A History of the Whoniverse

The Thirtieth Century (2901-3000)

By the beginning of this century, the empire had grown corrupt. Species-ism was rife, and human oppression of other species was seen as perfectly normal. The Empress had, unknown to most of the Empire's subjects, become the central part of Centcomp, the Great World Computer. Artificial and imported food was the norm on Earth, as arable land was routinely used for housing. The vast majority of Terran species had died out. Rats [and other vermin] were the only creatures that still survived. Pollution was rife and half the population now lived in the vast Overcities that covered the Earth's land surface and the Seacities above the oceans. The poor and powerless were forced to live in the squalid undertown. The system of Vigilant space defence systems protected Earth from any potential alien attack, though it was inconceivable that the Imperial Landsknechte would allow a hostile force to come anywhere near Earth's sector.

The Empire was governed by a feudal system, using medieval European titles. Thus, on Earth, a Baron controlled a few hundred levels of an Overcity. Each Overcity (covering an area equivalent to a one of the larger 20th Century European states) was ruled by a Viscount. A Count or Countess ruled about 10 cities, whilst Earth itself was ruled by a Marquess or Marquessa. The Duke Marmion controlled Earth's Solar System, and everybody was ultimately answerable to the Empress, or Centcomp. The population within an Overcity also operated on hierarchical lines - subjects were only allowed to access levels below the one they lived on, and the richer or more important you were, the higher you lived. Apartments got larger with each level.

There were, however, several systems operating in parallel with the feudal system. The Order of Adjudicators administered Imperial Justice independently of the particular wishes of the nobility in their area. They could access any level of the Overcities they worked in. The Imperial Landsknechte also had considerable autonomy from the feudal lords. Both, however, were subject to the wishes of the Divine Empress.

This is the background to Original Sin and So Vile A Sin.

2905

Chris Cwej's father graduates from Ponten IV and joins the Adjudicators, following a family tradition dating back to the founding of the Adjudicators.

Original Sin (page 160).

2920

The Nerva Beacon finishes its assignment. The beacon is used for many other activities over the next few millennia.

Nerva is on a 30-year assignment in Revenge of the Cybermen. As it is still in good condition thousands of years later in The Ark in Space, it is probably in use throughout the gap, and thus well maintained.

2935

Roslyn Sarah Inyathi Forrester is born.

Roz's age is given as 'early 40s' in Just War, page 150. The exact date is from a Virgin Books' discussion document.

2945

The Data Protection act of 2820 is amended.

Original Sin (page 136).

By this time, the Imperial Wars of Acquisition are well underway. Although no serious Alien forces attack Earth, there are occasional raids. Amongst the races crushed are the Hith.

In Original Sin, we learn that Homeless Forsaken and Waiting for Justice's ILPIN numbers were issued on Tuesday 5th June 2955, though this is supposed to have been four to five years ago (pages 86 & 287). The raids are mentioned on page 127.

Fenn Martle is squired to Chistopher Cwej's father for a few years.

Original Sin (page 161) - no date is given for this event.

2954

Christopher Rodamonte Cwej is born in Spaceport 9 Overcity, Earth. His mother will sit him in front of a Schlock-vid instead of telling him nursery rhymes.

Original Sin. This is confirmed in Head Games (page 205). The Schlock-vid bit is from Lungbarrow page 44 (chapter 3 page 11).

2955

The Mordee excavation discovers two pages of Osterling's The Good Soldiers.

We see these pages on page 15 of Theatre of War.

Humanity discovers anti-magnetic cohesion.

A thousand years after Jo was born, according to The Carnival of Monsters.

2957

Rosalyn Forrester joins the Adjudicators. She is squired to Fenn Martle. She becomes his partner for a period of 15 years, and he saves her life 5 times.

Original Sin (pages 32 & 219).

The Empire commits Genocide on Tractis. The Humans wanted mineral rights on the planet, which they could have acquired for nothing. They also wanted to grow drugs like coffee, pixirin, and opium and sell them back to the Tractites at extortionate prices. A few Tractites said no, refusing to become slaves, and the humans sent drug-fuelled troops to kill the entire, peaceful, population.

According to Genocide pages 67-72, 129-133, 201-222. Mauvril says that the Tractites' first time jump only took them back a thousand years - clearly arriving not long before 1997. I have, therefore, placed this not long before the break-up of the Empire.

The Doctor manages to arrange for Tractis to become, in effect, independent. The new governor, Earth Reptile Menarc, arranges for a freely elected planetary council. However, Earth emigrants form a separatist party, and assassinate members of the council. The Empire, having begun to fall apart, tries and fails to restore order.

As shown in Genocide (pages 273-275). This is shortly before the Earth Empire begins to fall apart. However, the Empress is far more mobile and verbose - though just as old - as in Original Sin, so it could be earlier.

2972

Soon after the Hith Pacification, Roz eats a man's ident when he throws a Ditz off a walkway.

Original Sin pages 32-33.

2973

The Primary Cressida Document - Suppressed Texts of the Vatican Library is published by Mysteria Press.

The date is given in Short Trips Companions: Apocrypha Bipedium, page 35.