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. Initially confined within the Kentarus Sector, the conflict has grown to become the largest and bloodiest conflict in the history of the known galaxy, having thus far resulted in billions of civilian and military casualties, including many millions from various atrocities and massacres; the occupation, enslavement, or ruination of hundreds of planets, and the total collapse of several nation-states.

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.

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

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.