Great War (Branding)

The Great War, also known as the Epic War, is an ongoing interstellar conflict between the Peacekeeper Alliance and the Warlord Pact. It is the largest and bloodiest conflict in the history of the known galaxy, directly or indirectly involving over thirty sovereign states and being responsible for the deaths of billions of soldiers and civilians, the total collapse of several governments, and the ruination of numerous worlds, most infamously Norsus, the former homeworld of the Rach.

The Rach founded the Peacekeeper Alliance to defeat the Margan Empire and protect empires that could not protect themselves. The Margan then reached out to the Zaretian Monarchy to propose an alliance. Rach agents attempted to assassinate King Breys and High Priestess Massachiah but failed, ironically bringing the two powers together. The new alliance, the Warlord Pact, launched a counterattack against the Peacekeepers, who suffered several quick defeats, particularly the Rach, who were unprepared for large-scale warfare. Several nations would join both sides over the next three years, but the Pact maintained an advantage over Allied forces. In the fourth year of the war, the Empire of Diablos joined the Peacekeepers and spearheaded Operation Stormbreaker. Though the Warlords suffered grievous losses, the Peacekeepers were forced to call off the offensive as it ground to a halt. The next year, the Warlords counterattacked and ultimately invaded Norsus. At the climax of the battle, the Rach retreated into Abyssal Space. The Margan pursued their hated enemy, and both vanished for the next ten years, leaving their allies to fight on their own.

During what would become known as the Interim Era, the Warlords would be forced on the defensive. The Karahotdoum committed military support to the Peacekeepers in the year following Norsus while the Nuverian Union launched an invasion of the Zaretian Monarchy. The Telkevon initiated the Keros Offensive into Diab space, but the operation would end in disaster at the Battle of Helia three years later. The Saracin Empire dissolved following the assassination of Emperor Saracin IX while the Necraal succumbed to civil war and had much of their empire cut off by an ion storm. In the 13th year of the War, Peacekeeper forces conquered Nu-Zartar, though the Telkevon successfully repelled Peacekeeper forces from their territory.

The Rach returned to the galaxy in the 15th year of the war and attempted to recapture Norsus. Peacekeeper forces were nearly successful but were routed following the return of the Margan weeks later. The return of the Dynasties revitalized the Pact, who began to reclaim territories long lost to the Peacekeepers, and brought about the Neutrality Crisis as the Red Rose began a push into neutral space. The ion storms blanketing Necraal space soon dissipated, allowing the Sovereignty to rejoin the war in force in time for the Pact to begin a new offensive to drive out the Peacekeepers from Zaretian space, which would erupt into civil war between Peacekeeper and Warlord aligned forces. Elsewhere, the Telkevon would push into a sector contested with the Holy Nepharian Empire, opening an entirely new theatre of operations.

Despite the enormous material and manpower costs of the war, the conflict continues to drag onward even after 17 years of nonstop fighting which has continued to see the war grow larger and larger, dragging more and more nations into the bloody, inconclusive struggle.

Destruction of the Seraphim Dynasty
The Seraphim Dynasty was one of the oldest of the Margan Dynasties alongside the Holy and Golden Blade Dynasties. They were best known for their grandiose theatrics and incredible egos; they truly saw themselves as divine beings, and believed that the Margan people had a glorious future ahead of them. This mentality carried over to the battlefield, where commanders would give their troops bombastic speeches and every conflict was viewed as a grand spectacle for all to see. Though zealously loyal to the Holy Goal for centuries, they began to stray from it when they noticed that lesser races were seeing them as literal gods and had begun to worship the Margan. Jisa, the Matriarch of the Seraphim, decided to allow these races to live so long as they served the Margan and paid them tribute. The Matriarch planned to exterminate the servants when the Margan's campaign of genocide came to an end, but for the time being, relished in the possibilities they brought.

When the other Dynasties discovered what the Seraphim had done, they were outraged, denouncing the dynasty for straying from the Margan's teachings. The Seraphim argued that the slaves were little more than temporary allies and that they posed no threat. The debate was settled when Li-Hosan, Matriarch of the Golden Blade, suggested eliminating the Seraphim before they went rogue. The Dynasties then all simultaneously attacked the Seraphim fleet, overwhelming them and leaving no survivors. When the Matriarchs confronted Jisa face to face, they offered her a chance to repent. She refused, and instead impaled herself on Li-Hosan's blade. The remains of the Seraphim fleet were left to drift through space, some of it falling unto nearby planets as artificial meteors.

The betrayal and subsequent annihilation of the Seraphim Dynasty did little to stifle the Margan's intense paranoia; in fact, it worsened it, as the Margan now knew that they not only had threats on the outside, but also within. Margan now face intense scrutiny if they show any signs of straying from the path, and in modern times, such individuals will more often than not be quietly killed by groups such as Confessors and the Mask of Ferivus.

Breys' Coup
The Zaretian Monarchy had undergone drastic reforms throughout the reign of King Moscassin, who sought to pull the Zaretians away from their brutal and militaristic tendencies. The king abolished slavery, sough peaceful diplomacy with foreign powers, and reduced the size of the military to the point that Breys was the only general left. These reforms had a negative impact on the economy, which was built upon the military and the slave trade, and were deeply unpopular with the general populace, which had long grown accustomed to the Monarchy's aggressive authoritarianism. General Breys, promising that he would bring back the glory days of the Monarchy if he was crowned king, instigated a coup and overthrew Moscassin, who was banished into exile. Breys would prove to be a ruthless dictator willing to purge anyone who sought to challenge his rule, but his reforms, which included the reintroduction of slavery and the rearmament of the military, brought prosperity back to the Monarchy.

Moscassin would continue to combat Breys' rule in a guerilla campaign waged across Zaretian space, but while his efforts were a hindrance, they were unable to seriously jeopardize Breys, who soon began a period of conquest that would bring the Monarchy into war with many neighboring empires, notably the Madarians and the Spytrus, whose homeworld would eventually fall to the Monarchy, who took the inhabitants as slaves.

First appearance of the Xenochytrids
Years before the onset of the war, the Xenochytrids made their first recorded appearance in the region when a spore of Hive Fafnir landed on a planet rich in biomass. The planet's inhabitants, unaware of the Biomatter's true nature, recovered samples from the then-dormant spore for study. Less than an hour later, the Xenochytrids became active, and rapidly overran the lightly defended colony. In the years that followed, more hives, most notably Apophis, Piru, Cronen, and Tiamat, would emerge in other sectors and infest colonies such as Qualiot, which had to be evacuated and bombarded from orbit. News of the swarms spread quickly, and nations began efforts to curtail the swarm's spread. Such operations were oftentimes met with limited success as the Xenochytrids were and remain poorly understood. Scientists attempting to study the swarms frequently ran into dead-ends, or worse yet, triggered an infestation. In one of the most famous examples, a Salatran research team recovered samples from the hives on Qualiot for research. The Xenochytrids escaped containment, infesting everyone in the building, but not before they could initially a site-wide lockdown. Rather than outright destroying the installation, the Salatrans used the facility's cameras and remotely-operated drones to monitor the Biomatter from outside. The information acquired from the incident would be later be passed along to the Anti- Xenochytrid Task Force.

Barrakru Kaat Unification
For decades, the Barrakru Kaat had been under united under the leadership of the Ulthubag Clan. Like many clans before it, Ulthubag was overthrown by an alliance led by the Otguhl clan. The alliance fell apart immediately as the clans vied for supremacy, plunging the Barrakru Kaat into years of bloody civil war. The up-and-coming Tazorag clan would eventually claim the throne and unite the clans under its rule through a system of intricate alliance and technological superiority. With the war over, Tazorag would work towards modernizing Barrakru Kaat technology and military docttrine to better prepare them for conflict with foreign powers. These efforts mostly benefited Tazorag and its closest allies, the great clans, leaving many lesser clans to remain stagnant.

Telkevan-Nephani Cold War
Main page: Telkevan-Nephani Cold War.

The Holy Nepharian Empire had spent the past several years spreading its influence throughout a sector of space inhabited by various nations that the Nepharians had been slowly converting into dependencies. The Nepharians provided the natives with weapons and technology in exchange for ancient relics. They also established migration routes through the region for Nepharians citizens. These efforts were disrupted when the Telkevon began expanding into the region. Seeking to claim relics and territory for themselves, the Telkevon provided the aliens with offers of their own and exported their culture and religion to turn the inhabitants over to their cause. Some were more than willing to negotiate with the Telkevon due to disagreements or distrust towards the Nepharians. The conflicting ideologies sparked tensions throughout the sector which soon gave way to fighting, beginning a proxy war between the Telkevon and Nepharians. But while the two are officially enemies, they rarely fight one another directly, with only small skirmishes for particularly valuable relics. Both governments deny that any conflict is occurring due to mutual benefit. Despite the tension, the Telkevon often sell worthless artifacts back the Nepharians, allowing the Nepharian government to keep the peace within their own borders while providing the Telkevon with funds.

Nevertheless, the Telkevon still considered conflict with the Nepharians to be a real possibility. Several armadas were mobilized in case the two nations went to war, including the 14th, 277th, 355th, and 77th. A military modernization initiative was underway to update portions of the military, such as the navy, whose ships were, for the most part, outranged by the high-powered lasers of Nepharian ships. This led to the development of the first 'hunter killer' ships that would form the basis for imperial alpha-strike doctrines several years later.

Karahotdoum-Yami Relations
The Karahotdoum had a fierce economic rivalry with the Yami Trade Union, a collection of empires that had banded together that was on course to becoming a major galactic power. They rivaled the size of the Karahotdoum, whose allies at the time consisted of little more than protectorates that could contribute little to a war, which was becoming more and more likely as relations continued to worsen. Though the Karahotdoum did not believe that war would not threaten the survival of the empire, it would likely cost billions of lives and many dozens of colonies. As a result, the Karahotdoum kept the bulk of their troops at the Karahotdoum-Yami border zone.

Sauran liberate Zaretian slave colony
See also: Sauran Theatre

Sauran of the Forces of Freedom raided a sizeable Zaretian slave colony in an effort to free the prisoners. After a brief skirmish, they forced the defenders to retreat. But as they reached the slave holding area, they encountered the prisoners, who had managed to overthrow the guards and escape on their own, though it is unlikely that they would have been able to progress any further without the Solidarity's aid. The monarchy retaliated by declaring war on the Sauran and launching several probing attacks into Sauran space.

Appearance of the Margan
The first known appearance of the Margan in the local galactic sector occurred when troops of the Golden Blade Dynasty invaded a minor power that, though it put up stiff resistance, was quickly overwhelmed and wiped out by the vastly larger force. Soon after, the other dynasties soon appeared elsewhere, strip-mining any planets and exterminating all life that they came across. The sheer, uncompromising brutality displayed by the Margan sent a ripple throughout the region as word spread through survivors and witnesses. Many nations formed contingency plans in the event of a Margan invasion or were actively preparing to attack them, including some that would become Warlord powers in the months or years that followed. Some historians argue that it was at this point that the Great War became inevitable.

The War
For an outline of the war, see Timeline of the Great War.

Year 1
See also: Rach Theatre, Raid on Zartar, Raid on Station SRD72.

Shortly after the emergence of the Margan in the local galactic sector, the Rach began to covertly harass the Margan by targetting their logistics and command structure while supplying states that were fighting the Dynasties. These efforts proved disruptive to the Margan, but were unsuccessful in stalling their advance. These efforts continued with impunity for months until Rach operatives were captured while attempting to rescue civilians. The Margan declared war on the Rach, and while they had difficulties locating Rach colonies and were constantly harassed with hit-and-run attacks, began to advance through Rach territory at a slow but steady pace as Rach doctrine was not accustomed to a war of attrition.

Rach officials, namely General Gorach, called for drastic reforms to Rach doctrine, but his calls were ignored. Nevertheless, it was decided that a more direct approach would be needed to defeat the Dynasties. The Rach sent delegates to several neighboring states: the Nuveria Union, Karahotdoum Empire,  and the Sauran Solidarity, to propose the formation of a coalition with the goal of defeating the Margan and protecting those that could not defend themselves. All accepted, though the Karahotdoum, due to tensions with the Yami Trade union, declined to offer direct military support, instead supplying the new alliance with money and weapons. Ironically, they would simultaneously provide these same resources to Warlords that they did not consider too radical. The new alliance called itself the Peacekeeper Alliance.

The Peacekeepers launched a surprise attack against the Margan and quickly overwhelmed them. Emboldened, they launched further attacks with similar results, bringing more nations into the alliance. The Matriarchs of the Margan convened on the worldship of Holy Thereia to discuss their options, and despite their hatred of aliens, decided to establish an alliance of their own. They soon after requested an audience with King Breys of the Zaretian Monarchy. The Zaretians were wary, but due to their ongoing conflict with the Sauran Solidarity, agreed to talks on the Zaretian homeworld, Zartar.

Zaretian rebels under the leadership of the exiled king Moscassin learned of the meeting and relayed it back to the Peacekeepers. Though an opportunity to eliminate both Breys and High Priestess Massachiah, Rach command deemed the operation too risky. However, Emperor Coradine, without notifying his generals, deployed a small team of assassins to intercept the meeting. The assassins attacked as the meeting began, but the operation proved a colossal failure, with all of the assassins captured or killed. The operation had the opposite effect than intended, convincing Breys to put his reservations toward the Margan aside and establish a formal alliance. The new alliance, dubbed the Warlord Pact by Peacekeeper media, declared war on the Peacekeepers, marking the official beginning of the Great War. Now fighting both the Margan and the Zaretians, the Rach suffered several disastrous defeats, their military almost entirely unable to put up any serious resistance to the invaders. The Peacekeepers attempted to support their ally, but were having to defend their own territory from the Pact.

Towards the end of the year, the Saracin established Station SRD72, which studied Peacekeeper technology and performed experiments on captured soldiers as part of biological weapons tests. The Rach discovered the facility and General Gorach and Ops Lead Kertak moved in to infiltrate it. Though Gorach's forces were discovered, the Rach successfully breached the facility, rescued several prisoners, and stole valuable data before destroying the installation. The files revealed that someone had provided the Warlords with information the location of Norsus' stealth generators and of the planet itself. The Rach began an internal investigation, but would not find the perpetrator.

Year 2
See also: Battle of Zetta Secundus.

The Peacekeeper's first major victory took place during the second year of the war in the Battle of Zetta Secundus, where the Nuverian Navy dealt a devastating blow to the Zaretians, causing the Zaretian front to collapse and forcing the Pact to withdraw to close the gap. The battle served as the catalyst for the Telkevon Union joining the war later that year. The Telkevon were concerned that the Holy Nepharian Empire would consider joining the Alliance and believed that defeating the Peacekeepers would pave the way to regional supremacy.

Year 3
See also: First Battle of Aserai, Doramis-Vectramil War, Second Battle of Aserai.

The Zaretian Admiralty had spent the previous year since their defeat at Zetta Secundus updating their navy with new warships and tactical doctrines. Though eager for revenge against the Nuverians, the Monarchy opted to instead test these changes on the Doramis Monarchy, who had recently pledged their support to the Peacekeepers, as it was believed that an attack would elicit an Nuverian response without having to risk an assault on the Nuverian mainland. Three fleets were sent to the Doramis homeworld of Aserai, where they swiftly outmaneuvered and overwhelmed the defenders and began bombing the planet. As anticipated, the Nuverians sent a relief fleet which was then intercepted and forced to withdraw. A combined force of Nuverian and Rach ships finally arrived hours later and repelled the Zaretians. Though economically and militarily devastated, the Doramis retaliated by deploying troops against the Zaretians.

During the attack on Aserai, the Doramis colony of Dralix ceased communications with the rest of the Monarchy. Believing the Monarchy to be responsible, a small force was sent to the planet following the Zaretian withdrawal. Instead, it was found that Xenochytrids of Hive Apophis had overtaken the planet. Teams were deployed to the surface to search for survivors, but within hours, all teams vanished. Several ships then attempted to leave the planet, but were shot down when they did not respond to communication requests. The fleet was then contacted by one of the search teams, who reported that they had been dragged to the ground by a tendril of the hive and required immediate evacuation. Special operations forces were sent to the surface and retrieved the team. Rather than bombing the planet, the Doramis king decided to quarantine the planet and use it to study the Xenochytrids.

The Zaretians continued their aggressive expansionist policies as a means of acquiring resources for the war effort. In doing so they encountered the Necraal Sovereignty, with whom they established diplomatic relations. The Monarchy soon convinced the Necraal King, Hor'or, to join the Warlords and fight against the Peacekeepers, whom the king viewed as a threat to his ambitions. The Necraal's heavily mechanized army was a significant boon to the Pact, but some Necraal troops were troubled by the actions of their new allies, leading some to desert or join the Peacekeepers. The Kelmir, fascinated by Necraal technology, soon began working with Necraal engineers to produce new and improved Warbots.

Months after the assault on Aserai, Doramis Captain Bestos went missing while investigating an unidentified vessel. Days of inconclusive searches followed until the Monarchy received a distress signal from the homeworld of the Bulorians, a young interstellar empire. A team was sent to investigate and soon found Bestos, who explained that he had been attacked by the Vechtramil Directorate, radical isolationists who claimed that Bestos had unlawfully entered their territory. Delarus crash landed on the planet, which was subsequently invaded by Vechtramil soldiers who had enslaved the populace. Though still recovering from the Zaretian assault on Aserai, the Doramis amassed its forces and attacked, driving the Vechtramils from the planet and liberating the Bulorians. The Vechtramils declared war and declared themselves members of the Warlord Pact.

The Doramis lacked the troops to adequately defend their territory, instead focusing their troops at key locations while harassing the invaders with hit-and-run attacks. The Vechtramil, though puzzled by the lack of resistance, pushed the initiative. Desperate, the Doramis took Xenochytrid samples from Dralix and synthesized an airborne virus that was then deployed at a Vechtramil outpost. The virus was more potent than intended, sparking a large-scale infestation that delayed the invaders but spread to several other nearby colonies. The Monarchy attempted to cover up the incident, but were soon found out by the Peacekeepers, who harshly condemned the attack and ordered the Monarchy to destroy remaining samples of the virus. The Doramis complied and burned their remaining stockpile.

Days later, the Doramis king died. The Monarchy moved the bulk of its troops to the area around Aserai as a new king was crowned. Vechtramil spies discovered the proceedings, and the empire responded by sending the entirety of its military to Aserai, culminating in the largest confrontation between minor powers in the war. The Vechtramil initially held the upper hand, but lost several prominent officers, all of whom held prominent political positions, to assassins, and were later encircled and eliminated by the Doramis. This caused the Vechtramil government to collapse into complete chaos. By this point, the Doramis were drained, and would be unable to provide any military or economic aid to the Peacekeepers for the next several years. In the aftermath of the war, the Peacekeepers declared the use of the Xenochytrid as weapons to be a war crime. The Doramis narrowly avoided charges, but were forced to destroy all of their research regarding the virus.

Year 4
See also: Infestation of Rotunin, Operation Stormbreaker

The fourth year of the war began with the infestation of the neutral colony of Rotunin by Hive Fafnir. An infected carrier was detected approaching the colony, and while orbital defenses caused the ship to break apart, this only produced a shotgun-like effect that spread the Xenochytrids across the colony. Chaos and confusion erupted as civilians attempted to evacuate, which left them easy prey for the swarms. The defenders were forced to evacuate and bombard the planet into a lifeless husk. The infestation remains the worst recorded attack by the Xenochytrids in history, and is blamed for the infestation of dozens of nearby worlds through captured starships. Both the Peacekeepers and Warlords responded by establishing anti-Xenochytrid task units, with the Alliance pooling their resources into the Anti-Xenochytrid Task Force, or AXTF.

Though knowing little of the ongoing war, the Barrakru Kaat of Clan Tazorag had taken notice of the chaos and began raiding vulnerable colonies so as to claim their riches for themselves. These efforts were led by War Chief Bhatuzorig of Tazorag. This soon caught the attention of the Telkevon, who began monitoring the Barrakru Kaat to determine if an alliance was feasible. Shortly thereafter, Xenochytrids of Hive Cronen attacked a Barrakru Kaat outpost, forcing the defenders to withdraw. The colony was lost, but due to the Barrakru Kaat 's unreliable starships, the hive made little headway. Using the hive as pretext, the Telkevon stepped in to offer the Barrakru Kaat support. They begrudgingly accepted, and the two drove Cronen away from Barrakru Kaat territory. The Telkevon then made a proposal to Tazorag: the Barrakru Kaat would join the Warlords in their fight against the Peacekeepers while the Pact would ensure that Tazorag stayed in power and received a fair cut of spoils from the war. Tazorag accepted the offer. However, while Tazorag and a few other great clans possessed the resources necessary for large-scale interstellar conflicts, most did not. The troops of these clans were therefore organized into auxiliary units that would be attached to other Pact fleets.

With their military near the point of total collapse, the Rach expanded their search for new allies. Their explorers soon discovered the Empire of Diablos. Despite some protest within Peacekeeper leadership, the Rach sent emissaries to the Diabs to explain their situation. The Diabs, eager for a fight and concerned about aggressive expansion and hostile power blocs, joined the Alliance. After three months of planning, the Peacekeepers then launched Operation Stormbreaker, a massive offensive spearheaded by the Diabs intended to cripple the Pact and force them to surrender. Unprepared for aggressive Diab tactics, the Pact suffered more casualties within the first few weeks of the offensive than they did in the previous four years of fighting. The Pact initiated a retreat across all fronts while the Margan remained behind to buy the Warlords time and successfully hindered the Peacekeeper offensive by attacking the Diab mainland for several months.

Stormbreaker resumed in earnest once the Margan had been repelled, but by then the Peacekeepers were losing their momentum due to extended supply lines, attrition, and the Pact proving more resilient than initially anticipated. The Warlords had also shifted their tactics and began fighting more as a united force, combining their forces and forming cooperative strategies. After several more months of fighting, the Peacekeepers cancelled the offensive and ordered their troops to withdraw to more defensible positions; much of the territory taken during the offensive was subsequently reclaimed by the Pact.

Year 5
See also: Operation Downfall, Operation Sledgehammer, Operation Pierce the Veil, First Battle of Norsus

Four months after the end of Operation Stormbreaker, the Warlords, having gathered their strength, initiated Operation Downfall, which aimed to invade Norsus and knock the Rach out of the war. The operation began with Operation Sledgehammer, a series of simultaneous offensives against all major Peacekeeper powers aimed at preventing them from supporting the Rach by bleeding them of manpower and material. Just as the Peacekeepers had during Stormbreaker, the Pact made rapid gains, establishing footholds in Diab and Sauran space. The Nuverian offensive, tasked with attacking the border blockade, proved unable to breach the barrier and lost the entirety of the Margan Firewing fleet, which sacrificed itself to to free Pact allies in the final battle of the operation, but nonetheless dealt a serious blow to the Nuverian navy and frontier.

During the Pact push into Sauran space, the Telkevon secretly invited Sauran delegates to an undisclosed location in neutral space. The Telkevon, believing that the end of the war was near, were preparing to turn on the Margan and sought to acquire the Sauran's terraforming technology so that they could undo the damage wrought by the dynasties. In exchange, the Telkevon pledged not to invade Sauran space and offered them colonies to inhabit were their empire to fall. The Sauran accepted the offer, and the Telkevon began testing the equipment and techniques deep within their territory to ensure that they worked.

The offensive into Rach space, codenamed Operation Pierce the Veil, attacked the Field disrupters which effectively concealing Norsus. General Gorach, using what resources he had available, established the Gorach-Cloudreaver Line, a final line of defense manned by veterans, Peacekeeper troops, and a small number of Warlord defectors. Many of the Rach were using whatever weapons were available, including Pact weapons captured during Stormbreaker. The defenses caught the Pact by surprise, forcing them to initially retreat, but the Warlords soon began to break through and systematically eliminate the generators.

Shortly after the loss of the third generator, during which a number of prisoners were taken, Gorach, Kertak, and a small squad moved to the planet to rescue the hostages, using a 'fear mist' to clear the path. During the operation, Gorach encountered and dueled Zaretian General Gancarda. Gorach attempted to persuade Gancarda that the war would destroy his nation, but Gancarda refused to listen, and landed a hit on Gorach's shoulder before a squad of Skyborn intervened, allowing the general to escape to Norsus on the battleship Karadin. Gancarda was relieved from the front due to injuries he received and replaced by Vipenite.

Gorach appealed to Emperor Coradine for permission to use the Rach's emergency arsenal, but was denied. Furious, he forced his way into one of the capitol's secret vaults and awoke the Veteran Warsuits, Rach soldiers who had pledged to protect the empire by having their bodies entombed in powerful suits of armor. As Gorach was speaking to the suits, sirens began to roar throughout the city as communications began jammed with panicked Rach proclaiming that Norsus was visible. Gorach returned to Coradine's office, where he found that the emperor was gone and that the guards had been killed by Margan. The lone survivor, a sniper, explained that Coradine had killed one of the guards and fled. Gorach then sifted through the emperor desk, where he discovered that Coradine had been the Pact's informant and had ordered the deactivation of the final disrupter. Gorach declared himself emperor and ordered that all weapons be deployed to defend the planet.

With Norsus exposed, Operation Sledgehammer was halted as the final stage of Downfall began. A vast Margan fleet, alongside all five of the Margan dynasties, made way for the planet. The Nuverians, Kastalians, and Diabs attempted to send reinforcements to the planet, but the Nuverians were intercepted. The Diabs were detected by Captain Omard, but he allowed them to pass in the hope that they could still hold Norsus, claiming that he did not know of the Diab's mobilization. But with the whole of Margan civilization approaching, Gorach was forced to concede that Norsus would be impossible to defend, and began evacuating the populace into exodus ships hidden beneath the planet's surface. Within hours, the first Warlords ships arrived and began bombarding the planet. The Diab relief force then arrived and physically blocked the Pact, suffering grievous losses in the process. Desperate, Gorach entered the depths of Norsus' labs, where he was led to a device that generated a portal leading into a realm known to the Rach as Abyssal Space. With no other option, Gorach activated the device, tearing open a continent-sized hole in the planet's atmosphere. The Rach retreated into the portal while a small force stayed behind to protect the device. The Margan sent wave after wave of troops against the device before they were finally able to secure it. Rather than destroy it, the Margan kept the device running and chased the Rach into the portal. The portal finally closed as the last Margan ship entered. In that instant, both the Rach and Margan disappeared from the galaxy.

Year 6
See also: Karahotdoum Theatre, Zaretian Theatre, Telkevon Theatre.

The sixth year of the war saw relatively little action during the first seven months outside of scattered skirmishes as both sides were preoccupied with recovering from the previous two years of fighting. The Warlords, though victorious, had lost a major military power with the disappearance of the Margan, and were forced to discard plans to continue offensive operations in favor of consolidating their holdings. The Zaretians, Telkevon, and Necraal sent reinforcements to the various fronts in preparation for future operations.

With the Rach having vanished and their forces badly mauled, the Peacekeeper convened to determine a new leader for the Alliance. Some suggested the Diabs for their strong military, but Admiral Korsair turned the offer down, declaring that he did not wish to be, "Tied down by bureaucratic lunacy". Korsair then suggested the Nuverians for their organization and willingness to work with aliens. The Nuverians won the majority of votes in the ensuing vote, and immediately set out shifting the Alliance's goals from protecting minor races to ensuring the survival of its members and defeating the Pact.

During the previous year, the Yami Trade Union was beset with various disasters, forcing the Union to sign a treaty with the Karahotdoum to ease tensions so that they could relocate their troops. The Karahotdoum government had been planning to attack the Yami while they were weak, but news of the fall of Norsus sparked anti-Warlord sentiment throughout the empire, with many calling for the Karahotdoum to intervene against the Pact. The magistrate voted in favor of joining the Peacekeepers and began mobilizing its forces; within the first two months, so many citizens had volunteered that logisticians had begun to lose track of them. Once prepared, these troops were deployed en masse against the Zaretians. Though they made steady progress against the Zaretians, they were fought to bitter stalemate when Telkevon, Saracin, and Necraal forces intervened.

Year 7
See also: Diab Theatre, Battle of Lichos, Second Battle of Veos, Aeverian Theatre, Operation Burning Lance.

Following Norsus, General Gancarda had been redeployed against the Diabs. While probing for vulnerable Diab colonies, General Gancarda discovered Lichen, a planet rich in crystals used in the production of Zaretian energy weapons. The general invaded the planet and soon established a base of operations on the surface. While attacking a nearby fort, Lord Atlas intervened and took command of the operation, declaring that Gancarda was not aggressive enough. Fighting continued under Atlas' leadership, and the Diabs were eventually cornered at their command center located in the planet's northern pole. Diab reinforcements had begun to turn the tide until Zaretian agents flanked the Diabs and eliminated their anti-air cannons. Nightshades were then sent to infiltrate the command center, but were captured. They broke free with the aid of one of the prisoners and destroyed the generator powering the base's anti-orbital cannon, allowing the Monarchy to push in and overwhelm the defenders.

As Lichen was underway, the Telkevon launched an attack against the Diab military colony of Veos. Veos sat at the edge of the Pact's foothold in Diab space, and was seen as a potential obstacle to operations. The colony had been attacked by the Margan during Operation Sledgehammer and as a result suffered from a worsening Margan infestation. The battle would be the first in which the Telkevon made use of Marganite-based weapons, which had been narrowly approved by the High Council for foreign operations a few months prior. Using orbital elevators to establish landing zones, the Pact steadily advanced across the planet, eliminating elevators that they could not capture. The final battle took place at the derelict fortress of Vigríar, where the defenders, after having withstood days of artillery and aerial bombardments, were attacked with chemical weapons prior to an infantry assault. The Diabs charged the Pact, causing momentary panic that resulted in a large number of Pact deaths before the fortress was secured. With the conquest of Veos, Imperial Command began planning its next move, a three-pronged offensive into Diab territory codenamed Keros.

After amassing a vast fleet, the Nuverians initiated Operation Burning Lance, their invasion of Zaretian territory, aiming to capture the regional capitol of Nu-Zartar and ultimately open the path to Zartar. The Zaretian response is immediate, with Varthos leading the defense with all available forces, including reinforcement from the 18th War Fleet. The sheer number of Zaretian ships causes the Nuverian offensive to bog down into a pitched stalemate for the next several months. Officials in the Telkevon Union considered halting all offensive plans and redirecting troops to support but the Monarchy, but this was rejected by the High Council, who wanted to prevent the Diabs from assisting the Aeverians by forcing their attention elsewhere. Troops stationed at the once quiet Nuverian front would double their efforts against the Nuveria to divert resources away from the main offensive.

Year 8
See also: Keros Offensive, Battle of Embaelos, Operation Watchtower, Battle of the Gorroagh Pocket.

The Anti-Xenochytrid Task Force faced its first real test when a Fafnir spore landed on an urbanized Diab colony. With most of the AXTF fighting elsewhere, only a small squadron was able to quickly respond to the attack. The contingent included the renowned Bio-trooper, Heimdall, who successfully infiltrated the hive and planted a bomb within it, destroying the colony and ending the infestation.

Imperial Command launched the Keros Offensive early in the year, with Telkevon, Necraal, and Barrakru Kaat troops advancing into Diab territory. The Diabs had been aware of the Pact's buildup, and had evacuated several nearby colonies while focusing their defenses at high-priority targets. The Pact smashed through the Diab's outer defenses, but stubborn resistance slowed the advance of the central and southern fronts. The northern front, spearheaded by the aggressive 14th and 277th armadas, charged ahead, making rapid gains through a mix of strategy and unrelenting brutality. The Diabs responded by sending the bulk of their reserves to engage the prong. Months of fighting would lead to the Battle of Embaelos, a colony that had once supplied resources to Veos and had since been converted into a forward command post. Both sides attempted to lead the other into a trap, resulting in the 277th's command fleet being cut off and surrounded by Diab ships. The 14th responded by ordering all available fleets to converge on the system. The Diabs retreated from the planet, but the northern prong's advance had been checked, and Field Marshal Likana Raldalvi of the 277th was hospitalized by injuries sustained during a boarding of the 277th's flagship. Her second-in-command, General Ezanfi Dugoro, took command in her absence.

Eight months after the Nuverians had begun Operation Burning Lance, Nuverian forces captured the Zaretian colony of Valkoro, a major supply and repair base. Combined with continued losses to attrition, Varthos was forced to retreat across the whole front. The Nuverians attempted to encircle retreating fleets, but were only partly successful due to Zaretian sprint drives. Varthos' fleet was cornered at the Thethea nebula, where the Nuverian 342nd fleet sought to capture Varthos. Due to conditions within the nebula, Varthos was able to escape. The Nuverians continued to pursue the retreating Zaretians, but were interdicted by General Peacha at the Battle of the Gorroagh Pocket.

Year 9
See also: Operation Fissure, Operation Iron Gauntlet, Operation Black Ice.

With the Gorroagh pocket secured, the nuverians initiated Operation Fissure, a major push into the Nu-Zartar sector. Zaretian resistance is scattered and perfunctory, with most still recovering from the retreat of the previous year.

At the Diab Theatre, the Diabs launched a counterattack to finally halt and repel the Keros Offensive, which had claimed a number of colonies and formed the sizeable Keros salient. The Diabs focused the bulk of their troops at the base of the salient, which despite being well-fortified, cracked under the pressure, allowing Diab troops to push in as smaller attacks elsewhere diverted Pact attention. A combination of Pact reinforcements and the liberal use of Marganite-based weapons allowed the Pact to stabilize the front. Fighting would continue inconclusively for the next several weeks.

The nuverians initiated Operation Black Ice towards the end of the year. A team of ACI agents were inserted deep into Zaretian territory and successfully infiltrated a hidden facility located in the northern poles of an otherwise desolate planet. The team withdrew after having secured information on the defenses of several planets within the Nu-Zartar sector.

Year 10
''See also: Battle of Helia, Operation Isomer, Destruction of the Malum Telum, Dissolution of the Saracin Empire. ''

With a growing number of Pact troops, particularly Zaretian forces, being redirected to fight elsewhere, the Diabs prepared for another major push into the foothold. They employed a campaign of deception against the Pact, successfully misleading them on how large the attack force would be, where it would attack, and when. Once they were prepared, the Diabs attacked a full week earlier than the Pact had anticipated. The salient was breached in three separate locations, dividing the region into encircled pockets. Pact reinforcements entered the fray to rescue trapped elements and bisected Diab lines, resulting in a chaotic and unpredictable battlefield for both sides. As the battle raged, the Diabs launched an attack against Falkeos to disrupt Pact logistics. Diab troops nearly recaptured the planet, but were repelled by elements of the 14th and 355th that had escaped the salient. Fighting would continue for the next year as the Pact attempted to hold the salient, resulting in some of the bloodiest fighting in the theatre since Operation Sledgehammer. During the fighting, Baltreos received some of the Telkevon's next-generation technology, including two Helia-Class Battlecruisers and a Planet Cracker Superheavy Railcannon built on the planet's surface as an anti-orbital cannon. Though initially planned for use in Helia, they were instead kept in reserve in the event that the Diabs broke through.

On the Zaretian theatre, the Nuverians began Operation Isomer with the objective of securing a beachhead into the inner reaches of the Nu-Zartar sector. Initial resistance was minimal as the Zaretians defenders were outnumbered and outgunned, but the Zaretians began contesting every system in an effort to halt the offensive before it reached Rigni, the last fortress world standing between the Peacekeepers and Nu-Zartar.

Elsewhere, the Nuverians had been using a deserted world to produce and test an experimental cruiser outfitted with salvaged ancient technology. Zaretian intelligence discovered the planet and sent a team of Nightshades to disrupt Nuverian forces and acquire information. The Zaretians successfully destroyed the vessel and retrieved a massive trove of data, becoming the largest information leak in ACI history. Through this data, it was discovered that Atoppos the Great, a hero among the Zaretians, had defected to the Peacekeepers. The information was kept hidden from the public, but initiated another round of purges as King Breys sought to eliminate any dissent.

Year 11
See also: Second Battle of Baltreos, Sentience Incident, Necraal Schism.

With casualties climbing to unacceptable levels and their forces unable to repel the Diabs, Imperial Command ordered a complete withdrawal from the Keros salient. The subsequent retreat was disorganized, allowing the Diabs to advance towards Baltreos, the loss of which would cripple Pact efforts in the region. Though battered and bloodied, Pact forces moved to help defend the colony. Diab troops were engaged as soon as they entered the system by the two Helia-class battlecruisers, and were soon encircled as they unwittingly entered the range of Baltreos' Planet Cracker cannon. In the ensuing battle, a Diab cruiser rammed one of the battlecruisers just as it fired its gun, destroying the cruiser but causing a detonation that crippled the warship. The vessel successfully withdrew for repairs, but the Diabs were able to break the encirclement and deployed all of their ground forces in a bid to eliminate the cannon. They successfully captured the city of Avgorod and were preparing to launch an amphibious assault when the Telkevon launched an RS-18 Firestorm missile, turning the city into what is now known as the 'Demon's Scar' and killing almost all of the attackers. With their forces in tatters, the Diabs withdrew from the foothold. The Battles of Helia and Baltreos have gone down in record as the two bloodiest battles in Telkevon history, and sparked a rare instance of public protest against the government. The High Council admitted that the Peacekeepers had proven more powerful than anticipated, but called for the public to focus its efforts on avenging the fallen and uniting against the 'Peacekeeper hoards'. In the days that followed, Imperial Command began the process of mobilizing all military and civilian assets for the war effort.

Despite the stigma surrounding the use of Xenochytrids as a weapon, King Hor'or began experiments deep within the vaults of Ivn to determine if the creatures could be controlled. This program was conducted in intense secrecy, with even Bael'thir kept in the dark. Tests proved futile as the creatures did not respond to any alterations. A month later, Shaman Glad'mere, who was shunned by much of Necraal society for worshiping the creatures, was invited by Hor'or to join the program as an advisor. Glad'mere soon converted Hor'or, who began speaking of an entity known as 'Legion' and shifted the program from controlling the creatures to becoming one with them. The king took prisoners and began spliced their DNA with that of the Xenochytrids. After dozens of failed attempts, the first hybrid was created, and the king promptly began to splice Necraal troops. Though some suffered from mental problems and reported voices and urges that Hor'or and Gladmere interpreted as the call of Legion, they remained loyal to the king, and most notably, were not attacked by Xenochytrids.

These troops were tested at the Flytal colony of Yintil. A spore was deliberately launched at the planet, drawing a large AXTF contingent to the planet. Late into the ensuing engagement, the hybrid Necraal struck and overwhelmed the AXTF, killing all but a few stragglers. Peacekeeper and Warlord media were in an uproar, referring to the incident as the 'Sentience Incident' due to the belief that the Xenochytrids and Necraal had established an alliance. The Necraal government denied any involvement, but continued attacks by hybrid troops would see the Sovereignty fall under increasing scrutiny.

Word of the program eventually reached Bael'thir through researchers who had escaped Ivn's vaults. Horrified by his father's actions, Bael'thir appealed to the Pact for support in overthrowing the king. The Telkevon and Zaretians both pledged support to his cause. Bael'thir then announced his intentions to overthrow his father, instigating fighting throughout Necraal space and their various fronts. Though most supported Bael'thir or Hor'or, a small few, under the leadership of S'ai, declared themselves allies of the Peacekeepers. Pact forces attempted to subdue loyalist commandants but were defeated in costly battles. Taking advantage of the chaos, the Peacekeeper made way for Ivn to knock the Necraal out of the war one way or another. Bael'thir's forces were the first to reach Ivn, but were nearly repelled when Hor'or deployed dozens of spores across the planet. The arrival of the Peacekeepers turned the tide against Hor'or and his followers, who retreated into unexplored space, leaving Ivn to be bombarded.

Rather than pursue his father, Bael'thir chose to secure the remaining Necraal colonies while Pact forces remained behind to stall the Peacekeepers. Hours later, an ion storm caused by the detonation of a nearby neutron star swept through the region, cutting Bael'thir and the colonies off from the galaxy. With the crown prince absent, Commandant Tor took command of remaining Pact loyalist, who established themselves in Warlord empires and would continue to fight in the war. S'ai and his followers would work to prove their loyalty to the Peacekeepers, most of whom doubted their intentions until S'ai saved Alliance delegates from Zaretian assassins. S'ai was soon inducted into the Alliance and his followers would establish themselves in uncolonized space. Hor'or would regain some of his lucidity and ceased worshiping Legion, distancing himself from Glad'mere in the process. The frustrated shaman would continue his ways and establish the Cult of Legion, though he retained some loyalty towards the king. Those who had not been spliced with Xenochytrid DNA would be modified following the schism, though without the equipment of Ivn the process was more prone to unexpected side-effects. Hor'or's followers, now known as the Virisus, swore vengeance against those who had betrayed the king and would begin to harass Pact and Peacekeeper forces alike.

The loss of both the Saracin and Necraal greatly diminished the Pact forces that had been holding back the bulk of the Karahotdoum's forces in the contested zone. Fighting with loyalist Necraal had further worsened the situation, leaving many vital positions badly damaged. Anticipating that the Karahotdoum would soon break through, Grand Marshal Tarsovis Visaria ordered Telkevon troops on the front to delay the Karahotdoum for as long as possible. The Telkevon spent the next few weeks rigging their facilities with traps and deploying experimental FTL mines.

The Karahotdoum finally breached the Pact's lines a month after the Necraal Schism. Most of the traps worked as intended, and combined with stubborn resistance, slowed the Karahotdoum's advance. Following the intentional destruction of one of the Pact's primary command centers via a nuclear warhead by Telkevon forces, Tarsovis gave the order to retreat, and the 77th and 150th armadas evacuated to more defensible positions within the mainland, the mines successfully covering their retreat. Once the mines were cleared, Karahotdoum forces once again surged into Zaretian space, but were once more fought to a stalemate by the Telkevon as vicious sieges began around the empire's subterranean cities.

After eight months of fighting, Nuverian forces reached the Zaretian colony of Rigni. A pitched, seven month battle for the system ensued, during which Aslai's and Varthos' flagships were knocked out of commission. Both sides engaged in skirmishes around the system to disrupt the other's supply lines. Ultimately, the Peacekeepers would capture the system, but their forces were battered in the process. The Zaretians withdrew to Nu-Zartar.

Year 12
See also: Operation Riposte, War of the Mech King.

After having repaired and refitted his ships, General Varthos launched one final, all-out offensive with all of his available troops in a bid to repel the Peacekeepers from Rigni. The Zaretians overwhelmed the Peacekeeper's hastily-made defenses, with many Alliance units being trapped and encircled deep within enemy lines, but many of these elements successfully harassed Varthos' supply lines. Varthos was forced to call off the offensive. The Peacekeepers began a counterattack to reclaim colonies taken by Varthos' forces during the battle and eventually recaptured Rigni as Varthos withdrew to Nu-Zartar.

A Nepharian colony was attacked by a spore of hive Piru. Though seemingly victorious after a brief engagement, some Xenochytrids had survived by escaping into underground tunnels. A sizeable colony was established underground and eventually emerged at the planet's capitol, subduing the defenders and the planet soon after.

Deep in unexplored space, Telkevon explorers discovered the remains of a gargantuan combat walker, among the largest in recorded history, on an uninhabited world. Believing it to have been a superweapon of one of the ancient races, Telkevon troops were sent to secure the machine. This was soon leaked to the Diabs, who sent a battlegroup to the planet. The two engaged in a skirmish over the walker and were soon joined by Zaretian reinforcements who had come to the Telkevon's aid. Late into the battle, Virisus forces took advantage of the chaos and attacked both forces in a bid to claim the walker for themselves and use it to enact vengeance on the Necraal. After days of fighting, Pact forces were on the verge of victory, but rather than cede the walker to their enemies, the Virisus overloaded the machine's still-functioning reactors, destroying the walker in an explosion that created a kilometer-deep crater where walker had stood.

Fighting on foreign soil and exposure to alien cultures and technology gradually resulted in the development of Skritrulk, or 'void warriors', among the Barrakru Kaat. The Skritrulk were more intelligent and refined than the average Barrakru Kaat, and would soon form various factions throughout Barrakru Kaat society that sought to modernize and unify Barrakru Kaat  society. Most were in some form or another supportive of the Warlord Pact and saw them as examples to base themselves off of, but others saw the Warlords as puppeteers who considered the Barrakru Kaat to be little more than cannon fodder. Regardless of their views, the Skritrulk were ostracized by their brethren. Pact overseers saw potential among the Skritrulk, and would provide trustworthy individuals with better training and equipment.

Year 13
See also: Outer Worlds Assaults, Operation Counterweight, Battle of Nu-Zartar.

Two years after the Second Battle of Baltreos, the Diabs began the Outer Worlds Assaults, which aimed to cut off the Pact foothold's primary supply lines in and around Sevethos. Diab forces launched a two-pronged attack: the first wing attacked around Falkeos while the second, larger wing entered the 'northern' reaches of the foothold and made substantial progress, capturing several colonies including Glasos, Alvainos, and Urdos, opening a pathway to Sevethos, which now found itself under siege. The Telkevon, after having completed the mobilization of the empire for total war, counterattacked with Operation Counterweight. Fighting would continue throughout the year as the Diabs put up a dogged resistance, but they quickly began to lose ground.

After securing Rigni, Nuverian forces launched the final offensive of the Zaretian campaign, the Invasion of Nu-Zartar. Generals Varthos and Peacha had prepared the system for a last stand, and used every available asset in the conflict, which would see some of the bloodiest fighting in the Interim Era. Fighting would persist for eight months before the Peacekeepers secured the planet, opening the door to the Zaretian homeworld of Zartar, but casualties were enormous, and before any invasion could be launched, the Peacekeepers needed to rebuild their strength.

Year 14
See also: Invasion of the Delani Republic.

The Asanians began a major push into Delani space at the start of the year. Delani forces found themselves wholly unprepared and vastly outnumbered by Asanian forces, who overwhelmed Delani settlements in short order.

Year 15
See also: Second Battle of Fehgrov, Skritrulk Uprising, Second Battle of Norsus, Battle of Demosrakus, Battle of Terak, Operation Sidewinder, Neutrality Crisis, TmC Secessionist Crisis, Operation Desolate Winds.

After ten years of traveling through Abyssal Space, Emperor Gorach, having grown tired of running from the Margan, ordered the Rach to exit back into realspace. Despite concerns from Kertak and other officials, the emperor set his sights on reclaiming Norsus to boost morale and begin rebuilding the empire. After securing the old communications center, Gorach sent out a broadcast in the hopes that the Peacekeeper Alliance had survived. To his relief, the Peacekeepers responded, and began sending troops to assist the Rach in reclaiming the planet.

The Delani were among the first to respond, with a force under the command of Fleet Admiral Heimarak making way for the planet. However, before he reached Norsus, he received word that the Asanians had begun invading Demosrakus and that Heimarak was to turn around to defend the planet. The admiral returned to the Delani mainland, but instead of protecting the homeworld, evacuated the remaining fringe colonies and disappeared. It remains unknown if the admiral survived or was destroyed by Asanian forces.

As Peacekeeper forces began to arrive, fighting spread throughout the Norsus system. The Zaretian garrison, badly outgunned and without any hope of reinforcements, were very nearly rerpelled from the planet. This took a dramatic turn when the Margan Dynasties spilled forth from Abyssal Space, their fleets advancing in all directions as they began attacking Peacekeeper and Neutral states alike, sowing discord throughout the various fronts of the war. The Red Rose sent a fleet to Norsus with the intent of delivering one final kick to the Rach before the Margan focused their efforts elsewhere. Though many within the Pact remained intensely bitter towards the Margan for having pursued the Rach into Abyssal Space, they were quick to put their reservations aside and welcome the Margan back into the Pact. With their support, the Pact turned the tide of the battle, and the Peacekeepers were forced to abandon Norsus, which by that point had been rendered nearly uninhabitable due to the fighting.

With the Peacekeepers focused on Norsus and the Margan's return, they were unable to provide much aid to the Delani. Demosrakus fell shortly after Norsus, and with the Delani Republic effectively ceased to exist. The Asanians swept through the remaining colonies and eliminated remaining resistance. By the end of the campaign, the vast majority of the Delani had been killed, with few managing to escape.

Months after the conclusion of Norsus, the Aumpnuuk joined the Transmetallic Confederation.

The Hammer Dynasty struck the Sauran colony of Jaru IV. The Sauran successfully evacuated the colony's citizens, but Margan forces overran the capitol before a relief force could arrive. Efforts to recapture the colony fail, and the Sauran withdrew.

Year 16
''See also: Battle of Mardos, Schism of the 500th, Battle of Nizo III. ''

At the beginning of the year, the Margan invited Pact officials to Holy Thereia to reaffirm the goals of the Pact and strengthen the unity of the Warlords. As the meeting progressed, the Pact discussed plans for future operations, and settled on a joint-offensive into Zaretian space to liberate Nu-Zartar, repel the Peacekeeper occupiers, and bring the Zaretian military back up to strength.

The sudden and rapid advance of the Margan had scored several early victories for the Dynasties, but as the Peacekeepers mustered their forces, the technology gap that had been created during the Margan's absence became apparent to both sides. This was first displayed during the battle at the Diab colony of Mardos. Orion Dynasty forces had established a beachhead on the planet but were soon pushed back by Diab troops. At the climax, the leaders of the respective belligerents agreed to a duel to the death. The Margan leader was defeated after a brief skirmish, and the remaining Margan were routed. The Margan began efforts to improve their technology, but it would be some time before they caught up with their contemporaries.

Having long grown disillusioned with Imperial Command and the Warlord Pact Star Marshal Elseron Nethali of the 500th 'Purity of Flames' armada and several of her followers defected from the Telkevon to join the Peacekeepers. Fighting broke out throughout the armada as loyalist tried and failed to apprehend the marshal before she escaped to Alliance space. The schism briefly disrupted Xenochytrid containment efforts, allowing Tiamat to gain some ground before it was repelled. Imperial Command considered dishonorably disbanding the armada, but the loyalty of Field Marshal Alesanda Hilingoth and admiral Eaeru Tritheka, Nethali's second-in-command, narrowly saved the armada.

Five years after they had formed, the ion storms surrounding Necraal space dissipated, making communication and space travel possible once more. Bael'thir reestablished contact with the Pact, who sent envoys to inform the crown prince on the state of the war. Bael'thir reaffirmed his support to the Pact, and pledged to commit troops to the war and hunt down and kill his father. News of the crown prince's return spread quickly throughout the sector, with most Pact-aligned Necraal returning to Necraal territory to serve Bael'thir. Many of Hor'or and S'ai's followers, disillusioned with their own leaders, also defected to Bael'thir, sparking a new round of infighting among both factions and casting doubt on the loyalty of S'ai's men to the Peacekeepers. Virisus defectors were seen with a mixture of revulsion or compassion due to their mutations, and though many distrusted them, Necraal scientists began working on a potential cure for their infection.

The Rach began a campaign to reclaim their lost colonies at Nizo III. Nizo had been one of the few colonies to survive the Zaretian-Margan campaign in the early years of the war, and had gone into seclusion to avoid detection. The planet had been occupied by the Asanians during the Second Battle of Norsus, but Syndicate forces did not discover the colony. The Rach smuggled new weapons to the planet and launched a surprise blitz against the Asanians, who were overwhelmed by a mixture of Rach maneuverability and firepower. Of particular note was the Rach's use of Abyssal Space based technology, which was not hindered by gravity like traditional subspace drives and thus allowed both naval and ground forces to teleport across the battlefield with near-impunity. This effectively revolutionized warfare, and Pact officials would begin efforts to weaponize Abyssal Space to close the gap.

Year 17
See also: Zaretian Civil War, Collection Conflict, Operation Dawnhammer, Rift Incident.

Tensions between the Telkevon and Nepharians escalated when the Telkevon deployed troops into the contested zone to support their allies in the region against their rivals with the ultimate goal of absorbing them as client states and turning their forces towards the Peacekeepers. Though Telkevon forces were careful to avoid engaging Nepharian positions, sporadic skirmishes between the two occurred as Telkevon forces plowed through the sector. Rather than declaring war, the Nepharians initiated a propaganda campaign to draw Peacekeeper attention to the region. Several Peacekeepers answered the call and deployed troops to contest the Telkevon.

Following the end of the Collection Conflict, though they had successfully captured Remusian Grand General Vithem Templesmith, the bulk of The Collection withdrew to their holdings to recuperate from their losses. The Overlord, the Collection's ruler, shifted his attention towards minor powers that he believed would be easy to integrate into the Collection. He soon learned of the ongoing Telkevon-Nepharian Cold War and, using a Vessel to hide his mechanical body, reached out to the Telkevon, hoping to recruit their assistance in defeating the Remusians. Telkevon Central Command rejected the Overlord's offer, unwilling to commit troops to the Overlord's cause. The Overlord withdrew from the region, though he planned to return at a later date.

Remusian scientists aboard the Nadfor Research Installation began “Project Archway”. At roughly the same time, the Telkevon were performing their own studies on Void-Based travel technology. One of the Telkevon's experimental engines malfunctioned, creating a tear in Abyssal space parallel with the lane created for Project Archway, forming a two-way artificial hyperlane. Remusian Directive Expeditionary Units, Lead by I.E.D. Director Dr. Bishun Barreté, exited into Telkevon space as Sector Marshal Tegar Zokonae had been establishing a perimeter around the rift. The two agreed to talks, with Dr. Barreté retrieving Diplomat Rava James.

During their talks, the Telkevon learned of the Remusian's relations with the Sauran, causing concern among members of the Telkevon High Chamber, who feared the Remusians may join the Peacekeepers. Later, a Sauran Diplomat interrupted one of the meetings to express their outrage at the Remusian's willingness to host the Telkevon, nearly leading to a fight until members of the Remusian Royal Council interceded and adjourned the meeting. The Telkevon also learned of the Collection and saw an opportunity to keep the Remusians out of the Great War. Believing that they would have to one day fight the Collection regardless of the circumstances, the Telkevon offered to help the Remusians destroy the Collection so long as remain neutral in the Great War.

Concerned that the Remusians may side with the Telkevon, the Sauran sent [named Sauran fellow here].