Chapter 2

The United Nations of Terra had grown exponentially over the 10 years following the war with the Galactic Machine Assembly. By this time, they had colonized two more planets and fully funded an armada consisting of the 15 original corvettes outfitted with the latest weapons and shield technology as well as 4 Goliath class destroyers and 4 Viper class cruisers. With the help of several treaties with the empire known to the galaxy as The Keepers, they had successfully begun the fortification of their borders in the north towards the Galactic Machine Assembly. Negotiations with The Keepers had been surprisingly easy as they were discovered to be a wildly pacifistic and deeply religious empire of Terrans could only describe as living rocks. The average Keeper stood nearly 10 feet high and weighed over a ton. Should they ever need to go to war, the warriors they brought with them would surely strike fear into any living creature. To bridge the gap between the two empire and to solidify the trust that the Terrans wouldn't feel the urge to suddenly conquer them, The Keepers asked to receive and potentially convert to their religion, a number of willing Terrans. Naturally there were volunteers who stepped forward to leave behind their Terran roots and see what a life of real peace was all about. From this agreement, the formation of a strong and mutually beneficial alliance with one of the strongest empires logged in the galaxy with exception of the Elithion Protectors. The Keepers announced their open support and guaranteed the independence of the United Nations of Terra in a fantastical display over the Galactic Communal Channel, further solidifying the friendship the Terrans desperately needed. With this announcement the Terrans also announced their desire to obtain a seat in the Galactic Senate to begin participating in galaxy wide diplomatic discussion. This was met with mixed emotions as the Raxians believed the Terrans were I'll prepared to see the atrocities committed by certain empires in the galaxy. Namely, the Terran's brand new ally, The Keepers. When the Raxians attempted to warn the Terrans that The Keepers were more than just a peaceful, religious empire and were more than capable of unspeakable acts in the name of their religion, they were promptly asked to leave. Shortly after borders were closed and the defense pact between the two were broken, leaving the Raxian War Clans vulnerable and alone.

In 2399, the Galactic Machine Assembly made a move to conquer the remainder of the Raxian War Clans, purging them from the galaxy once and for all. The war lasted a short 5 years due to the economic collapse within the Raxian empire and their inability to reinforce the fleets they sent to defend. The United Nations of Terra turned a blind eye to the war and continued their goals of obtaining a Galactic Senate seat and further expansion. When the final Raxian planet fell under the relentless assault of the machines, thousands of Raxian refugees fled the systems and begged for refuge within the Terran borders. King Gorax was killed along with his war chiefs in the final last stand of their capital world and there was no one left to speak for the Raxian refugees. Moved by the speeches made by the lower class Raxians, the Terran government began the colonization of a lone world on the outskirts of their territory for the Raxians to settle on with the condition that they would provide ten percent of their monthly income to the Terran government as well as fight in any wars that the Terrans found themselves in. Grateful for the chance at a new life, the Raxians agreed without a single protest. Meanwhile the Terran Envoys began a new venture deep into the territory of the Mah Ock Feudal States. Their goal was to set up diplomatic communications and attempt to reason with their mysterious neighbors to the south of them. Even The Keepers knew little about these honor bound warriors except the fact that they never shied away from a fight and often faced civil wars due to their natural unhappy state of mind. The envoys were estimated to arrive at the Mah Ock capital a month after setting out, however after two months, no word was sent back. Shortly after, the severed heads of their envoys were delivered to Sol via a mineral shipment from an unknown merchant. The Terrans, both furious and heartbroken, vowed their revenge upon the Mah Ock Feudal States and began drafting war plans.

The United Nations of Terra declared war on the Mah Ock Feudal States in late 2401. Prior to this declaration, the Terran Navy had finally completed the development and construction of their very first legion class battleship. Unfortunately, they could only afford to build one before the declaration of war, but their engineers had proclaimed that this class of ship was near invulnerable. Equipped with the most efficient shield generators and a new form of hull armor as well as increased hangar capacity and a new type of energy cannon called the arc emitter, the Terrans set out to get their revenge. The first battle occurred not far into Mah Ock territory. The Terrans moved through the first 10 systems largely unhindered claiming one as they went. When the Mah Ock fleet finally met them in battle they were quickly overrun. Their fleets mostly consisted of earlier design corvettes because they spent so much time and so many resources on fighting each other. The second Mah Ock fleet fell soon after just three systems away from the scene of the first battle. Within 5 years the Terrans had conquered and claimed over 95 percent of the Mah Ock territory. When the only remaining system belonging to the Mah Ock Feudal States lay in the path of the Terran armada, the keepers gently urged them to consider a general surrender and allow the last remaining Mah Ock live out their lives peacefully. Still angry from the blatant disrespect and murder of their envoys, the Terran armada laid waste to the remaining system, wiping out any remaining Mah Ock life. The galactic community was mortified. Sure, no empire was a stranger to war or conquering but mass genocide was rarely ever seen in any life forms except the Galactic Machine Assembly. Fearing their spot in the Galactic senate was lost, the Terran government made a plea to the community for forgiveness, citing that their anger had been justified but was carried out immaturely. The members of the senate were not sad to see the Feudal States go as they had been a burden both financially and diplomatically for most empires, but the Terrans had gone too far and a punishment must be issued. They decided that economic sanctions would be lobbied against the younger empire for a total of 10 years. While mildly inconvenient, it was not a major setback to the Terrans, and they accepted the punishment gracefully.

The Keepers were impressed by the show of power the Terrans had exhibited and behind closed doors praised the Terran government on their quick and decisive victory. This only further solidified the Terran mindset for expansion and set forth a series of events that would change the galaxy as they knew it.

Behind the closed off systems of the Elithion protectors, a new and dark feeling awoke. The recent wars to the north and east of them had stirred a long-forgotten emotion deep inside. The bat like creatures rarely ever gathered in groups of more than 10 yet in the last year and a half the numbers swelled beyond the hundreds of thousands. Forges we're once again lit. Research labs glowed bright all hours of the day and long into the night. The Elithion war machine was once again churning. War was coming. A war on a scale the galaxy had never seen before. Very soon, the Dark Armadas would move to secure their rightful place in the galaxy.

In 2450 disturbing reports began to reach the ears of the United Nations of Terra. Terran patrol fleets had recently caught glimpse of large, slow moving fleets of an empire never recorded. When brought to the attention of The Keepers, the Terran envoys were cast out of their chambers and told that their fleets must be imagining things. Handle your people The Keepers said. Unnerving to the Terrans how scared The Keepers seemed and how quickly they brushed off the topic. In 2451, a Terran patrol fleet vanished from existence just two system away from the capital of Sol. Intelligence officers and military leadership alike scrambled to search for a meaning to the disappearance. Before any answers were found, a giant shadow blotted out the sun above Sol. Hundreds of transport ships landed in the streets and massive bat like creatures filled the streets. Through all the screaming and terror, not a single creature uttered a sound. Nor did they open fire on the Terrans. Rather, they landed and began a slow march towards the nation's Capital. When Terran security forces met them at the stairs leading to the embassy, the creatures halted immediately and stood there, unmoving and silent. Their leader introduced himself as Drax, Destroyer of Worlds, and right hand to the Lord of the Skies. They were not here to kill, but rather to offer a deal. The Terrans could Lay down their weapons and fight alongside the armies and fleets of Elithion, or they would perish in a hailstorm of fire and destruction. When the Terran government officials finally made their way outside, the armies were gone, and a black box sat at the steps of the embassy. Inside was a small screen with two buttons to push. Accept, or refuse. Below that was a timer counting down 24 hours. The Terran government reached out to its Allie's The Keepers but there was no answer. The Terrans could only assume the worst and began discussing their options. Dawn arrived and the Terrans were scrambling to put together an attack and defense strategy against the Elithion military. They arrived once more but this time in smaller numbers. Prepared this time the Terran envoys led Drax and his escort into the embassy to discuss terms. Before a word could be spoken, Drax pulled up a hologram recording and began to speak. He told them they knew the Terrans had reached out to their ally for help and they also knew why The Keepers had not responded.

The hologram showed a massive, moon sized ship orbiting the Keepers capital world. A bright flash and then nothing. The planet was still there. A few seconds later the surface of the planet seemed to begin boiling. And then a loud crack and it split into pieces like an egg. Drax went on to explain that they had made the same offer to The Keepers and they had refused. According to him there was no more Keepers. All their planets had been demolished civilians and all. Their fleets decimated in battle. The same fate awaited the United Nations of Terra if they did not make the right decision. Reluctantly the Terran government agreed to fight with the Elithion Protectors. Drax assured them they made the right choice and told them they would receive their orders within the next few days. And just like that, they were gone. Terrified, the Terrans began making war preparations. Resources were allocated for increased fleet capacity and more battleships as well as troop training. A mandatory draft was placed into effect for all species of fighting age. A new era had dawned upon the galaxy. An era of galaxy wide war.