Once a British Colony and later dependency, the island state of Perseus, formerly known as Ben Madigan, was the site of a crashed Atlantean exploration vessel over 3000 years ago. The Pioneer, was one of the earliest and most privative warp drive enabled ships launched by the planetary nation of Atlantis and soon after that launch contact was lost with The Pioneer and search missions were called off after a further 3 months of intensive investigation.
Unknown to the Atlantean Space Federation the ship had travelled further than any other in history as the result of likely spacial abnormality, its engines soon failed and it dropped from warp into what we now know as the Sol System, crippled it scanned planets in the system and decided to crash land on the planet unknown to them as Earth. The ship left Atlantis with 300 persons on-board, it is unknown how many survived, though DNA analysis suggest approximately 81 survived.
The event remained undetected until the crash site was disturbed.
The island was first populated by Celtic settlers from what is now Royal Cytheria and established a port on the eastern coast of the island. In 200BC they broke away from Cytheria and established a new region called Lellan.
The island remained reality prosperous until 1360AD when European traders brought Black Plague to Lellan killing over 20,000. For years after the population declined until a second outbreak that killed 9000 led to many emigrating to Cytheria and surrounding Atlantica-Alba nations.
By 1530 the population stood at 5600, the trading port declined and economic hardship was rampant.
In 1610 a naval ship from Britain landed and immediately word was sent back to England of the possible benefit of the island. Over the next few years the old port was redeveloped and new ports on the western coasts were also developed. In 1620 the British Naval commanders imposed new civil laws on the island. The remaining native population angered by the moves of the 'foreign' forces revolted against the British presence, parts of the port town of Illford were burned and three navy vessel sunk. The acts of violence and disorder continued for over a year as reinforcements from England were sent. The navy forces landed in 1622 and brutally crushed the revolt. Over 600 natives fled to Royal Cytheria and a further 400 were executed. The remaining population pledged loyalty to the British crown and nation.
In 1640 Lellan had British rule imposed and the island was annexed as the newest colony of the British Empire, a protest from Royal Cytheria was ignored and fearing possible war with Britain, the Cytherian Royal Court dropped their objection . Work then commenced on rebuilding the island's towns and ports, he colony was renamed Ben Madigan.
In 1700 King William III sent the first Governor-General to run Ben Madigan, he oversaw the small port town of Illford become the primary naval base and port for England in the Atlantic and would serve as a base from which trade to the wider British colonies would use as well as the home of the fleet that would protect them.
In 1710 Ben Madigan was given a Royal Charter, schools could use 'Royal' in their name and they were allocated more tax revenue. A new and the first Royal residence was also constructed.
During the First World War Ben Madigan supplied soldiers to assist the war effort in Europe. At the outbreak of the second world war the colony was vital in continued production aircraft, ammunition shipping and production of food. It was beyond the reach of German bombers and as such do not suffer the fate of many of its sister industrial cities in Britain and Northern Ireland. The Atlantic fleet in Ben Madigan were ordered to protect the colony, the American colonies and provide protection for shipping using the Atlantic.
During quarrying work on Ben Madigan in the late 1940's. The remains of the craft had badly decayed with only small fragments remaining, However, Earth 3, the Atlantean probe placed in Earth's orbit detected foreign and suspect radiation not before seen on Earth. The probe started highly detailed scans and the results were transmitted to Atlantis and after detailed analysis it was determined the area was the site in which the Pioneer rested.
In 1953 a covert diplomatic and scientific team were sent to Ben Madigan and in private talks with Atlantean, Ben Madigan and British government officials it was agreed covert DNA analysis would be carried out to determine if any Atlantean's had survived and went on to help populate the island. The results proved conclusive, however the British refused to acknowledge any possible Atlantean involvement in the territory or allow further talks and denied the Atlantean governments request to annex Ben Madigan as a colony under Atlantean Protection.
In 1955 oil was discovered off the western coast of Ben Madigan and extraction and exports began in 1959. In 1960 the colony was given self-governing status as a dependant colony of the United Kingdom. Oil revenue and further developing trade with Atlantica-Alba brought great wealth to the colony and cities underwent redevelopment and enhancement.
In 1965 talks resumed after a change of government in the United Kingdom and Atlantis agreeing to some concessions and was prepared to pay the British Government of transfer of sovereignty, in effect the island was initially purchased by Atlantis. The island declared independence from the United Kingdom in 1971 which went unchallenged from London which was met by howls of protest for the opposition Conservative party. Work then began on small scale projects to improve the island's infrastructure, long neglected by the British.
In 1974 the official handover ceremony was conducted after the the population were finally informed of the situation and given the opportunity to decide on their future. The Atlantis government recognised their right to self-determination and a national referendum was held. It was a bitterly fought and campaign with the NO side stirring fears of a brutal foreign power making demands and how they would face global exclusion and ridicule . The YES campaign focused on the benefits of such a move, the investment, economic stability, security and increased freedoms while detailing the promise of fair representation and retention of many Ben Madigan institutions. TV screens and national press were flooded of images of Atlantis and her cities, their wealth, power, ideals and freedoms.
The YES campaign succeeded with the population voting 65.8% to 34.2% in favour of becoming the official Imperial Atlantean Colony of Perseus.
Soon after Atlantean officials spoke to the population in a speech broadcast live on prime-time TV and announced the 40 Year Plan.
The entire island was be transformed from its laws to the very streets the people walked. Over 800 billion would be spent over the 40 years on delivering wholesale development and upgrade to national infrastructure, new airports, ports, military facilities, public spaces, new buildings and a total upgrade of every mile of national utility infrastructure.
The Persusian Golden Age was to begin......