La Oruga left Earth's orbit at some point in the 22nd century.

To denote the landmark occasion, there was a calendar reform leading to the launch year being called 0 TE (Transit Era). Additional calendar changes include adapting the calendar to have even numbers of days per month, based on the year length of Mariposa, and making the day cycle match that of Mariposa.

In the year 38 TE, sensors on La Oruga detected signs of intelligent life on Mariposa. The Directorate did its best to suppress this knowledge, which was helped by the scientists who discovered it being extremely pro-Directorate.

Ironically, both the Directorate and Rift refer to this knowledge by the same name - the Mariposan Secret.

Every 25 years TE, the Founders have a celebration for their continued survival, as well as the mission and hope for humanity.

The first one is particularly exciting, as is the fourth at 100 TE, as there is a lot of joy. Later ones are marred with social tension depending on how well-known the Mariposan Secret is at that point in time.