The Don System, a multi-planet resource and re-education hub, was established on 26 July 2789. Its discovery was a pivotal moment for the Red Sun Dominion, revealing crucial deuterium deposits vital for Spike Drive technology. The sole planet, Meristine, never developed independently; it was seized and terraformed with extreme prejudice, eradicating its burgeoning indigenous civilization. Fragmented records hint at a rich past of vibrant cultures and innovative technologies, now silenced by the Dominion's iron grip as Meristine became a center for forced labor.

For centuries, the Don System was dominated by a pervasive sense of dread and the relentless efficiency of Red Sun Dominion operations. Meristine served as a crucial source of vital minerals, fueling the Dominion's expansionist campaigns. This era of systematic oppression intensified with the implementation of the "Red Sun's Harvest" program on 21 September 4049. Grand Inquisitor Thorne aggressively expanded the penal colony, transforming it into a crucible for ideological purity. What began as punishment for dissidents escalated into a frantic, widespread dragnet, seizing anyone with anti-Dominion sentiments to make an example and fuel the empire's growth.

The Dominion's iron fist extended further on 02 December 4159, when the "Red Sun Imprisons Allies of The Killers of Hele" event occurred. Following the destruction of the Hele system, the perpetrators fled to the Felo system, allying with "The Gears," a black market smuggling operation. The Gears sought to destabilize the Red Sun Dominion, aiding the escape of these individuals during a Red Sun lockdown. In retaliation, the Dominion negotiated with the Trade Constellation to arrest anyone who had helped them. The subsequent investigation revealed The Gears' involvement, leading to the roundup and transportation of their affiliates, including Thorne Balesworth and Grel Toffa, to the Red Sun work camps on Meristine in the Don System.

However, the tide began to turn with the "Grel Escapes the Red Sun Dominion" on 11 January 4160. Insurgents Chaz Blarth and Yan infiltrated The Nexus Processing Hub, battling Red Sun Guards in a chaotic struggle to free Grel Toffa. Betrayed by supervisor Calista, they nonetheless secured the eccentric tinkerer and escaped across The Wastes in a stolen hauler. Grel's expertise was vital for completing the Malek's Call device, offering the resistance a fighting chance against the oppressive Red Sun Dominion.

The resistance's offensive continued swiftly on 14 January 4160, with "The Cacophony of the Call." Insurgents triggered a sonic device, summoning a massive swarm of Maleks to Work Camp A2. This overwhelming force shattered Red Sun defenses and incited a widespread prison riot, further destabilizing Dominion control. Just two days later, on 16 January 4160, "The Meristine Ignition" marked a daring, two-pronged assault. Fugitives, allied with local resistance, unleashed a bio-engineered insectoid swarm and assassinated the Warden. With Seren Dannis's crucial help, they detonated the Meristine Ignition, destroying a vital spaceport and crippling Dominion logistics.

This audacious act ignited a wider rebellion across Meristine. While it crippled Dominion operations, it also sparked anarchy and promised brutal retaliation. The insurgent attacks on Meristine have temporarily interrupted the crucial flow of osmium out of the system, signaling a significant blow to the Red Sun Dominion's resource supply.