Ceres Base

Ceres Base, alternatively known also as Ceres Station, represented the greatest accomplishment of Human race in colonizing space prior to the Ur-Quan Slave War. Built in 2112 on the asteroid Ceres, it was the largest and most remote installation at the time. The base was also the location where the Chenjesu appeared and initiated humanity's first extraterrestrial contact, in either 2112 or 2115.¹ This led to Earth's participation in the Alliance of Free Stars and the ensuing war with the Ur-Quan Hierarchy. During the war, Ceres Base became Earth's primary outpost in the Asteroid Belt. Unfortunately the Alliance lost the war. Once the Ur-Quan defeated the Chenjesu and Mmrnmhrm forces in 2134, they proceeded to methodically conquer the remaining Alliance races, including the Humans. It was not until a few weeks later, when Ceres Base fell to the Hierarchy, that humanity realized the impossibility of winning the war. Three days after the fall of this outpost, the Ur-Quan definitively conquered Earth.

Notes and references

¹Both Commander Hayes and the 3DO manual give the year of first contact as 2112. The PC manual states that Ceres Base was built in 2112 and the Chenjesu made first contact three years later.