A century-long period of exploration and expansion resulting from the wartime development of technologies that made warp drives much cheaper, safer and faster to manufacture. Though it began during a war, it is remembered as a period of extended peace, marked by a widespread optimism among those parts of humanity who left Earth, and the war, behind. Its end was started by first contact with the Aradneans in 2316. Although diplomatic, cultural and economic ties were quickly and eagerly established by both species, the discovery of a huge swath of uncolonizable space started a spiral into conflict and violence that did not end until the Empire joined the UN and began contributing massive amounts of military assets to its peacekeeping forces. It began near the middle of the Two Century War, lasting from approximately 2230 to 2325.