 However, the Psychotechnic Institute is not revived, and, in its absence, technic civilization begins a slow and steady descent into extremism which results in a new dark age starting in the 24th century.The Second Dark Ages lift in the 27th century, followed by the discovery of a form of faster-than-light travel that leads to interstellar colonization and commerce, and the creation of the Stellar Union and its enforcement agency, the Coordination Service.Eleven of the stories in the Psychotechnic League series take place before the Second Dark Ages, and eleven take place after; none take place during the Second Dark Ages.