History of the Telkevan Union

The following is a record of Telkevan history as recorded by the scholars of the Department of Education & Information. History is divided into two eras: before the oath (BO), which denotes the time leading up to the founding of the Telkevan Union, and after the oath (AO), which follows after.

Alkarian League
Alrukai, the homeworld of the Telkevan Union, was once a colony of the defunct civilization referred to as the Alkarian League, which included a number of races that now comprise the Telkevan Union, including the Union's founders, the Arkevon. It was once widely believed that Alrukai was the Arkevon's native world, but this was proven false after Vokstan was identified as the Arkevon's birthworld.

As a colony of the League, Alrukai was likely a major commercial and military hub due to its position along the Rhzari substream; vast production plants produced a variety of products while fortresses and training facilities were built around the planet's space elevators, which were connected to a network of stardocks situated in Alrukai's lower orbit. A sizeable portion of the population are believed to have followed an early form of Galderim, the religion of the modern Kovas Republic.

The events leading up to the collapse of the Alkarian League and the apocalyptic ruination of Alrukai itself remain unclear. Based on current evidence, it is hypothesized that the Alkarian League ultimately succumbed to infighting between the League's member species. At some point during the conflict, Alrukai's orbital defense network was disabled or destroyed, allowing an invading fleet to bombard the planet, ushering in the Alkari Dark Age, of which little is known due to a near-complete lack of surviving records.

Rebirth
The Telkevan Union traces its origins to a group of Arkevon who had survived the bombardment by taking shelter in Kalzevos, a large, isolated mountain fortress located in central Olukor. Kalzevos featured a thorough life-support system that provided enough food, water, and air to support a few thousand residents indefinitely. With no way to contact other vaults or survivors, those responsible for administering and maintaining the facility were deemed irreplaceable and given high standing among the inhabitants. The administrators gradually evolved into a pseudo-nobility that coalesced into the Nezekar royal dynasty, whose kaiser or kaiserin held absolute power over the affairs of Kalzevos.

As the surface began to recover from the bombardment, the inhabitants of Kalzevos sent out explorers to survey the surrounding area. They soon discovered an abandoned, dilapidated mining facility which was subsequently rebuilt, though much of the machinery that had automated the mine was damaged beyond repair. Over the next few months, surveyors then established contact with scattered groups of survivors, a few of which had established permanent settlements. Some of these settlements, particularly the coastal town of Taklos, became valuable trading partners, providing Kalzevos with fish in exchange for metal ore. Unfortunately, Kalzevos soon attracted the attention of hostile groups who periodically attempted to capture the vault, which while never successful, greatly hampered Kalzevos' expansion.

Founding
In 32BO, Telkevon Nezekar I hatched alongside his three siblings, though only Telkevon himself survived into adulthood, his siblings either dying on the battlefield or succumbing to disease, which consequently ensured that Telkevon was next in line to inherit the throne. The heir apparent became famous among the populace for his levelheaded administration and for his courage in battle, and at the age of 31, was crowned kaiser following his successful offensive against the bandit camps which had been responsible for his brother and sister's deaths.

A few days later, during the new year festival, Oltavar, god-king of the Oltari, as well as his two advisors, Sarikarak and Saertu, appeared before Telkevon and his wife, Kilune. The god-king said that he and his brethren had taken notice of Kalzevos, which had been chosen to bear the god-king's message to the mortals of Alrukai. He then revealed the true nature of the world, speaking of the Builders who had sacrificed themselves to ensure the survival of the world, which was to be rebuilt by their children, of whom the Oltari were but one family. Oltavar Oltavar offered to teach and to lead Kalzevos in exchange for its loyalty. Telkevon asked only that the gods prove their divinity. Oltavar summoned fire from the heavens, Sarikarak used runes to animate ash molded into the shape of an animal, and Saertu, peering into Telkevon's eyes, told Telkevon all that the kaiser had ever done, sparing no detail. Convinced of their truth, Telkevon and Kilune swore their loyalty with a blood oath, permanently binding their family to the Oltari and marking the beginning of the Telkevan Union.

Acting as the Oltari's mouthpiece, Telkevon and Kilune spread the gods' teachings throughout Kalzevos, encouraging his constituents to take the oath of loyalty. Oltarism swiftly became the dominant religion of the city, giving its residents a united sense of purpose and direction. Those who refused to take the oath were protected by Telkevon himself, who said that doubt alone was no reason for persecution. Of those skeptical towards Telkevon's new teachings, most would be swayed over the following years as Telkevon I boldly expanded the kingdom, converted and inducted Kelzevos' trading partners, and defeated the city's foes in battle, all of which were used to demonstrate that Telkevon I had truly been blessed by the gods. Nevertheless, some continued to doubt, including General Xarvok Olzian, who would convert only if the gods could resurrect his brother, an act beyond the reach of the gods. Xarvok and other skeptics would eventually leave Kalzelon and never returned.

In the years leading up to his death, Telkevon I authored the first section of what would become the Keltular, the Telkevan holy book. In his final address, Telkevon urged his followers to unite Alrukai under the banner of the Oltari, for unity was the will of the gods. He died of a heart attack in 49AO at the age of 81. His body was cremated and the urn containing the ashes placed in the Nezekar shrine, where it remains to this day. The crown was passed to his appointed heir, Hralek Nezekar.

Conquest of Alrukai
Hralek followed in his father's footsteps. He expanded the Union's reach across Olukor in a long series of military campaigns. The king offered every settlement his forces encountered the chance to surrender and peacefully integrate into the Union, the king offering them a degree of autonomy in exchange for their loyalty. Those who refused were invariably conquered; if the defenders surrendered during the fighting they were spared further violence, whereas those who fought to the last would have their entire adult male population slaughtered and the women and children dispersed across the Union's territories. Conquered territories were administered by nobles appointed by Hralek himself. These nobles formed new dynasties, such as Olzilan, Vilikiah, and Kitoro. By the time of Hralek's death, the Union encompassed nearly all of the inhabited land of Olukor and had begun reverse-engineering surviving Alkarian technology on a large scale.

The Union faced its first major hurdle in 97 as it expanded into the continent of Valakar. The larger and more populous continent was home to five vault-fortresses: Dalazir, Rolsdatch, Corsu, Tuhahn, and Kustatinye. Dalazir, located near the northern coast of Valakar, repeatedly harassed Union fleets and attacked those who managed to land. The Telkevon made no headway until they made contact with Rolsdatch, who sought revenge against Dalazir; a combined offensive finally saw Dalazir's surrender. After a pause to consolidate their foothold, the Telkevon resumed their campaign. Corsu surrendered following a prolonged siege which saw the first deployment of artillery and tanks on a large scale. Tuhan launched a preemptive offensive against the Telkevon and briefly captured Corsu, but they withdrew after the Telkevon released a cache of chemical weapons. Tuhahn then allied with Kustatinye. The resulting 9-year conflict spanned across Valakar and saw both Rolsdatch and Tuhahn crippled before the Telkevon successfully captured Kustatinye, which had fought to the last man. Kustatinye would prove a valuable prize, as it contained both a sizeable cache of Alkarian-era technology and the planet's only remaining orbital elevator, albeit the structure was inoperable due to extensive damage. Nevertheless, the technology salvaged from the city ushered in a scientific renaissance that brought dramatic improvements to the Union's quality of life.

Kaiserin Vaalunar II led the Telkevon's campaign into Gahlrag in 233. A deadly plague had swept across the continent in the proceeding years, killing a vast portion of the populace. Most of the survivors eagerly joined the Union or were unable to put up a serious fight, but in doing so they had brought the plague to the Telkevon. Millions died in sporadic outbreaks until the plague was nominally contained in 241 through exhaustive vaccination and public health programs. Vaalunar II narrowly survived an infection, but at such a high cost that she stepped down in 243.

The Union's weakened state caught the attention of the Yustaf Commonwealth, a growing power on the Kalrian continent which had been quietly monitoring Telkevan expansion. They seized on the opportunity and invaded Olukor in 246 with the goal of capturing the Nezekar Dynasty. Yustafan troops besieged Kalzevos for over a year, but they had underestimated the Union's resolve; an attempt to open a second front ended in disaster as the Olzilan Dynasty almost single-handedly repelled the attackers. Kalzevos was relieved after a subsequent series of costly counterattacks routed the Yustaf. The Telkevon launched their own invasion of Kalria, but poor logistics and heavy losses led to its failure. Three more major wars would follow before the Telkevon finally conquered Yustaf in 309. The Kalrian continent would be conquered in totality by 372.

The Telkevon had been planning to establish contact with the remote continent of Feldras, but these expeditions were put on pause until after the Yustaf Wars. When explorers finally reached Feldras in 315, they found the continent to be entirely uninhabited; subsequent expeditions would reveal that the bombardment had likely triggered catastrophic tectonic activity, resulting in volcanic eruptions and earthquakes that killed virtually everything on the continent. Colonists were denied access to Feldras until 375, when the continent was declared safe. The first new structure erected on Feldras was a vast monument dedicated to the dead, regardless of their ideology or origins.

The symbolic conquest of Ilutor, located near Alrukai's southern pole, in 387 marked the end of the Unification of Alrukai. The event is celebrated annually on Victory Day. By now, Telkevan officials had already turned their attention to the stars; having learned that they were once part of a larger empire, the Union's leadership was determined to fulfill the will of the Oltari by bringing all of the Alkarian League's former colonies under their wings.

The Bloodletting & Tagaran Reformation
The first functional subspace faster-than-light engine was created in 467 using parts salvaged from a derelict starship trapped in the ruins of Alrukai's orbital platforms. By 490, the Union had established a handful of colonies across the Alrukai system. Along the way, they encountered more survivors of the Alkarian League's collapse, particularly on Alrukai's brother planet, Vordolsus, where most of the inhabitants had regressed to an agrarian state. The ancient colony of Yinaka was, like Feldras, barren, having been reduced to an uninhabitable state.

Though unification had brought prosperity to the Telkevon, it was predominantly the dynasties and the upper-classes that had reaped the benefits. These same dynasties quarreled among themselves as they sought ever more power while undermining their opposition. Oltarism had likewise been in slow but steady decline in favor of secularism and new religious movements, which xenophobic conservatives believed would corrupt and ultimately destroy the Union. At the same time, independence movements had emerged on both Kalria and Valakar and rapidly gained momentum despite the dynasties' efforts to forcefully suppress them. Heir apparent Hrivalga Nezekar, in a bid to usurp his brother, Toldri, the chosen heir, allied himself with select dynasties and organizations, promising them immense wealth if they supported his coup. In 503, after having bought the support of the royal guards, Hrivalga assassinated the Kaiser, his heir, and several military and political officials during a meeting. Hrivalga's accomplices then moved to seize control of key facilities, though they were unable to capture the planet's primary communications relay before an alert could be sent. Clashes between loyalist and Hrivalgan forces broke out across the Union within the next few hours.

High Marshal of the Solar Navy Tagara Vukarn was the only survivor of the assassination attempt, having narrowly escaped thanks to the sacrifice of two loyalist guards. She escaped to the loyalist stronghold of Togaras, where she formally assumed the titles of both Grand Marshal and Kaiserin, as it was assumed that Hrivalga had killed the rest of the Nezekar bloodline. The majority of the Royal Military, which was still zealously loyal to the Oltari, joined Tagara, as did a number of dynasties and alien member states.

Tagara and the loyalists waged a war of extermination against Hrivalga and his accomplices,who were finally apprehended in 517 following the Battle of Zyflis, bringing an end to organized resistance. The leaders of the rebellion, after being paraded across Kalzevos, were publicly disemboweled before having their wings torn off with rope, causing death by sanguination. The rank-and-file soldiers and civilians that had supported Hrivalga were given the opportunity to redeem themselves, but the dynasties and organizations which had supported the coup were dismantled their holdings being dispersed amongst the loyalists.

Hrivalga had killed virtually all of the Nezekar bloodline, but had himself left behind four children who were too young to rule. Some advised Tagara to execute the children and form a new dynasty of her own, but Tagara refused; though she blamed the dynasties for the civil war, she was still loyal to Telkevon I and his legacy. Tagara instead rebuilt the government, issuing a new constitution which established military rule through the High Chamber. The dynasties and member states would remain intact, but had their authority substantially diminished; the Nezekar Dynasty would maintain a position in the High Chamber, but were subservient to the Grand Marshal and burdened with Hrivalga's sins. Tagara also led a revival of the Oltari faith which brought the gods back to primacy.

Tagara reigned until her death in 583 at the age of 142. She is revered as a national hero sent by the Oltari to save the Union from its own avarice; her birth, death, and the day of Hrivalga's execution are all celebrated as federal holidays in modern times.

Wars of Unification
The Telkevan Union deployed numerous exploratory fleets to examine nearby habitable planets in 597. As many had predicted, the scouts discovered numerous planets that had once been a part of the Alkarian League; however, officials had significantly underestimated the scale of Alkarian civilization, as nearly every habitable world housed League successor-states. Worse yet, some of these successors had attained FTL travel and were in the midst of carving out their own empires. At the same time, foreign empires had claimed some of the Alkarian's holdings as their own. The High Chamber, determined to fulfill Kaiser Telkevon I's will, embraced the challenge, declaring that the Telkevon had come upon their final trial, the test that would prove whether or not they were worthy of ruling the stars.

In 611, the Telkevon encountered the Imagi Federation. The Imagi were reluctant to join the Union outright, but possessed neither the will nor the strength to contend with the numerically and technologically superior Telkevan Solar Navy. The High Chamber, unwilling to commit troops to an unnecessary and potentially prolonged conflict in the midst of hostile space, opened diplomatic channels with Imagi leadership and began exchanging technology and resources, which in turn fostered a sizeable Oltari presence within the Federation. In 623, after assisting the Imagi in pacifying the Alzalam Enclave, the Telkevon and Imagi established a mutual defense pact.

The Vokstani Wars began in 647 when the Vokstan Empire invaded Telkevan space after the union refused to join their empire. The Repzork scored several swift victories, occupying a number of colonies in the process, but their advance was halted after the Imagi struck at their vulnerable flanks. The death of Repzork Orochi Vusataku in 658 prompted the Vokstan to agree to a ceasefire. As diplomats were debating conditions for peace, both sides were preparing their forces for another round of fighting. The second conflict came in 683 after a Telkevan-backed uprising within Vokstani space was pacified; the Repzork launched a second invasion, but prepared Telkevan defenses shattered the invaders and launched a counterattack as the Imagi opened a second front. Telkevan forces were halted at the Vokstan fortress-world of Zykorus, and after more inconclusive, bloody battles, both sides agreed to a new ceasefire in 704. Hostilities began anew when the Repzork attempted to retake lost colonies in 710, but the conflict ended without a decisive victor in 719. In 728, the fourth and final war began with the Imagi launched a decoy invasion that drew a large number of Repzork troops away from the Telkevan-Vokstan border zone. Telkevan forces then pushed past Zykorus and, in 742, laid siege to Vokstan. The defenders surrendered to the Telkevon in 744 after their leader, Emperor Zuthukai, was slain in an arranged duel with Grand Marshal Olzga. Despite nearly a century of war, the High Chamber took a conciliatory approach with the defeated Vokstan, going as far as returning occupied Repzork colonies. The wars also greatly influenced Telkevan-Imagi relations; the Federation formally joined the Union in 749.

By 850, the Telkevan Union had firmly established itself as a great power among the Alkarian successor states. Though this period saw an increased number of states peacefully inducted into the Union, many successors instead established defensive alliances to ward off the Telkevon and other great powers. One such alliance, the Belsyiv Compact, was amid a military standoff with the Ulrasni Commonwealth when the Telkevon moved into the region in 864. Both refused the Telkevon's terms and instead agreed on a temporary ceasefire to deal with the Union. However, while Ulrasni forces put up considerable resistance and forced the Union back on several occasions, the Belsyiv were crippled by inept officers, political infighting, and a near-total breakdown of the Compact's supply network. In 879, the Compact dissolved as members broke away and sided with the Telkevon, prompting the Ulrasni to occupy the remnants of Belsyivi space. Using contacts within the Commonwealth, Telkevan special forces assassinated key Ulrasni figures, including the chief minister, in 894. The Ulrasni military imposed martial law and again refused to surrender, intent on making the war so costly that the Telkevon would be forced to negotiate. This would ultimately prove futile as the Ulrasni had suffered irreplaceable losses and had lost the support of the public. The Commonwealth formally surrendered in 906 after one of it's largest remaining fleets defied orders and surrendered. Disorganized pockets of resistance were scattered across the Commonwealth and would wage a guerilla war against Union forces in the decades that followed.

In 950, construction began on the Rhzari Canal, an ambitious project to control the Rhzari substream passage with a vast network of anchors and null-fields. Beginning as a joint-venture between the Department of Infrastructure and the Department of Internal Security in 946, the proposal was highly controversial, with critics claiming it would be an expensive waste of time and resources. Despite opposition from the reigning grand marshal, the project was approved by a narrow 5-4 vote after winning the support of the Civil Defense Service.

Union explorers discovered the location of the Alkarian League's ancient capitol in 957. Scouts were subsequently sent to the location and found it to be occupied by the Galderan Imperium, an especially large and powerful successor state which had occupied much of the former Alkarian core and beyond. Later that month, after the Union sent a diplomatic envoy to open a dialogue between the two powers. A diplomatic crisis soon developed as the Galderans considered themselves to be the rightful heirs to the Alkarian's legacy and were devout followers of the goddess Ashjek, whose teachings were diametrically opposed to the Oltari's omnistic views. As the Telkevon continued their expansion and it became apparent that coexistence was not possible, both sides began military mobilization in 963. The Telkevon struck first with a four-pronged invasion aimed at the Galderan's member state. Catastrophe struck in 968 following the deceive Battle of Dorus, which saw the total destruction of the prestigious 1st, 6th, and 17th fleets. In the ensuing chaos, the Galderans routed the remaining Union fleets and pushed towards the Rhzari Substream; though they secured a foothold into Rhzari, the route was blocked by the incomplete but operational and fortified Rhzari Canal. They then invaded the Ulrasi, prompting a civil war as a number of colonies defected to the Imperium. The Belsyivi, eager to settle old disputes, played a pivotal role in tying down the rebels. The accidental killing of a noteworthy Zuthric patriarch in 981 incensed the Vokstani, which defied the Vukaran Constitution by deploying its own internal military in retaliation, successfully dislodging the Galderans despite heavy losses. A final attempt was made to break the Rhzari Canal in 986, but the Galderans were ultimately routed. Anti-war demonstrations erupted across Galderan territory as they failed to make any substantial progress. In 988, the Galderans offered to surrender under certain conditions, but the Telkevon refused and continued offensive operations until the Galderans surrendered unconditionally in 991, though some of the Imperium's member states continued to resist up until 1003.

The induction of the last known Alkarian colony in 1239 marked the end of the Wars of Unification and the fulfillment of the Oltari and Telkevon I's will, but it brought no change to the Union as it sought to accumulate more influence and prestige. The next four centuries saw the Union enjoy relative peace and stability, during which time the Union enjoyed explosive economic and territorial growth as Telkevan settlers traveled beyond the former boundaries of the Alkarian League to claim pristine, uninhabited worlds. This period was also marked by rapid technological developments as as the Telkevon expanded its efforts to recover and study surviving Alkarian artifacts. Wars were predominantly small in scale and limited to the frontiers.

The Blossoming to the Coalition Wars
The Blossoming of 1411 to 2800 saw the Union open itself to the wider galactic community. Confident in their military prowess, the Telkevon had claimed a vast swath of new territory following a prolonged series of wars, but the conflict had diminished the AFTU's manpower, leaving their forces overextended and unable to effectively defend and govern their new holdings. Frequent foreign incursions forced the Union into a defensive stance. It was at this time that Sulfi Oztana, a devout follower of Lluawit, was appointed grand marshal. Sulfi believed that the Union had neglected the teachings of Lluawit with its rampant imperialism. Thus, Sulfi reformed the Union's foreign policy, placing a greater emphasis on diplomacy and soft power than on conquest. The grand marshal made peace with some of the Union's adversaries, some of whom would later become allies or even member states, in turn freeing up Telkevan forces. By the end of her reign, the Union had regained the initiative and the controversial marshal was regarded as an agent of the gods, though she remains a controversial figure in some circles to this day. The following centuries would see the Union accumulate a vast amount of wealth and prestige through careful alliances, expansive trade, and ruthless conquest.

Increased trade brought with it the Xenochytrid, which were first identified in 2884 after infected ships had spread the parasite to a number of colonies, starting a severe infestation which took nearly a year to eliminate. Telkevan forces then spent the next several years combing through space to locate and eliminate local Xenochytrid hives. Proposals were made to study and even weaponize the blight, but these were all rejected by the High Chamber, which deemed such efforts more expensive and dangerous than they were worth. A decree was instead issued declaring that the Xenochytrid were to be exterminated wherever found, and that any attempt to weaponize them was punishable by death.

By 3200, some of the Telkevan's alliances had begun to unravel as the Union used its growing influence to establish a regional hegemony. Tensions came to a head in 3307 when a coalition was formed against the Telkevon. The betrayal caught the Union and its allies completely by surprise, and as a result they suffered a string of defeats culminating in the humiliating Treaty of Glios in 3330, in which they were forced to cede portions of their holdings to the victors. The Union launched a revenge campaign in 3337, but despite initial success they were defeated once more in 3345. The following year, the Parshkari Khanate, which had fought against the Telkevon, secretly reconciled with the Union after having been slighted by its allies, who were themselves beginning to lose cohesion. Using information provided by the Khanate, the Union instigated the Third Coalition War and scored a decisive if costly victory at the Battle of the Gherahos Gap 3349, in which the Union crippled the coalition's naval forces. The coalition sued for peace, but the High Chamber refused, declaring its intent to erase the coalition. A prolonged war of attrition followed in which the Telkevon and their allies systematically slaughtered the Coalition and its people. By the cessation of hostilities in 3491, the Coalition had ceased to exist, and between 80-95% of its population had been killed, the survivors fleeing to unexplored space.

The Great Tribulation to the Talziri Reforms
The Union's victory in the Coalition Wars had come at a high cost; the government had only narrowly avoided complete economic collapse, and the military was in a severely weakened state, leaving it incapable of maintaining order as unrest festered across Telkevan space as the Union grew increasingly divided over Grand Marshal Aldrezir, who had reigned since before the wars. A zealous Telkevan supremacists, Aldrezir disdained anyone outside of the faith and sought to bring everyone under the Telkevan banner. Aldrezir's critics, which included members of the High Chamber, denounced him as a heretic and a fool, while his supporters believed that Aldrezir's actions were necessary and that the Telkevon, as the chosen vessel of the Oltari, had the right to do as it wished. At the same time, Cindrism, the religion of the Galderans, had grown to become one of the Union's largest minority religions and had split into three sects: collaborators, who cooperated with the wider Union; reformists, who used diplomacy in an effort to peacefully transform Union society; and secessionists, a secret society which sought revenge against the Telkevon. The secessionists, having won the support of Emperor Nahkli V, gradually took control of the Galderan Imperium and had used the Coalition Wars to covertly amass strength as it waited for the moment to strike.

In 3493, despite the Union's weakened state, Aldrezir, driven by his ardent xenophobia, secretly drafted plans for the extermination of anyone who refused to take the Oath of Loyalty. The plan was revealed by one of Aldrezir's own supporters, prompting the dissenting high marshals to murder Aldrezir and seize control of the High Chamber. Some of Aldrezir's allies escaped and waged a guerilla war against the High Chamber. Amid the chaos, opportunists seceded and carved out their own states, further extending the AFTU's limited manpower.

The rebels were significantly outnumbered and had virtually no allies, limiting their ability to seriously threaten the High Chamber. The last rebel leader was captured and executed in 3514. Later that same day, the Galderan Imperium launched its long-awaited revenge campaign. With little regard for holding territory or even their own lives, the Galderans waged a war of annihilation, intent on killing as many Telkevon as possible. Union troops initially tried to hold their ground, but as they incurred unsustainable losses, High Marshal of the Navy Talziri convinced the High Chamber to lure Imperial forces into a trap. The Union made a fighting retreat, ultimately ceding the Rhzari substream to the invaders in 3526, beginning the Battle of the Telkevan Core. Galderan forces poured into the region and pressed the attack despite unexpectedly heavy resistance. Nearly a year into the battle, Talziri, with a fleet comprised of two experimental dreadnoughts and whatever other vessels he could acquire, infiltrated Galderan space, moving undetected until they drew near the colony of Cetralkyus. Before reinforcements could arrive, Talziri had routed the defending ships, and the two dreadnoughts, equipped with experimental dark-matter railcannons which out-ranged the planet's orbital guns, unleashed a volley which cracked open the planet and vaporized virtually everything caught in the blast radius.

News of Cetralkyus' destruction sent panic throughout Galderan ranks. The Imperium tried to maintain order and responded with their own weapons of mass destruction, but prepared Union defenses largely nullified them. The Imperium's failure to eliminate Talziri and the subsequent destruction of both Ghilu and Nuthris the following weeks led to a widespread mutiny in the Galderan military and a revolution which saw the emperor deposed by his own family and form a new government which then surrendered. This administration was then disbanded as the Galderans were stripped of their status as a member state and were put under direct military control. Remaining insurrectionists surrendered or were subdued by 3527.

Talziri was hailed as a champion of the gods for his actions, and in 3542 he was appointed to grand marshal. An ardent disciple of Grand Marshal Tagara, Talziri believed that the Union had strayed from her philosophy, but also that the grand marshal did not go far enough with her reforms. The first few decades of his rule saw Talziri make sweeping government and military reforms which, while keeping the AFTU in power, delegated certain responsibilities to a subservient and supervised civil administration overseen by the newly-established Council of Lords. As part of his military reforms, he created two new service branches: the Civil Defense Service and the Cybersecurity Service, to whom was given the task of building and managing the social scoring network. Talziri also amended the Vukarn Constitution, expanding on the benevolence doctrine, placing an even greater emphasis on the Oltari in all aspects, and creating amendments based on the ideas of Grand Marshal Sulfi Oztana.

Talziri's reforms revitalized the Union, ushering in the Reclamation, which saw the Union reclaim its lost territories between 3573 and 3693 and reestablish its position as a great power. The later half of his reign would see the Union expand into new territory, but Talziri placed greater emphasis on further developing preexisting settlements and terraforming planets to a habitable state. The grand marshal avoided direct confrontations with his neighbors, preferring diplomatic solutions and reserving the AFTU's strength for active threats. Talziri reigned until his death in 3876.

Modern Era
See also: Telkevan-Nephani Cold War, Kosdahl Crisis, Great War

In 3827, after three centuries of 'pacification and cultural operations' conducted by the Civil Defense Service, the successor to the Galderan Imperium, the Federal Republic of Kovas, was granted status as a member state. This began a debate over whether the ban on the Cindric religion should be lifted. The Union's efforts to erase had been unsuccessful, and the ban itself was only enforced in particular circumstances. After an internal report conducted by Central Intelligence indicated that there was virtually no significant support for an armed insurrection within the church or other denominations, the ban was formally lifted in 3829, with the caveat that certain denominations and beliefs remained illegal or would deduct points from one's social score.

By 4100, the Union had exceeded its previous territorial peak during the Blossoming, marking the beginning of what some have considered a new golden age of prosperity and religious fervor.

Tarsovis Era & Great War
In 4215 Tarsovis Visaria, High Marshal of the Solar Legions, was elected to the position of Grand Marshal, his former position being filled by one of Tarsovis' associates, Marshal Nuoh Gersalv. A tranquil and calculating leader, Tarsovis has seen the Union expand into the neighboring Tomastahl Sector and further expand and modernize its already vast military in preparation for a new age of diplomacy and competition with the superpowers Kentarus Sector.