The end of all things is nigh. Not that the Complex knew it.
For a long time worlds had been mysteriously "freezing"; all time stopped or slowed on that one world. There was no pattern to it, no right or wrong, no reason. One day, the world would be a good place, a functioning, beautiful place, and the next it was smouldering with heat and all time paused. Researchers sent to these worlds could find nothing to explain why this happened.
Then one day, the Complex was on fire.
And the next, time had abandoned its endless march.
This happened in 15b, 190200339, also known as the 21st centuary in most branches. No one is quite sure how long it lasted, but it is thought to be around ten years.
Equally, no one sure how the problem was resolved, either.