August 18 - The Pegasus II mission launches to complete the job that the Pegasus I mission attempted, but failed. Although the crew was not named at the launch, terrorist leader Magneto was spotted, as well as Dr. Jean Grey, a mutant activist, and a mutant dancer known as Zenith. [ link ] Stark Industries was involved in the efforts, although they sent no one up; instead, a new technology called 'repulsor technology' was used to help redirect one of the asteroid chunks. [ link ] The mission was dangerous, with one mutant member of the crew, a young woman named Jubilation Lee, dying to save the rest of the crew. [ link ] When the Pegasus II crew returned to earth, lighter one soul than they left us, it was to humanity's thanks as the disaster which threatened to end all human life was now averted. Included was a presidential pardon for perhaps the most infamous of mutants, Magneto. [ link]

June 9 - NASA announces that the Pegasus, a shuttle armed with a nuclear warhead, will be dispatched to divert the course of 24021-Loki, an M-class asteroid on collision course with earth. [ link ] It fails. [ link ] Rocks [ link ] fall; [ link ] but [ link ] few [ link ] die. [ link ] Over the next weeks and months, the world reels in newfound mortality, markets fluctuating [ link ], hedonism increasing [ link ]. Weather patterns change [ link ] and would-be saviors emerge. [ link ]

May 17 - Two are killed and an unknown number injured during a mutant-related tornado in Times Square. A new prototype armor, known as Sentinel, is used by the NYPD SWAT to stop the terrorist action. [ link ] When the Brotherhood shortly thereafter attacks a police station, injuring many, Magneto is rumored to have been killed by Sentinel armored police. [ link ] Nearly a month later, on June 21, Magneto is truly captured by the men and women protected by the Sentinel armor. [ link ]

April 24 - NASA announces there is no cause for alarm at the approach of spatial body 24021-Loki, an M-class asteroid on direct collision course with the earth anticipated to hit in February 2009. [ link ]

April 18 - X Protection, a New York based company, introduces 'QuikID,' a small, portable device that can identify mutants quickly with little more than a DNA sample. [ link ] Despite setbacks [ link ] in production, on April 27th, they announce the devices are to be used to help screen mutants from competition at the Beijing Olympics. [ link ] A number of athletes quietly retire rather than compete. [ link ]

January 7 - The NYPD publicly speculates that several Missing Persons cases may be connected, and that those kidnapped may all be mutants. [ link ] Two of the missing are declared dead after cremated remains are found in upstate New York. More known mutants are reported missing. [ link ] On February 6th, many of the missing are recovered from an organized ring. Police are second on the scene, following the tip of a group of vigilantes. [ link ] Over the next weeks, confirmed among those recovered are Vincent Lazzaro, a detective from the NYPD's Mutant Affairs division, [ link ] and ten or more other mutants. [ link ].

December 19 - Local Westchester Pastor Jack Brighton faces a slew of charges dealing with sexual misconduct with a minor in addition to new financial inquiries. He eventually resigns. [ link ]

October 17 - For the first time, scientists claim that the asteroid 24021-Loki is likely on a collision course with earth. [ link ] Further speculation makes the likelihood look like a certainty. [ link ]

August 2 - The NYPD sets up a cordon in Tompkins Square Park, and grainy videos begin circulating on YouTube purporting to be of a destroyed Manhattan. Although they are initially dismissed as hoaxes, [ link ] incidents over the course of the new several weeks begin to lend them credence. [ link ] [ link ] [ link ] On August 23, the government acknowledges the existence of a 'Rift' leading to a destroyed Manhattan [ link ] , and on September 12 they announce that it has closed without warning or explanation. [ link ]

May 9 - United Flight 839 en route from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia, is reported missing. [ link ] A month and a half later, on June 19, several survivors are found on an island in the South Pacific.

March 2 - In a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court of the United States declares X-ID and the Simmons Amendment, commonly know as mandatory registration, to be unconstitutional. [ link ]

December 17 - The Department of Homeland Security conducts a secretive raid on Xavier's 'mutant school' in Westchester. [ link ] [ link ]

November 7 - Nationwide elections take place, and the Republicans strengthen their control of both Senate and House. [ link ] [ link ]

October 25 - President Roger Lowe is killed in an attack on his convoy in Washington D.C. Early reports suggest mutant involvement. [ link ] [ link ] Vice President Henry Richards is sworn in as the President of the United States aboard Air Force One at 7:21 p.m. [ link ]

October 14 - Dr. Charles Xavier and Dr. Jean Grey announce the existence of a 'school for the gifted', a group which "includes mutants," in Westchester. Xavier's School is flooded by reporters and other curious sight-seers. [ link ]

October 1 - A massive electromagnetic pulse sweeps through most of Manhattan and parts of Queens and New Jersey. The affected areas are not only left without power, but all electronic equipment in the area no longer works.  [ link ] [ link ] [ link ] For a list of ongoing updates, see the forum. [ link ] Eventually, on October 15th, Magneto takes responsibility for the pulse. [ link ]

September 30 - The House Judiciary Committee begins its investigation into accusations, originally brought by Post reporter Harvey Rourke, that President Roger Lowe's campaign paid mutants to create incidents of violence across the country. [ link ] [ link ] [ link ] [ link ] [ link ] [ link ] [ link ]

July 17 - President Roger Lowe signs X-ID into law. In a surprise addition, the long-debated Sensitive Positions bill is also delivered to his desk and signed into law. Mutants have 30 days, until August 17, 2007,  to register in the MRA database. [ link ]

June 21 - A bomb goes off at 3:59 AM in the baggage processing area at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Over the course of the day, eleven more are found and defused. Three bombs are also discovered and defused in Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. Video surveillance indicates that mutants were probably involved. In the wake of the information, anti-mutant violence rises to dangerous proportions across the country. [ link ] [ link ] [ link ]

April 19 -  Worthington House, a safehouse for mutants in New York City, is attacked by masked men. The building is burnt to the ground. Two apparently separate groups of mutants combat the men on the scene.  [ link ] [ link ] [ link ] [ link ]

February 2 - Journalist Leah Canto, 'voice' of the Friends of Humanity, is executed. Video footage of her death spreads across the internet within hours. [ link ]

January 14 -  Erik Lensherr is taken into custody by the NYPD.  Lensherr escapes January 28. [ link ] [ link ]

November 9 - A rally for the activist group 'Purity' explodes in chaos when the Brotherhood of Mutants attacks. Thirty-two are declared dead, including four police officers who were at the rally.  [ link ] [ link ] [ link ] Video footage appears online the next day. [ link ]

September 8 - An attack on the Senate floor that involves some sort of gas and leaves one Senator (Andrew Lewis, D-Illinois) dead and several others injured. It ends the six-day filibuster on Mandatory Mutant Criminal Registration. [ link ]

August 9 - The first Mutant Registration centers open in fourteen major cities across the US. [ link ]

July 31 -  A correctional facility near New York City is broken into. Several mutants held there under high-security are released. Two guards were killed, and "many prisoners involved in mutant hate crimes . . . have been deliberately assassinated."  Witnesses place the terrorist Erik Lensherr, or 'Magneto,' at the site. [ link ]

February 25 - During a rally in Central Park, there is an assassination attempt on President Lowe's life. During the course of events, Dr. Jean Grey is revealed as a powerful mutant who is capable of blocking a bomb's explosion. Sabitha Melcross makes news by moving through the chaos to usher Lowe into a waiting helicopter.

January 20 - Roger Lowe is sworn in as President of the United States.