The reference to when is in a scraped cutscene. Since it's 2335 at the start of the game, and the scientist (who are usually trustworthy) in the cutscene said, and I quote "Since the discovery of subspace travel twenty two years ago, mankind has been able to travel and communicate over many star systems." Do the math and it comes out to about 2313 for the discovery of subspace. Earlier in the bible, it claims Prof. J. Whiteside discovered the nodes that are used for intra-system travel.
Now, if you want the skinny on FS1, go
here. Anything else, just ask.
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Warpstorm. Do it now.
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I know there is a method, but all I see is madness.