at the start of the game, the federation is the latest in a line of earth based governments, succeeding the colonial council. the first explorers from earth to go faster than the speed of light used devices known as hypergates, developed by omata kane. humans settled other habitable planets and quickly formed an organization known as the colonial council. the council made first contact with the vell-os, a group of telepathic humans who had left earth centuries before, and benefited from their advanced technology. eventually a breakaway group of humans left the colonial council and settled planets beyond the star polaris, taking that name for their people. when the council recontacted the polaris, it became clear that they would not tolerate any interference from the council. when the council sent a diplomatic delegation, the polaris viewed it and its small military escort as a precursor to invasion and destroyed it, prompting the council to declare war on the polaris. the vell-os opposed this war, and destroyed the council's invasion fleet before it reached polaris space. a fifty year long war then broke out between the council and the vell-os. the vell-os, being peaceful in nature, eventually surrendered to avoid further bloodshed and were enslaved by mainstream humanity. until they decided to sue for peace the vell-os were easily holding their own against the more numerous council forces.