Third Age

=Senate Definition= 15 standard years ago (or so) many pre-starborn civilisations within the galaxy gained access to information regarding space travel and gate technology. During the next 15 standard years most of them, through one means or another, successfully made their first explorations of their neighbouring star systems.

Also during the 15 years, the member civilisations of the Galactic Senate (and many more non-member Empires) discovered this strange coincidence among the more primitive civilisations of the galaxy and began investigations into the occurrence. Releasing that sooner, rather than later, the many primitive civilisations that seemed to have suddenly gained insight into warp travel would develop it in one form or another and begin exploring and partaking in galactic affairs, the Senate began discussions of how they could accommodate such an influx of new empires into the Senate (or worse, Gate-capable Empires ignoring the Senates edicts), as it would put a great strain upon the Senate and its member factions.

It was decided that tradition would be maintain and that each emergent Empire would be sent a Senate delegation explaining the Senate, its roles and laws, and inviting them to join the Senate. However, unlike common traditions, where each emergent empire would be given its own ceremony (as such things only rarely occurred), instead all of the emergent empire which agreed to join the Senate would be informed and invited to a mass ceremony to introduce them all, too each other and the Senate member empire as a whole. If the emergent empire agreed to join the Senate (the decision would need to be taken before the ceremonies date), then the Senate, as per tradition, would give the emergent empire the technology of instantaneous interstellar communication, as a gift and a means of communicating with the Senate and all of the Senate's major policies would be explained to the empire. As a mark of respect, friendship, and the inevitable changes that this new influx of factions would have on the galaxy, the Senate decided that the new year would mark the first year of the new age of the galaxy.

The Ceremony of Kin-Dee-Mar, as it has been titled, is due to take place on the final day of the final year of the last age. The Ceremony is due to end at the first stroke of new year, at which point, those empires which choose to join the Senate will assume their positions as members of the Senate.

=Common Definition= The Third Age began with the release of FTL Drive Technology by the Neo-Terran Directorate