Thirdspace: Invasion
Prologue:
"On this world, a powerful empire shall be built. Though our world still bears the scars of past mistakes, we have learned from them and now we have the chance to build a better future for mankind. A future free from the terror of nuclear weapons falling from the sky, from alien races who seek to enslave or exterminate us. We shall stretch our hand forth and claim what is rightfully ours. Any who stand in our way shall fall, and those who wish to share our vision will be taught of the greatness they can achieve as part of our great nation. It is thus with great pride that I announce the formation, of the first Terran Empire, to provide safety and security for all mankind. Long live the Empire!"
Emperor Alexander Brenham, April 17th, 2065.
Following the failure of the Hyperstring Invasion, the Terran Empire once again found itself in dire straits. With no outside enemies to fight, rebellions began to intensify on worlds under Terran Rule. Alien races were used as scapegoats for the troubles and suffered from increasingly violent oppression. Even with aliens to vent their hatred against, it appeared the Empire was on the brink of collapse.
Alternate theories were desperately sought, and on March 4th, 2371 a subspace tunnel was uncovered near Vulcan. Probes launched into the tunnel found it to be part of a vast network which stretched far beyond the isolated Terran space. Scout ships mapped the tunnels and assault fleets followed, filled with eager warriors eager for a new chance at power and conquest.
Dozens of worlds were taken in the first few weeks as tens of thousands of Terran vessels advanced. In preparation for the invasion of the Mirror Universe a vast invasion fleet had been constructed, and following the failed invasion it had continued to grow in preparation for a devastating civil war. Now that fleet allowed the Terran Empire to grow more rapidly than had ever been thought possible. Ten years after the beginning of the Great Invasion, the Terran Empire had grown to dominate nearly half the galaxy, with bases on tens of thousands of worlds, ranging from isolated listening posts to heavily fortified shipyards and major colonies. New technology such as quantum and phalanx torpedoes, genesis devices and cloaking technology made the Empire a nearly unstoppable force in combat. The discovery of a metaphasic nebula soon named the Fountain of Youth led to the doubling of Terran life spans and virtual immortality for those who visited the planet at the heart of the nebula on a regular basis. However the Empire was soon to face its greatest challenge.
On November 27th, 2379, an Empire scout ship encountered a massive Cube shaped vessel. Contact was lost with the scout, and two weeks later thousands of Borg Cubes invaded the Terran Empire. The Terran Battle Fleets fought back bravely, but for every Borg Cube destroyed, a dozen took its place. As fleet after fleet fell to the Borg advance and contact was lost with more systems, the Empire became desperate. Suicide units made up of cheaply constructed ships piloted by holograms were thrown against Cubes, subspace weapons were used against assimilated systems and aliens were used as cannon fodder in boarding operations. The Borg never faltered. As the core regions of the Empire came under attack, the Borg made their first mistake.
Confident that the galaxy would soon be theirs, the Collective used a newly assimilated technology to open a doorway to another dimension, where they encountered a race they designated Species 8472. However Species 8472 proved impervious to assimilation. When 8472 counterattacked the Borg were for the first time in their history on the defensive. Their offensive against the Empire was halted as all Borg focused on defeated Species 8472. Their chance came when they assimilated a race which possessed powerful radiation weaponry. Because Species 8472 vessels were biological and lacked deflector shields radionic torpedoes proved lethal, and the Borg began pushing the 8472 forces back.
With the withdrawal of most of the Borg fleets the Empire rapidly began rebuilding, making extensive use of alien slave labor. During the battle to retake the Kolaris system a Terran Empire battle fleet made contact with 8472. Since both empires desired the destruction of the Borg, a tenuous alliance was formed. In exchange for shields which blocked the Borg radionic torpedoes, Species 8472 gave the Empire data on their bio weapons and armor. When the Borg came again, their enemies were prepared.
With the Terran Empire and Species 8472 united, the Borg were forced back once again. Using 8472's quantum singularities combined fleets destroyed the Borg Unicomplex with Genesis torpedoes, causing the Borg to become erratic. Splitting into small fleets, combined Empire and 8472 strike groups systematically cleansed Borg worlds of drones and used the Borg's own industry against them. Many thousands of drones were freed and used against their former masters, including Captain Anika Hanson and Admiral Picard. The Borg did fight back, but without the guidance of the Queen resistance was far from futile.
After two years of costly battles, the final Borg vessel was destroyed. A flood of Borg tech filled the Empire, much of it being used for rebuilding. Species 8472, after being 'assured' by the Empire that their realm would never again be invaded, returned to Fluidic Space. With over half its fleet in ruins and hundreds of words assimilated, the Empire halted all expansion projects and focused entirely on rebuilding.
By the year 2401 the Empire had rebuilt to its prewar strength and all internal rebellions had been crushed. A wormhole was discovered in the Bajoran System after its initiation into the Empire by Captain Sisco, whom the Bajorans immensely respected and called "Emissary." Sisco was made Commander of the Bajoran Sector and tasked with fortifying the wormhole. This was to prove vital when the Empire began expanding into the Gamma Quadrant through the wormhole and contact was made with the Dominion. With a third of the Imperial fleet already in the Delta Quadrant securing the holding the Empire had won from the Borg, the Empire's forces were stalemated. Though Imperial warships were more advanced, the Dominion could construct vessels at a prodigious pace. Battle lines stalled around a series of Dominion fortress systems and Section 31 developed a new branch devoted to countering changeling infiltration. The Empire was balanced on a knife edge, and only time would tell if it would stand or fall.
The next chapter should be up in a few days. If anyone would like their own character leave a post with the info you'd like to be included. The Emperor protects.
ENTILZA