Following contact with the Zerg Collective, a period of unease, economic opportunity, and military preparedness ensued. The unease stemmed from the Collective's release of their telepathic abilities—referred to as 'psionics' by the Zerg—into the public domain. The revelation triggered mass riots, with the public warning the hierarchy not to trust these extraterrestrials.
Despite the cautionary voices, politicians and military generals—particularly the former, captivated by the economic prospects—chose to engage with the aliens. They agreed to trade their surplus eezo (affectionately known as element zero) and samples of native animal DNA, as requested by the Zerg. Interestingly, the Zerg had encountered little of these resources within their own space due to their previous assimilation or destruction-focused ideology. In return, the Zerg freely provided information upon request, contingent on the nature of the questions posed.
The military generals, particularly Tutis, shared the same concerns as the public regarding the zerg's psionic abilities. They feared that during their initial encounter, there might have been a significant information breach. If left unaddressed, this situation could lead to disastrous consequences. In response, the generals proposed a plan to safeguard themselves against the zerg's psionic powers. However, they were surprised to discover that the zerg were willing to teach them psionics. Despite their reservations—after all, no typical adversary willingly grants an advantage to potential enemies—the politicians eagerly seized the opportunity to learn these mind-reading abilities. Unfortunately, their focus on eliminating political rivals blinded them to potential threats posed by the zerg.
In 85 AC, two years after initial contact with the Zerg Collective, relations had deepened, and technological progress, albeit gradual, continued steadily. The hierarchy enjoyed relative economic prosperity. At this juncture, the primarchs proposed a non-committal alliance—an alliance without binding guarantees or requirements. Its sole purpose was to further strengthen the flourishing relationship between the Zerg Collective and the hierarchy.
Opposition arose, primarily from the military generals, as the vote to establish the alliance draft proposal loomed. Over the two years following initial contact, the generals had transitioned from concern to unwavering determination. They staunchly believed that the Zerg harbored ill intentions toward the hierarchy. Initially peaceful in their opposition, the Generals swiftly escalated their actions. They established bases across multiple worlds and engaged in extremist activities—violent riots, bombings in political and strategically vital areas.
Amidst recent developments, the faithful adherents of Haetism embarked on a mission to spread their doctrine of unity throughout the hierarchy. They fervently believed that Haetism—the faith of unity—held the key to realizing their dream of collective prosperity.
Emissaries dispatched by the faithful approached both the generals, including Tutis's opposition, and the Xenophiles. Their message was clear, albeit forceful: a demand to revert to the status quo. The faithful hoped that returning to familiar ground would grant them greater influence over the hierarchy's decisions, freeing them from the primarchs' control.
The generals, unyielding in their stance, flatly rejected the request, citing the perceived Zerg threat and the imperative of military preparedness.
As for the Xenophiles, their response was a masterclass in subtlety. Polite yet laden with nuance, they skillfully declined, leaving no doubt about their position.
As tensions escalated, the faithful—unwilling to accept the rejections—doubled down, hoping to apply more pressure and revert to the status quo. The generals issued warnings of a military response, while the Xenophiles threatened economic sanctions. Frustrated by the proposal's rejection, the faithful took decisive action. Rather than wantonly destroying infrastructure or attacking the populace, they discreetly eliminated politicians within the assembly, replacing them with loyal adherents. Their aim was to sway the Xenophiles toward their cause.
However, this move backfired. Instead of siding with the faithful, the Xenophiles leaned further into the Zerg's camp. Their misguided belief that the Zerg posed no threat blinded them to the reality. In response, the generals declared independence, forming the Turian Opposition Council (TOC). Not to be outdone, the faithful also broke away, renaming themselves The Conclave of the Faithful (COTF).
Amid escalating tensions, the Hierarchy, firmly aligned with the Xenophiles, struck first. Their target: the TOC's world of Hablim. The Hierarchy aimed to showcase the power of their technological advancements, bolstered by their dealings with the Zerg. Meanwhile, the TOC remained vigilant, their military on high alert, and their sensor systems primed. Their military-class vessels—more akin to stations—boasted system-wide directional propulsion but lacked FTL capabilities. The newly deployed CVA (Cancel Void Action) Independent systems allowed the TOC to easily defend celestial bodies like Hablim.
When the Hierarchy's fleet entered the system, the CVAs sprang to life. With the TOC fleet flanking the Hierarchies' forces to the west, the Hierarchy's fleet was swiftly decimated.
Hierarchy command received a terse message reporting the fleet's destruction, prompting the swift dispatch of reinforcements. The Hierarchy was determined to prevent the TOC from gaining access to their closely guarded secret technologies, developed only recently.
Not to be outdone, the COTF entered the fray. They dispatched two fleets to the Hierarchy world of Rund'ar, hoping to stall the advancement of Hierarchy manufacturing. Meanwhile, the COTF's mining stations proliferated in the neighboring nebula, marking their rapid territorial expansion.
The TOC world of Eqeris shares a border with the COTF world of Galan. Concerned about this vulnerability, the COTF dispatched spy ships to map out the system's defenses. Subsequently, the 3rd fleet, positioned nearby, launched an assault to weaken the border with the TOC. Their goal was to create a path for the 5th and 8th fleets to reach the TOC capital world of Digeris, disrupting the TOC's ability to respond to future COTF incursions.
In response, the TOC deployed their remaining CVAs (towed to the system) to delay the COTF advance. Simultaneously, they pushed through the joint nexus of the hierarchy, —a region controlled by the hierarchy, aiming to reach the northern border of COTF space. The nexus posed a strategic obstacle, and the TOC sought to secure their position.
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In the aftermath of the TOC's victory over the retreating Hierarchy forces at the battle of the nexus, the COTF occupation fleet orbiting Rund'ar met its demise. This loss left the COTF vulnerable in the neighboring nebula. Meanwhile, the Hierarchy's 6th fleet, eager to reclaim their honor, attempted to strike at COTF interests within the nebula. However, fate intervened—the weakened Hierarchy ships, still recovering from their battle with the TOC, were obliterated by the very nebula they sought to exploit.
Unfortunately for the TOC, their world of Hablim fell to the reinforcing Hierarchy fleet, granting the Hierarchy access to valuable resources and strategic TOC worlds.
As the Hierarchy fortified the former TOC world of Hablim, they aimed to swiftly advance deeper into TOC territory. However, their understanding was flawed—the fall of Hablim didn't imply that other worlds lacked defenses.
TOC forces pressed toward the COTF's northern border, while the Nexus remained securely in TOC hands. To prevent the TOC from disrupting crucial supplies—such as gas, Eezo, and alloys—needed for fleet construction, the COTF rerouted their 8th fleet from the Galan front to the new northern front. This decision delayed their planned offensive into Digeris by one or two years.
Meanwhile, the 7th and 3rd fleets, left without the 8th fleet, focused on securing Galan and occupying Eqeris. The latter world would serve as a fortified base, essential for future operations once the northern front was secured.
As the 8th fleet arrived at the northern front, they encountered the TOC forces fresh from their battle with the hierarchy—the aftermath of the Nexus conflict. The COTF assumed the TOC ships would be fragile and in need of repairs. However, they overlooked a critical detail: the Nexus, designed for trade, housed repair facilities and manufacturing tools. The Hierarchy had evidently reinforced and upgraded these stations at the war's outset.
When the COTF fleet engaged the TOC in the Yonix VII system, they were in for a surprise. The TOC's ships were fully functional and expertly repaired. Although the battle was closely contested, the COTF emerged victorious. The 8th fleet managed to destroy the TOC's capital ship and eliminate remaining forces. Some TOC ships escaped, but the COTF dismissed them as inconsequential.
Following the defeat of the TOC's northern forces, the operation to secure Digeris could proceed once the 8th fleet completed its repairs. Meanwhile, the battle for Eqeris reached a stalemate—the 3rd and 8th fleets were unable to breach the TOC's defenses. The TOC's CVAs skillfully disrupted COTF contingents, preserving control of the system.
With the setback in the north, Eqeris eventually fell to the COTF within months. The fully repaired 8th fleet joined forces with their counterparts, securing Eqeris and opening a pathway for the COTF toward Digeris. To prevent this, the TOC will have to divert forces from their front with the Hierarchy.
Confident in their ability to manage a two-front battle, the COTF made a strategic move. They dispatched their reserve 11th fleet to the Hierarchy world of Quinex—a planet bordering the COTF's extensive mining industry within the nebula. Quinex presented an ideal target for another offensive against the Hierarchy. Its proximity to the nebula provided a cloak of sorts, and the nebula's magnetic field interfered with the Hierarchy's sensors, ensuring a swift defeat.
With the Galan front secure and the COTF's push toward Digeris progressing, Quinex was poised to fall into COTF's hands. This victory would grant them access to the vulnerable rear of the Hierarchy.
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Amidst the ongoing conflict, the Hierarchy found itself in a precarious situation. Their primary focus remained on defeating the TOC fleets and securing valuable mining worlds recently exposed after the fall of Hablim. However, they were caught off guard by news of a COTF attack on the world of Quinex, a mere year after Hablim's fall. With Quinex now lost, the Hierarchy's undefended rear lay vulnerable to both COTF and TOC forces.
likely aimed at delaying the Hierarchy's advance within TOC space, the TOC struck the Hierarchy from the rear. Their raiding vessels infiltrated the Rugin expanse—a region lacking in defenses and primarily engaged in trade, particularly with the Zerg.
In a surprising move, the TOC diverted forces from the Galan front to reinforce the Hablim frontier. This bolstered the defending fleets, which had been depleted due to raiding expeditions in the Rugin expanse. Meanwhile, Digeris stood completely undefended, save for a few garrisons and a CVA stationed in the system,
Digeris, left without a defending fleet, swiftly fell to COTF forces.
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As Digeris, the TOC's capital, fell, their morale and willingness to continue the war plummeted. Calls for peace echoed, and the populace lost its resolve to fight. The TOC eventually sought peace, but only three years later, after their substitute capital of New Digeris succumbed to the Hierarchy.
Following the TOC's lead, the COTF and the Hierarchy pursued peace negotiations. The three factions unified under the name "United Turian Hierarchy."
Post-war, the Hierarchy divided into three camps, bound by treaty: The Faithful (COTF), The Generals (TOC), and the Xenophiles (Hierarchy central).
All swearing to let nothing divide them again.
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During the war, the Zerg Collective maintained a neutral stance, but their relationship with the Xenophiles was notably stronger. They engaged in trade with the Xenophiles, providing technological equipment—a modest yet significant gesture that improved relations.
However, the Collective had limited interaction with the TOC or the COTF, except during the Rugin raids initiated by the TOC. These raids disrupted the Collective's trade with the Hierarchy (Xenophiles) and reduced the amount of DNA samples the Zerg were collecting from their Xenophile counterparts, as stipulated in their pre-war agreement.
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