Introduction

The chronological breakdown of the universe created for the Elite and Frontier computer games falls easily into three categories: the time of Elite, the time of Frontier and the time of Frontier: First Encounters (FFE).  As outlined in the “Unlocking the Frontier” document, these time frames each begin in the years 3125, 3200 and 3250 respectively.

This section of the site is my attempt to outline the apparent political climate in the galaxy during the three games' time frames and in the “lost years” between Elite and Frontier.

The Organisations

Elite introduces us to a single political entity which endures for the entirety of the game: the Galactic Co-Operative of Worlds.  The game’s manual and the accompanying novellas outline a far reaching organisation which has jurisdiction over 2040 worlds at the start of the commander’s career.  One reference in the manual mentions a “GalFederation”, which can be assumed to be the Galactic Federation we meet in Frontier.  This is one of the cornerstones of the discussion in “Unlocking the Frontier” which places Elite within the Frontier universe.

As a result of this hypothesis, it can be assumed that there are three main political bodies in the galaxy in 3125: GalCop, The Galactic Federation and the Empire  based on Achenar (usually called the Duval Empire, at least by me).  Comments in the Imprint novella (as well as a degree of common sense) reveal that there are other organisations in existence, but none of them have the power or influence of the “big three”.  One of these, it can be assumed, is the Alliance of Independent Worlds that has risen to power by the time of FFE.  Another primary power is, of course, the Thargoid race.

The advent of the Alliance in 3230 and its rise to prominence by 3250 indicates that the galaxy is in a state of flux as far as control of the systems is concerned.  It is reasonable to assume that organisations rise and fall with the passage of time.  As there is no GalCop in Frontier, it is reasonable to assume that it has ceased to exist by 3200.  The Alliance of FFE appears in very close proximity to the original seat of GalCop’s power (Lave), so it may be that many of the former GalCop worlds have joined this alliance or may have been instrumental in the talks that ended with its creation.

Relations between the majority of these powers is strained at best.  As discussed in “Unlocking the Frontier”, GalCop has effectively been excommunicated from both the Galactic Federation and the Duval Empire, primarily due to the violent secession of the Far Colonies (which would become the fledgling GalCop) from Federal rule in 2500-05.  The Federation and the Empire have many diplomatic and philosophical differences, but have never officially declared war on each other, and therefore have an uneasy truce.  The Alliance in FFE initially seems to be disregarded as a threat by either Federation or Empire.

This section of the site will discuss the political climate in each of the five listed organisations (GalCop, the Federation, the Empire, the Alliance and the Thargoids) throughout the time periods of the three titles and the missing years between Elite and Frontier.

Note: Just for reference, here are the distances to each major FFE organisation’s base system from Lave:

• Achenar (Empire): 32.23 LY
• Sol (Federation): 50.83 LY
• Alioth (Alliance): 83.76 LY