingons and establish the borders of the Holdfast, sparking the first of several vicious border wars, which lasts for two years. The Klingons suffer heavy losses, and the Tholians wipe out three Klingon colonies, the largest of which, Kalesta, was intended as a jumping-off point for a conquest of the Romulans.^[1]
Federation Marine Major General Kripney delivers the famous report, "Case for Primary Contact Action Teams in Novel Contact Environments" to Star Fleet Command.^[1]

Having defeated the Kzinti, the Klingons attack the Hydrans, sparking the Second Hydran-Klingon War, which the Klingons refer to as the War of Retribution, and the Hydrans call the War of Infamy.^[1]
The Lyrans attack the collapsing Hydran border, sparking the Third Hydran-Lyran War, taking advantage of the weakening of the Hydran defenses in the wake of the Klingons' attacks.^[1]
The Tholians make first contact with the Federation.^[1]
In the Federation, Tumball Massi is placed in charge of the Primary Contact program; this is the gensis of the later Prime Teams.^[1]

First contact occurs between the Klingon Empire and the United Federation of Planets, although the Federation worlds were aware of the Klingons due to earlier encounters by the Vulcans. The Klingons — already embroiled in a war with the Hydrans, a border conflict with the Tholians, and watching the Kzinti border for renewed hostilities — decide not to provoke this new adversary, but instead send Klingon civilians and diplomats to hold trade negotiations and discuss cooperation treaties. The initial friendly terms last for several years, but become increasingly strained as both sides establish colonies in strategic locations in the relatively unexplored territory between the two powers.^[1]
The Gorn successfully blockade the Paravian homeworld, destroying all orbital and space-related facilities, and begin hunting down all surviving Paravian ships. Some Paravians escape to the Omega Octant. The Gorn are unwilling to annex the Paravian territory, however, and instead set up a Trusteeship Zone; in theory, this territory will be returned to the Paravians once they agree to peacefully coexist.^[1]

Klingon forces destroy the Hydran fleet and colonies, committing many atrocities in the process. All Hydran ships larger than police corvettes are destroyed, and the Hydran Kingom is reduced to a Klingon client state. The Klingons establish governors over Hydran planets, but due to the difference in atmospheres, they are restricted to orbiting satellite bases and never able to effectively control the populace directly.^[1]

The First Federation-Kzinti War erupts when the Kzinti attack. The Klingons provide the Federation with useful intelligence and tactical advice, and for a few years Klingon officers are even honored guests aboard Federation cruisers fighting the Kzinti. The Klingons, however, expect to eventually fight the Federation, just as they have fought all of their neighbors, but a lack of bases and supply outposts along the Federation border, coupled with continued hostilities with their other neighbors, would make an attack on the Federation inadvisable at this point.^[1]
Under a great deal of pressure, the Federation Council agrees to allow each member planet to keep a squadron of older ships — refitted with tactical warp drive, phasers, and photon torpedoes — for use as system defense pickets. By 2513, these squadrons will evolve into the Federation National Guard.^[1]
The Second Klingon-Lyran War begins due to arguments over how to divide the Hydran Kingdom. In the confusion, the Hydran colonies Altroth, Minxitith, and Krooth are never found or occupied by the Klingons or Lyrans. The Hydran merchant guilds maintain the monarchy through Prince S'Lenthna, though they hold all real power and keep the prince as a figurehead to rally the Hydran people. They begin converting merchant shipyards to produce new warships.^[1]
The Romulans develop new plasma weapons and an early version of the cloaking device.^[1]

The Kzinti capture several Federation planets.^[1]
The Romulans attack the Tholians in order to test their new weapons, but abandon the "First Romulan-Tholian War" in less than a year.^[1]

The Third Gorn-Romulan War begins with a Romulan attack. The Romulans, with their new technology, drive deep into Gorn territory, despite serious disadvantages in direct combat. Over the next 35 years, the Romulans will plunder their own resources in funding wars of aggression using inferior ships, reducing the Empire to near poverty.^[1]
Civil wars erupt in the Hydran "Lost Colonies" as Prince S'Lenthna tries to break the merchant guilds' power.^[1]

The Klingons and Lyrans settle their differences through negotiation, which the Klingons embrace because they plan to rid the galaxy of the "Tholian Menace." The Klingons and Lyrans become firm allies over the next decade.^[1]
The Federation begins a counter-offensive to regain Kzinti-occupied territory.^[1]
The Romulans make their greatest gains into Gorn territory as the Gorn rush the first of their new tactical warp cruisers into service.^[1]

The Great Klingon-Tholian War begins; it lasts ten years and accomplishes nothing.^[1]
The First Federation-Kzinti War ends, with the Federation frontier re-established at its original location, creating a temporary border zone.^[1]
A Federation Primary Contact Team — the Wraiths — encounter energy creatures on Vetrised IV.^[1]
The last known battle between Gorn ships and Paravian raiders occurs at this time outside of the Blockade.^[1]

A Sun Snake plunges into the Paravians' home star, causing it to go nova, effectively driving the Paravian species to extinction within the Alpha Octant. The Gorn are overcome with shock, shame, and guilt.^[1]

The Third Gorn-Romulan War ends as the Gorn drive the Romulans back to the original border and, suffering from guilt over the fate of the Paravians, refuse to advance beyond it. The Romulans continue their attacks, raids, and harassment along the border at varying levesl for the next 24 years, often blaming the attacks on "privateers," denying that they were sanctioned by the government.^[1]