Untitled sci/fi trilogy
Book one; In the 21st century exploration of space stopped cold as the American government became the rulers of the world. Over the next thousand years or so, a global state of conformity took hold.
One language, one culture, one religion, etc. The Republic of Earth.
The ruling class lives increasingly pampered lives in fortified towers, while the vast majority of humanity starves and suffocates in a nightmare world below them.
In the 32nd century the famine finaly starts to affect the rulers... who finaly admit that the only way to survive is to expand into space.
Book two; In the 34th century The Republic of Earth has colonized a few dozen worlds, and confidently waves the lack of aliens as proof that their god made the universe just for humans.
Shortly after this, a civilization is discovered on a newly surveyed world. Primative humanoid creatures who build citys, and who are just begining to use crude metals. The ensuing genocide is hailed as a heroic struggle to save humanity from "devils".
Shortly after this another civilization is discovered, and they are space explorers. Again the republic embarks on genocide, but this time it backfires. The new "devils" are not so easily out-classed. A seemingly hopeless war drags on for decades, and consumes the resources of many worlds. Finaly some of the more peripheral worlds decide to leave the republic and seek peace. The republic cannot spare the ships or troops to assert dominance over the breakaway worlds, but promises dire punishment as soon as the "devils" are exterminated.
Book three; In the 36th century. Deep in the periphery. The world of Pax is governed by a council of elected officials who appoint a chancellor to oversee everything. The newest chancellor is a former deputy minister of trade, Alice Fimborgue.
The republic is remembered as a failure that could only sustain itself through oppression and war. The so-called "devils" that the republic hated, have a permanent embassy on Pax. Over a dozen worlds make up the Periphery, and they opperate as a loose confederacy that squabbles incessantly, and has occassional small wars between member worlds... but maintains a workable status-quo.
This is as far as I've got.